PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTRATION ACT

Quality requirements are as follows under the act:

Food grains meant for human consumption shall confirm to the following standards.

1.GENERAL:

Food grains shall be free from deleterious material including artificial coloring matter.The pesticide residue ,if any, shall not exceed the prescribed permissible limit.

2.FOREIGN MATTER :

Foreign matter means any extraneous matter other than food grains and will compromise inorganic and organic matter. Inorganic matter includes sand , gravel,dirt ,pebbles,stone ,lumps of earth,clay and mud  shall not exceed 1%  where as, in case of paddy ,it shall not exceed 3% by weight.Organic matter which includes chaff,straw,weed seeds,edible grain ,oil seed and other non-poisonous seeds shall not exceed 3% by weight.

3.DAMAGED GRAIN:

It means grain damaged by fungus,moisture,heating and where in the damage is not superficial but the grain is affected internally.It shall not exceed 5% by weight.

4.INSECT DAMAGE:

The amount of weeviled grains (by count)shall not be more than 10 % or uric acid content arising as a result of insect damage shall not exceed 10 mg/100 gms,which ever is lower.

5.RODENT HAIR OR EXCRETA:

Should not exceed 2 pieces / kg of the sample.

6.MOISTURE:

The loss in weight by heating the pulverised food grains at 130 - 133 degrees centigrade for 2 hrs shall not exceed 16%.

7.INSECT INFESTATION:

  A) A total of 8 insects either live or dead per kg in primary food.

  B) A total of 4 insects either live or dead in processed food like Rice,wheat products etc.,