FSSAI Declares Bottled Water High-Risk: What Does This Mean for Consumers?

Why Bottled Water is Classified as High-Risk

The FSSAI’s decision to term bottled water as high-risk stems from concerns about contamination. As a high-risk food, packaged drinking water must now undergo mandatory inspections at least once a year before a license is granted. This ensures that:

Manufacturers maintain stringent hygiene standards.
Facilities handling bottled water face regular scrutiny.

High-risk categorization isn’t new; it includes other sensitive products like dairy, meat, and Indian sweets. Bottled water’s inclusion underlines its essential role in public health and the potential dangers of substandard quality.

Impact on Bottled Water Manufacturers

Manufacturers will need to adhere to stricter compliance standards. The notification emphasizes that only those facilities scoring above 80% on audits or achieving a hygiene rating of five smileys may be exempt from annual inspections for an additional year. This creates a clear incentive for maintaining high safety standards.

Simplifying Regulations for Efficiency

This new regulation follows an amendment in October that eliminated the need for dual certification from both the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and FSSAI. Now, FSSAI’s annual inspection suffices, streamlining the licensing process while maintaining rigorous oversight. As FSSAI bottled water high-risk classification takes effect, consumers can expect more accountability from producers.

Ensuring Food Safety: The Bigger Picture

FSSAI’s inspection regime aims to prevent foodborne illnesses by identifying and mitigating risks early. High-risk foods require more frequent audits because they are more prone to contamination during processing and packaging. Besides bottled water, other high-risk categories include:

Dairy and meat products
Fish and egg-based foods
Nutritional supplements and fortified foods

Consumer Impact: What You Need to Know

For consumers, the FSSAI bottled water high-risk classification should offer reassurance. Increased scrutiny means bottled water manufacturers will be held to higher safety standards, reducing the chances of contamination. When buying bottled water:

Look for FSSAI certification on the label.
Check for hygiene ratings if available.

Conclusion

FSSAI’s decision to classify bottled water as high-risk underscores its commitment to public health and food safety. While the term “high-risk” may sound alarming, it reflects a proactive approach to ensuring that the water millions consume daily is safe and clean. This regulatory shift promises enhanced oversight, benefiting both consumers and the industry in the long run.