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

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 408* TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20THMARCH, 2026 USE OFPALM OILIN SNACKS AND PACKAGED FOODS †*408. DR.ANANDKUMAR: Will the MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether palm oil which is considered harmful for health is being used extensively in snacks, biscuits, namkeen and other packaged food items in the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is aware that some multinational companies use other edible oils for the similar products in developed countries, while palm oil is used in products marketed in India and other low and middle income countries, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government is of the opinion/believes that if a food product or its ingredient is considered unsuitable for health in one country the same product should not be considered safe for consumers in other countries, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the Government proposes to issue any guidelines to address the concern regarding alleged double standards being followed by the multinational companies in this regard, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) (a) to (d) AStatement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLYTO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 408* FOR 20TH MARCH, 2026 (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 and FSSAI standards are uniformly applicable across the country. 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 including edible oils to be used in food wherein Palm Oil is a standardized product. 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 and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) 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 informed food choices of consumers. Surveillance drives, monitoring, regulatory inspection and random sampling of various food products including snacks, biscuits, namkeen and other packaged food items are conducted by the officials of Food Safety Departments of the respectiveStates/UTs and Regional Offices of FSSAI to check compliance with the quality and safety parameters and other requirements as laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations made thereunder. The State Food Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement and implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 at the field level. Food Business Operators (FBOs) found in contravention of the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, and Regulations made thereunder face penal actions as per the provisions outlined in Chapter IX (Offences and Penalties) of the FSS Act, 2006. 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 internationally accepted Codex standards. ********