Dec 15, 2017
Camps to register food biz entities
Tirupur: As more than 10,000 unregistered food-related entities in the district are facing the deadline of December 31 for registration or to obtain a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, the administration has planned to conduct five camps to reach them.
The first camp will be held at Annapoorna Hotel on Palladam Road on Friday. The entities can submit the required documents and complete the online registration process.
As per recent enumeration conducted by the district food safety and drug administration (FSDA) department, the district has 18,588 entities, including manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, dealers, retailers, hawkers, street vendors, warehouses and transporters in the food industry. As many as 10,303 entities are yet to register.
"So far, 8,285 entities have obtained the licence or registered. The department was creating awareness about it and explained the unregistered entities about the mandate," said K Tamil Selvan, FSDA's designated officer for Tirupur.
"Once they do, it would help the department to keep tab on the food safety. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), each entity should have a food safety supervisor among their employees. The department will provide training on the food safety and standards to them," said Tamil Selvan.
Besides, the department has been conducting meetings with the respective associations to provide education about the food safety.
The fee for the registration is Rs 100 for entities with annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh and Rs 2,000 for those who exceed Rs 12 lakh. In case of the food manufacturers, they should pay Rs 3,000 for the licence.
FSSAI enlists 15 agencies to audit food safety
This is the first time the food authority has taken a step like this in order to strengthen the food safety surveillance system in the country.
New Delhi: Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has empanelled 15 national and international agencies to audit food safety and hygiene standards of canteens, cafeterias and hostel mess of several IITs and IIMs.
Some agencies which have been empanelled are DNV, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, MS Certification, IRCLASS, SGS, BIS, TUV and Indocert.
This is the first time the food authority has taken a step like this in order to strengthen the food safety surveillance system in the country. The audit will start with select large central institutes such as IITs in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati, AIIMS (Delhi and Jodhpur), IIM (Ahmedabad and Kozhikode), IISc Bangalore and IISER Kolkata.
FSSAI orders food safety audit in IITs, IIMs and AIIMS
New Delhi, Dec 14 () Food regulator FSSAI today said it has ordered safety audits of the canteens at 10 large educational institutes, including IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, in view of complaints with regard to food safety and hygiene standards.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that the audit will be done by empanelled 15 agencies and they will be given one-month time to submit report.
The FSSAI said that audit has been ordered as number of cases of food safety issues have been reported from hostels/canteens of various academic institutions in India.
"In view of this, FSSAI has ordered special food safety audits of the canteens, cafeterias, hostel mess etc of 10 select large central institutes of higher education like IIT (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati), AIIMS (Delhi and Jodhpur), IIM (Ahmedabad and Kozhikode), IISc Bangalore and IISER Kolkata," the FSSAI said in a statement.
To strengthen the food safety surveillance system, the FSSAI has taken up audits of food business operators through third-party audit agencies.
It has empanelled 15 audit agencies in accordance with the Food Safety and Standard (Food Safety Auditing) Regulation, 2017.
The audit in select 10 institutes will help to check whether hostel mess/canteen/cafeteria where food is handled in these institutions comply with the food safety and hygiene standards prescribed under the food safety law.
"These reports will give an insight into the existing standards of food safety and hygiene of these canteens/ hostel mess etc and will help FSSAI to identify the gaps," the authority said.
The FSSAI expected that the results of these audits will serve as guidance to these institutions to improve and maintain the standards of food safety and hygiene in their premises, the statement said.
The authority has empanelled national and international food safety audit agencies like DNV, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, MS Certification, IRCLASS, SGS, BIS, TUV, Indocert among others."For the time being these agencies have been provisionally empanelled since the regulation is still at draft stage," the FSSAI said
Dec 14, 2017
FSSAI licence must for food sale, supply
There have been complaints about the quality of food being sold at mass gatherings such as youth festivals.
‘Any thing being cooked and sold outside your kitchen needs licence’
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked heads of the departments of Police, Education, Collegiate Education, and Health as wells secretaries of local bodies in Kozhikode district to ensure that firms that supply food at mass gatherings have licence issued by the authority.
This follows complaints about the quality of food served and sold at religious festivals, school youth festivals, sports meets and office canteens.
P.K. Eliyamma, Assistant Commissioner, FSSAI, Kozhikode, told The Hindu that the State Food Safety Commissioner on April 20, 2016 had issued an order saying that those who sell food in such places should compulsorily have the licence issued by the authority.
“Any thing being cooked and sold outside your kitchen and open markets should have the FSSAI licence,” she said.
Food poisoning was recently reported from Cheruvannur and Koodaranhi grama panchayats. At Narikkuni, eight people were down with food poisoning after they reportedly had a curry made of chicken parts. The beverages, such as sugar cane juice, being distributed outside religious gatherings lack hygiene and the sellers often don’t have any licence. It is reported that they use adulterated ice blocks. Water is sourced often from water tankers.
Organisers of such events are supposed to seek permission from the Health Department to distribute food and approval from the Police Department to use mike system.
Along with these, Ms. Eliyamma said, the authorities should also ensure that they have the FSSAI licence too. The order has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police, District Medical Officer, Kozhikode City Corporation Secretary, Deputy Director of Panchayat, municipal secretaries in Vadakara, Koyilandy, Ramanattukara, Koduvally, Feroke, Mukkom, and Payyoli, deputy directors of education, higher secondary education and collegiate education.
Section 119 of the Public Health Act, 1939, says that the authority in charge of any fair or festival should intimate the executive authority or health officer the date of beginning of any festival and other details two months in advance. This provision is reportedly not followed often, sources in the Health Department said. Although local bodies such as panchayats, municipalities and corporations have relevant laws to deal with any eventuality, a uniform law applicable to all institutions is yet to be formulated.
Raid nets 1000 litres synthetic milk, food inspector suspended
Morena (MP), Dec 13 (PTI) Authorities raided a factory in Chinnoni village here yesterday and seized 1000 litres of synthetic milk, a senior official said.
