This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1078, answered on July 25, 2025, regarding the use of restricted additives in food. The response addresses concerns about additives like titanium dioxide (E171) and potassium bromate, which have been banned by some global food regulators.
The Ministry clarifies that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to establish science-based food standards through risk assessment, ensuring safe food for citizens and regulating the food supply chain. These standards are based on advice from independent risk assessment bodies and are harmonized with Codex standards.
Potassium bromate is not permitted under the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011. Titanium dioxide is permitted as a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) additive, consistent with Codex standards. The FSSAI's Scientific Panel on Food Additives continuously reviews additive specifications based on available scientific evidence.
The additives permitted in India are harmonized with Codex standards. The General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is used as a reference point.
The adoption of the precautionary principle in regulating food additives is based on the weight of available evidence and recommendations from global risk assessments.
Key Entities Referenced
US FDA: The United States Food and Drug Administration, a global food regulator.
EU EFSA: The European Food Safety Authority, a global food regulator.
titanium dioxide E171: A food additive mentioned in the context of being banned by global food regulators due to potential health risks.
potassium bromate: A food additive mentioned in the context of being banned by global food regulators due to potential health risks. It is not permitted as per the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI: The food safety regulator in India, responsible for laying down science-based standards for food articles.
Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011: Indian regulation related to food safety and standards, which includes provisions for permitted food additives.
World Health Organization WHO: An international organization that has classified some food additives as possibly carcinogenic.
Codex Alimentarius Commission CAC: An international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization FAO and the World Health Organization WHO with the objective of protecting consumers health and ensuring fairpracticesinfood trade.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1078
TO BE ANSWERED ON25THJULY, 2025
BAN ON RESTRICTEDADDITIVES
1078. DR. PRADEEPKUMAR PANIGRAHY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware that global food regulators (including US FDA and EU
EFSA) have banned additives such as titanium dioxide (E171) and potassium bromate due to
potentialhealth risksand if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether such additives are permitted in India and if so, the scientific basis for the continued
permission of the said substances;
(c) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently reviewing
the said additives with independent specialist panels with a clear deadline for updating our
nationalfood standards toreflect the current safety research andif so, the detailsthereof;
(d) whether a large number of food additives five times more than European Union (EU)
including 43classified as "possibly carcinogenic" bythe WHO isallowed inIndia and if so, the
detailsthereof; and
(e) the time by which the ‘precautionary principle’ is going to be adopted and impose ban on
prohibitedsubstances which isnot safe andif so,the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) and (b): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has a mandate to lay
down science-based standards through risk assessment for food articles to ensure safe and
wholesome food for the citizens of India and regulate the entire food supply chain. The Food
Safety Standards are based on the scientific advice provided by independent risk assessment
bodies i.e. Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee and are harmonised with the
internationallyaccepted Codex standards.The additive Potassium bromate is not permitted as per the Food Safety and
Standards Regulation, 2011. The Titanium dioxide is a permitted Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMP) additive in Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011, which is on par
with Codex.
(c): Review of specifications of variousadditives by the Scientific Panel onFood additives,
Flavoring& processing aidsbased onavailable scientific evidenc isa continuousprocess.
(d): The additives permitted in Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011 are harmonised
with the internationally accepted Codex standards. The General Standard for Food Additives
(GSFA) is adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), an international food
standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and the
World Health Organization (WHO) with the objective of protecting consumer’s health and
ensuring fairpracticesinfood trade.
(e): The adoption of precautionary principle is based on the weight of available evidence and
recommendationsfrom risk assessments carried out globally.
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