New Delhi, June 18: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced on Thursday that it has issued a directive to food businesses across the country. The directive mandates the use of only ‘food-grade’ and rust-resistant knives, blades, and other cutting tools during food handling and processing.
The food regulator expressed concern over reports indicating that some food businesses are using rusty, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable cutting tools for cooking, processing, slicing, packaging, and related tasks.
According to FSSAI, the use of such tools poses a serious threat to food safety. It can lead to physical, chemical, and microbiological contamination of food products.
The regulator stated that this practice is a clear violation of the cleanliness requirements outlined in Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
Furthermore, the existing food safety regulations stipulate that all tools, utensils, and surfaces in contact with food must be made of food-grade, non-toxic, and rust-resistant materials.
FSSAI has instructed food businesses to ensure that all knives, blades, and cutting tools are in a clean condition, free from rust, damage, cracks, chips, paint, or any defects that could lead to food contamination.
The directive also emphasizes the need for regular cleaning, sanitization, and sterilization of such tools wherever necessary.
Additionally, FSSAI advised businesses to promptly remove and replace any cutting tools that are rusty, damaged, or unfit for use to prevent contamination risks.
Warning against violations, FSSAI stated that non-compliance with the advisory could result in penalties under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
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