Jul 31, 2015

Bombay High Court reserves order till August 3 on Nestle plea against Maggi ban

Nestle's lawyer Iqbal Chhagla said the company was agreeable to the suggestion but the tests should be conducted in the presence of a renowned scientist.
The Bombay High Court on Friday reserved its order till August 3 on a petition filed by Nestle India against orders of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra banning Maggi as it contained lead beyond permissible limit.
Nestle argued that its product did not contain lead in excess of permissible ceiling and challenged the tests by FSSAI and FDA, while the food regulators asserted that the lead content in Maggi detected during tests in reputed laboratories was harmful to public health.
The order was reserved by justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawala who had asked both the sides to give their consent for a fresh independent test. However, the parties could not arrive at a consensus to the suggestion mooted by HC which said it would pass an order on Monday.
Nestle’s lawyer Iqbal Chhagla said the company was agreeable to the suggestion but the tests should be conducted in the presence of a renowned scientist and the samples available with the company should be used.
Darius Khambata, appearing for FDA, contended that one of the samples must be from the lot collected by state FDA.
“For us, consumer interest is most important… this litigation may go on but we feel that the issue should be resolved amicably and therefore we suggested the parties to agree to a fresh independent test,” the bench observed.
“As both the parties have given their say to our suggestion, we shall give an order on Monday on the issue,” the judges said while adjouring the matter until then.
The Nestle lawyer alleged that FSSAI and FDA had not followed the principles of natural justice by not giving a hearing to the company before banning nine variants of Maggi on the ground of lead content in it being in excess of the permissible limit.
Also, though only three variants were tested, the regulators banned all nine variants of Maggi, Chhagla argued.
He said there was no substance in FSSAI’s allegation about the company destroying evidence by burning Maggi stock.
“On the contrary, we have acted on the instructions of the food regulators by destroying Maggi product,” he said.

Compulsory Testing of Packaged Food Products

Compulsory Testing of Packaged Food Products
As per the conditions of license prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, all food business operators have to ensure testing of relevant chemical and/or microbiological contaminants in food products in accordance with these regulations as frequently as required on the basis of historical data and risk assessment to ensure production and delivery of safe food through own or NABL accredited /Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified labs at least once in six months. Every food business operator in the country has to follow and comply with Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under.
Besides, safety standards of food items have been notified in respect of around 365 categories of food products. These standards are enforced by the Food Safety Departments of the States/UTs.
The MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Non-Defining of Junk Food Under Food Safety Act

Junk Food has not been defined under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to define junk food under the FSS Act. However, guidelines for making available Wholesome, Nutritious, Safe and Hygienic Food to School children in the country have been framed by the Central Advisory Committee, FSSAI.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), ICMR has not conducted a study on junk food. A study had, however, been conducted by NIN to assess ill-effects of consumption of Carbonated Water beverages (CWBs) on the health of adolescents and young Adults, which showed higher increments of body fat in young consumers.
The consumers are educated/made aware of the food safety through consumer awareness programmes launched jointly by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These include advertisements in different media, campaigns launched by the FSSAI on social media such as Face-book, documentary films on YouTube, educational booklets, information on FSSAI website, stalls at Fairs/Melas/Events and mass awareness campaigns.
The MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

What defines junk food? Health ministry has no idea

The health ministry has done quite a lot in framing reports and conducting studies but has never defined junk food in any way.
NEW DELHI: While India may be pushing for rules to regulate packaged food, supplements and dietary items, it has absolutely no guidelines for "junk food".
In fact, "Junk Food" has not been defined under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
"At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the health ministry to define junk food under the FSS Act. However, guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in the country have been framed by the Central Advisory Committee, FSSAI," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), ICMR has not conducted a study on junk food. A study had, however, been conducted by NIN to assess ill-effects of consumption of Carbonated Water beverages (CWBs) on the health of adolescents and young adults, which showed higher increments of body fat in young consumers.
In such a situation, the ministry is banking on consumer awareness programmes.
"Consumers are educated/made aware of the food safety through consumer awareness programmes launched jointly by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These include advertisements in different media, campaigns launched by the FSSAI on social media such as Face-book, documentary films on YouTube, educational booklets, information on FSSAI website, stalls at Fairs/Melas/Events and mass awareness campaigns," MoS, Health, Shripad Yesso Naik told the Rajya Sabha.
"As per the conditions of license prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, all food business operators have to ensure testing of relevant chemical and/or microbiological contaminants in food products in accordance with these regulations as frequently as required on the basis of historical data and risk assessment to ensure production and delivery of safe food through the operator's own laboratory or NABL accredited /Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified labs at least once in six months," Naik said.
Every food business operator in the country has to follow and comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder, he added.
"Besides, safety standards of food items have been notified in respect of around 365 categories of food products. These standards are enforced by the Food Safety Departments of the States/UTs," he said.

Your samosa is cooked in 1-year-old oil!

KOCHI: Better check before you dig into mouthwatering snacks made by street shops. While many of you may find the food yummy, the unhygienic conditions under which they are prepared may lead to health issues.
Several restaurants are also guilty of serving food made using reused oil, adulterants and in unhygienic kitchens.
The ongoing drive by food inspectors have once again underlined the fact that the food served by these shops is not really safe. These unsafe roadside favourites include bhel puri, paani puri, kuluki sarbath, fried items such as vada and pazham pori, displayed usually in glass shelves at these shops.
T A Abdul Majeed, senior district food safety officer, said, "During our inspections in eateries, we found unhygienic kitchens, dirty shelves storing food items, and reused oil which had 'tar-like' consistency. Cooked food items, meant for customers, were kept uncovered under cots of workers, mostly migrants, in their rooms."
"Most often, these eateries, particularly chat centres, fail to meet health and hygiene standards. The oil is reused over and over, I have even seen instances where owners admit to using the same oil for a year! Most often the leftover food is reheated and served the next day. The ingredients too are not fresh or of poor quality. The water used in such places is sourced from taps and wells and not boiled or filtered. I would advise people not to eat such food," said K V Shibu, assistant commissioner of food safety, Kochi.
Another favourite kuluki sarbath is a repository of e-coli. "We found e-coli in the water used for making this sarbath. Our continuous inspections have made the quality of the ice better to a certain extent," he said.
At some restaurants, officials found adulterants like non-permitted synthetic colours in biriyani. It's mandatory for restaurants to warn customers of food items that contain, monosodium glutamate or aginomoto, but it's not done, he said. "We try to provide the best food, and that too at nominal prices. Everyday, I use over two litres of oil because samosas, bondas and pakodas need to be deep fried. I do reuse the oil, but not more than a few times. Ingredients are expensive and if I charge Rs 25 for a samosa, nobody will buy it. I have regular customers. If the food was bad or unhygienic, they would have definitely stopped coming," said Thakur Singh, a native of MP who runs a chat stall on Marine Drive.

Liquor Samples Fail Quality Test in Pondy

PUDUCHERRY:After the Maggie noodles controversy over food safety, now alcoholic beverages, including whisky, brandy and wine of some branded companies sold in Puducherry, were found to fall short of the food safety standards fixed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Food Safety and Standards (Contamination, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
The Puducherry Food Safety Department had found 23 samples that it tested randomly in 2014 (till September 30) to be not in conformity with safety standards. Action may be taken on companies as the alcohol content in 22 samples were found to be lower than what was indicated. Improvement notice was issued to one company, the report said.
In all, 972 food and beverage samples were collected randomly and tested in the UT of Puducherry in 2014 (till September) out of which 30 samples have been found not conforming to the prescribed standards fixed by FSSAI, according to Annual Laboratory Testing Report in states and UTs released by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in the Lok Sabha recently. This includes 23 alcoholic beverages, one non-alcoholic beverage (soft drink), one sample each of jaggery, ripe mangoes, pickles and three samples of iodised salt did not comply with standards. “We are taking action. Improvement notices have been issued for jaggery, mangoes and pickles. The non-alcoholic beverage case is in Consumer Court,” said an official.
In neighbouring Tamil Nadu 1,047 food samples were found wanting in food safety standards. This resulted in 486 criminal cases, 64 civil cases and 203 convictions with a penalty of Rs 34,99,700 raised.
This is part of 12,077 samples failing to meet the food safety standards in the country out of 60,548 samples tested in the entire country in 2014-2015. While 1,989 civil cases and 7,241 criminal cases were launched resulting in 1,355 convictions and a penalty of Rs 10,64,03,414 was raised, stated the report. Even in 2013-2014,319 food and beverage samples have been found to be adulterated or misbranded in Puducherry out of 4,741 samples collected and tested in Puducherry. A good number of the samples are drinking water which were found to be contaminated, sources said. The Food Safety Department has issued directions to the Public Health Department to rectify the water supply, said an official of the department.
In the country also 13,571 samples found adulterated and misbranded out of 72,200 samples tested in 2013-2014. In the action taken 3,105 criminal cases and 7,130 civil cases were launched and 913 convictions resulted and an amount of Rs 7,29,89,474 was raised.

