Apr 26, 2018
Food safety needs a collaborative approach
While we are adopting global standards, it is important to keep in mind the local, cultural and geographical origin of food items while setting standards
With better understanding of nutritional qualities of food and their health implications, consumers increasingly are rejecting inferior quality and unsafe foods.
Our country, though agriculturally abundant, is still struggling to provide its large population with the right nutrition. In a few decades, as we continue to grow in numbers and economically, the situation can turn more challenging — if not alarming — if we don’t come up with innovative food safety and security solutions now.
A growing economy, higher incomes, rapid urbanization and rising consumer awareness are influencing the Indian palate like never before. While the average Indian consumer is increasingly demanding more variety in food choices and healthier alternatives, she is also equally concerned about where the food is coming from, its quality and safety.
Harmonize food standards globally
With increasing globalization of food, it is imperative to aid free movement from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. However, when it comes to food, there are several safety standards that each country follows and, in an ideal case, these should be a standardized set of science-based parameters that are common across geographies. In reality, however, we are far from such a unified state of affairs. Conflicting food standards and testing procedures make it extremely cumbersome to trade in commodities and food across countries.
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) supports the global food safety standards based on the Codex Alimentarius Commission, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has harmonized standards for many food additives, in line with the Codex standards. Also, work is underway to implement these in other food categories. While we are adopting global standards where relevant, it is important to keep in mind the local, cultural and geographical origin of the food items while adopting or setting the standards. The objective of nutritious and safe food is common to all countries across the globe and, hence, as far as possible, we should have common parameters to ensure this. Harmonizing Indian food standards with global standards is critical to achieve this.
Monitor more efficiently
FSSAI, the apex food regulatory body, establishes food safety standards at a national level and implementation, including administration, licensing, and compliance, is a state subject. After some initial teething problems, FSSAI has come into its own and is actively working towards ensuring food safety for all through various initiatives, including citizen guidance and capacity building under the Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) programme. With the regulator and states working in tandem, we will be able to deliver food safety seamlessly across internal borders.
It is imperative to add more certified food labs with access to better equipment/ technology and better testing capabilities to check compliance. Implementing authorities on the ground need to be regularly trained to enhance their knowledge and experience required to administer these laws. To speed up capability building at the implementation level, support can also be sought from global food safety organizations, a step that has been taken by some other emerging economies.
Responsible approach to food labelling
With better understanding of nutritional qualities of food and their health implications, consumers increasingly are rejecting inferior quality and unsafe foods. The discerning Indian consumer does not just want to know if his food is safe, but also details about the ingredients, certifications, energy content, nutritional benefits, and food additives. In light of this, it is important to educate consumers about the food they are consuming and its nutritional properties, so that they can make informed choices. As we move towards a more evolved food pattern and while it is ideal to reduce consumption of high fats, sugar and salt to promote healthy eating habits, we must not forget that India faces the unique double burden of malnutrition. On one hand, there is a growing urban population that is facing overnutrition challenges; at the other end of the spectrum, we still have a majority of the population that continues its daily battle with undernutrition.
Overall, what everyone needs is good quality food that provides better nutrition. Standards of nutrition also need to be viewed in the context of average Indian diets, which are still largely prepared at home and deficient in some essential micro nutrients. Hence, care needs to be exercised to ensure consumer education and labelling requirements done with the objective of consumer awareness do not cause consumer scare.
Banned gutka sale goes on unabated
Chennai: In a clear sign that tobacco lobbyists are unfazed by sporadic seizures of gutka and pan masala, the railway protection force (RPF) has yet again (second time in two months) seized the banned substance worth Rs 15 lakh from the Delhi-Kanyakumari Thirukkural bi-weekly express.
And there is a reason for this brazenness: two months after the railway intelligence was pushed to seize 200 cartons of gutka and pan masala from the train at Madurai railway station – after an investigation by an NGO revealed how they were being illegally transported by the express – an FIR is yet to be filed. On Monday, the seizure was made by an RPF inspector at Dindigul station.
Samples of the products seized in February had been sent to the food safety department for tests. “The report clearly states the products are unsafe and prohibited. It was handed over to the railways,” confirmed a senior food safety official. Sources say there has been pressure on RPF from various quarters to release the seized products on the grounds that the Madurai bench of the Madras high court had observed that tobacco is not a food product and hence no proceeding can be initiated against the manufacturers under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
A senior RPF officer said that Government Railway Police (GRP) is creating issues in taking control of the consignment and filing a case. “They have quoted some legal advice from a public prosecutor for not taking custody,” the officer said.
A DSP-level officer in the Madurai GRP denied the allegations. “We have not received any report from the RPF regarding the seizure. Even the seizure at Madurai in February, we came to know only from the news,” the officer said. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), enforcing a Supreme Court order, last year issued a directive banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutka and pan masala. The directive was issued to commissioners/officers in-charge of food safety of all states and Union territories in the country. The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2.3.4 prohibits the use of tobacco and nicotine as an ingredient in any food product and also bans the sale of food products where tobacco has been used as ingredient in things like gutka and pan masala.
