கோடையில் அபாயம் ஏற்படுத்தும் கார்பைடு மாம்பழம், போலி குளிர்பானங்கள் - உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை

சேலம், ஏப். 2:

தமிழகத்தின் சராசரி வெப்பநிலையே 100 டிகிரி ஃபாரன்ஹீட் என்று சொல்லும் அளவுக்கு, மார்ச் கடைசி வாரத்தில் இருந்தே வெயிலின் தாக்கம் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. கொளுத்தும் வெயிலுக்கு இதமாக, ‘ஜில்’ என்ற பழச்சாறு, ஐஸ் கிரீம், கரும்பு ஜூஸ் கடைகளை தேடி மக்கள் நாடிச் செல்கின்றனர்.

கோடை துவங்கியதையடுத்து, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் போலி மற்றும் காலாவதியான குடிநீர், குளிர் பானம் விற்பனை ஜோராக நடக்கும். அதனை கண்டறிந்து, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் பணியில், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடியாக அனைத்து பகுதிகளிலும் ஆய்வு செய்து வருகின்றனர். சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் பழைய, புதிய பஸ் நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் ஆத்தூர், மகுடஞ்சாவடி, தலைவாசல், ஓமலூர் பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் நடத்தப்பட்ட சோதனையில் மூன்று முதல் ஆறு மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பே காலாவதியான 7500 குளிர்பானம் பாட்டில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன.

இதை தொடர்ந்து தற்போது, கார்பைடு மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்படும் பழங்கள்தான் இந்த சீசனில் மிகவும் அச்சுறுத்தக்கூடிய உணவுப்பொருள். அதற்கு காரணம், கார்பைடு கல்லில் இருக்கக்கூடிய அசிட்டிலீன் வாயு. ‘‘இந்த வாயுவின் மூலம் மா, வாழை போன்றவை 12முதல்24 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் பழுக்க வைக்க முடிகிறது. காய்களில் இயற்கையாக உள்ள எத்திலின் வாயு மூலம் அவை 48 முதல் 72 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் பழுத்துவிடும். எனினும், அவசர அவசரமாக கல்லா கட்டும் நோக்கத்தில் வியாபாரிகள் செயற்கையாக பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்கின்றனர்,’’ என்கிறனர், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள்.

இதுபோன்று செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்களை தொடர் ந்து உண்பதன் மூலம் நரம்பு மண்டலம் பாதிக்கும். கல்லீரல், குடல், இரைப்பை யும் பாதிக்கும். குழந்தைகள், முதியவர்கள் இதுபோன்ற பழங்களை அதிகம் உட்கொண்டால், அவர்களுக்கு கடும் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, ஒவ்வாமை ஏற்படலாம் என்றும் மாவட்ட உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலர் அனுராதா எச்சரிக்கிறார்.

மக்கள் நடமாட்டம் மிகுந்திருப்பதால் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்களை கொடுத்தாலும் குடித்து விட்டு சென்று விடுவார்கள் என்ற எண்ணம் எல்லா பஸ் நிலைய கடைக்காரர்கள் மத்தியிலும் நிலவுகிறது. அதனால்தான் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் முதலில் பஸ் நிலைய கடைகளை குறி வைத்து களம் இறங்கியுள்ளனர். இவர்களின் வேட்டையில் பல காபி பார், பேக்கரி கடைக்காரர்கள் சிக்கிக்கொண்டாலும், மக்கள் விழிப்புணர்வுடன் இருந்தால்தான் போலி மற்றும் காலாவதி பொருட்களிடம் இருந்து தப்பிக்க முடியும் என்பதும் உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

‘கார்பைடு’ பழம் கண்டறிவது எப்படி?

கார்பைடு கற்கள், வெல்டிங் பட்டறைகளில் பெரும்பாலும் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்த கற்களில் உள்ள அசிட்டிலீன் வாயு மூலம் பழங்கள் மிக விரைவாக செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்படுகிறது. பொதுவாக செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்கள் நல்ல கனமாக இருக்கும். தோல் பகுதி வெளிர் மஞ்சள் நிறத்தில் இருக்கும். தோலை நீக்கி பார்த்தால் உள்ளே காய்வெட்டாக இருக்கும். காம்பு பகுதியில் லேசாக கீறினால் புளிப்பு சுவைக்கான மணம் வீசும். இதன்மூலம் செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்களை கண்டறிய முடியும்.

ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை கட்டாயம்

பாலிதீன் பாக்கெட் மற்றும் பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டில்களில் அடைத்து விற்கப்படும் குடிநீருக்கு, கண்டிப்பாக ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை பெற்றிருக்க வேண்டும். ஹெர்பல் மற்றும் பிளேவர்டு வாட்டர் என்ற பெயர்களில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீர் பாட்டில்களில் ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை இருப்பதில்லை. குடிநீர் பாட்டில் வாங்கும்போது அதில் ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை, இந்த முத்திரைக்கு மேல் பகுதியில் ஐஎஸ் எண், முத்திரைக்கு கீழ் பகுதியில் சிஎம்/எல் எண்கள் இருக்க வேண்டும். அதன்பின், பாட்டிலில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட தேதி, காலாவதி தேதி விவரங்கள் ஆகிய அம்சங்களை பார்த்து நுகர்வோர் வாங்க வேண்டும்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Food wing officials warn against adulteration in sago

Officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has warned manufacturers not to adulterate sago with tapioca starch.

District Designated Officer K. Tamil Selvan said that sago and starch was manufactured in Rasipuram, Vennandur, Namagiripettai, Sendamangalam, Sellappampatti, Metalla, Kalangani, Budhansandai and other areas.

Last year lot of manufactures were involved in adulteration activities and action was taken against them. Currently, tapioca cultivation is over in the district.

Hence there are chances that manufacturers may involve in adulteration.

They were warned against such practices.

He also said that all the units would be monitored and samples, if needed, taken.

All the units will be monitored and samples will be taken

VMC cracks down on mango, sugarcane juice vendors

VADODARA: Food safety officers of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) cracked down on outlets selling mango and sugarcane juice in the city. The step was taken in wake of the summer setting in and such outlets opening up across the city.

VMC officials checked such outlets across the city in a concerted drive. The drive was conducted in Tarsali, Makarpura, Manjalpur, Mujmahuda, Gotri Road, Makrand Desai Road, Vasna Road, Dandia Bazaar, Fatehgunj, Chhani, Karelibaug, Ajwa Road and other areas.

Designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, additional health officer Dr Mukesh Vaidya said that 23 outlets selling mango juice as well as 27 selling sugarcane juice were checked by the officers. He added that the drive would be continued in coming days.

The officers found colour being used widely in mango juice. They destroyed 230 kg of mango juice, 120 kg of sugar syrup laced with colour and 70 kg of mangoes that were not fit for consumption. The officials also disposed off 590 kg of ice and around three kilograms of colour.

The vendors were issued a warning and asked to maintain hygiene at their outlets. Sixteen members who were not registered were issued notices by the civic body asking them to get themselves registered.

FDA seals 4 water-bottling units for evading BIS norms

AURANGABAD: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sealed four units for running their business without a Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification in Waluj Bajajnagar on Monday in an attempt to tighten the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies. 

"Earlier, the department had served notices to 19 units in the city for not abiding by the FDA Act," said Aurangabad division joint commissioner (Food) of FDA Chandrashekhar Salunke. "Many plants operating in the city are facing such action for avoiding BIS certification," he added. 

"In a raid launched by food safety officers on Monday, the FDA sealed four units in Waluj Bajajnagar. Officials collected 10 samples of water from these units and sent them for testing to the laboratory," informed FDA's assistant commissioner (Food), Aurangabad, M D Shah. 

"Though state governments issue permission to set up water-bottling plants, BIS grants product licences. The agency has the mandate to ensure quality of both packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water," said FSO R D Munde. 

"Many bottling unit owners invest up to Rs 2 lakh while a standard mineral water processing plant needs around Rs 20 lakh and many supply water without ISO certification. The demand for packaged water is so high that it hardly matters whether the contents are certified or not. People don't ask about the certification," said FSO Varsha Rode. 

"Consumption of packaged drinking water rises during summer. Most illegal plants fill the bottles with tap or ground water and sell it as processed drinking water," said another FSO, J V Kasar. 

Meanwhile, the president of Udyog Kranti Udyojak Sangh, Asaram Phulare said, "It is beyond the reach of small scale entrepreneurs to procure BIS certification. The unit owner will have to incur expenses of around Rs 2.5 lakh to get the certification. Moreover, every year the owner has to spend Rs 90,000 for renewal charges." 

Phulare added that as per BIS specifications, the unit has to employ two technicians. "Nowadays, a technician demands no less than Rs 25,000 as salary per month. If you consider the overall expenses, the unit owner has to incur around Rs 15 lakh per year, which a small businessman cannot afford," he said. 

"Before the FDA Act was executed in 2011, we were following all the Acts and made sure the products did not pose any health threats to people. With the new specifications, it has become very difficult for small scale entrepreneurs to survive," Phulare added. 

"The government implements Acts in favour of major industries that are against the survival of small scale entrepreneurs. Multinational and foreign companies require to seek licences just once in 45 days and do not have to apply for renewal," he claimed. 

