NEW COMPENDIUM ON INGREDIENT STANDARDS-FOOD CHEMICAL CODEX

Many of the food ingredients being used in the past and at present are viewed with suspicion by the consumers and the food industry seems to be getting more and more sensitive to these concerns. There are many food additives coming under the category of GRAS ( Generally Recognized As Safe) which was supposed to assure that they are safe but unfortunately no review system is in place to continuously assess their safety, in spite of newer and more sensitive methodologies emerging and  more scientific data available. Food Chemical Codex (FCC) provides updated information on all aspects of chemicals used by food and pharmaceutical industries and serves as a common denominator for comparison and assessment of foods through out the world. The 8th edition which was recently brought out is a veritable source of information useful to the industry.   

"The latest specifications for the identity, quality and purity of more than 1,100 food ingredients, test methods to verify specifications, key guidance on critical issues such as impurities testing for metals, and full content from an upcoming Food Fraud Database are all included in the new Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), Eighth Edition. Published by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), FCC is a compendium of internationally recognized standards for the authenticity of a wide variety of ingredients including colorings, flavorings, nutrients, preservatives and processing aids. Via FCC, USP provides a unique combination of specifications for the authenticity and quality of each ingredient and test methods to verify these specifications, as well as reference materials suitable to confirm that the test methods are executed appropriately and measurement results therefore can be trusted. "The food industry is constantly innovating with new products and ingredients designed to meet consumer desires for healthful, flavorful and convenient foods," said Praveen Tyle, Ph.D., USP executive vice president and chief science officer. "At the same time, manufacturers are increasingly sourcing their ingredients globally. Public standards provided by FCC can serve as a key resource for manufacturers in managing their supply chains by providing specifications to authenticate their ingredients, and can also help differentiate suppliers. These standards may be particularly important for more complex, natural ingredients and for high-value ingredients, where price competition is fierce. Quality standards for ingredients can help ensure all parties have the same expectations regarding required quality, which can be written into contractual agreements, and can help protect against substandard ingredients—one of the safety nets for the global food supply chain," Dr. Tyle continued.

It is a reality that no country in the world can live in isolation and interdependence in many areas is unavoidable. Global sourcing of food materials and ingredients has become common and such a procurement system requires standards and assessment methods acceptable o the suppliers as well as the buyers. FCC standards provide such a reference source serving world trade admirably well.

With agencies like ISO, WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission and others also in this field there is an urgent need to harmonize all the standards under one proof. Duplication of efforts by different organizations in the same area is best avoided.

V.H.POTTY
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MELAMINE AND AFLATOXIN IN FOODS-NEW INTERNATIONAL LIMITS

The Chinese Melamine tainting episode seemed to have spurred the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAD) into taking action to preempt such incidences in future at its recent meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. It is expected that many far reaching decisions approved unanimously will further facilitate smooth international trade in foods from agricultural , live stock and fish. What is puzzling is that Melamine use for adulteration of milk and some pet products was detected only in China and why the world body has to come up with restriction limits for this toxic substance is some what odd. If different adulterants are used to defraud the consumers in different countries, is it the responsibility of Codex Commission to evolve standards for all of them? Probably Indian adulterators can provide hundreds of examples of food adulteration and CAC may have to spend years to evolve limits for all of them after generating the necessary scientific data.

"Melamine is a toxic chemical and because it is a hard synthetic substance with flame retardant properties, is commonly used in making countertops, dry erase boards, and other house wares including utensils. This toxic substance is sometimes illegally added to food products in order to increase their obvious protein content. When mixed with diluted milk it thickens the milk and make it appear rich in protein. More importantly, it would seem that normal testing of the product cannot detect the substance but shows it as protein. If consumed it causes renal and urinary problems in humans and animals when it reacts with the cyanuric acid present in the human body and sometimes in drinking water and animal feed. Due to this harmfeful nature its use in food production is universally banned. India needs no worry as melamine is not produced, consumed or exported from here, said Sanjay Shah, former Chairman of Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), a trade body set up by the Ministry of Commerce".

"As far as aflatoxin goes, it seems UN has relaxed the norm, said Shah. Maximum levels of 10 micrograms/kg were set for aflatoxins in Brazil nuts (shelled, ready-to-eat) and 15 micrograms/kg for shelled Brazil nuts (intended for further processing), while the Commission also adopted a code of practice to prevent this contamination. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic fungal toxins that can contaminate corn, peanuts and other food crops such as tree nuts under certain conditions. The new Codex measures provide specific guidance for production, harvesting, packing, processing, storage, distribution, marketing and consumer education to reduce food safety risks associated with these products. Guidance covers such aspects as the control of irrigation waters, cooling and storage and correct washing of hands by consumers".

"The methods used for analysis and sampling are the necessary basis for food inspection and control. The new Guidelines adopted by the Commission will make it possible to run tests to determine if foods are derived from modern biotechnology, to authenticate food varieties such as fish species and to establish the presence of allergens," the WHO said. "The WHO welcomed the agreement on the food safety guidelines as an "important international consensus" in the area of biotechnology where the Commission has already developed a number of guidelines related to food safety assessments for foods derived from modern biotechnology. The Codex Alimentarius Commission sets international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. It is the longest-standing example of inter-agency cooperation in the UN system, and has 182 member-states and one member organization, the 27-nation European Union".

Though the protocols and standards are based on consensus, it does not prevent member countries from importing products not conforming to the CAC parameters. A country like India probably may integrate most of the standards with its own national bench scale marks for ensuring food safety within and avoid trade disputes with other countries.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

NEW FOOD STANDARDS FOR THE WORLD-A CODEX INITIATIVE

Quality of foods, especially those manufactured by industry, are assessed for their quality and safety against bench mark standards evolved by the national agency in each country and these standards are not uniform in all countries having credible executing agencies. While for domestic consumption individual countries can have their own standards keeping in view the prevailing situation, when it comes to international import-export business, global bench marks are necessary or bilateral agreements are to be arrived at to avoid undesirable trade disputes. The inter country agencies WHO and FAO set up the Codex Alimentarius Commission vested with the unique task of evolving universally agreed food standards. In its latest confabulations in Canada recently, this agency was able to arrive at a consensus in creating 30 new standards.

"An international food safety body has set rules to cut levels of cancer-causing chemicals and bacteria in foodstuffs ranging from French fries to baby food, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said on Monday. With food safety awareness growing around the world, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body of the FAO and the World Health Organization, adopted last week more than 30 new standards and guidelines to protect consumers' health, it said. The Commission has approved measures to reduce acrylamide in foods, a chemical which may cause cancer and is produced during frying, roasting and baking of carbohydrate-rich foods: French fries, potato crisps, coffee, biscuits, pastries and breads. "Applying Codex standards and guidelines are an important part of ensuring that consumers in every part of the world can be protected from unsafe food," Ezzeddine Boutrif, director of FAO's Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, said in a statement".

Global trade amongst WTO affiliated member countries uses the Codex standards for settling many disputes without allowing such different views or interpretations to sour inter country relations. It is creditable that 181 member countries and the awesome European Union are able to arrive at unanimity on food safety standards for the benefit of their population. While setting up standards is a technical task carried out by experts, it is up to the policy makers and administrators in the member countries to create the necessary atmosphere and infrastructure to implement the safety protocols arrived at the Codex forum.

V.H.POTTY

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