However, these banned substances continue to be brought into Tamil Nadu by rail and road. In March, food safety commissioner P Amudha wrote to FSSAI stating that railway officials in the state appeared to be unaware of the 2016 Supreme Court order banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutka. Taking note of this, FSSAI wrote to Indian Railways on March 14 seeking an action taken report on the seizure in Madurai.
Cyril Alexander, state convener of Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control, said officials can’t use the local courts’ directives to stop officials from taking action. “Whatever the local courts say, the Supreme Court’s word is final,” he said.
In the meanwhile, Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam, who exposed the illegal transportation of gutka in Madurai, has sought a CBI investigation. “The DSP of state railways Madurai division is Mannar Mannan who has been directly implicated in the gutka scam in the state. How then can we expect a fair probe?” he asked. Mannan’s name is among those mentioned by former commissioner of police S George, who allegedly handed over a list of those who received kickbacks from gutka companies to allow sale of the products in the state. Health minister C Vijayabaskar’s name was also in the list.
Kochi: Distributor held for supply of stale food
A case under IPC sections 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) were registered against him.
Kochi: The distributor who used to supply expired children’s food products in the city after tampering the product labels was finally arrested by a special squad three weeks after a distribution centre at Maradu was raided and the cheating case was brought out.
A special squad of the Trikkakkara Assistant Commissioner held Shivasubhramanian (42), a native of Vattavila in Thiruvan-anthapuram, from his hideout in Chennai.
“The distribution company owned by him used to supply expired baby and children’s food products of other companies. It was at a storage unit of the distributor where the tampering was done. We’re investigating whether the tampering was done in connivance with the product manufacturers,” said an officer.
A case under IPC sections 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) were registered against him.
Earlier this month, the Food Safety Authority imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh, sealed the godown at Netoor and suspended the license of the distributor. The godown was functioning as a distribution hub of more than 50 well-known food manufacturing companies.
Mobile food laboratory detects hazardous substances in spices
Mobile food testing team from State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL), Kohima and food safety officer (FSO), Dimapur, carried out food analysis on loose spices sold in Super Market area here on Wednesday and reportedly found that the items were dyed with cancer-causing synthetic colours.
According to SPHL assistant chemist I Ayangba, non-permitted colours like Rhodamine B, Metanil Yellow and Sudhan dye, which are carcinogenic, and lead salt were found in turmeric, chilli and coriander powders. Due to their hazardous effects on health, these artificial colorants are not permitted for use, he said.
Warning that consumption of such colours could have adverse health effects, especially on pregnant women, Ayangba said Metanil Yellow causes degenerative changes in the linings of stomach, kidney and liver. It also affects ovaries and testes and could be dangerous for reproductive organs, he added.
The SPHL official further claimed that Rhodamine B, which breaks down red blood cells, causes growth retardation and damages the liver and kidney, while Sudan dye is highly toxic to liver.
Meanwhile, the team also detected kesari dal being sold as food item, which is prohibited under Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules.
Ayangba said consumption of kesari dal, which comes in square shape, causes paralysis and can even lead to liver failure. He said the collected samples will be forwarded to directorate of health & family welfare for necessary action.
The tests were carried out by the team inside a mobile laboratory vehicle “Food Safety on Wheels”, which is fitted with equipments to carry out on-the-spot testing of food samples free of cost.
Funded by Government of India and Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, the Food Safety on Wheels will be travelling across the State to check food samples on the spot.
Food testing in all districts
Department of health & family welfare (H&FW) has directed the food testing team, state public health laboratory to conduct food testing activity on the spot, under central sector scheme “Food Safety on Wheels”- Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, in all the districts in a phase wise manner.
In a directive, principal director & addl. food safety commissioner, H&FW, Dr. Meguosielie Kire, has informed all the responsible authorities to cooperate and assist the food testing team under their jurisdiction for proper implementation of the food testing activities in checking adulterants in food items in the interest of public health.
The action plan would be carried out in coordination with the district administration, police, designated officer (CMOs), food safety officers and food business operators, it stated.
Apr 25, 2018
Two tonnes of artificially ripened papaya fruit destroyed
The Food Safety department on Tuesday seized and destroyed 2.5 tonnes of artificially ripened fruits from the wholesale fruits market in Koyambedu. The fruits, including two tonnes of papaya and 500 kg of mangoes, had been ripened using calcium carbide, said sources in the department.
This time since the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s Market Management Committee (MMC) had also been involved in the raid, their officials had closed two shops where these fruits were being sold. “For the Food Safety Department to close down shops is a difficult task. But for the MMC, it is within their ambit since these are construed as illegal activities,” explained R.Kathiravan, designated officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department, Chennai.