Food outlets at bus depots under scanner

MEERUT: To keep a check on food adulteration at bus depots, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) department of Meerut has brought all the eateries in the area under its scanner. The department had recently received complaints of adulteration in mango shake, nimbu pani and other drinks sold at the depot. The department had launched an anti-adulteration drive a week ago.
"I have received complaints about people selling adulterated food items at bus depots. Taking this into account, we have started an anti-adulteration drive, which will last for one week. During this drive, samples of drinks and unpacked food items will be taken and sent to the laboratory for testing," said JP Singh, chief food safety officer, Meerut district.
This has come days after chief secretary Uttar Pradesh issued guidelines to the DMs of all the 75 districts to inspect the bus depots and clean the areas, especially near the eating areas, to avert spread of any diseases from there due to the ongoing monsoon season.
Thousands of commuters take UPSRTC buses every day. Moreover, they also stop by and eat at the eating outlets in the bus depots. But due to incessant rainfall, the bus-stops and the eating areas become filthy as garbage collects near them. The DMs are requested to inspect the bus-stops and see that the surrounding conditions are hygienic for the commuters," read the government order issued by Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, Hemant Rao.
The order was issued keeping in mind the health and hygiene of commuters of Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses.
"As of now, we will take samples and issue them notices in case any rule is being flouted. A case will be registered against them only if any adulteration is found in the samples taken. We have got complains of artificial colour being used in the mango shake and nimbu pani," said Singh

Why Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is giving hell to restaurants

They will soon have to set up departments to also chuck away all ingredients considered unpalatable by the agency.
With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) spreading terror in the industry, so much so that even food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has recently spoken up against what she describes as a "fear psychosis", a nudge-nudge-wink-wink economy of products banned by the FSSAI had started thriving over the past year.Hoteliers and restaurateurs keep complaining about the steep spike in prices of ingredients such as Japanese rice vinegar, about which the FSSAI "aren't amused", but they have no option but to buy these essentials from the grey market to keep themselves in business. Imagine sushi without rice vinegar!
The days of the underground party seem to be numbered now, with the country's food safety commissars issuing a diktat a couple of weeks ago making the person(s) or company running a food business operation liable for any lapse in compliance to the FSSAI regulations. Hotels and restaurants, in other words, will soon have to set up departments devoted to FSSAI matters and also chuck away all ingredients considered unpalatable by the agency. They can't any longer get away by saying that they had bought their stocks in good faith from their suppliers. If that means making sushi without Japanese rice vinegar, so be it.
The answer of the FSSAI bureaucrats to any question relating to the rationale behind a ban is that "no one will die because of it". The issue here is not if a particular food product is essential to human survival. What is at stake here is the right of every human being to choose what he or she eats without being told what to do by state-appointed commissars. If Indians can eat the famous Italian cheese, Grana Padana, or savour slices of Parma ham in their pasta, or dig smoked salmon in their afternoon sandwich anywhere in the world, what makes these products so bad when they land on Indian shores? Why should we be denied the pleasure of eating with the rest of the world?
There's absolutely no rationale dictating the FSSAI's list of banned food products. In the aftermath of the Maggi episode, in fact, the agency has come under a cloud of allegations of malfeasance levelled against it by its own former directors, including the one who gave India's favourite snack its FSSAI certification. Its sense of judgement is being questioned as well, now that nine countries, including the normally fastidious Canada and Singapore, have tested Maggi noodles afresh and given it their regulatory green signals.
The man leading the charge against the FSSAI as convener of the Forum of Indian Food Importers, Amit Lohani, can cite example after example of the agency's arbitrary standards. Take olives. The FSSAI has a problem with the pH level of the brine in which olives are packaged. What it doesn't realise is the standards on which its objection is based are outdated because of the advances made in pasteurisation techniques around the world.
It is the same reliance on outdated standards that leads to anomalies such as the FSSAI allowing imports of corned beef, but banning Parma ham. The import of corned beef was first okayed by the British administration in India during WWII for the nutrition of the US and Australian soldiers stationed in the country. Standards for corned beef, as a result, exist in the statute books, but not for Parma ham.
The FSSAI's standards are also responsible for a host of products consumed all over the world, from the popular sea salt and caramel sauce of Starbucks to Hershey's Ice Breakers mouth-freshening mints, being denied to Indian consumers. And now a new irritant is simmering down under in the form of wine standards. The FSSAI is setting the standards in consultation with a lobbying group for the alcohol industry, but the wine industry has been kept out of the process. Like everything the agency does, this too shall remain a mystery.

Is the Maggi saga stifling food companies?

Over the past several months, new product launches have slowed as companies are growing increasingly anxious about regulatory oversight
The list of food companies that are cutting back supply, withdrawing products from the market and putting new launches on hold is getting longer by the day. In the latest such incident, a leading poultry company has curtailed the supply of processed chicken to retailers after it came under the scrutiny of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI.
Over the past two months, several food items, which were not approved by the regulator, have been pulled out from the market. The future too looks grim. Usually a time for launches, the festival season is unlikely to see too many new products, given the huge pile of pending approvals with FSSAI.
In the wake of the Maggi noodles saga, the food industryseems to be taking a step back from growth. The Maggi scare, which was prompted by the presence of taste enhancer monosodium glutamate, or MSG, and excessive lead in some samples, led to FSSAI ordering a nationwide recall of the product last month. Switzerland-based Nestle, which makes the instant noodles, was also asked to close its manufacturing plants in India.
UNHEALTHY MIX?
Products under FSSAI scanner, besides noodles and pasta
  • Kellogg's Special K-Red Berries (Kellogg's India)
  • Chicken Arabic style kofta, Crispy Chicken Burger patties (Venky's India)
  • Egg mayonnaise salad dressing variants, natural vinegar (Field Fresh Foods)
  • More than 30 syrups, toppings, sauces, drink mixes (Tata Starbucks)
  • Milky and cocoa spreads (Ferrero India)
  • Several vitamins and nutrients (Swiss Garnier Life Sciences)
Source: FSSAI website
Note: Most products have been found with excessive amount of sugar, caramel, salt, heavy metals or iron filings
While Nestle is now fighting the FSSAI order in the Bombay High Court, the recalls and cut-backs point to another problem: unease in the industry. The unease could only increase, given that Nestle has for the first time in about two decades run into the red, owing to the Maggi mess, as its April-June quarter numbers showed.
Without mincing words, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry earlier this month said FSSAI was creating "an environment of fear in the industry.'' FSSAI needed to streamline its regulations as the steps taken by the regulator were "stopping innovations in the processing sector, she said, adding that the industry was in the midst of a "fear psychosis''.
Throwing a scare
Is the fear real? Clearly, Nestle, the company at the centre of the crisis, is worried about restoring confidence in brand Maggi, which makes up for 30 per cent of its India revenue at Rs 2,500 crore. Having announced it was destroying Maggi noodles worth Rs 360 crore following the FSSAI order, the group replaced its CEO Etienne Benet with Suresh Narayanan from the Philippines.
On whether there's an environment of fear in the industry, Piruz Khambatta, chairman of the national food processing committee at CII, says there's risk in any business, whether it is food, taxi aggregation or any other. Rather than live in fear, "the industry must learn to manage and mitigate risk," he adds.
The risk from a recall could be many. Sanjay Kedia, country head and CEO of Marsh India, an insurance and broking and risk management firm which has been looking at the food industry closely after the Maggi controversy, says, "the possible stress on balance sheet can be very high due to any possible government action in the food and beverages industry.''
Until now, a lot of F&B companies, says Kedia, were operating oblivious to the bearing food recalls could have on their cash flows. To safeguard against such risks, Kedia suggests "evolved insurance solutions" like contaminated products insurance that can cover costs involved in case of recall, contamination, packaging problems and legal liabilities.
Even as companies and experts wake up to risk management, the government has begun to communicate with the industry to understand its side of the story.
On Monday, top officials of the health ministry and FSSAI had a meeting with senior members of the food industry to discuss the regulatory mechanisms and product approval processes, among other things. Also, FSSAI is setting up its own house in order by filling up vacancies. It recently appointed former agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna as its chairman, after months of that post lying vacant.
FSSAI CEO Yudhvir Malik could not be contacted for this report, but company executives say the lacuna in the regulatory system is adding to the nervousness. "Without sufficient number of accredited laboratories and infrastructure resources, how can FSSAI order a recall like it did in the case of Maggi noodles?'' asks an industry source.
Many people have also questioned whether the tests conducted by FSSAI on food samples were trustworthy as global tests for the same product did not show any contamination.
Problems galore
Still, the FSSAI clampdown has not been entirely uncalled for. For long, the Indian food industry has been half-hearted about adhering to regulatory guidelines. In the first five months of 2015, according to Wall Street Journal, the US food regulator has rejected more snack imports from India than from any other country.
Delhi-based Centre for Science & Environment had called the Maggi development a wake-up call for food & beverage companies. "I am happy that regulators are testing food products and taking action. As long as you don't test, you will not know what is going into these," CSE Deputy Director-General Chandra Bhushan says. It was CSE that had first raised the issue of pesticides in aerated beverages 12 years ago, prompting the then government led by Atal Bihari Vajyapee to set up a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the matter.
It was then that the government got active on the Food Safety & Standards Act, which mandates what should go into packaged foods and to what extent. An industry source says most large companies are aware of the regulatory processes, and smaller companies are becoming cautious now.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has made it clear that the government does not want to create "panic or inspector raj". "Investors should not fear. There are many good companies, but those in the wrong should be aware that the government is watching," he says.
Still, questions remain on how and by when FSSAI would be in a position to scrutinise the food industry in a comprehensive way, rather than through the present method of tests in ad hoc labs across states.

