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Oct 15, 2012
Cargill India gets CII national award for Food Safety 2012
Addressing the session Chandramouli called on industry bodies and
industries to partner in the implementation agenda of FSSAI across the
country through a collaborative effort and drew attention to the fact
that safety in street food was a concern and needed focussed attention.
NEW DELHI: Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) distributed it's CII National Award for Food Safety 2012 to Cargill India Pvt Ltd, Kutch, Gujarat for it's outstanding performance in food safety excellence - manufacturing business. The award was conferred by K Chandramouli, Chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently.
Addressing the session Chandramouli called on industry bodies and industries to partner in the implementation agenda of FSSAI across the country through a collaborative effort and drew attention to the fact that safety in street food was a concern and needed focussed attention.
On this occasion, Chandramouli launched the CII-FACE (Confederation of Indian Industries - Food and Agriculture Centre for Excellence) & IIT Certified Food Professional Course at the Awards function by releasing the brochure.
Meetu Kapur, executive director CII - FACE elaborated on the course saying that it was a proud moment for CII FACE to launch this novel program where CII FACE and IIT Kharagpur have come together to raise the standards of the Indian Food & Agriculture industry to global standards- stated a release by CII.
The existing lacunae and the growing demand of food safety and quality professionals by small and medium enterprises, with first-hand knowledge on benchmark practical laboratory techniques, food science, manufacturing hygiene and quality and food safety systems were identified through the CII FACE surveys.
This All in One Course for Facilitators was designed with 3 weeks Residential course at the state of art technology environment of IIT Kharagpur, 5 weeks e- learning and 1 month industry project.
Earlier , in his Welcome address, Rakesh Bharti Mittal stated that the Award program was an endeavour by CII towards capacity building of the Food Sector by involving the Industry in the assessment process. With the aim of encouraging participation from various food sectors and sizes, customised assessment criteria, catering to Small, Medium and Large scale industries in Food
Manufacturing , Hotels, Restaurants, Eateries, Canteens and Food Retail Stores have been made available under the specific models of assessment. Apart from an opportunity to receive national recognition, the take aways for each Applicant unit is an external perspective on their practices and performance in the form of a detailed feedback report .
Therefore, organizations at different levels of implementation can benefit from participating in the award process to understand where they currently stand on these practices and identify improvement opportunities and benchmarks.
Mittal pointed out that despite the challenging and stringent demands of the model, there has been 100% increase in participation in the Award applications this year with about 50% applications coming from the SMB sector. He hoped that industry would come forward to enhance participation and take part in this capacity building initiatives to raise their standards to world class levels.
The Food Safety Award program has helped CII-FACE reach out to organisations, their suppliers and co-packers across the 4 regions in cities and far flung locations like Vemagiri, New Jalpaiguri, Zaheerabad, Kandla, Haldwani, Sonepat, Bidadi, Haridwar, Gandhinagar, Bangalore Rural and others.
NEW DELHI: Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) distributed it's CII National Award for Food Safety 2012 to Cargill India Pvt Ltd, Kutch, Gujarat for it's outstanding performance in food safety excellence - manufacturing business. The award was conferred by K Chandramouli, Chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently.
Addressing the session Chandramouli called on industry bodies and industries to partner in the implementation agenda of FSSAI across the country through a collaborative effort and drew attention to the fact that safety in street food was a concern and needed focussed attention.
On this occasion, Chandramouli launched the CII-FACE (Confederation of Indian Industries - Food and Agriculture Centre for Excellence) & IIT Certified Food Professional Course at the Awards function by releasing the brochure.
Meetu Kapur, executive director CII - FACE elaborated on the course saying that it was a proud moment for CII FACE to launch this novel program where CII FACE and IIT Kharagpur have come together to raise the standards of the Indian Food & Agriculture industry to global standards- stated a release by CII.
The existing lacunae and the growing demand of food safety and quality professionals by small and medium enterprises, with first-hand knowledge on benchmark practical laboratory techniques, food science, manufacturing hygiene and quality and food safety systems were identified through the CII FACE surveys.
This All in One Course for Facilitators was designed with 3 weeks Residential course at the state of art technology environment of IIT Kharagpur, 5 weeks e- learning and 1 month industry project.
Earlier , in his Welcome address, Rakesh Bharti Mittal stated that the Award program was an endeavour by CII towards capacity building of the Food Sector by involving the Industry in the assessment process. With the aim of encouraging participation from various food sectors and sizes, customised assessment criteria, catering to Small, Medium and Large scale industries in Food
Manufacturing , Hotels, Restaurants, Eateries, Canteens and Food Retail Stores have been made available under the specific models of assessment. Apart from an opportunity to receive national recognition, the take aways for each Applicant unit is an external perspective on their practices and performance in the form of a detailed feedback report .
