Apr 6, 2018
Two women die after consuming temple prasadam
Poor quality ghee is suspected to be the reason
Two women died of suspected food poisoning after consuming prasadamserved at a temple near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore on Thursday.
Loganayagi, 60, and Savithri, 60, from Nadar Colony near Mahadevapuram in Mettupalayam had complained of stomach pain and diarrhoea allegedly after consuming the prasadam — aval (rice flakes) mixed in ghee — served at Mariamman temple on Tuesday. The women died in their houses on Thursday.
Many devotees who consumed the prasadam had sought treatment at Mettupalayam Government Hospital with complaints of diarrhoea and stomach pain.
S. Cheralathan, Chief Medical Officer of Mettupalayam Government Hospital, said Loganayagi and Savithri were not among the 60 persons who sought treatment for stomach ache and diarrhoea. Out of the 60, 36 persons, including six children, were admitted to the hospital.
“Actual cause of the deaths could be ascertained only after post-mortem. Condition of all those who sought treatment at the hospital are stable,” said M. Chandhirasekaran, Joint Director of Health Services.
The police and Health Department officials suspect that the contamination was caused by ghee used in the rice flakes that was served as prasadam. It is suspected that poor quality ghee used for lighting lamps were used for the preparation of the prasadam. The police added that they are yet to receive a complaint from the families of the deceased in connection with the deaths.
B. Vijayalalithambigai, Designated Officer of FSSAI in Coimbatore, said that food safety officials who visited the area could not collect samples of the prasadam or ingredients for clinical examination. “Though we checked at several houses near the temple for samples of the prasadam, we could not get any” she said.
A food safety official who visited the houses of the deceased said that the women had not visited the temple for the function but could not confirm if family members or neighbours gave them the prasadam.
FSSAI proposes new rules for food products, businesses
NEW DELHI: India’s apex food safety regulator has proposed draft rules of advertisements for food products that will bar food companies, restaurants and hotels from putting up ads that are “against” healthy lifestyles or portray packaged food as a complete replacement for a normal meal.
As per the proposed regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, food businesses cannot use words as “natural”, “fresh”, “premium”, “finest, “best”, “authentic”, “genuine”, “real” on food labels except under specific conditions.
The draft rules also say that food businesses will not be permitted to advertise or make claims undermining the products of other manufacturers, so as to promote their own food products or influence consumer behaviour.
“Any person, including a third party, who advertises or is a party to the publication of any misleading advertisement not complying with these regulations, would be penalised with a fine extending upto Rs 10 lakh under Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” the draft norms say.
These regulations, after consideration of stakeholder comments and finalisation, are likely to come into force in a month’s time
Authorities in the FSSAI said that the proposed rules are aimed at protecting consumer interests and help them make informed choices.
“The guidelines also stipulate that the claims must be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, not misleading and help consumers to comprehend the information provided,” said an official.
In respect of nutrients or components, the claims may refer to a nutrient such as energy, fat, cholesterol, saturated fat, trans-fat, sugar, or sodium salt being low or absent, a food being a source of or high in respect of nutrients like dietary fibre, protein, vitamins or minerals—he explained.
Also, food products can be claimed to be fresh only if they are not processed in any manner except washed, peeled, chilled, trimmed or cut or have undergone other processing necessary to make the product safe without altering its basic characteristics in any manner—say the proposed rules.
Food safety officers collect milk samples
Vadodara: Food safety officials of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) cracked down upon milk suppliers as well as milk processing units across the city on Thursday morning. The drive was conducted in wake of directions from the commissioner of food safety, Gandhinagar.
VMC teams were asked to remain present at 6am. The teams were despatched to different areas and collected 12 milk samples. These were sent to the public health laboratory of the civic body for analysis.
The areas where units were checked include Akota, Ajwa Road, Harankhana Road in Wadi, Chhani Road and Fatehpura.
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