Nestle agrees to HC's proposal of fresh testing of Maggi

Mumbai: Nestle India, the manufacturer of Maggi instant noodles, on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it was ready for an independent lab testing of the product provided the tests were carried out in the presence of a reputed scientist.
The division bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawala, while hearing Nestle's petition against the June 5 order of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning nine variants of Maggi, today asked whether the company was ready for fresh independent tests.
Nestle's lawyer Iqbal Chhagla said the company was agreeable but the tests should be conducted in the presence of a renowned scientist and the samples available with the company should be used.
Darius Khambata, appearing for Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration and the FSSAI counsel sought time till tomorrow to take instructions from their clients. Khambata also contended that one of the samples must be from the lot collected by state FDA.
The judges earlier said they proposed to order independent testing of Maggi, and sought the parties' views.
The Nestle lawyer alleged that FSSAI and FDA had not followed the principles of natural Justice by not giving a hearing to the company before banning Maggi on the ground of lead content in it being beyond the permissible limit.
Also, though only three variants were tested, the regulators banned all nine variants of Maggi, Chhagla said, adding there was no substance in the allegation of FSSAI about the company destroying evidence by burning Maggi stock. "On the contrary, we have acted on the instructions of the food regulators by destroying Maggi product," he said.

Court may direct fresh tests on Maggi noodles

Bombay high court has asked food regulators if they are fine with conducting fresh tests
Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked food regulators if they are fine with conducting fresh tests on samples of Maggi noodles that are available with Nestle India Ltd.
Nestle India had appealed to the court on 11 June against a ban on Maggi noodles imposed by apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 5 June and by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 6 June.
In its arguments, the Indian arm of Swiss multinational Nestle SA had discredited the test reports presented by the food regulators as the laboratories lacked accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories or a similar authority recognized by FSSAI.
According to the FSSAI Act 2006, the regulator is required to keep four samples of a product for analysis.
If after the analysis of the first sample, the company is not satisfied with the results, it can request the regulator to get the test done at an accredited food laboratory for which a second sample is to be used.
In case there is a variance between the two tests, the third sample will then be sent to the apex or referral food laboratory whose test results will be final.
The food regulator said Nestle had not asked for the tests to be done at an accredited food laboratory and should do so now.
On Thursday, the company urged the two-judge bench comprising justices V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawalla to authorize fresh tests. However, it said these tests ought to be conducted on the samples in its possession and at five different laboratories to satisfy the food regulators.
The Maharashtra FDA objected and said the samples in its possession should be tested as per the protocols of the FSSAI Act.
A way out of the stalemate is expected on Friday, once the company and food regulators come to an agreement on the tests.

Nestle Agrees to Court's Proposal of Fresh Testing of Maggi

Mumbai: Nestle India, the manufacturer of Maggi instant noodles, on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it was ready for an independent lab testing of the product provided the tests were carried out in the presence of a reputed scientist.
The division bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawala, while hearing Nestle's petition against the June 5 order of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning nine variants of Maggi, on Thursday asked whether the company was ready for fresh independent tests.
Nestle's lawyer Iqbal Chhagla said the company was agreeable but the tests should be conducted in the presence of a renowned scientist and the samples available with the company should be used.
Darius Khambata, appearing for Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration, and the FSSAI counsel sought time till Friday to take instructions from their clients. Mr Khambata also contended that one of the samples must be from the lot collected by state FDA.
The judges earlier said they proposed to order independent testing of Maggi, and sought the parties' views.
The Nestle lawyer alleged that FSSAI and FDA had not followed the principles of natural justice by not giving a hearing to the company before banning Maggi on the ground of lead content in it being beyond the permissible limit.
Also, though only three variants were tested, the regulators banned all nine variants of Maggi, Mr Chhagla said, adding that there was no substance in the allegation of FSSAI about the company destroying evidence by burning Maggi stock.
"On the contrary, we have acted on the instructions of the food regulators by destroying Maggi product," he said.

Tata Starbucks, Kellogg, McCain fail to get FSSAI approval

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has rejected product approval applications of Tata Starbucks, Kellogg and McCain...

While 34 products of Tata Starbucks have been rejected which included honey vanilla flavoured syrup, sea salt and red bean sauce, two products of Kelloggs including Kellogg's special K Red Berries and Kellogg's special K Oats and Honey have been rejected.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has rejected product approval applications of Tata Starbucks, Kellogg and McCain due to lack of sufficient supporting documents for safety assessment, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
While 34 products of Tata Starbucks have been rejected which included honey vanilla flavoured syrup, sea salt and red bean sauce, two products of Kelloggs including Kellogg’s special K Red Berries and Kellogg’s special K Oats and Honey have been rejected.
“FSSAI has rejected product approval applications of Tata Starbucks, Kellogg and McCain due to lack of sufficient supporting documents for safety/risk assessment,” Minister of state for Health Shripad Naik said.
The only product of McCain Foods India which was rejected was McCain Battered Pepper and Cheese Bites.
The Minister said that the primary responsibility of FSSAI is to lay down science based food standards, make regulations, regulate imports and undertake coordination with states and UTs on food safety.
The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006 largely rests with states and Union Territories. Random inspections of premises and sampling of food items are done by officials of the food safety departments of the respective states and UTs to ensure compliance of the FSS Act 2006, Rules and Regulations.
“In cases where samples are found to be non-compliant, action is taken as per provisions of the FSS Act 2006 by the state authorities or the FSSAI,” Naik added.