A food inspector had been suspended for failing to check the malpractice, the official added.
Additonal collector KP Mishra said that a joint team from the food and revenue departments had raided the factory at Chinnoni village and seized 1000 litres of synthetic milk yesterday.
The team recovered glucose, detergent and other ingredients that went into making the synthetic milk, he added.
He said that the raid was carried out following complaints to the district collector.
Mishra informed that the collector had yesterday suspended food inspector Savita Saxena.
"She did not pay heed to senior officials who had been asking the food inspector to crack the whip on people involved in milk adulteration," Mishra said.
Mishra said that the adulterated milk from the factory used to be supplied to Nova Dairy in Malanpur, Gwalior.
The owner of the raided factory has been under Food Safety and Standards Act.
4 held for selling adulterated ghee
The city police have arrested four people, including a wholesale dealer of KMF products, for allegedly selling adulterated ghee for the last two months in Adugodi and Kumara Park.
According to the police, Ayyappa Swamy, who has been identified as the prime accused, allegedly plotted this scam in order to make up for the money he lost in a betting during an IPL cricket match.
The police took up the investigation last month based on a complaint from KMF officials who found adulterated ghee being supplied from the milk parlour at Bengaluru Diary in Adugodi. Following complaints from consumers, a team of KMF quality control officials had identified 84 packets of adulterated ghee after tests in the lab.
Apart from Swamy, 30, from Tamil Nadu, who lived in J.J. Nagar in the city, the others arrested are Maruthi, 28, a resident of Malleswaram, Shivakumar, 29, who lives in Kumara Park West, and Sukumar, 67, a resident of Dharmapuri.
They adulterated the ghee by adding palm oil and vegetable oil.
Swamy reached out to Maruthi, an employee for a company that has a dealership for KMF products. The duo later took the help of the other two accused — Shivakumar and Sukumar — both of whom ran Nandini milk outlets to sell the adulterated product. Maruthi’s role was to provide plastic covers to pack the ghee.
Cases have been registered under IPC sections 272 (Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (Sale of noxious food or drink), and 420 (cheating).
GOA: FOOD BIZ OPERATOR SENTENCED FOR VIOLATING FOOD SAFETY ACT
Panaji (Goa): The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) has sentenced a food business operator to undergo simple imprisonment up to the rising of the court and slapped a fine of Rs 3000 for selling dry snack despite being declared as unsafe food product.
The order was passed based on a report of the Directorate of Food & Drugs Administration at Bambolim Chandas Vaishnav, Proprietor of M/s Balaji Farsan in Valpoi for manufacturing and selling food article ‘Mix Shev.’ The accused indulged in the violation although the food product was declared as ‘Unsafe’ due to the presence of non- permitted colour and had also exceeded the maximum prescribed limit. Senior Food Safety Officer Rajiv Korde had collected the food sample to test in the department’s laboratory, and the report had ascertained the violation.
The JMFC accordingly pronounced the sentence wherein if the accused fails to pay the fine, in default he will to undergo simple imprisonment for one month for this offence punishable under Section 59(i) of The Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
Tech lift for Telangana’s food laboratory
Centre sanctions Rs 8.05 crore to provide state-of-the-art equipment
Once the upgradation is done, samples relating to oil, pulses, food, including from restaurants, can be analysed in a foolproof manner.
Hyderabad: The State Food Laboratory (SFL), which has been waiting for an overall revamp of facilities for carrying out sophisticated tests on a variety of food items, is all set to get a major facelift with the Centre sanctioning Rs 8.05 crore to provide state-of-the-art equipment.
As the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rolled out Central Sector Scheme (2017-18) for strengthening the food-testing system across the country, the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) entered into a memorandum of understanding with it.
Though FSSAI has already sanctioned the amount a few months ago, the SFL is yet to receive it. Lab officials are hopeful of getting the amount after FSSAI examines the details of high-end equipment that would be required for the lab.
The lab is getting the amount under the Central sector scheme launched by the Centre which allocated Rs 500 crore for 46 food labs across the country.
Food Safety Commissioner Rajeshwar Tiwari confirmed that the FSSAI was providing funds for the upgradation of the lab at Nacharam on all fronts.
A senior official said if the lab was equipped with the new testing machines, the staff would be able to carry out analysis of samples more effectively. Samples relating to oil, pulses etc., could be analysed in a foolproof manner, he explained.
A request was also made to FSSAI to sanction Rs 50 lakh as a grant in aid towards sub-component for renovating the lab before installing the new equipment. The lab personnel are facing problems in conducting an analysis of over 4,400 food samples received from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the last few months.
During summer, the lab will be flooded with samples of fruits especially mangoes to examine the chemicals used for ripening process. “Apart from the upgrading the lab, there is an urgent need to fill up the vacant posts,” the official added.
Dec 13, 2017
Synthetic colours in aravana ingredients? Spat over quality of Sabarimala prasadam
Food Safety officials say analysis of samples yielded conclusive evidence of food colour contamination.
Presence of synthetic colours in cardamom
An unseemly row has erupted between the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Food Safety Department over the quality of raw materials used for the production of Appam and Aravana at Sabarimala during the annual pilgrimage season.
The issue arose after officials from the Food Safety Commissionerate stopped the transport of a consignment of cardamom from Pampa to Sannidhanam, citing the results of an analysis of samples which detected the presence of synthetic food colours. The TDB subsequently had to stop the production and distribution of Appam for the pilgrims, provoking an angry response from Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
Inappropriate
Terming the restriction imposed by the Food Safety Department inappropriate and crossing all limits, the Minister told a press conference that the timing of the decision gave room for suspicion. He also alleged that the officials were causing inconvenience to the pilgrims.
Food Safety officials said the analysis of samples had yielded conclusive evidence of food colour contamination.
