Unlicenced abattoirs in city stay put, Ambattur is top of the list with 90

The city is notorious for illegal slaughterhouses. Ambattur the list, with more illegal abattoirs than any other zone in Chennai, according to an actiontaken report on illegal meat shops, submitted to the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal.

According to the report, Ambattur zone is followed by Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Sholinganallur and Adyar. Since March 2014, of 133 illegal shops closed, 51 were closed in Ambattur 25 in alsaravakkam and 15 in Adyar. Most applications for licences were from Sholinganallur, Valasaravakkam and Kodambakkam zones.

Meat shops in Ambattur, Alandur and Thiru-Vi-KaNagar received the largest number of licences. Prosecution was initiated against 37 shops in Thiru-Vi-Ka-Nagar and 11 each in Ambattur and Anna Nagar.

The deputy commissioner (health), who submitted the affidavit on behalf of the corporation commissioner, said: “Out of 421 unlicenced shops, we have closed 133 and issued licences to 179. Fifty shops have applied for licence and prosecution has started against 59 shops.“

Last year, People for Cattle in India (PFCI), a welfare organisation for animals, had moved the tribunal seeking a ban on illegal slaughterhouses in the city and suburbs.

In March 2014, the corporation's chief veterinary officer said there were 1,245 licensed and 421 unlicensed shops in the city and outskirts. Those without licences had been issued notices, he said.

When the matter came up for hearing last week, the civic body said it had “taken intensive public health measures to control illegal slaughter and sale of meat.“ It also “initiated constant surveillance“ through its 15 public health officers and 15 veterinary officials.

The PFCI counsel said 50 shops that had applied for licences, were carrying on business as usual. Also, according to a 1980 GO, meat shops and slaughterhouses across the state had to close on Mahaveer Jayanti, Vallalar day, Mahaveer Nirvan day and Thiruvallur Day .This is not being followed, he said.

A bench of judicial member M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the civic body to “strictly comply with the GO“ and also ensure that meat shops are not open on October 5, Vallalar Day . “The tribunal fervently hopes to stop the functioning of unlicenced meat shops in the city,“ the bench said, posting the matter to November 11.

FSSAI appoints Sanjay Dave as Director (Enforcement)

In a major reshuffle of departmental work at the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the post of director (enforcement) has been handed over to Sanjay Dave. Dave is currently advisor to the apex food regulator, apart from being the chairman of Codex Alimentarius Commission, international food standards body, for two terms.

The decision was taken by the top brass of the FSSAI recently stated a report by Ashwani Maindola in FnB News.

The post of director (enforcement/surveillance) in recent times was held by Col. C R Dalal, who was an Army officer serving at FSSAI on deputation; and Vinod Kotwal, who after that went on to hold the position of director (Codex/FA/Estt) with the authority. The latest to hold that position was Bimal Kumar Dubey, from whom Dave would be taking over.

In another related move, Dr Sandhya Kabra, who is director (QA/PA), will not be looking after quality assurance (food imports) anymore. She will now be restricted to only product approval. With this change, rumours pertaining to Dr Kabra’s transfer have been laid to rest.

It is pertinent to mention here that in recent times, the issue regarding product approval of imported foods remained highly debatable and the Supreme Court, few days ago, stayed an order by the Bombay High Court, which had quashed issuing of advisories by FSSAI.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Two bakeries in Madhya Pradesh slapped FDA notices for using saccharin

Two bakeries in Chandan Nagar, Madhya Pradesh - Savera Bakery and New Bharat Bakery - were slapped notices by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling bakery products containing chemicals that are unsafe for human consumption and could trigger cancer.

Manish Swami, Chandan Nagar’s food safety officer (FSO), informed, “We recently collected samples of bakery products from the production units of the two bakeries in Chandan Nagar and found that the products contained saccharin and were unsafe for human consumption.” 

“Saccharin is an artificial sweetner that blocks mental development, triggers stomach and liver disorders and is carcinogenic,” he added. He stated that officials from the department took action after receiving complaints from several consumers.

Swami said, “Samples of toasts were collected from the two bakeries last June, and sent them for testing to the laboratory in Bhopal, whose report revealed the use of saccharine as a sweetener and observed that it is not safe for human consumption.”

“After receiving the report from the laboratory, we issued the notice under Section 46 (4) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and asked both the establishments to get the samples retested at the Central Food Laboratory in Mysore,” he added. 

“If they fail to submit a detailed report within 30 days after the notice is issued, necessary action would be taken against them. We would be taking steps to prosecute them if they fail to furnish the requisite details in the given time,” stated Swami.

Speaking to FnB News about the comsumption of the toasts produced from bakeries informed, he said, “ The products produced in these two bakeries were largely sold at retail stores and also consumed at tea stalls in the cities.” 

“Both the establishments have an average production of 100kg, which are sold by retail outlets in Indore and nearby cities. We have issued notices. Once the notice period lapses, we would lodge prosecutions and shut their operations.”

Devendra Kumar Verma, senior food safety officer, Madhya Pradesh, said, “ Saccharin, if used in large quantities, is dangerous to health. It must be used in small quantities. It should not be used like food.” 

“The toasts made at the two bakeries against which our officials have taken action aganist and sent notices to contained large quantities of saccharin in their toasts,” he added

When quizzed about the maximum imprisonment for selling unsafe products, he said, “There is a fine that can extend upto Rs 5 lakh, along with a maximum prison term of three years for producing and selling unsafe products.”

In big food importers’ row with FSSAI, small businesses suffering most

THE deadlock over failure to obtain product approvals for imported foods by importers from authorities concerned, leading to holding up of several consignments at various ports and airports across the country, seems to have affected small-time F&B importers the most.

In fact, many of these small businesses have suffered such losses that they are on the verge of downing their shutters.

Best before date

For most of them, apart from stuck investment, the key issue is that F&B items being perishable they are of no use after the best before date. Mitesh Trivedi, who is based in Anand, Gujarat, and is managing director, Rands Multibiz Pvt Ltd, is facing a similar situation. Last September, he started importing Jaguar, an energy drink, from the United Kingdom. 

Stuck at Mumbai port

Since then, his consignment, worth Rs 6.5 lakh, is stuck at the Mumbai Port. Trivedi explains, “My product is still stuck at the Mumbai Port, and the reason they cite for it is product approval. FSSAI does not approve of the product I have imported from the United Kingdom.”

He adds, “One can of Jaguar costs me Rs 95. I placed an order worth Rs 6,50,000, and spent Rs 3,50,000 for transportation and other purposes. A consignment of the energy drink worth Rs 6,50,000 is stuck at the port.” Trivedi rues, “It would continue to be stuck unless the Supreme Court lifts the stay order on product approvals.

Expiry in Feb 2015 

The product is slated to expire in February 2015. In the fight between the regulator and bigger importers, I stand to lose Rs 10 lakh.” He concludes, “Running the business in these circumstances has become very difficult. Many small importers, including myself, have given up and wound up their businesses.”

Review is on

Meanwhile, a source at FSSAI, on the condition of anonymity, states, “The ministries of health and food processing industries are currently in the process of reviewing the role of the apex food regulator regarding the long delays in product approvals. It would take them some time to review it.”

He points out, “Earlier, Mumbai High Court quashed the FSSAI advisories, terming them unlawful. But later, FSSAI moved the SC, and obtained a stay order until October 2014.”

21 food outlets on AMC’s raid list

AHMEDABAD: AMC continued major raids on eateries in the city for the second day on Friday. The raids are among the few coordinated raids that the AMC has carried out on eateries in the recent past.

On Friday, the AMC’s health team raided Gurukripa lodge in Jamalpur and Ambika parotha house in Khadia and recovered raw material from the kitchens of these food outlets. Health authorities have warned that they would visit places in north and west zone on Saturday. The team has a list of 21 eating joints.

Meanwhile, AMC sealed 10 eating joints in the city as part of a food quality drive. Some prominent places included Fork and Knife and Hotel Palace, according to a release.

“We will continue similar health raids in the west, south and east zones. One of the reasons is that we are receiving cases at our urban health centres where patients have been complaining of stomach-related infections,” says a senior AMC health official.

Food Safety Guidelines For Foods With Gravy & Fried Food Products

Food with Garnishing

High Risk cooked and prepared foods need special handling to prevent the growth of microbiological contaminants. Food BusinessOperators have to maintain the right temperature for storing or heating. They have to also ensure that food is consumed within the specific time as mentioned in the FSSAI guidelines. Bacteria multiply very fast in food that is moist and which has the right acidity level for growth. To prevent the growth of bacteria all small and big food business establishments must remember the special precautions needed for foods with gravy. Special precautions have to be taken for high risk foods prepared in large quantities or prepared in advance such as for meetings, large social events, outdoor events or weddings.

Do not store food with gravy at room temperature for more than two hours during display or sale. Bacteria can easily double their numbers every 10 to 20 minutes.