Screen What You Eat: How to Spot Adulterated Food

We have all become a little skeptical of the purity and quality standards of the food we consume these days. Food colours, chemicals and additives often creep up not just in our local produce, but even in packaged products. Mixing milk with water to add volume, starch in paneer to make it thicker and fluffier, hydrogenated oils and vanaspati in ghee, and anatta in butter to give it that dark, rich yellow colour, stories like these often shake us up and make us question what we eat. 
The recent case of food adulteration that took the country by storm was 'The curious case of instant noodles'. Maggi Noodles was found to contain higher than permissible levels of lead and MSG. It was tested by independent and state run food labs across the country. Some validated the accusations while others dismissed it, but the entire episode tarnished the image of not just 'Meri Maggi' but of the category of instant noodles itself. 
Unlike certain cases of adulteration which might be purely cosmetic, some like Maggi Noodles can have serious health implications. For example, what would happen if you were to eat lead as part of your food over a long period of time? Prominent nutritionists and doctors told us that lead, if consumed in larger quantities, could damage almost every organ of your body causing them to shut down, one by one.
But where there are problems, there must be a solution. We've got some great tips and techniques that will help you pick out the bad apple i.e. spot adulterated foods and keep them away from your kitchen.
What is Food Adulteration?
The technical definition of food adulteration according to the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is, "The addition or subtraction of any substance to or from food, so that the natural composition and quality of food substance is affected."
Food adulteration can be intentional when done to add volume, texture, taste or stability to the items. Or it can be due to carelessness or poor maintenance of the facility/logistics on part of the food manufacturer/ distributor. The bottom line is that it can cause serious long term damage to your health.
A report in The Hindu suggested "The Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for 2014-15 brought out by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) says that of the 49,290 samples of food items it tested, 8,469, nearly one-fifth, were found adulterated or misbranded." The numbers seem astounding but the fact of the matter is that out of the products/brands that fail to meet safety norms, very few of them are convicted. It's perhaps this lapse in enforcement and accountability that gives many food manufacturers leeway in India.
The Most Common Food Frauds
According to FSSAI, "Some of the most common adulterated foods are milk and milk products, atta, edible oils, cereals, condiments, pulses, coffee, tea, confectionery, baking powder, vinegar, besan and curry powder." Sometimes, simply looking at the food won't giveaway whether it's been adulterated or not.
In a lot of cases, food additives and chemicals hide behind their scientific pseudo names. While this might not fall under the exact definition of food adulteration, they're just as bad. Chocolate bars with hydrogenated vegetable oils instead of cocoa, dried herbs that might have been extracted using chemical solvents, modified starch which lets the product withstand extreme temperatures, the use of functional flour in cereals and more.
Check Your Food for Adulteration
There is a good chance that a lot of what you eat is adulterated. While it might be difficult to detect with regards to packaged foods, there are certain everyday foods you can cross-check. FSSAI has put together a list of foods that you frequently consume and how to spot if any of them have been tampered with or adulterated.
Milk
Milk is possibly one of the easiest targets and that's why you'll find hundreds of cases where food authorities or independent food testing agencies have found milk to be adulterated. A 2014 report warned users of how the milk produced by Indian cows might be adulterated because they graze on garbage. A 2012 study conducted by the FSSAI across 33 states found that milk in India was adulterated with diluted water, detergent, fat and even urea.
How to check if your milk is adulterated: Put a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. If it flows leaving a white trail behind, then it's pure but if it flows without leaving a mark then it's adulterated. To make sure that the milk you're having isn't synthetic, pay attention to its taste. Synthetic milk has a bitter, almost soapy aftertaste and turns yellow on heating.

Coconut OilHow to check if it's adulterated: Place the bottle or container of coconut oil in the fridge. The oil will freeze and leave the adulterant as a separate layer.
Honey
The Journal of Food Science suggests, "Olive oil, milk, honey, saffron, orange juice, coffee and apple juice are the seven most likely food ingredients to be targets for intentional or economically motivated adulteration of food."
How to check if honey is adulterated: Honey is often adulterated with water to increase the bottle's quantity. The best way to ensure that's not the case, dip a cotton wick in pure honey and light it with a matchstick. If there is water in the jar it won't allow the honey to burn.
Chilli Powder
How to check if it's adulterated: Chilli powder is often adulterated with a similar looking substance like brick powder. To find out if yours is too, take a teaspoon of chilli powder and stir it into a glass of water. If the water changes colour to something red and earthy then you know your powder was adulterated.
Cumin Seeds
How to check if it's adulterated: Rub the cumin seeds in the palm of your hand. If they rub off a black colour then they've been coloured and are adulterated.
Green Chilli
Those gorgeous green chillies that turn the heat up in your dishes may not actually be that green. So if you'd like to make sure they are, then take a piece of cotton soaked in liquid paraffin and rub a small portion of the chilli. If the piece of cotton picks up any colour, then the chillis are adulterated.
Tea Leaves
Tea leaves are often adulterated with chemicals and additives that add to its aroma or flavour. But the most common kind is colour and here's how you can spot it.
Take a filter paper and spread a few tea leaves on it. Sprinkle some water over the filter. If there is any colour present in the leaves then it'll stain the paper. Now wash the filter paper under tap water and carefully look for stains against the light. 
It is debatable, the extent to which we can check food for adulteration. But we can do our part to make sure that what we're eating or feeding our families is safe and pure.

Jul 30, 2015

‘Don’t extend deadline for traders’

The Tamil Nadu Consumer Organisations’ Network has urged the Centre not to extend the deadline for traders to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act beyond August 4. A consultative meeting of the network held here recently, said though some changes could be introduced in certain clauses of the Act to meet the ground situation, no extension of the deadline should be given.
 It is the only law now to protect the interests of consumers, the network observed in a resolution adopted at the meeting. It called for the appointment of a Food Safety Commissioner to supervise the implementation of the Act in the State.

Food safety wing to step up inspection of vegetables

The inspections are being launched in connection with Onam and will last the whole of August.

The food safety wing of the State Health Department would launch an intensive inspection drive from August 1 to check sale of vegetables, fruits, and adulterated food articles that could cause cancer and other diseases.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar told the Assembly on Wednesday that the inspections were being launched in connection with Onam and would last the whole of August. Kerala had as many as 1.5 lakh cancer patients, with 50,000 new cases being reported everyday. As many as 15,940 new cases had been registered at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, alone last year, he said.
Mr. Sivakumar, who was responding to a calling attention motion moved by M.P. Abdussamad Samadani (IUML), said the government has initiated several measures to combat spread of cancer and constituted an expert committee to prepare a State-level cancer registry. The committee, which has Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) director Paul Sebastian as its convener, has been asked to submit its report in six months.
The other members of the committee are Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) director B. Satheesan, Dr. V.P. Gangadharan (Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi), Dr. P. Gangadharan (Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi), Dr. Aleyamma Mathew (RCC, Thiruvananthapuram), Dr. Ajayakumar (Government Medical College, Kozhikode) and Dr. Shyam Sundar (Consultant, Directorate of Health Services).

Doctors suffer food poisoning at GH canteen in Chennai


In the aftermath of the incident, food safety officials inspected the canteen 

Four doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (GH) were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of food poisoning including diarrhoea.
Following a complaint by the hospital authorities, the Food Safety and Drug Administration officials inspected the canteen on Wednesday.
The doctors had reportedly consumed food from the canteen on Tuesday. All of them were admitted with symptoms of diarrhoea in the night.
“We have lifted five samples of sambar, curd and other dishes. The samples have been sent to King Institute of Preventive Medicine for testing. The canteen will be permitted to operate only after rectifying the defects,” said S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Chennai District.
Over 112 samples have been lifted in various parts of the city this year, following reports and emails sent to dofssache@gmail.com by consumers who had suffered food poisoning, vomiting and diarrhoea after having meals at outlets.
Customers affected by unsafe food in other parts of the State may also send emails to the commissioner of food safety at commrfssa@gmail.com.
“At least 20 percent of the samples lifted in Chennai district this year have been found to be ‘unsafe’. Over 50 percent are substandard. Over Rs.2 lakh has been collected as fine,” said an official.
Samples of sambar, curd and other dishes sent to King Institute

FSSAI to set rules for watching health supplements

INDORE: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is soon going to regulate health supplements as it has been observed that nearly 60-70 per cent such products in the market are fake. 
Currently, there are no regulatory norms for approval or monitoring of dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, herbals and functional food, but food safety regulator had proposed draft regulations that will come into effect in a few months. Nutraceuticals are products that offer health as well as medicinal benefits, consisting of prevention and treatment of diseases. Nutraceuticals are categorised into functional food/beverages and dietary supplements. 
"Nutraceuticals are gaining popularity but there is a lack of a solid regulatory framework which is crucial for medialcredibility. Researches have shown that due to lack of regulations most manufacturers are making false claims. Different stakeholders have raised the need for proper guidelines for manufacturing and marketing neutraceuticals, herbal and functional food," said Manish Swami, food safety officer in Indore. 
Noting that nutraceuticals and dietary supplements industry has the potential to grow into a USD 12.2-billion industry in the next five years, Swami said that with proper regulation guidelines unregistered and unapproved products can be blocked and discarded. 
FSSAI had set up a taskforce in May, 2013, which submitted its recommendations in April this year. Objections have been invited on draft regulations, which if unopposed will come into effect in coming months. Draft guidelines have come out in wake of policy makers raising voice that the FSSAI should come up with proper guidelines for manufacturing and marketing of neutraceuticals, herbal and functional food.

