AnyTV Network, New Delhi
Published by: Dushyant Sharma
Updated Thu, 03 Mar 2022 04:11 AM IST
Summary
The High Court said that the fundamental rights of every person are affected by the things given in the plate.
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A bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice DK Sharma directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to issue a fresh order to the officers of all the concerned authorities, which clearly mandates the disclosure that the food items are vegetarian. The bench has passed this order while hearing a petition seeking to be labeled as vegetarian or non-vegetarian on the basis of their ingredients in the production process of all items used by the public, including household appliances and apparel.
The court agreed with the submission made by the counsel for the petitioner that it is necessary to issue such guidelines to the authorities and not to the general public whose fundamental rights are affected. Wide publicity should be given. The court said that since the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion are affected under Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) and Article 25 under the Constitution.
It is fundamental in our view that a full and complete disclosure of whether a food item is vegetarian or non-vegetarian should be made a part of consumer awareness. The bench observed that it is of the view that the failure on the part of the authorities to ensure that no The failure to ascertain whether the packaged food item is vegetarian or non-vegetarian also defeats the purpose for which the Food Safety and Standards Act was enacted. The court directed the FSSAI and the Center to file a detailed reply in the matter. Giving hearing is fixed for May 21.
Advocate Rajat Aneja, appearing for the petitioner Gau Raksha Dal, which works for the welfare of cows, submitted that there is still a lot of ambiguity in the communication issued by FSSAI on 22nd December 2021 and clearly the food business operators need to disclose the same. Not there. Whether the food item is veg or non-veg, on the basis that if it is used very little, then that thing becomes non-veg.
The High Court had earlier said that the use of non-vegetarian ingredients and labeling them vegetarian would hurt the religious and cultural sentiments of strict vegetarians and would interfere with their right to freely practice their religion. They have a right to know what they are eating and by resorting to deceit and camouflage, they cannot be given anything on a plate. Realized that they are either derived from animals or processed using animal-based products.