New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reclassified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk food category, enforcing stricter regulatory measures to ensure safety and quality.

This reclassification, effective immediately following an order dated 29 November, mandates annual facility inspections and third-party food safety audits for manufacturers. Central licence holders in this category must comply with enhanced quality standards aimed at mitigating health risks associated with packaged water production.

The move comes after recent amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which had earlier removed the mandatory BIS certification requirement for certain food products.

According to FSSAI, the reclassification aims to strengthen consumer protection by maintaining rigorous quality control in the packaged water industry.

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Belagavi: Miscreants reportedly broke into a house and stabbed a pregnant woman to death using a knife, in Chikkuda village of Athani taluk here on Sunday.

The deceased pregnant woman has been identified as Suvarna Mantaiah Mathapathy (35) of Chikkuda village. Suvarna was a mother of four daughters and was expecting her fifth child. She was due to give birth within the week, with the delivery date already scheduled by her doctor.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday when Suvarna's husband went to the plantation to fetch fodder for the cows, and their children were at school. During this time, the attackers broke into the house and struck Suvarna with a sharp weapon, and later fled the scene.

When her husband returned and called for her, Suvarna did not respond. Upon entering the house, he found his pregnant wife lying in a pool of blood. He rushed her to a nearby private hospital, but the doctor confirmed that she had died on the way due to her severe injuries.

The exact reason for the murder is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, a case in connection with the incident has been lodged at the Athani Police Station.

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