“We detected the presence of Tartrazine Yellow and Brilliant Blue additives which are used in tandem to impart green colour to cardamom. The results of the tests done at the analytical lab at Pampa were later confirmed by the NABL-accredited lab in Thiruvananthapuram,” an official said. Tartrazine and Brilliant Blue have been linked to cancer, asthma, allergies and stomach ailments.
On Monday, a press note issued by the office of the Food Safety Commissioner here alleged that the TDB was levelling baseless allegations to cover up the issue.
The press note said the Food Safety Department had been ordered by the High Court to keep a close tab on raw materials used for preparation of prasadam at Sabarimala. “One sample each of jaggery and rice flakes (avil) and two samples each of rock candy (kalkandam) and cardamom did not conform to food safety standards. The consignments were withheld at Pampa and the government, TDB, and High Court informed of the situation,” the press note said.
Food Safety officials said the issue could have been averted if TDB had procured the materials well before the start of the pilgrimage season.
Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India Hasn't Received A Single Compliant In 11 Years
While Food Regulatory Body Reimburses Testing Fees To Consumers If Food Is Found Adulterated, It Hasn’t Received A Single Complaint In 11 Years
Did you know that as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSCI) Act, if food purchased by a person is established as adulterated, the cost of getting it tested is reimbursed? The answer is likely to be a resounding "no", because 11 years since the Act's inception, the regulatory body has not received a single case under section 40 that governs this complaint segment.
According to FSSCI officials, most consumers refrain from getting food products tested for adulteration fearing high costs of the process. "Any individual can get suspicious food products tested at FSSCI laboratories, but since it's a time-consuming procedure, most people shy away from doing so. The process costs R2,000 to R5,000, depending on the food product. But, the regulatory body has a provision under which the regulatory body will gladly reimburse the testing fees to the consumer," an official said.
Section 40 of the FSSCI Act states, "If the report of the food analyst shows that the article of food is not in compliance with the Act or the rules or regulations made there under, the purchaser shall be entitled to get refund of the fees paid by him under this section." However, not a single person has ever asked for testing under the section in the past 11 years. Dr Pallavi Darade, state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, said, "The FDA does thousands of food analysis, every month. But, none of them are done because some consumer reported an adulterated food product."
If the food product is deemed in contravention of the provisions of the FSSCI Act, the product seller stands to lose his/her licence or be fined.
Poisonous Packaging
When it comes to eating street food, we often spend a lot of time worrying about what’s in the food, but not enough time worrying about what the food is in. Be they bun kebabs, samosas or any other downtown snack, odds are that the food you buy from street vendors will be wrapped in a newspaper. Now, here’s why this is bad news for you:
Wrapping fried food in newspapers is a very unhealthy practice and is very much prevalent in Kashmir and most parts of country and its consumption is injurious to health, even if the food has been cooked hygienically.
The reason is simple; the hot oil in, say, pakoras, facilitates the seeping of chemicals from ink and paper into the food. The newspaper ink contains many hazardous chemicals which can trigger serious health problems. Exposure to a class of organic chemicals called arylamines, such as benzidine, 2-Naphthylamine and 4-Aminobiphenyl, is associated with high risks of bladder and lung cancer.
Apart from these, printing inks also contain colorants, pigments, binders, additives and photo-initiators (used for speeding up the drying process of the ink), which have harmful effects. There are literally thousands of ink chemicals and a majority of them can be dangerous for consumers.
Newspapers are usually produced by a system called offset-web printing, which requires a certain consistency of the ink (it needs to be very thick) and a particular means of drying.
For the former, mineral oils (petroleum-based) and solvents such as methanol, benzene and toluene are used; and for the latter, heavy metal (Cobalt)-based drying agents are used. None of these should be used in food packaging, as they are also classified as harmful and can be perilous for consumers’ health.
Some offset printing ink formulations use vegetable oils rather than mineral oils; however, they have strong odours and should not be used in food packaging. Given the long-term risk from protracted exposure from an early age, the sale of such tainted foods to school children, a common sight in all our cities, must also be avoided and there is an urgent need to raise awareness on this issue.
Another similar problem which has been noticed is that fast food restaurants are packing burgers, soups and other hot meat and vegetable products in thin, transparent plastic bags, as take aways. These clear synthetic bags are typically made of polyethylene (polythene) and the principal potential ‘migrant’ agent is ethylene.
There are a number of potential additives to polythene, such as anti-static agents, ultra-violet protection and flame retardants. These additives can be very dangerous if they move into the take away food.
Other case is while using teabags, some people squeeze the teabag using the label fixed at the other end of the thread. As it can leak the ink from the label, it is recommended that the teabags should be squeezed by using the thread only.
In the recent time Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued an advisory wherein commissioners of Food Safety of all states were requested to initiate a systematic campaign for generating awareness among all stake holders to discourage the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items.
In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Drugs & Food Control organization is the nodal department for enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, rules/regulation 2011 with sufficient manpower, Deputy Commissioner Food Safety at Divisional level, Designated Officers at District level and Food Safety Officer at Block/Zone level.
Food Safety & Standards Act provides mechanism for collection and testing of food samples for any potential hazards at government level through Food Safety Officers.
Even the Purchaser/consumer can get the food sample tested at his own as provided under section 40 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, however in case the sample fails in testing government is supposed to refund the cost of sample and other expenditure to the purchaser while Designated Officers are supposed to initiate action against defaulters. In case the sample is reported unsafe in testing.
The offence is punishable with an imprisonment for a term which may be extended to six years and also with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees.
The department has started a campaign under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 to control wrapping of fried foods in newspapers and banning the use of plastic bags for takeaways soups and other food items accordingly prosecution against many food business operators have been launched to tackle the issue.
Moreover, public awareness and support is the important means to discourage the use of newspapers in packaging of food items, consumers should refuse the food item if is packed /wrapped in newspaper.
Author is a Food Safety Officer Srinagar.
Two food joints with hookah bars sealed in Sector 18
NOIDA: In a joint raid by the city magistrate and the food safety department, two restaurants having hookah bars were sealed in Sector 18 on Monday.
