Parliament Question: Use of Palm Oil in Snacks and Packaged Foods

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1148 TO BE ANSWERED ON24THJULY, 2026 USE OFPALM OILIN SNACKS AND PACKAGED FOODS †1148. SHRI CHANDAN CHAUHAN: Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a)whether the Government isaware of the fact thatpalm oil,which isconsidered harmful to health, is being used on a large scale in snacks, biscuits, namkeen and other packaged food itemsinthe country, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether it is also a fact that many multinational companies use sunflower oil or better quality edible oils for the same products in developed countries, whereas palm oil is used in the countryandotherlow andmiddle-income countries, if so, the detailsthereof; (c) whether the Government agrees that if a food item or any of its component is considered unsuitable or harmful to health in one country, the same product should not be considered safe for consumers inothercountries, if so, the detailsthereof; and (d) whether the Government proposes to issue any guidelines in this regard, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (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. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006isa shared responsibility betweenthe Central andStateGovernments.FSSAI has notified Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 which specifies the Food Products standards of various food products including biscuits, edible oils and other packaged food items. Sub-regulation 2.2 of the aforementioned regulation specifies food product standards for Fats, oils and Fat emulsions includingedible oilstobe used infood wherein Palmoil isa standardizedproduct. Palm oil being a standardized edible oil is permitted in the food items like snacks, biscuits, namkeen and other packaged food items as edible oil ingredient as per Food Safety andStandards(FoodProducts StandardsandFoodAdditives) Regulation,2011. The sub regulation 5(2)(d) of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, specify that “A specific name shall be used for ingredients in the list of ingredients” and for ingredients falling in the class name ‘Edible vegetable oil’ shall give the name of the specific edible oil for informedfood choicesof consumers. The FBOs are mandated to comply with the defined standards.These food safety standards are made based on the scientific opinion provided by independent risk assessment bodies i.e. Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee and are harmonized with internationallyaccepted Codex standards. *****