Jun 7, 2017
Plastic sugar enters markets in Karnataka, probe ordered
June 6, 2017, 12:33 [IST]All that a family in Gadag wanted was a steaming cup of tea but what they were in for was a burnt mass of black residue. The culprit in the case, plastic mixed with sugar crystals. After plastic eggs and rice, plastic sugar has flooded markets in Karnataka. In a span of one week, two such incidents have been reported from Gadag and Tumkur.
"I added sugar to boiling water to make tea. I stepped out of the kitchen to take care of other errands but within minutes smoke started emanating from the kitchen, I rushed to see what had happened and I saw the vessel blackened with a mass stuck to the bottom. We checked the sugar and found that there were plastic crystals in it. We tested it multiple times and each time we added sugar to the water and brought it to a boil, particles would float and turn black," said a resident of Gadag who bore the brunt of plastic sugar.
The family has demanded that the sugar factory from where they bought the adulterated sugar be shut down. "What about the health of people? Sugar is an essential commodity and we use it every day. Why are the authorities mum over plastic being mixed in a commodity that is consumed by infants and seniors alike? We demand that the sugar factories be shut down and action initiated against those responsible for this," said an angry resident of Gadag.
A similar incident took place in Hassan of Karnataka a week ago. Sugar bought from a shop was adulterated with plastic crystals. Shocked consumers protested in front of the shop from where the adulterated sugar was bought. Karnataka Minister A Manju visited the spot and helped ease the situation after assuring action against the culprits.
Probe ordered
Taking cognizance of both incidents, the Karnataka government has sought a probe into the matter. The Food Safety Department has collected samples for verification while the Food and Civil Supplies department has ordered a probe to find out where and how the sugar was adulterated. "This looks like a massive racket. Plastic is being found in rice and sugar. We will look into the matter seriously. We have ordered a probe to find out where plastic was mixed with sugar if it was directly from the factory or from retail shop owners," said Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies Minister, U T Khader.
Kuwait trying to mediate diplomatic rift, says Qatar Woman allegedly gang-raped, her infant thrown out of auto, dies Next President of India, Vice-President: Is it Sumitra Mahajan and Venkaiah Naidu Featured Posts Plastic crystals of various sizes were picked from sugar at a shop in Hassan much to the disbelief of consumers. Concerns have now been raised on public health and safety if these plastic-laden and adulterated food items continue to plague markets.
What we know about FSSAI’s Food Safety Display Boards?
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) puts in a lot of thought into the drafting and bringing into the picture the Gazettes which aim to reform our Food Industry towards providing healthy and safe products to the consumers.
To brief the turning point in food safety last year, FSSAI did come up with a brilliant strategy in August 2016, commemorating its decade of existence. Since then, FSSAI did bring about revolutionary changes by implementing many changes and additions in the regulations. Standardization of Camel Milk for trade, removal of zinc from the list of Toxins, standardization of food products with high salt, sugar, and Fats, regulations for e-commerce websites – these have carefully stepped up the much-needed food safety awareness.
Food Safety Display Boards – how many of you’ll know about them? You might have seen the FSSAI License number whenever you must have visited any food premise?
Or maybe not! This is due to the Food Business Owners may or may not ‘CLEARLY’ display the license number in the premise. It might be hung up on the wall somewhere, but the proof of safety should be visible to people.
Hence, Food Safety Display Boards.
Now, what is a Food Safety Display Board?
Food Safety Display Boards (FSDBs) are basic information providers that came into practice replacing the previous requirements which mandate the display of FSSAI Registration/license that is not clearly visible to the consumers.
What are the features of Food Safety Display Boards?
1. FSSAI License/Registration No.
2. Important Food Safety and Hygiene Practices
3. Consumer Feedback Details
Where are these Food Safety Display Boards placed?
These FSDBs are introduced at various food units which interact with consumers directly like retail stores, milk and dairy units, restaurants and cafes, vegetable and fruits retail shops, street food hawkers, meat sellers, etc.
Important points to be considered?
1. There are 6 FSDBs in the picture – For Meat shops, Milk units, Restaurants, Retails shops, Fruits and Vegetables’ retail units and Street Food.
2. The FSDBs displayed should be pertaining to the type of business involved.
3. The size of the FSDB should be A4 for FSSAI Registered Food Business and A3 for FSSAI Licensed Food Business.
4. One has to display a minimum of one FSDB in the premise. You can display more than one, should the place be big and one board isn’t visible to all from a certain place.
