Som Distilleries launches whisky brand – Milestone 100 – in Indian market

Som Distilleries & Breweries Ltd (SDBL), a leading breweries company, unveiled a premium segment Whisky - Milestone 100 - in the Indian market.

According to a press note issued by the company, with over 25 years of presence in the industry, Som has always taken aggressive steps towards an unprecedented expansion.

Deepak Arora, CEO, Som Group of Companies, shares, “Our company has completed 25 years of successful operations. Now we have entered into the premium segment by introducing Milestone 100 premium whisky. As the name depicts, Milestone 100 is especially made for achievers, who have aspirations to achieve new milestones in their life, that live life with the mantra of - “Thodda Aur” and 100 denotes the 100% purest form of grain alcohol.”

PepsiCo India introduces Pepsi Atom - second cola from company’s stable

In tune with the summer season, PepsiCo India has introduced Pepsi Atom.

According to a press release by the company, it is the second mainstream cola from PepsiCo India portfolio, after the company’s flagship brand Pepsi.

Created for the Indian market, in collaboration with PepsiCo’s global innovation team, it is a result of extensive flavour development and consumer testing in the country.

It will be available in a black and blue packaging including a 250 ml My Can at an introductory price of Rs 15 and a 500 ml PET bottle at Rs 25. 200 ml returnable glass bottles (RGB) are also available in select markets at Rs 10.

Gautham Mukkavilli, CEO, beverages, PepsiCo India, said, “It is of great significance that a second mainstream cola from the PepsiCo portfolio has been developed for the Indian consumer. India-centric innovation or ‘indovation’ is a key growth driver for our business. It is our biggest launch in the recent years and we are committed to invest behind the brand and make it a key player in the carbonated beverage segment.”

Traditional sweets, snacks products fall under proprietary food, LS told

The sweets and snacks products (traditional sweets) for which the standards have not been prescribed fall under the category of “proprietary food.”

These products should comply with the regulatory provisions like FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011, and Table 2 of Appendix A and Appendix B of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Codex has prescribed some standards for sweets and snacks under Table 2 of General Standards for Food Additive (GSFA).

Sweets and snack products are required to comply with the above-mentioned Regulations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of revision / harmonisation of standards for food products with those of Codex and other international best practices and to develop new standards in respect of those food products where there is a need to develop standards taking into account the Codex and other international best practices.

Export promotion of Indian traditional sweets and snack products is looked after by the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the ministry of commerce, the products have to comply with the standards of the importing countries.

This information was given by minister of state for health & family welfare Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Industry awaiting July 22 hearing on junk food ban in & around schools

The food industry is eagerly awaiting July 22, 2013, the date fixed by the Delhi High Court for hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking ban on the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools in the country, because the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would be presenting the guidelines for and definition of junk food.

And now, since the High Court has directed the country's apex food regulator to release a paper on the definition of junk food, it is said to be working with a private agency on defining junk food, which it would present before the court at the aforesaid hearing.

Speaking at a recent function, K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI, voiced his concern about junk food. He said, “We are going to take the issue of food safety to schools. We would consult the education ministry to include the subject of food safety in the curriculum. Children are most affected and ill-informed about the choices regarding food habits. And a food-related disease like obesity is a huge problem.”

The industry raised its concerns too. “I feel the right way is to educate and guide people about what they should eat and in what quantity,” said D V Malhan, executive secretary, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA). He added that awareness was the key and the role of FSSAI would be vital in correcting the situation by means of regulations and making informed choices.

“Industry experts stressed on the need to maintain a balance, because that could affect the employment of people involved in manufacturing. The problem is people's eating habits. There are many items, which are prepared with a lot of oil and in-house. For example, parathas are heavy, but parents give the kids these items,” they said.

The High Court also directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to consult the All India Food Processors' Association while framing the guidelines, but AIFPA officials said that they are yet to be approached by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Uday Foundation's Rahul Verma, who filed the PIL, emphasised that anything that is high on sodium and low on nutrition should not be sold in and around schools.

He raised four suggestions, namely guidelines be framed on what should be sold in schools; a comprehensive canteen policy be implemented in schools; the sale of junk food be banned in the peripheries of schools, and children be prohibited from endorsing junk food in advertisements.

Verma said the court’s ruling would have an impact on three of the four recommendations, the only exception being the one concerning advertisements. He added, “Kids need nutritional food when the first recess happens around 11am in schools, because the last nutritional food they had would have been the previous night and most of the school-goers do not have much time for a proper breakfast in the morning.”