By NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: In a series of efforts to ensure alertness about the pressing problem of food adulteration, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has asked all food safety commissioners to "increase surveillance activities" with a special focus on milk, packaged drinking water and edible oils, an official source said, "State food departments have been asked to be more vigilant and to increase surveillance activities, especially on milk, water and edible oil. Serious violations of labeling requirements have been observed," an official said to a national daily.

Food commissioners all over the country have been directed to collect more samples of the aforementioned products, so that they could be sent for detailed testing.In addition to the order on the countrywide recall and withdrawal of all nine variants of Nestle's Maggi instant noodles on finding added monosodium glutamate (MSG) and excess of lead than the prescribed limit, letters were also sent to companies like Kellogg's and Heinz, asking them to explain labeling etc.

In its recent meeting, the FSSAI's main concern was that companies are not following the standards and labeling requirements as per law, and consumers are being misled about these products through their packaging and endorsement, suggest sources. FSSAI has directed food inspectors to keep a close watch on products that are consumed in "large quantities" by large segments of the population, in an effort to encourage states to create 'consumer awareness.'