Meanwhile, FDA officials said, "The expense to seek BIS certification comes to about Rs 2 lakh. This is compelling entrepreneurs to escape following the norms. But as per rules, the FDA will continue the drive and go after all such persons who violate the Act."

ORGANIC FOOD: NO RULES ON THE PLATE

Consuming organically-grown food is a popular trend. But with little regulation, we have to rely on what producers and suppliers claim. Regulatory body FSSAI says no rules yet!

Organic food is becoming a lifestyle choice for many in India. The organic market, worth Rs.1000 crores, is growing at a steady 20 per cent every year despite the fact that organic produce is 25 per cent costlier than its conventionally grown counterpart. To be categorized as ‘organic’, the produce must be cultivated or bred and packaged according to very exacting and tough practices. But, in India, not everything claiming to be ‘organic’ is truly organic. There are few prescribed standards and a regulatory framework that informs and protects consumers is absent.

In response to BOOM’s previous report, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is the statutory body for laying down the rules for food standards, said in an email response, “As of now, we do not have standards for Organic Food. However, we are in the process of formulation of standards for organic food products.”

So for now, consumers will need to rely on the claims made by farmers and suppliers. Hyderabad-based Sresta, which markets 24 Mantra that has been selling organic products for 10 years and supplies to over 1500+ outlets across India and abroad, says their self-regulatory processes are sound.

CEO N Balasubramanian says “We keep track of what the farmers are using for produce. We sign a formal contract with them and our people visit the farms regularly in order to make sure that they follow all organic practices. Then, we finally source from the farmers who are certified by the certifying agencies. We ensure the integrity because our own people work directly with the farmers.”

But Crop Care Federation of India, a body that represents the interests of fertilizer and pesticide companies, has charged 24 Mantra for misleading consumers in its packaging by claiming unproven benefits from organic food. Advisor to Crop Care Federation of India, S Ganesan says “Organic food standard stipulate that products should be packed in biodegradable material. The products we picked up from the market have been packed in plastic material. They have claimed ‘save your children from cancer causing pesticide’ on the pack which is a violation of labelling rules of Organic product.”

Reacting to this charge, Sresta’s CEO N Balasubramanian said, “The matter is still being investigated and discussed. However, we are very clear that whatever we have claimed we will substantiate that to the FSSAI. We have not claimed anything that misleads anyone. We are very clear that as of today we don’t contravene any law, food laws or FSSAI laws.”

BOOM has written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to know when the rules will be formulated but we have received no response yet. Clearly, when it comes to the quality of organic food, the onus will continue to be on the consumer.

WHO, Indian health ministry bat for food safety

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indian health ministry on Wednesday urged the nations of the world to make food safety a priority.

The institutions stated that due to the rising number of deaths caused by food-borne diseases, there was an immediate need for every government to partner with civil society, non-governmental organisations and private sector and consumers to ensure that safe food becomes everybody's business.

According to WHO statistics, food-borne and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases kill an estimated 2 million people, including many children, annually.

It also says that in the South East Asian region, diarrhoeal diseases continue to be one of the top three leading causes of deaths.

Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India said: "Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between the public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration."

"In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet initiative -- Swachh Bharat campaign -- that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing the socio-economic impact of food-borne illnesses," she said.

Menabde was speaking at the national consultation on "Food Safety 2015" -- which has been set as the theme for World Health Day.

Present at the consultation were Bhanu Pratap Sharma, health secretary and chairperson of Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI), Keshav Desiraju, secretary of department of consumer affairs and other senior dignitaries of both WHO and the health ministry.

The WHO also stated that in India, the full burden of food-borne illness is not known as most of the cases are unreported.

Surveillance data in the country from 2011-14 shows that food-borne outbreaks, together with acute diarrhoeal diseases, constituted nearly half of all reported outbreaks during this period.

In a message, WHO's South Asian director, Poonam Khetrapal, said that food safety is one of the key focus areas under the International Health Regulations -- IHR 2005 -- which include all public health emergencies of international concern that involve contaminated food and outbreaks of food-borne diseases.

She said that the WHO and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have established the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) to rapidly share information during food safety emergencies.

Highlighting the need for inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, India's health secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma said: "There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders and that's where the role of WHO is extremely important."

"The objective of World Health Day, this year, is to catalyse collective government and public action to put measures in place that will improve safety of food by aligning policies in agriculture, trade, health, education and social protection to provide a safe and healthy diet for all," he added.

Acknowledging the need to improve food safety systems, the institutions extensively deliberated on the issues of production, regulation, nutrition, unhealthy food and safety of street food.

It was announced on the occasion that state-level consultations on the theme food safety would also be held at Bengaluru, Kolkata, Patna and Raipur soon.

Safe food should be a priority: WHO

New Delhi: Ahead of World Health Day, the Health Ministry and WHO on Wednesday came together to seek stronger measures for promoting food safety saying awareness on the issue will help strengthen enforcement of food standards and prevent foodborne illnesses.