Foods with gravy that need to be stored for longer periods should either be kept in

a) Refrigerators at 5°C or lower

b) Hot Holding at 60°C or higher

The hot holding equipment such as a slow cooker, Bain-marie or hot holding cart should not be used for cooking or reheating

Food products with gravy have to be reheated up to 70°C

No water should be added to gravy food after it has been cooked, reheated or boiled

Sometimes food needs to be garnished and so there is post cooked mixing but remember that ingredients and garnishing that are added to cooked food must be thoroughly washed and cleaned to prevent any cross contamination from handlers, water or kitchen surfaces.

Use only potable water for washing and clean thoroughly

Add ingredients only once food is ready to be served and serve food immediately if garnishing has been added to cooked food.

Prepare garnishing only from fresh, thoroughly washed and freshly cut vegetables 

Special requirements for fried foods 

FSSAI has set special guidelines for fried foods as oil that is not of the proper grade can degrade very fast. Using degraded quality of oil is a serious food safety hazard, so only good grade oil should be used and the oil sold in open form is strictly prohibited under the regulations. The repeated use of edible oil for frying can cause health problems as the concentration of toxic chemicals become worse. Food business establishments must remember

To use proper quality branded oils/fats for food preparation as well as for frying

Use only packaged oil

Avoid the use of oils with high trans fats

Avoid preheating and re-use of oil for food preparations especially in foods with gravy

Avoid having left over oil as far as possible

Use separate deep fryer utensils for potatoes and those for meats, chicken and fish

Re-use of cooking oil should be avoided and in case of reuse of cooking oil then it should not be used more than three times to avoid formation of trans fats.

What Is Food Adulteration?

Food Colors

Food adulteration is the process in which the quality of food is lowered either by the addition of inferior quality material or by extraction of valuable ingredient. It not only includes the intentional addition or substitution of the substances but biological and chemical contamination during the period of growth, storage, processing, transport and distribution of the food products, is also responsible for the lowering or degradation of the quality of food products. Adulterants are those substances which are used for making the food products unsafe for human consumption.

Under the previous food laws any food product with lowered or degraded quality used to be defined as Adulterated Food but under the new laws (FSS Act, 2006), the word adulterated food has been termed as Substandard Food, Unsafe Food or Food containing the extraneous matter.

Food products are said to be adulterated if their quality is adversely affected by adding of any substance which is injurious to health or by abstracting a nutritious substance.

A food item is said to be adulterated if:

A substance which is added is injurious for human consumption.

An inferior substance substitutes wholly or partly.

A valuable ingredient has been abstracted from the food product, wholly or in part.

Various types of adulterants found in the food products are as follows:

Intentional adulterants; like coloring agents, starch, Pepperoil, injectable dyes and others.

Incidental adulterants; like pesticide residues, larvae in foods, droppings of rodents.

Metallic contaminants; like lead, arsenic, effluent from chemical industries etc.

According to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, if any person imports or manufactures for sale, or stores or distribute any adulterant, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, shall be liable

For a penalty up to Rupees two lakhs, if the adulterant is not injurious to health.

For a penalty up to Rupees ten lakhs, if the adulterant is injurious to health.

Further it is provided that, in a proceeding under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, it is not a defense that the accused was in possession of an adulterant on behalf of any other person.

Food Safety Guidelines for Water Based Chutneys and Sauces

Water Based Chutneys and Sauces

Water based chutneys and sauces served at the food establishments need to be processed and handled hygienically according to the food safety standards to ensure – they are safe for the consumers. Chutneys and Sauces are High Risk Foods as these are made of raw foods like fruits or vegetables like tomatoes, green onions and peppers; they can easily become contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Fresh chutney and sauce ingredients like green chilli, coriander, mint or raw mangoes must be thoroughly washed and cleaned. Personal hygiene and cleanliness of knives, chopping boards and grinders is very important as these chutneys are not cooked. Once prepared, they must be refrigerated if they are not being consumed immediately.

Water activity and pH level in chutneys and sauces 

Chutneys and sauces that are made for longer use must be processed properly even though they are naturally ‘preserved’ by acidity levels of these foods. Fruits have natural acids but to lower the pH level (acidity level) to about 4.6, vinegar or other acids are used. Low pH levels prevent the growth of bacteria, moulds and yeasts and other contaminants. Water activity is the water that is found in food which can cause bacterial growth. Chutneys and sauces that have water activity of less than 0.85 (vapor pressure is 85% of the pure water) are considered safe regardless of the acidity factor as there will be hardly any water to allow the growth of microorganisms. Proper heating also preserves chutneys and sauces and keeps them safe for longer shelf life.

Food Business Operators must follow these FSSAI guidelines to provide consumers with the safe water based sauces and chutneys:

Wash all fruits and vegetables properly before processing

Use only clean and disinfected chopping boards, grinding stones or mixing machines

Ensure personal hygiene of food handlers

Use only safe and potable water in the chutneys

Use only permitted food additives when required and they should be added in the recommended quantities only

Discard spoiled products that show signs of spoilage like change in colour, texture or odour

Store sauces and chutneys in fully intact glass or food grade plastic containers with proper lids

Refrigerate chutneys and sauces when they are not being used

Consume immediately those chutneys that are perishable or are not cooked

Moisture and oxygen are two factors that encourage the growth of bacteria and hence they must be reduced to minimum levels possible in sauces and chutneys that are being stored.

Cook the sauces and chutneys to reduce water concentration so water is not available for the growth of microorganisms

Use either water canning process or pressure canning to reduce the chances ofcontamination

Seal the glass and plastic storage jars properly so that minimal oxygen is left in the jar.

Eating out still not very safe

This despite several stringent measures by authorities

Standards of hygiene continue to be flouted in the district by hotels and wayside eateries despite the stringent measures taken by the Health Department and the Food Safety authorities.

A recent search conducted by the Health Department in various food supply outlets has exposed the use of contaminated water for cooking purposes and unclean environment where most part of the cooking activities take place.

The practice in the sector has come to light following a State-level directive under the ‘Safe Kerala’ project to prevent the spread of communicable diseases during the monsoon season. Within days of the formal launch of the checking, 36 shops have been served closure notice.Regional squads

The inspection is currently under-way in the district under the headship of regional squads.

Officials of the Health Department say that they have served warning notices to over 90 hotels to immediately upgrade the facilities and improve hygiene. Closure notices will be issued to these firms if the directives are not properly implemented.

In addition to this, checking is in progress in all the soft-drink supply units, juice parlours, catering units and ice plants.

According to official sources, 40 cool bars have already been issued notices to improve the facilities.

Also, two of the ice factories have been found flouting the safety norms in production.

Interestingly, the catering units have also been found violating many of the safety conditions. Officials say 23 catering units have been served notices so far.

Health Department officials say the checking drive will be conducted simultaneously in all parts of the district. “We have formed 64 special squads for the purpose and they will coordinate the searches under Additional District Medical Officer A. Sabu and Reproductive and Child Health Officer Asha Devi,” they add.

As a counter to the official measures, some of the soft-drink traders have come up against the action of the department. “People in this trade are small-scale merchants and they will not be able to provide five-star facilities to the clients in a village setting,” they claim.

Civic body shuts down food stalls near Ganesh pandals

PUNE: Two squads, formed to act against food stalls operating on roads near Ganesh pandals, shut down some of them in the central areas on Saturday. The action is expected to continue.

"Food stalls around pandals can cause accidents as the owners use gas cylinders which can be a fire hazard. We decided to take action against all such food stalls for better safety," said Madhav Jagtap, head of Pune Municipal Corporation's anti-encroachment department, while speaking to reporters.

However, in the long run, roadside food stalls may be a thing of the past. The apex hawkers' committee has decided to ban street food stalls. Only those food stalls, which are part of a designated food court, will be allowed to run. The civic administration plans to initiate action against illegal food stalls after Ganeshotsav.

As per the September 13, 2013 Supreme Court order and directives of the state government's urban development department on October 21, 2013, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will allow all vendors to do business. The civic administration has started a biometrics survey to identify traders eligible for hawker cards.

A meeting of the apex hawkers committee was held in PMC. This committee, which includes hawkers unions, NGOs, PMC officials took the decision to control the roadside food stalls.

"As per the provisions, there are limitations to run street-food businesses. Cooking of food will not be allowed. Only those, who have clearance from the food department and other permissions will be allowed to do business on designated places," said a senior civic official.

The civic administration has finalized the parameters for the food courts. The areas near bus stops, bus stations or railway stations will have food courts. Even the popular food joints will be converted into food courts. He said that the civic administration will take action against all the illegally-run food stall businesses after the Ganeshotsav.

Civic officials said that they have been following the Supreme Court orders while removing encroachments. No-hawking zones had been declared on 45 roads and 153 junctions. All food vendors on these spots will be removed.