The closure of the shops would act as a better deterrent for errant shopkeepers since otherwise it is only a fine amount and loss of a day’s turn over when their goods are seized and destroyed, he added.
Dr. Kathiravan also said that smaller shops were also being watched for any unusual activity. “This year wholesalers have stopped using artificial ripening agents for bananas. We are now concentrating on sapota and papayas since mangoes are yet to arrive in large quantities,” he explained.
The inspection was done early in the morning and the artificially ripened fruits were destroyed in the market’s bio-methanisation plant. Around 15 kgs of calcium carbide, ethylene ripening powder and sprayer were also seized from these shops.
A food safety officer said that only last week an awareness meeting had been conducted for shopkeepers about the ill effects of using calcium carbide to ripen fruits. “Over the years, with the active participation of the MMC most wholesalers have constructed ripening chambers in their shops. This has helped considerably reduce the incidences of using chemicals to ripen fruits,” he added.
Food Safety department officials and DRO, Koyembedu Market complex inspecting at the Fruit market in Chennai on Tuesday.
The politics of samosa-versus-burger
By equating samosa with burger, industry wants to dilute the regulation on sale of junk food to children
There has been growing concern in India about childhood obesity and the rising incidence of diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Is samosa really healthier than a vegetable burger?’ This is the headline of an article written by noted journalist and food critic Vir Sanghvi, in the Hindustan Times Brunch magazine in early April (bit.ly/2qQc7Di). Vir wrote this article in reaction to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, that argued that Indian traditional snacks like samosa score over industrially produced fast food like burgers, even if they have similar levels of fats and salt, and hence should be treated differently. Vir, however, disagrees and has argued in his article, that nutrition is far too complicated for blanket generalisations about one food being healthier than another.
Before I debate Vir Sanghvi’s article, it is important that I put forth the genesis of the discussion around traditional snacks versus industrially produced fast food (from now on junk food). This is also for the benefit of Mr. Sanghvi, because he has ignored the health impacts of junk food and presented a simplistic notion about food and nutrition in his article. It is also important to mention here, that the debate is about samosa and burgers sold in the market and not what people cook at home.
There has been growing concern in India about childhood obesity and the rising incidence of diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Data indicates that obesity in children is increasing rapidly. It is high among the affluent class and children in private schools, compared to low- and middle-income groups. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that cases of obesity among children and adolescents (<20 years) were the highest in India and China. There is now an emerging body of scientific studies linking junk food with childhood obesity and the diabetes epidemic.
Citing the growing incidence of childhood obesity, Uday Foundation, a Delhi-based NGO, filed a PIL in 2010 before the Delhi High Court, to ban junk food and carbonated drinks in schools. It also pleaded a ban on the advertisement of junk food and the formulation of a comprehensive ‘School Canteen Policy’ to make available wholesome, nutritious, safe, and hygienic food to school children in India.
The High Court entrusted the job of development of guidelines on junk food in schools to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). An expert group, comprising health experts, nutritionists, NGOs and industry representatives, was set up to develop the guidelines. CSE was also a part of this expert group.
The biggest dispute in the expert group was on how to classify food into different categories. There should not have been a fight over this issue, as India’s premier nutrition research institute, National Institution of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, had already come out with dietary guidelines for Indians in 2011. The guidelines classified food into four categories:
* To be consumed adequately, including cereals, pulses, milk, etc,
* To be eaten liberally, including fruits and vegetables,
* To be eaten moderately, including oil, fats, meat, fish, eggs, etc, and
* To be eaten sparingly, including burger, pizza, fries, ice cream, chocolate, etc.
From the NIN guidelines, one could have arrived at a straightforward conclusion that junk food should not be allowed in schools. But the industry representatives rejected NIN’s classification.
The industry’s assertion, which is also Vir Sanghvi’s conclusion, was that no food is good or bad when eaten in moderation. Vir writes in his article, “The truth is, except for an actual poison, there is nothing that is always unhealthy. Most foods (in moderation), can be healthy for some people and unhealthy for others, at different stages of their lives.”
Industry also objected to the term junk food, demanding instead that their products be called ‘eat just right’, or ‘eat judiciously’, or ‘eat moderately’, or ‘eat responsibly’, and not be banned in schools. They also included traditional deep-fried snacks like samosa and chholey bhature in this category. Their argument was that these products are also high in fat and salt like burgers, and if there was going to be a regulation on companies selling burgers, there should also be one on samosa-wallahs. This was a brilliant strategy to muddle the debate and dilute the guidelines.
But the non-industry members of the expert committee rejected industry’s proposal and gave a consensus report that recommended the banning of junk foods in schools. Industry members gave their own report in which nothing was banned. FSSAI did the most brilliant thing; it mixed both reports and produced a hybrid draft, full of contradictions, and submitted it to the Delhi High Court in March 2014.