A case will be filed against the restaurant owners under Food Safety Act, officials said.
The raid was carried out in the evening when many people were found smoking hookah. "The restaurants—Kartoos 49 Cafe & Lounge and Smoke House—were found serving hookah at their premises and were immediately sealed. A show cause notice will be issued and a court case will be initiated against them," Surendra Verma, district food safety officer, said.
"The samples of the smoke remnants have been collected and will be sent to a government laboratory for testing," city magistrate Mahendra Singh told TOI.
Hookah along with food and drinks in the smoking zone has been banned in the latest amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
Dec 12, 2017
Food adulteration taking heavy toll on public health
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed increase in food adulteration despite framing of various committees for strict implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in the state. In the last few months, Food Safety Department has seized food articles and imposed fines for selling sub-standard foods. Last month, sources said that around Rs 1.5 lakh fine was imposed on food outlets for selling sub-standard food items. These included restaurants owners, traditional bakers, milk vendors and butchers.
Sources said that during the inspection, many restaurants, bakery shops, and butchers were found processing food in total unhygienic conditions. "Some of them have been using synthetic colours in many popular food items," an official said. In July, the department prosecuted 35 businesses operators for selling and manufacturing substandard and adulterated food products. He said that they took action based on various complaints received from the people. The official said that thousands of food outlets in Srinagar are putting the health of millions of people at risk. "Like in Srinagar, sub-standard foods are taking a heavy toll on the people of Jammu region," the official said. The government in 2014 constituted a high powered steering committee for effective and smooth implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It was headed by the Chief Secretary and included several administrative secretaries. The committee according to sources was formed in backdrop of complaints of food adulteration. However, nothing has happened so far. "Such committees have been confined to papers only," sources said. The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 came into force across the country in August 2011. The Act was also to ensure improved quality of food for the consumers and censure misleading claims and advertisement by those in food business. The committee has to take a complete review of the ground realities, officers performing the duties under the Act, method of sampling, testing and further follow up action on the basis of misbranded samples. "So for, we did not see any difference. Instead the food adulteration has increased over the years," the official added.
He said the Act was not being executed properly in the state and adulterated food items were being openly sold in markets without any check from the government. The Central government had also asked the state government many times to ensure proper implementation of the Act.
Hospital lab technicians deputed to test food samples
Srinagar: The Drug and Food Safety Organisation (DFCO) has deputed hospital lab technicians, trained in urine and blood examination, for testing food samples at its Srinagar food laboratory. As per sources, the DFCO instead of appointing staff for the food laboratory has posted medical lab technicians on deputation there to mislead the J&K High Court.
“It is eyewash. The matter is in the High Court as part of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The department (DFCO) had been directed to appoint requisite staff and file compliance report in the court,” sources in the health department said.
The J&K Health Department has recently deputed four medical laboratory technicians to the Food Testing Laboratory at Dalgate to analyse food samples. The technicians were deputed days after the High Court slammed the department for not complying with its directions.
“These technicians were working in different hospital labs under the Health Department. Now they are being asked to analyse food samples even though they have no knowledge or experience in the work,” said a health official, wishing anonymity.
He said all the four lab technicians appointed in the food laboratory had a bachelors or equivalent degree in medical laboratory technology, which is not even distantly equivalent to the BSc in Food Technology or Dairy Technology required to become a Food Lab Technician.
As per official data, only four employees were originally appointed for the Food Testing Laboratory in Dalgate including a senior lab technician, assistant public analyst, lab assistant and lab attendant. The others were posted there simply to mislead the High Court.
“The others have been deputed there as two food analysts, four lab technicians and four food safety officers. They are working either on ad-hoc or deputation basis,” the official said.
Earlier this year, the government had issued a notification asking two food safety officers to work as ‘notified food analysts’ till they are appointed permanently.
“The notified food analysts have been left without power and accountability as they working on ad-hoc basis, despite having the requisite qualification and experience,” said an administrator.
The DFCO deputed field staff, including four food safety officers, from the Health Department and DFCO at the food lab to augment its staff strength. The postings were made after High Court directions in May. The deputation has created shortage in the field and put extra burden on the food safety officers posted in different departments.
In May, a division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey had directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to depute a qualified person to the food laboratories to find out whether they fulfilled requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Controller Food and Drugs Lotika Khajuria said it was a national norm to recruit laboratory staff on deputation basis.
“It’s not necessary that Food Lab Technicians have the required qualification. In case of urgency, we can post any science graduate in the lab and give them on-job training,” she said.
“Food Analysts are notified to work in the lab as they were trained in Food Analysis by virtue of their qualification and experience,” she said.
The Controller also played down the staff shortage and said the department was not doing anything wrong. “We are following the norm that is prevalent in the whole of India. J&K is not a special case,” she said.
The shortage of field staff is acute in J&K, with 36 posts of Food Safety Officers, meant to supervise the food sold in markets, are lying vacant.
Dec 11, 2017
Mobile food testing van launched
PANAJI: 'Food Safety on Wheels, a mobile food testing van of the Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), was launched on Sunday evening by chief minister Manohar Parrikar and health minister Vishwajit Rane.
Fully equipped with a lab, the van will be used to conduct tests for common adulterants in milk, water, edible oils and other items. It will also be possible to draw on the spot samples and generate instant reports of the analysis.
The FDA will also tie up with panchayats, municipalities and consumer clubs to spread awareness about food safety, hygiene and healthy eating habits, FDA director Jyoti Sardesai said.
The van that costs Rs 41 lakh was procured under the central government scheme to strengthen the food testing system in the country.
Roadside food vendors to be trained in hygiene, food safety
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar seen launching Food Safety on Wheel (Mobile Food Testing Van) of Goa FDA at Altinho Panaji on Sunday in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Director of FDA Jyoti Sardesai and others
PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar launched the food safety on wheels (mobile food testing van) at Altinho on Sunday in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane.