Food Safety Dept for Stricter Enforcement

Commissioner for food safety Suresh Chanda (centre) at a seminar on food safety & standards organised at the Federation of TS & AP Chamber of Commerce and Indurtry in Hyderabad on Wednesday 

HYDERABAD: Though the State has lakhs of food eateries and business establishments only a handful of them are registered or licenced under the Food Safety and Standards Act, said Suresh Chanda, commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana on Wednesday.
Addressing a gathering of food entrepreneurs in Hyderabad, the commissioner said that only 14,000 food business establishments have been registered and 16,000 got licenses in Telangana. The low number of registration highlights the need for proper regulation and enforcement of food standards, he added.
All the food businesses either manufacturers of food products or a road side eatery have to either get registered or licensed. But many of the food business firms are operating without registration. This practice will not continue for long as regulation and enforcement of food safety norms will be made stringent in the future, stated Suresh Chanda.
“All the food establishments which manufactures, processes, distributes or sells food products in any form need to have a registration or license and should publish the ingredients used in the product clearly on the pack. Food safety is essential for health and to ensure that consumers health is not affected, food producers should not include sub-standard ingredients in their products or mislead the public about the product,” added Suresh Chanda at the meeting held to make food business operators familiarise with Food Safety Standards Rules 2011, laid down to regulate food businesses.
Food business operators whose turnover is less than Rs 12 lakhs need a registration, while firms having more income need a licence. As the new generation is more attracted to processed and packaged food products and more people are visiting food joints nowadays, business operators should be cautious and they should ensure all steps to ensure the safety of the public.
Enforcement Lacking
  •  14,000 Food Business Operators (FBOs) registered in Telangana
  •  16,000 Food Business Operators have licences.
  •  Last date for applying for new registrations and licences : August 4.
  •  FBOs should only apply online at www.fssai.gov.in

License mandatory for Hotels, Canteens, Street Food makers: Suresh Chandra

    Hyderabad, Jul 29 (UNI) Mr Suresh Chandra, Telangana Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare and Commissioner of Food Safety (FAC) today said that license is mandatory for hotels, canteens and street food marker.
    Speaking at a seminar on on “Food Safety & Standard Rules – Awareness on Food Approval, Registration & Licensing’, organized by The Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI) here, Suresh Chandra said the license is mandatory for hotels, canteen and road side tiffin centers who are doing business.

    47 cases registered for violating FS&S Act

    SRINAGAR, July 29: Food Safety Wing of Drugs and Food Control Organisation district Srinagar filed 47 cases against various food business operators in the court of Adjudicating Officer Srinagar, Qazi Sarwar, who is also Additional Deputy Commissioner, for violating different provisions of Food Safety and Standards (FS&S) Act.
    These include 15 cases against milk suppliers and 20 against those food business operators who were found sealing/manufacturing food articles insanitary conditions.

    DINAMALAR NEWS


    FSSAI move will kill Indian food processing industry: AIFPA

    The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advisory on taking product approval has ruffled the feathers of the food processing industry which argues that there is no transparency in the food approval system in India and such a move will “kill” the sunshine sector. A Bureaucracy Today report.
    In 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was set up as a statutory body to look into all food-related laws under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which repealed several archaic legislations governing the Indian food sector for long. The new guidelines were aimed at addressing the issues of food safety and food adulteration.
    However, the Indian food processing industry feels that the objectives of the Food Safety Act 2006 have lost their steam. “The key principle of the Act was that all norms and regulations related to food safety would be transparent and vibrant and would be formulated on a scientific risk-based system but it seems the FSSAI has moved away from that,” All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) President Amit Dhanuka tells Bureaucracy Today.
    VAGUE SYSTEM
    Criticizing the FSSAI’s product approval advisory which has come into limelight following the Maggi controversy, Dhanuka says, “The food product approval system in India is very vague. Nowhere in the world, there is product approval required. The word ‘approval’ itself takes us back to the pre-Independence days. The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 has no provision prescribed for product approval. The FSSAI cannot compel a food business operator to obtain approval for food products just by posting an advisory on its website and without making any rules or regulations under the Act.” 
    The FSSAI has laid down an online process for applications by companies seeking approval for their products. The application requires the manufacturer to furnish details of the ingredients used, the place and process of manufacture and the source of raw materials, including water. 
    Questioning the logic of the information required to be furnished for product approval, the AIFPA President asks, “Suppose one uses water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board. Now if the water used is found contaminated, how can the FSSAI hold the manufacturer solely responsible?”
    CREATE SAFETY EVALUATION SYSTEM 
    He says if the FSSAI really wants to do something, it must create a proper mechanism of safety evaluation system, that also for health food and dietary supplements where people might make some kinds of claims. “For normal food like snacks, it is not required. Suppose an SME or MSME has been manufacturing snacks for 12-15 years and then suddenly one day it is told to take product approval without giving any timeline or recall the product, it is not justified. The move will kill the industry,” Dhanuka says. 
    B Sesikeran, former Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, echoes similar views. “A complicated food approval process hampers the process of innovation of new products in the market,” he says.
    Recently, Hindustan Unilever and Indo Nissin Foods withdrew products from the market pending product approval from the FSSAI. 
    The industry experts say the way things are taking place in the food processing sector is “very unfortunate”. A Delhi-based ready-to-eat food manufacturer on condition of anonymity tells this reporter, “The attitude of the food regulatory authority is disturbing. It is taking one-sided decisions.” Without specifying any company, he says, “Some companies were compelled to withdraw their products from the market. But no lab test reports were handed over to the companies and nor were they given any chance to represent themselves.” 
    UPGRADING SYSTEM
    Dhanuka says instead of compelling manufacturers to go in for product approval, the FSSAI should first upgrade its own system. “The FSSAI needs to upgrade its system. The implementation of all the guidelines has to be right. Its laboratories should have proper infrastructure in place. There has to be a standard protocol maintained for sampling and testing and the lab infrastructure itself.”
    Recently at a conference held in New Delhi, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had said, “...a lot needs to be done as the FSSAI has created environment of fear in the industry. It needs to streamline its regulations as its steps are stopping innovations in the processing sector.” 
    Putting his weight behind the Minister’s concern over “fear” in the food processing sector following the regulatory steps taken by the FSSAI, Dhanuka says, “The way panic has been created in the market following the Maggi controversy, it seems the FSSAI is trying to portray the entire food processing sector as criminals. A perception has been created that all manufacturers are producing junk food. But the regulatory body should see that India is still an agrarian economy and its food processing sector since the time of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, has been termed the sunshine industry. If food processing does not take place, India can neither achieve food security nor can it control inflation.” 
    DISCOURAGING INVESTORS
    The AIFPA President says the current market scenario has also discouraged investors. “The stakeholders are regretting as to why they have invested in the Indian food processing industry. All future projects have been put on hold. No one wants to invest in the industry further as there is no transparency in the system at all. Everything looks dim at the moment but we hope necessary rectifying measures will soon be taken and things will improve,” Dhanuka hopes.

