India Proposes New Requirements for Phytosterols

On Aug. 28, 2015, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced new labeling requirements for phytoseterols as food ingredients. The period for public consultation is until Oct. 28, 2015.

The categories of food products include yellow fat spread (butter, vegetable spread, margarine etc.), milk products, milk based fruit drink, fermented milk products, cheese, salad dressings, juices and nectars, edible oils, and baked product that contain phytosterols should be labeled with the following information on the product package.

• The volume of phytosterols (gm) contained in foods per 100gm or 100ml;

• Patients with high cholesterol should seek the advice of a doctor before consumption of foods containing phytosterols;

• It cannot be taken as a nutrient supplement by pregnant women, breast feeding women, and children below 5 years old;

• The daily intake of sterol, stanol or their mixture should be less than 3g.

The use of phytosterols from non-genetically modified sources in the aforementioned categories of food products should be at the level of 0-40mg/kg of body weight.