Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Govt. of India stated that FSSAI does not endorse or defamation of any food ingredient without credible scientific evidence. Our stakeholder consultation framework remains open and inclusive, allowing individuals, industry bodies and experts to present scientific data and perspectives for consideration. Palm oil continues to be widely used in Indian households and the food industry owing to its stability and suitability for high-temperature cooking applications. As India’s apex food regulator, FSSAI remains committed to promoting evidence based nutrition awareness and encouraging balanced, informed dietary choices among consumers.
Dr. Shri Rishi Kant, Additional Economic Advisor, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India said that India’s renewed focus on strengthening domestic palm oil cultivation is a significant step towards strengthening the country’s edible oil security and reducing import dependence. Through initiatives such as the National Mission on Edible Oils, The government is creating an enabling ecosystem for farmers through improved infrastructure, financial incentives and stronger market linkages. India has also expanded its oil palm cultivation ambitions significantly, with the targeted area increasing from 6.5 lakh hectares to nearly 10 lakh hectares by 2025–26.
Dr. Vivek Srivastav, Chair, Nutraceuticals Task Force,PHDCCI & CEO, Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd addressed about prevailing misconceptions around palm oil at the NutriOil Conference, emphasizing the need to distinguish scientific evidence from widespread myths. He highlighted that palm oil is often misunderstood due to selective interpretation of data and social media narratives, whereas in reality, it offers a balanced fatty acid profile along with beneficial antioxidants when consumed in moderation. He further clarified that concerns around saturated fats are frequently oversimplified and should be viewed in the context of overall dietary patterns. On the sustainability front, he pointed out that palm oil is one of the most efficient oil crops and that responsible, sustainable production practices are already being adopted globally.
Dr. Narendra Tripathi, Co-Chair, Nutraceuticals Task Force,PHDCCI & AVP-Quality & Regulatory Affairs, Bacfo India Limited said that Palm oil is the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, contributing nearly one third of global vegetable oil production. Its widespread use is not accidental it is driven by efficiency, affordability, and versatility. For a country like India, where ensuring food affordability is critical, palm oil plays a significant role in meeting the edible oil demand of millions of households.
The Inaugural session was moderated by Dr. Nasir Jamal, Director, PHDCCI
In addition, the NutriOil Conference hosted three technical sessions tailored for industry stakeholders, facilitating focused knowledge exchange.
The first session was conducted on “Palm Oil in Focus: Facts, Science and Perspectives” in Nutrioil conference. The eminent panelist present were Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Govt. of India, Dr. Rajni Chopra, Professor & Head of Department of Food Science and Technology, NIFTM, Dr. Ravinder Singh, Sr. Scientist and Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Policy Research in Assistive Technology, ICMR, New Delhi and Dr. Varun Bansal, Senior Consultant, Robotics and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. The session was moderator by Dr. Ruchi Srivastava, Head- Medical and Regulatory Affairs, Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The second technical session was conducted on Food Labels and Consumer Awareness: Reading Beyond the Pack” and Eminent Panelist present were Dr. Aparna Tandon Jain, AGM, NPD Nutrition and Dr. Sasibhushan Vedula, Head Regulatory and Medical Affairs, Kapiva and Dr. Himanshu Tiwari, President, Technical, Karma Ayurveda. The session was moderated by Dr. Vivek Srivastav, Chair, Nutraceuticals Task Force, PHDCCI and CEO, Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The last technical session was on “Breaking Down Fats: The Truth About Saturated and Trans Fats” and eminent panelist present were Dr. Akshay Chugh, Senior Physician, Diabetes, Liver, Thyroid specialist, Metro Hospital, Noida, Dr. Jyoti Arora, Chief Dietician & Head, All India Institute of Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India and Dr. Deepak Tiwari, Sr. Physician, Dalco Healthcare. This session was moderator by Dr. Ruchi Srivastava, Head- Medical and Regulatory Affairs, Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
NutriOil Conference saw an impressive turnout of over 90 delegates from the nutraceutical industry and prominent hospitals and academia reflecting a strong sectoral engagement.