~ “Basmati Rice No Compromise” Conclave 2023 concludes in Hyderabad ~
Hyderabad, October 26, 2023: Following a month-long road show, engaging with key government officials and food safety officers from across the country, KRBL Limited’s India Gate Basmati Rice, the world’s No. 1 basmati rice brand, together with the Eat Right India initiative under the aegis of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) concluded the ‘Basmati Rice No Compromise’ Conclave 2023 in Hyderabad today.
A public interest education and awareness initiative, the Conclave brought together several industry experts, voicing their support to ensure the highest degree efficacy in ensuring standards of purity are exercised and followed by one and all. The Conclave was inaugurated by Shri G Kamala Vardhan Rao, CEO, FSSAI who addressed the audience virtually and called upon food safety commissioners to participate in ensuring greater vigilance and regularly check not only duplicate label and activities of adulteration, but also look closely into quality, safety and authenticity of Basmati Rice. The concluding event was hosted in the presence of Dr. H S Oberoi, Director, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management; Smt Hari Chandana Dasari, IAS Commissioner of Food Safety, FSSAI Telangana; Sh. Balunaik Kethavath, Deputy Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Hyderabad; Sh.Ayush Gupta, Business Head – Domestic Market, KRBL Limited and Sh. Ashish Mittal, Business Head – Paddy Procurement & Gautam Buddha Nagar Unit, KRBL Limited
Sh. Anil Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director of KRBL Limited and a Basmati Rice veteran said, “Efforts are being made by the Government from time to time to protect the rich heritage and pristine image of Indian Basmati Rice, and introduction of the FSSAI standards for Basmati is indeed a remarkable step. We have been lately witnessing a steady degradation of quality standards. We are also seeing people resorting to adulteration so as to make quick profits. This trend cannot be allowed to continue and introduction of FSSAI norms is the right step at the right time. What is important now is to educate the stakeholders along the Basmati value chain, starting from cultivation till post-harvest handling, milling, processing & marketing.Stringent regulations must be introduced which should be implemented through government bodies at various levels. All these are critical to ensure success of these new standards.”
Urging stakeholders to take the message across the country, outside the boundaries of metros and state capitals, the FSSAI CEO, Rao said “I would like the stakeholders to take this to the rural areas. We should not restrict ourselves to the, the capital cities because we are doing it in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, other places but also at the subdivisional level”.
Expressing his thoughts on the successful journey of the Conclave, Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director of NIFTEM-Kundli, said, “As we conclude this remarkable campaign, it’s evident that FSSAI and KRBL Limited have been at the forefront, tirelessly raising awareness and safeguarding the interests of consumers. Together, we’ve not only established and enforced standards but have also steered the industry toward higher quality and safety. The Eat Right campaign has served as a guiding light for consumers across the board, emphasizing the fundamental principles of quality and authenticity. I’m appreciative of FSSAI for affording me the opportunity to share my insights and support this endeavor. This multi-city awareness campaign, in collaboration with KRBL, has made an enduring impact, educating not only consumers but also institutional buyers like restaurants and hotels.”
It is for the very first time that FSSAI has laid down identity standards for various forms of basmati rice, including brown basmati, milled basmati, parboiled brown basmati, and milled parboiled basmati. These standards, as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations, 2023, and notified in the Gazette of India, signify a momentous step forward in promoting the reputation and trustworthiness of Indian Basmati rice in the Indian markets.
The first-ever regulations take on the issue of rampant adulteration in basmati rice sold in India and therefore restrict the presence of non-basmati grains to 15% in basmati rice, ensuring that the consumer gets unadulterated quality basmati rice. The standard comprehensively captures various attributes of basmati rice that are pivotal for building a food safety culture. As per the standard, basmati rice shall possess a natural fragrance characteristic of basmati rice and be free from artificial colouring, polishing agents, and artificial fragrances. These standards also specify various identity and quality parameters for basmati rice, such as the average size of grains and their elongation ratio after cooking; maximum limits of moisture; amylose content; uric acid; defective or damaged grains; and incidental presence of other non-basmati rice, etc.
Speaking on the way forward following the successful culmination of the Conclave, Sh. Ayush Gupta, Business Head – India Market, KRBL Limited said, “To pave the way forward, and as a proactive step, I’m delighted to announce the launch of the “Basmati Rice, No Compromise Hackathon. We invite the sharpest minds in academia, including institutions like NIFTEM and IARI, among others, to collaborate on developing cost-effective, scalable, and easy-to-use home testing solutions for the rapid detection of adulteration in Basmati rice. The most innovative idea will not only receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award but will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food safety. Our aim is to have a practical solution in place within the next three months.”
Addressing the audience, Smt Hari Chandana Dasari, IAS Commissioner of Food Safety, FSSAI Telanganasaid, “Awareness sessions such as the Conclave are key as it is the consumer who is finally the right person to determine what they’re eating and what they’re not. We have to take the message to the consumers through different sources including awareness in schools, colleges, etc. I believe the hackathon is a brilliant idea. If somebody knows some tips on how we can identify adulterated food, it would be a great thing. I remember a few months ago there was this scare about plastic rice where a lot of plastic was being mixed into rice. In situations like these, it’s better to be aware of what goes and what does not. The Telangana Food Safetydepartment has been making a lot of efforts in trying to upscale our testing facilities. Right now we have a very good NABL accredited state food lab. We also do private sampling, wherever people can send their samples and they have some suspicion that this food we are suspicious about, they can send it to us”.
By bringing together diverse perspectives, the Basmati Rice No Compromise Conclave enabled a unified vision for a thriving and responsible Basmati rice industry. The “Eat Right” initiative, launched by FSSAI, is a nationwide campaign that encourages individuals and customers alike to make the right choices, take informed decisions on food choices, and adopt healthier lifestyles. Through this collaboration, India Gate Basmati Rice is taking an active role in supporting this crucial initiative and furthering FSSAI’s mission of ensuring food safety and promoting healthy diets.
Gupta concluded, “We acknowledge that education alone, while paramount, is not the final destination. To safeguard the purity and honour of Basmati rice, we need to put in place a robust enforcement mechanism. The journey of adherence to these standards is not just for today but for the years to come. In this endeavor, we have full confidence in the capabilities of FSSAI and their dedicated army of Food Safety Officers (FSOs), who will be actively pursuing these regulations in the field to ensure that the pride and dignity of this god-gifted grain are safeguarded for generations”.