The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is asking the consumers to actively report against any misleading or extravagant claims about a food product in order to keep a check on violations in manufacturing of packaged food products. In return, they are offering a reward of Rs 500 cash prize for every compliant, if it is accurate.
There is already a Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which tells to reward the informants about the violations by food manufacturers, but it is only now FSSAI has decided to involve public.
Anyone from the public who want to report should attach the audio or visual publicity material of the respective food product manufacturer and should produce the same to the FSSAI authorities to claim the reward. FSSAI is more concerned about the wrong nutritional claims, health claims and claims of risk reduction of products. All the specifications pertaining to the labeling of a product have been defined in the Act. FSSAI also assured that the identity of the informants will be kept confidential.
Once the unfair claim is proven true, FSSAI will take action against the manufacturer under section 24 of the FSS Act, 2006.
Source: TOI