Feb 28, 2020
HC notice to health, food safety depts on salt iodisation
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Ministry of Health and the Family Welfare and Food Safety Department in a plea seeking to quash the Central government’s order on iodisation of salt.
Madurai:
A division bench of Justice M Duraiswamy and Justice T Ravindran was hearing a petition filed by TSP Jayapalan, secretary, Thoothukudi Thanpaadu Uppu Ettrumathi Viyabarigal Sangam, on the issue.
The petitioner stated that salt, which is being traditionally manufactured depending purely on nature in Thoothukudi, need not require fortification of iodine for human consumption. Salt is a natural element of soils and water. Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, through a notification, had prohibited the sale of non-iodised salt
The Food Safety Regulations, 2011, had cited that consumption of iodised salt could be set right. But, it did not mean that by using common salt, it would cause harm to health. Therefore, the impugned amendment could not be sustained on this sole ground.
Further, the petitioner claimed that some people might have more iodine content in the body while some others could have deficiency of it. As a result, every person could feel physical inconvenience, the medical prescription would only guide on whether salt could be consumed with or without iodine. Therefore, generalising the whole concept by way of an amendment could not stand the test of law.
Several scientific data revealed that if iodine content increased in the body beyond the required level, it would result in depression, impotency, hyperthyroidism and so on. Therefore, the regular consumption of iodised salt would harm consumers’ health, the petitioner said.
Meanwhile, counsel for the petitioner argued that since AYUSH is the accredited institution founded by the Centre through special ministry, it has the expertise to give its opinion as to whether or not the common salt could be permitted to be used for human consumption. Hence, it has become necessary to get AYUSH impleaded in this case, counsel said.
After hearing, the bench issued notices to the Ministry of Health and the Family Welfare and Food Safety Department to respond and adjourned the case until further notice.
Food safety sleuths raid general stores in Vijayawada
During the inspection, the officials reportedly found that some traders were selling products with expiry dates and were charging more for purchases.
VIJAYAWADA: Sleuths of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday carried out raids at wholesale and general stores in one town here. The raids were conducted on the basis of complaints filed against a few traders for poor quality products.
During the inspection, the officials reportedly found that some traders were selling products with expiry dates and were charging more for purchases.
Addressing media persons, regional assistant food controller N Purnachandra Rao said one dry fruit trader violated FSSAI rules by indulging in sale of misbranded products and not giving bills to the customers. He also said some other traders were found using artificial colours to enhance the appearance of food grains.
Rao requested the public to demand bill for every purchase. He said samples collected from the stores will be sent to laboratory for testing.
Sampling drive: Notice served to trader in city
Jalandhar, February 26
A sampling and checking drive was carried out at Nadala, Begowal in Kapurthala today. A total of 14 samples of desi ghee (manufactured in another state), mustard oil, flavoured milk, besan, chana dal, Dalia, Biscuit bakery, Rusk, tea leaves 2, rajmah, fruit juice and rice puff etc were seized for analysis. During the course of inspection, a dealer of soft drinks was found storing expired food products along with fresh ones. A notice also served to him in this regard.
All food business operators dealing in sweets were asked to comply with the directions issued by FSSAI. Checking was carried out under Assistant Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Kapurthala.
Implementing a new order issued by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) directing display of ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Best Before’ date in case of sweets, the Food and Drug Administration also directed implementation of the order.
FSSAI Joint Director (RCD - Regulatory Compliance Division) had issued this order after reported instances of stale/expired sweets being sold to consumers, posing potential health hazards.
An indicative list of shelf life of various types of sweets is given in the Guidance Note on Safety and Quality of Traditional Milk Products which is available on FSSAI website.
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