Plant Based Foods Industry urges FSSAI to speed up awareness and training programs for plant-based food start-ups

Mumbai, 22 April 2022…The Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) is a CEO-led body formed to support and help develop India’s nascent plant-based food ecosystem. In a recent meeting held at FSSAI headquarters, PBFIA urged FSSAI to come up with an effective training program to help plant-based food start-ups climb the high bar set by FSSAI to safeguard consumer interest.

The global plant-based foods market is booming, and India, with its diverse indigenous agricultural system, can become a potential export market by capitalising on rising domestic and international demand. This is not going to be easy. Mr. Sanjay Sethi, ED, PBFIA, Appealed to FSSAI and other stakeholders to handhold food start ups so that they adhere to the highest food quality standards as already achieved by big food FMCG companies.

Mr. Arun Singhal, CEO of FSSAI, stated that as a regulatory body, they want to raise awareness about plant-based foods and support training programs. In this regard, they seek support from the Plant Based Foods Industry Association and have asked them to submit a proposal on effective measures to help increase awareness and effective training programs.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has established an incredible standard for ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food in our country, and the confidence that FSSAI has earned with customers is unparalleled. PBFIA had an opportunity to speak with Ms. Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director SBCD and Regulatory Compliance and Mr. Bhaskar Narayan, Advisor, FSSAI, about the overall protein scenario and challenges in terms of consumer barriers, regulatory and advertising perspectives, and advances made in global regulations.

Mr. Sanjay Sethi, Executive Director PBFIA, told FSSAI “Since the vegan standard would be new, we must train and handhold plant-based start-up entrepreneurs to build the capacity to fully comply with the requirements of the standard. Mr. Bhaskar clarified that it is not that only FSSAI officials would be required to certify the vegan foods, he said just like organic standard, here too, third party certification procedures have been prescribed which would be a hassle-free process”.

Building an ecosystem for the same will benefit our entrepreneurs and farmers. Additionally, in line with the Prime Minister’s Start-up India initiative, the growing plant-based food start-ups in India requires mentoring, assistance with quality research, better infrastructure to follow the necessary procedures, and incubators.

This industry’s expansion has the ability to enhance our economy and create new jobs and achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of doubling the farmer’s income. Everyone will gain, from food technology experts to farmers.