Meanwhile, my colleagues at CSE continued their research on this issue and found an answer to counter the position of the industry. The answer was in the dietary guidelines developed by the Ministry of Health, Brazil.
Brazil had, in late 2014, come out with dietary guidelines that are considered by many global experts as the best in the world. The Brazilian guidelines are similar to those of NIN, except that they introduced the concept of processing in the classification of food. They classified food into four categories; minimally processed food (cereals, milk, eggs, pulses, fruits and vegetables, etc); products extracted from natural food (oil, fats, salt and sugar); processed food (products manufactured with salt, sugar and oil and minimally processed food); and ultra-processed food.
Ultra-processed foods are those produced by industry, and made entirely or mostly from substances extracted from foods like oils, fats, sugar, starch, and proteins, using a large number of additives like flavour enhancers, colour, thickeners, emulsifiers, preservatives, and isolates, to make the product long-lasting and hyper-palatable. Ultra-processed foods are put in the eat-least category food because of their unbalanced nutritional composition and higher risk of diseases.
Based on the aforementioned, CSE reasoned that while Indian snacks like samosa and chholey bhature can be termed as processed food, all junk food like burgers, pizzas, colas, chips, etc, fall under the ultra-processed food category. In addition, junk food is mass-advertised, distributed and marketed, impacting the buying and eating habits of consumers, especially children, which is not the case with Indian snacks. Therefore, while the consumption of processed food should be controlled, ultra-processed food should not be allowed in schools. CSE published this report in 2017.
Once this report was published, many newspapers carried it. The Hindustan Times published an article titled ‘Samosa is “healthier” than burger: CSE report’. The issue was also discussed on social media. According to Vir Sanghvi, he wrote his article because a social media user wanted him to respond to this debate.
Vir did respond to CSE’s report but, alas, didn’t get the facts right. By saying “…nutrition is far too complicated”, he ignored the work done across the world to classify food based on health and nutrition, and to develop dietary guidelines/regulations around it. From Australia to Canada, and from Mexico to South Korea, and the Philippines, countries classify foods, and on this basis, have banned junk food in schools and put regulations to control their marketing to children.
The FSSAI also got it wrong. Its hybrid report has recently been converted into a draft regulation, ‘Draft Food Safety and Standards (Safe and Wholesome Food for School Children) Regulations, 2018, and has been put out for public comments. Under this regulation, it has created a red category of food, which includes both Indian snacks like samosa and chholey bhature, and junk food like burger and cola. Instead of banning these foods, schools have been merely advised not to serve these in canteens. This draft regulation, therefore, has diluted the very purpose of controlling the sale of junk food in schools. This is exactly what the industry wanted; equating samosa with burgers so the junk food industry goes scot-free.
It is critical for India to get this politics of samosa-versus-burgers right. FSSAI can no longer promote weak regulations in the garb of playing neutral. It must ensure that unhealthy food is not sold and marked to children. Else, we risk large public-health gain from the regulation of junk food.
Street food major causes of illness in India: Goa minister
Street food is a major cause for sickness in India, Goa's Urban Development Minister Francis D'Souza said on Tuesday, promising a crackdown on illegally operating street food carts in urban areas.
"Street food is a cause of major illnesses and that is causing a problem all over the world. It is not only (in) India. (In) India it is more so because we are totally dependant on street food," he said.
Claiming that even the World Health Organisation endorsed that street food was unhealthy, he said that as per WHO, this is the "easiest way of catching all sicknesses, illnesses".
HP yet to have effective system for food-safety law enforced in 2011: CAG
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh is yet to put in place a system to ensure that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is implemented effectively in the state, according to a report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
The report, prepared for the period from 2014-15 to 2016-17, said inadequate institutional, or regulatory, structure affected the Act’s implementation. It said the state’s health and family welfare department had not conducted any survey to create a database of food business units. The report said the regulation of food-business operators, and monitoring of adherence to standards of food quality and safety, was weak.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Act came into force in August 2011. The commissioner of food safety (principal secretary, health and family welfare) is responsible for its compliance through the joint commissioner of food safety (director, health safety and regulation) at state level and “designated officers” (DOs) at district level. DOs are assisted by food safety officers (FSOs), food analysts, and adjudicating officers in discharge of their duties.
The CAG started carried out an audit of the Act’s implementation in the state from April to May last year, through test-check of records of director of health safety and regulation, Composite Testing Laboratory, Kandaghat, DOs and adjudicating officers in Kangra and Solan districts.
Scrutiny of records in two selected districts showed that the validity of 37 licences issued during 2014-17, of the 240 cases which underwent the audit, had expired between March 2015 and April 2017, and were not renewed by May 2017. Likewise, validity of seven registration certificates (RCs), of 60 audited RCs (issued during 2014-17), expired between July 2016 and May 2017.