Therefore, organizations at different levels of implementation can benefit from participating in the award process to understand where they currently stand on these practices and identify improvement opportunities and benchmarks.
Mittal pointed out that despite the challenging and stringent demands of the model, there has been 100% increase in participation in the Award applications this year with about 50% applications coming from the SMB sector. He hoped that industry would come forward to enhance participation and take part in this capacity building initiatives to raise their standards to world class levels.
The Food Safety Award program has helped CII-FACE reach out to organisations, their suppliers and co-packers across the 4 regions in cities and far flung locations like Vemagiri, New Jalpaiguri, Zaheerabad, Kandla, Haldwani, Sonepat, Bidadi, Haridwar, Gandhinagar, Bangalore Rural and others.
Ponda's closed ras-omelet vendors want government jobs
PONDA: Alleging that the decision to stop ras-omelet kiosks has
deprived them of their livelihood, several such roadside kiosk operators
from Ponda have demanded government jobs in exchange for the business.
"The kiosks were our livelihood and as the government has ordered us to stop our business, we want government jobs," a kiosk operator, despite having crossed the age limit for entering government service, said.
He said they have been running the business for over two decades and stopping it suddenly has deprived the kiosk owners of their livelihood. He said various families survive on income generated from the kiosks which helps educate their children and so the government must revise recruitment rules to make government jobs available to affected kiosk owners.
Stating that food and drugs administration (FDA) has stopped their business alleging that kiosks do not maintain hygiene, another vendor said hygiene at roadside eateries is better than that of restaurants.
"We prepare the dishes in front of our customers and wash our dishes in their presence. This ensures cleanliness. If we had not maintained hygiene, customers would have never returned to our kiosks," the kiosk owner told TOI.
FDA food inspector Rajiv Korde said the kiosks were shut down as they do not have the necessary licences necessary. "They have been asked to stop business for want of the FDA licences. We have no objection to them running their business or issuing FDA licences to them, but to get our licence, they must submit local civic body and health authority permissions. No ras-omelet kiosk at Ponda has any of these licences," Korde said. Stating that action has also been taken against 'wada-pao' vendors and Chinese fast food vendors, Korde said the three Chinese fast food vendors have licenses.
Ponda municipal council chief officer Pradeep Naik said the council has not yet prepared a policy regarding allotment of permission to kiosks, so the civic body cannot issue any permission. "When there is such a policy in place, we can issue permissions. It is the council that should draft the policy," Naik said.
"The kiosks were our livelihood and as the government has ordered us to stop our business, we want government jobs," a kiosk operator, despite having crossed the age limit for entering government service, said.
He said they have been running the business for over two decades and stopping it suddenly has deprived the kiosk owners of their livelihood. He said various families survive on income generated from the kiosks which helps educate their children and so the government must revise recruitment rules to make government jobs available to affected kiosk owners.
Stating that food and drugs administration (FDA) has stopped their business alleging that kiosks do not maintain hygiene, another vendor said hygiene at roadside eateries is better than that of restaurants.
"We prepare the dishes in front of our customers and wash our dishes in their presence. This ensures cleanliness. If we had not maintained hygiene, customers would have never returned to our kiosks," the kiosk owner told TOI.
FDA food inspector Rajiv Korde said the kiosks were shut down as they do not have the necessary licences necessary. "They have been asked to stop business for want of the FDA licences. We have no objection to them running their business or issuing FDA licences to them, but to get our licence, they must submit local civic body and health authority permissions. No ras-omelet kiosk at Ponda has any of these licences," Korde said. Stating that action has also been taken against 'wada-pao' vendors and Chinese fast food vendors, Korde said the three Chinese fast food vendors have licenses.
Ponda municipal council chief officer Pradeep Naik said the council has not yet prepared a policy regarding allotment of permission to kiosks, so the civic body cannot issue any permission. "When there is such a policy in place, we can issue permissions. It is the council that should draft the policy," Naik said.
Food and drugs administration orders closure of 70 kiosks
PANAJI: Food and drugs administration
(FDA) on Monday ordered the shutting of 70 roadside gaddas and
handcarts across the state as they were operating with out necessary
permissions and licences.
FDA director Salim Veljee said the handcarts did not have food licences nor did they possess municipal permissions or approvals. He said the handcarts and gaddas were selling various items such as Chinese fast food, tea, snacks and other eatables. They were operating in various parts of the state including Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Ponda and Porvorim.