BOX

Directives for vendors

No cooking on the road

Food businesses can operate only from the designated food courts

Food courts are likely to come up near bus stops and stations

Business allowed only during specified hours

New scheme to modernize meat outlets in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: In a bid to improve the overall hygiene in meat shops, the state government has initiated a scheme to modernize meat shops. The project is part of a national mission on food processing where meat shop owners will be provided with financial assistance for better storage and cleaning facilities. 

The scheme aims at enhancing sanitation in the shops by providing basic infrastructure and equipment. It is also in tune with the attempts to ensure compliances of food safety rules and regulations as per FSS Act, 2006 and to address to public heath concerns as a whole. 

"Modernization of meat shops will also help protect and sustain the livelihoods of people involved. Transformation of meat shops will improve the competitiveness in supply of wholesome meat and development of new retail chains," said an official of the industry department, a nodal agency for the implementation. 

Under the scheme, the government will provide grant-in-aid or subsidy to eligible meat shops at 50% of the cost of machinery, technical and civil works to a maximum amount of Rs 5 lakh. All organizations under government, cooperatives, private sector, individuals, and self-help groups engaged in the operations of meat shops would be eligible for financial assistance under the scheme. 

Meanwhile, the scheme may prove to be beneficial for the state to tap opportunities in agriculture and allied economy. Rajasthan has the highest goat and sheep population in the country and is among the leading states in buffalo population. The increase in population of animals opens the door for a parallel industry - animal meat and milk. 

However, due to lack of proper slaughter houses, storage facilities and hygienic meat shops, it has been sent to other states. Experts believe the state has a lot of potential for generating revenue from agriculture and allied products and proper attention should be given to this sector. 

"Today people are shifting from food security to food safety. The significant rise in per capita income has led to change in the food basket of households. People in rural India consume equal amounts of cereals and animal proteins. In this scenario, Rajasthan has a huge advantage as we are the leading producer of animal protein like milk and meat," said A K Gahlot, V-C of the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. 

Eateries in Ktm Take Gourmets for a Ride

KOTTAYAM: Restaurants in the district continue with their unethical practices with minimal action being taken against eateries found violating the health codes in a series of raids conducted by the Health Department and the district administration.

In the absence of stringent regulations, the ones which were shut down and served notices reopened after a break of two to three weeks continue to function in the same manner.

Following the footsteps of the Food Safety Authority, several raids were conducted by the Health Department in the past two months as a part of the ‘Safe Kerala’ campaign to combat epidemics. Health squads of the department swung into action on the pretext of spread of food and water-borne diseases in the district, such as typhoid, diarrhoea and jaundice.

The raids revealed the flouting of rules in several places as they had unhygienic and unhealthy kitchen surroundings.Most of such establishments were shut down and the rest were given warnings.

On Friday alone, two hotels under the Kottayam municipality, one at Manimala and another at a borma at Pampady were shut down for serious health code violations.

As many as 164 eateries were also served notices. Raids were conducted in 866 food production centres by 65 teams on Friday alone.

However, the establishments have come back into action after two or three weeks after the raids as they are no provisions to shut them down permanently. According to a higher official in the Health Department, the shutdown establishments can be reopened after paying fine from the range of `500 to `5000.

The same thing happened with the KSRTC canteen in the city which was shut down by the authorities for more than once for flouting norms. The raids found that the canteen kitchen had stale food, unhealthy environment, lack of hygiene and even rats.

Now healthy ads sell junk food

Commercials mislead consumers by shifting the focus from poor nutrition to physical exercise

Illustration: SoritThe junk food industry is once again in the eye of a storm. This time not just for its unhealthy content but for trying to mislead the public through advertisements which link its food with physical exercise.

Sample this. A recent ad for Maggi Atta noodles featuring actress Madhuri Dixit shows children playing a video game sitting inside a house when they hear screams of “goal”. They rush out to see a fit and healthy mother playing with other children. She inspires them to start playing outside. Hungry after their activity, they want to eat something as interesting as a football game. What else but Maggi Atta noodles, the so-called “wheat version with nutrition of three rotis and vegetables”. Since the commercial was released in early June, Nestle has aggressively campaigned with it on the social media with the tagline “health is enjoyable”.

Yet another ad, of Nada Maida (a brand popular in South India), tries to portray that consuming maida (white flour) will make young children energetic. Linking junk food with health is not restricted to India. A youtube ad of Coca Cola, meant for the western audience, makes it seem a fun exercise to earn a can of coke. The ad, which received more than 200,000 hits in one-and-a-half months, asks participants to burn 140 calories to win a can of coke. Burning that much calories requires 23 minutes of physical exercise, the ad claims. It ends with the audience cheering for the people who “earn” their coke.

Hollow claims, empty calories

The industry’s linking of physical exercise with junk food can hardly be construed as a responsible response to criticism of selling unhealthy food for decades. The question being asked is whether these ads or foods even inspire a culture of physical exercise. Rahul Prakash, a XII standard student and a volunteer with Delhi non-profit Uday Foundation, says: “This (Atta Maggi) ad is like surrogacy. They are just trying to sell the pack in the name of health. Promoting physical exercise when children are addicted to in-house games is just a mask.”

The target audience in such advertisements is mothers of young children. Deepti Patil, mother of two, now gives Maggi Atta noodles to her children because she thinks it is healthier. “My children are fond of Maggi and eat it at least four times a week,” she says.

Nestle’s justification for calling the product healthy is that it matches international standards. “codex guidelines that are followed internationally require 3 gm dietary 
fibre per 100 gm as adequate threshhold. We state on the pack that Maggi Vegetable Atta Noodles contains 5.3 gm of dietary fibre 
per 100 gm (of the noodles) and the fssai-accredited laboratory has confirmed that the products tested by them contained more 
than the declared fibre value,” said Nestle in an email response to Down To Earth.

But while atta noodles might be healthier than white flour noodles, they are not a healthy diet. A 2012 study by Consumer Education Research Centre (cerc), a non-profit working on consumer rights, showed that atta noodles are among the highest 
sodium-containing instant noodles. “The devil lies in the tastemaker. Most of the salt content is in the seasoning. Flavour enhancers are unhealthy too,” says Pritee Shah, chief general manager of cerc in Ahmedabad.

The cerc study also found that fat in atta noodles was actually 17 per cent against 13.4 per cent claimed on the packet. “These people are shifting focus from healthy to something marginally better than the worst, like white flour products,” adds Shah.

Junk food has other harmful ingredients too. For instance, Maggi noodles are high in not just sodium, but carbohydrates and food additives as well, and low on essential elements like fibre, vitamins and minerals. Atta noodles, despite claims, are no exception.

“The commercials create the impression that fat and calories are the only problems with junk food and exercising can solve the issue. But junk food contains harmful contents,” says Ashim Sanyal, chief operating officer of 
consumer magazine voice.

In the US, the Coca Cola commercial has provoked outrage. Public health activists there called it a tactic to score brownie points in the name of promoting a healthy lifestyle. “A 12-ounce (350 ml) bottle of Coca Cola provides about 140 calories. Coca-Cola would like you to think that 140 calories is trivial to compensate for with physical activity. But those calories come with no nutritional value and should be thought of as candy in liquid form,” says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

Linking health and nutrition with junk food has, however, become a necessity for the industry if it has to survive. In the US, sales in the soda industry are already on the decline in the last few years. They fell by 3 per cent in 2013, compared to a decline of 1.2 per cent the year before, according to Beverage Digest, a trade publication in the US.

“Companies like Nestle and Coca-Cola are desperate to distract attention away from their unhealthy products by pretending that exercise is the solution to a poor diet,” says Michele Simon, president of a US food 
industry watchdog Eat Drink Politics. “Science shows that exercise cannot counteract eating junk food. Such ads only serve to confuse the issue and make the junk food companies look good,” she adds.

Shocking test

Another category of products misleading consumers with claims of healthy food is digestive biscuits. voice conducted a test on four types of such biscuits—Anmol Tejus Digestive, Britannia NutriChoice, Horlicks Nutribic and McVitie’s Digestive. The products were tested for total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt content against the standards set by Food Standards Agency of the UK.

All biscuits were found undesirable for saturated fat and sugar, three were neutral for total fat while one was undesirable. Only Horlicks fell in the category of desirable for salt, which means it had a salt content of less than 0.3 gm per 100 gm.

Need for stricter laws

In India, the Advertising Standards Council of India, a self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising industry, receives maximum complaints under the personal and healthcare category. In June this year, 46 of 124 complaints fell in this category alone. In all, 84 of the complaints, including Nada Maida, were upheld by the council.

Currently there is no mechanism to prevent misleading advertisements in India. “The manufacturers have to only abide by the provisions made in Sections 24, 52, 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The provisions are broad and generic, so advertisers/manufacturers are getting away with all types of false claims,” says Shah.

