New Delhi: The Central Food Safety Authority (FSSAI) has released the quality and identification criteria for Basmati rice.
The notification states that the rice should have a natural aroma and should be free from artificial fragrance, artificial color, and polishing materials. The norms will come into effect from August 1.
The notified amendment to the Food Safety Act has specified the standards for all types of basmati rice including bran basmati rice, bran removed, parboiled bran rice, and parboiled and parboiled rice. The average length of basmati rice, other details, and quantity of non-basmati rice are covered in the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations.
The average length of bran basmati rice should be seven mm. The length should be more than 6.61 mm if the bran has been changed and more than 12 mm if the rice has been cooked. Uric acid and moisture levels in rice have also been clarified. The uric acid level should be less than 100 mg/kg. In the case of broken rice also, all other norms apply except for length and size rules.