Veljee said food safety officers identified the violating gaddas and handcarts as part of the regular survey on controlling unlicenced street food and gaddas.
A few weeks ago, FDA had seized expired food items being sold in some prominent establishments and fined them. tnn
FDA director Salim Veljee said the handcarts did not have food licences nor did they possess municipal permissions or approvals. He said the handcarts and gaddas were selling various items such as Chinese fast food, tea, snacks and other eatables. They were operating in various parts of the state including Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Ponda and Porvorim.
Veljee said food safety officers identified the violating gaddas and handcarts as part of the regular survey on controlling unlicenced street food and gaddas.
A few weeks ago, FDA had seized expired food items being sold in some prominent establishments and fined them. tnn
Street food under scanner
Road side eateries and food joints who are planning to make
some fast bucks during the puja festivity selling adulterated and
sub-standard edible items better be prepared to face the music.
A team of senior health department officials of East Singhbhum will start collecting food samples from eateries and other food joints in the city to check its quality.
The East Singhbhum district health department has received directive from State food controller TP Burnwal for carrying out random checking drive at crowd puller pandals and fairs in the city during the puja festivity.
The State food controller directive assumes significance with the State food and drug testing laboratory inauguration at Namkum near Ranchi.
“We are keeping a special eye on Jamshedpur as it witnesses one of the highest puja pandals and fairs during the puja festivity in the State. The step is being taken to prevent sale of adulterated foods by outlets in the garb of rush during puja festivity,” said Burnwal.
The samples collected by the district health department would be sent to the food testing lab.
Jamshedpur witnesses more than 280 Durga puja pandals and around 12 fairs organised near crowd pullers pandals across city.
Burnwal further said that eateries and food joints whose samples are found containing adulterated and poor quality items would be warned of suspension of licenses and levied a fine of Rs 25,000.
ACMO East Singhbhum Swarn Singh said that they would constitute a team with food inspector and carrying out random checking drive on all the four days of the festivity in the city.
“We have been receiving complaints from the people about the poor quality of food being served. Moreover, with rise in cases of bird flu in the city over the past few years has also been a matter of great concern. Such a move has been taken to prevent the people from poisonous and harmful foods, which lead to various diseases. It will also help in preventing sale of sub-standard food. We want to put a check on the hotels and road side eateries so that they are able to serve quality food to the people,” said Singh
Singh said that earlier the quality of food sold by hotels and other eateries used to be regulated under The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
But, now the inspection of food quality is being done under The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The hotel owners need to follow the norms and guidelines or else they would have to face the music.
A team of senior health department officials of East Singhbhum will start collecting food samples from eateries and other food joints in the city to check its quality.
The East Singhbhum district health department has received directive from State food controller TP Burnwal for carrying out random checking drive at crowd puller pandals and fairs in the city during the puja festivity.
The State food controller directive assumes significance with the State food and drug testing laboratory inauguration at Namkum near Ranchi.
“We are keeping a special eye on Jamshedpur as it witnesses one of the highest puja pandals and fairs during the puja festivity in the State. The step is being taken to prevent sale of adulterated foods by outlets in the garb of rush during puja festivity,” said Burnwal.
The samples collected by the district health department would be sent to the food testing lab.
Jamshedpur witnesses more than 280 Durga puja pandals and around 12 fairs organised near crowd pullers pandals across city.
Burnwal further said that eateries and food joints whose samples are found containing adulterated and poor quality items would be warned of suspension of licenses and levied a fine of Rs 25,000.
ACMO East Singhbhum Swarn Singh said that they would constitute a team with food inspector and carrying out random checking drive on all the four days of the festivity in the city.
“We have been receiving complaints from the people about the poor quality of food being served. Moreover, with rise in cases of bird flu in the city over the past few years has also been a matter of great concern. Such a move has been taken to prevent the people from poisonous and harmful foods, which lead to various diseases. It will also help in preventing sale of sub-standard food. We want to put a check on the hotels and road side eateries so that they are able to serve quality food to the people,” said Singh
Singh said that earlier the quality of food sold by hotels and other eateries used to be regulated under The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
But, now the inspection of food quality is being done under The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The hotel owners need to follow the norms and guidelines or else they would have to face the music.