Scrutiny of records in test-checked districts showed that equipment such as fridge, cold chain boxes, spot analysis kits, equipment for lifting, storage and transportation of samples for testing against microbiological parameters was not available. In the absence of this, no spot analysis of samples could be conducted, deterioration of food samples owing to temperature, etc., remained a risk, and integrity of food samples lifted could not be ensured. Also, items of perishable nature such as fruits and vegetables were not being lifted, report said.
It said testing and analysis of food samples was being done in the Composite Testing Laboratory (CTL), Kandaghat. Scrutiny of records of CTL, Kandaghat, showed that against 31 sanctioned posts of technical staff, 20 were vacant in April 2017. “The acute shortage of technical staff resulted in delays in analysis of food samples and dispatch of analysis reports to DOs, non-preparation of reports in prescribed format, etc,” it added.
Apr 24, 2018
Food safety squad to inspect water units
The Food Safety Department here has formed a special squad to carry out safety inspection at drinking water bottling units and distribution centres in the district.
An official press release said here on Monday that the squad had examined the bottling units and distribution centres and collected samples of bottled water to ensure safety of the water in view of drinking water scarcity in parts of the district. The squad had also collected 100 samples after examining public wells and water supply centres. The personnel also held checking in bars and toddy shops in association with the Excise Department. The press release said various brands of coconut oil reaching the district from Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur were found to have been adulterated. When the department acts against these companies, they change their names and brand names, the release said.
Is Ghazipur meat worth its salt? Food experts will decide
- Delhi's poultry market based in Ghazipur Mandi is once again under scrutiny.
- The state food commissioner had visited the spot after a petition was filed in HC.
- There are over 108 licensed slaughter shops in the Capital.
With summer at its peak, Delhi's largest poultry market-based in Ghazipur Mandi is once again under close scrutiny of the Delhi government and civic agencies.
Last week, the state food commissioner had visited the spot after a petition was filed in the high court about the huge mess being created by the slaughterhouses while butchering live animals and birds.
The other civic bodies that are involved include Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Department of Animal Husbandry, Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).
The court has directed the Delhi government and other concerned civic authorities to file their response soon.
A senior food safety officer on the condition of anonymity told Mail Today, "We have picked up raw meat and chicken samples from the Murga Mandi slaughter centres. We will test them in our laboratories to check if the non-veg that Delhiites are consuming is safe and hygienic or not. The report of the meat samples usually takes 14 days to come and we will file our reply to the court accordingly," he said.
Health experts fear the spread of contagious and deadly diseases such as bird flu. There are over 108 licensed slaughter shops in the Capital and officials suspect that other shops are running illegally.
According to the petition, there is a violation of laws laid down for the slaughter, handling and transport of animals and blatant abuse of animal welfare laws at Ghazipur Murga Mandi, leading to concern for public health and environment safety.
The laws that are violated are - Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017 & Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules 2001, framed under the prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing & Registration) Regulations 2011, framed under the Food Safety Standard Act, 2006.
The petition mentions that about 2.5 lakh poultry birds are traded and slaughtered every day.
"The trade and slaughter is done in a manner that is savage, sadistic, ghastly and extreme and unnecessary cruelty is inflicted on the poultry birds in the Murga Mandi. No proper waste disposal of treatment process is followed in Ghazipur Murga Mandi. It pollutes neighbouring areas and emits an offensive odour which pervades the entire neighbourhood and attracts pests."
FDA acts against water bottle company for supplying unsafe water
Following an alert consumer's letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against a water bottle company, the government body has initiated action against the company. The samples from bottling company 'Mermaid' were tested and it was found that the water was unsafe to drink and the company was not registered under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The person who filed the complaint, Anand Pargaonkar, is also an RTI activist. He had purchased a Mermaid water bottle in Satara. After he had a sip he found something amiss with the taste and that there was no registration SSI number on the bottle. He then filed a complaint with the FDA, Mumbai which forwarded the complaint to FDA, Pune. After testing the samples it was established that the water was unsafe to drink and that the company was not registered.
Pargaonkar said, "Often we buy water or food from local vendors or stalls and even if we find anything wrong we let it go. As an alert citizen in democracy, we have the power to complain in case there's anything wrong with what we consume. This case is an example that true efforts bear fruits. I'm thankful to the FDA for their cooperation. Although this may seem a minute thing to complain about but such fraud companies are playing with our lives." Pargaonkar had filed a complaint with FDA, Mumbai on 9 March 2018.
FDA Pune inspected Shilpa Beverages private limited in Nanded Taluka, which manufactures bottled water and found that the company is not registered. On the basis of the tests undertaken and lack of registration, FDA, Pune lodged a complaint in the chief judicial office, Pune.
