Oct 25, 2013

Gear up resources with state-level counterparts & inspect: SC to FSSAI

A Supreme Court bench, comprising judges K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri, urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to gear up their resources with their counterparts in all the states and Union Territories and periodically inspect and monitor major fruit and vegetable markets.
The apex court stated that the right to life and human dignity – which encompass the enjoyment of life and its attainment – in turn encompassed the right to have food articles and beverages which are free from such harmful residues as pesticides and insecticides.
Judgment
The judgment, the bench said the enjoyment of life and its attainment, which includes the right to life and human dignity, encompassed within its ambit the availability of articles of food without insecticide or pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, antibiotic residues and solvent residues.
“We may emphasise that any food article which is hazardous or injurious to public health is a potential danger to the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” it stated.
“A paramount duty is cast upon the states and Union Territories and their authorities to achieve an appropriate level of protection to human life and health,” the judgment – which is 26 pages long – stated.
Soft drinks
The bench disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to set up an independent technical panel to evaluate the harmful effects of soft drinks on the health of humans in general, and children in particular.
“The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 – which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 – and its rules and regulations (FSSR, 2011), are sufficient to deal with the grievances,” it stated.
“In our view, by and large, the various grievances raised by the petitioner are seen covered by the above-mentioned legislations, but the question is only with regard to their enforcement by the authorities functioning under these legislations,” it said.
The court, in its verdict, also referred to various regulatory provisions of the Food Security and Standards Act, and added that they must be interpreted and applied in the light of the Constitutional Principles to achieve an appropriate level of protection of human life and health.
It said that the manufacture and sale of carbonated soft drinks was regulated by the Food Security and Standards Act, and added that the same has already been constituted, and gives very wide powers to the central and state governments to deal with all matters pertaining to food.items.
“It also has the power to advise the Centre and states on all food-related matters and to carry out other functions assigned to it under the FSSA. Adequate provisions are also in place under the Act with the rules and regulations made on that behalf to deal with misleading advertisements,” the court said.
It added that the responsibility had been cast upon the authorities to maintain a system, and undertake other activities as appropriate to the circumstances, including public communication on food safety and risk, food safety surveillance and other monitoring activities covering all stages of food business.
The court noted that many food articles – including rice, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and fruit – contain insecticide or pesticide residues beyond tolerable limits, and the fruit-based soft drinks available at fruit stalls contain such pesticide residues in alarming proportions, but their contents are not examined.
“Children and infants, in particular, are susceptible to the ill-effects of pesticides because of their physiological immaturity, coupled with a greater exposure to soft drinks, fruit-based or otherwise,” it said.
The Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) had, in its petition filed several years ago, also sought directions to cola firms to disclose their contents on the label of their bottles and to regulate misleading advertisements targeting children.

4.3 டன் குட்கா, ஜர்தா குப்பையில் கொட்டி அழிப்பு


சென்னை : சென்னையின் பல பகுதிகளிலும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட, 4.3 டன் ஜர்தா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகளை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையினர் குப்பைக் கிடங்குகளில் குழி தோண்டி புதைத்தனர். தமிழகத்தில், குட்கா, ஜர்தா விற்பனைக்கு, தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. ஆனால், தடையை மீறி, ஜர்தா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகள் பதுக்கி வைத்து, வி்ற்கும் செயல்கள் நடந்து வருகின்றன. உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையினர் கட்டுப் படுத்தும் முயற்சியில்
ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். கடந்த சில தினங்களுக்கு முன், அடையாறு பகுதியில், வெளி மாநிலத்தில் இருந்து, லாரியில் கடத்தி வரப்பட்ட, 2.8 டன், குட்கா, ஜர்தா பாக்கெட்டுகளை போலீசார் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். அதுபோன்று வடசென்னை பகுதிகளில், கடந்த வாரம் நடந்த சோதனையில், 1.5 டன் ஜர்தா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.
இவவாறு, பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட, 4.3 டன் ஜர்தா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகள் நேற்று, சென்னை பெருங்குடி, கொடுங்கையூர் குப்பைக் கிடங்குகளில், குழிதோண்டி புதைக்கப்பட்டன.
இதுகுறித்து, மாவட்ட அலுவலர் லட்சுமி நாராயணன் கூறியதாவது:பெருங்குடியில், 2.8 டன்னும், கொடுங்கையூர் குப்பைக் கிடங்கில், 1.5 டன் குட்கா அழிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒன்பது அடி ஆழத்திற்கு குழி தோண்டி, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகளை கிழித்துக் கொட்டி, சாணம், உரத்தையும் சேர்த்து புதைத்துள்ளோம்.மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அறிவுரைப்படி அவ்வாறு செய்யப்பட்டு
உள்ளது. மக்களின் உயிருடன் விளையாடும் குட்கா, ஜர்தா பாக்கெட்டுகள் விற்பனையை, வியா
பாரிகள் முற்றிலும் கைவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

