Food Items

Rupee remains flat at 83.94 against US dollar in early trade today

The Indian rupee turned flat at 83.94 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday amid concerns over elevated crude oil prices and the outflow of foreign capital from domestic equity markets. However, a positive sentiment in the domestic as well as global equity markets and a weak American currency supported the rupee, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 83.93 and slipped further to trade at its previous session's closing level of 83.94 against the greenback. On Wednesday, the rupee settled 3 paise higher at 83.94 against the US dollar. The forex markets were closed on Thursday on account of the Independence Day. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading marginally lower by 0.01 per cent at 102.80. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.25 per cent to USD 80.84 per barrel. On the domestic equity market front, Sensex surged 811.34 points, or 1.03 per cent,

Budget cuts Customs duty on slew of items, assures rationalisation of GST

The import duty of gold and precious metal jewellery, platinum as well as silver has been reduced to enhance the domestic value addition in these precious metals

Stringent norms adopted for max pesticide residue limit in food items: Govt

The government on Sunday asserted that India has one of the most stringent norms for pesticides residues in food items and rejected reports suggesting that food regulator FSSAI allows high level of residues in spices and herbs. The clarification comes amid a ban imposed by the Hong Kong food regulator on certain spice mix of two leading Indian brands MDH and Everest on alleged presence of pesticide Ethylene Oxide in their samples. The Singapore food regulator too ordered a recall of one spice product of the Everest brand. FSSAI is currently collecting samples of branded spices, including that of MDH and Everest, sold in the domestic markets to ensure they comply with its quality norms. It does not regulate the quality of exported spices. In a statement, the Union Health Ministry clarified that maximum residue limits are different for various food products based on risk assessment. "Some media reports are claiming that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows

NYC to require warning labels for sugary foods, drinks in chain restaurants

New York City residents may soon see warning labels next to sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurants and coffee shops, under a law set to go into effect later this year. The rule requires food businesses with 15 storefronts or more to post a warning icon a black and white spoon loaded with sugar next to menu items containing at least 50 grams of added sugar. Businesses will also have to post the following written label to accompany the logo: Warning: indicates that the added sugar content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit of added sugar for a 2,000 calorie diet (50g). Eating too many added sugars can contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain. The city's health department posted its proposed rule language last week and set a public hearing for late May. City officials and Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, approved the law last year. The rule is scheduled to go into effect June 19 for prepackaged food items and December 1 for other items. Asked about

Retail inflation for industrial workers eases to 4.59% in January

Retail inflation for industrial workers eased to 4.59 per cent in January compared to 4.91 per cent in December 2023 mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. Food inflation stood at 7.66 per cent in January 2024 against 8.18 per cent in December 2023. Food inflation was 5.69 per cent in January 2023 a year ago, a labour ministry statement said. Retail inflation based on the consumer price index for industrial workers (CPI-IW) was 6.16 per cent in January 2023. The All-India CPI-IW for January 2024 increased by 0.1 point to 138.9 points from 138.8 points in December 2023. The maximum upward pressure in the current index came from the Housing group contributing 0.48 percentage points to the total change. At the item level, House rent, Ladies Suiting, Casual wear, Saree Cotton, Woolen Sweater/Pull-over, Plastic/PVC Shoes, Tailoring Charges/Embroidery, Chewing Tobacco, Foreign/Refined Liquor, Pan Masala, etc. are responsible for the rise in the index. However, it stated that

Indians spending less on food, more on discretionary items, shows survey

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, released late on Saturday, estimates average rural consumer spending rose to Rs 3,773 a month per person

FSSAI withdraws order to declare 'best before date' on loose sweets

The directive for withdrawal was issued on November 7, 2023, barely days before Diwali

Price pressure in food items to be transitory, says finance ministry

The finance ministry of Tuesday said the inflation in food items is likely to be transitory as preemptive measures by the government and arrival of fresh crops will cool prices, even though global uncertainty and domestic disruptions may keep inflationary pressures elevated for the coming months. In its Monthly Economic Review for July, the ministry said going forward, while domestic consumption and investment demand are expected to continue driving growth, enhanced provision for capital expenditure by the government in the current fiscal is now leading to crowding in of private investment. The consumer price index based retail inflation spiked to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July 2023, with specific food commodities mainly driving the increase. Core inflation, however, stayed at a 39-month low of 4.9 per cent. Cereals, pulses and vegetables exhibited double-digit growth in July compared to the corresponding period last year. Disruption in domestic production also aggravated

Google Doodle celebrates India's premier street food Pani Puri with a game

The popular street food has many variations and is known by various names across the length and breadth of the country

Retail inflation for industrial workers eases to 4.42% in May from 5.09%

Retail inflation for industrial workers eased to 4.42 per cent in May from 5.09 per cent in April, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. "Year-on-year inflation for the month stood at 4.42 per cent compared to 5.09 per cent for the previous month and 6.97 per cent during the corresponding month a year before," a labour ministry statement said on Friday. Food inflation stood at 3.24 per cent in May as against 4.16 per cent in the previous month and 7.92 per cent during the year-ago period. The All India CPI-IW for May 2023 increased by 0.5 points to 134.7. The maximum upward pressure in current index came from Food & Beverages group contributing 0.37 percentage points to the total change. At centre level, Jabalpur recorded a maximum increase of 5.2 points followed by Salem with 3.8 points. Among others, 2 centres recorded increase between 2 to 2.6 points, 14 centres between 1 to 1.9 points and 34 centres between 0.1 to 0.9 points. The index is compiled for 88 centres .