    Jul 29, 2015

    Nestle India did not opt for re-test, instead burnt Maggi noodles: FDA

    Maharashtra’s Food and Drugs Administration today argued in the Bombay High Court that Nestle India had burnt several tonnes of Maggi after the state’s ban order was imposed on this food snack, instead of going in for a re-test of the samples.
    “If the company was so confident about safe features of its product, it should have come forward and requested us to go for a re-test of the samples or it could have offered other samples for a fresh examination,” FDA counsel Darius Khambata submitted before justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawala.
    The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle against FSSAI’s June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi, and Maharashtra government’s order prohibiting their sale.
    FDA selected at random 20 samples of Maggi noodles for the test and five of them tested positive for containing lead beyond permissible limit. This was enough for FDA to issue notice to stop production and sale of all the 9 variants of Maggi, Khambata said.
    If the company suspected that the FDA reports were not correct then it could have made a grievance before the food regulator to send the samples to an accredited lab in Pune or Nagpur, instead of rushing to the high court to challenge the ban imposed on production and sale of the product, he argued.
    “Instead, Nestle chose to send samples to labs in London, New York and Paris and placed 2700 test reports before us (FDA) to show that lead content was proper,” he said.
    Justifying the ban, FDA counsel argued that after tests when FDA found lead content in Maggi to be beyond permissible limit, it issued an order banning the product.
    Moreover, FDA had sent lab test reports to Nestle but the company has not included these in the petition, thereby suppressing this fact from the high court, he said.
    Both FSSAI and FDA have claimed that they had issued notices to Nestle India keeping in mind the health hazards the product may have had due to the high lead content.
    Nestle has argued that a particular batch may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but the blanket ban was “unfair and illegal”.

    Maggi Ban: Did info on the web influence your decision, HC asks FSSAI

    On June 5, the FSSAI ordered Nestle India to withdraw all nine variants of Maggi instant noodles from the market.
    The Bombay High Court Tuesday asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) if it was influenced by information on the internet while ordering a ban on Maggi noodles. The food authority has cited examples of other countries while stating that Maggi had a poor reputation.
    Appearing for the FSSAI, Mehmood Pracha Tuesday submitted several reports stating that he downloaded them from the internet. All the reports, according to him, were significant in establishing that the company’s image was not as celebrated as projected.
    Looking at the reports, Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla asked, “Was the food authority, while passing the impugned order, influenced by these reports or common knowledge?”
    Pracha replied in the affirmative, and said the authority was concerned about food safety.
    The state Food and Drug Authority started its arguments through senior counsel Darius Khambatta, after Pracha concluded.
    Khambatta argued that in Nestle India’s petition there was not even a “whisper” of allegation it was levelling now about FSSAI relying on test reports that were not from accredited labs. “It only finds a mention in the rejoinder they have filed,” he argued.
    Nestle India has claimed that it had tested the product at 2,700 laboratories in India and abroad and the tests indicated that the lead content was less than the permissible limit of 0.5 per cent.
    Khambatta said the company should have followed the procedure laid down within the FSS Act before moving the HC. “You cannot brandish 2,700 reports without following the simple procedure within the Act,” he argued.
    On June 5, the FSSAI ordered Nestle India to withdraw all nine variants of Maggi instant noodles from the market terming them “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption. The company had earlier argued that the CEO of FSSAI, while passing the order, had acted in an “emergent, drastic and arbitrary” fashion.
    Nestle also argued that the food regulator had not served any notice before passing the ban order. A similar order was later passed by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Authority.

    Maharashtra FDA asks: why was Nestlé silent?

    Watchdog says firm was issued five notices, told it could test Maggi noodles at referral lab, but it chose not to do so
    FSSAI banned Maggi noodles on 5 June following reports from various states about high levels of lead and the presence of taste enhancer monosodium glutamate. Photo: Bloomberg
    Nestlé was issued five notices by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and even told that it could get tests on Magginoodles done at a referral laboratory, but the company chose not to do so, a lawyer for the Maharashtra FDA argued.
    Nestlé is challenging the ban on Maggi noodles in the state in the Bombay high court. The Maharashtra FDA, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the watchdog’s CEO are respondents.
    In its arguments earlier this month, Nestle India Ltd argued that the procedures for banning a product were not followed. The Indian arm of Swiss multinational Nestle SA had questioned the Indian food authorities’ methods of testing and had said that it had 2,700 reports of tests that it had done in laboratories around the world and in India, which found the product safe.
    “It is one of the most significant silences in this matter that Nestlé, with all the vociferous data and its 2,700 reports from all over the world, has never exercised this right. It’s one of the most telling signs in this matter,” argued Darius Khambata, who appeared for the Maharashtra FDA.
    Nestle India did not follow the law of the land and did not request the state and government food regulators to conduct the tests at an accredited food laboratory even though the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, has provisions for the company to do so, argued Khambata.
    The Act allows companies to request for a test at an accredited laboratory if they are not satisfied with the food lab results provided by the food authority. And if there is a variance in these reports, then the opinion of a referral food laboratory can be taken, Khambata said.
    The lawyer argued that the watchdog does not need to get food tested only at accredited food laboratories. Under the Act, the tests have to be done by a food analyst, who is an expert, and can be conducted in any food laboratory. It’s his expertise that is of importance for validating the tests, Khambata said.
    FSSAI banned Maggi noodles on 5 June following reports from various states about high levels of lead and the presence of taste enhancer monosodium glutamate. The food regulator termed the noodles as “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption. Following its own tests, which found a high content of lead, Maharashtra banned the sales of Maggi noodles in the state on 6 June.

    Maharashtra says Nestle violated procedure

    The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that Nestle India did not follow the legal procedure after the company was issued notice to explain the high levels of lead detected in samples of its Maggi noodles.
    “The petitioners [Nestle] did not follow the procedure under the Act [Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006]. Food authorities cannot drag their feet in a matter of public health. There is a detailed mechanism in this Act which can solve the issue. There is a difficulty of foreign direct investment versus public health. The rule of law is the surest guarantee for both,” Darius J. Khambatta, counsel for the government and the State Food and Drug Administration, said.
    Instead of following the procedure, the food manufacturer questioned the authority of the regulators and the government and the testing methods, Mr. Khambatta said.
    “How can you condemn all the labs in India saying none is credible or does not meet your standards?” he asked.
    Nestle had told the court earlier that 2,700 labs around the world had showed that Maggi noodles did not contain excess lead.
    The court asked the government if there had been any “emergency” in banning the brand and why all its variants had been banned when only two of them were tested.
    The government said 20 samples of two variants had been tested in Maharashtra, out of which five tested positive for lead in excess of the permissible limit. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which is the central authority, tested 72 samples of three variants and found that 30 of them contained high levels of lead.

    DINAMALAR NEWS



    Packaged. But is it safe?



    Unknown source:Unauthorised units allegedly sell water obtained from private tankers in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands.

    hat started as a source of drinking water for commercial entities and the affluent sections in society a few years ago has become a mainstay in a large number of households in the city. With people becoming more concerned about health and more disposable income at their command, the denizens of the city had started graduating to use packaged drinking water.
    Dealers involved in packaged water business say more than 10,000 litres of bottled water are sold in the city every day. 
    Arun, a dealer, said the demand for 20-litre bubble-topped cans had increased over the years. “I used to sell around 100 cans a day a year ago. In May, this year I sold 500 cans a day, mostly to households. We charge Rs.60 per can and if a consumer uses more than 2 cans a week, we give them a discount,” he said.
    Price varies
    However, he said, the price of bottled water differed from place to place.
    Asha, a resident of Maruthankuzhi, said though there was piped water connection, they depended on bottled water for drinking needs. “The water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority turned very muddy and then we shifted to bottled water. On an average, we buy four cans a month. Buying bottled drinking water has become part of my household budget for the past two years,” she said.
    The growing demand for bottled water has led to establishment of manufacturing units, particularly at places such as Neyyattinkara, Udayankulangara, Palode, Navayikulam, Menamkulam, Veli, and Parassala.
    Rough estimates provided by dealers reveal that on an average 2,000 to 3,000 cans are produced at these units a day. Data gathered from city Corporation and district panchayat say that licences were issued for around 10 bottling units. However, there are umpteen unauthorised units functioning at the fringe pockets of the city. This has raised questions about the quality of water being supplied.
    “Several complaints related to quality of bottled water have been received in the past several months,” B. Shivakumar, Joint Commissioner, Food Safety, told The Hindu .
    As per this, notices were served on manufacturers. In fact, a criminal case was registered against the owner of a manufacturing unit at Kilimanoor for selling substandard water.
    “The biggest problem we face is the use of cans having stickers of noted brands by local manufacturers. We are trying to curb this practice,” he said. A dealer with a prominent brand agreed with this. He said unauthorised units often filled water obtained from private tankers and sold them in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands.