ஜவ்வரிசியில் மக்காச்சோளம் கலப்படம் சேகோ மில் உரிமையாளர்கள் குமுறல்



பனமரத்துப்பட்டி: சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், மரவள்ளி ஸ்டார்ச் மாவில், மக்காச்சோளம் மாவை கலந்து, ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தி செய்து, வெளிமார்கெட்டில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. அதனால், தரமான ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்து விற்பனை செய்யும் மில் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு நஷ்டம் ஏற்படுகிறது.
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், 400க்கும் மேற்பட்ட சேகோ மில்கள் இயங்கி வருகின்றன. இங்கு, மரவள்ளி கிழங்கில் இருந்து ஸ்டார்ச், ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்து, வட மாநிலம், வெளி நாடுகளுக்கு ஏற்றுமதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. உலர வைக்கப்பட்ட ஸ்டார்ச் மாவு, குளுக்கேஸ், சாக்லேட், டூத்பேஸ்ட், பிஸ்கட், முறுக்கு, போண்டா, பஜ்ஜி மாவு ஆகியவை தயாரிக்க பயன்படுகிறது.
ஈரதன்மையுடன் இருக்கும் ஸ்டார்ச் மாவில், ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்யப்படுகிறது. ஈரமான ஸ்டார்ச் மாவில், மக்காச்சோளம் மாவை கலப்படம் செய்து, ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்யப்படுவதாக புகார் எழுந்துள்ளது. தொழில் போட்டியை சமாளிக்கவும், கூடுதல் லாபம் பார்க்கவும், ஸ்டார்ச் மாவில், மக்காச்சோளம் கலந்து, ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.
அதனால், அரசுக்கு வருவாய் இழப்பு ஏற்படுவதோடு, தரமான ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தி செய்யும், சேகோமில் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு நஷ்டம் ஏற்படுகிறது.
சேகோ மில் உரிமையாளர் ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:
சேலம், தம்மம்பட்டி, ஆத்தூர், நாமகிரிபேட்டை, தர்மபுரி உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் இயங்கும் சேகோ மில் உரிமையாளர்கள் சிலர், 140 கிலோ எடை கொண்ட, ஈரத்தன்மை கொண்ட ஸ்டார்ச் மாவை, 4,000 ரூபாய்க்கு வாங்கிச் சென்று, அதில் மக்காச்சோளம் மாவை கலந்து, ஜவ்வரிசி தயார் செய்கின்றனர். மக்காச்சோளம் மாவு கலந்த ஜவ்வரிசி வெளுக்க, ரசாயனம் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர்.
தரமான ஜவ்வரிசி மூட்டை (90 கிலோ), 5,700 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. மக்காச்சோளம் கலப்படம் செய்த ஜவ்வரிசி, 5,000 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்கின்றனர். இதனால், தரமான ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தி செய்யும் என்னை போன்ற மில் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு நஷ்டம் ஏற்படுகிறது.
சேகோசர்வில், பரிசோதனை செய்யப்பட்டு, ஜவ்வரிசி விற்பனைக்கு அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது. அதனால், மக்காச்சோளம் கலப்படம் செய்து தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட ஜவ்வரிசியை, சேகோசர்வ் கொண்டு வராமல், வெளிமார்கெட்டில் விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர்.
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், ஆண்டுக்கு சராசரியாக, பத்து லட்சம் ஜவ்வரிசி மூட்டைகள் உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதில், 25 சதவீதமான, மூன்று லட்சம் ஜவ்வரிசி மூட்டைகள் மட்டுமே, சேகோசர்வ் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. மீதம் உள்ள, 75 சதவீத ஜவ்வரிசி மூட்டைகள், வெளிமார்கெட்டில், பில் இல்லாமல் விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர்.
இதில், மக்காச்சோளம் கலந்த ஜவ்வரிசி அதிகளவில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. கலப்படம் அதிகரித்துள்ளதால், சேகோசர்வ்க்கு ஜவ்வரிசி வரத்து குறைந்துள்ளது.
இந்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி, ஜவ்வரிசியில், எந்த பொருளையும் கலக்கக்கூடாது. ஆனால், மக்காச்சோளம் மாவு கலப்படம் செய்து தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட, ஜவ்வரிசி விற்பனையை, அதிகாரிகள் யாரும் கண்டுகொள்வதில்லை.
சேகோசர்வ் மூலம் தரப்பரிசோதனை சான்று பெற்று, ஜவ்வரிசி விற்பனை செய்தால், கலப்படம் தடுக்கப்படும். அரசுக்கு வருவாய் கிடைப்பதோடு, தரமான ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தி செய்யும், மில் உரிமையாளர்களும் நஷ்டம் ஏற்படாது.
இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Six samples of sago found to be unsafe for consumption

