SOPA slams FSSAI’s olive oil tweet, calls for immediate withdrawal
2 min read
Indore(Team Newsbuddy): The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has sharply criticized a recent tweet by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that promoted olive oil as a healthy cooking oil, labeling the endorsement as misleading and harmful to India’s domestic edible oil industry. In a strongly worded letter to the FSSAI chairman, SOPA demanded the tweet’s immediate withdrawal, accusing the regulator of undermining locally produced oils and potentially fueling perceptions of bias toward imported products.
SOPA pointed out that olive oil, one of the costliest edible oils in India, is accessible only to a small, affluent segment of society. In contrast, the majority of Indians rely on affordable, domestically produced oils such as soybean, mustard, groundnut, sunflower, safflower, and rice bran. The association argued that singling out olive oil as “healthy” unfairly discredits other oils, which are equally safe and nutritious when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
The selective promotion of an imported oil also raised concerns about vested interests, SOPA noted, warning that such messaging could erode public trust in FSSAI’s impartiality. The association stressed that the regulator’s focus should instead be on educating consumers about proper cooking oil usage, particularly the health risks of reusing oil after frying, which can degrade its quality and produce harmful compounds.
SOPA called on FSSAI to retract the tweet, issue a public clarification affirming the safety and health benefits of all edible oils available in India, and reinforce warnings against reusing cooking oil. “As the nation’s top food regulator, FSSAI must ensure its communications are unbiased, evidence-based, and supportive of both consumers and the domestic edible oil sector,” said D.N. Pathak, Executive Director, SOPA.
The controversy has ignited a wider debate over the responsibility of regulatory bodies to deliver inclusive and transparent public health messaging, with stakeholders urging FSSAI to prioritize clarity and fairness in its communications.
