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Contributing to Indian Food economy

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Published by MMA Media, 2018-03-30 01:31:40

NuFFooDs Spectrum April Issue 2018

Food S&T industry :
Contributing to Indian Food economy

Keywords: FSSAI,food safety,food science,food processing,Nutrition,food expo

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4 EDITORIAL NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Securing food
& nutrition for future

Milind Kokje and boosting proteins that are used in photosynthesis
are helping in increasing the food grain production.
Chief Editor
Agri biotech techniques can also be used to alter
“Don’t dig your grave with your own knife and some crops to enhance the nutritional qualities of
fork,” says an English proverb, obviously some staple crops. Some vital nutrients not readily
giving message to have adequate and available from the staple diets can be inserted into
nutritious food to live a healthy life. This is the major the staple foods ensuring highly nutritious foodstuff
challenge the policy makers and the governments containing the required nutrients. .
across the world will have to face in the coming
years – feeding everyone adequately and feeding Recently, researchers at Institute of Genetics and
nutritious food. No wonder the world is talking about Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
food security which is ‘all the people, at all times have have developed new protocols for DNA-free genome
physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe editing in hexaploid wheat by biolistic process which
and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs” for can accelerate the process of precision bedding.
an active and healthy life.
On the animal products front, three scientists
We are already over 7.5 billion people on the in the US, including an Indian-American one, have
earth. As it is, 11 per cent of them, over 815 million developed meat from animal cells. Its large scale
people, are not getting enough food, according to the commercialization is expected in the next few
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It has years. This will stop slaughtering of animals and the
increased from 777 million in 2015. Additionally over additional 70 per cent demand of animal products can
2 billion people are estimated to be suffering from be fulfilled through lab produced meat. Many products
micronutrient malnutrition. including milk can be harvested from cell culture
through a technology known as ‘cellular agriculture’,
This clearly shows how big the challenge is. To which is expected to be the sunrise industry.
address the issue and find solutions, 13th World
Congress of Food Science and Technology to be Biotechnology is aiding the food sector in many
held in Mumbai in October has the theme “25 billion ways to increase food production without putting
meals a day by 2025 with healthy, nutritious, safe more strain on resources and environment and
and diverse foods.” If extended further, the world is enhancing nutrition in the crops and foods. As the
required to produce 70 per cent more food than today stress on food resources is being felt with addition
to feed an anticipated 9.6 billion people by 2050. Even of every new person in the global population, more
demand for animal products will increase by 70 per research is continuously being done to find out novel
cent, according to FAO. There are many limitations methods to meet the global challenges of food and
in consumption of meat products since it uses huge nutrition security.
quantity of water, land, fuel etc. Same is true for food
grains. Only the new technologies will be able to fill in Nina Fedoroff, Former President, American
this gap of demand and supply without putting strain Association for the Advancement of Science, rightly
on the resources and environment. says, “If we throw away these important tools
(molecular modification), we’ll find it very difficult to
Biotechnology is providing and will further provide improve sustainability while continuing to increase
many innovative ways to overcome the challenges of production.”
food security and nutrition supplement to the growing
population. It can be used in crops as well as animal
based products to increase the yield ensuring that
the people get nutritious food. Various innovations
and discoveries like bio-fortification or direct crop
fortification, developing flood resistant rice variety

New Voice of the Nutraceuticals &
New - Gen Food Indystry in Asia

Volume 5  |  Issue 8  |  April 2018
www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Publisher & Managing Editor Production & Design Nutraceuticals Nutritionals
Vijay Thombre MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Functional Foods Wellness
Anil Walunj
Editorial Dietary Supplements
Chief Editor Cover Design
Milind Kokje ASIA
[email protected] Neha Metha
General Manager Content Creation and STtaOyPuSpTdOatReIdE,S
Coordination: Narayan Kulkarni Business take informed
[email protected] Product & Marketing business deFcirimsieonnicsh
Ankit Kankar
Content Team [email protected] opens
Bengaluru: Dr Manbeena Chawla discovery
Delhi: Kalyani Sharma Chief Finance Officer GdeiNgnuiQSetFcaRrFaalContpioolotahdDnteefSoFSormpoedcccTsatehirtnuneamtrAirlianPeAAngisndCtioareiNsgeiaown
Mumbai: Prapti Shah Manasee Kurlekar and creates healthy interaction
amongst industry, scientific
Content Creation and Coordination: Circulation, Subscription and fratenity, academNeias,trleégulatory
Priyanka Bajpai Media Enquiry: and policy makCerasntaodaanalyes,
[email protected] Asmita Thakar debate and excinhvaensgtesi$d4ea0s.
[email protected]
Social Media Editor: Ankit Kankar wwwQS.cnRauCnffothdoeeodssiMpceetocctreerxuapmman.adsia

[email protected] plant

MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications MM Activ SingHaeprboarelifPete. Ltd.

SOUTH REGION NEW DELHI International offices #14-06, HighlaSturneecthCeesntre,
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Printed and Published by Disclaimer: Spectrum does not necessarily claim to support
Vijay Thombre on behalf of MM Activ Sci-Tech  The views and opinions expressed in this magazine these views.
Communications Pvt. Ltd.,  Contents and advertisements in NuFFooDS
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Printed at Spectrum Offset, D 2/4 Satyam Estate,  Readers are advised to make proper enquires no warranty and accept no responsibility for the
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Pune - 411004. Tel : +91 20 2543 6556 to advertisements appearing in this publication. The therein. Readers must undertake research and take
Editor Milind Kokje Printer, Publisher, Editor and Owner of the magazine professional advice before acting on any information
Corporate website: www.mmactiv.in will not be liable for any consequences. provided in NuFFooDS Spectrum.
www.nuffoodsspectrum.in  Views expressed in the published articles are
personal opinions of the contributors. NuFFoodS

6 INSIDE NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Cover Story 20

Food S&T Institutes: Contributing to

INDIAN FOOD ECONOMY

Since 1947, different ministries such as agriculture, commerce, defence, health and family
welfare, food processing industries, science and technology, have funded and supported the
setting up of educational and research institutes across the nation. NuFFooDS Spectrum will
be covering the research activities of India’s leading educational and research centres in food,
nutrition, agriculture processing, post-harvest, management and their achievements.

S2B29 Special31

Visible Value From dark to
Proposition wining Indians’ heart

Dr R B Smarta,
MD, Interlink Marketing
Consultancy Pvt. Ltd

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INSIDE 7

From the Chair 09 REGULARS

Computational Editorial 04
Dynamics and Nutra
Biomolecules Video Snippets 08

Dr V Prakash, FRSC, Policy and Regulatory News 10
Vice-President of Int. Union of
Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), London, Finance News 12
UK Immediate Past Director,
CSIR- CFTRI, Mysore, India Company News 14

Start-Up News 16

Q&A35 World News 18

“Beauty segment giving Science News 43
inroads to whole new
range of ‘cosmeceuticals’ Academic News 45
products”
Supplier News 46
Sushil Khaitan
Director & CEO, Purenutrition.me People News 48

Event 49

Q&A37 10 18

“Coffee is loaded with
antioxidants and beneficial
nutrients for improving
health”

Dr Sanjiv Chopra
MD, Professor of medicine and former
faculty dean for Continuing Medical Education at
Harvard Medical School

Evidence Based 39

Scientific Rationale and 43 46
Evidence for Nutrition
and Health Claims

Vilas Ramrao Shirhatti,
Director Technical,
Envirocare Labs

Q&A42 49

“India needs more
stringent testing
techniques”

Ehsan Huq,
Managing Director, SCIEX India

8 VIDEO SNIPPETS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Dr. Mala Dharmalingam, Nutrition for Athletes
Prof and HOD, MS A good initiative at your end to highlight the topic of
Ramaiah Medical sports nutrition. Please write regular articles in this area
College & Hospital, as it needs to be recognized in our country.
Director, BEDRC, points
out the importance of - Harsh Patel, Mumbai
a balanced diet and
exercise in controlling Milk Source
diabetes. A rather engaging feature on the consumption and
potential of camel’s milk. It was interesting to read about
Scan the QR Code » the health benefits offered by camel’s milk. Good work.

Parvathi Menon, - Rishita Arora, New Delhi
MD, Fresh Harvest
talks about the Caffeine Alert
potential organic Being an avid coffee drinker, I enjoyed reading the recent
food market holds article in your magazine on coffee. Do write about the
in India. latest research being conducted on this beverage globally.

Scan the QR Code » - Rohini Misra, Bengaluru

Ashish Pradhan, Healthy Sports
CEO, Siegwerk I feel it is imperative to address the nutritional needs of
India, explains the athletes. Specific guidelines should be worked upon in a
toxicological effects regulated manner. Keep raising this concern through your
of toluene on food platform till required steps are taken.
packaging.
- Arundhati Sharma, Pune

Scan the QR Code » Thanks for your feedback. We have taken note of
your suggestions and will surely try to incorporate
the content accordingly in coming issues. Please
keep sending us your feedback and updating us on
your views about the issue and keep giving your
opinions on the content.

– Editor

Please send your feedback to
[email protected]

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FROM THE CHAIR 9

COMPUTATIONAL DYNAMICS
AND NUTRA BIOMOLECULES

Dr V Prakash, PhD, FRSC

President, International Society of Nutraceuticals, Nutritionals and Naturals (ISNNAN), India ●
Vice-President of International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), London, UK ●

Chairman, India Region of European Hygienic Engineering Design Group, Germany ●
Former Director of CFTRI & Distinguished Scientist of CSIR – India ●
Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board of NuFFooDS Spectrum ●

NuFFooDS and the world of advanced structure-function approach based method that
computerization and digitization with are applicable for larger molecules also through
big data in the envelope and what is computational dynamics.
generated will assist in through put screening.
This approach is converted to identify individual This will bring in modeling chemistry for
molecules giving a support to the intellectual, nutra into a virtual reality. However as large
innovative, interactive curiosity in the global super computers time become available at
approach to biomolecules identification. The an affordable cost we will also be benefitted
options that a designed software gives us to target larger systems moving into proteins,
through less computationally demanding carbohydrates and complex nutraceuticals
approach such as DFT (Density Functional and even its application that can push our
Theory) is not too deep and vast but is a good imagination beyond horizon.
beginning. This opens up an entirely different
world for the nutra bowl and allows imaginative There is so much new advances in
molecules a much larger conformational computer modeling chemistry today that the
space. These are especially useful for smaller nutra world cannot simply keep quiet but to
biomolecules too. enter into the data mining immediately and get
the benefits for NuFFooDS containing super
A recent article in Chemistry World a nutraceuticals! We have a lot of hard work to
publication of the Royal Society of education do in this area and these are possible through
is clearly indicative, that discovering a function human resource training and retraining in
that works for either a single molecule or academia - science - industry interfacing for
group of molecules would certainly need an reaching a safe NuFFooDS to the consumer at
alternative approach to peg the molecules for an affordable cost!

10 REGULATORY NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Centre approves setting up Coffee Board
of Spices Park in Kerela applies for GI
certification for
Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) has Araku Coffee
obtained in-principle approval from the Central Government for setting up
a Spices processing cluster at Thodupuzha in Idukki District. KINFRA propose Coffee Board, under the Union
Commerce & Industry Ministry,
to establish Spices Park in Idukki for the has applied for the registration
processing and value addition of Spices and of Araku coffee under
Spice products, offering processing facilities Geographical Indications (GI)
at par with the international standards. to protect the unique identity
of the coffee, grown by the
The Regional crop specific Spices Park is a tribal community of the Araku
well-conceived approach to have an integrated valley in Andhra Pradesh’s
operation for encouraging cultivation, post Visakhapatnam district. About
harvesting, processing for value addition, 90 per cent of the total Araku
packaging, storage and exports of spices Coffee production is exported
and spice products by meeting the quality to countries like Sweden,
specifications of the consuming countries. The estimated project cost is of Rs Switzerland, Dubai and Italy.
12.50 crore for the proposed Spices Park excluding the cost of land. Park area is The central government,
15 acres. 20 developed plots for allotment to SME spice /food processing units through Coffee Board, is
is about 10.5 acres. The Detailed Project report (DPR) for the proposed Spices promoting the production of
Park will be sent to the central government to obtain its final approval. coffee in the Araku valley by
implementing the Integrated
Govt to open milk Coffee Development Project.
processing plant in Bihar The board is facilitating
collective marketing of Araku
Union minister for agriculture & Mother Dairy will be constructed Coffee by providing incentives
farmers’ welfare Radha Mohan Singh at an estimated cost of around Rs at Rs 10 per Kg for SHGs and
recently layed the foundation stone 11 crore, which is a subsidiary of grower collectives. Through
of the milk processing plant of Mother National Dairy Development Board the project, the board
Dairy at Math Banawari village under (NDDB). Spread over an area of 4.5 extends financial support for
Kotawa block of East Champaran acre, the plant will have a capacity to replanting and expansion,
district, Bihar. The department handle one lakh litres of milk a day creation of water harvesting
of animal husbandry, dairying & and is expected to start operations and irrigation infrastructures
fisheries has initiated a number within a year’s time. The new and mechanization of coffee
of schemes with the objective of plant will fulfil the dual objective estate operations. In non-
doubling the dairy farmers’ income of bringing rural prosperity while traditional areas, financial
by 2022. The government has also enhancing milk productivity in support is extended for
taken several initiatives to increase north Bihar. Over the years Bihar has consolidation of existing
the milk production by raising the witnessed a steady increase in milk coffee plantations through
productivity of milch animals. production which has a tremendous gap filling and application of
potential in the dairy sector. compost. Technical assistance
The milk processing plant of is also provided by organising
capacity building programmes
and field demonstrations.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in REGULATORY NEWS 11

FSSAI bans FSSAI emphasises hiring of food
potassium safety officer for obtaining license
bromate as a
food additive The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has drafted
regulations for restaurants and eateries, requiring them to employ a food
Food Safety and Standards safety officer in order to obtain a licence.
Authority of India (FSSAI) has
directed manufacturers of food FSSAI has also made it mandatory for companies that sell food online
products to stop using potassium to get separate licences under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and
bromate as an additive. The Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations, 2018.
country’s apex food regulator
clarified that its use as an additive Owners and vendors of food products sold on e-commerce platforms
in food products will not be must display their licences or FSSAI registrations. The e-commerce firms
permitted under any circumstances. will have to ensure that food articles have a pending shelf life of 30 per
Potassium bromate is mostly used cent or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery to consumers. Such
in making breads and is banned food products can be sampled at any point in the supply chain.
by the food authorities in most
Western countries and regions, According to FSSAI, the revised condition prescribes that a Food
including the European Union, the Safety Display Board needs to be displayed at a prominent place in the
United Kingdom and Australia. Only premises and employment of at least one technical person or Food Safety
the United States Food and Drug Supervisor trained by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in case
Administration (USFDA) permits of restaurant.
the use of potassium bromate. It is
also used by flour mills for refined
flour. But as per as USFDA rules,
the use of potassium bromate is
allowed in a prescribed limit, i e
0.0075 part for each 100 parts by
weight of flour used. Potassium
bromate is classified as a Category
2B carcinogen. It is included in the
World Health Organisation’s (WHO)
list of ingredients causing cancer.

