**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 926 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 5th, 2025, regarding the ban on unsafe food additives, specifically Azodicarbonamide (ADA) and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA). It clarifies the regulations and actions taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) concerning these additives. FSSAI is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **FSSAI Mandate:**
* The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for setting science-based standards for food articles and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
* **Azodicarbonamide (ADA):**
* As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, the use of ADA is not permitted in any food product.
* **Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA):**
* BHA is permitted for use in several food products, including bakery products, at a maximum level of 200 mg/kg.
* The permitted use of BHA is based on risk assessments by global bodies like the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Expert Committee and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
* **Enforcement and Compliance:**
* Food Business Operators (FBOs) must comply with the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules, and Regulations.
* FSSAI, through State/UT authorities, regional offices, and food safety departments, conducts regular localized or targeted enforcement and surveillance activities.
* Regulatory and punitive actions are taken against defaulting FBOs according to the FSS Act, 2006.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Food Manufacturers and Bakeries**
* **Impact:** They must adhere to FSSAI regulations regarding the use of ADA and BHA in food products. ADA is prohibited, while BHA is permitted within specified limits for certain products.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with the FSSAI regulations, specifically regarding the prohibition of ADA and the permitted usage limits of BHA.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** They are affected by the availability of safe and wholesome food, ensured through FSSAI's regulatory oversight of food additives.
* **Action Required:** None specified.
**Stakeholder: FSSAI and Related Authorities (State/UT authorities, regional offices, and food safety departments)**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for enforcing the FSSAI regulations and conducting surveillance to ensure compliance.
* **Action Required:** Continue regular localized or targeted enforcement and surveillance activities. Take appropriate regulatory and punitive actions against the defaulting FBOs.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006: The primary legislation governing food safety and standards in India.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The regulatory body mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011: Regulation under FSS Act regarding food product standards and food additives.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA): A food additive, commonly used as a flour-bleaching and dough-strengthening agent. Its use is not permitted as per the regulation.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): A food additive used as a preservative in bakery and packaged food products. Its use is permitted in several food products, including bakery products, at a certain level.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.926
TO BE ANSWEREDON5TH DECEMBER, 2025
BAN ON UNSAFE FOOD ADDITIVES
926. SHRI ESWARASAMYK:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government isaware of global scientific studies linking the food additives
Azodicarbonamide (ADA), commonly used as a flour-bleaching and dough-strengthening
agent in bread and Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), a preservative used in bakery and
packaged food products, to potential health risk such as cancer, allergies and respiratory
illnesses and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether ADAhas been completely banned in countries such as the United Kingdom,
European Union and Australia, while BHA is under strict regulation globally and if so, the
reasons for permitting their continued usage in bread and other food productsin the country;
(c) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI) has undertaken any
recent reassessment of permissible limits for ADAand BHAin view ofupdated toxicological
evidence in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the fixedtimeline for revisingstandards and ensuring strict enforcement and compliance
from all food manufacturers and bakeries across the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down
science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage,
distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human
consumption.
As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives)
Regulation, 2011, use of Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is not permitted in any food product.
Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) is permitted for use in several food products including
Bakery products. In bakery products, BHAis permitted at a maximum use level of 200 mg/kg.
The use of BHA is permitted in view of the risk assessments carried out by global risk
assessment bodies such as Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Expert Committeeon FoodAdditives(JECFA) andEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority (EFSA).
Further, Food Business Operators (FBOs) are liable to comply with the provisions of
Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. In order to
ensure compliance with the prescribed standards, limits, and other statutory requirements
under the FSS Act and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), FSSAI through
State/UT authorities, regional offices, and food safety departments, undertakes regular
localizedor targeted enforcementandsurveillance activities.
In case of anydeviations, appropriate regulatory and punitive actions have been taken
against the defaulting FBOs as per the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 and the rules framed
thereunder.
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