Eye on exports, Bikano launches frozen products in international market

Bikano hopes to capitalise on prospects in the international market and anticipates sales of Rs 200 crore in 2023-24

Sri Lanka to seek fresh $1 billion credit from India to buy essential items

Sri Lanka would seek a new temporary credit facility of USD 1 billion from India to purchase essential items including food and medicine, the official media here reported on Monday. Sri Lanka received 333 million dollars, the first tranche of the USD 3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme last week to overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners. The Sri Lankan finance ministry officials held talks with its Indian counterparts to obtain the new temporary USD 1 billion facility for the "purchase of essential foodstuff, medicines and other goods for the country," the state-run Daily News newspaper reported. Meanwhile, former Central Bank Governor Dr Indrajith Coomaraswamy, speaking at a discussion organised by the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank, said, the negotiations are also underway to secure an Indian rupee swap from RBI. The amount is still uncertain; it could be up to the equivalent of USD 1 .

Food pantries can reduce food insecurity, improve students' health: Study

While food insecurity is a national concern in the US, college students are four times more likely than the general public to be food insecure

Retail inflation for rural workers rises to 6.99%, in Nov on annual basis

Retail inflation for farm and rural workers rose to 6.87 per cent and 6.99 per cent, respectively, in November on annual basis mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL (consumer price index-agricultural labours) and CPI-RL (rural labourers) stood at 7.22 per cent & 7.34 per cent respectively in October, 2022 and 3.02 per cent and 3.38 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month (November 2021) of the previous year, a labour bureau statement said. Food inflation stood at 6.19 per cent and 6.05 per cent in November, 2022 compared to 7.05 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in October 2022 and 0.88 per cent and 1.07 per cent respectively during the corresponding month (November 2021) of the previous year, it stated. The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers for the month of November 2022 increased by 8 points each to stand at 1167 and 1178 points ...

Bangladesh asks banks to relax LC margin rate for essential food items

Bangladesh's inflation decreased to 8.85 per cent in November from 8.91 per cent in October

27% samples of edible oil, other food items in Thane found adulterated: FDA

At least 27 per cent of the 56 samples of cooking oil and other food items collected from four companies in Maharashtra's Thane district have been found adulterated or with false claims, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials said. The FDA's (Foods) Joint Commissioner, S R Kekre, said the samples tested revealed that palmolein oil was mixed in products sold as sunflower and soyabean oils, rice bran oil was mixed in a product sold as mustard oil and vegetable oil was mixed in products claimed to be milk cream and ghee. Based on complaints, the FDA had carried out raids and inspected the four units located in Dahisar Mori, Bhiwandi, Kalher and Koparkhairne areas of the district, it said in a release. Kekre asked customers to be cautious while purchasing these items. The FDA was in the process of verifying as to whom the wholesalers and manufacturers had sold these adulterated products, he said. Kekre also appealed to the citizens to contact the FDA if they find any ...

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Average prices of 11 essential food items fell 2-11% in last month: Govt

The average prices of 11 essential food items declined 2-11 per cent in the last one month, the government said on Monday. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted that prices of essential items have fallen, giving relief to monthly household budget. He also shared a chart showing the decline in the prices of 11 items. The average price of palm oil fell a maximum of 11 per cent to Rs 118 per litre on October 2 from Rs 132 per litre on September 2, 2022. The price of vanaspati ghee fell 6 per cent to Rs 143 per kg from Rs 152 per kg. Sunflower oil price too fell 6 per cent to Rs 165 per litre from Rs 176 per litre while soyabean oil eased 5 per cent to Rs 148 per litre from Rs 156 per litre. Mustard oil price fell 3 per cent to Rs 167 per litre from Rs 173 per litre. The rate of groundnut oil went down 2 per cent to Rs 185 per litre from Rs 189 per litre. Onion price dropped 8 per cent to Rs 24 per kg from Rs 26 per kg while the rate of potato declined 7 per cent to

Retail prices of essential food items spike significantly in one year

The average retail prices of essential food items, including rice, wheat and atta, have significantly increase in the last one year

Will consider importing vegetables, other edible items from India: Pakistan

It looks to import vegetables and other essential food items amid devastating floods