Addressing the media, Parrikar said that under the central government scheme, the first van has been given to Goa in order to educate roadside food vendors about food safety.
Parrikar said we eat food from roadside kiosks but many a times we do not know what the food contains and whether it is safe or contaminated. He said the mobile van will create awareness amongst the people who enjoy eating roadside food.
Parrikar said that sometimes the vendors add colour to tandoori items instead of using the masala which can be detrimental to the health of people eating such food. He said that the Food Safety on Wheels (mobile food testing van) will train and teach the vendors on the health aspects of selling food on the roadsides.
The FDA director Jyoti Sardessai, said that as part of the central government scheme for strengthening the food testing system in the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, Government of India, has rolled out the scheme of mobile food testing laboratories known as ‘Food safety on wheels’.
She said the van is fully equipped with analytical instruments such as milk analyzer, hot air oven, hot plate, mixer-grinder, digital weighing scale, digital multi parameter hand-held meter, digital refractometer etc. The van is also equipped with facilities such as power generator, air-conditioner, refrigerator, commercial gas cylinder, audio-visual PA system as well as a computer.
The facilities will be used to conduct tests of adulterated milk, water, edible oils and other items of food for daily consumption. She said that the van will also have a facility to draw on the spot samples and generate instant reports.
She said that the mobile unit will help the state FDA to enhance their outreach programmes and conduct surveillance activities even in the remote areas of state.
The mobile van costs Rs 41 lakh and will be manned by a trained driver, a chemist and an attendant besides a team of food safety officers. She said that the public can call on toll free number 1800122100 or telephone the FDA directorate during emergencies.
Dec 10, 2017
Food safety department sends notice to supplier of Amul milk product
Food safety department of Firozabad has issued a notice to Amul milk product supplier and distributor after the department found less fat content in milk against the declared percentage on the milk packet. The matter came to light after the FSDA collected a sample of Amul milk in the month of June this year from milk outlets in Firozabad and sent their samples to government laboratory of Varanasi for examination.
Speaking to TOI, Virendra Singh Kushwaha, the chief food safety officer said, "After collecting the samples of Amul milk, we first took it to a nearby private laboratory to check if the milk content is according to set parameters. The result revealed that fat content was .8% less against the declared 6%. To recheck, we took the sample to another private lab, and again the same result was found. Finally, we decided to send the sample to Varanasi lab, so as to take legal action against the supplier and distributor of milk." He said, "In summer months, to meet the increased demand for milk, suppliers often mix water in their products to increase the milk quantity, which results in less fat content."
"The Varanasi lab also confirmed that Amul milk sample had only 5.2 % fat. We have now sent notice to Neelam milk agency of Firozabad, the prime distributor of milk product in the district and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur, a packager and supplier of Amul products in Western UP district. If they wish, the two can challenge the lab results and samples will be again sent to Kolkata laboratory. But if they accept the report, then we will levy hefty penalty for low quality milk product," he added.
The lab report was shared to additional city magistrate Sheetla Prasad Yadav, who directed FSDA to send the notice to two concern parties. Speaking on the lab report of less fat content in Amul milk, the prime distributor Neelam Agency owner Pankaj said, "Whatever product the supplier provides us, we distribute it. Appropriate reply will be given to FSDA separately from our agency and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur."
Beware, your biriyani may have dog meat
Vellore residents, who get cheap biriyani and meat dishes from roadside eateries must be cautious about dog meat is being served as mutton, said sources.
Vellore: It may be recalled a photo of two persons with a skinned carcass of a dog in Ambur that was circulated on social media, resulted in a scare and led to slumping of biriyani sales in the area a fortnight ago.
Sources revealed that four persons each in Christianpet and Kudibala village across Andhra Pradesh border on the Chittoor highway routinely provided dog meat to shops on both sides of the border.
With mutton sold at Rs 500 a kg, small shops were using this as a way of earning quick money as four kg of dog meat was sold for Rs 100. Getting the animals is not a hard task, given the increasing number of stray dogs on Vellore roads, added sources.
When queried about this, a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India official Dr Venkatesh said that they had not received any such complains.
He also denied the reports as both police and FSSAI had thoroughly checked all slaughter houses in the district following the Whatsapp message.
Dec 9, 2017
FSSAI order seeks to scrap cases filed under old food safety norms
Order comes less than two weeks after Nestle India was slapped with a fine of Rs45 lakh in Shahjahanpur,
In a big relief to food companies, the country’s food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday issued an order that effectively scraps almost all cases filed against food business operators for alleged violations of food safety standards and regulations in the past.
This would, according to the FSSAI order, prevent “avoidable harassment” of food companies.
“Commissioners of food safety are advised to withdraw, or at least not pursue, cases for violation of old norms and standards unless these are still not in conformity with the new/revised standards so that avoidable harassment of food business operators could be prevented,” the FSSAI order reads.
The order comes less than two weeks after the additional district magistrate of Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, slapped a fine of Rs45 lakh on Nestle India Ltd, Rs15 lakh on three of its distributors and Rs11 lakh on two retailers. The penalty was imposed in cases filed by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration based on reports by a Lucknow-based laboratory in 2016. The laboratory found higher than permissible ash content in samples of Maggi noodles that were collected back in 2015.
Besides denying the allegations, Nestle India had said in a statement that the tests were conducted applying “incorrect standards”.
The rationale behind the FSSAI order, as pointed out by the food regulator, is the formation of new standards and amendments to old regulations. During the last few years, FSSAI has notified a number of new standards, besides amending some of the old ones.
In the absence of a clear directive from FSSAI, state-level food safety inspectors had been following either old or new standards, or both, to identify violators. State food authorities have filed cases with different courts, sometimes at the district level, and these are being pursued until settlement.