Apr 23, 2018
Food Safety Dept. issues advisory for roadside vendors
People taking beverages from roadside eateries need to exercise extra care.
With summer at its peak forcing people to largely depend on beverages sold at shops and by roadside vendors to remain rehydrated, Food Safety Department has issued an advisory on precautions to be taken by vendors as well as the public to avoid illnesses due to contamination.
Shopkeepers and vendors have been asked to keep the premises clean and control carriers such as houseflies. They have been advised to use fresh fruits, milk and water to prepare cool drinks and juices in hygienic manner. “Before consuming beverages from outside, consumers must ensure that all such items are stored in hygienic conditions in closed containers and without the presence of flies. For packaged drinks, one must always check whether the product is certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FASSAI) which assess the quality of such items. The labelling must also contain the details of the manufacturer, FSSAI number and manufacture and expiry dates. Expired products must be strictly avoided,” said B. Vijayalalithambigai, Designated Officer of FSSAI, Coimbatore.
Consumers have been advised to ensure that clean tumblers and straws are used for drinking beverages from outside. They have also been asked to discourage vendors dipping tumbler into pots and vessels stored with beverages and instead ask them to use a ladle to pour them and avoid contact with bare hands.
Ms. Vijayalalithambigai said that routine inspections are being conducted at roadside eateries.
Food safety teams check edible oil stock
Officials at the edible oil shop
VADODARA: Food safety officers of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) checked an edible oil shop in Fatehpuraarea of the city after receiving a complaint that adulterated oil was being sold there. The teams collected samples of the oil and started the process of sealing the stock on Saturday.
VMC officials said a citizen had made a call to a VMC official alleging that an edible oil depot in Ranavas in Fatehpura was selling ‘duplicate’ oil. Officers reached the shop immediately and started checking the stock there
“The officers have found filled edible oil tins of different brands as well as loose palm oil at the shop. Palm oil is usually used to adulterate other edible oils. The stock is likely to be accounted for and sealed late in the night. If adulteration is found in the samples that we have collected, further action will be taken,” said VMC additional health officer Dr Mukesh Vaidya.
Apr 20, 2018
What Is Healthier: Natural Sugar, Table Sugar Or Artificial Sweeteners?
Take this with a pinch of salt (no pun intended) but the excess of any kind of sugar, natural or otherwise, is very unhealthy. High consumption of sugar (of any kind) will lead to almost the same health problems.
However, a moderate amount of these sugars is where you’ll see the difference of impact. According to some reports, India is one of the largest consumers of sugar. The per capita intake of India is about 20.2 Kg, which is just a few kilos shy of the global average consumption of about 24.8 Kgs. in this article we will throw a light upon which type of sugar should you consume in order to stay healthy and which ones to avoid for the same.
Some Facts About Sugar
Here are few facts about sugar which you should be aware of in order to decide which type is the best for you.
- Sugar is considered a class of carbohydrate
- It is one of the prime sources of energy
- The most popular sources of sugar are:
- Fruits, which contain the sugar component called Glucose.
- Vegetables and honey, which contain the sugar component by the name Fructose.
- Milk products, which contain the sugar component by the name Lactose.
- During digestion, the food when broken down gets converted into molecules of sugar, which after some processing release energy required for the sustenance of vital body functions.
Types Of Sugars And Which One Is Best For You
There are majorly three types of sugar; natural, refined and artificial. Each of these has a different impact on your body and metabolism. Let’s discuss both in detail.
1. Natural Sugar
Natural sugar, as the name suggests is the one which can be found in naturally occurring food sources such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. These sugars are more advantageous over artificial sugars because of added nutrients like fibers and proteins.
- Natural sugars are more beneficial from a health perspective as compared to artificial sugars
- Natural sugar sources are low-GI foods.
- Low-GI foods are the ones which take longer for the body to process meaning, you will feel fuller for a longer time.
Some sources of natural sugar are as follows:
Honey
Honey is known for its antibacterial properties and is recommended to be consumed with lukewarm water first thing in the morning to help you lose weight. Honey is an ideal alternative to common table sugar.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is derived from the sap of the maple tree. Consumption of maple syrup is encouraged because of its antioxidant properties. Maple syrup is also considered to promote a healthy immune system and improved cardiovascular functionality.
2. Refined Sugar
Refined sugar or more popularly known as table sugar is prepared by processing sucrose extracted from sugar cane and sugar beets. This type of sugar is liberally used in manufacturing sugary treats like candies, donuts, cookies etc. Refined sugar is infamous because of the following reasons:
- Foods containing refined sugar fall in the high-GI category, these foods are digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry even though you just had something to eat.
- They are also closely related to obesity because in a relatively small amount of food with this type of sugar, one can consume high amounts of calories.
- Refined sugar is the prime culprit for causing diabetes and tooth decay as well.