    Bombay high court unplugs import of Australian wine

    MUMBAI: In a victory that has left Australian wine major in high spirits, the Bombay high court on Tuesday removed a plug on imports that the food safety regulator had placed on Jacob's Creek wine. 
    The Australia's largest wine brand had moved the HC against the import ban on a shipment which the food safety regulator FSSAI said contained Tartaric acid. 
    On Tuesday, the Bombay high court bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla allowed the petition filed by Pernod Ricard India which imports the spirit and disposed of the matter. The company had challenged the lack of no objection certificate (NOC) from food safety standard authority of India (FSSAI) for a shipload of Jacob Creek wine bottles. Iqbal Chagla, counsel for Pernod, which also distributes some other leading international brands, said, "Tartaric acid is not a prohibited additive under the regulations." He said the shipment has been lying at the Mumbai docks since last October or November when the NOC was refused. He said for the last ten years, the wine has been imported without a hitch and added that tartaric acid is found even in fruit juices. 
    Mehmood Pracha, counsel for FSSAI argued that samples of the shipment when tested, as part of legal safety requirement, were found to contain tartaric acid which is not permitted in proprietary food. "It is presumed that these are standardized and not permitted to mix tartaric acid as it can have dangerous effects which are unknown."

    Jul 28, 2015

    விவசாயிகள் அனைவருக்கும் தரச் சான்றிதழ் சாத்தியமா?

    தமிழ்நாட்டில் இருந்து அனுப்பப்படும் காய்கறிகளில் பெருமளவில் பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்தின் நச்சுத்தன்மை உள்ளது என்று சொல்லி வருகிறது கேரள அரசு.
    இதனால் கேரளா எல்லைக்குள் நுழையும் காய்கறிகளை ஏற்றிவரும் வாகனங்ளை அனுமதிக்க, கடும் கட்டுப்பாடுகளை விதித்து வருகிறது அம்மாநில அரசு. கடந்த வாரத்தில், கேரள மாநில எல்லையில், 'நச்சுத்தன்மை கலந்த காய்கறிகளை ஏற்றிவரும் வாகனங்களை அனுமதிக்க மாட்டோம்.. தரச் சான்றிதழ் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே காய்கறி வாகனங்களை அனுமதிப்போம்!' என்று போஸ்டர்கள் ஒட்டப்பட்டதால் பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது.
    இந்நிலையில் தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கேரளாவுக்கு அதிகளவில் காய்கறிகளை அனுப்புவதில் முன்னணியில் இருக்கிறது திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்டம், ஒட்டன்சத்திரம் காந்தி மார்க்கெட். தமிழகத்திலேயே பெரிய காய்கறி சந்தைகளுள் ஒன்றான ஒட்டன்சத்திரத்துக்கு சுற்று வட்டாரத்திலிருந்து ஆயிரக்கணக்கான விவசாயிகள், காய்கறிகளை விற்பனைக்கு கொண்டு வருகிறார்கள். கேரள அரசின் தற்போதைய நிலைப்பாட்டால், இச்சந்தைக்கு காய்களை கொண்டு வரும் விவசாயிகளும், வியாபாரிகளும் பெரியளவில் பாதிப்புக்குள்ளாகி இருக்கிறார்கள்.


    இதையடுத்து, ஒட்டன்சத்திரம் சந்தையின் காய்கறி வியாபாரிகள் திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்திடம் முறையிட, உணவு பொருள் பாதுகாப்புத்துறை, வேளாண்மைத்துறை, தோட்டக்கலைத்துறை ஆகியவை இணைந்து ஒரு குழுவை அமைத்துள்ளது. இந்த குழுக்கள் மூலம் ஒட்டன்சத்திரம் காய்கறி மார்க்கெட் வியாபாரிகள் மற்றும் கேரளாவுக்கு காய்கறிகளை ஏற்றிச் செல்லும் வாகனங்களுக்கு தரச்சான்று வழங்க முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.
    இதுகுறித்து பேசிய மாவட்ட உணவு பொருள் பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் ஷாம்இளங்கோ, "கேரள அரசின் கெடுபிடிகளைச் சமாளிக்கும் வகையில் மார்க்கெட்டில் உள்ள வியாபாரிகளுக்கு தரச்சான்று வழங்கப்படும். நாள்தோறும் காய்கறிகளின் மாதிரி எடுக்கப்பட்டு அவை மதுரைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும். அங்கு உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ஆய்வகத்தில் பரிசோதிக்கப்பட்டு தரத்தன்மை குறித்து சான்று வழங்கப்படும். காய்கறிகளை சாகுபடி செய்த விவசாயிகளின் விவரங்களையும் காய்கறிகளோடு அனுப்ப ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்படும்.
    சோதனையின்போது, காய்கறிகளில் உரம் மற்றும் பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளின் அளவு, அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட அளவைவிட அதிகமாக இருந்தால் வேளாண்மைத்துறை மூலம் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட விவசாயிகளுக்கு ரசாயனப் பயன்பாட்டை குறைக்கச் சொல்லி அறிவுறுத்தப்படும். அதோடு உரக்கடைகளிலும் ஆய்வு செய்யப்படும்" என்றார்.


    இதுகுறித்து ஒட்டன்சத்திரம் மார்க்கெட் காய்கறி வியாபாரிகள் சிலரிடம் பேசியபோது, "வருகிற செப்டம்பர் மாதத்தில் இருந்து கேரளாவுக்கு காய்கறிகளை அனுப்ப முடியாத அளவுக்கு கட்டுப்பாடுகளை விதிக்க கேரளா முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. இப்போது உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத்துறையின் மூலம் வந்துள்ள இந்த அறிவிப்பு கொஞ்சம் தெம்பைக் கொடுத்துள்ளது. என்றாலும், இந்த மார்க்கெட் மாலை வேளைகளில்தான் கூடும். காலையில் பறிக்கும் காய்கறிகளை மதியம் மூன்று மணியளவில் மார்கெட்டுக்கு விவசாயிகள் கொண்டு வருவார்கள். அவற்றை ஏலம் விட்டு இரவுக்குள் காய்கறிகளை கேரளாவுக்கு லாரிகளில் ஏற்றிவிட வேண்டும். இந்நிலையில், இந்த ஆறு, ஏழு மணிநேரத்துக்குள் சாம்பிள் எடுத்து மதுரைக்கு அனுப்பி தரச்சான்றை வாங்குவது எந்த வகையில் சாத்தியம் என்று தெரியவில்லை.
    கேரள அரசுடன் பேசி இன்னும் இரண்டு மூன்று மாதங்கள் அவகாசம் வாங்கிக் கொடுக்க வேண்டும். அதற்குள் விவசாயிகளிடம் உரப்பயன்பாட்டைக் குறைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். எங்கள் பகுதி விவசாயிகளை உடனடியாக இயற்கை விவசாயத்துக்கு மாற்றுவது சாத்தியமே இல்லாத விஷயம். ஆனால், உரக்கடைக்காரர்களுக்கு கட்டுப்பாடுகள் விதித்து அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளை மட்டும் விற்பனை செய்யச் சொல்ல வேண்டும். அளவுக்கு அதிகமான பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளை விற்பனை செய்யவும் தடைவிதிக்க வேண்டும்" என்றனர்.
    தமிழக வேளாண்துறை உடனடியாக களத்தில் இறங்கி இந்த பிரச்னைக்கு முடிவு கட்டவேண்டும். உரக்கடைகளில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்துகளின் விற்பனையை நிறுத்த வேண்டும். விவசாயிகளுக்கு உரப்பயன்பாடு குறித்து விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம்கள் நடத்த வேண்டும்.
    இதே காய்கறிகளைத்தான் தமிழக மக்களும் சாப்பிடுகிறார்கள் என்பதை நினைவில் கொண்டு, படிப்படியாக இயற்கை விவசாய முறையை பின்பற்ற விவசாயிகளுக்கு அறிவுறுத்த வேண்டும். அரசும் இயற்கை வேளாண் கொள்கையை நடைமுறைப்படுத்த நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டிய காலம் வந்துவிட்டது.
    அரசு மனது வைப்பது எப்போது?