FSSAI issues testing methods for five food product types

The Food Safety & Standards and would be helpful in uniform by the scientific panel on methods of
Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued testing methods across India, sampling and analysis.
approved methods for analysis of resulting in non-variable results. The
various food products. These are the country’s apex food regulator said FSSAI may also add further
standardised testing methods for that these methods were approved product categories and list their
five different food product types- testing methods. In the recent past,
methods of detection; analysis and the regulators issued a notification
estimation of melamine in milk and which included the maximum levels
milk products; total polar compounds of total polar compounds (TPCs) that
in edible oils and fats, estimation should be present and the testing
of coumarin content in cinnamon, of the edible oils for the same. New
parameters in sago and detection of inclusion of training for milk and
acid value in oils and fats. milk products under the Food Safety
Training and Certification (FoSTaC)
These methods are standardised programme is another example.

12 FINANCE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Zomato, Swiggy Devi Sea Foods files for $138M IPO
match investments
in restaurants Visakhapatnam-based
seafood supplier Devi Sea
Private Equity (PE) and Venture Foods Ltd has filed a draft
Capital (VC) investors infused $843 proposal with the Securities
million in the restaurant segment, and Exchange Board of India
including in categories such as quick (SEBI) to float an initial public
service, casual dining, and fine dining offering (IPO). The company’s
during the last five years. Over the public issue comprises a
same period, Zomato and Swiggy complete secondary market
received around $700 million. These sale by the promoter and
include companies such as Sapphire promoter group. The IPO size is pegged at Rs 900 crore.
Foods, which operates Pizza Hut
and KFC franchisees, Burger King Devi Sea Foods will join listed peers such as Apex Frozen Foods
India, Devyani International, which Ltd, Avanti Feeds Ltd, The Waterbase Ltd, and Zeal Aqua Ltd in going
is also known for Pizza Hut and public. Established in the 1990s by P Brahmanandam, the company is
KFC restaurants along with Costa among the largest sea food exporters in India. It mainly ships shrimp
Coffee outlets, and Impresario to foreign destinations. The company exports processed shrimp
Entertainment & Hospitality, which primarily to North America besides shipping to other markets such as
operates Social and Smoke House Southeast Asia. Its major customers in the United States include food
Deli restaurants. Gurgaon-based service distributors, restaurant chains, retailers and distributors, and
Zomato, which offers listing, warehouse chains.
feedback and delivery services, has
seen investment from firms such as Parle Products to target
Sequoia Capital, Info Edge, Temasek Rs 20k Cr by 2022
Holdings and, in the latest round,
China’s Ant Financial. Swiggy, which Biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products is aiming to double
provides food delivery services its turnover and cross Rs 20,000 crore in the next five years. The
through its exclusive fleet of riders, company also expects the staples and snacks segments to be its
has raised funds from investors growth drivers in the
including Naspers, Accel Partners coming years.
and Bessemer Venture Partners.
Consumer internet companies, Parle Products,
despite reporting losses from which is a privately
operations, are still attractive to PE held company, has
investors given the rapid scaling a present turnover
up of business and valuations, of Rs 10,000 crore
which gives their investors an early plus. As part of its
opportunity to exit profitably. growth strategy, the
company is expanding
its product portfolio,
aiming to be a total
food company, by
filling up gaps in its offering.

Parle Products is now tapping both retail as well as institutional
markets as hotels, which buys in bulk through its innovative offerings
as Zeera Jeffs biscuit. Parle Products which has ventured into staples
segment by launching pulses six months back, plans to increase its
offerings and distribution. The company also expects the contribution
from its Platina range of premium products to go up by 25 per cent in
next three years in the biscuits segment, which presently adds 65 per
cent of its total fold.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FINANCE NEWS 13

Japanese firm Ise Foods Beam
to invest Rs 217Cr in India Suntory
to reboot
Japan's largest egg producer, Ise Foods, has signed a memorandum of agreement its Indian
(MoU) with the Indian government with an investment commitment of Rs 217 strategy
crore. This is the first ever MoU signed by a Japanese food company with the
Ministry of Food Processing. The company intends to extend cooperation in The world’s third-largest
ensuring pesticide residue free egg production. As per the MoU, Ise Foods will drinks giant, Beam Suntory
also provide support and reducing agricultural loss through use of modern Silos is holding preliminary
for storage of grains among others. According to the food processing ministry, discussions to buy into the
there is lot of opportunity in India for Japanese companies to invest in food Kishore Chhabria-controlled
processing sector. Accessibility of Japanese food in India can be increased with Allied Blenders and Distillers
more awareness, availability and at affordable price. (ABD) to aggressively
push its iconic portfolio of
SmartQ raises $1 M bourbon, scotch, Irish and
from Dubai investors Japanese whiskies in India.
ABD is the only top-three
Food-tech company SmartQ has raised domestic liquor company
$1 million from a group of Dubai- that has Indian ownership.
based investors. The round also saw
participation from the existing investor Beam Suntory, a subsidiary
YourNest. As part of the funding, of Japanese food and
Anvita Varshney former MD of Lazada beverage conglomerate
group, has joined the board of advisors Suntory Holdings, is seeking
at SmartQ. a strong local partner to
gain ground in a market
SmartQ offers digital cafeteria where global rivals Diageo
solutions to eliminate queues, and Pernod Ricard hold
minimise wait time and offer a better sway. Beam Suntory was
experience. The platform includes mobile application, automated billing kiosks, born out of the last big
centralised billing system, near field communication prepaid cards, POS software consolidation move in the
etc. The company clocks over 1 lakh transactions every day and has been growing global drinks industry when
50 per cent month-on-month. It counts companies like Shell and Epsilon amongst Suntory acquired US-based
its clients. SmartQ intends to use the raised funds to bolster its efforts in growing Beam for $16 billion in 2014.
business outside India. Beam Suntory intends to
strike a minority investment
deal and a commercial
partnership with ABD,
giving the latter distribution
of its portfolio and bottling
rights for a few select
brands.

14 COMPANY NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Britannia to GNC announces
shift focus to major expansion in India
direct supply
General Nutrition Corporation new retail outlets across India
Britannia Industries Ltd is planning (GNC) has announced plans to by 2020. The company expects
to adapt a new distribution model grow its business in India, where 1,000 retail outlets to add GNC
to directly tailor-serve retail outlets the company has had a presence products to their offering this
across the country in less than a since 2004. As part of its larger year. GNC India will also market
day as part of its plan to multiply international growth strategy, and sell its full product line
sales and expand retail reach. The GNC is working with master through the company's website
Kolkata-headquartered biscuit franchise partner, Guardian and via other e-commerce
maker intends to operate with a Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd., to players. GNC offers a premium
zero-day inventory by reducing aggressively expand in India, assortment of heath, wellness
distance between its distribution from approximately 50 retail and performance products,
centres and retail stores that locations primarily in Guardian including protein, performance
the company reaches directly. pharmacies, to multiple channels, supplements, weight
The decision to focus on direct encompassing retail, e-commerce management supplements,
distribution came soon after Varun and distribution, among others. vitamins, herbs and greens,
Berry took over as the company’s As part of this strategy, Guardian wellness supplements, health and
managing director in March intends to make GNC products beauty, food and drink and other
2014. While the focus on direct available in approximately 4,000 general merchandise.
distribution was initiated in 2014
and increased reach, the new form GSK to enter protein
of direct distribution is fairly new. supplement segment
In the last couple of years, Britannia
tested the model for commercial GSK Consumer Healthcare Ltd is set to launch Horlicks Protein+, a
viability in different pockets protein supplement that the company has developed in India. This
across 10 cities, starting with is the first time GSK is targeting Indian adult men with an extension
Mumbai. Britannia is not alone in of brand Horlicks—which was originally brought to India by the
implementing the new distribution British as a dietary supplement. The protein supplements market
model. Kolkata-based cigarette-to- in India is growing at upwards of 20% annually. Horlicks Protein+
biscuit maker ITC Ltd, which reaches is targeted at working adults who are most likely to miss the
about 2 million retail stores directly, required quantum of protein intake in diet due to a hectic lifestyle.
has been working on a similar The product is not targeted at gym-goers who may look to build
‘factory-to-retail in a day’ model for muscles through heavy exercise and protein supplements. With
the last few years. Horlicks Protein+, the company hopes to boost presence in top 100
towns across trade channels and leverage the online marketplaces,
besides its core strength of chemist shops. About 46 per cent of
GSK’s revenue comes from South India and 36 per cent from East
India, while the remaining comes from exports (8 per cent), North
India (7 per cent) and West India (3 per cent).

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COMPANY NEWS 15

Amway India strengthens Coca-Cola India
nutrition portfolio to introduce new
fruit juice versions
Amway India, has recently on the product packaging that
launched Nutrilite Traditional explains the ‘Seed to Supplement’ Coca-Cola India Pvt. Ltd. is
Herbs Range as a move to journey of the manufacturing planning to launch fruit juice
strengthen its Nutrition & Wellness process alongside highlighting versions of its Sprite and Limca
product portfolio. The Nutrilite the three key pillars of Nutrilite brands in the first half of this
Traditional Herbs range comprises Traditional Herbs which is Purity, year. This is the first time Coca-
of 4 products including Nutrilite Safety and Potency. According Cola is looking at bringing
Tulsi, Nutrilite Brahmi, Nutrilite to the company, the new extensions of Sprite, its best-
Ashwagandha & Nutrilite Amalaki, range is compliant to the new selling carbonated beverage
Vibhitaki, and Haritaki. The Nutraceuticals Regulations i.e. The brand, and Limca, its third
Nutrilite Traditional Herbs Range Food Safety and Standards (Health largest aerated drink brand.
from Amway offers combined Supplements, Nutraceuticals, The plan to introduce Sprite
benefits of Organic Certified Food for Special Dietary Use, and Limca extensions comes
Herbs and DNA Fingerprinted Food for Special Medical Purpose, just months after the American
herbs which is unique of its kind Functional Food and Novel Food) beverage maker launched a
currently available in the market. Regulations, 2016 (‘Regulations’), variant of Thums Up, its largest-
In order to maintain transparency, issued by Food Safety Standard selling cola brand in November.
Amway is providing a QR code Authority of India (FSSAI). The company is also launching
Thumps Up in neighbouring
countries such as Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal by the
end of March. Thums Up is the
first carbonated beverage brand
to be taken overseas. Coca-Cola
is also planning to launch three
more variants of Fanta during
2018. It already has two in the
Indian market. Coca-Cola’s rival
PepsiCo has also started adding
fruit content in some of its
aerated drinks since 2015.

Sundyota Numandis to offer natural healthcare products

Gujarat based Sundyota Numandis nutraceuticals. The Martin Bauer powders, botanicals, herbal, fruit
Group has announced a strategic Group is a supplier of herbal and fruit and tea extracts. As part of the pact,
alliance with Finzelberg, Germany, infusions, medicinal teas, flavored Sundyota Numandis will procure
to offer novel, natural healthcare black and green teas, aromas, herbal active ingredients from Finzelberg,
products in India. Sundyota undertake their formulation and
Numandis will introduce 'ERr73', a development and seek registration
product complimenting women’s and regulatory approvals of the
health during menopause and same. This will be followed by
peri-menopause, for the first time commercial manufacturing along
in India. Finzelberg is a business with product launch, marketing and
unit of the Martin Bauer Group co-marketing through promotion
(Germany), manufacturing phyto- to doctors and pharmaceutical
pharmaceuticals and phyto- companies in India.

16 START-UP NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Indo-Brit startup introduces
new product at Gulfood 2018

British-Indian saffron start-up, chosen to exhibit at the Middle East’s
Mahbir Premium Indian Saffron, has biggest food and drink trade show,
launched its first ever dark chocolate Gulfood, which took place in Dubai
infused with Premium Indian recently. The company is also looking
Saffron at Gulfood 2018. Mahbir to expand the savory portfolio with
Tangy Orange Marmalade was in a saffron-infused mustard product.
the running for the best condiment The chocolate is sourced from a UTZ-
or sauce product at the Gulfood certified supplier. The clean label
Innovation Awards 2018. With the formulation integrates the delicate
support of the UK government’s tasting notes of Indian saffron, while
Department for International Trade, remaining true to the natural flavor
one-year-old start-up, Mahbir associated with high-quality dark
Premium Indian Saffron had been chocolate.

Milk delivery startup Tea startup
raises seed funding of $2.2M collaborates
with snack maker
The micro delivery startup, Doodhwala, has raised $2.2 million in a round of
Seed funding from VC firm Omnivore Partners. The company plans to use Gulabs, the makers of tasty and
the funds towards expanding its services into new markets, to fund talent delectable hand-crafted Indian
acquisition and upgrade its technology. Reihem Roy, Principal at Omnivore snacks, has partnered with Chai
will be joining the board of Doodhwala, as per the terms of the deal. Kings, the Chennai-based tea startup
that provides freshly brewed chai,
Doodhwala, founded in 2015 by Aakash Agarwal and Ebrahim to make the much sought after tiny
Akbari, is a subscription-based hyperlocal delivery startup which offers khakhras available at the latter’s
users a wide selection of grocery items, including fresh dairy milk, meat, outlets. Under this partnership,
vegetables, fruits and shelf stable products. specially packed tiny khakhras
from Gulabs which are of 2.5 inches
The company claims that by lowering its delivery cost to Rs 3, it is in a diameter can be bought at all 7
better position than its competitors. It is also maintaining a steady month- outlets of Chai Kings, allowing
on-month growth rate and a customer retention rate of 85 per cent. The customers to relish their hot tea
startup is currently operational in Bengaluru and Pune and claims to fulfill with delicious and crunchy hand-
over 400K deliveries in a month. crafted khakhras. Each box priced at
Rs 40 will contain 10 pieces of tiny
khakhras which are available in three
flavours – Plain, Ajwain and Methi.
The package is vacuum packed to
maintain freshness and shelf life.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in START-UP NEWS 17

Kraft Heinz launches programme to help start-ups

Kraft Heinz has

launched an
incubation programme

to aid the development

of innovative food and growth of these brands and provide
beverage start-ups
called Springboard.

The company claims it wants to help advice, funding and access to several

develop brands who have genuinely production facilities.
innovative ideas which will help shape Successful applicants will have
the future of the food and beverage
access to Kraft Heinz’s pilot plants and

industry. Brands will have to submit commercial kitchens at its innovation

applications to Springboard, and centre, allowing them to produce
successful applicants will partner with innovative products, with guidance
Kraft Heinz who will help accelerate the from Kraft Heinz.

Zomato receives $150M Setu Wellness targets
Rs 100 Cr in 3 years
investment from Alibaba
Wellness startup, Setu Wellness Solutions aims to offer
A unit of China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has high quality dietary supplements and nutritional solutions,
invested $150 million in Zomato, valuing the Indian eyeing Rs 100 crore revenue in three years. The company has
food search and delivery service at more than $1 launched 13 products within five broad categories, vision,
billion. Ant Financial Services Group, Alibaba’s liver, heart, diabetes, and gut and plan to focus on online
payment affiliate, is also buying $50 million worth marketing and promotion.
of shares in secondary purchases as part of the
transaction. Zomato, which provides services across Besides India, the startup has a partner in the product
24 countries, will be using the funds to improve space in the US. After six months, Setu hopes to expand its
products and technology. In addition, Zomato's product portfolio. In the initial phase, it is focused on big
co-founder Pankaj Chaddah has called it quits after metros such as Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities.
re-shuffling of the management. He will retain his
stake in the company which stands at about 3.11 per Setu is a homegrown, digitally native online brand that
cent and is worth about Rs 237 crore post this latest aims to provide with high-quality, scientifically validated,
funding by Ant Financial. natural solutions that can significantly enhance the quality
of life. OmniActive HealthTechnologies, the parent company,
is an ingredient supplier across the dietary supplement and
functional foods across the world.