“We are demanding that if an ad is objectionable and makes misleading claims, then the celebrities endorsing it should also be held responsible,” she says. Activists also suggest that if a commercial is found misleading, then the company should be asked to run a corrected ad for as much time and space as it ran the previous one. “Right now, companies are only asked to withdraw the objectionable ad,” Shah adds.

The government is planning to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, to 
establish a consumer protection authority. 
It will take action against misleading ads.

Junk nonetheless

While Nestle promotes its Atta Maggi with the tagline "health is enjoyable", the product cannot be called healthy

CLAIM

Nestle says an 80 gm packet of Maggi Atta noodles provides dietary fibre of three rotis

TRUTH

Nutritionists say three rotis contain roughly 9 gm of fibre. A CERC study found only 5.3 gm of fibre per 100 gm of Atta Maggi

CLAIM

The Maggi Atta ad boasts high vegetable content in the product

TRUTH

A packet contains one or two pods of green peas, two french beans and a small portion of carrot. This hardly makes it healthy, especially when it has high sodium content. The CERC study found Atta noodles contain 1,031 mg/100 gm of sodium, which was the highest among all the tested noodles

DINAMALAR ARTICLE

Canola oil importers challenge rapeseed oil - low erucic acid advisory

The canola oil import case has landed in court, with importers challenging the advisory by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for labelling it rapeseed oil - low erucic acid.

Dalmia Continental, one of the major importers of canola oil in the country, has challenged the advisory issued by the country’s apex food regulator in the Bombay High Court.

It referred to an earlier order by the same court in the Vital Nutraceuticals case, wherein it said advisories were not the way to do regulations. In April, the importers received a letter from FSSAI regarding the guidelines for labelling canola oil. 

Bombay High Court issued a notice to the regulator, asking them to reply and fixing the next hearing date (September 1). However, the latter’s counsel questioned the jurisdiction of the court, which replied that it would be considered at the next hearing. 

Meanwhile, the primary argument made by the petitioners in this case has already been challenged by FSSAI in the Supreme Court and won a stay on the order in the Vital Nutraceuticals case. 

According to the sources in FSSAI, the case related to the fresh challenge to the advisory regarding imported food (in this case canola oil) is being analysed, and the authority would give its reply during the next hearing. 

The industry stated that initially it was verbally communicated to canola importers by FSSAI that all units of canola oil should mention rapeseed oil - low erucic acid as a part of the ingredients list.

Many importers complied with this direction, and containers of canola oil were accordingly cleared. This letter – the first official communication issued by FSSAI - was received four months after the containers were first held up. 

After its issuance, Canola containers have been disallowed clearance again. The letter demanded further change in labelling, which, in their opinion, was unjustified and discriminatory.

The industry also stated that as per Codex standards for variously-named vegetable oils, the technical name of the oil were synonyms of the same. “If synonyms are allowed to be used for other oils, the same should be permitted in the case of canola oil as well,” it added. 

“The insistence on following the technical term for canola oil alone, when the same principle is not applied to any of the other vegetable oils being sold in India, is discriminatory, excessively severe and unjustified,” the industry pointed out.

But FSSAI pointed out that it was mandated to develop its own standards based on product approval and harmonise them with Codex. 

“The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, does not state that Codex standards are automatically applicable to India,” it added.

Also, since rotten and substandard imported foods are on the rise, consignments are being checked so widely. And therefore food import needs certain permissions. 

“FSSAI’s own standards based on the product approval were stopped for the last seven months due to litigation and things were stuck,” an official with the apex food regulator said.

“Now with the stay by the Supreme Court, the work has resumed, and things would move from here on. The World Health Organisation (WHO) or Codex standards would be harmonised based on the product approval by the FSSAI according to Indian conditions,” he added.

The Supreme Court would hear the appeal by the FSSAI on advisories in October, and the outcome would decide the future course of action to be taken with regards to imported food and product approval.

சிக்கல் - 65 ஜிலீரிட வைக்கும் சிக்கன் ரிப்போர்ட்!

சிக்கன் பிரியாணி, சிக்கன்-65, சிக்கன் குழம்பு என வாரா வாரம் சிக்கன் சுவைக்கும் குடும்பமா நீங்கள்?! உங்களுக்குத்தான் இந்த அதிர்ச்சித் தகவல்கள்!

சமீபத்தில் 'சென்டர் ஃபார் சயின்ஸ் அண்ட் என்விரான்மென்ட்’ வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கையில், 'பிராய்லர் கோழிகள் வளர்ப்பில் டெட்ராசைக்ளின், ஃப்ளோரோகைனோலோன், அமினோக்ளைக்கோசைட் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகப்படியான ஆன்டிபயாடிக் அந்தக் கோழிகளுக்குச் செலுத்தப்படுகிறது. இத்தகைய கோழிகளை உணவாக எடுத்துக்கொள்பவர்களுக்கும் அதிகப்படியான ஆன்டிபயாடிக் உடம்பில் தங்குகிறது. இது, பல்வேறு சிகிச்சைகளுக்காக நாம் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளும் ஆன்டிபயாடிக் மருந்துகளை வேலை செய்யவிடாமல் தடுத்துவிடுகிறது’ எனும் அந்த அறிக்கை, 'கோழிகளை சமைப்பதால் அதன் உடம்பில் உள்ள ஆன்டிபயாடிக் அழிந்துவிடாது’ என்றும் அதிர்ச்சி கிளப்புகிறது.

பிராய்லர் கோழிகளுக்கு பெயர் போன நாமக்கல்லில் பிராய்லர் கோழி வளர்க்கும் ஒருவரிடம் இதுகுறித்துக் கேட்டபோது, தன் பெயர், அடையாளங்களைத் தவிர்த்துப் பேசியவர், ''நாங்க பெரிய கோழி கம்பெனிகளுக்காக ஒப்பந்த முறையில கோழிகளை வளர்த்து தர்றோம். அவங்க குஞ்சு கோழியோட, மக்காச்சோளம், சோயா, கருவாடு, உப்பு, கடலைப் புண்ணாக்குனு கோழிகளுக்கான தீவனங்களோட இன்னும் சில மருந்துகள் கலந்து உலர்தீவனமா மூட்டையில கொண்டுவந்து இறக்குவாங்க. அதைப் பிரிச்சு கோழிகளுக்குக் கொடுப்போம். 35 - 42 நாள்ல வளர்த்து உரியவங்ககிட்ட ஒப்படைச்சுடுவோம். 42 நாள் கோழி, தன்னோட வாழ்நாள்ல 3 கிலோ 600 கிராம் தீவனத்தை சாப்பிட்டிருக்கும். பிராய்லர் கோழியை கறிக்கோழினு சொல்வோம். இது கறிக்கு மட்டும்தான் உபயோகப்படும். முட்டைக்காக வளர்க்கப்படுற கோழியை லேயர்னு சொல்வோம்'' என்றவர்,

''தடுப்பூசி, குடிநீர்ல கலக்குற மருந்து இதையெல்லாம் கம்பெனிக்காரங்களே தந்துடுவாங்க. இதுபோக கோழிகளுக்கு கண்ல டிராப்ஸ் ஊத்துவோம். கோழிகளுக்கு தண்ணீர் எல்லாம் சொட்டு நீர் முறையிலதான் கொடுப்போம். அந்த தண்ணியில சில மருந்துகளையும் கலப்போம். ஆனா, இதுக்கெல்லாம் பேர் எதுவும் தெரியாதுங்க'' என்றார் வெள்ளந்தியாக!

பூப்பெய்தும் வயது... குறையும் ஆபத்து!

இப்படிப் பல ஊசிகளும், ஊட்ட மருந்துகளும் கொடுத்து வளர்க்கப்படும் இந்தக் கோழியைச் சாப்பிடுவதால் நமக்கு என்னென்ன தீமைகள் ஏற்படும் என்பது பற்றி, திருமானூரைச் சேர்ந்த ஓய்வுபெற்ற கால்நடை மருத்துவர் காசி.பிச்சையிடம் பேசினோம்.

''ஒவ்வொரு உயிரினத்துக்குமான வளர்ச்சியை, இயற்கை தானாக அதன் உடம்பில் நிர்ணயித்திருக்கும். அப்படியிருக்க, ஒன்றரை மாதத்திலேயே ஒரு கோழி செயற்கையாக வளர்க்கப்படுகிறது என்றால், அதை சந்தேகப்பட வேண்டாமா? அந்தக் கோழிகளுக்கு செலுத்தப்படும் ஊசிகள், மருந்துகளை சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நிறுவனங்கள் ரகசியமாக வைத்திருப்பார்கள். ஆனாலும், க்ரோத் ஹார்மோன் எனப்படுகிற வளர்ச்சிக்கான மருந்துகளே இந்தக் கோழிகளுக்கு செலுத்தப்படுகின்றன என்பது உண்மை. குறுகிய காலத்தில் அபரிமிதமான வளர்ச்சியை இந்தக் கோழிகள் அடைய இதுவே காரணம். இத்தகைய கோழிகளில் சிக்கன்-65 எல்லாம் செய்து சாப்பிடுவது... நம் உடலுக்கு சிக்கல்களுக்கு மேல் சிக்கல்களையே கொண்டுவந்து சேர்க்கும்.