Between April 2008 and 31 March 2016, food inspectors picked up 681,021 samples for testing across the country, of which 95,828 were found to be adulterated or mis-branded, and a total number of 69,759 cases, both criminal and civil, were lodged against food business operators, according to FSSAI reports. Many of these cases are yet to be settled. FSSAI’s annual report for the year ended 31 March 2017 has not yet been published.
Currently, food companies across the supply chain in India are required to comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Before this Act, food products were governed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
The field machinery tasked with the responsibility of ensuring food safety, noted FSSAI in its order, may have lodged cases against some food business operators for violation of the “old standards even though the impugned products may now be in conformity with the new or revised standards”.
“It may be appreciated that such revision of standards has taken place after taking into account all scientific evidence required to ensure appropriate level of protection of human life and health. Engaging of state machinery in pursuing such cases not only diverts the scarce human resources of the government but also burdens the judicial system,” the FSSAI order added.
Food companies are happy with the latest order. “We are pleased... and welcome this as a progressive step which will help reduce confusion among food business operators, enforcement authorities and other stakeholders,” said a Nestle India spokesperson.
Hemant Malik, ITC Ltd’s divisional chief executive (foods division), also welcomed the order.
'Need more experts to ensure food safety'
Agarwal was in the city to attend the 26th Indian Convention of Food Scientists and Technologists (AFSTi).
"FSSAI and AFSTi will work together in the future to start government certified online courses to create experts who can tackle food safety issues," said Agarwal sharing that FSSAI has also proposed internships and research-based projects that can directly allow students to work on the most pressing issues in food safety in India.
Stressing the importance of reaching out to the population to realise the value of nutrition and food safety, Agarwal said: "With 134 crore Indians to feed, and a majority of the sector being unorganised, it is essential that we create professionals who can bring awareness."
On Xmas eve, 21 cake and wine-makers get stop memo
As part of first phase of inspections conducted from Wednesday to Friday, functioning of 21 units were temporarily stopped due to unhygienic conditions and for operating without mandatory license. As many as 582 out of the total 1,287 food production units were slapped with improvement notices. A total fine of Rs 11,58,500 was imposed on erring units. The squad collected 31 food samples for further testing.
A fine of Rs 1,56,500 was imposed in Thiruvananthapuram district alone. Of the 81 institutions inspected in the district, 26 were slapped with improvement notices while two were served temporary closure notice.
In Kollam, 41 institutions were served improvement notices. A fine of Rs 97,000 was slapped on various units.
Temporary closure notices were served to one institution in Pathanamthitta, five in Alappuzha, two in Thrissur and nine in Malappuram.
Notices were served to 29 units in Pathanamtitta, 39 in Alappuzha, 53 in Kottayam, 32 in Idukki, 51 in Ernakulam, 65 in Thrissur, 29 in Palakkad, 68 in Malappuram, 62 in Kozhikode, 34 in Wayanad and 30 in Kannur. Food safety department said that inspections will continue.
Primacy for safety of pilgrims: Minister
The Forest Department and the Food Safety Department should stop actions that caused difficulties to pilgrims, Minister for Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran has said.
He was reviewing the functioning of various departments and the Travancore Devaswom Board during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season at Pampa on Friday.
The Kerala State Electricity Board had erected temporary posts with lamps at Pampa Hilltop to avert accidents during the pilgrim season. Unfortunately, a forest official removed these posts, claiming that the area came under the Forest Department. In case of accidents in the area due to lack of proper lighting, the official concerned would be held responsible, Mr. Surendran said.
The Minister directed the District Collector to take necessary steps to ensure adequate facilities for the pilgrims, invoking the Kerala State Disaster Management Rules.
Similarly, the Forest Department had taken over the land used as parking ground for Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses at Pampa, forcing the corporation to park its buses along the Pampa- Chalakkayam road. The parking of vehicles on the main trunk road might lead to traffic bottlenecks, Mr. Surendran said.
The Minister said the Food Safety Department had even taken samples of the prasadom at the Sabarimala temple for quality analysis. Such a situation was not there in the past and the department should restrain themselves from causing inconveniences to the pilgrims season, he said. The focus was on ensuring the safety of the pilgrims, the Minister said stressing the need for foolproof security arrangements.
Mr. Surendran said as many as nine pilgrims died of cardiac ailments at Sabarimala during the pilgrim season. The Forest Department and the TDB had arranged an off-road ambulance each at the Sannidhanam and Pampa for carrying pilgrims in case of an emergency.
Gutka use rampant despite ban, 8.2% women use tobacco orally
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra leg of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17 shows that there is a statistically significant prevalence of women taking betel quid with tobacco (3.8% of adult women) as well as tobacco for oral application(8.2%). "Around 6.6% of women take khaini," said Shulbha Parsuraman of TISS. Around 8.6% of the total population uses gutka, which is a banned product in Maharashtra.
Health minister Dr Deepak Sawant said, "Gutka and pan masala were banned in Maharashtra in 2012. Yet there is a sizeable number taking it. Action needs to be taken in this regard." Incidentally, the ban on gutkha and pan masala is not being implemented by the health ministry. Enforcement of the law is the responsibility of the FDA.
The biggest health concern highlighted by the survey is the significant number of women smokers in Maharashtra. "When we conducted the first GATS survey in 2009, the number of women smoking cigarettes was nearly zero or statistically not significant, but the new survey has found that almost 1% smoke cigarettes or bidis," said Sulabha Parsuraman of TISS that carried out the survey. Dr P C Gupta of Healis, who was associated with the exercise, said the number of women smokers is almost as high as 8 lakh. "The fact that this rise has taken place in just eight years is worrisome," he said.
Most experts attributed lifestyle reasons for women taking up smoking. "In a popular film, the ending had the women protagonists celebrating their victory by smoking and drinking. So, the message is clear here," said Dr Gupta. Cancer surgeon Dra Pankaj Chaturvedi said there is a misconception that smoking kills hunger pangs. "Some women believe they can control their weight by smoking," he said.
