Mission Overview

Food safety is closely associated with health, economy, trade and tourism, stimulating global sustainable development. In this regard, CSIR initiated the Food and Consumer Safety Solutions (FOCUS) programme, which met the expectations of "Make in India" and "Innovate in India" and has successfully delivered several technological interventions that benefited farmers, industry and consumers. To take forward the leads and knowledge generated in the FOCUS programme, a mission-mode programme aiming to provide futuristic and advanced technological interventions in food safety, is taken by CSIR institutes, with CSIR-IITR as nodal Institute. After a series of brainstorming sessions with regulatory agencies and industries, a CSIR Mission-Mode Programme on Advancing Technological Leads for Assuring Safety of Food (ATLAS) is ongoing.

CSIR - IITR ATLAS

ATLAS Mission aims to deliver cutting-edge technology advances in food safety through the following five themes:

  1. Technologies for food safety and security
  2. Alternate analytical approaches and techniques
  3. Innovative and affordable sensors/devices
  4. Smart food packaging solutions
  5. Digital interventions for food safety

Themes - 1 : Technologies for food safety and security

  1. 1.1 Edible and biodegradable materials for electrostatic coating to fruits and vegetables for enhanced shelf-life
  2. 1.2 Solid-solid phase change materials (SS-PCMs) for applications in cold storage for efficient food preservation
  3. 1.3 Native and recombinant bacteriophage based nanoprobes/biocontrol formulations for detection and protection against food borne pathogens as an alternative technology for food preservation and food safety
  4. 1.4 Bio-fumigation technology for protection of stored food commodities from insect pests

Themes - 2 : Alternate analytical approaches and techniques

  1. 2.1 Method for estimation of carboxymethyl lysine in Indian foods and technological interventions to mitigate its formation during processing
  2. 2.2 Affordable method for confirmatory analysis of dioxins & PCBs in animal origin food materials in Indian market & human risk prediction
  3. 2.3 Raman spectroscopy-based techniques for food adulteration and pesticide residues

Themes - 3 : Innovative and affordable sensors/devices

  1. 3.1 Point of contact detection of multiple Gram negative pathogens in Food Products: A cost- effective nano approach
  2. 3.2 Sensitive bio(chemo) sensing strip(s) for multiplexed detection of pesticides
  3. 3.3 Fiber-optic (FO)-bio/chemi-luminescent sensor for rapid, on-site detection of bacterial contamination in food sample(s)
  4. 3.4 Real-time portable electrochemical sensor array for simultaneous detection of antibiotics and pesticides
  5. 3.5 FluoriPCR©: A hand-held platform device for on-site detection of meat authenticity and microbial contamination
  6. 3.6 Immunoassay based multiplexed lateral flow microarray system for detection of multiple mycotoxins
  7. 3.7 Sensing platforms for determination of spoilage of fruit juices
  8. 3.8 Portable NIR Spectral Sensing System for Detection of Adulteration/Blending in Blended Edible Oils

Themes - 4 : Smart food packaging solutions

  1. 4.1 Biodegradable membrane and indigenous barrier film based intelligent packaging material
  2. 4.2 Ethylene and Oxygen scavenger to increase the shelf life of food products and improve food safety

Themes - 5 : Digital interventions for food safety

  1. 5.1 CSIR-Digital Food Safety Portal System 2.0: Digital Food Safety Portal, analytics and Digitalization of the Indian Burden of Foodborne Diseases, Chemicals Risk Assessment as well as food design using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Tools
  2. 5.1 Patent information services

Technologies

This comprehensive list features a range of technologies that have been developed by CSIR to address the key challenges faced by the food industry today. The technologies have been classified into five categories, including Commercialized Technologies, Lab Validation Technologies, Technology Demonstration, Technology Development, and Technology Integrated.

  1. Compedium of Technologies in Food Sector
  2. Commercialised Technologies
  3. Lab Under Lab Validation Technologies
  4. Technology Demonstration
  5. Technology Development
  6. Technology Integrated

Resources
1. FSSAI(Food and Standard Authority of India)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards , 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

2. International Food Safety Standards

Food safety is important as it helps to protect consumer from the risk of food borne illnesses. It also helps to prevent consumers from risks of health -related conditions such as allergy and even death. It also protects food processing establishments from product recalls which results in financial losses due to unsafe products. Other issues due to unsafe products which can impact a business include: rejected products, possible lawsuits and business closure by the public health authorities due to reports of unsafe product sold to the general public. The International Food Standard is a common food safety standard with a uniform evaluation system used to qualify and select suppliers. It helps retailers ensure the food safety of their products and monitors the quality level of producers of retailer branded food products. The standard helps organizations to identify and control food safety hazards. Due to the enhanced international trade in food products, international standards are needed to ensure the safety of global food supply chain.

3. European Food Safety Authority

EFSA aims to provide high-quality scientific advice based on the expertise of its network of scientists and staff and the quality of its science-based information and methodologies, which are grounded in internationally recognised standards.

4. Codex

Codex Alimentarius is about safe, good food for everyone - everywhere. International food trade has existed for thousands of years but until not too long ago food was mainly produced, sold and consumed locally. Over the last century the amount of food traded internationally has grown exponentially, and a quantity and variety of food never before possible travels the globe today.

5. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

FSANZ develops standards that regulate the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. The Food Standards Code also covers the composition of some foods, e.g. dairy, meat and beverages as well as foods developed by new technologies such as genetically modified foods. We are also responsible for some labelling requirements for packaged and unpackaged food, e.g. specific mandatory warnings or advisory labels. FSANZ also develops Australia-only primary production and processing standards.

6. International Association for Food Protection

IAFP is a member based association of more than 4000 food safety professionals commited to advancing food safety worldwide by providing food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply.

7. Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), cosmetics, animal foods & feed and veterinary products.

8. The Global Food Safety Initiative

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) brings together key actors of the food industry to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. With a vision of Safe food for consumers everywhere, food industry leaders created GFSI in 2000 to find collaborative solutions to collective concerns, notably to reduce food safety risks, audit duplication and costs while building trust throughout the supply chain. The GFSI community works on a volunteer basis and is composed of the world's leading food safety experts from retail, manufacturing and food service companies, as well as international organisations, governments, academia and service providers to the global food industry. GFSI is powered by The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global industry network working to support Better Lives Through Better Business.

9. International Food Safety & Quality Network

IFSQN was founded in 2003 to provide food safety practitioners with an online platform to share knowledge and to enable collaboration on the implementation, operation and continual improvement of food safety management systems.

10. Centre For Food Safety

Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. CFS also educates consumers concerning the definition of organic food and products. CFS uses legal actions, groundbreaking scientific and policy reports, books and other educational materials, market pressure and grass roots campaigns through our True Food Network. CFS's successful legal cases collectively represent a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues.

11. Food Standards Agency

It is an independent Government department working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to protect public health and consumers wider interests in food. They make sure that food is safe and what it says it is.

12. World Health Organisation

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

13. Consumer Advocacy Website

Consumer Notice is a consumer advocacy organization dedicated to providing reliable health and safety information and empowering consumers to assert their legal rights.