18 WORLD NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Fonterra signs Bangladesh Sri Lanka to link SMEs
distribution agreement
in food processing sector
Fonterra has signed a new distribution agreement
which will make products from the company’s Anchor Sri Lanka is considering linking its considerable
brand available in Bangladesh for the first time. Anchor small and medium enterprises (SME) base to
produces a range of dairy products such as fresh milk, milk global markets through the highly active food
powders and cheeses, and already has a strong presence processing industry sub-sector. The Ministry of
in countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia. Industry and Commerce has launched many
projects for these sectors. The most important
The agreement strengthens Fonterra’s position in the is the setting up of Sri Lanka's first Accredited
South Asian market as the deal will make Anchor products Food Laboratory for SMEs by the Industrial
available to millions of new consumers. Bangladesh’s Development Board.
population has grown 10 per cent in the last ten years
to over 160 million people and has experienced strong This is the first such facility for the SME food
economic growth in this time. sector of Sri Lanka and it is also the first lab that
is ready to test food products from all Districts of
According to the company, these two factors have Sri Lanka and using both local and international
led to growing demand for high-quality dairy products. standards such as SLS and ISO. In 2017 and 2018,
Anchor Full Cream Milk Powder comes with more than the Ministry has invested Rs 240 million towards
23 vital nutrients including protein, calcium, vitamins and food and packaging development projects.
minerals. Anchor is specially formulated with NutriShakti, a Sri Lanka's food processing industry employs
nutri-bundle that supports growth, energy and immunity. 1.5 million workforce directly and indirectly
and reports around Rs 100 million in its annual
domestic production.

Pakistan launches KPFA to ensure food safety

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Food Authority Act 2014” to ensure KP FS & HFA would formulate
Authority was recently launched availability of safe and healthy food standards, procedures, processes,
in Peshawar to ensure availability for human consumption. and guidelines in relation to any
of safe food in the province. In an aspect of food including food
attempt to ensure provision and sale The authority had started business, food labelling, food
of standard food items in Khyber training its staff members after additive, and specify appropriate
Pakhtunkhwa, the KP Food Safety & which they would be deputed at enforcement systems. The KP Food
Halal Food Authority (FS & HFA) had divisional offices to execute the act. Authority will issue licenses to food
been established under the “Khyber The government has initiated all-out operators under the aforementioned
Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal efforts for smooth functioning of KP categories of food.
Food Authority.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in WORLD NEWS 19

Nestle to introduce UK regulators
organic food line in Brazil
to cut calories
Nestle SA is all set to launch its first organic food line in Brazil in the coming weeks,
as the world's biggest food company makes a global push to capture growing by 20%
interest in healthy and organic products. Nestle was planning to sell 1 million
boxes of organic oatmeal and oat bran products in the country this year. UK public health officials
have called on food sellers
The company's previously and manufacturers to
unannounced foray into reduce calories in their
Brazil's organic foods segment products by 20 per cent
is relatively minor in global by 2024. As part the
terms. Each box of oatmeal government’s strategy to
and bran has a suggested price cut childhood and adult
of 6.99 reais ($2.16), meaning obesity, major steps to
the company projects slightly reduce people’s excessive
over $2 million of sales in the calorie intake have been
first year. But the move fits unveiled by Public Health
into a more ambitious organics England (PHE) and the
growth program by Nestle. The Department of Health
company has been actively developing a number of organic products in various and Social Care (DHSC).
distinct units in Brazil, while looking at acquisitions that could increase Nestle's PHE claimed that if the
presence in the country's still-modest organic foods market. 20 per cent target is met
within five years, more
The company should launch organic milk offerings in the first quarter of 2019 than 35,000 premature
and Nestle also has an internal startup in Brazil developing organic-based snacks. deaths could be prevented
and around £9 billion in
DuPont develops new NHS healthcare and social
enzyme for bakery products care costs could be saved
over a 25 year period. The
DuPont has announced the product is said to enhance dough government said the food
development of its PowerBake 6000 strength. Used in combination with industry has three ways
product which is based on a new other enzymes and ingredients, the to reduce calories: change
enzyme that acts as a strengthening range of strengtheners can provide the recipe of products,
solution, adding tolerance and food manufacturers with a variety of reduce portion sizes and
consistency in bread and buns. new options and capabilities in the encourage consumers to
development of their baked goods. purchase lower calorie
Developed through DuPont’s products. Categories
nutritional and health division, the According to DuPont, capabilities of food covered by the
from the solution include: enhancing programme include pizzas,
the emulsification process, creating ready meals, ready-made
a synergistic dough strengthening sandwiches, meat products
effect, improving tolerance to and savoury snacks. The
processing variations and raw NHS spends around £6
materials, increasing the volume of billion a year treating
the final product, and improving obesity-related conditions.
crumb structure and whiteness. The government said that
obesity-related health
The company states that the problems keep people
versatility of the PowerBake 6000 out of work, stifling
range can help food manufacturers their earnings and wider
address many of the issues they are economic productivity.
facing in the development of their
baked goods.

20 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Food S&T Institutes: ● Defence Food Research
Contributing to Laboratory (DFRL), Mysuru,

INDIAN FOOD Karnataka
ECONOMY
● Central Food Technological
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), India’s premier nutrition research Research Institute (CFTRI),
institute working under the aegis of Indian Council of Medical Research,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is marking its Mysuru, Karnataka
Centenary this year. Started as‘Beri-Beri’Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory
at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, in 1918 by Major-General Sir ● Indian Institute of Food
Robert McCarrison, a Northern, Ireland physician and nutritionist in the Indian Processing Technology
Medical Service, was renamed as National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) at the time
of its golden jubilee in 1969. Later other centres also started at NIN such as Food (formerly IICPT), Thanjavur,
and Drug Toxicology Research Centre (1971), National Nutrition Monitoring
Bureau (1972) and National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences (1976). NIN Tamil Nadu
has attained global recognition for its pioneering studies on various aspects of
nutrition research, with special reference to protein energy malnutrition (PEM). ● National Institute of
Food & Entrepreneurship
This journey of research activities in nutrition and food space opened up
many newer areas such as engineering sciences, technology development, Management (NIFTEM),
translational research and food protection and safety, designing, developing
and evaluating the safe, nutritious and convenience food etc. Realising the Sonepat, Haryana
need of focusing on research and development, skilled man power, human
resources, the government started opening educational and research institutes ● National Institute of
in agriculture, packaging, nutrition, crop protection, post harvesting, marketing, Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad
manufacturing, process development etc. Since 1947, different ministries such
as agriculture, commerce, defence, health and family welfare, food processing ● Indian Institute of
industries, science and technology, have funded and supported the setting up Packaging (IIP), Mumbai
of educational and research institutes across the nation.
● National Dairy Research
The Government of India on persistent demand of the food industry to have Institute (NDRI), Karnal,
an apex body as a "One Stop Solution Provider" for the various problems of the
food sector, conceptualized and set up National Institute of Food Technology Haryana
Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) in 2007. NIFTEM was set up with
an initial investment of Rs 500 crore, spread over an area of 100 acres in Sonepat, ● Center of Innovative and
Haryana. This indicates the government’s keen interest to support the food Applied Bioprocessing
processing industry, one of the largest industries in India and ranks fifth in terms
of production, consumption and exports. As per the data available on IBEF, food (CIAB), Mohali, Punjab
processing sector is expected to reach $ 258 billion in FY15.
● National Agri-Food
In the coming pages we will be covering the research activities of India’s Biotechnology Institute
leading educational and research centres in food, nutrition, agriculture
processing, post-harvest, management and their achievements. (NABI), Mohali, Punjab

● Central Institute of Post-
Harvest Engineering and

Technology (CIPHET),

Ludhiana, Punjab

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 21

Defence Food Research Laboratory
(DFRL), Mysuru, Karnataka
Department/Ministry: DFRL is
an Indian defence laboratory born out of innovative state-of-the- additive technology, Accelerated
under Defence Research and art technologies, lend themselves freeze drying technology,
Development Organisation (DRDO), eminently suitable to industrial Pneumatic drying technology,
associated with the Department of scale commercial exploitation Flaking technology, Fluidised
Defence Research and Development by enterprising entrepreneurs bed drying technology, Spray
of Ministry of Defence. DFRL is of different genre. DFRL also has drying technology, Hurdle process
located at Mysuru to cater to the products which are exports worthy. technology, Intermediate moisture
strategic operational requirements food processing technology,
of services and to provide logistical DFRL is a pioneer in developing Extrusion technology, Compressed
support in the area of food supplies Ready To Eat (RTE) retort pouch food technology, Combination
and varied food challenges of Indian processing technology and RTE dehydration technology, Stack
Army, Air Force and other forces. products, Ready to reconstitute / encapsulation technology, Post-
ready to cook products, Ready to harvest technologies for shelf
Focused Areas: Designing, drink juices and Beverages. Besides it life extension of fresh produce,
Developing and Evaluating the safe, has developed Milk testing kit, Meat Minimal processing technologies
nutritious and convenience food in testing kit, Test kit for E.coli detection, for fresh produce, Food irradiation
order to meet the needs of services Pesticide detection kit, Presumptive technology, High pressure
along with the development of test kit for coliform detection, Acidity processing technology, Pulsed
convenience and Ready-to-eat (RTE) testing paper strips, Test kits for electric field technology and
food products, implementation of food borne pathogens / toxin. DFRL Micronisation technology.
packaging systems and processing has a credit of developing Ethylene
of food, testing and evaluation is the absorbing formulation, Minimally From 2012-16, DFRL received 18
main focus of this institute. processed vegetables, Preservative patents and published 225 papers in
coating for fruits and vegetables and national and international journals.
The R & D efforts at DFRL are Hurdle technology based preserved From 2013 to 2016, the number
aimed at designing and engineering fruits and vegetables. of technologies transfer from the
lightweight, convenience packed research centre to industry has
rations for Army, Navy, Air Force and DFRL has been credited increased to 16 in 2016 from just 8
other Paramilitary Forces, which do for developing many low cost in 2013.
not require any elaborate cooking technologies to maintain quality
or preparation at the consumer’s and taste of the food by launching DFRL can be reckoned as the
end and remain shelf-stable under technologies like - Retort pouch leader in convenience foods and
varying climatic conditions for processing technology, High packed ration developments in
periods ranging from 6 months to temperature short time (HTST) India. Indigenous ingenuity is the
one year. This is the only laboratory, preservation technology, Cold shock hallmark of most of the technologies
which is exclusively engaged in dehydration technology, Food developed at DFRL.
research and development in the
field of food science and technology
for defence forces. Prior to the
inception of DFRL, the laboratory
functioned as a Food Group within
the precincts of Defence Science
Laboratory, New Delhi.

Achievements: DFRL has
developed a wide variety of food
products of Indian dietary matching
the mainframe palate tastes of the
country. Many of the DFRL foods,

22 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Indian Institute of Food Central Food
Processing Technology Technological
(formerly IICPT), Research Institute
Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu (CFTRI), Mysuru,
Karnataka
Department/Ministry: The Indian Institute of
Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), is a pioneer National Institute
Educational and R&D Institution under the Ministry of of Food &
Food Processing Industries. Entrepreneurship
Management
Focused areas: IIFPT focuses on providing solutions (NIFTEM), Sonepat,
to food grains processing and food component analysis Haryana
sectors by focusing on intensive research and development
activities in the fields of fish, meat, poultry and dairy Department/Ministry: NIFTEM is an
products processing. autonomous institution under the Ministry of
Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) situated
Besides offering academic programmes in Food Process in Sonepat, Haryana. NIFTEM was conceptualized by
Engineering and in Food Science and Technology, it offers Government of India on persistent demand of the
food testing services through its NABL accredited food safety food industry to have an apex body as a "One Stop
and quality testing laboratory also serving as an FSSAI referral Solution Provider" for the various problems of the
laboratory, incubation and training services and various sector. MoFPI,, Government of India had set up this
other extension and consultancy services. institute with an initial investment of Rs 500 crore. The
institute is spread over an area of 100 acres.
IIFPT focuses its research in major theme areas to address
problems like: non-destructive quality evaluation and Focused Areas: NIFTEM works actively for
grading of fruits and vegetables, acoustic determination of assisting in setting up food standards, businesses
fruits and vegetables’ maturity for harvesting, application incubation which include knowledge sharing as well.
of soft X-rays for identifying internal blemishes in fruits The focus of NIFTEM transcends beyond traditional
and vegetables, development of on-farm pre-coolers and
vegetable washers, development of indigenous technology
knowledge based food, composite grains foods, energy
saving in parboiling, improving milling techniques of cereal
grains, pulses, oil seeds and millets, food processing effluent
treatment, creating ready to use dry mix fermented batter for
idly and other Indian foods, new food product development
based on grains, fruits and vegetables, fortification of
processed foods for making healthy foods at affordable
prices, development of new equipment for puffing,
multipurpose yard drying, parboiling, producing hand
pound rice, reducing storage losses, economic utilization of
biomass, food industries by-product and waste utilization.

Achievements- IIFPT has entered into partnerships with
over 30 companies from both government agencies like
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and
Food Corporation of India and private players from across
the country.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 23

Department/Ministry: CFTRI is a constituent Welfare, Government of India and facility functions with
laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial provisions of the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 (FSSA
Research (CSIR), New Delhi, a contemporary R&D 2006), Rules & Regulations 2011.
organization mainly funded by the Ministry of Science
and Technology but operates as an autonomous body It contributes in development and implementation
through the Societies Registration Act, 1860. of National Food Standards and Regulations for
regulatory/academic organizations and for domestic food
Focused Areas: Research focus of CFTRI has business as well as imports. The laboratory also provides
been broadly revolving around the following areas: consultancy in setting up quality assurance laboratories
Engineering Sciences, Technology Development, for food and agricultural commodities.
Translational Research and Food Protection and Safety.
The institute has diverse equipment and machineries
Achievements: Besides offering academic courses, for pilot production of food products some of it was
CFTRI assists industry by undertaking projects of shorter developed in-house as well.
durations with one-time activity such as testing and
analysis, technical assistance of advisory nature etc. The The same facility can be hired by any small and
institute provides analytical services, which include the medium sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneur’s etc.
determination of proximate composition, nutritional for carrying out manufacturing and for introducing
analysis (oils and fats, milk and milk products, sweets and new/existing products on a trial basis. The services
confectionaries), analysis of food additives (preservatives, provided by the unit are boon to the SMEs and new
synthetic colours, artificial sweeteners, antioxidants, etc.), entrepreneurs.
analysis of food contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides,
Aflatoxins, antibiotics, etc.) and microbiological safety for CFTRI has released over 70 processes for commercial
food products. exploitation and developed 20 new processes for
commercial exploitation in 2015-16. Each year the
It has been designated as the Referral Food institute develops many processes which are helpful
Laboratory (RFL) by FSSAI, Ministry of Health & Family to society and public at large. From 2001-15, CFTRI was
granted 151 Indian Patents for different processes.

technology applications, so as to provide better career role in developing food standards, quality, accreditation
prospects to students in the field of Food Technology & and certification; keeping a repository of international
Management for enabling them to meet the demands of and national standards and also advising the Government
high-end professionals in Food Industry. on matters related to international food standards. It
acts as an apex information resource centre on aspects
The institute acts as a centre of excellence and an of food processing including information on products,
apex world class centre of global standards in the area of technologies, management practices, food standards,
food technology and management. It caters to the needs markets etc. It provides incubator services to enable
of various stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, industries, entrepreneurs to develop sustainable businesseson the
exporters, policy makers, government and existing strength of in-depth industry expertise provided by its
institutions. resources pool, which can in turn catalyze the growth
of the food processing sector by nurturing world-class
NIFTEM`s priority areas of research include Novel entrepreneurs.
food processing technologies., Nutraceutical and health
foods, Nano-Science in food preservation and food
quality, Development of value added food products,
Role of microorganisms in food chain in transfer of
antibiotic resistance, Study of microbiological status of
food in different parts of the country (to be developed
as network project), Food structure and functionality,
Basic bioscience underpinning health, Food waste and
by–product utilizations, Food safety and traceability, Food
bio-technology, Design, modeling, and simulation of food
processes, Food supply chain and retail management,
Harmonization of standards, Regulatory and policy research
for food safety and Risk identification, assessment and
characterization.

