An unexpected fall in wheat procurement from a 'realistic target' has derailed the Government’s plan to start selling the grain in the open market anytime soon, even as the current policy is about to end on July 31. Besides, the Government is closely monitoring prices and there is no concern on that front, so far, official sources said.

Anita Praveen, secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India today said that the Indian Food Processing Industry is the second biggest employer in the country after textile and can be the basis for increasing farmers’ income.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered beverage companies to remove claims of '100 per cent fruit juice' from labels as well as advertisements of reconstituted fruit juice products from immediate effect. Fruit concentrates and water are used to make reconstituted fruit juices. It has also directed food business operators (FBOs) to exhaust all existing pre-printed packaging materials before September 1. The food safety authority noted that the regulations have no provisions allowing companies to make a '100 per cent fruit juice' claim and hence are misleading.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Second Advance Estimates of 2023-24 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops compiled on the basis of information received from States/ UTs and other Governmental source agencies.