5. Make sure the content or the design on the FSDB does not get blurred over time. The material used to print one should be of a durable material.
6. Follow the diagram below for the use of FSDB –
(Source – FSSAI Concept Note)
The uses?
FSDBs are brought into the regulation citing the need to improve the perception of the consumers towards FSSAI License/Registration and the organization.
These FSDBs will not only help the consumers with the FSSAI License of the place or product but will also guide the customers and the food handlers about the food safety hygiene practices that will help both the ends of the food industry help improve the overall standard of the food industry. The feedback numbers provided at the bottom will help FSSAI gain insights about the ongoing food safety practices and help improvise.
That is an important feature of FSDB. You can provide your feedback on the number provided below each Food Safety Display Board through WhatsApp, SMS or feedback through the FSSAI App. The feedbacks will be processed by the apex body to help implement compliance within the system. These feedbacks will be shared with the FBOs as well.
You can download the Open Files by visiting the Website Here.
Source – FSSAI Website.
TN govt sends milk samples to Pune lab
Chennai: In the wake of state minister KT Rajenthra Balaji's charge that private firms in the state were adulterating milk with toxic chemicals, the Tamil Nadu government has sent samples to the Central Food Laboratory in Pune for a detailed analysis.
The referral laboratory for the region received four samples from the office of the commissioner for milk production and dairy development in Madhavaram on May 31, lab director Suhas Bakre said. "It will take two weeks for us to test and send the report to officials in the state. We will be testing the milk for fat content, chemicals and other substances. The results will be sent by June 20," he said.
In May, dairy development minister Rajenthra Bhalaji said his department suspected that carcinogenic substances were being added to milk by private manufacturers. "These chemicals are available freely in cities like Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore. In Chennai, these chemicals can be purchased for Rs 20 from Flower Bazaar. They are mixed with milk to increase shelf life," he said.
Although Bhalaji stated last month that the government had sent samples to the Pune lab, officials at the lab told TOI on May 28 that the last time they received samples from Tamil Nadu was in June 2016. A sachet of whole milk produced by a private firm was sent to the laboratory by the designated officer in Erode for testing "fat" content. "The sample failed the test and we sent the report to the officer concerned. There were no toxic chemicals in it," Bakre said. Three days later, the lab received samples from the state government.
An official in the dairy department, who refused to speak on record, said some milk samples were tested by Aavin. "We detected the presence of chemicals in it but we can't file cases or initiate action against the manufacturers because these samples were tested in our lab. Besides being a conflict of interest, the food safety rules don't permit us to initiate action until they are tested in a central lab," he said.
Manufacturers told to fortify food products
It would mean adding key vitamins and minerals to staple foods
In the wake of guidelines issued by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), the Food Safety Commissioner of Karnataka has directed manufacturers in the State to fortify all food products.
The commissioner, who met representatives of bulk manufacturers of wheat flour and edible oil on June 3, discussed the cost effectiveness and benefits of fortifying staple foods for consumers and manufacturers.
Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamin A and D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing.
Representatives of Krishna Flour Mills, Sri Venugopal Flour Mills, Karnataka Oil Seeds Federation, Mother Dairy (KMF), Nilgiri Dairy Farm Pvt. Ltd., Pankaj Dairy Farm, Sri Krishna milk dairy farm, Britannia Industries, Variar Bakery, Jwalamala Agro Foods Pvt. Ltd., Sumathi Agro Industries, and Heritage Foods participated in the meeting.
India has a high burden of micronutrient deficiencies. While 70% of pre-school children suffer from anaemia caused by Iron deficiency, 57% have subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Neural Tube Defects are the most common congenital malformation with an incidence that varies between 0.5-8/1,000 births.
Expired items disposed
Senapati: The Food Safety and Standards Wing, Senapati district disposed seized unlicensed and unhealthy Myanmar products worth Rs 5 lakh near old district hospital today at 3 pm.
The seized products were burned in the presence of DO (FSSA) L Jonny, CMO Dr Loli Mao, NPO vice-president Adakho Mao, FSO S Pfokhrehrii, OC of Senapati police station S Hepuni Mao. The items were seized on June 2 at Senapati police check post. 10 bags of sunflower seeds, 100 boxes of tin-fish, 5 bags of Emily and 20 bags of Mikko were seized for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
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