Lok Sabha Debates
Issue Regarding Inclusion Of Black Tipped Rice Under The Category Of Damaged ... on 27 April, 2012
> Title: Issue regarding inclusion of black tipped rice under the category of damaged grains by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India.
SHRI PRATAP SINGH BAJWA (GURDASPUR): Mr. Chairman Sir, I wish to draw the attention of the hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare to an existing anomaly arising out of the inclusion of black tipped rice under the category of damaged grains by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Based on the analysis received from the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Export Inspection Agency Lab, Kochi, VIMTA Labs, Hyderabad, and the Indian Council for Medical Research concluded that these pinpoint damaged grains on scanning did not show fungal presence nor the presence of iron. On the basis of these findings, the conclusion was that the rice containing pinpoint and partially damaged grains is safe for human consumption.
Further, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had also suggested that such black tipped grains are safe for human consumption. However, the FSSA had indicated that such grains are to be included in the category of damaged grains. The Punjab Rice Millers Association feels that this fact is extremely confusing and erroneous as a food item safe for human consumption cannot be put into the category of damaged grains.
This is creating a lot of problems in the milling of paddy in Punjab so much so that a number of rice mills in my parliamentary constituency of Gurdaspur have been closed and the milling process is very slow.
I would request the hon. Minister for Health and Family Welfare to direct the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to rectify this anomaly so as to remove any confusion on this issue.