3. Artificial Sweeteners or Zero-Calorie Sweeteners
Advertised as a healthy replacement for refined sugar, artificial sugar has taken the market by storm. More and more people are switching to artificial sweeteners.
- Extensive studies have been conducted which prove that artificial sweeteners pose no viable threat to health and are safe for consumption by humans.
- Artificial sweeteners have been given the green light by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to be used in foods and drinks.
- While deemed healthy by manufacturers, artificial sweeteners have also been reported to make people switch to a more sweetened meal plan, which may not be all the healthy choice of a lifestyle.
Take Home – Difference Between Natural Sugar, Table Sugar Or Artificial Sweeteners
There are pros and cons to all types of sugar but in the end, the main concern isn’t “what you eat” but more like “how much you eat”. Meaning, it doesn’t matter where the sugar comes from, if it is consumed in excess the results will always be equally harmful.
Action against 11 ice factories in city
Presence of coliform bacteria was found to be high in the water samples collected from 11 ice factories operating within the city corporation limits.
As many juice parlours and hotels were found to be using the ice blocks from these plants, District Collector U.V. Jose has recommended action against these units. The water being used by these plants should be decontaminated and sent for laboratory tests. They should be allowed to resume operations only after the Food Safety Department certifies that the water is fit for consumption.
The health section of the city corporation and the district food safety officials had inspected 28 ice factories and collected water samples some time ago. They were sent to the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) for microbiological analysis.
The corporation Health Officer and the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, submitted a report to the district administration incorporating the findings of the report from the CWRDM. The District Collector’s decision is based on this report, which also said that the ice from those plants were not even fit for preserving fish.
‘Verify FSSI, ISI certifications of packaged drinking water online’
Tuticorin: The demand for packaged drinking water has gone up with the soaring mercury levels. At the same time, this has also raised concern over the quality of water sold by the companies. To empower residents to check the quality of water and certifications obtained by their manufacturer, the district administration has asked people to check for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and ISI certifications of the companies online.
Drinking water manufacturers should print the licence number issued by FSSAI and ISI number issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This is applicable to 20 litre bubble top cans, five litre, two litre, one litre, 500 ml and 300 ml bottles and the 200 ml water sachets. Collector N Venkatesh said that people can check for the certifications online at https://safewater.fssai.gov.in/CleanWater/home by entering the FSSAI or ISI number.
Apart from knowing the validity and truth of details furnished by the companies, people would also be able to have a look at result of water samples tested from those companies for the last six months and one year, obtained from the periodical tests in National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratories for chemical and microbiological analysis.
Designated officer for food safety, Tuticorin district, J Thanga Vignesh said there are 40 packaged drinking water manufacturers that have their units in the district. “Two of these units are closed for the last few months as they have not obtained the ISI certification,” he said. The officer added that they collect samples from all packaged water sellers once in every six to eight months.
“Apart from this, we also test samples if we receive specific complaints against a particular unit,” he said and added that this year, tests on samples collected from five manufacturers in the district showed they were not fit for consumption. Results showed that the samples from three units were unsafe due to some problem in the filter. The two others were samples were substandard.
He added that these flaws were rectified and verified by food safety officials. However, they are preparing the chargesheet against these companies because they were selling poor quality water to customers. “The companies would have to deal with it legally,” added the officer. Violations in the details disclosed by companies or water quality can be reported to FSSAI through WhatsApp at 9444042322 or over phone at 0461-2340699.
Food Regulator FSSAI Proposes To Ban Advertisement Of HFSS For Children
Introduction
India's Food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as "FSSAI") has issued a notice on April 11, 2018, wherein it has called for suggestions on the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 (hereinafter referred to as "Draft Regulations")1. The Regulations seek to prescribe the labelling requirements of pre- packaged foods and display of essential information on premises where food is manufactured, processed, served and stored.
Prohibition on advertisement of HFSS food
An important provision of the Draft Regulations is that food products containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt shall not be advertised to children. The Draft Regulations have defined HFSS food or High Fat, Sugar, Salt to be "processed food product which has high levels of total fat or trans-fat or total sugar or salt2, and states that HFSS food products shall not be advertised to children in any form.
Takeaway
Popular and largely consumed foods like chips, cold drinks, etc., contain high fat, sugar and salt. These items comprise of a huge chunk of advertisement in India, and therefore, many advertising companies and companies selling, or manufacturing such foods will be restrained from advertising these products to children. However, the Draft Regulations do not provide any guidelines or enforcement mechanism to ensure ban on such advertising. Moreover, it is not clear as to how advertisements, being available on public forums like television channels, billboards etc., will be prevented from being specifically advertised to children. The question arises whether to adhere to this provision, companies will have to ban all advertisements of HFSS food.