கிராமத்து நாட்டுக்கோழியை கவனித்தீர்களென்றால், அரை கிலோவில் இருந்து ஒரு கிலோ கணக்கில்தான் அதன் எடை இருக்கும். நம் வீட்டில், தெருவில் உள்ளதை உண்டு, ஓடியாடி, இயல்பாக வளரும் கோழி அது. அதனால் அதன் வளர்ச்சி ஆரோக்கியமாகவும் சீராகவும் இருக்கும் (இப்போது நாட்டுக்கோழியையும் கலப்பின மாற்றம் செய்து, பிராய்லர் போலவே வளர்ப்பவர்களும் பெருகியுள்ளனர் என்பது தனிக்கதை). அதேபோலதான் மனிதனின் வளர்ச்சியும் இயல்பானது, சீரானது. ஆனால், சமீப வருடங்களாக பெண் குழந்தைகள் பூப்பெய்தும் வயது 14-ல் இருந்து படிப்படியாகக் குறைந்து, இன்று 10, 9 என்று வந்து நிற்கிறது. மாதவிலக்குப் பிரச்னைகள், சீக்கிரமே ஏற்படும் மெனோபாஸ் நிலை என இவையெல்லாம் சங்கிலி விளைவுகளாகிவிடும்.

உயரம் ஊட்டத்தால் அல்ல!

ஆண் குழந்தைகளும் சட்டென ஏழடியில் வளர்ந்து நிற்கிறார்கள். இதற்கெல்லாம் காரணம் என்ன என்று கொஞ்சம் நின்று யோசித்தால், இப்படி வளர்ச்சி ஊசிகள் ஏற்றப்படுகிற இறைச்சி, பால் போன்ற உணவுப் பொருட்களை உட்கொள்வதால்தான் என்பது புரியும். ஆனால், நம் வீட்டுக் குழந்தைகளின் மிதமிஞ்சிய வளர்ச்சியை, உணவால் ஏற்பட்ட பிரச்னை என்று உணராமல், ஏதோ ஊட்டச்சத்தால் ஏற்பட்ட போஷாக்கு என்று நினைத்து சந்தோஷப்படுவது எவ்வளவு அறியாமை!'' என்று சொல்லி பதறவைத்த டாக்டர், இந்த வகை உணவுகளால் பெண்களுக்கு ஏற்படும் பிரச்னைகளை இன்னும் விரிவாகப் பேசினார்.

''வளர்ச்சி ஹார்மோன்கள் செலுத்தப்பட்ட உணவுகள் விஷயத்தில், அது பெண்களுக்கு ஏற்படுத்தும் பிரச்னைகள் பல. ஒரு கல்லூரிக்கு சிறப்பு விருந்தினராகச் சென்றிருந்தபோது, 'மாதவிலக்கில் பிரச்னை உள்ள பெண்கள் என்னிடம் தனியாக வந்து பேசுங்கள்’ என்று சொன்னேன். அத்தனை பெண்கள் என் அறைக்கு முன் வந்து நின்றதைப் பார்த்து அதிர்ந்துவிட்டேன்! இதற்கெல்லாம் காரணம், உணவுப் பழக்கம்தான். தவிர, அதிகப்படியான ஹார்மோன் ஊசிகள் ஏற்றப்பட்ட உணவுகளைச் சாப்பிடுவதால் தாய்மார்களின்  பால் சுரக்கும் தன்மை மாறிப்போகிறது. இதனால் பால் சுரப்பு நின்றுபோகும் தாய்மார்கள் தற்போது அதிகரித்திருக்கிறார்கள். இன்னொருபுறம், இந்த உணவு ஈஸ்ட்ரோஜன் ஹார்மோன் சுரப்பிலும் தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதால், சீக்கிரமே பூப்படைதல், குறிப்பிட்ட வயதுக்கு முன்னரே மெனோபாஸ் வருவது போன்ற பிரச்னைகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன'' என்று எச்சரித்தார் டாக்டர்.

சிக்கனை, கிச்சனிலிருந்து தள்ளுங்கள்!

அசைவப் பிரியர்கள் தங்கள் உணவு முறையில் செய்யவேண்டிய மாற்றங்களை அறிவுறுத்தினார், கோவையைச் சேர்ந்த 'செக்ஸாலஜிஸ்ட்' கோமதி சின்னசாமி. ''நாட்டுக்கோழி சாப்பிட கடினமாக, சமைக்க கொஞ்சம் நேரம் எடுக்கும். அதேசமயம், அதிக வலு தருவது நாட்டுக்கோழிதான். சென்னை போன்ற மாநகரங்களில் கிடைப்பது அரிதாக இருக்கிறது. கூடவே பிராய்லர் கோழியின் விலை குறைவு என்பதாலும், சாப்பிட மிருதுவாக இருப்பதுடன் சீக்கிரமே சமைக்க முடிகிறது என்பதாலும், பிராய்லர் கோழிகளைத்தான் பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் விரும்புகிறார்கள். ஆனால், பிராய்லர் கோழியில் உள்ள அதிகப்படியான கொழுப்பால், அதை சாப்பிடும் பலருக்கும் ஒபிசிட்டி ஏற்படுவது நிஜம். இன்றைய குழந்தைகள், அரை கிலோ சிக்கன்-65 உணவை தனியாளாகவே சாப்பிடுகிறார்கள். ஆனால், இந்தக் கொழுப்பைக் கரைப்பதற்குத் தேவையான உடல் இயக்கம் தராமல் டி.வி முன் உட்கார்ந்துகொள்கிறார்கள். பின் எப்படி அந்தக் கொழுப்பு கரையும்? இப்படி அதிகப்படியான கொழுப்பால்தான், பெண் குழந்தைகள் 10 வயதிலேயே பருவம் அடைகிறார்கள். இதுவே ஆண்களுக்கு, அவர்களின் ஆண் உறுப்பின் வளர்ச்சி தடைபடுகிறது. இந்தக் குழந்தைகள் வளரும்போது, இருபாலருக்கும் குழந்தையின்மை பிரச்னை ஏற்படவும் வாய்ப்புள்ளது'' என்று அதிர்ச்சி கொடுத்தவர், சிக்கனை உடனே விடமுடியாது என்பவர்களுக்கான டிப்ஸ் (பார்க்க: பெட்டிச் செய்தி) கொடுத்ததோடு...

''மொத்தத்தில், சிக்கனை கொஞ்சம் தள்ளி வையுங்கள்... உங்கள் கிச்சனில் இருந்து!'' என்று முத்தாய்ப்பாய் சொன்னார்.

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சிக்கனை விடமுடியாது எனநினைப்பவர்களுக்கு...

 வாரம் ஒரு முறை அரை கிலோ சிக்கனை குழம்பாக வைத்து, ஆளுக்கு இரண்டு பீஸ் சாப்பிடலாம்.

 உங்கள் வசிப்பிடத்துக்கு அருகில் உள்ள ஏரி, குளம், வாய்க்கால், ஆறு முதலியவற்றிலிருந்து கிடைக்கும் மீன்களைச் சாப்பிடலாம்.

 வீட்டில் வளர்க்கப்படும் நாட்டுக்கோழிகளைச் சாப்பிடலாம். இவை, கொழுப்பை குறைவாக சேமித்து வைக்கும்.

 வீட்டில் வளர்க்கப்படும் ஆட்டுக்கறியில் ஹார்மோன் அபாயம் இல்லை. எனவே, மாதம் ஒரு முறை சாப்பிடலாம்.

 கடல் மீன்களைப் பொறுத்தவரை, ஒரே வகை மீனாக அல்லாமல் பல வகை மீன்களாக சாப்பிடலாம். மீனில் கொழுப்பு மிகக்குறைவு.

பின்குறிப்பு: குளத்து மீன் என்று சொல்லப்படுகிற நெய் மீனை (பார்க்க வழுவழுவென்று இருக்கும்) உயிரோடு நம் கண் முன்பாகவே வெட்டித் தருவார்கள். இதை அதிகம் எடுத்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டாம். இவை, கோழியின் கழிவுகளை சாப்பிட்டு வளரும், இந்த மீனைச் சாப்பிட்டால், சரும அலர்ஜிகள் வர வாய்ப்பிருக்கிறது.

ஆன்டிபயாடிக் ஆபத்து!