Speaking at the national consultation on food safety, Union Health Secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma highlighted the need for inter sectoral convergence and enforcement at all levels.

"There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders and that's where the role of WHO is extremely important," he said.

In her World Health Day message, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO, South-East Asia Region said, "Political awareness and consumer education on food safety will help to strengthen enforcement of food standards, improve hygienic practices, and prevent foodborne illnesses. The most pertinent of all the measures is creating awareness among people to ensure that their food is safe."

Speaking on the occasion, Nata Menabde,WHO Representative to India said, "Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration."

"In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with the Swachh Bharat initiative of the Prime Minister that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing socio-economic impact of foodborne illnesses," she said.

The consultation strongly advocated that governments must partner with civil society, NGOs, private sector and consumers, to ensure that safe food becomes everybody's business.

Perspectives on 'Serving Safe Food' were presented by Akshayapatra and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), emphasising the importance of safe food.

The theme for World Health Day, which falls on April 7, is safe food this year.

Intersectoral co-operation key to achieve goal of food safety : Sharma

Bhanu Pratap Sharma, secretary (health & family welfare), Government of India, and chairperson, FSSAI, has urged for an intersectoral convergence and enforcement at all levels to achieve the goal of food safety across the food chain. He was speaking at a national consultation organised on Wednesday to mark the upcoming World Health Day, which would be celebrated on April 7.

Sharma stated, “There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders along with intersectoral cooperation.”

The consultation was organised by ministry of health & family welfare (MoHFW) and World Health Organisation (WHO) for promoting food safety, the theme of this year’s World Health Day.

The consultation brought together all stakeholders, from farm to plate, to discuss integration of ‘food safety’ into the broader food policy agenda and informing producers and consumers about the vital importance of safe food, and its impact on public health.

Sharma felt that standards needed to be set up with awareness campaigns to make informed choices. He added that success lies in full public participation. 

Y S Malik, CEO, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), in his address said that the apex food regulator in its endeavour to achieve the goal of food safety had enabled 3.3 million licences and registration so far along with 19,000 Central licences. He said that while newer challenges emerged in recent past due to increased global food trade, there was need to place interventions in every level of the food trade.

“We have decided to increase the scientific panels to achieve development of vertical standards. Further to boost the food safety, the number of labs are being increased,” he said, while adding that lab facilities in states needed boost.

In her World Health Day message, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, World Health Organisation, South-East Asia Region, said, “Political awareness and consumer education on food safety will help to strengthen enforcement of food standards, improve hygienic practices, and prevent foodborne illnesses. The most pertinent of all the measures is creating awareness among people to ensure that their food is safe.”

Speaking at the national consultation, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India, said, “Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between the public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration.”

“In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with the Swachh Bharat initiative of the prime minister that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing the socio-economic impact of foodborne illnesses,” she added.

The objective of the World Health Day, this year, is to catalyse collective government and public action to put measures in place that will improve safety of food by aligning policies in agriculture, trade, health, education and social protection to provide a safe and healthy diet for all.

Addressing issues related to food safety and food control systems, the panel discussion at the national consultation saw active deliberations on the need for multisectoral collaboration from food production to consumption and cooperation from all sectors for compliance of food standards.

Acknowledging the need to further improve the food safety systems, the forum extensively deliberated on the issues of production, regulations, nutrition, unhealthy food, safety of street food, consumer awareness, animal-human interface of foodborne diseases and strengthening surveillance of these diseases in India.

The consultation strongly advocated that the governments must partner with civil society, NGOs, private sector and consumers, to ensure that safe food becomes everybody’s business. Perspectives on ‘Serving Safe Food’ were presented by Akshayapatra and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), emphasising the importance of safe food. 

On the occasion, the WHO Country Office for India awarded Public Health Champions for outstanding contribution to public health in India. These awards are an attempt to recognise and honour the best in the field in order to encourage them to press forward and others to emulate them.

The award winners were SEWA Rural; Community Health Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Biocon Foundation; and Dr Vinod K Paul, AIIMS; for sustained contribution to public health. In the category of innovation, the awardees were Narayana Health and Ekjut.

State-level consultations on the theme of World Health Day will also be held at Bangalore, Kolkata, Patna and Raipur. 

Present at the consultation were Keshav Desiraju, secretary, department of consumer affairs, Government of India; Dr Jagdish Prasad, director-general, health services, MoHFW; Anshu Prakash, joint secretary, MoHFW; Sudhanshu Pandey, joint secretary, ministry of commerce; Kumar Singh, joint secretary, ministry of agriculture; and Dr S Venkatesh, director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), MoHFW, amongst other eminent industry experts, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.