Save human lives and not the tobacco industry
Kudos to Justice Amar Saran and Justice Anuraag Kumar of the
Allahabad High Court for issuing strong warnings to the Uttar Pradesh
government to ban gutkha (paan masala mixed with tobacco), on a public
interest litigation filed by the Indian Dental Association, in the light
of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The Court also
expressed its displeasure over the delay and the frequent change in the
stand of the state government on this issue. It was only due to the firm
stand taken by the Court that the Uttar Pradesh government has agreed
to ban the manufacturing, sale and distribution of gutkha in accordance
with the Regulation 2.4.3 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006
notified for implementation from August 5, 2011 by the Government Of
India which states: ‘Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as
ingredients in any food products’. The Supreme Court had clarified that
‘since pan masala, gutkha or supari are eaten for taste and nourishment,
they are all food within the meaning of Section 2(v) of the Act.’
However, this much delayed order will come into effect in UP only from April 1, 2013 as our young and dynamic Chief Minister Sri Akhilesh Yadav wants to help the workers of the industry by giving them six months’ time to find alternative employment and occupation. This concern reads more like a statement of the gutkha lobby which has time and again made its hapless employees a shield to fight against civil society efforts for tobacco control. Akhileshji too seems to have played into the powerful hands of the gutkha industry by giving it enough time to sell off its existing stock of this hazardous substance. Earlier also the UP government had dilly dallied enough even after receiving three letters sent by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare between May-August 2012 directing it to prohibit the sale and distribution of gutkha. Instead of putting a ban on the manufacture and sale on gutkha, the UP government, in August, had lowered the entry tax to facilitate increased sale of the product.
Perhaps the greed for filling the state coffers with the revenue earnings from gutkha overpowers the human duty of the government to save lives from this lethal attraction. Reportedly, in 2011-12 the sale of gutkha in UP fetched over Rs 200 crore in tax, while paan masala sales added another Rs 32 crores to its kitty. But the expenditure by the government health services on treating tobacco related diseases was bound to be much higher. One also wonders if the Honourable Chief Minister realizes that it is incumbent upon the state government to protect the health of its citizens by taking appropriate measures. Does he care as much for the families and lives of 328 lakh men and women above the age of 15 years who consume smokeless forms of tobacco with nearly 41.5% or 136.21 lakhs of them consuming gutkha and thus sitting on a veritable landmine of oral cancer?
According to a newspaper report, some 2.5 lakh people are suffering from cancer in UP, of which 75,000 are cases of oral and mouth cancer, mainly due to use of chewing tobacco, gutkha and paan masala. Experts believe that by 2020 the cancer population will swell by 56% with more than 30% of them suffering with oral cancer caused by chewing tobacco. Also, 33% of the patients oral cancer seeking treatment at the Mumbai based Tata Memorial Hospital are from Uttar Pradesh. This adds up to about 12,000 patients per annum from just one hospital.
It is indeed unfortunate that till now only 14 states (Goa, MP, Kerala, Bihar, HP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and Mizoram) — have been able to invoke the law banning the manufacture, sale and consumption of the gutkha. Perhaps it is the so called small gutkha industry which in collusion with the political class (which in many cases has big stakes in the industry) has been thwarting all tobacco control measures and has tried its level best to hoodwink the authorities into believing that it is a big revenue spinner.
Yet there are a few sane voices in this wilderness of chaos. After banning gutkha, the Goa government has already banned all eating outlets, shops and establishments from storing or selling tobacco products in any form-- cigarettes, cigars, beedis, gutkha, and hookah. Likewise, the Delhi government is also contemplating a ban on chewing tobacco.
The Citizen News Service (CNS) hopes that the new pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs as finalised by the government and to be implemented from April 1, 2013, would be scary and effective enough. The government has clarified that the anti-tobacco warnings will have to be displayed in 40% of the frontal displayed area of the tobacco/cigarette packs with the word ‘Warning’ printed in red colour along with the messages—Smoking Kills and Tobacco Kills. It remains to be seen if the government will stick to its mandate strictly or succumb to the pressures of the tobacco lobby as has often happened in the past when these warnings have been repeatedly diluted and/or delayed due to vested interests. As per the Framework Convention on Tobacco Treaty (which India has ratified), the pictorial warnings should be rotated at least once every year, and the new set should have come into force from December 2012, which India has failed to abide by.
It is high time our politicians and citizens chose Life over Tobacco.
