The new standards include parameters for desiccated coconut obtained without oil extraction and with partial oil extraction.
The FSSAI has issued an order in this regard, saying, “It has been decided that the standards (for desiccated coconut as approved in the 30th meeting of food authority) are herewith made operational from the date of issuance of the order.”
The order added, “for facilitation and to avoid any issue to FBOs, the existing standards of grated desiccated coconut shall also remain valid till the final notification of the amendment.”
Last year in May, the food authority had approved the draft for amendment into the existing standards of desiccated coconut.
According to the amendment, the product desiccated coconut means the product obtained from the whole nut of coconut, having reached development for processing without oil extraction, or from which oil has been partially extracted by appropriate physical means.
The product (desiccated coconut) may be presented in the form of powder, flakes, chips, and shreds with white to light creamy white in colour and it should be free from the evidence of fermentation.
The amendment also laid parameters for the desiccated coconut with moisture limit set at 3.0% max, total acidity at 0.3% max, oil content for desiccated coconut without oil extraction should be 60% while for product with partial oil extraction, the limit is 35-60% with no foreign matter.
Presently the existing standards for oil content for desiccated coconut sets limit at ‘Not less than 55%’.
