Hyderabad: G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Friday he urged entrepreneurs in food businesses to adopt a rational approach towards adding sugar and artificial sweeteners in processed foods.
Over 400 individuals representing food business operators (FBOs), manufacturers and regulatory authorities attended the programme here.
Emphasising that added sugars led to obesity, Rao said FBOs should observe caution, particularly in baby foods, items for pregnant women and the elderly.
"Stringent regulatory action will be initiated against non-compliant manufacturers," he said.
He cautioned that only food-grade plastic should be used for packing prepared food as microplastics leach onto food items and make them unfit for consumption. The issue of pesticides in various agricultural commodities like tea, coffee and spices is also an area of concern.
Rao later visited the street food hub on Necklace Road and inspected a mobile food testing laboratory. He instructed the authorities to regularly monitor street food hubs and create awareness among food handlers on safety and hygiene.