India earns a bad reputation whenever a food consignment is returned due to quality concerns, emphasized Food Processing Industries Secretary Anita Praveen, calling for greater responsibility from food companies.
Speaking at FICCI’s ‘FOODWORLD India 2024′ event, Praveen urged the industry to ensure the supply of top-quality products in both domestic and international markets by adhering to international quality standards. She underscored the significant role the food processing sector plays in the Indian economy, particularly in providing substantial employment opportunities and improving farmers’ incomes.
“Let us be the suppliers rather than letting someone else do that. It is our industry’s responsibility to make sure that supplies are sustained not just in quantity but also in quality,” Praveen told senior management of food companies.
India, with its large market for processed foods, attracts many global companies. Praveen pointed out that despite this, the country’s share in the global export market for food and processed food items remains low. She urged food companies to focus on export markets without compromising product quality, aiming to cater to all global consumers, not just NRIs.
Highlighting the impact of quality issues, Praveen stated, “We do understand that sometimes we do get bad names the world over. It’s not just in terms of sometimes having residues or suboptimal quality; we also face issues when we do not supply what has been committed to the consumer. Returning consignments do not give us a good name.”
The Secretary stressed the importance of maintaining high standards: “We have to ensure that what leaves our shore is not just a product from your company, but a product from India. If the country gets a bad name, it’s not good for us.”
Recently, leading spice brands MDH and Everest faced quality issues in Hong Kong and Singapore, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining quality standards.
Vijayarani, FSSAI’s Regional Director (North), also addressed the event, urging the industry not to compromise on safety, quality, and nutritional value. She encouraged the promotion of millet and other nutritional food products.
The event saw participation from industry leaders including Hemant Malik, Chair of FICCI Food Processing Committee & Executive Director at ITC; S.K. Pathak, Secretary General of FICCI; Angshu Mallick, MD & CEO of Adani Wilmar; Prashant Peres, Co-Chair of FICCI Food Processing Committee and Managing Director for India & South Asia at Kellogg India; Shiva Krishnamurthy, Co-Chair of FICCI Food Processing Committee & Executive Director for Nutrition & Ice Cream at Hindustan Unilever; and Rajneet Kohli, CEO & Executive Director of Britannia Industries.