 Original article written by Jackie Linden India’s food safety agency has set stricter standards on selected foods — including meat and eggs — in order to protect people from the threat of “superbugs.” India’s food safety agency has set stricter standards on selected foods — including meat and eggs — in order to protect people from the threat of “superbugs.” The latest updates on the measures were announced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), reported The Economic Times recently. Among the changes proposed are a reduction in the maximum permitted levels of the mycotoxins ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol in foods. Furthermore, there will be greater controls on antibiotic residue levels in selected foods. This aims to address the country’s growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as overuse of these medications contributes to the reduction in their efficacy in treating common infections. The changes have been proposed for meat and meat products, milk and milk products, eggs, fish and shellfish. Maximum levels of residues are set to be lowered, and more antibiotics will be added to the watchlist. Changing consumer attitudes in IndiaA growing majority of Indian consumers are now demanding safer and more sustainable food. Furthermore, they are choosing their purchases accordingly, according to a recent survey by market analysts, GlobalData. India has already committed to reducing antibiotic use in livestock farming by up to 50% by 2030, reports the source. According to one company analyst, the FSSAI’s tightening up of the antibiotic use regulations will not only address growing concerns over AMR in India. It will also be important for the perception of the safety of the country’s increasing food exports. Furthermore, they say, the changes will encourage India’s producers to explore more sustainable farming practices. Need for collaboration, monitoringAnother GlobalData manager stressed the importance of strict implementation of the new regulations nationwide for them to be effective. They also called for cooperation between government and local farmer organizations so that producers understand the potential risks of using antibiotics as growth promoters in animals, and the development of AMR. This year, it was reported that two types of antibiotics were facing a ban on their use for India’s farm animals. Original article published on Feedstrategy.com animal welfareanimal antibioticsJanice NeitzelComments are closed.
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