Dec 8, 2017
On-the-spot food safety tests by Sun
Panaji: A four-wheeler called 'food safety on wheels', with instruments that allow for on-the-spot food safety tests, will be launched on Sunday by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, health minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday. Rane said the vehicle, to be operated by the food and drugs administration (FDA), has been acquired at a cost of Rs 41 lakh, with funds provided by the central government.
"Goa was the first state to acquire the 'food safety on wheels'. It is fully equipped, and can test water, collect food samples at eateries for tests. The result can be obtained within 15 minutes," said Rane.
Food Safety Department satisfied with the quality of 'aravana and appam prasadam' of Sabarimala
ALAPPUZHA: Food Safety Department is satisfied with the test result of food samplesespecially the famous "aravana and appam prasadam" being supplied to the devotees at Sabarimala.
Speaking to TOI, Food Safety Commissioner Veena N Madhavan said that they have tested 31 samples of aravana and -48 samples of appam and the analysis reports of above samples show that all are satisfactory. We are completely satisfied with the test result of those samples. The sample results of aravana and appam are completely satisfactory , she said.
"We have also collected the 114 food items various samples from various parts of Sabarimala and they were subjected for detailed analyze . We have collected 82 cane jaggery powder samples and 81 samples are satisfactory. We have collected 16 samples of red rose rice and 16 are satisfactory,'' she said.
Two mobile food testing labs stationed and made operational at Nilackal and Erumeli to test the drinking water supplied to pilgrims. This lab is equipped to conduct tests on milk, oil, packaged drinking water, food colours, common adulterants and spices. Through these units, 24 tests can be conducted on milk, nine on edible oil, 17 on spices and 11 on other foods to check for adulterants.
The department has taken steps to conduct periodic quality analysis of the drinking water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority, Travancore Devaswom Board and the Ayyappa Seva Sangham. Food Safety Officers are actively involved in the sampling of raw materials used for "Annadhanam" provided by the Devaswom Board at Nilackal, Pamba and Sabarimala temple Sannidhanam. The samples so collected are sent to the District Food Testing Laboratory at Pathanamthitta for analysis,'' she said.
The food safety commissioner said that devotees were free to contact her department through two toll-free numbers (8592999666 & 18004251125).
Dec 7, 2017
Global food companies form lobby in India to avoid Maggi-like fiasco
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has decided to establish an Indian arm to work with the government, FSSAI and academia for ensuring food safety
New Delhi: To avoid another Maggi-like fiasco, global food companies such as Cargill, Nestle, Coca-Cola, Danone, Tesco, Metro Group and Amazon have come together to form a lobby in India to work with the government, the regulator and academia to ensure food safety.
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which is managed by France-headquartered international trade organization Consumer Goods Forum, has decided to establish an Indian arm.
“India will be the seventh Local Group of GFSI that we are aiming to formalize early next year,” said Mike Robach, chairman of the board of directors, GFSI.
The core team of the GFSI India wing, which will have 20-25 members to start with, will have representatives from most of the firms that constitute the Board of GFSI.
It will bring GFSI’s global practices to India and mobilize the local food industry, besides engaging with the regulator and other government authorities regarding food safety issues and practices followed by companies, said Robach.
Global food manufacturers want to avoid a fiasco like the one Nestle India Ltd, the local unit of the Swiss packaged food maker Nestle SA, had to face in 2015 after the regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) declared a nationwide ban on Maggi Noodles over safety concerns.
The debacle shaved off more than half a billion dollars from Nestle’s coffers.
Having a local wing in India is not common practice among global industry-specific lobby groups. Other industry-specific lobbies, such as GSMA that lobbies for cellular operators worldwide, have representatives in India but not a formal India wing.
India is among the fastest growing markets for packaged goods. In 2015, cumulative revenue of fast moving consumer goods firms in India was about $47.3 billion, which is predicted to cross $103 billion in 2020, according to data by market research firm Statista.
GFSI, which was set up under Belgian Law in May in 2000, works on improving food safety management systems across the world.
The concept of local groups is part of GFSI’s plan to implement its global strategy at a local level and exchange local knowledge with the global team. At present, GFSI has six local groups—South Latin America, Mexico, Japan, China, Europe and US-Canada.
GFSI comprises leading food safety experts in retail, manufacturing and food service companies, as well as international organizations, governments, academia and service providers to the global food industry, said Robach, who is also vice-president (corporate food safety, quality and regulatory) at Cargill Inc.
GFSI’s global board includes representatives from food and food retail firms.
Besides the board, GFSI has technical working groups and benchmarking leaders who work for improving food safety management systems globally.
“In India, we’ll have a team of 20-25 members who will be representatives from our member companies globally. Besides, we’ll leverage networks and knowledge of local industry associations,” said the GFSI chairman. GFSI has held talks with FSSAI and industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) regarding formation of GFSI’s India wing.
Besides benchmarking of food safety schemes, enhancing food safety management systems, GFSI is currently working on bringing the farm-to-fork food supply chain under a food safety management system.
In June 2007, eight major retailers—Carrefour of France, Tesco of UK, ICA Gruppen AB of Sweden, Metro AG of Germany, Migros of Switzerland, Ahold of Netherlands, Wal-Mart of the US, and Delhaize of Belgium—agreed to follow a common food safety scheme benchmarked by GFSI.
FSSAI set to issue rule on mandatory warning against drunken driving on liquor bottles
NEW DELHI: India’s top food regulator is set to make it mandatory for all liquor bottles to have a message against drunken driving, while turning down a proposal to also add a pictorial warning against the same, on the lines of cigarette packets.
The development comes following a direction from the Delhi High Court, which had asked to Food and Safety Standards Authority of India to look into the matter, on a petition filed by an NGO Community Against Drunken Driving.
“We carried out consultations on the issue and also studied global practices. However, we came to the conclusion that liquor manufacturers in other countries, too, are not mandated by food regulators to have such messages or warnings and decide on their own,” said Pawan Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI.