கோழிகளுக்கு அதிகப்படியாக செலுத்தப்படும் டெட்ராசைக்ளின், அமினோக்ளைக்கோசைட், ஃப்ளோரோகைனோலோன் போன்ற ஆன்டிபயாடிக் எல்லாம் கோழிகள் உடம்பில் ஏற்படும் கிருமிகளை அறவே அழித்துவிடுகின்றன. இத்தகைய மருந்துகளை உட்கொண்ட கோழிகளை சாப்பிட்டால், நம் உடம்பில் உள்ள செல்களை அழிப்பது, எதிர்பார்த்திராத சைட் எஃபெக்ட்ஸ் வர வைப்பது என நம் உடம்பின் இயல்பான மாற்றத்தை, வளர்ச்சியை அது சீர்குலைத்துவிடும்!

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''அதிகப்படி ஏதுமில்லை!''

சிக்கன் தொடர்பான குற்றச்சாட்டுக்களுக்கு பிராய்லர் கோழி வளர்ப்பாளர்களின் பதில்..?

இதைப் பற்றி பேசும் 'வெங்கடேஸ்வரா ஹேச்சரீஸ்' நிறுவனத்தின் தமிழக துணைப்பொதுமேலாளார் டாக்டர் செல்வகுமார், ''பொதுவா எல்லா கோழி பண்ணையிலயும் இந்த மாதிரி ஆன்டிபயாடிக் சேர்க்கப்படுறதில்லை. கோழிகளை வளர்க்க சொல்லி விவசாயிகளுக்கு குஞ்சுகளா கொடுத்திருவோம். அந்தந்த ஊர்ல உள்ள வெட்னரி டாக்டர் உதவியோட கோழிகளுக்கு ஊசி போடுவாங்க. கோழிகள் வளர்ந்ததும் அதை அப்படியே வித்துட முடியாது. நாலு அல்லது அஞ்சு நாள் கழிச்சுதான் விற்பனை செய்ய முடியும். இப்படி செய்யுறப்ப கோழிக்கு எதாவது பிரச்னை இருந்தாகூட தெரிஞ்சுடும்.

அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் ஐரோப்பிய நாடுகள்ல பிராய்லர் கோழிகளுக்கு கொடுக்கப்படுற டிரக்ஸ் என்ன அளவுல எப்படி கொடுக்கணும்ங்கிற மாதிரியான சார்ட் இருக்கு. அதை அரசாங்கம் எப்பவும் கவனிச்சுட்டே இருக்கும். அங்க உபயோகிக்கிற மருந்துகள் அளவைத்தான் இங்கேயும் நாங்க உபயோகிக்கிறோம். இந்தியாவுக்குனு எந்தவித அளவீடும் கிடையாது. ஆனாலும் தேவையில்லாம ஆன்டிபயாடிக் மருந்துகள் செலுத்தப்படுறது கிடையாது. இந்திய பிராய்லர் கோழிகளை ஜப்பான், ஆப்பிரிக்கா, மத்திய கிழக்கு நாடுகளுக்கு ஏற்றுமதி பண்றோம். அதிகப்படியான ஆன்டிபயாடிக் கொடுக்கிறதா இருந்தா, அவங்கள்லாம் தங்கள் நாட்டுக்குள்ள எப்படி அனுமதிப்பாங்க?'' என்று கேட்டார்.

DINAMANI NEWS

Adulteration: Court Grants Permission to Clean Pepper

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Food Safety Commissioner to allow the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd to clean all the sealed stock of pepper, and to sent it to a laboratory notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

In the order, Justice A Muhammed Mustaque directed that the company should take the stock of pepper for testing as directed by the Commissioner.

The court passed the order on the petition filed by Suresh Nair, vice president (legal and compliance), NCDEX Ltd, challenging an order of the Food Safety Commissioner to destroy more than 6,800 Mt of pepper, which is allegedly adulterated.

The order issued by the Commissioner stated that the samples collected from the warehouses of the company in Ernakulam and Cherthala showed that the pepper was adulterated with mineral oil.

The Regulations of 2011 specified that black pepper should be free of even traces of mineral oil, which is carcinogenic.

Based on the report, the authorities decided to seal all the six godowns. It also directed that the 93 lots, which were found to be adulterated, should be destroyed immediately, following statutory proceedings, in consultation with the Spices Board. The Commissioner further asked the District Food Safety officer to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter to identify the source of the mineral oil, and to file a report at the earliest.

The petitioner submitted that even if the allegation of the pepper being adulterated were true, it could be removed by a process of steaming and that the Act provided for an opportunity to improve or remove the adulterant.

If the Commissioner destroy the pepper it will not only create scarcity of the product, but will also affect its price across the country.

Health dept. raid: airport canteens, 12 eateries shut

In raids conducted by the Health department authorities on Friday, 12 eateries, a soda factory and canteens functioning at the Cochin International Airport Ltd and S.N. Medical College, Manjali, were shut down.

Led by the District Medical Officer Haseena Mohammed 32 squads of the department, under the Safe Kerala programme, had examined 555 units across the district. The squads also issued notices to 196 units to improve their facilities for better hygiene.

The squads examined include 326 restaurants, 140 bakeries, 33 cool bars, 15 canteen, 21 soda factories and six toddy shops and 11 other units. District Rural Health Officer P. N. Sreenivasan, technical assistants C. P. Chandran, K. Vijayakumar and junior health inspectors led the squads.

159 eateries given closure notice

The Health Department’s special squads conducted raids on hotels, bakeries, catering centres, soda factories, and eateries across the State on Friday as part of Safe Kerala, a public heath initiative of the department. 

Health officials found food being cooked in unhygienic conditions. They also found many cooks without the mandatory health certificates, stale food, and unsafe water in many kitchens. About 13, 593 establishments were inspected in all, across the State, of which, 159 were issued closure notices. Notices were issued to 2,984 establishments.

Raids at shops, hotels

A joint raid by officials of the Civil Supplies, Legal Metrology, Food Safety, Health and Police Departments has found that 66 shops and establishments in the district were engaged in black marketing and hoarding of essential commodities. District Supply Officer K. Sreelekha said on Thursday that irregularities had been found in 16 hotels, 15 vegetable stalls, two LPGagencies.

33 qtls unhygienic, unsafe ‘Go Milk’ seized from Best Price Store

JAMMU: While continuing its drive against food adulteration, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for the first time in the history seized over 33 quintals of double toned milk of Hyderabad-made brand ‘Go Milk’ which was declared ‘substandard, unhygienic, misbranded and unsafe for human consumption’ by the Referral Food Lab, Kolkata.

Briefing media on Thursday, JMC Commissioner Kiran Wattal said that the JMC team led by Health Officer, Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan conducted raid at Walmart’s Best Price Store near Toph Sherkhanian and lifted samples of ‘Go Brand’ double toned milk which was found substandard, unhygienic and misbranded by the Food Analyst, Jammu. Later, the samples were also sent to Referral Food Laboratory Kolkata which also declared the product as unsafe for human consumption, substandard and misbranded, he added.

The Municipal Commissioner mentioned that the JMC team recovered about 16 quintals of substandard milk from Best Price Shop and 17 quintals from the distributors M/s Parag Milk Food Pvt Ltd Digiana Jammu.

He mentioned that the samples lifted have been sent to Food Laboratory Jammu for analysis and further action under rule will be taken after receiving the report.

The Commissioner stated, “The food business operator has been directed to recall the product (Go Milk) from the market immediately as per the guidelines under Food Standard Safety Act (FSSA) 2006. Meanwhile, a request for prosecution sanction will be sent to the competent authority shortly and further action will be initiated against the defaulters as per the guidelines.”

The Municipal Commissioner asserted that the food business operators are also directed to stick to quality and standards, otherwise stringent action under FSSA shall be taken against the defaulters.

The Municipal Commissioner emphasized that the drive against the food adulteration will continue and no lapses will be tolerated in this direction.

The Commissioner also directed the health officer to vigorously check on ice cream Rehris, fast-food points especially those who are selling ‘Momos’ and soups so that only hygienic food will be served to the people of Jammu city.

Health Officer of JMC, Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan was also present in the press conference.

FDA raids in Ponda yield

PANJIM, Aug. 29 -- Officials of Food & Drugs Administration shut down two units and confiscated boxes of unhygienic sweets in and around Ponda, after they detected that three sweet-making units were manufacturing farsan and sweets in extremely unhygienic and unsanitary conditions and found spoilt sweets stocked in the premises.The officials also found misbranded and incorrectly labelled farsan food articles in violation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules Regulation 2011.

FDA director Salim Veljee informed the raiding party included Senior Food Safety Officer Iva Fernandes and Food Safety Officer Shailesh Shenvi on August 26 and 27 and the inspections were part of Ganesh festival surveillance in the Ponda area.