Footnotes
2. Section 2(9) of the Draft Regulations
FDA conducts training for Mid-Day Meal operators
Food and Drug Administration Department(FDA) conducted training for Food Business Operators from the Mid-Day Meal Catering domain and was attended by 31 Self Help Group representatives.
“The objective of the training is the ensure that Food Business Operators are made aware of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and are also provided informative tips on hygienic handling of the food, to ensure the availability of Safe and Wholesome food to the consumers,” said FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai.
A Food Safety Supervisors training under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoStaC) scheme, a flagship program of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India was conducted by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration in collaboration with Vivanta by Taj Panaji and supported by the Confederation of Indian Industries. The training was specifically organised for Food Business Operators from the Mid-Day Meal Catering domain and was attended by 31 Self Help Group representatives. This program for Mid-Day Meal Caterers was inaugurated by Smt Jyoti Sardesai Director FDA and Commissioner Food Safety in the presence of Mr Jaikanth Shroff, General Manager Vivanta by Taj Panaji.
As FSSAI has mandated the requirement of one Food Safety Supervisor per 25 employees trained under the FoStac Scheme, for all the licensed Food Business Operators in the State, this Directorate will continue in organising such programs in association with the various training partners and hence the FBO’s from various sectors are requested to contact the Directorate to get themselves enrolled for this mandatory training. The above requirements has to be complied with within the time span of 2 years.
Earlier in the month of March, a similar program was organised in association with TAJ, for the Mid-Day meal caterers, wherein 30 FBOs were trained and this training held on 17/04/18 was the second training to follow. The training was a blend of classroom session, audio-visuals, group activity Kitchen Visit and was culminated with a written exam. The training was imparted by Quality Manager from Taj Vivanta Dhoroty Pereira and Mr Richard Noronha Designated Officer North Goa of the Food and Drugs Administration.
Apr 19, 2018
Health department collects 16 food samples
LUDHIANA: The district health department conducted raids at various premises in the past two days and collected 16 food samples. An ice-cream factory in Bhamian on Chandigarh Road was also raided where artificial colours and flavours were found. The samples of food items included various items like milk, sauce, curd, packaged drinking water, ice cream and so on. After filling the samples, the officials sent those samples for testing.
On Tuesday, the department started with raiding a sweet shop in Jamalpur on Chandigarh Road and collected the samples of ladoo from there. After this, they conducted a raid at an ice-cream factory in Bhamian area on Chandigarh Road. The health officials claimed that no parameters were being followed by the factory owners and no food management plan was adopted by the owners.
Moreover, the factory was being run in an unhygienic condition and filters were not being used while making ice candies. Pest control system was not there in the factory premises. The health officials also found expired artificial colours and flavours from the factory which were destroyed by the officials later on. Samples of vanilla ice-cream, chocolate ice-cream, strawberry ice-cream and choco bar were collected from there.
The food safety officer Yogesh Kumar said, “In the past two days we collected samples from various places and samples will be tested in the lab. We have served the improvement notice to the owners of the factory which were working under unhygienic conditions.”
Officials seize 150 water cans in two days for violations
Chennai: After reining in manufacturers and retailers for the sale of contaminatedand unlabelled packaged drinking water in the city, the food safety department has now set out to nip the distribution link of the chain.
Over the last two days, food safety officials have planted themselves along stretches in Koyambedu, Red Hills, Mount Road, ECR-OMR, Moolakadai and Velachery that see high movement of vehicles ferrying in water in bubble-top cans from neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
On Wednesday, a four-member team of officials intercepted nine vehicles in Koyambedu and found at least 30 cans that were “soiled and very unhygienic”, and 28 others that carried no labels. While the soiled containers were destroyed immediately, the vehicles carrying containers with no labels were let off with a warning.
On Tuesday morning, officials had stopped around five vehicles on Erukkancheri High Road in Pulianthope after they were found transporting around 350 20-litres cans that were unlabeled. They also found 20 of them were either damaged or not sealed properly. They seized 120 containers and asked the distributors to return to the manufacturers for proper labelling.
Designated food safety officer, Chennai, R Kathiravan said the department had decided to crackdown on the transport of water in unlabeled and soiled containers as they discovered most of the violations are happening the most at the distribution end. “A container should ideally be returned to the manufacturer, where it is labelled and sealed afresh,” said Kathiravan. “But what is happening now is the vendors refill the containers multiple times with untreated water before returning it,” he said. Filling and packaging is often done manually, resulting in water being contaminated with E.Coli, a common bacterial pathogen linked to urinary tract infections and foodborne illnesses.
A can may be refilled only 35 times, but often, in practice, they are overused
Around 90 lakh litres of packaged drinking water is sold in Chennai per day – with sales peaking during summers. Of these, 75 lakh litres are sold in cans. There are around 620 licensed water brands operating through nearly 4,000 dealers in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. At least 80% of the supply of packaged water comes from units in neighbouring districts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)