However, this much delayed order will come into effect in UP only from April 1, 2013 as our young and dynamic Chief Minister Sri Akhilesh Yadav wants to help the workers of the industry by giving them six months’ time to find alternative employment and occupation. This concern reads more like a statement of the gutkha lobby which has time and again made its hapless employees a shield to fight against civil society efforts for tobacco control. Akhileshji too seems to have played into the powerful hands of the gutkha industry by giving it enough time to sell off its existing stock of this hazardous substance. Earlier also the UP government had dilly dallied enough even after receiving three letters sent by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare between May-August 2012 directing it to prohibit the sale and distribution of gutkha. Instead of putting a ban on the manufacture and sale on gutkha, the UP government, in August, had lowered the entry tax to facilitate increased sale of the product.
Perhaps the greed for filling the state coffers with the revenue earnings from gutkha overpowers the human duty of the government to save lives from this lethal attraction. Reportedly, in 2011-12 the sale of gutkha in UP fetched over Rs 200 crore in tax, while paan masala sales added another Rs 32 crores to its kitty. But the expenditure by the government health services on treating tobacco related diseases was bound to be much higher. One also wonders if the Honourable Chief Minister realizes that it is incumbent upon the state government to protect the health of its citizens by taking appropriate measures. Does he care as much for the families and lives of 328 lakh men and women above the age of 15 years who consume smokeless forms of tobacco with nearly 41.5% or 136.21 lakhs of them consuming gutkha and thus sitting on a veritable landmine of oral cancer?
According to a newspaper report, some 2.5 lakh people are suffering from cancer in UP, of which 75,000 are cases of oral and mouth cancer, mainly due to use of chewing tobacco, gutkha and paan masala. Experts believe that by 2020 the cancer population will swell by 56% with more than 30% of them suffering with oral cancer caused by chewing tobacco. Also, 33% of the patients oral cancer seeking treatment at the Mumbai based Tata Memorial Hospital are from Uttar Pradesh. This adds up to about 12,000 patients per annum from just one hospital.
It is indeed unfortunate that till now only 14 states (Goa, MP, Kerala, Bihar, HP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and Mizoram) — have been able to invoke the law banning the manufacture, sale and consumption of the gutkha. Perhaps it is the so called small gutkha industry which in collusion with the political class (which in many cases has big stakes in the industry) has been thwarting all tobacco control measures and has tried its level best to hoodwink the authorities into believing that it is a big revenue spinner.
Yet there are a few sane voices in this wilderness of chaos. After banning gutkha, the Goa government has already banned all eating outlets, shops and establishments from storing or selling tobacco products in any form-- cigarettes, cigars, beedis, gutkha, and hookah. Likewise, the Delhi government is also contemplating a ban on chewing tobacco.
The Citizen News Service (CNS) hopes that the new pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs as finalised by the government and to be implemented from April 1, 2013, would be scary and effective enough. The government has clarified that the anti-tobacco warnings will have to be displayed in 40% of the frontal displayed area of the tobacco/cigarette packs with the word ‘Warning’ printed in red colour along with the messages—Smoking Kills and Tobacco Kills. It remains to be seen if the government will stick to its mandate strictly or succumb to the pressures of the tobacco lobby as has often happened in the past when these warnings have been repeatedly diluted and/or delayed due to vested interests. As per the Framework Convention on Tobacco Treaty (which India has ratified), the pictorial warnings should be rotated at least once every year, and the new set should have come into force from December 2012, which India has failed to abide by.
It is high time our politicians and citizens chose Life over Tobacco.
Punjab Govt assured every possible help to dairy sector
To meet challenges of food safety and standards 2006
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government was committed to extend every possible help to the dairy sector of the state to enable it to meet the challenges thrown by Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations.
This was stated here today by Jagpal Singh Sandhu, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Punjab while delivering presidential address in the inaugural ceremony of one day National Seminar on Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and its impact on Dairy Industry today organized by Indian Dairy Association Punjab Chapter at Chandigarh. He appreciated the proactive role of IDA Punjab Chapter which was an organization of producers of Milk and Milk Products taking up the responsibility to spread the awareness about the new law. This initiative of the producer’s organization speaks volumes of their readiness to comply with the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. He said that the new Act was very comprehensive and covers everything which could be conceived as an item to be consumed by the human being. He paid rich tribute to Dr. V.Kurian, who is known as the Milkman of India and said that the philosophy with which he initiated the dairy cooperative movement was now more relevant.
Milk and milk products constitute a very vital component of our daily food in all age groups. Compliance with the new provisions in this sector was of prime concern. Moreover, it has unique predicament in many ways. Milk was a highly perishable commodity and required critical infrastructural facilities to maintain the quality throughout the supply chain. Sandhu while emphasizing the need to comply with all the provisions of new regulations in view of the concern about the health of the consumer assured that the government would do everything possible to facilitate such compliance by different stakeholders in dairy sector.
S. Inderjit Singh, Chairman, Indian Dairy Association, Punjab Chapter in his welcome address gave a brief account of Indian Dairy Association and told that it is an apex National Body of Dairy Professionals. Punjab Chapter is its extended arm operating within the state. Today’s seminar was being organized by the State’s Chapter with the main objective of spreading awareness among different stakeholders. Since, the Act, Rules and Regulations were new and have very wider implications for all food business operators. Dairy sector supports a variety of large number of Food Business Operators having unique characteristics and problems. He thanked the Chief Guest and other dignitaries for sparing the time to grace the occasion. He appreciated the whole hearted support of N.R.Bhasin, IDA President, M.P.S Chadha, Chairman, IDA, North Zone and Dairy Industry for their active support to make the seminar a success.
M.P.S Chadha, Chairman, IDA, North Zone while paying the tribute to Dr. V.Kurian described him as a one man army, which brought White Revolution in the country. He spearheaded Cooperative movement in dairy sector. The whole gathering in the seminar paid rich tribute to the Milkman of India by observing two minutes silence.
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government was committed to extend every possible help to the dairy sector of the state to enable it to meet the challenges thrown by Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations.
This was stated here today by Jagpal Singh Sandhu, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Punjab while delivering presidential address in the inaugural ceremony of one day National Seminar on Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and its impact on Dairy Industry today organized by Indian Dairy Association Punjab Chapter at Chandigarh. He appreciated the proactive role of IDA Punjab Chapter which was an organization of producers of Milk and Milk Products taking up the responsibility to spread the awareness about the new law. This initiative of the producer’s organization speaks volumes of their readiness to comply with the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. He said that the new Act was very comprehensive and covers everything which could be conceived as an item to be consumed by the human being. He paid rich tribute to Dr. V.Kurian, who is known as the Milkman of India and said that the philosophy with which he initiated the dairy cooperative movement was now more relevant.
Milk and milk products constitute a very vital component of our daily food in all age groups. Compliance with the new provisions in this sector was of prime concern. Moreover, it has unique predicament in many ways. Milk was a highly perishable commodity and required critical infrastructural facilities to maintain the quality throughout the supply chain. Sandhu while emphasizing the need to comply with all the provisions of new regulations in view of the concern about the health of the consumer assured that the government would do everything possible to facilitate such compliance by different stakeholders in dairy sector.
S. Inderjit Singh, Chairman, Indian Dairy Association, Punjab Chapter in his welcome address gave a brief account of Indian Dairy Association and told that it is an apex National Body of Dairy Professionals. Punjab Chapter is its extended arm operating within the state. Today’s seminar was being organized by the State’s Chapter with the main objective of spreading awareness among different stakeholders. Since, the Act, Rules and Regulations were new and have very wider implications for all food business operators. Dairy sector supports a variety of large number of Food Business Operators having unique characteristics and problems. He thanked the Chief Guest and other dignitaries for sparing the time to grace the occasion. He appreciated the whole hearted support of N.R.Bhasin, IDA President, M.P.S Chadha, Chairman, IDA, North Zone and Dairy Industry for their active support to make the seminar a success.
M.P.S Chadha, Chairman, IDA, North Zone while paying the tribute to Dr. V.Kurian described him as a one man army, which brought White Revolution in the country. He spearheaded Cooperative movement in dairy sector. The whole gathering in the seminar paid rich tribute to the Milkman of India by observing two minutes silence.
Mango Bite’ raids on Parle factories set to rock food industry
India’s
food industry that was given numerous incentives in the last decade has
come under the scanner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when
it raided Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd’s factories to seize its branded Mango
Bite candies with more than permissible levels of lactic acid. The move
is set to rock the industry which requires a new set of standards in
keeping with new research findings on food preservants.The FDA has seized candies in their factories amounting to more than Rs 2 crore from Raigadh, Nashik and Bhiwandi factories of Parle Biscuits last month and sent them for lab testing to confirm the “excessive levels” of lactic acid as alleged. Based on the lab report, the authorities are planning to file cases against the country’s one of the top candy-makers and erstwhile owners of Thums Up which they had sold to Coca Cola in the 1980s, in one of the industry’s first sell outs to an MNC.
The seizure is set to destablize the food-processing industry which is huge and fast-growing in India. Currently, the market size of confectionery in India is estimated at $1.1 billion, growing at the rate of 11.9 percent per annum. It is estimated to grow up to $2 billion by 2014 by Datamonitor in its 2010 report.
Arup Chauhan, MD of Parle Products, said: “The goods from some of the factories have been seized, but we have not yet got any further instructions from the FDA.”
Assistant food inspector (FDA headquarters, Mumbai) K V Sankhe said the product, though positioned categorized as sugar-boiled confectionary, has excessive amounts of lactic acid amounting to recall of the product from several places last month. Parle has denied that the product was recalled but said lactic acid was not harmful and used by confectionaries all over the world.
Lactic acid is used as food-preservant and its mild acidic taste gives it sour flavour. It is non-volatile odorless and is classified under GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by FDA in the US. It is a very good preservative and pickling agent. Addition of lactic acid aqueous solution to the packaging of poultry and fish increases their shelf life. In India, its usage in food industry was allowed but within certain limits.
In fact, FICCI has asked for more clarity on the issue two years ago. Since there is variation in certain standards which are conflicting and contradictory, industries use varied levels of acidulants made from lactic acid. For instance, usage of Acidulants in chewing gum and bubble gum was omitted from main ingredients list and put in a different Table (13)(G).
However, regulation 3.1.12 allows different limits of acidulants for “miscellaneous foods”. In new table 13(G) L(+)Lactic acid is not incorporated, while in regulation 3.1.12 L(+) lactic acid is allowed “as an Acidulant in miscellaneous foods” at GMP level and Miscellaneous food is not specifically defined still, says the a FICCI report on the industry.
As both the above rules contradicts each other, a FICCI report sought more clarification on the ingredient’s use in different products.
The use of lactic acid (chiefly found in milk products) was banned in foodstuff after a court verdict found it not good for consumption for its tooth decaying side effects but has been allowed under India’s new Food Safety & Standard Act of 2006.
In the United States, the US FDA allowed it as an ingredient in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice and is categorized it as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human food ingredient is based upon its use:
(1) as an antimicrobial agent; a curing and pickling agent; a flavor enhancer; a flavoring agent and adjuvant; a pH control agent and a solvent.
(2) The ingredient is used in food, except in infant foods and infant formulas, at levels not to exceed current good manufacturing practice.
The raids by India’s FDA will provide an in-depth study of the safety usage of lactic acid in candies which are meant for children and elders alike.
Cockroach in food, restaurant closed
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After KFC, the licence of one more prominent
restaurant in the city was suspended on Friday. Customers found
cockroaches in the dish served to them at Hotel Sindhoor, functioning at
Vazhuthacaud and informed the food safety authority. The food safety
officials inspected the restaurant and found that it was functioning in
unhygienic conditions and asked the management to close the eatery.
According to food safety commissioner in-charge Anil Kumar, the complaint was registered by a government employee Uma Maheswari through the authority's toll free number. She is the Confidential Assistant to the Tourism Secretary at the Secretariat. She said that she had gone to the restaurant with her daughter to have lunch. Her daughter ordered fried rice while she ordered fish curry meals for herself along with a dish a prawn. She alleged that the cockroaches were found in the prawn dish.
When she complained, the restaurant authorities tried to appease her by offering to replace the dish, she told in her complaint. The mobile vigilance team of the food safety authority that inspected the restaurant found the complaint genuine.
"The kitchen of the restaurant was completely unhygienic," said food safety officer A Satheesh Kumar.
He said that cockroaches, cats and rats were found in the kitchen. The box in which dried chilly was kept was also filled with cockroaches. Meat and vegetables were stored together in the freezer. The contents in the freezer also turned stale, he said. He also said that the team visited the sister concern of the restaurant that functioned at Kowdiar where they detected some minor hygienic problems, they could not find any grave instance of callousness there. However, they have issued a notice to the management of the restaurant to improve the facilities there.
Meanwhile, the food safety authority officials also said that they would kick start the second phase of state-wide raids from Monday. At least 50 teams will be operative in the state on each day.
According to food safety commissioner in-charge Anil Kumar, the complaint was registered by a government employee Uma Maheswari through the authority's toll free number. She is the Confidential Assistant to the Tourism Secretary at the Secretariat. She said that she had gone to the restaurant with her daughter to have lunch. Her daughter ordered fried rice while she ordered fish curry meals for herself along with a dish a prawn. She alleged that the cockroaches were found in the prawn dish.
When she complained, the restaurant authorities tried to appease her by offering to replace the dish, she told in her complaint. The mobile vigilance team of the food safety authority that inspected the restaurant found the complaint genuine.
"The kitchen of the restaurant was completely unhygienic," said food safety officer A Satheesh Kumar.