Achievements- NIFTEM has been playing a pivotal

24 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

National Dairy Research
Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana
Department/Ministry: NDRI is India's premier
institute for dairy research, under the Indian been successfully tested at the institute. Research on
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an balanced feed formulation has resulted in development of
autonomous Organisation under the Department complete and enriched feed/ mineral blocks for sustaining
of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of production level in high producing animals. Research
Agriculture, Government of India. is also being carried out for manipulation of rumen
fermentation and increasing the efficiency of nutrient
Focused Areas: NDRI was accorded the status of utilization by animals. Bypass protein technology has been
Deemed University in 1989. It undertakes research, developed for meeting the nutrient needs of high yielding
teaching and extension activities towards dairy animals.
development in the country. Being the National
Institute, it conducts basic and applied research with In the area of Dairy Processing research, the institute
the objective to enhance animal productivity and also has developed technologies for the manufacturing of a
to develop cost effective technologies for the benefit
of the teeming millions. Further, the institute provides
high quality manpower to meet the human resource
requirements for the overall dairy development in
the country. The institute also undertakes extension
programmes for transferring the know-how from the
laboratory to the farmers’ fields.

The R&D activities of the Institute mainly focus
on three fundamental facets of Dairying i.e. (i)
production and management of dairy animals for better
productivity, (ii) innovating suitable milk processing
technologies and equipment, and (iii) providing the
dairy farmers and entrepreneurs with information about
existing market demands and practical management
inputs for making dairying a self-sustaining, profitable
business. Research, both in basic and applied aspects,
in various disciplines constitute the core activity of the
Institute.

Achievements: NDRI has the distinction of
producing first test tube buffalo calf of the world,
'Pratham', using a highly sophisticated technique of in
vitro fertilization and Embryo Transfer. The technology
has now been extended to develop goat as a model
animal for advanced research in transgenic animal
production. The country's first in vitro goat kid was born
at NDRI. Research in animal physiology has helped in
detailed endocrine profiling of animals to ameliorate
heat stress, better reproduction management and
inducing lactation which essentially augment the
production level of animals.

Improved varieties of fodder crops and their
cultivation methods have been developed at the
institute. Recently, wheat as a dual-purpose crop has

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 25

variety of indigenous dairy products like khoa and khoa- diabetics, and a formulation for cardio-vascular health
based sweets, chhana and chhana-based sweets, srikhand, have also been developed. A food-grade bacteriocin
rabri, paneer, long-life lassi, extended shelf-life rice kheer based bio-preservative formulation has also been
and Milk-cake, etc. Technologies of kunda of Karnataka, developed for enhancing the shelf life of paneer and
chhana-podo of Orissa and kraddi of Jammu & Kashmir khoa. Equipment have been designed for both small
have been standardized. scale dairy operations and mechanized production.
Some of the equipment suitable for adoption by the
Several innovative ready-to-reconstitute formulations Indian dairy industry are continuous paneer, ghee, khoa
for the manufacture of khoa, gulabjamun, rasogolla, kulfi, and rasogolla-making machines.
rasmalai, basundi, kheer, dalia, gase-gase payasam, paneer-
curry and Cheese-poorie are made available by NDRI for A kit developed for the detection of various
adoption at industrial scale. The formulated foods evolved adulterants in milk is in high demand among dairymen
at this institute include whey-based lassi and flavoured across the country. Recently a bio-sensor based kit for
drink, weaning foods based on whey/skim milk, soy-butter detection of antibiotic-drug residues in milk, and also
milk softy, malted milk food, whey- based soups and a test of detection of the presence of synthetic milk in
low-fat spreads. New functional dairy products (or 'health normal milk have been evolved. The institute maintains
foods') such as probiotic cheese and dahi, sports drinks, a National Collection of Dairy Cultures (NCDC) that
low cholesterol ghee, herbal ghee, ice-cream and burfi for supplies starter cultures to the industry and institutions
across the country.

Recent developments in Biotechnology have
opened up new and exciting possibilities both in Dairy
Production and Processing. Some of the magic tools of
Biotechnology such as Genetic Engineering, Somatic
Cell Cloning, Establishment of Stem Cells, Hybridoma
Technology, Transgenics and Bioprocess Engineering
are currently being explored to develop commercial
products and processes that use living systems to
provide value added, clean, wholesome and nutritious
high quality products which are within the reach of the
common people. The success of these programmes
would prepare India's Dairy Industry to face the newer
challenges of global competition. It would permit
greater value addition to processed products by
improving the nutritional and therapeutic attributes
and ensure higher returns to the farmer.

In the areas of Dairy Management and Extension
a Composite Management Index for bovines as a
determinant for enhancing milk production has
been developed. Economic feasibility report for dairy
farms and milk plants, and impact of developmental
programmes including constraint analysis for dairy and
crop production system have been evaluated. Bench-
mark surveys and cost studies using various knowledge
and Management Information System (MIS) have been
conducted for estimation of cost of milk production,
and understanding the behavior of milk producers and
consumers.

Some of the technologies that have been
transferred from NDRI are those of long-life paneer,
whey- jaljeera drink, instant banana milk mix, payasam
mix, gulabjamun mix, calcium-enriched milk, emulsifier
mix for frozen desserts, Herbal ghee etc.

26 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Indian Institute National Institute
of Packaging (IIP), of Nutrition (NIN),
Mumbai Hyderabad

Department/Ministry: IIP is a national apex body Department/Ministry: NIN, an Indian Public
which was set up in 1966 by the packaging and health, Biotechnology and Translational research
allied industries and the Ministry of Commerce, centre is India’s premier nutrition research
Government of India, with the specific objective of institute working under the aegis of Indian Council of
improving the packaging standards in the country. The Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family
Institute is an autonomous body working under the Welfare, Government of India.
administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce.
Focused Areas: NIN is a multi-disciplinary institute
Focused Areas: The Institute is endeavouring to improve working with other centres namely Food & Drug
the standard of packaging needed for the promotion Toxicology Research Centre (FDTRC), National Centre
of exports and create infrastructural facilities for overall for Laboratory Animal Sciences (NCLAS) and National
packaging improvement in India by way of innovative Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) and Pre-Clinical
package design and development as well as to upgrade the Toxicology (PCT) Centre carrying out activities in
overall standards of packaging in the country. The Institute diverse areas.
is involved in various activities like testing and evaluation of
packaging materials and packages, consultancy services and NIN has many research divisions like Food Chemistry,
research & development related to packaging. Besides this, Micronutrient Research, Endocrinology & Metabolism,
the Institute is involved in training and education in the field Lipid Chemistry, Ocular Biochemistry/ Vision Group,
of packaging. The Institute aims to make India a focal point Microbiology And Immunology And Molecular Biology.
for contemporary developments in Art, Science, Technology The current research areas at the Micronutrient division
and Engineering, with respect to the field of Packaging. include understanding the molecular mechanisms of
micronutrient absorption, metabolism and interactions of
Achievements: Besides offering academic courses IIP iron and zinc; to accurately measure the bioavailability of
has completed many packaging related R&D projects for iron and zinc from habitual meals of various regions of the
food products like cashew kernels for exports, meat, meat country in vulnerable segments of the population using
products and poultry, Indian sweet, fresh grapes, banana state-of-the art techniques of stable isotopes; to develop
chips, fresh fruits and vegetables, extruded foods, frozen biomarkers of micronutrient status and to develop
pre-cut fruits and vegetables for exports, honey, onions for innovative food fortification strategies.
exports, jeera puris, boondi laddus, rabdi, dried fish, dudhi
halwa, coconut chips, ball & cup copra etc. The goal of the Food Chemistry Division is to
provide the best estimates of the nutrient profile for the
IIP is also working on Processing & packaging of tender population of each food identified as important in the
coconut water for rural markets, Assessment of feasibility Indian food supply. The division continuously redefines
of mid-day meal in packages for school children, Modified the foods and nutrients in the database to represent
atmosphere packaging of meat & poultry products for what is being currently consumed by the population.
exports, Updating & printing of folders for packaging The division also creates database of food biodiversity
specifications for fresh & processed food products, Bulk especially those that are being consumed by the
packaging of CTC & orthodox tea and Shelf-life studies of indigenous populations of the country. Special focus is
liquid jaggery in packaged form.
being made on non-nutrient bioactive substances
and on the effects of different food
processing methods on nutrient
parameters. FDTRC is engaged

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 27

in research involving food safety, drug toxicity and safety, Central Institute of
dietary management of chronic diseases, preclinical Post-Harvest
toxicology of drugs, biotech products developed Engineering and
indigenously. The centre gives scientific support to Technology (CIPHET),
Ministry of Health, Food Safety and Standards Authority Ludhiana, Punjab
India, Bureau of Indian Standards on Food and Drug
Safety. Department/Ministry: CIPHET is a nodal institute
under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
The focused areas of FDTRC include Foodborne illness, (ICAR) an autonomous body responsible for co-
Chemical contaminants in foods, Mycotoxins, Fluorosis, ordinating agricultural education and research in India. ICAR
Lathyrism, Pesticides toxicology, Dietary management reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and
of chronic diseases, Diet and disease, Lead toxicity, Education, Ministry of Agriculture.
Herbal medicine and Preclinical toxicology testing. In
addition to the above it will also focusses on Chemical Focused Areas: CIPHET is a pioneer organization
and biological contaminants in foods, GM food safety mandated to undertake lead researches in the area of
testing, Mycotoxicosis, Pesticides exposure and toxicity, post-harvest engineering and technology appropriate to
Nanotechnology, Fluoride toxicity, Dietary management agricultural production catchment and agro-industries.
of chronic toxicity and Environmental toxicology.
The thrust areas of research at the institute include
The NCLAS is currently meeting the breeding and Post-harvest technologies for loss reduction, Value addition
experimental needs of over 180 biomedical Institutions in technologies, Technology transfer, entrepreneurship
the country. Apart from breeding and supply of animals, development and marketing, By-product utilization
the Centre regularly undertakes supply of laboratory and Waste managements, Improvement of agricultural
animal feed (both maintenance and experimental) and structures, Biotechnology in PHTS, Environment control for
check the health and genetic integrity of laboratory higher productivity, and Livestock produce processing.
animals under its care. It also runs regular training courses
annually both at the junior and senior level for laboratory Achievements: Being a nodal institute in the field of
animal personnel working in government and private post-harvest processing, CIPHET has developed a national
biomedical institutions. The Centre has so far bred and database on post-harvest machinery/ equipment which is
supplied over 1 million laboratory animals to more than available on the institute website and can be continually
180 biomedical research institutions in the country for updated. The institute has widened the horizons of research
basic and applied research. It has so far trained more varying from development of processing machines to
than 500 persons on various aspects of laboratory animal electronic gadgets for quality evaluation and maintenance.
care, breeding, husbandry, animal experimentation, and Apart from developing mechanical tools, we are also
ethics under 2 of its regular annual training courses from striving hard in the direction of providing biological tools
1968. It has also trained over 300 research scientists in for processing and value addition to agro-produce. So far,
the proper use of animals for experimentation under the institute has designed and developed more than 45
adhoc training programmes over the years. The Centre machineries and 55 processes and technologies in the field
acted on an advisory capacity in setting up several new of post-harvest engineering and technology of agricultural
animal facilities in the country both under private and produce.
government sectors as per CPCSEA and AAALAC norms.

The PCT Centre has screened recombinant products
(viz. rDNA Anti rabies vaccine, interferon, tetravalent
vaccine, HPV oral vaccine), peptides which were
developed indigenously for the first time, traditional
preparations like Bhasmas (herbo-mineral preparations,
auyrvedic formulations), food additives etc.

28 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Center of Innovative and Applied
Bioprocessing (CIAB), Mohali, Punjab
Department/Ministry: CIAB, an autonomous institute
of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of value products and industrial enzymes.
India, is the only institute in the country which works Achievements: CIAB has made substantial

contributions in developing various processes to derive

mainly on Secondary Agriculture and development of products from the agricultural waste. The scientists of the

value added products from different types of bio resources. institute have been able to transfer two technologies, i)

Focused Areas: The institute is working on meeting its D-psicose-a nearly zero calorie sugar production from the

goals through four R & D programmes; (i) Value addition biomass and ii) a liquid whey beverage product named

to primary processing residue/wastes for edible products, CIAB-NAVITA to the industries. Also, CIAB has signed non-

(ii) Valorisation of crop wastes for specialty products disclosure agreements for three technologies with the

and chemicals, industries who have

(iii) Nutritionals, expressed their

nutraceuticals, and interests. In addition,

upgradation of the institute has

value or of use of developed several

primary processing other technologies

bioproducts and which are at

(iv) Biosynthetic different stages

technology/ of scale up and

synthetic biology commercialization.

for low volume-high

National Development, (iv) Meeting and Courses, and (v) Technology
Agri-Food Transfer and Outreach.
Biotechnology
Institute (NABI), Achievements: NABI has filed 9 patents and developed
Mohali, Punjab antioxidants rich coloured wheat to combat malnutrition.
Besides it has also developed couple of technologies
Department/Ministry: NABI, an autonomous / products such as a modified plasmid vector system
institute of the Department of Biotechnology, with a novel N-terminal tag that manifold enhances the
Ministry of Science and Technology, is the first expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli,
Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, established in India Gene silencing of wheat phytic acid transporter gene to
on February 18, 2010. The institute aims at catalysing the achieve low phytate content in wheat grains, Nutraceutical
transformation of Agri - food sector in India. The institute coloured wheat with high anthocyanin content and Bread
has the vision to be a nodal organization for knowledge wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines with high amylose or
generation and translational science leading to value resistant starch in seed.
added products based on Agri-food biotech innovations.
Narayan Kulkarni
Focused Areas: The main research focus of NABI is to [email protected]
harness biotechnological tools in the area of Agriculture
Biotechnology, Food and Nutritional Biotechnology so as (Inputs from Dr Manbeena Chawla and Kalyani Sharma)
to provide sustainable and novel solutions towards quality
food and nutrition.

Activities undertaken at NABI under different
areas include, i) Agricultural Biotechnology, (ii) Food
and Nutritional Biotechnology, (iii) Human Resource

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in S2B 29

Visible Value Dr R B Smarta,
Proposition
MD, Interlink Marketing
The science of nutrigenomics seeks to understand how the food Consultancy Pvt. Ltd
we consume exerts an impact upon on the functioning of our

genes. While Nutrigenetics, or the science of personalized nutrition,
studies how variations in genes among individuals can affect the
reactions of an individual to specific dietary ingredients.

