India's Health Minister J. P. Nadda urges global shift in food safety and organic farming at Food Regulators Summit

Last Friday, India's Health Minister, J. P. Nadda, emphasized the importance of establishing stringent food safety standards and a flexible regulatory framework to accommodate emerging food innovations like plant-based proteins, insect proteins, and lab-grown meat.

Speaking at the opening session of a two-day global food regulators summit in the national capital, Nadda underscored the need for a broader global shift towards organic farming as a way to reduce risks from pesticide residues in food.

He raised concerns about recent findings showing an "alarming presence of microplastics in humans" and highlighted India’s ongoing efforts to promote eco-friendly packaging as a way to reduce environmental harm.

“With the fast-paced globalization, technological advancements, and changing consumer habits, our food systems are evolving rapidly. We are now grappling with complex issues, from persistent foodborne diseases to new challenges such as nutraceutical safety, novel foods, and microplastics in our food supply, all while aiming for sustainability,” Nadda stated.

He stressed that the role of food regulators has never been more critical, calling for continuous collaboration, innovation, and a relentless commitment to improving food safety systems.

Nadda also advocated for the expansion of organic farming globally, adding, “India’s initiatives to promote organic farming and alternative pest control methods are steps in the right direction, but the global adoption of these practices needs to increase.”

The minister announced the establishment of India’s National Research Foundation, with a budget of nearly US$5.9 million from 2024-28, to drive research in areas like food safety.

Additionally, he mentioned that India’s AMR 2.0 (Antimicrobial Resistance) program is aligning its pesticide and residue limits with global standards set by CODEX, which will enhance its international trade standing.

Food Minister Prahlad Joshi highlighted the importance of food quality, referencing the Bhagavad Gita, and pointed to government initiatives like distributing free grains to 800 million poor citizens, rice fortification to combat malnutrition, and strengthening the country’s food quality testing laboratories.

At the event, the sixth edition of the state food index for 2023-2024 was unveiled, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu and Kashmir emerging as the top three states.

Two new FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) portals were also launched during the event: the Food Import Rejection Alert portal and the Import Clearance Systems 2.0. In addition, a cookery show featuring millet-based recipes, in collaboration with state broadcaster Doordarshan, was announced to promote healthier eating habits.

The summit saw the attendance of key figures like Global Food Regulatory Science Society President Samuel Godefroy, Codex Chairperson Steve Wearne, Health Secretary and FSSAI Chairperson Apurva Chandra, and FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao.