SMC seals milk processing unit at Khonmoh

'TAAZA milk not fit for human consumption

 

 Srinagar, Dec 17: Health officer SMC accompanied by team of food safety officers along with police party of police station Pantha Chowk Saturday sealed the milk processing unit M/S Daily Need Processing and Milk Products, at industrial area Khonmoh, selling pouched milk under brand name of “TAAZA Milk”.

The said milk was found misbranded and unsafe for human consumption by Public Analyst to whom samples were sent for testing. The samples were lifted by food safety officer in presence of the Health Officer SMC, on December 08 last during routine checking.
Pertinent to mention that the milk was being supplied to Army personnel based in Kashmir. “Public in general and army personnel in particular have been advised to immediately stop consumption of the said branded pouch milk as the same is not safe for human consumption,” a statement issued by SMC has cautioned. Action as warranted as per the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 has been initiated against the said processing unit.

New Food Safety Act a tough nut to crack

Discussions: Delegates at a workshop, ‘Food safety – the way forward', in Bangalore on Saturday.

 

The transition from the old Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 to the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into being from August 5 this year, has turned out to be a big challenge for the State Health and Family Welfare Department's Food Safety Commissionerate.

Without a proper database on the number of business enterprises in the food industry, including roadside petty eateries, and inadequate staff and infrastructure, the department has now taken up a pilot project on effective implementation of the Act in Jayanagar and Banaswadi wards.

State Food Safety Commissioner B.S. Ramaprasad, who is also the State Health Commissioner, told The Hindu on the sidelines of the workshop, ‘Food safety – the way forward', held in the city on Saturday, that the project was being carried out by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Based on the project, a survey of all food outlets and eateries in the State would be carried out. Admitting shortage of qualified food safety officers, Mr. Ramprasad said: “We require 234 food safety officers, but we have only 104. We have five laboratories to test food samples, including the Public Health Institute in Bangalore. But there is a shortage of analysts to test the samples: we have only eight while we need at least 20.”

Website, call centre

CSD Chairperson A. Ravindra said his organisation was readying a website for the Karnataka State Food Safety and Standards Authority. “Aimed at enabling proper implementation of the Act, it will also function as a call centre for people to complain about any food safety issues.”

Designated food safety officers would reply to the complaints with action taken reports within a stipulated time. “A team of researchers from IIMB, led by professor Gopal Naik, has prepared a framework on how the Act should be implemented in the State,” he said. The 104 food safety officers attended the workshop which was organised by the State Food Safety Commissionerate along with Nestle Nutrition Institute.