Excessive and regular use of aerated and energy drinks may lead to hypokalaemia, hallucinations, stroke, paralysis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease etc. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed standards for Caffeinated beverages and Carbonated water under Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.
States/UTs are primarily responsible to implement and enforce Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This Act also provides penal action for non-conforming to the Act. Also, under the National Health Mission Scheme, Nutrition Education is given to enhance awareness and provide healthy and balance food at population level. States & UTs have also been requested to withdraw foods, high in saturated fats and carbonated drinks from schools’ and colleges’ canteens. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Curbing Milk Adulteration
In compliance of orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 05.08.2016 in the case Writ Petition (Civil) No.159 of 2012 titled ‘Swami Achyutanand Tirth&Ors. v/s Union of India & Others pertaining to checking the menace of adulterated milk, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has advised States/Union Territories (UTs) to comply with the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. In response, nine States/UTs viz. Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Dadra & Nagar Heveli and Tamil Nadu have so far submitted their Action Taken Report (ATR) on the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to FSSAI.
To look into the issue of milk adulteration, State/District level Steering Committee has been constituted in some States such as Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka. Further, States/UTs have instructed their officers to ensure the effective enforcement and implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder and to conduct Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities about milk adulteration etc.