Nutritional supplements have grown in popularity among fitness lovers. Protein powder is commonly used as a dietary supplement for muscle growth, with formulations containing a wide range of ingredients. But in an effort to reduce the sale and distribution of substandard nutritional supplements, FSSAI conducted the survey between 2021 and 2022. A survey reveals that nearly 15% of protein powders, nutritional supplements used by athletes and bodybuilders, sold in India were unsafe for consumption.
4,890 of the 144,345 samples evaluated throughout were dangerous, while 16,582 were found to be substandard. Another 11,482 samples were discovered to contain labelling errors and false information on the box.
The food authority has started criminal proceedings against at least 4,900 defaulters and civil lawsuits have been started in 28,906 other cases, resulting in the punishment of 19,437 offenders and a penalty of 53.39 crore.
The food regulator conducts drive across states on a regular basis to monitor food company owners, including protein powder makers. The food regulator has been working with stakeholders to implement restrictions on the distribution of nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are sold as alternatives to pharmaceuticals and have properties of both pharmaceutical and nutritional products, as well as to regulate mislabeling of ingredients.
In 2016, the FDA began the process of regulating in the sale of these products by developing standards for eight food categories, which included carrying full explanations of their content. The categories included nutritional supplements, health foods, foods for specific diets or medicinal uses, specialty foods including plants or botanicals, foods with probiotics or prebiotics, and novel foods.
These products were not allowed to contain hormones, steroids, or psychotropic substances under the Food Safety Standards and Regulations, 2016. These products may contain approved colours and additives, as specified in Schedule VF of these regulations, as well as natural, nature identical, or synthetic flavors, as specified in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. The amount of nutrients added to these food products must not exceed the Indian Council of Medical Research’s and FSSAI’s recommended daily allowance.
FSSAI also enlisted the help of the Confederation of Indian Industry to establish a Resource Centre for Health Supplements and Nutraceuticals in collaboration with the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations.
Quality assurance of products in the market is of primary concern of the food regulator, and surveys are frequently commissioned to know the situation on the ground, Quality tests for health supplements were emphasized by experts. Consumption of health supplements and micronutrients without medical supervision can lead to health problems. If the quality of the product is inadequate then it can further exacerbate the adverse effects to kidneys and other organs.