Of the total nine samples drawn by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials from companies manufacturing sago in the district, laboratory test revealed that six samples were found to be adulterated and were ‘unsafe’ for consumption.
A team led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department recently took samples from companies located in Salem city, Ayodhiyapattinam, Panamarathupatti, Gangavalli and Thammampatti.
Samples were sent to the Food Analysis Laboratory in Chennai that revealed that the sago which is half-white when natural, is mixed with chemicals to give more whiteness.
Notices
Hence notices were issued to the companies found manufacturing adulterated products.
She told The Hindu that manufacturers can go for appeal with Referral Laboratory within 30 days and the second sample would be sent for testing. If no appeal is made, with the consent of the Food Safety Commissioner, a case would be filed for manufacturing, distributing adulterated food and also for misbranding, they added.
FSSAI officials said that sago is mainly used for preparing pasta, bakery products and also to make value added products.

CSE calls for testing of processed food for pesticides

New Delhi: The Centre for Science and Environment Thursday demanded periodical testing of packaged and processed food, including soft drinks, for pesticides.
Hailing the recent Supreme Court order asking the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to conduct periodic inspections and monitoring of major fruit and vegetable markets for the presence of pesticide residues, the CSE said it should be extended to other food products.
“The current regulatory framework with respect to advertisements of soft drinks as per the Act and the Advertising Standards Council of India code is not good enough and needs to be revised,” said Chandra Bhushan, CSE’s deputy director general and head of its food safety and toxins team.
“Globally, there is an increasing body of evidence which demonstrates that obesity and non-communicable diseases (especially in children) could be connected to advertisements of cola drinks and other junk foods,” he said.
In 2003 and 2006, tests conducted by CSE had found high levels of pesticide residues in almost all the major brands of carbonated beverages.
A joint parliamentary committee set up to investigate the findings had found them correct. In 2008, the union health ministry notified standards for individual pesticides in carbonated beverages.
The CSE also said the FSSAI should put all information about the pesticides and chemicals that have been tested for compliance of standards since 2008, in the public domain.
“Periodic testing and monitoring by the FSSAI should not be limited to raw fruits and vegetables. Packaged and processed food commodities including soft drinks should be tested as well,” Bhushan added.

Condiments worth Rs 1.31 lakh seized

PUNE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials seized chilli and coriander powder worth Rs 1.31 lakh from a condiment supplying and packaging unit in Nana Peth on Wednesday.
The food safety officials raided the shop and closed the unit after receiving a complaint from Javed Ismail Khan of Shiv Sena, said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
"The owner of the manufacturing unit did not have an FDA licence. Our officials also found the supplying and packaging unit in unhygienic condition. We have taken samples and sent them for tests to rule out adulteration," said Kekare.
The officials seized a stock of chilli and coriander powder, loose as well as packaged, from the unit which is located near Bharat cinema hall in Nana Peth. "Total 1,468 kg loose chilli powder and 650 kg of packaged chilli powder have been seized. Besides, 112 kg coriander powder was also taken for testing," Kekare said.
"Javed Ismail Khan of Shiv Sena had filed the complaint on Wednesday, following which our officials raided the unit," Kekare said.

Tobacco products, banned food items worth Rs 15 lakh seized from CCpur

IMPHAL, October 24: Staff reporter 24: A food safety team raided shops in Churachandpur old and new markets and seized Rs 15 lakh worth of tobacco products and banned eatable items imported from Myanmar.
The District Commissioner, Jacintha Lajarus, disposed the seized items at the complex of Chief Medical Officer office, Churachandpur later in the evening.
Jacintha said such type of drive will help to spread awareness to the general public. Even after we asked them not to buy and consume the banned items, they cannot understand the reasons behind the warnings and dishonest shopkeepers take advantages of their ignorance, she said.
She promised to make more personal effort as the items being sold are hazardous to human lives and appealed to the consumers to stop using the items and the sellers to discontinue selling them.
After the state’s health department banned a list of items under the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, contraband food items seized today were Rs 5 lakhs of Moreh imports and tobacco products items of Rs 10 lakhs.
The team of food safety officers was led by Th Sunilkumar, officer CCpur, along with Jinny, officer Senapati, Khogen, Officer Ukhrul, Avilson, Officer Chandel, N Debendro, Officer Thoubal, Sumita, Officer Bishnupur, Y Satyajeet, officer Imphal West and In-charge Imphal East.
The drive was carried out with the help of CCpur Police led by the SI Lutminthang Kipgen. The team raided the shops of the Churachandpur old market from CCpur Police station to Axis Bank of New Market.
Food safety Officer Churchandpur said in the sideline that this is a special drive conducted after this team has raid areas in the Imphal East and West district.
This drive will continue in other district in the future to ban the sale of junk food in the state. He added that the last date of the license issued was February 4, 2014. If anyone is found selling those items in the future without food safety license from street vendor up to manufacture factory, he or she will be arrested under section 59 and convicted for 6 months imprisonment, with fines upto Rs 5 lakh by the food safety appellant court constituted in every District DC office.

