New laws on food hygiene and labelling on fat content from 1 Jan.

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 02:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Salt, fat and sugar content in solid foods to be displayed on packaging
Public asked to be vigilant about relabelled expired food during stock clearance time
All food sellers including 5-star restaurants expected to comply with new standards

The Health Ministry yesterday said that new laws gazetted will make it mandatory to publish the salt, sugar and fat content of solids food item on the packaging from 1 January and will also include new food hygiene standards to be followed by all food sellers. The new legislation was revealed at the press conference organised by the National Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) of the Health Ministry. Director of Environmental, Occupational Health and Food Safety, Dr. Lakshman Gamlath said both laws would come into effect next month.

“You may have already seen some manufacturers including several brands of biscuits and some confectionery have already begun to follow the practice,” he said, pointing out that the ministry had been making the industry aware of compliance throughout the year. A similar law was introduced in 2016 making it mandatory to indicate the relevant sugar content category on beverages, he added.

Under the law manufacturers have to indicate on the packaging the content of salt, fat and sugar in the food item. “This system will allow health conscious public to choose what’s best for them,” Gamlath opined.

The new set of guidelines will be introduced next month. The health and hygiene standards will apply to any establishment that serves food, which will have to comply with the new rules. “Irrespective of if it is a roadside tea shop or a 5-star venue, the rules will apply to them all,” he added, pointing out that the implementation of the law would be checked by Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) of each province.

Dr. Gamlath said that the new rules would apply to workplace canteens and restaurants too. New food catering and food service establishments will only be issued licenses if they follow the new guidelines.

He also called on the public to be vigilant to detect expired food being reintroduced to the market.

"Attempts have been made in the past by some vendors to paste a sticker over the expiry date or change it," he added, pointing out that any such act was illegal and should be promptly reported to the Public Health Inspector.”