Diet 4 Life
Introduction:
FSSAI has initiated “Diet 4 Life” to help people understand about metabolic disorders. It provides a comprehensive platform to parents, Health care professionals and parent support groups to adopt the right approach towards Inborn Errors of metabolism (IEM) management.
In India many babies suffer from life threatening conditions of IEM, and treatment of these metabolic disorders require early nutritional and dietary intervention. In view of the seriousness of the issue, FSSAI initiated a unique platform for parents to find timely medical support and treatment.
FSSAI has entered into a partnership with professional organizations, healthcare professionals and corporates to address the challenge that plagues a small section of our society.
‘Diet 4 Life’ Objectives:
- Spread awareness about inborn metabolic defects in general public with the help of parent support group in order to facilitate timely diagnosis, treatment and availability of special IEM diets for IEM conditions.
- Facilitate training Program of health care professionals (doctors and Dieticians) with the help of various Medical and Nutrition societies.
- Extend support to medical and nutrition associations and societies for maintaining National Registry of IEM patients.
- Development of IEM material
- Making special dietary products easily available for various IEM conditions.
About Inborn Errors of Metabolism:
Inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) or IEMs are caused by a defect in the enzymes or their co-factors due to gene mutation or gene deletions that alter the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate, or fat. Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are assuming significance in clinical practice due to it’s severe manifestations in neonatal period. The diagnosis of IEM needs to be established quickly in order to prevent death or permanent neurological squeal and to initiate proper life saving therapy without delay.
When To Suspect Metabolic Defect?
Since children born with genetic defects are on rise in India, Project “Diet 4 life” aims to make general public aware of some basic signs and symptoms of IEM so that parents can immediately seek help from their nearest Medical centre and initiate life saving medical and nutrition intervention. (See the list of Medical centres across India).
If your child presents with following signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical help from the listed medical centres:
- Poor feeding, vomiting, failure to thrive, lethargy
- Developmental delay, loss of milestones
- Decompensation due to intercurrent infection
Prevalence:
Worldwide, the incidence of IEM is more than 1/1000. In India, diagnosis or new born screening is limited leading to many cases going undiagnosed. According to WHO figures, 5 million children die in the first month of life in developing countries and 4 million children are born with some congenital anomaly. Thousands of children die of no definable reason. Almost 27 – 30 % of these babies are now proved to be having some IEM disease. About 5 to 15 % of all sick neonates in NICU are expected to have some Inborn Error of Metabolism.
- The products covered under the scope of this direction are special foods intended for infants and young children suffering from IEM and allergenic conditions as listed in the Annexure to the direction.
- This direction has been made effective from 02.11.2016. This direction is required to be followed by the central and state food authorities (including Authorized Officer) and those food business operators who intend to manufacture or import the products covered under the scope of this direction. The duration of this direction will be effective for a period of two years or till the time their standards are developed and notified, whichever is earlier.
- It is clarified that these diets are a separate category of Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), the specific provisions of the IMS Act relating to marketing, promotion and sponsorship would apply to these diets to prevent any potential misuse of this platform to promote normal infant foods or infant milk substitutes as defined under the IMS Act”.
- Import of such products shall be allowed based on special permission given by FSSAI after due examination of composition, label and claims. Consignments strictly adhering to approved composition, label and claims can be imported without need of re-examination. In case of any change in composition or label information or claims, the importing firm should submit the necessary documents to FSSAI for examination well before import.
- Since the products covered under this direction are lifesaving products, the examination of shipments will be taken on priority by the Authorized Officers and/or other relevant authorities. The shipments will be cleared after satisfactory examination of shipping documents, label, certificate of analysis and testing as per the certificate of analysis and for other relevant food safety related parameters, as may be necessary.
- The labelling on the article of food shall be in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
- Provided that Specific labelling requirements laid out for Infant milk substitute and infant food under Regulation 2.4.1 Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 are not applicable for these products.
- The importer may carry out rectifications as provided under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 for the rectifiable labelling requirements namely (i) FSSAI logo and license number, (ii) name and address of importer, (iii) veg/ non-veg logo and (iv) Category or sub category along with generic name, nature and composition for proprietary food. For any deviation to above, the importer may submit the labels in advance to FSSAI with specific request.
- No. The products are customized to address the specific needs arising out of the above conditions which are diverse in nature. Hence Regulation 2.3.14 (4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibitions and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 are not applicable to these foods.
- No. As per order vide WM-19(60)/2016 dated 14.12.2016 of Legal Metrology Division, Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution the pack sizes prescribed in the Second Schedule of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 are not applicable for products covered under this directive till 14.12.2017.
- To begin with, imports will be allowed in Delhi & Mumbai ports for smooth clearance of consignments.
- No. The products need to be taken under medical supervision and shall not be allowed for advertisement for general public.
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