ICMR seminar on food safety held in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: Department of dietetics and School of Public Health are hosting a ICMR seminar on Food safety, 'Training the Trainers: Implementation of Food Hygiene Related Provisions of New FSSR 2011 in Eating Establishments of Hospitals' on 25 October 2013 in Auditorium of Advance Eye cente, PGIMER from 3pm -5pm.
The conference aims to bring on one platform all the relevant stakeholders who are dealing with food safety at various, levels thus bridging the gap between policy making, implementation, monitoring and feedback so as to be ready for the challenges in implementation of the new food safety law. The focus of the conference is on training in food safety as a necessary step to implement FSSR 2011.
The conference will be attended by Dieticians of Government Medical college 32, GMSH 16, Fortis Hospital , faculty of CIHM sector 42 and home science college sector 11. Faculty and residents of hospital administration department of PGIMER, Govt college 32 and GMSH 16 will also be attending the seminar. A total of 100 participants are expected.
Food handlers in PGIMER will be trained on food safety issues on 26th October,2013. They will be given a booklet on food safety in Hindi. A comedy movie on food safety will also be screened. Free refreshments and certificate of food training course will be given to all food handlers participating in the training.

Food safety remains a critical issue in India

Food safety remains a critical issue in India with frequent reports of outbreaks of food borne illnesses every year resulting in substantial costs to individuals, health care system and the country.


Chandigarh,24.10.13:Food safety remains a critical issue in India with frequent reports of outbreaks of food borne illnesses every year resulting in substantial costs to individuals, health care system and the country. Food contamination can occur at any stage from production to consumption i.e from ‘Farm to Fork’. This issue is a matter of concern for authorities in all kinds of settings e.g., eating outlets of hospitals, schools, colleges etc.
Government of India has taken many initiatives to ensure food safety in the country e.g., ushering a new legislation Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006. This lays down minimum food safety standards at all levels. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also been established and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) 2011 have been promulgated. Hence, sooner or later, all eating establishments will have focus on training their food handlers. They will have to ensure conformance to the food safety law.
With the increasing eating out culture, the present customers are more concerned about food safety than they were in the past. At the same time, with food processing industry diversifying its operations a variety of food is now also becoming increasingly available. Food safety issue has become further complex with the lengthening of food chain before a product reaches the consumer.
An essential element in food safety management in any eating establishment is to ensure that all its employees observe hygienic practices. The Food Business Operator (FBO) along with the all employees of eating establishments should have an easy access to the updated information they regularly need on food safety.
Lack of trained food handlers is a definite bottle neck in achieving food safety. Lapse at any point by a food handler can compromise the food safety and thereby the health of the people. In service training of food handlers on food safety is not given due consideration. In fact, there is a dearth of training material on these aspects. 
Dr Puja Dudeja, who is doing her Ph D under Dr Amarjeet Singh of SPH, PGIMER has taken the initiative of creating a useful set of training material on this aspect. Dr Sukhpal Kaur has also contributed in this endeavour. Both Hindi and English versions of a book on food safety have been published this month by them. Dr Puja has also developed a short comedy film on food safety. This film, directed by Mr Ravinder Kumar of Rudra Theatre Company seeks to use infotainment mode to propagate the idea of food safety. These books and CDs are expected to help FBOs of eating establishments in training the food handlers on safe food practices.
This book has eight sections. These sections have covered aspects like who is a food handler, their role in causing and preventing food borne illnesses, various environmental aspects of a kitchen, procurement and storage of food materials, safe food handling practices, tips for ready to eat foods, cleaning of utensils, maintenance of kitchen and role of monitoring and supervision in ensuring food safety. This book is an attempt in this direction. It will serve as a training tool for the food handlers and food business operators.
The book has plenty of illustrations. This coupled with a simple language has helped to make the book easy to read and comprehend. It has been modestly priced @145/- per copy (Hindi version @ Rs 125/-). It has been published by New Era Book Agency (SCO 49-51), Sector 17, Chandigarh.
Being from medical background the authors have given a special focus on implementing food safety standards in hospital kitchens. Thus this book will be thus very valuable resource for all those managing or working in the hospital kitchens.