Raj. CHO -2024: What is the food standardization by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Government of India?

Raj. CHO -2024

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2024

Explanation

Agmark stands for Agricultural Mark and is a certification scheme for agricultural produce in India.
This certification is provided by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), an agency of the Government of India, as specified in the question.
The Agmark seal ensures that the product conforms to a set of standards approved by the DMI under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937.
It covers a wide range of products including cereals, pulses, spices, edible oils, and ghee.

Option A: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standards body of India, but it is primarily known for issuing the ISI (Indian Standards Institution) mark, which certifies industrial and consumer products, not specifically agricultural produce under the DMI.
Option B: Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, and guidelines relating to foods, food production, and food safety. It is developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), not by a specific directorate of the Indian government.
Option C: The PFA Standard refers to the standards set under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954. This act has been largely repealed and its provisions consolidated into the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is overseen by the FSSAI. It was a general food law, not a specific certification from the DMI.

Visual 1: Infographic: A visual guide showing the logos of Agmark, ISI, FSSAI, and FPO, with a brief description of the products they certify. This helps in easy recognition by consumers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Food standardization and certification marks in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Community health nurses play a vital role in health education, including advising families to check for quality certification marks like Agmark on agricultural products (e.g., oils, spices, ghee) to prevent consumption of adulterated food.
Knowledge of these standards helps nurses address community concerns about food safety and guide them towards making informed choices, thereby preventing foodborne illnesses.
What if? If a family reports buying spices that cause an unusual reaction, the nurse should advise them to check for the Agmark seal and report the product to local food safety authorities if the seal is missing or seems counterfeit, as this could indicate harmful adulteration.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key agency mentioned in the question: 'Directorate of Marketing and Inspection' (DMI).
The goal is to match this specific government agency with the food standardization mark it oversees.
Analyze the options. 'Agmark' is a portmanteau of 'Agricultural Mark', which strongly suggests a connection to agricultural products and marketing.
Recall or deduce that the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection would logically handle an 'Agricultural Mark'.
Differentiate this from other standards: BIS/ISI is for industrial goods, Codex is international, and PFA was a broader food adulteration law.
Conclude that Agmark is the specific standard issued by the DMI.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Food standardization and certification marks in India
Stem keywords: food standardization, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Government of India
Lead-in keywords: What is

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E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & Dietetics 2nd Edition Harbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 26-479