New Delhi, May 2 (KNN) The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has given another three months as an extension time period till July 31 to Food Business Operators (FBOs) to label Atta as Whole Wheat Flour and Maida as Refined Wheat Flour.

The deadline to comply with the order expired on April 30. Further extension has been given following a representation by the industry, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said in its latest order.

FSSAI said “Considering the submission of FBOs, it has been decided to give extension of time period for another three months i.e. up to July 31, 2019 for compliance of above order.”

According to the earlier order, food businesses were asked to label 'atta' as whole wheat flour and 'maida' as refined wheat flour wherever it was used singly or as ingredient in food items.

The order was issued because the FBOs were using the term 'wheat flour' as English nomenclature for 'maida' on the label of the food products which does not convey the exact nature of ingredient used for manufacturing of various food items to the consumers as well as enforcement officials.

However, in the latest order, along with giving extension time for compliance, FSSAI has modified the order slightly to allow usage of the term 'atta' as wheat flour instead whole wheat flour.

In case the labels are in Devanagari script, the businesses are allowed to use the Hindi nomenclature 'atta' and maida' for wheat flour and refined wheat flour, respectively, FSSAI said.