How your Book of Life works? Speaking about individual needs for healthy being,
genetic testing has emerged as an intriguing, disruptive
“The most important asset we own is the information technology. As long as personal nutrition needs are
encoded in our DNA, the 23 chapters of our Book of Life – getting satisfied, it will lead the nutraceutical industry to
our chromosomes, our genomes. It’s very intimate. It’s the contribute in the economic success.
River of Life that’s confluent down to us. It doesn’t tell us
how we’re going to die, it doesn’t tell us how we’re sick. Before exploring the relation between nutrigenomics
It’s going to tell us how we live, it’s going to tell us how and value proposition, it is necessary to explore what
to adjust our lifestyle, environment, principles of living exactly, visible value proposition means.
so that we can maximize our life experience and our
function", said Dr Bland and now it is apt to observe major It is an explicit promise made by a company to its
paradigm shift from illness to wellness and health! customers that it will deliver a particular bundle of value
creating benefits.
It’s really our information that alerts the person as to
how they should design their lifestyle to live optimally Companies use it mainly to distinguish their product
healthy. It’s a functional component, not a dysfunctional from competitors, to provide a better lead, to introduce
component! the product or the service more quickly to the market and
enable sales professionals to take the lead. However, can
Visible Value Proposition value proposition be visible with the help of Genetics,
Genomics..?
As you know, value proposition is the integral part of
business model which helps to create the credibility in Now let us see how a formula from personalized
the mind of consumer, in continuation with that, let us nutrition can be used to determine value in nutraceuticals
explore nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics as a visible tool business.
for value proposition and can be called as Visible Value
Proposition. Nutrigenetics & Nutrigenomics: Studying the
link between food & genes
You are aware that creating and delivering value in
the field of nutraceuticals is not an easy job. In case of The science of nutrigenomics seeks to understand how
pharmaceuticals substantiation of the claims is much the food we consume exerts an impact upon on the
easier as it is easy to see the value of product that makes functioning of our genes. While Nutrigenetics, or the
us feel better. Even though medicines caused serious side science of personalized nutrition, studies how variations
effects they are widely accepted because of their efficacy in genes among individuals can affect the reactions of an
and quick results. individual to specific dietary ingredients.

But in wellness industry, it does not work that way. Preferential Nutrition
With products often designed to help consumers stave
off sickness before it develops. Without an apparent Most consumers understand the relationship between
tangible benefit, communicating the value of that daily food and health, and they often make choices based
multivitamin can be a challenging proposition, especially on that understanding. Preferential nutrition is quite
when critics attempt to discredit their worth based on a compatible with this consumer trend which fixes gaps in
select sample of research. the current field of nutritional science.

Preferential nutrition looks mainly to be a way of

30 S2B NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

identifying individuals predisposed for conditions and The Nutrigenetics Business Model Source: Interlink Knowledge Cell
preventing onset. In the beginning, genes with influence
on regulation must be identified, and then more focused The recent commercial entries in the field of
studies may emerge. The effort of preferential nutrition nutrigenetics employ a test-and-treat approach. These
is to identify this "dietary signature", or pattern of effects products require the consumer to submit a DNA sample
ranging from effects at the cellular level to entire body for testing, usually in the form of a cheek swab, and in
systems. some instances also require the submission of a lifestyle
and diet questionnaire. The DNA sample is mailed to a
A major focus of this nutrition is on prevention laboratory and the results are returned to the consumer
of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, with advice about how dietary intake can be modified to
metabolic syndrome, and cancer. These disorders fit the genetic profile analysis.
are partly mediated by chronic exposure to certain
food components and, therefore, a critical part of the Some of the criticism surrounding these genetic
prevention strategy concerns changing food habits. tests involves both the lack of regulation of the testing
laboratories and the specific advice that they offer,
Biomarkers especially in relation to lifestyle changes and dietary
supplementation.
Biomarker profiles from personalized nutrition can be
determined on a genomics-transcriptome, proteome, The Nutrigenomics Business Model
and metabolome level, all having their own specific
advantages as markers of body health status. These In contrast to nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics products
biomarkers are mainly single proteins or metabolites or will rely on the science of genomics to support efficacy.
certain body functions that can be used as indicators for Proprietary nutrigenomic bioactives will be developed
pathophysiological changes that can ultimately lead to a from natural sources that can influence the expression
variety of chronic diseases, depending on the individual of common human genes that are accepted by the
genotype. scientific community as validated biomarkers for various
health states. Nutrigenomics products will affect gene
Bioactive Compounds expression and, thus, will act at the most important step
in the process of genes affecting health. The benefits from
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics also uncover how maintaining a healthy balance of gene expression can
bioactive components of food elucidate the relationship subsequently be measured in human studies.
between food and health; it can be used as a biomarker
to identify innovative nutritional products that can be Visible Value Proposition - A way in fulcrum of science
marketed to provide a variety of health benefits. to provide its effect on customers. One part of the business
model can be synthesized by science such as:
Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics offer food and
dietary supplement companies assurances that Science
functional claims are based on sound science that
generate quantifiable results. Some R&D departments Products (Ingredients & Formulations)
in leading food companies, such as Nestle and Danone,
are already employing nutrigenomics either directly or Value Proposition
through partnerships to contribute to their positions in
the wellness market. Consumers

Functional studies of natural compounds – Business
New dimension
Other part of business model will be meeting the
Internationally and nationally, excellent labs are working value proposition stage from customers’ awareness,
and getting new products on the basis of functional knowledge, understanding perceptions, skepticism and
claims and getting those products patented in India and overall willingness to accept the value proposition to lock
all over the world. Biomarkers of functional studies in in both inside – out and outside – in approaches.
the human body in a direct or simulated way, gives that
conviction and it becomes visible in patient or consumer.
There are certain products which can provide visible
difference in the health of the consumer in few minutes
or after a given time!

What more visibility you need to provide “promise” – a
visible value proposition to consumer?

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SPECIAL 31

From dark to
WINING INDIANS’ HEART
Celebrity endorsements, appealing packaging From past few epochs, Indians have established a
and storage compartments for chocolates sweet tooth for chocolates and their hankering for
by companies were among the marketing this particular sweet has revolutionized the Indian
and promotional activities which remained chocolate industry. According to a recently published
primary drivers of sales growth in chocolate report byTechSci Research, a research based management
confectionery in India. The introduction of new consulting firm providing market research and advisory
flavours and innovation also stimulated sales of solutions, India’s chocolate market is forecast to grow at a
chocolate confectionery in 2017. CAGR of 18 per cent, in value terms.
According to Euromonitor International,
Mondelez India Foods continued to lead Moreover, targeted promotional campaigns by
chocolate confectionery with a 55 per cent chocolate companies over the last decade have
share of retail value sales in 2017. The company’s encouraged the consumers to gift chocolates on special
position owed much to its constant product occasions. Per capita consumption of chocolates has also
innovation, a well-established distribution grown tremendously from 40 grams in 2008 to 120 grams
network and a range of stock keeping unit in 2013.
(SKUs). Chocolate confectionery market is
projected to see a 4 per cent retail value CAGR at Mondelez India, Ferrero and Nestle India top the
constant 2017 prices over the forecast period to charts with more than 65 per cent of the overall chocolate
reach Rs 148 billion in 2022. A rising penetration market. International brands like Mars and homegrown
rate, including among rural consumers, and a brand Amul are slowly trying to gain the momentum. The
growing fondness for chocolate as a healthy major raw materials involved in manufacturing chocolates
snack option are expected to stimulate sales. include cocoa, milk and sugar. The growing preference for
dark chocolates has consequently led to higher demand
for cocoa beans in chocolate manufacturing. As a result,
cocoa farming, being limited to certain countries across
the globe, is going to impact the price of chocolates in

32 SPECIAL NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

coming years. Peres, Director, Marketing, Chocolate, Mondelez India.
According to a report released by ASSOCHAM, the “Premium chocolates have seen explosive growth since

consumption of chocolates is steadily increasing in urban 2010, which was led by Mondelez. It has been identified
and semi urban areas and it has already crossed around Rs as a key growth platform for Mondelez International’s
7,500 crore mark in 2015. long-term chocolate strategy and Mondelez India’s vision
is to be the undisputed leader in the premium chocolate
“Compared to last year, the demand of chocolates market,” adds Peres.
is increased by 35 per cent this year in urban areas due
to rising awareness about adulterated and high-priced Taking one-on-one with Modelez, Nestle India,
traditional sweets available in the market,” says D S Rawat, in 2013 had launched Alpino in the parallel lines on
Secretary General, ASSOCHAM. Mondelez’s premium chocolate brands. And Nestle has
been constantly working on its collection to include more
The key growth factors are tradition of gifting sweets premium products. It recently launched Kit Kat Senses,
in India, shift in consumer preference from traditional which the company says has been made with a unique
mithai to chocolates, rising income levels and attractive process of premium chocolate making called the ‘Slow
packing coupled with pricing which is suitable to every churn process’.
pocket, adds Rawat.
“Chocolate penetration is still low, hence, there is
Great Potential great growth potential for both premium and regular
chocolates. On one hand, in the high-end category,
Certainly India has a great potential of becoming a consumers are looking for an enriched experience. On the
colossal market for chocolates and international players other, there is always a potential to tap the low-end entry
have realised it. This is the reason that has allured many level customers,” says Mayur Bhargava, former General
international brands to foray in to the Indian domain. Manager, Chocolates and Confectionary, Nestlé India Ltd.

“Chocolate hasn’t traditionally been the sweet of “Chocolate confectionery had an uneven year in 2016.
choice in Asian markets but as the economies are growing, Volume sales in developed markets remained flat, while
the demand for indulgent treats has also seen a visible the picture was a bit brighter in emerging markets, like
upward movement. Adult consumption of chocolates is India, where sales generally fared better,” says Marcia
growing at the fastest pace in India,” points out Prashant

ACCORDING TO A ASSOCHAM
REPORT, THE CONSUMPTION
OF CHOCOLATES IS STEADILY
INCREASING IN URBAN AND SEMI
URBAN AREAS AND IT HAS ALREADY
CROSSED AROUND RS 7,500
CRORE MARK IN 2015. COMPARED
TO LAST YEAR, THE DEMAND OF
CHOCOLATES IS INCREASED BY 35
PER CENT THIS YEAR IN URBAN
AREAS DUE TO RISING AWARENESS
ABOUT ADULTERATED AND HIGH-
PRICED TRADITIONAL SWEETS
AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET. THE KEY
GROWTH FACTORS ARE TRADITION
OF GIFTING SWEETS IN INDIA, SHIFT
IN CONSUMER PREFERENCE, RISING
INCOME LEVELS.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SPECIAL 33

Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink. SOME OF LEADING COMPANIES
“Our research indicates that consumers in India believe
● Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd.
chocolate to be beneficial and convenient - seemingly the ● Nestle India Limited
key reasons behind the growth of the country's chocolate ● Ferrero India Pvt. Ltd.
confectionery market both in value and volume,” adds ● Mars International India Pvt. Ltd.
Mogelonsky. ● Hershey India Pvt. Ltd.
● Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.
Apart from manufacturing, packaging of the product ● Lotus Chocolate Company Ltd.
also plays a vigorous part as most of these chocolates are ● The CAMPCO Ltd.
used as a gifting article.“If there is one thing that will drive ● Parle Products Pvt. Ltd.
packaging for chocolates, it is innovation. Given the fast ● ITC Limited
changing consumer preferences there is a general interest
in bringing product extensions as well as packaging Rise of the Domestic Players
extensions to the market fast enough for companies
to catch on to trends fast from single bars to multibars, Witnessing a surge in demand of chocolates in India,
from sharing bags to chocolate blocks, pouches, etc. many domestic players have forayed into this business.
are reflections of this change,” notes Ninad Bhave, who From giants such as Amul, Parle, Cadbury to smaller
heads the packaging prepress business at Manipal Digital players such as Candyman Chocolate, Nel’s Chocolate’s
Systems. Studio, Campco Chocolate everyone is churning out
their business wheel to get their upper hand on this
“On the other hand, consumption habits themselves business.
are changing as the consumer is becoming more
discerning. Therefore, chocolate companies need to speak “Reasonable pricing has always been Amul’s strategy
to the consumers about how much nutrients do they so we maintained that policy for the premium products.
have, how their ingredients have been sourced through The performance has been excellent. Five years ago,
ethical means, how the ingredients and processes they distributors used to complain that our people were
use make their products premium in the true sense of the dumping chocolates on them. Now they call and say
word,” adds Bhave. they ask for it, but don’t get it,” states RS Sodhi, Managing
Director, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation
(GCMMF), which owns the Amul brand.

He further says “Currently there is a big demand in
premium chocolate category and we will adding few
more these products in our kitty soon. These chocolates
are selling like hot cakes and it’s difficult to meet demand
since chocolates account for a fraction of Amul’s returns.
We are currently operating out of one unit which produces
between 250 and 300 tonnes a day. We will consider
expanding if returns stay steady.”

“In number terms, Indian market presently touches
the 12 digit figure (Rupee) it going to touch 13 digits with
double-digit growth. According to me, Indian market is
divided in four different categories: Branded chocolates
( by the international players such as Mondelez , Mars,
Luxury chocolates, customised handmade chocolate
products and Innovative chocolate flavoured products,”
says Milan Oberoi, Founder and Business Head, Nel’s
Chocolate Studio.

“Last three categories are going to take the industry
to a next level, although major share approx 85 per cent
remain with international branded players,” she opines.

Nel’s Chocolate’s Studio works with the customised
handmade chocolate products and innovative chocolate
flavoured products. Being an Indian chocolatier start-up,
the company is more committed to its Indian customers.

34 SPECIAL NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

MARKET TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS ones in Delhi,” adds Babbar, manager,
Patchi, Delhi.
● Increasing presence of international brands
● Customization of chocolates for exclusivity and Competition with the
international brands
luxury
● New brand launches and extension of product Currently Indian chocolate manufacturers are facing
fierce competition with the international players.
portfolios Brands such Modelez, Nestle, Ferrero etc. are well placed
● Demand for healthy options like dark and sugar in the Indian market and also dominate this sector. Indian
brands such as Amul, Cadbury etc. are also well stable and
free chocolates giving a neck to neck competition to their international
● Chocolates - A Perfect Gift Substitute counterparts.

Hurdles to overcome “International players dominance is going to be there
in few more coming years with deterioration in their
India (13 per cent) and Poland (2 per cent) were the only market share. As the overall market share of chocolate
two markets to see sales of chocolate grow last year. industry in the developed countries is now have become
Despite of such a healthy growth rate, India's chocolate steady, with negligible growth. India is one of the few
confectionery faces multiple challenges such as shortage markets, which are on the double digit growth; as per
of raw materials, farming of Coca beans, government person, consumption is negligible almost in few hundred
regulations etc. grams,” states Oberoi.

MondelezIndiasourcesathirdofitscocoarequirements International players are going to funnel more capital
locally. Asked for the reasons behind cocoa production to India looking above, which is also good for local
not rising substantially in India, KP Magudapathy, senior chocolate industry, as they (international players) have to
manager, cocoa operations, Mondelez India says, “There increase the market consumption per person.
is no specific resistance to grow cocoa. However, there are
some challenges in growing cocoa like lack of awareness But it is not all win-win situation for the international
about this crop, weather factors, competition from other brands as since Indian chocolatiers have their roots in
crops, etc, that are true to any agriculture crops. “ India, they're much aware about the demands of the local
youth and their specific targeting the niche segments
Suresh Bhandary, managing director of Mangaluru- sustainably help them in retaining the share from
based Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and international giants.
Processing Co-operative, or CAMPCO, says “In coastal
Karnataka, arecanut farmers fear planting cocoa might Though the Indian Chocolate Confectionary sector
lead to a drop in the yields of arecanut, a remunerative is rapidly growing in multiple folds, but it requires a
crop. Even if they plant cocoa, they focus more on support from the government to flourish at the same
arecanut.” Campco makes its own chocolates and also pace in future. Government has also realised the need of
supplies cocoa solids for brands like Amul. the hour and had also rolled out a subsidy of Rs 20,000
per hectare for the first three years since 2005 for the coca
Speaking about the challenges, Milan Oberoi says cultivators under National Horticulture Mission of the
“Support from the government is lacking for Indian Central Government. The most interesting part is despite
Chocolatiers. GST implementation is the last thing facing a stern competition with the International brands;
which we didn’t expected from the Government, as the domestic players are flourishing well and giving a
they implemented with the highest tax rate of 28 per healthy rivalry to global manufacturers. Picture of the
cent. Here, we can request government to lower down Indian chocolate market is looking brighter as it is all set
for overall growth of industry. There is no nodal agency to take this business to a new panorama.
from the Government for chocolate industry as well as no
directives or policies are there to support us.”

