The RDA values of vitamins, minerals and amino acids were specified in the regulations for standards for nutraceuticals and now since the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revised the nutrient requirements for Indians and has published new RDAs in 2020, the food authority has decided to adopt the same.
The direction says that a collated document referred to as RDA 2020 in respect of new RDA values for vitamins, minerals and amino acids is provided to food businesses for the purpose of reference and compliance.
The direction added that the RDA 2020 shall come into force from July 1, 2023, for compliance and till such time, food businesses may comply with the RDA 2010 or RDA 2020.
“However, from 1st July 2023, onwards only RDA 2020 as per the directions shall be in force and compliable by food businesses.”
Ashwin Bhadri, CEO, Equinox Labs, says, “The demand for nutritionally functional foods (particularly vitamin rich foods) has increased significantly since the pandemic took over. People have become more aware and educated about it. This bodes well for the nutraceuticals industry as the revised RDA values by FSSAI will enable a lot of brands (established as well as new) to come up with a wide range of compliant products and cater to a larger audience.”
Meanwhile, the FSSAI has also clarified that the report submitted by the ICMR regarding tolerable upper limits of vitamin and minerals that was made public was ‘only for information and not for use by the food businesses