JMC continuing adulteration drive

Jammu Tawi, August 28

Continuing the drive against the menace of adulteration especially in milk within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), special drive was conducted by a team of Food Safety Officers under the supervision of Health Officer Dr Mohd Saleem Khan. During the drive the Food Safety Officer concerned lifted sample of Double Toned Milk (Go Brand) from Best Price Toph Sherkhanian, Jammu, today which was found misbranded by the Food Analyst Jammu. Then another part of sample was sent to Referral Food Lab. Kolkata on June 25, 2014 and the report from Referral Food Lab. Kolkata has been received which reveals the product as unsafe, substandard and misbranded. Consequently about 17 quintals of double toned Milk (Go Brand) have been seized after lifting the sample of same brand from M/s Parag Milk Food Private Limited Digiana Jammu and about 16 quintals of double toned milk (Go Brand) from M/s Best Price Jammu under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The samples lifted have been sent to Food Laboratory Jammu for analysis. Further action under rule will be taken after receiving the report. 

The Food Business Operator i.e. distributor has been directed to recall all the product i.e. Double Toned Milk (Go Brand) from the market immediately as per guidelines under FSS Act 2006. Meanwhile a request for prosecution sanction will be sent to the competent authority shortly and further action will be initiated against the defaulters as per the guidelines. The Food Business operators are also directed not to sell any type of unhygienic food not conforming to prescribed quality and standards which can put the public health to danger, otherwise stringent action under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 shall be taken against the defaulters. The drive will remain continue and no lapse in food adulteration will be tolerated in future also.

Notification on alcohol; Rs 100 cr. imported liquor stuck with Customs

Even before the onset of the festive season, when the demand for alcohol peaks, importers and distributors of wines and liquors in the country are running 40 to 50 per cent out of stock as 100 containers of these beverages worth Rs 100 crore are stuck with the Customs.

In this regard, possible roadblock for them is a July 15, 2014, notification by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued further to regulations that make it mandatory for all foods and alcoholic beverages in the country to mention on their labels all ingredients used either in English or Devnagri.

The notification applies to alcoholic beverages containing additives including colour, water, and preservatives. They need to carry labels mentioning the details of ingredients.

But most importers and distributors are finding it difficult to adhere to the notification as they cannot insist on the manufacturers to provide them detailed labelling, India being a small market for them. The result being importers and distributors are faced with consignments that are either stuck or rejected and mounting losses as they are not able to cash in on the festive demand.

A source from Mumbai-based Fine Wines n More India, on the condition of anonymity, lists out their difficulties, “All my global imports have halted. I was to get shipments from Argentina, Chile and Germany but we have had to put everything on hold because there is ambiguity and confusion on the new labelling norms by FSSAI.”

He adds, “The new rules which have been enforced by the food regulator require manufacturers to have labels in English or Hindi that list all ingredients. One of my shipments have been rejected for mentioning “Prodotto d’Italia” instead of “Product of Italy” and scotch whisky bottles were stopped at the Customs for not listing malted grain, water and yeast as ingredients.”

The source opines, “It will be very difficult to do business and import whisky and wines, if the dispute between FSSAI and alcohol importers, is not resolved.”

Meanwhile, Sanjay Dave, director (enforcement and surveillance), and advisor, FSSAI, explains the regulator’s point of view, “The FSSAI labelling regulations came into existence in August 2011 but were enforced in March 2014. And these regulations are in line with international norms.”

But reluctantly admits, “Yes, some of the rules are intricate. But some of the requirements have also been suspended like now there is no need for sticker mentioning veg or non-veg on alcohol.”

He adds, “And these rules are not only for foreign counterparts but also applicable for Indian alcohol manufacturers, so there is no discrimination.”

While Dave defends the notification, Aashish Kasbekar, specialist in clearing alcohol consignments through Indian Customs, points out, “In Mid-May and June, the issue which cropped up was about mentioning the list of ingredients on whisky, rum, wine and other alcoholic beverages.”

He explains, “Now due to these norms, importers are facing lots of problems. There stocks have been stuck at the Customs.”

He reasons, “The issue is that FSSAI has brought strict norms. Suppose a product named Cognac has been imported, which is Scotland brandy, the FSSAI will reject it on the ground that they don't identify Cognac, and hence, the shipment is kept on hold. Same way, the food authority says that they don't know what Tequila is and therefore manufacturers will have to explain in detail what it means.”

He states, “Importers are losing hope and FSSAI is very rigid and will not relax the norms further. So in the days to come the problem remains for alcohol importers and manufacturers.”

When asked how many shipments were on hold at the Customs, Kasbekar sums up, “Volume-wise there are around 100 containers and each container contains 700-800 cases. It means 7 lakh bottles of whisky, wine and other alcoholic beverages costing more than Rs 100 crore are stuck in Customs due to the strict norms and regulations by FSSAI.”

Samantaray term as FSSAI CEO ends; chairman likely to retain CEO reins

D K Samantaray’s stint with the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come to an end and now the apex food regulator is looking for a new CEO. Samantaray was relieved on Tuesday.

According to sources with FSSAI, as Samantaray’s tenure has come to an end, he will be returning to his home cadre - Madhya Pradesh. 

Samantaray has had a year of association with the FSSAI that begun last year in August. The reason for the short stint is said to be Samantaray reaching the age of superannuation. 

The ministry may announce the name of the successor to Samantaray in some days from now, till then, however, the chairman, FSSAI, is likely to retain the CEO’s reins with himself.

Samantaray was the second CEO in last two years for FSSAI. He had taken over after a gap of seven months after his predecessor S N Mohanty left the job in January 2013. Chairman FSSAI was also functioning as the interim CEO during the period.

Meanwhile, the process for getting a replacement has already been initiated by the health ministry. It is believed that it would take at least two months to get somebody who is appropriate to head the regulator and carry out the complicated job profile of CEO, FSSAI, who is the functional head of the employees at the body.

A source with the health ministry has revealed that the board of selection has initiated the process to select the next CEO but it may take two months for the process.

150 டன் வெல்லம் தேக்கம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலரை உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் முற்றுகை

சேலம், ஆக.29:

சேலம் செவ்வாய்பேட் டை மூலப்பிள்ளையார் கோயில் அருகே வெல்லம் ஏல மண்டி கட ந்த பல வருடங்களாக செய ல்பட்டு வருகிறது. இதில், சேலம் மாவட்டத்தின் தேக்கம்பட்டி, வட்டக்காடு, கரு ப்பூர், மூங்கில்பாடி, காமலாபுரம் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு பகுதிகளை சேர்ந்த ஆயிரக்கணக்கான விவசாயிகள், தாங்கள் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் வெல்லத்தினை கொண்டு வந்து ஏலம் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

சேலம், மதுரை, தேனி, திண்டுக்கல் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு மாவட்ட வியாபாரிகள் இங்கு வந்து வெல்லத்தினை வாங்கி செல்கின்றனர். இந்த மண்டியில் தினந்தோறும் லட்சக்கணக்கான ரூபாய்க்கு வர்த்தகம் நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.

இந்நிலையில், சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகா ப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா செவ்வாய்பேட் டை பகுதி வெல்ல வியா பார கடைகளில் நேற்று முன் தினம் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டார். அங்கு விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த வெல்லத்தில் உணவு பாது காப்பு சட்டத்தில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதை விட, அதிக ரசா யனம் கலந்துள்ளதாகவும், வெல்ல தயாரிப்பிற்கு சர்க் கரை பயன்படுத்தியிருப்பதாகவும் கூறி வெல்லத்தை பரிசோதனைக்கு எடுத்து சென்றார்.

இதனால் நேற்று காலை நடைபெறவிருந்த வெல்ல ஏலத்தில் வியாபாரிகள் யா ரும் கலந்து கொள்ளவில் லை. ஏலத்திற்காக கொண்டு வரப்பட்ட சுமார் 150 டன் வெல்லம் விற்பனையாகாமல் தேக்கமடைந்தது. அந்த வெல்லம் அனைத்தும் வாகனங்களிலேயே வைக்கப்பட்டன. இது குறித்த வியாபாரிகளிடம் கேட்ட போது, வெல்ல தயாரிப்பு முறைகளில் மாற்றம் செய்ய வேண்டும் எனவும், இந்த வெல்லத்தை விற்பனை செய்தால் அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பார்கள் என வும் உற்பத்தியாளர்களி டம் கூறியதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதனால் அதிர்ச்சியடைந்த வெல்ல உற்பத்தியா ளர்கள், நேற்று காலை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலகத்தை முற்றுகையிட்டனர். அப் போது அங்கு வந்த நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதாவை யும் முற்றுகையிட்டு வாக்குவாதத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

இது குறித்து வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் கூறுகை யில், காலங்காலமாக தற் போது உள்ள முறைகளின்படிதான் வெல்லம் தயா ரித்து வருகிறோம். ஆனால் இதுவரை எந்த பிரச்னை யும் எழவில்லை. தற்போது அதிகாரிகளின் நடவடிக்கையால் ஒரேநாளில் (28ம் தேதி) 150 டன் வெல்லம் தேக்கமடைந்துள் ளது. அதிகாரிகளின் இந்த நடவடிக்கையால், சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள ஆயிரக்க ணக்கான விவசாயிகள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர் என்றார். உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா கூறு கையில், விதிகளின் படி வெ ல்ல தயாரிப்பில் சர்க்கரை யை பயன்படுத்த கூடாது. அது தவிர அழுக்கு நீக்குவதற்கு என அதிகப்படியான ரசாயனங் களையும் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர். இந்த ரசாயனங்களால் உடலு க்கு பெ ரும் தீங்கு ஏற்படும் என் றார்.

