Due to consumer health awareness, the Indian nutraceutical and health supplement business is booming. However, this quick proliferation has prompted safety and quality concerns regarding these items. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is strengthening rules in this evolving sector to address these concerns.
Nutraceuticals: Bridging the Gap Between Food and Medicine
Nutritional supplements fill a gap between diet and medicine. They may have health advantages beyond nutrition because they are food-based. Consumers can easily obtain them in tablets, syrups, capsules, powders, gummies, and chewables.
Consumer behavior is changing as nutraceuticals gain popularity. Indians are seeking ways to improve their health as they become increasingly health-conscious. This has increased demand for nutraceuticals that promote immunity and cognition.
Market Ready for Regulation
The FSSAI recognizes the need for tougher consumer safety standards in this fast-growing sector. An unidentified senior official noted the spike in non-compliant health supplement complaints. This spurred the FSSAI to inspect nutraceuticals nationally for quality and safety throughout manufacturing and sales.
The official stressed two main issues:
- Possibility of Conflict: Over-the-counter supplements are readily available, increasing the potential of compounding side effects. This can harm health.
- Drug Interactions: Unsupervised supplement usage, often with prescribed medications, can cause unexpected drug interactions with serious adverse effects.
The Need for High Standards
The FSSAI’s focus on tougher standards improves customer safety. The nutraceutical and health supplement regulations were implemented in 2018 and amended in 2022. These regulations cover several items, including:
- Healthy Supplements
- Nutraceuticals
- Special Dietary Food
- Food for Medical Purposes
- Specialty Foods with Plants or Botanicals
- Probiotic/Prebiotic Foods
- New Foods
Enforce and Comply
The FSSAI issued warnings for special enforcement drives to verify nutraceutical and health supplement manufacturer compliance in 2023. These drives inspected and sampled facilities nationwide, including Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
Future: Balancing Growth and Consumer Protection
The Indian nutraceutical sector is expected to increase, offering industry opportunities. This development must be complemented by strong consumer safety regulations. The FSSAI’s emphasis on tougher rules is vital.
Key areas for continuing vigilance:
- Standardization and Quality Control: Raw materials, production processes, and finished products must meet quality standards. Strong testing can verify nutraceutical safety and efficacy.
- Labeling and Transparency: Consumers need accurate labeling to make decisions. Labels should list chemicals, side effects, and drug interactions.
- Consumer Education: Raising awareness regarding ethical nutraceutical use is vital. This involves educating consumers about unsupervised use risks and the significance of visiting a doctor before starting new supplements.
The FSSAI can build a safe, transparent, and responsible nutraceutical sector in India by encouraging industry players, healthcare experts, and consumers to work together.