“We have however decided to ask for mandatory text warnings on liquor bottles against drunken driving after it is approved by the government,” he added.
Sources said that the decision comes following a meeting between FSSAI officials, representatives of several liquor brands and civil society members in which designs of six designs of pictorial warnings were discussed.
“While four designs were proposed by the NGO CADD, interestingly two of the liquor brands, also had come up with two designs but most other brands put their feet down and said they don’t want such a rule,” a source told the newspaper.
Prince Singhal, founder-president of CADD, on the other hand said that, while it was good that FSSAI had taken a positive step and decided to go ahead with a guideline the text warning on the bottles, he will approach the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to consider the pictorial warning.
“We are pushing for it because it is in public interest and impacts crores of people,” he said. “I hope that as health ministry imposed the rule (of pictorial warning on harms of smoking) on cigarette companies, they also do the same for liquor manufacturers,” he said.
According to the data by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways while drunken driving causes only about 4.8 per cent of total five lakh road crashes in the country every year, fatality in such cases is very high. Over 70 per cent of the victims in such crashes end up dead, statistics show.
According to the data by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways while drunken driving causes only about 4.8 per cent of total five lakh road crashes in the country every year, fatality in such cases is very high. Over 70 per cent of the victims in such crashes end up dead, statistics show.
HC flags concern on contaminated fruits
HYDERABAD: Agreeing with the concerns raised by the amicus curiae that consuming fruits today is akin to consumption of poison, the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday sought to know from AP and Telangana the number of food safety officers, food inspectors etc they have appointed to ensure that the food sold in the market is free from chemicals and adulteration.
The number of raids conducted and the results yielded too should be furnished, said the bench of acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice G Shyam Prasad, which had in August 2015 suo motu converted media reports about ripening of mangoes through calcium carbide into a public interest litigation. The court also appointed senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy as amicus curiae to assist the bench in the case. After the HC took up the case, the two Telugu states conducted flash raids on fruit markets and filled up a few food inspector posts.
When the matter came up for hearing after a long gap, the bench told the states that "as all of us consume fruits, we are all bound to suffer the ill-effects of ripening through chemicals. You need to come out with a clear plan, policy and solution to the menace". Niranjan Reddy furnished various reports to the court explaining the methods of artificial ripening. He also suggested recommending relatively harmless chemical ripeners as alternatives that will also address traders' concerns. The court expressed serious concern over the long-term impact of such fruits on the health of humans.
Niranjan also told the court that even daily essentials like milk, sugar, rice and salt, too, are being adulterated with harmful substances. Stating that pressing into service adequate number of food safety officers (FSO) will yield better results, the senior counsel said Telangana and AP were lagging behind in recruiting adequate number of such officers. While Tamil Nadu has 554 food safety officers, AP has just 28 and Telangana, too, is faring poorly with 20, Niranjan Reddy said. the bench sought details of FSO machinery from the two states within a week.
Food safety department sends notice to supplier of Amul milk product
AGRA: Food safety department of Firozabad has issued a notice to Amul milk productsupplier and distributor after the department found less fat content in milk against the declared percentage on the milk packet.
The matter came to light after the FSDA collected a sample of Amul milk in the month of June this year from milk outlets in Firozabad and sent their samples to government laboratory of Varanasi for examination.
Speaking to TOI, Virendra Singh Kushwaha, the chief food safety officer said, "After collecting the samples of Amul milk, we first took it to a nearby private laboratory to check if the milk content is according to set parameters. The result revealed that fat content was .8% less against the declared 6%. To recheck, we took the sample to another private lab, and again the same result was found. Finally, we decided to send the sample to Varanasi lab, so as to take legal action against the supplier and distributor of milk."
He said, "In summer months, to meet the increased demand for milk, suppliers often mix water in their products to increase the milk quantity, which results in less fat content."
"The Varanasi lab also confirmed that Amul milk sample had only 5.2 % fat. We have now sent notice to Neelam milk agency of Firozabad, the prime distributor of milk product in the district and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur, a packager and supplier of Amul products in Western UP district. If they wish, the two can challenge the lab results and samples will be again sent to Kolkata laboratory. But if they accept the report, then we will levy hefty penalty for low quality milk product," he added.
The lab report was shared to additional city magistrate Sheetla Prasad Yadav, who directed FSDA to send the notice to two concern parties.
Speaking on the lab report of less fat content in Amul milk, the prime distributor Neelam Agency owner Pankaj said, "Whatever product the supplier provides us, we distribute it. Appropriate reply will be given to FSDA separately from our agency and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur."
Dec 6, 2017
Tobacco products worth Rs 8L seized
Coimbatore: The food safety department on Tuesday seized tobacco productsworth Rs 8 lakh from a private bus that arrived in the city from Bengaluru and detained a person in connection with it.
The officials also seized the bus, as this was the second such offence by the private bus service provider in the past four months.
The seizure was made based on a tip that the tobacco products were being brought to the city in No 1 Travels. "I received the information from a source around 3.30am. We tracked the bus and followed it. Since there were about 10 passengers in the bus, we did not stop it on the way," said the food safety officer, Vijaya Lalithambiga B.
The bus was stopped near its shed closer to the Ramakrishna electric crematorium. "The bus had tobacco products worth Rs 8 lakh. When we questioned the driver, he said the box contained vegetables," she said.
The private bus service provider, however, said they did not have details about the person who booked the parcel or delivery details.
The food safety department has detained a person in connection with the case. "We are trying to trace the person who was to collect the consignment. We have collected samples and sent them to the lab for tests. The report will be submitted before the court, which will then take a call on disposing it of," Vijaya said.
Following the incident, the food safety department has instructed parcel service providers and omni bus operators to collect identity proof from customers, who drop parcels at their offices. "This will create a fear among the people trying to send prohibited products to the state. Also, this will prevent parcel service providers to indulge in such crimes," Vijaya said
The official said action would be taken on the private bus operator, who was caught second time carrying tobacco products.
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