    Maggi row: Nestle violated laws, alleges Maharashtra FDA

    The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi, and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting their sale.
    The Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that Maggi noodlesmanufacturer Nestle India violated laws with the lead level in the popular instant snack being above the permissible limit.
    The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi, andMaharashtra government's order prohibiting their sale.
    "If they (Nestle) had problems with the FDA report of laboratory tests showing lead content in Maggi, they could have told us, following which we could have referred the case to other accredited labs. Instead, the company challenged our authority," argued FDA counsel Darius Khambata.
    He further said, to a question by the judges, that of the 20 samples which were sent to the labs, only five tested positive.
    To another question by the division bench of justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla, Khambata said FDA had tested only two variants of Maggi, but banned all the nine variants available in the market. He would continue the argument tomorrow.
    The lawyer of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had earlier argued that it had not banned Maggi, but only asked the company to stop the manufacture and sale as it contained lead beyond the permissible limit. FSSAI also said that it was ready to give a hearing to the company.
    Both FSSAI and FDA have claimed that they had issued notices to Nestle India keeping in mind the health hazards the product may have had due to the high lead content.
    Nestle has argued that a particular batch may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but the blanket ban was "unfair and illegal".

    DINAMALAR NEWS



    DINAMALAR NEWS



    Maggi also violated packaging rules: FSSAI

    The company has claimed that it used hydrolysed groundnut protein and a host of other herbs and spices which contain glutamate.
    The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the Bombay High Court on Monday that the ban on Nestle India’s Maggi product was partly due to its violation of the Packaging and Labeling Regulations of 2011.
    The FSSAI, which was accused by Nestle India of testing the Maggi products in facilities without approval from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), provided five reports from NABL-approved laboratories that show the occurrence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) .
    The FSSAI stated that food analysts in these labs found up to 1.75 parts per million (ppm) of MSG and as the Maggi package claims to have ‘no added MSG’, its presence violates a provision of the FSSAI Act.
    “The amount of arsenic used in the production of Maggi is 0.04 per cent as opposed to the 0.01 per cent stated on the package, which is another such violation,” argued FSSAI lawyer Mehmood Pracha.
    The maximum permissible limit of MSG in food products like Maggi is 2.5 ppm, Pracha said.
    Nestle said in its petition that it “does not add MSG to the instant noodles”.
    The company has claimed that it used hydrolysed groundnut protein and a host of other herbs and spices which contain glutamate.
    Therefore, if tested, there is detection of glutamate, which naturally occurs in many foods, including Maggi.

    Ashish Bahuguna appointed as new FSSAI chairman

    Former agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna has been appointed as the chairman of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

    NEW DELHI: Former agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna has been appointed as the chairman of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. 
    The position of the chairman at the food authority was lying vacant since January this year after the tenure of K Chandramouli had come to an end. The tenure of the chairman is for three years. Until now Bhanu Pratap Sharma, secretary health and family welfare, was temporarily in charge of the position. 
    The development was confirmed by Yudhvir Singh Malik, CEO of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The ministry of health and family welfare had released a circular in September 2014 announcing the vacancy. But the appointment was not made. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has lately been in the news after it banned Nestle's instant noodle brand Maggi for having lead beyond permissible limits.

    Jul 27, 2015

    Facts and Side effects of eating street foods

    This article explains side effects of consumption of street foods. street foods are generally more yummy and spicy due to addition of extra spices and Mono sodium glutamate MSG that can actually do more harm to our health upon consumption. this article also explains facts about unhygienic street food and their side effects.

    India is a house of different diverse religions, traditions and cultures. Out of different cultures, many types of foods exist in our country. Particularly, street food is most prominent activity that takes place in every nook and corner of India. You can expect a mobile shop selling various street foods at your nearest junction. As these street foods have amazing sweet, chilly and tangy flavours that you can't find in traditional foods, most of the people find an excuse to visit street food stalls nearby to fulfill their appetite. Though these stalls serve many hungry stomachs, guess what these street foods aren't healthy for you. Lets discuss the fact's why you need to avoid street food along with their side effects.
    Side effects of street foods and related facts
    Guess what? They don't have FSSAI licence
    Yes, you heard it right! These street food stalls have vendor licence to sell street foods but they don't have food safety and standards authority of India FSSAI licence. Every food product that is manufactured in India or abroad that needs to sell their products in India must comply with FSSAI standards and must obtain licence to sell that product. You are so particular about checking FSSAI logo when they buying packed food but why don't you request the availability of licence for street foods too? If FSSAI would start to provide licences to street food vendors, I'm sure most stalls won't comply with FSSAI standards.
    Lack of cleanliness
    Most of the street food vendors lack cleanliness. Their preparation of food items, serving procedure is so unclean that if you check out how actually they cook, you would probably suffer from nausea. Almost every street food vendor cooks food in unhygienic conditions. They use bare hands to cut onions and they don't even mind knife cuts, bruises on their hands that may actually contaminate food with their blood. Usage of those monthly once replaceable towels with which vendor cleans sorry unclean his hands is home for lots of bacteria and viruses. 
    Laboratory tests reveal that presence of e-coli bacteria colonies are higher in street foods with which you may suffer with fever, head ache and stomach ache along with vomiting.
    Those extra spice ingredients will harm you for sure!
    Reputed companies like coco cola may reveal their patented secret ingredients but these street food vendors surely won't! You will actually look one facet of tasty street food but another facet you need to consider is what ingredients that they add to make it extra spice. Many stalls of panipuri chat were reported usage of half a tea spoon of tasting salt that is nothing but mono sodium glutamate MSG in short. You may be aware of why Maggi noodles banned in India because of excess MSG content. Not everyone can withstand this dose of higher MSG per serving, some of them are too sensitive for it, MSG is reportedly a silent killer as its side effects include heart palpitations or severe un coordinated heart beating, chest pain, nausea, headache, flushing and excessive sweating. Those these symptoms may not appear for one serving of street food, but repeated exposure to higher MSG may cause the above side effects
    Oil fried foods can seize your heart's activity in long term
    At many stalls uses cheap oils to fry chips and other accessory like papads, crispy rings and fried noodle items that are served in your plate. Producers of animal bone based fat oil accepted the fact that they sell their oil to street food vendors. Consumption of such foods made of animal fat oil can deposit cholesterol rapidly in your arteries, veins and valves near to the heart that may result in acute mayo cardiac arrest or heart attack in a very young age. 
    Due to re utilization of used oil to cook food, carbon soot particles may settle in your stomach upon their consumption leading to stomach upset, indigestion and liver based issues.
    Blindly trusting culinary experience of street food vendor? Then no one can save you!
    You cannot compare culinary experiences of your wife, who cooks in most hygienic way and to street food vendor who may be a fresher in cooking. Note that every street food vendor can't serve you fresh food or tasty food, you will feel awkward if you taste food from a new vendor. So always visit a trusted vendor who cooks in hygienic conditions. Many incidents reported and videos available over YouTube reveals that teen vendors at times makes fun of their customers and one vendor served some food with his saliva and urine in it. Yes you need to believe it! National media had covered this news too. 
    You could probably suffer with contagious diseases like diarrhea that occurs due to parasitic infection.
    Conclusion
    So need to careful while choosing a best street food outlet and always choose the one that is preferred by most of the public. Always enquire about ingredients and be cautionary on extra usage of MSG. Avoid eating in unhygienic stalls even though they offer yummy food. Spread the facts and side effects of eating street food in public and don't hesitate to complain on vendor to local district food inspector in case you experience any health problems upon consumption of street food.