“Indian Chocolatier can’t withstand the international
players without support from the government policy.
Government should support the young entrepreneurs,
by including chocolate products in their policy to support
it with subsidized financing,” she adds.

“The Indian market is sensitive to the price. If the
price of a product is high, it cannot be consumed by the
masses. Also, in terms of importing, for franchises, it is a
bit difficult because the price of the dollar is not fixed. For
example, Patchi chocolates in Dubai are cheaper than the

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in Q&A 35

“Beauty segment Sushil Khaitan
giving inroads to
whole new range Director & CEO,
of ‘cosmeceuticals’ Purenutrition.me

products”

Mumbai based Pure Nutrition, collects, Of the 40 people how many of them are working
processes, manufactures and markets 100% in R&D and how much investments the company is
herbal nutritional supplements, cold press spending on R&D?
oils, protein powders and herbal teas. These Research is at the heart of everything we do at Pure
organic and health products are continually Nutrition - it is the one common thread that connects
being developed and expanded to address the dots between production, marketing & sales. We
various health needs. Having all its products have a dedicated research team comprising of doctors,
FSSAI certified, the parent company - Herbs nutritionists and Ayurveda experts who work in tandem
Nutriproducts has five manufacturing units with our consumer insight team, to device bioavailable
and 15 distributors across the nation. In an formulations based on the market demand. In this
interaction with NuFFooDS Spectrum Sushil industry, it is very important to keep an eye on the prize
Khaitan - Director & CEO, Purenutrition. at all times, and for both Luke and myself, this means
me shared his views about the plans of the working on quality products that require minimum
company, which has a sales revenue of over spends on marketing and advertising. We’ve always made
Rs 6 crore during last year. sure that a lot of our resources from a time & effort point
Excerpts of the interview of view are spent in understanding the ever-changing
consumer trends. We’ve seen a huge paradigm shift over
Launched in 2015, how many products Herbs the past year and a half, because of which, consumers are
Nutriproducts (parent company) has developed and now giving preference for ingredient quality over retail
launched so far? price - and this has elevated our place in the market in a
Right from the inception of the company, our philosophy huge way.
at Pure Nutrition has been to create products that are
inspired by ancient Indian medicine and backed by How many new products the company plans to bring
modern scientific methods of testing and trial. We lay out each year?
very strong emphasis on consumer research to create While it is difficult to give you a particular number, I can
our products that are not just top-notch quality, but are tell you that our product development strategy is heavily
also meeting the demand of the growing nutraceutical reliant on the market demand and the penetration
market. opportunity that we can tap into. From the onset, we are
already looking at launching nutritional supplements in
Since the launch, we have successfully formulated and sachet form, primarily for the millennial, on-the-go market
rolled out over 60 products within multiple categories that that is looking for product consumption convenience as
include highly bioavailable dietary supplements, artisan one of their top priorities. We are also working on dietary
herbal teas, cold pressed organic oils and premium quality supplements specifically aimed at vegetarians, because
functional foods. Our products retail across our own of widespread deficiencies in essential nutrients like
brand website, online marketplaces (including Amazon, vitamins B12 and D3.
HealthKart, Flipkart, etc.) and leading pharmacies in India.
With Luke’s vast experience in lifestyle nutrition care
for cancer patients, we have developed a very deep
understanding of that consumer segment as well. Cancer

36 Q&A NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

research is also important to us largely because we have numbers, dietary supplements have seen a great uptake
closely observed challenges along the lines of nutritional owing to the steady rise of nutrition deficiencies among
malabsorption and deficiency problems in chemotherapy the working population. Our raw, organic, cold-pressed
patients. Our product range will address both the coconut oil is another hot seller - we’ve had customers
physiological and cosmetic concerns of cancer patients. call us and tell us just how much they love this product
(which, to me, is my greatest reward).
What is your USP against other brands available in the
market? Our most recent launch, Prostrum Kids is slowly
What sets us apart from the competition is the fact that becoming a favourite among young parents. It is one of
since inception, we have been committed to creating India’s first advanced nutrition supplements for kids that
premium quality, preventive care nutraceutical products is fortified with Colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk from
that cater to the last-mile Indian consumer market. Pure cows and is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals &
Nutrition specializes in the creation of nutraceutical growth factors.
products, including dietary supplements and functional
foods with high quality ingredients for outcome-based How do you see the opportunities for the products
results. We create premium formulations of plant based that fall under other categories?
supplements that have notably higher bioactivity levels, Our herbal tea range is showing a good increase in sales
which ensures better absorption in the human body. and I largely attribute this to the increase in disposable
income, especially in the middle-income family segment
If we have to make a direct comparison, you will find and also the growing size of the artisan tea market.
plenty of synthetic products in the market that are not
easily absorbed by the human body, which means that The beauty segment has also been one of the
they have little to no effect. The only benefit, if any, is fastest growing sectors in India, giving inroads to a
caused by the placebo effect. whole new range of “cosmeceuticals” products into
this market. Cosmeceuticals include products that are
You have a range of products under Dietary aimed at promoting nail, hair, and skin care, and weight
supplements, herbal tea, cold pressed oils, functional management. We’ve seen a tremendous uptake in some
foods category. Which one is doing well? of our products including Collagen Max that can be slated
Now that is a tricky one! All our formulations are designed in this range. Even if you go by the numbers, industry
to cater to different conditions/nutrition requirements of insiders believe that the share of the cosmeceutical sector
the human body, so as a promoter it is very difficult for alone shall be worth an estimated $ 7.5 Billion by 2024,
me to tell you my favourite category. But if we go by the so we’re guaranteed to see a spike in sales within these
categories as well.

Having archived sales revenue of Rs 6 crore what
target you have set for year 2018?
It’s hard to put a precise figure on the scale of growth, but
there’s no doubt that there’s tremendous potential, which
is why you’ll see so many new players being drawn to the
sector. So far, we have only tapped into a small segment,
but this will grow in the coming years. At present, 2 per
cent of the global nutraceutical market revenue comes
from India, although we have 17 per cent of the world’s
population and this itself should give you an idea of the
mega opportunity that is in store for us!

We have seen a great uptake over the last 6 months
and are clocking double digit growth in month-on-month
sales. We are also looking to start franchise stores pan India
so that the products are also accessible from an offline
POV for the end consumer. We also plan on launching our
own range of whey protein-rich FMCG consumables that
include granola mixes, on-the-go snack bars, ice creams,
jams, cookies, nut butters etc.

Narayan Kulkarni
[email protected]

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in BIOTALK 37

“Coffee is loaded Dr Sanjiv Chopra
with antioxidants
MD, Professor of medicine
and beneficial and former faculty dean
nutrients for for Continuing Medical
Education at Harvard
improving health” Medical School

Dozens of studies have shown the striking How did your research interest in coffee begin?
health benefits of coffee. Regardless, many in One of the earliest studies citing the scientific benefits of
the general public continue to believe coffee coffee was done 30 years ago, stating that people who
consumption is something to cut back on, drink coffee have lower levels of liver enzymes. That is how I
not something that has positive implications became aware of the potentially powerful protective effects
for those struggling with liver disease, Type of coffee. The high levels of liver enzymes indicate signs
2 diabetes, and heart disease, among others. of liver diseases. Over the time, studies have shown that
NuFFooDS Spectrum recently interacted with drinking more coffee could reduce the risk of developing
Dr Sanjiv Chopra, MD, Professor of medicine the most common form of primary liver cancer. Drinking
and former faculty dean for Continuing one cup more of caffeinated coffee a day was associated
Medical Education at Harvard Medical with a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of developing
School. In his latest book, "The Big Five: 5 hepatocellular cancer, two cups more with a 35 per cent
Simple Things You Can Do to Live a Longer, reduction, and up to five cups with a halving of the risk.
Healthier Life," Dr Chopra reveals the easiest Hepatocellular cancer is the second leading cause of cancer
research-backed ways we can improve our death globally because of its poor prognosis and high
health on a daily basis. Number one on his frequency, especially in China and Southeast Asia. It mostly
list: Drink coffee!! develops in people who are already suffering from chronic
Excerpts of the interview liver disease. The compound molecules found in coffee
possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic
and other beneficial properties, which scientists believe
may explain the lower rates of chronic liver disease and

SOUTH INDIA IS MORE CONNECTED WITH COFFEE AS
COMPARED TO NORTH INDIANS. IT WOULD BE WORTH
STUDYING THE PATTERN OF MANY DISEASES SUCH
AS DIABETES, ALZHEIMER’S, PARKINSON’S BETWEEN
NORTH AND SOUTH INDIA. THE CURE RATES OF
VARIOUS DISEASES CAN BE COMPARED AND THE DATA
CAN BE CONNECTED WITH COFFEE AND NON- COFFEE
DRINKERS ACCORDINGLY. MY PREDICTION IS THAT
THE CURE RATES MIGHT BE BETTER IN SOUTH INDIA.

38 BIOTALK NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

liver cancer experienced by coffee-drinkers. I truly believe With so many health benefits, can coffee be considered
that by drinking coffee “You’re doing your liver a big favor”. a natural medicine? Or are there any detrimental
effects associated?
Studies have revealed that people who drink coffee, I term coffee as a wonder drug. I recommend drinking 3 to
live longer. How true is that? 4 cups of coffee every day. Some recent research studies
The relationship between coffee consumption, disease, and have shown that more than three cups a day lowers
mortality has been studied many times. One of the most women’s risk of developing the most common skin cancer
recent and largest investigations was conducted in the US by 20 per cent, more than six cups a day cuts men’s risk of
some time back. Caffeine consumption has been shown to dying from prostate cancer by 60 per cent, drinking at least
be inversely related to telomere length. Repeated at each one cup of coffee a day lowers women’s risk of stroke by
chromosome end, telomeres are nucleoprotein structures up to 25 per cent, and consuming at least two cups daily
that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Short reduces women’s chances of becoming depressed by up
telomeres generally lead to negative health consequences. to 20 per cent. According to Dr van Dam of the Harvard
Conversely, coffee intake is positively related to telomere School of Public Health, as long as your body can tolerate
length. Unfortunately, much of the epidemiologic research it there are no negative effects associated with drinking up
on the effects of caffeine has focused on coffee intake, not to six eight-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee (one hundred
caffeine. This study, which investigated the relationships milligrams) a day. The Mayo Clinic reports that four cups
between caffeine and coffee intakes and telomere length, appears to be safe for most healthy adults. The American
shows that as caffeine intake increases, telomeres tend to Medical Association (AMA) points out that two to three
be shorter in adults. On the other hand, this investigation eight-ounce cups is about average but that ten cups is an
indicates that as coffee intake increases, telomeres tend excessive amount. The AMA also states that when coffee is
to be longer. Because telomere length is a biomarker of loaded with sweeteners and taste enhancers it can silently
the senescence of cells, the present findings suggest that add to obesity.
cell aging may be accelerated in adults as caffeine intake
increases, but may be decelerated as coffee consumption Most of these studies have been conducted in the US
increases. and few other countries. What pattern do you expect to
see in India?
Can green tea pose as a good alternative to coffee as it I am not sure but it would be interesting to conduct
is a rich source of antioxidants? studies among the north and south population of India.
Green tea does offer many health benefits but I have not South India is more connected with coffee as compared
come across many studies done on green tea as compared to North Indians. It would be worth studying the pattern
to coffee. It is possible that some surprising results might of many diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
come out revealing better health benefits of consuming between north and south India. I had suggested this to a
green tea. On the other hand, coffee is loaded with liver doctor at GB Pant Hospital in Delhi some years back.
antioxidants and beneficial nutrients for improving health. The cure rates of various diseases can be compared and
Studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a much lower the data can be connected with coffee and non- coffee
risk of several serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Type 2 drinkers accordingly. My prediction is that the cure rates
diabetes, Parkinson’s and cardiovascular diseases. might be better in South India.

Would you recommend coffee instead of energy drinks
to athletes for enhancing their energy levels?
Well, a lot of studies have shown that athletes who drink
coffee have a better endurance and energy. Energy drinks
are widely consumed by young athletes all over the world,
but there may be dangerous side effects of these drinks
that a majority are unaware about. The negative health
effects of energy drinks include rapid heartbeats, difficulty
in sleeping, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest
pain and in very rare cases seizures. I would recommend
consumption of coffee to athletes associated with sports
such as archery and shooting.

Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVIDENCE BASED 39

Scientific Rationale and Vilas Ramrao Shirhatti
Evidence for Nutrition
and Health Claims Director Technical,
Envirocare Labs
Many global consumer survey have shown that majority of
the consumers do not have much faith in the claims made on
food products. This is unfortunate since this takes away a good
opportunity of promoting the right product that will have an

intended health benefit to consumers.

Continuous development in Science and technology many new functional foods and health supplements.
will be having an impact on increasing the span With increasing cost of medical treatments consumers
and quality of life. However, we are at a point of are realizing that food is the most cost effective tool for
development where the real improvement in especially, staying healthy. So it is natural that consumers apart
quality of life will come more from behavioral changes in from nutritional content will be increasingly asking the
our life style rather than from new medical treatments. It question as to what is the benefit for which I should be
is not an easy task to divert consumer behavior toward consuming a particular food.
nutritional and healthy food choice behavior. As the world
moves towards more and more packaged and branded Claims will be an important part of answering these
foods, well intentioned food companies in future are best questions, educating consumers and in promoting the
suited to lead the movement towards behavior change. right food choices. However, if the claims do not have
Claims being an important component of consumer right scientific rationale and sufficient scientific evidence
communication that influences behavioral change will and only become a creative marketing tool then they will
have to be developed based on proper rationale and mislead the consumers and erode the trust of consumers.
scientific rigor keeping in mind the ultimate consumer In reality, many global consumer survey have shown that
welfare. majority of the consumers do not have much faith in the
claims made on food products. This is unfortunate since
Food is very strongly associated with fun, pleasure, this takes away a good opportunity of promoting the
enjoyment, celebration and style and even today right product that will have an intended health benefit to
consumer choices of food are primarily driven by taste consumers.
and convenience. However, increasingly consumers are
becoming aware that food is an integral part of good
health and plays a key role in preventing or delaying the
onset of many diseases especially the life style diseases.
Majority of the chronic medical conditions are mainly due
to poor diet and are preventable by right choice of food.
Consumer expectation of food today is that it provides
optimum nutrition, positive health impact and improves
performance without compromising on the taste and
pleasure.