தொடர்ந்து நீடித்த இந்த வாக்குவாதத்தில் நேற்று ஒரு நாள் உற்பத்தி செய்த வெல்லத்தை மட்டும் விற்க அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும் என உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். மே லும் வரும் நாட்களில் சங்க கூட்டத்தை கூட்டி, விதிக ளின் படி வெல்லம் தயாரி க்க உற்பத்தியாளர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்படும் எனவும் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் உறுதியளித்தனர். இதன் பின் முற்றுகையில் ஈடுபட்டவர்கள் கலைந்து சென்றனர்.

இதனால் அப்பகுதியில் பரபரப்பு  ஏற்பட்டது.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி முற்றுகை வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் அதிரடி

சேலம்; சேலம் மாவட்ட கரும்பு வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதாவை முற்றுகையிட்டனர்.

சேலம், செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டை மூல பிள்ளையார் கோவில் அருகில், வெல்ல மண்டி உள்ளது. தேக்கம்பட்டி, வட்டக்காடு, மூங்கப்பாடி, காமலாபுரம், ஓமலூர் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் இருந்த, வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், இங்கு வந்து வெல்லத்தை ஏலம் விடுவது வழக்கமாகும்.

கடந்த இரண்டு நாட்களுக்கு முன், சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா, செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டையில் உள்ள வெல்ல கடைகளில் ஆய்வு செய்துள்ளார். ஆய்வில், "சபோலா ஹைட்ரோஸ்’ என்ற வேதி பொருள், வெல்லத்தில் அதிகளவு கலந்துள்ளது’ என, வியாபாரிகளிடம், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி அனுராதா தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

மாதிரிக்காக எடுத்துவரப்பட்ட வெல்லம், பகுப்பாய்வுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டை வெல்ல மண்டியில், நேற்று ஏலம் நடத்த ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது. மாவட்டத்தின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் இருந்து, வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், 150 டன் வெல்லத்துடன் மண்டிக்கு வந்துள்ளனர்.

வியாபாரிகள் யாரும் ஏலத்தில் பங்கேற்கவில்லை. உற்பத்தியாளர்களிடம், "வெல்லத்தில், கலப்படம் செய்யப்படும் வேதி பொருட்களின் அளவு அதிகமாக இருப்பதாக, அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகின்றனர்’ என, தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

அதிருப்தி அடைந்த வெல்ல உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், சேலம் பழைய நாட்டாண்மை கழக கட்டிடத்தில் உள்ள, மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலகத்துக்கு சென்று, பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதாவை முற்றுகையிட்டு, "நாங்கள் பல ஆண்டாக இதே முறையில் தான் வெல்லம் உற்பத்தி செய்து வருகிறோம். திடீரென்று நீங்கள், எவ்வாறு இப்படி கூறுகிறீர்கள். நேற்று ஏலம் நடப்பதாக இருந்தது. வியாபாரிகள் ஏலத்தில் பங்கேற்காததால், 150 டன் வெல்லம் நஷ்டமாகியுள்ளது’ என்றனர்.

அதற்கு அனுராதா, ""சபோலா ஹைட்ரோஸ் என்ற வேதி பொருள், வெல்லத்தில் அதிகளவு கலக்கப்படுவதாக வந்த புகாரால் தான் ஆய்வு செய்யப்பட்டது. பகுப்பாய்வு முடிவுக்கு பிறகே, இதுகுறித்து தெரிவிக்கப்படும்,” என்றார். திடீர் முற்றுகை போராட்டத்தால் பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது.

SC restarts 20-year-old arbitration

In a dispute in which arbitration proceedings had not commenced for two decades, the Supreme Court has ruled that the court has the power to appoint an arbitrator against the terms of the contract. In this case, North-Eastern Railway vs Tripple Engineering Works, the railway terminated the contract in 1994 and a panel of arbitrators was appointed in 1996 to decide on the disputes. But little had happened since then. When the contractor company moved the Patna high court, it appointed a retired chief justice of the Sikkim high court as arbitrator.

This was challenged by the railway in the Supreme Court, arguing that according to the General Conditions of Contract, a judge could not be an arbitrator. The Supreme Court rejected the contention and upheld the high court's action in view of the peculiar facts of the case. "In a situation where the procedure and process under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act has been rendered futile, the power of the court to depart from the agreed terms of appointment of arbitrators must be acknowledged in the light of the several earlier decisions," the judgment said.

Illegal auction sale set aside

The Supreme Court last week asked the Orissa Financial Corporation to return the money to the purchaser of a property bought in auction conducted by the corporation against law. It allowed the corporation to recover the cost from its officers who acted against the rule laid down in the State Financial Corporation Act.

According to the rule, if a borrower defaults, the loan cannot be recovered from third parties like guarantors. In this case, Subhransu Sekhar Padhi vs Gunamani Swain, a person bought a truck with loan from the corporation but he defaulted. Since the vehicle could not be traced, the corporation seized the property of his father-in-law who mortgaged his property for the loan. When it was auctioned, the wife and children moved the court against the sale. The court set aside the sale invoking Section 29 of the Act. It said that the auction purchaser who parted with his money to buy the property was a "victim of an illegal procedure adopted by the corporation."

Prevention of unjust enrichment 

Emphasising its stand on the issue of unjust enrichment, the Supreme Court has stated that a company would not be entitled to claim refund of tax illegally collected by the state unless the firm establishes that it had not passed on the tax liability directly or indirectly to consumers. The principle was reiterated in a large batch of cases, led by Deccan Cements vs Assistant Director of Mines. The company in this case was in the business of manufacture and sale of cement. It secured mining leases of limestone and dolomite.

These minerals were exigible to two imposts under the Telengana Area Act and the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Rights Act. These laws were challenged by various companies and it reached the Supreme Court two times. Ultimately, the law was found to be unconstitutional and the court ordered refund of the tax collected. However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the companies were not automatically entitled to refund. They must show that they had not passed on the tax liability to consumers. Against that order, the companies appealed to the Supreme Court. It dismissed all of them and told them to show before the authorities that they had not passed on the burden to the consumers.

Quarry lease of precious stones quashed

The Supreme Court last week dismissed the appeal of Vivek Exports, which was granted a 20-year quarrying lease for ornamental stones, though its lease had been quashed by the high court of Karnataka. The judgment stated that "in case where a lease has been quashed by the court for whatever reason, granting renewal of such a quashed lease is impermissible and may amount to fraud on the power of renewal exercised by the state government."

The issue of lease was challenged by a rival firm, when its application for quarrying in the same area was rejected by the Karnataka government. The government order granting several leases was quashed by the high court. Though the challenge to the government order was made by this firm after nine years, the delay in moving the court was pardoned as it came to know about the government sanction only through a right to information petition.

Order to release Belgian chocolates 

The Delhi High Court last week directed the Commissioner of Customs to release about 4,000 kg of the famous Guylian chocolates imported from Belgium and lying in the warehouse since January this year, after complying with certain directions. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had found two defects in the 16 varieties of these imported chocolates. Packages of eight varieties had no label indicating the date of manufacturing, expiry date and other related information about the product.

Another objection was that vegetable oil was used as the filling in eight other varieties. These allegations were contested by the importer in a writ petition, United Distributors Incorporation vs Union of India. The high court stated that since the goods were perishable, the commissioner must release them after proper labelling, "with utmost expedience". The objection about vegetable oil was found to be unsustainable as it has been permitted in other cases.

Tax case straddling continents 

The revenue authorities have just lost an appeal against the ruling of the Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) in one of the most complex cases involving capital gains tax in sale of shares of companies across the globe. Shorn of details, AAR had held that the capital gains arising out of the sale of shares of an Indian company, Copal Research India Ltd, sold by a company incorporated in Mauritius (Copal Research Ltd) to a Cyprus company (M/s Moody's Group Cyprus Ltd) and sale of shares of a US company (Exevo Inc) sold by the Mauritius Company (Copal Market Research Ltd) to another US company (Moody's Analytics, Inc) were not liable to tax in India in the hands of the seller companies. Consequently, the purchasing companies had no obligation to withhold tax. This view was upheld by the Delhi High Court in its judgment, Director of Income Tax vs Moody's Analytics, USA.