Apart from the essential macro and micronutrients
today we do know about several phytonutrients,
enzymes, and microorganisms not considered essential
nutrients but provide positive impact on health, improve
performance and help in disease prevention.Technologies
are being developed to provide these in concentrated
form and enable their incorporation in to daily consumed
foods. Consumers desire to stay healthy, fit and achieve
high performance is leading to a demand creation for

40 EVIDENCE BASED NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

What happens when claims are more for selling that high blood cholesterol is one of the risk factors for
the product rather than the welfare of consumers? The heart disease. It was believed that high dietary intake of
liberal use of the claims like ‘low fat’ and ‘low sugar’ on cholesterol leads to high blood cholesterol was something
many products were supposed to help the consumers the scientific community always debated. However, the
reduce the burden of these macronutrients that were communications went out to consumers that high intake
responsible for the global obesity burden. These claims of dietary cholesterol is bad, manufacturers declared
were based on relative comparisons with other products the cholesterol levels in their products, developed
and there was no scientific basis of defining what is truly technologies to reduce cholesterol and also make
low fat or low sugar taking in to account the normal cholesterol free products.
consumption of these foods. These claims were also
accompanied by larger pack sizes. The claims helped Consumers made a choice of avoiding cholesterol
consumer overcome the guilt feeling but actually led to containing products, not eating egg yolk, reducing intake
increased consumption of these products which was not of cheese etc. There was lack of scientific evidence to
in the best interest of consumer wellness. Net result these show that dietary intake affected the blood cholesterol
products contributed to the burden of obesity instead of level. This issue is now being to put to rest by declaring
reducing it to an extent of food industry being labeled as that ‘dietary cholesterol is not really relevant’. This will
the “tobacco industry of the new millennium”. leave millions of consumers worldwide confused and
unfortunately may give rise to increase in consumption of
On the other hand is the case of iodine deficiency which high cholesterol foods which is also not desirable as they
affects the thyroid function, largely affecting women was also have high saturated fat content.
a major public health issue globally. Proper scientific
studies done in several countries, epidemiological Quite often the debates and discussions happens
evidence, clinical trials, analytical methods to measure more on the wordings of the claim, its legality and who
iodine, iodine salts that are stable during storage and has the burden of proof, is it manufacturer or regulatory
release iodine when needed, identification of common agency or scientific community. Scientific evidence
salt as the most suitable carrier, studies on health benefits needs multidiscipline approach, patience, time and large
amongst postulations regularly consuming iodized salt funding. Take the example of Framingham study initiated
and so on were done on a massive scale. This was followed
by continuous consumer education and even making use
of iodized salt mandated by many governments. Iodized
salt in eradicating iodine deficiency disorders among
different races around the world is clearly a big success
story of changing consumer behavior in accepting
iodized salt and ultimate consumer wellness.

The scientific rationale and scientific evidences are
beyond doubt and iodization has benefitted millions
of consumers around the world. The entire drive for
fortification of foods with Vitamin D, E, A, Folic acid and
iron is based on very sound and thorough scientific
research and their implementation goal is consumer
wellness at large. However, in allowing claims the context
is very important even when there is sufficient science.
Consumption of whole grain foods helps reduce the risk
of heart disease in adults, but excess of whole grain foods
may cause malnutrition in rapidly growing infants. Many
consumer surveys have indicated that consumers have
more faith in claims when they are supported or endorsed
by government and regulatory agencies.

The question of what is sufficient scientific evidence
is a complicated and challenging one especially, when
the scientific opinion itself is divided on the subject.
Regulatory bodies worldwide have been struggling to
come with guidelines to define the scientific evidence
to substantiate the claims. It has long been established

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVIDENCE BASED 41

in 1948 by National Heart, Lung and blood Institute is THE NEW REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED
perhaps one of the most ambitious studies undertaken
in the world to establish the risk factors for heart disease. BY FSSAI IN THE RECENT PAST HAVE

Today our understanding of the risk factors of heart PERMITTED USAGE OF A LONG LIST
disease, like hypertension, high blood cholesterol,
high blood triglycerides, age, gender and treatment OF ADDITIVES, TRADITIONAL HERBAL
approaches, the bad influence of trans fats, the role of
unsaturated fats, role of exercise are all outcome of this INGREDIENTS, AYURVEDA INGREDIENTS,
study. This study has continued to follow not only one
generation of participants but has followed it with their NEW CATEGORIES OF FOODS LIKE
next generation in 1971 and their next generation in 1993
and their next generation in 2003. The study has been still HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS, PREBIOTICS,
running with its scope getting expanded.
PROBIOTICS, NUTRACEUTICALS AND
The new regulations announced by FSSAI in the recent
past have permitted usage of a long list of additives, SO ON. MANY OF THESE INGREDIENTS
traditional herbal ingredients, Ayurveda ingredients,
new categories of foods like health supplements, AND CATEGORY OF FOODS WILL BE
prebiotics, probiotics, Nutraceuticals and so on. Many of
these ingredients and category of foods will be new to NEW TO CONSUMERS AND THEY WILL
consumers and they will have questions on their benefit,
usage, context of usage. With such complex choice of HAVE QUESTIONS ON THEIR BENEFIT,
ingredients even monitoring their quality and quantity
itself will be a challenge. For many of these ingredients USAGE, CONTEXT OF USAGE. WITH SUCH
there are no defined analytical methods to begin with.
So even assessing the nutritional content claim and its COMPLEX CHOICE OF INGREDIENTS

EVEN MONITORING THEIR QUALITY AND

QUANTITY ITSELF WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

stability during shelf life itself will be a big challenge.
Nutrition and health claims will be an important part
of the consumer communication and play a vital role in
guiding them to make the right choice of foods.

There are many medical conditions such as
hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, caries, constipation
that can be better managed by choice of right foods. As
many of these new food products will hit the market, one
will also see several new claims as well. Unfortunately,
regulation of various claims is inadequate, and the level
of evidence is often at the discretion of the producer.
However, the ban on health claims hinders the accessibility
of really beneficial food products to consumers. It takes
a huge amount of multidisciplinary approach, stamina,
time and money to prove the health benefit of a food
or an ingredient. If companies are not allowed to make
bold claims they will be unwilling to invest this kind of
money and time. We are still in the process of discovering
many new phytonutrients and their health benefits. In
many cases the government, regulator, universities and
multidiscipline scientific community will have to come
together to address this issue.

The ultimate objective of claim or consumer
communication at large must be consumer wellness and
this is possible only if the claims are developed based on
an appropriate rationale, context and scientific rigor. In
the coming months we will explore this area in greater
detail, look at some success stories, limitations and
possible options.

42 Q&A NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Ehsan Huq “India needs more
stringent testing
Managing Director, SCIEX India techniques”

Indian food sector is going through a colossal leakage in the food chain; and though still favorable, the
transformation and it is all set to explore new trade surplus trend is not encouraging. Our advantage is
avenues of this trade. Though global food a vibrant local market and adequate domestic demand to
market is spreading its nexus quite rapidly, the merit the requisite investments to make in India; and make
Indian food sector is also growing in multiple India a major player.
folds, especially after receiving a thumping
response from the World Food India 2017. In There is always a brighter side at the end of the tunnel.
order to get the deeper understanding of this What are the notable opportunities that Sciex is eyeing
business, NuFFooDS Spectrum’s Nitin Konde for?
spoke to Ehsan Huq, Managing Director, SCIEX SCIEX India has been fortunate to have the support of our
India, who shared his views on challenges customers. We are extremely grateful for that, and continue
before the sector and what needs to be done. to build on our relationships in our core business segments
while striving to create new ones in adjacent or new
What are the major challenges that you are anticipating markets. There is an apparent increase in public spending;
to face this year? and while not without challenges, it does provide an
There is a definite trend towards the adoption of more exciting opportunity for the future. In the longer term, I
sensitive analytical instrumentation technology in food would hope that food testing for domestic consumption
testing; potentially creating a possible short-term skill was as stringent as the requirement to export.
deficit, manifesting itself in an increased need for training
and support. At SCIEX, we have created an innovative What are the parameters where Indian government
Introductory and advanced LCMS course at our Centre needs to focus on if they want to take this business to a
of Excellence in Gurgaon to mitigate that; and all our new horizon?
customers have access to the online SCIEX University I sense commitment in this area; and that’s a good start.
courses. From a support perspective, our investments to The basics are around developing infrastructure for
provide Indian customers with StatusScope for proactive optimum irrigation, crop maximization, husbandry,
instrument diagnosis; and SCIEXNow for real time adequate storage, standardizing uniform quality and easy
resolution are steps towards ensuring that we maintain the access to ports and markets. There is a definite need for skill
highest levels of service that our customers expect from us; building through the chain; and cultivating further private
and continue to set benchmarks in our industry. investment.

How do you see India’s food market in the coming years As compared to a developed nation, where does India
and does it have the potential to become the hub of the stand when it comes to food testing system?
global processed food chain? In India, there is a need for more stringent testing
I am cautiously optimistic of the long term prospects. The techniques for product intended for exports. The issues
reality of today is an availability of natural resources with a are different in more developed markets. Their focus shifts
gap in the required logistical infrastructure. There is severe from basic safety, to matters like food authenticity; and
potential food fraud. It is no longer about a permissible
level of pesticide in food; but whether what is consumed is
actually what was intended.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SCIENCE NEWS 43

CCMB’s studies show connection between nutrition and diabetes

Scientists at Hyderabad-based basically methyl group is added to only vitamin B12 and not folic acid
Centre for Cellular and Molecular DNA which can result in change influences regulation of several Type
Biology (CCMB), a laboratory of the in its activity. Scientists found that 2 Diabetes associated genes through
Council of Scientific and Industrial methylation of a specific microRNA.
Research (CSIR), have revealed
that good nutrition in the form of To understand the programming
B12 and folic acid supplements of complex diseases in more detail,
has a beneficial impact on genes the group of scientists is currently
associated with Type 2 diabetes. working a group of mothers who
were given micronutrients, to see
Vitamins B12 and folate plays an the effect of supplementation in
important role in DNA methylation, their offspring. This work is being
a process that regulates various done in collaboration with C S Yajnik
function of genes without altering at KEM Hospital and Research Centre
the sequence. In DNA methylation, (KEMHRC), Pune.

MSU researchers IGKV, BARC find
work on curing obesity anti-cancer properties
in three rice varieties
A team of scientists at Maharaja Sayajirao University
(MSU), Baroda have claimed success with a potent anti- According to a recent research conducted by the Indira
obesity agent in studies done in laboratory animals.
Obesity has emerged as public health problem, Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur and the
resulting in significant burden of non-communicable
diseases. The group has designed new molecules Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai, three
that seem to be effective in controlling food intake
in preliminary studies done in rats. The researchers medicinal varieties of rice found in Chhatisgarh - Gathwan,
screened database of chemical compounds and
identified a chemical moiety, phenothiazine that Maharaji and Laicha - have the ability to fight cancer.
can be modified to act as an anti-obesity agent.
These compounds containing phenothiazine act on These varieties were taken from the rice germplasm
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 and inhibit it.
bank preserved
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1R) is a class of
receptors involved in various functions like regulating in IGKV. The three
our appetite, pain and emotions. Preliminary studies
done in rats showed significant decrease in food varieties of rice have
intake as compared to rats in the control group.
The group is currently in the process of chemical properties to cure
modification and optimization of molecule activity
that can then be converted in the form of drug. The lungs and breast
researchers have filed a patent application in India for
these compounds. cancers without

affecting normal

cells. Of them, Laicha

has been found to

be the most effective

in preventing

proliferation of cancer

cells and destroying

them. As part of the research, Gathwan, Maharaji and

Laicha have been used for medicinal purpose in many

pockets of Raipur, particularly in the tribal region of Bastar.

Scientists have revealed that Gathwan also has the

property to cure arthritis. Similarly, Laicha has been used in

treating skin-related problems by villagers in some areas.

In the next stage of research, BARC scientists are trying to

extract the anti-cancer ingredients or elements from these

varieties and conduct trials on the mouse. Subsequently,

they plan to develop it as dietary supplement which will

be easy for consumption for people.

44 SCIENCE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

DBT to study Vitamin D Scientists design
deficiency among Indians bioactive paper
to protect food
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has decided to conduct
research on Vitamin D deficiency in India-public health significance A group of researchers from Argentina’s
and interventions. DBT aims to study the skeletal and non- National Scientific and Technical Research
skeletal benefits, safety and potential adverse effects of Vitamin D Council (Conicet) have developed a
supplementation and fortification in Indians. The department will bioactive paper with antioxidant and
also study non-dietary interventions including sunshine exposure antimicrobial properties to solve the
and exercise in alleviating Vitamin D deficiency and genetic storage and transport issues that cause
determinants of Vitamin D metabolism and their association with food to decay and threaten human
biological consequences. Scientists will study the representative health. According to researchers, in most
national prevalence data of Vitamin D deficiency specifically cases, packaged foods are damaged by
correlated with biological consequences, especially in vulnerable micro-organisms such as molds, yeasts,
populations including pregnant and lactating women, infants and bacteria that can be harmful to
and elderly, and among people living in rural and coastal areas. humans. The research aims to provide
As most of the Indians assume that they can only get Vitamin D solutions to this problem by developing
from sunlight, DBT will also study potential vegetarian dietary a new type of paper or carton packaging
sources and bio-availability of Vitamin D, the role of other nutrients, where specific natural molecules are
especially calcium, in determining requirements and biological injected into the surfaces cellulose. The
functioning of Vitamin D. The studies will also aim at mechanistically project won an annual prize funded by
understanding the effects of Vitamin D deficiency, in various cells food company Arcor and the National
and tissues. Agency for Scientific and Technological
Promotion. The award includes a cash
component of $7,600.

Experts look for useful genes in uncultivated rice varieties

A team of researchers at the Division beneficial genes for rice breeding
of Crop Improvement, National and crop improvement. Both these
Rice Research Institute at Cuttack varieties are close relatives of Asian
have performed genetic analysis cultivated rice yet with very different
of wild or uncultivated rice found and unique properties.
in Eastern India, to identify regions
that give unique properties to these The team has identified a total
rice and which can be exploited of 30 rare variants of genes in these
to produce better varieties for rice varieties with majority of new
enhanced productivity. Researchers variants in O. rufipogon as compared
studied two uncultivated varieties to O. nivara. In one of the varieties,
of rice, Oryza rufipogon and Oryza they have identified regions
nivara from West Bengal and Odisha associated with drought tolerance
that could be important source of which could be quite beneficial in
crop improvement programmes.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in ACADEMIC NEWS 45

CFTRI focuses on
food processing training

Odisha With the conclusion of the three Department of Commerce and
day food processing training which Industries, Government of Manipur.
government was held as part of the objective Oinam Awang Leikai Development
of CSIR-Central Food Technology Association, which will run the food
signs MoU Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) processing unit, was formed as a
Mysuru to develop food processing self-help group (SHG) in 2008 and
with ICRAF in the North East region, Commerce has a strength of 100 members.
and Industry Minister, Th Biswajit Varieties of pickles, juice, fermented
Odisha government has Singh recently inaugurated a food fish, fermented soyabean, chilli
signed an agreement with processing centre, under the name powder will be produced at the
International Centre for Kanglei foods at Oinam Awang centre. The current activity of the
Research in Agroforestry Leikai, Manipur. The inauguration SHG is to procure raw fruits and
(ICRAF) to produce and of the food processing unit was vegetables, cereals, meat, fish etc.
consume more nutritious organized by Oinam Awang and then processing into value
food through Agro Forestry Leikai Women’s Development added products in a tiny scale
Systems. The Memorandum Association in association with by adopting locally available
of Understanding (MoU) CSIR – Central Food Technological technologies with the available
was signed between ICRAF Research Institute, Mysuru and infrastructure.
Regional Director, South
Asia, Programme, New MoFPI to set up IIFPT in Bathinda
Delhi Javed Rizvi and,
Commissioner & Director, Union Food Processing and Technology Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Soil Conservation and recently announced the establishment of a business incubation training
Watershed Development centre of the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) in
Sujata Kartikeyan in the Bathinda and also invited farmers to participate in a training camp at the
presence of Agriculture centre, to avail of food processing industry schemes. The one-day workshop
and Farmer Empowerment was conducted to provide a unique opportunity to progressive farmers,
Minister Pradip Maharathi. who want to avail loans to start their own businesses, be it fish farming, bee
Agriculture Production keeping or even dairies. The focus of the workshop was not only on providing
Commissioner Gagan Kumar loans to farmers with built-in subsidy, but also on training them to make their
Dhal and other senior new endeavours a success.
officers were also present.
The overall objective of the
project is to enable small
holders to produce diverse
and nutritious food and
would focus on to create
awareness about benefits
of consuming diversified
nutritious farm produce
including, fruits, vegetables,
and other tree based
produce.

46 SUPPLIER NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Siegwerk Cargill
India goes inks
toluene free distribution
pact with
Siegwerk, suppliers of Univar
printing inks for packaging
applications worldwide Cargill’s North American Food distribution network. The deal also
have strengthened its Ingredients & Bio-Industrial division grows Univar’s portfolio of food
portfolio in India by has announced that it has signed a ingredients brands, allowing Univar
going Toluene free. The long-term strategic agreement with to provide new products to its clients
unfavourable toxicological international ingredients distributor in the bakery, prepared foods, meat,
and organoleptic Univar. The deal includes an poultry, seafood, snacks, dairy and
properties of toluene ingredients distribution agreement, beverage industries. Cargill will also
are the driving factors which will allow Cargill’s ingredients benefit from access to Univar’s team of
in moving away from arm to expand the distribution of consultive industry experts, who will
the solvent. This move its range of starches, sweeteners, provide recommendations and advice
will further support the cocoa, texturizers and oils to new regarding industry trends, supply
strategy of global brand, consumers through Univar’s global chain solutions and regulatory issues.
which have restricted or
even completely banned Jain Farm Fresh Foods acquires
the usage of toluene in
ink formulations intended 100% stake in Innovafood, Belgium
for food packaging.
In principle, in the Maharashtra based Jain Farm Fresh Foods Ltd (JFFFL) has acquired a 100
manufacture of all products per cent controlling stake in Innovafood N V Belgium with its affiliated
supplied by Siegwerk for companies. Due to this acquisition, JFFFL’s range of products would
NP&H (Nutrition, Pharma reach European markets along with Asian countries.
& Hygiene) applications,
toluene or raw materials Founded in 2000, Innovafood is a leading importer, stockiest and
containing toluene are distributor of food ingredients and has become one of the leading
not used as intentionally- players in the dehydrated vegetable, spice and other food ingredient
added ingredients. The sectors in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and other neighbouring
Siegwerk Bhiwadi site countries. A subsidiary of Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd (JISL), JFFFL’s
is now toluene free and product portfolio is very wide and includes
does not use toluene in its aseptic, dehydrated, individual quick frozen
manufacturing processes. (IQF), frozen and humidity-lessened
To ensure compliance and vegetables and different spices produced
rule out any possibility in different geographies.
of cross contamination,
Siegwerk India has This acquisition will help JFFFL to get
established adequate a step closer to the market, have a direct
controls to guarantee the presence in the large food ingredient market,
inks delivered to customers bring cost efficiencies by optimising the
are toluene free. Siegwerk supply chain and provide market access
has been aware of the need and further value addition opportunities in
for safe printing inks for the food ingredient market directly.
packaging applications
from the beginning and
has made ink safety one of
its guiding principles.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SUPPLIER NEWS 47

Sami-Sabinsa, Eurofins sign
pact for proprietary ingredients

Sami-Sabinsa Group has elected the results. This wastes time, money, PrintStop
analytical testing services company and sometimes even good will.
Eurofins Scientific, an international In response to these market and to launch
leader in analytical testing with contract manufacturer challenges in
specialties in probiotic and ingredient verification, Eurofins will customized
supplement raw material analysis, adopt proprietary methods from
as their global partner for botanical Sami-Sabinsa to test the company’s food packaging
raw material ID testing as well ingredients.
as testing on Sabinsa’s patented range
extracts and probiotic ingredients. Proprietary methods developed
by Sabinsa’s parent company Sami Mumbai based PrintStop is
Identity testing of proprietary Labs being shared with Eurofins launching several products
ingredients can get complicated includes LactoSpore enumeration in the Customised Food
when the testing lab does not know along with extracts such as Packaging space like food
which test methods are best for a Curcumin C3 Complex, BioPerine, tray boxes, sandwich boxes,
specific ingredient. When a testing ForsLean and many more, to cake, pastry boxes and
lab uses different methods than the support contract manufacturers and paper bags. These products
manufacturer, or even other labs, it marketing companies looking for are best suited for QSR's,
can cause inaccurately “failed” test validation. restaurant chains, food
delivery businesses and
Saraf Foods raises speciality restaurant owners.
Rs 30 Crore funding According to the company,
as newer players line up,
Vadodara-based Saraf Foods Ltd. has raised its second round of funding there is a higher need for
worth Rs 30 crore from a consortium comprising of existing investors -Saraf customised food packaging
family, PEDORIA and DSG Consumer Partners, and an additional stake has to help differentiation and
been picked up by Danish create a brand recall. New
Investment Fund- IFU. International Brands are
coming in, several new
Apart from this infusion domestic brands are starting
of capital, it also involves up and current Food and
loan from SBI and subsidy Beverage veterans are
from Ministry of Food expanding and consolidating
Processing Industries under their business via multiple
cold chain scheme. brands. Several online
food delivery brands like
As per the company, Zomato, Swiggy etc. are
the fund infusion will aid looking to increase their
backward integration in footprint. The increase in
Individual Quick Freezing, demand of multicultural
add capacity to freeze cuisines like Thai, Mexican,
drying and diversify into Italian, Lebanese, etc. not
air drying. With a fortified just in metros but in Tier I
infrastructure in place, Saraf Foods aims to garner over 200 per cent growth & Tier II cities has led to an
in revenues to Rs 100 crore by 2020 from Rs 30 crore in 2017. The company is unprecedented demand
into freeze drying specialist and food processing space. and growth in the Food and
Beverage Industry.
Other than Danish Investment Fund, IFU; the rest of the investors
were also part of Saraf’s first funding round in 2013 when it picked a total
investment of Rs 10 crore from DSG Consumer Partners, also involving a term
loan from the State Bank of India.

48 PEOPLE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

ICRISAT scientist receives global award

Dr Hari D. Upadhyaya from the He started his career as a
International Crops Research postdoctoral fellow at ICRISAT and
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics then moved as Groundnut Breeder
(ICRISAT) has received the Global and Head of Oilseeds Program at the
Legacy Award, along with six University of Agricultural Sciences,
other scientists, for exceptional Raichur, India. Later at ICRISAT he
contribution through his work on worked to develop early maturing,
preservation of crop diversity. drought and aflatoxin resistant,
and high oil groundnut varieties.
Dr Upadhyaya is currently Thirty of his varieties are grown in
based at ICRISAT’s headquarters in 22 countries. His seminal work on
Hyderabad as Head, Genebank, and postulating mini core concept has
Principal Scientist. He has received been recognized as ‘International
several international awards in Public Goods’, which led to the
recognition of his contribution to identification of climate-smart and
the field of seed conservation and seed nutrient dense germplasm.
promotion of crop diversity.

Munmun Ganeriwal Gautam B to
bags Nutritionist award
head FoodPanda
Munmun Ganeriwal has been honoured as the Best Nutritionist
at the 5th World Women Leadership Congress & Awards (WWLC) strategically
2018 in Mumbai. Munmun promotes the philosophy of 'Local food,
Global spirit' and helps her clients develop permanent lifestyle and Online food delivery marketplace
behaviour changes for better healthy lifestyle. For almost 15 years FoodPanda has announced the
now, nutritionist and fitness expert, Munmun Ganeriwal, represents appointment of Gautam Balijepalli as
the health and wellness sector. its Head of Strategy. In his new role,
Balijepalli will directly work with the
Munmun's enterprise, Yuktahaar has been recognized amongst '50 CEO and leadership team to lay out
Best Wellness Companies - Global Listing' by World Health & Wellness a strategic direction in sync with the
Congress & Awards. Munmun received the honour for excelling in her organisation’s business objectives.
efforts to help transform the lives of individuals and families and make
them healthy, fit and disease-free. The WWLC identifies and celebrates Balijepalli was earlier a venture
the outstanding leadership and achievements demonstrated by capital investor at Ojas Ventures where
women leaders that are reflected by the distinct innovations and he invested in a number of companies
initiatives brought in by them in various private and public sectors. and helped them scale through active
board-level involvement. An alumnus
of IIT Chennai and London Business
School, Balijepalli joins the team with
a strong entrepreneurial background
having co-founded CartPerk
Technologies. He has also been an
investor and mentor to businesses,
such as WarmOven, in the food space.

This newly created role at
foodpanda is envisioned to synergise
with the food tech ecosystem for a
unified approach towards creating the
best offerings for partner restaurants
and consumers.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVENT REPORT 49

33rd AAHAR: International Food & Hospitality Fair

“India has yet to realize its full
potential in food and hospitality sectors”

“India has yet to realize its full potential in food Union Minister of Commerce and Industries, Government of
and hospitality sectors. The Government had geared India, Suresh Prabhu, addressing after inaugurating the 33rd
up to launch a ‘pro- farmer based agri-policy’ to ensure edition of AAHAR- the International Food and Hospitality Fair
value addition of their produce and providing direct (March 13-17, 2018) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on March
linkages with the export activity, thereby becoming an 13. Present on the occasion were Jacek Bogucki, First Deputy
integral part of retail and supply chain globally,” said Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development of
Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Republic of Poland, Nejmeddine Lakhal, Ambassador of the
government of India. Republic of Tunisia, and Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, Special Advisor
to the Prime Minister of Japan, L.C. Goyal, CMD, India Trade
Speaking after inaugurating the 33rd AAHAR food Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Narendra Kumar Singh, CMD,
exhibition organized in New Delhi from 13th of March APEDA and Deepak Kumar, Executive Director, ITPO.
to 17th of March with a theme ‘AAHAR-The International
Food & Hospitality Fair’, he said “Events such as ‘AAHAR’ importers & distributers, start-ups & Entrepreneurs,
provides an excellent platform for the all stakeholders Executive Chefs & Executive Housekeepers, Overseas &
to have meaningful interaction, collaboration and Indian Industry Associations, Purchase Professionals &
investment opportunities”. Consultants actively participated in AAHAR.

Highlighting the vast export potential of marine Indian hospitality industry is considered a major
sector products , the Minister mentioned that there attraction for FDI. It is clocking CAGR of 14 per cent.
are 13 coastal states including Union Territories in Foreign investors are keen to make use of this opportunity
India with abundant marine products. He indicated to satisfy the market needs. It has been estimated that
that a comprehensive roadmap was being prepared more than $ 6 billion FDI came into the country, in the
by the Government to double the exports of marine hospitality sector, during the last few years and that
products. Referring to the participation of Japan in the is why unlike previous years, active participation from
fair, he pointed out that India has to adopt Japanese hospitality sector was visible this time.
innovations and technology to provide a fillip to the
marine sector through value - addition and preservation AAHAR has been organized every year by Indian Trade
practices of marine products. Promotion Organization, the trade promotion body of
Government of India with the help of Ministry of food
Stressing the need to vitalize the hospitality processing and industries.
sectors, he indicated that the fair is devoted to
‘food’ and ‘hospitality’which are integral part of India’s Over 900 exhibitors from India and abroad
ancient heritage and culture. He stated that the participated in the five day exhibition this time. The
country registered a 17 to 20 per cent increase in the foreign participation from 18 countries including USA,
aviation market last year and the food and hospitality China, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Spain, Oman, South Korea,
sector has to gear itself in providing quality services, Thailand, UAE, Peru, Norway, Indonesia, Canada, Tunisia,
including conducive air travel and cargo facilities. Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan were seen.

A book titled “Food & Agri Products Registered as GI”
was also released by Suresh Prabhu. This compilation
by APEDA contains essential details in respect of 91
registered food and agri GIs up to February 2018 to
facilitate interested consumers and traders in different
parts of the world to establish contact with the registered
proprietors of the respective GIs who in turn will be able
to assist in sourcing the desired products.

The entire exhibition was divided into main sectors
i.e. F&B Equipment, Hospitality sector and Food sector
(Covering the big as well as start-up food brands). Overseas
buyers, trade delegations, hospitality service providers,

50 EVENT DIARY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | April 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

April Japan and India sign

3rd Nutrition Summit India 2018 18- 19, agreement on Food

Nutrition Summit India organized by the Inventicon 2018 Safety Cooperation

Business Intelligence is a conference, which provides Japan and India will work together on the
issue of Food Safety Cooperation. This
a common platform for the industry and other stakeholders to come was announced at the session on How
can we enhance accessibility to Japanese
together to discuss the key challenges, learn from the best practices food in India? jointly organized by the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and
adopted across the country and ensure their firm is positioned to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in
New Delhi, on March 14, in the presence of
comply with latest regulatory guidelines in nutrition space. Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan,
Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi and the Chairperson of
 Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI), Ashish Bahuguna.
 http://www.nutritionsummitindia.com/
Japan and India share the importance
International Conference on May of cooperation in the field of food safety for
Nutraceuticals 2018 14-15, promoting investment in India by Japanese
2018 food companies and decided to strengthen
the cooperation in this field. As per the
Nutraceuticals Conference is a central discussion for announcement, a FSSAI delegation will
Nutraceuticals Specialists, Nutritionists, Enlisted Dietitians, Academic visit Japan for strengthening food safety
Faculties, President’s, Founders, CEO’s, Business Delegates, Experts cooperation and a meeting for information
in Nutrition and Dietetics, Youthful Scientists and skilled understudy exchange on food safety will be held,
groups from colleges and research labs giving an ideal space to share coinciding with this visit.
the latest advancements in the Nutraceuticals research.
 Singapore  https://www.meetingsint.com/pharma-conferences/ Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, Special Advisor to
nutraceuticals the Prime Minister of Japan stated that two
very important announcements had been
Nutrition 2018 June made today. These included the Agreement
9 – 12, on the form of phytosanitary measures on
the marine food trade between India and
American Society for Nutrition (ASN’s) new scientific 2018 Japan and the second was the setting up of a
Joint Working Group on Cold Chain between
sessions and annual meeting will focus on the the two countries.

multidisciplinary field of nutrition science. It will bring together basic, Ashish Bahuguna, Chairperson, Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India
translational, clinical, and population scientists and practitioners. At (FSSAI) stated that the FSSAI was focussing
on both food safety as well as nutritional
the sessions, the top scientific researchers, practitioners, global and value of the food. He was of the view that
Japanese foods are known for their safety as
public health professionals, policy makers and advocacy leaders, well as their nutritional value. He stated that
Japanese food has slowly been introduced
industry, media and other related professionals will gather to advance into India and efforts were being made to
adapt Japanese food to Indian tastes.
nutrition science and its practical application.
Parag Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry
 Boston, MA  https://nutrition.org/ of Food Processing Industries stated that
there was much more potential for Japanese
IFT18 July companies to invest in India given the fact
15-18, that it has the technology and know-how in
terms of food processing.
IFT’s annual event brings together science of food 2018

professionals from around the globe—all converging with

the intention to inspire and transform collective scientific knowledge into

innovative solutions for the benefit of all people around the world. IFT18 is

where the most creative minds in the science of food—including industry,

government, and academia—come together with purpose and vision to

share and challenge one another with the latest research, innovative

solutions and forward thinking topics in food science and technology.

 McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois  https://www.iftevent.org/


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