He said that cockroaches, cats and rats were found in the kitchen. The box in which dried chilly was kept was also filled with cockroaches. Meat and vegetables were stored together in the freezer. The contents in the freezer also turned stale, he said. He also said that the team visited the sister concern of the restaurant that functioned at Kowdiar where they detected some minor hygienic problems, they could not find any grave instance of callousness there. However, they have issued a notice to the management of the restaurant to improve the facilities there.
Meanwhile, the food safety authority officials also said that they would kick start the second phase of state-wide raids from Monday. At least 50 teams will be operative in the state on each day.
FSSR failed to describe gradation; Act enacted in haste, S N Mohanty told
Tejinder
Singh Renu, honorary secretary, Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA),
Nagpur, met S N Mohanty, chief executive officer, Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in New Delhi recently to discuss
the ambiguities and discrepancies in the Food Safety and Standards Act
(FSSA), 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR),
2011.
While Renu was accompanied by Bhawanishankar Dave, joint secretary, Nagpur Hotel Owners Association, the country's apex food regulator was represented by S S Ghonkrokta, director (enforcement); Madhawan, deputy director (enforcement-I); and D S Yadav, deputy director (enforcement-II).
Renu explained, "The Act is literally threatening to close down practically all food business operators (FBOs) in the country, as the Regulations have a number of provisions that are practically impossible to comply with, and has also given unprecedented powers to the food inspectors leading to Inspector Raj."
He expressed his gratitude to Mohanty for extending the time limit as prescribed in Regulation 2.1.2 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations. 2011, which deals with licences for food businesses by six months, but said it would be insufficient as the Act applies to the whole country and covers all businesses related to food.
Renu raised several key issues, the first of them being FSSAI's failure to strike a logical balance and gradation. "They have surprisingly prepared the same provisions for all levels (from farm to fork), which means a petty dhaba and a seven-star hotel shall be following the same norms, as no parameters or gradations have been described under the new Act," he said.
Another issue raised by him was the fact that the regulator did not study the Indian market, agricultural procedures and other parameters before bringing the Act into effect. He said, "We (VTA) feel that the Act has been enacted in haste, and FSSAI has not given stakeholders a lawful opportunity."
After all, FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. He also alleged that the regulator didn't follow provisions prepared by themselves, such as Sections 18(2)(a)(i) and 18(2)(d) of the Act.
"Another vital issue was existing FBOs would come under the purview of the Act as they have been asked by local authorities to comply with all the provisions and local authorities have also been demanding a mandatory affidavit from all applicants stating that they will comply with all the provisions of Schedule IV within a year of taking registration under the Act," Renu said.
"The penalty provisions under the FSS Act, 2006 - namely Sections 42 to 63 - lack clarity and ambiguity therein, which would lead to a number of litigations. Also, it vests in food inspectors unprecedented powers, which is bound to give a boost to corruption," the VTA secretary pointed out.
Dave, joint secretary, Nagpur Hotel Owners Association, pointed out various discrepancies in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, and said, "Even the best foodgrains available in the market are failing to match the high standards and characteristics defined in the Regulations."
When Mohanty was quizzed about the exclusion of farmers and milk societies from the purview of the Act, he said, "FSSAI was formed after the Act came into existence, and hence it can only be replied by Parliament." However, he categorically stated, "Farmers are also requested to obtain registration under the Act before they can sell their produce in the market."
VTA, in its memorandum, said they would categorically state that they were not against any of the laws or provisions that were in the interests of people, who might be affected upon consuming unsafe or adulterated food, but the system adopted to cover one and all, be it a small FBO or a big one, overnight might surely attract corruption and Inspector Raj was incorrect.
"This should have been imposed slowly and gradation-wise, so that gradually all are covered. After a patient hearing, Mohanty assured us that FSSAI would reply to all the issues raised in our memorandum soon and issue appropriate clarifications in the form of memos or instructions for clarification," said Renu.
While Renu was accompanied by Bhawanishankar Dave, joint secretary, Nagpur Hotel Owners Association, the country's apex food regulator was represented by S S Ghonkrokta, director (enforcement); Madhawan, deputy director (enforcement-I); and D S Yadav, deputy director (enforcement-II).
Renu explained, "The Act is literally threatening to close down practically all food business operators (FBOs) in the country, as the Regulations have a number of provisions that are practically impossible to comply with, and has also given unprecedented powers to the food inspectors leading to Inspector Raj."
He expressed his gratitude to Mohanty for extending the time limit as prescribed in Regulation 2.1.2 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations. 2011, which deals with licences for food businesses by six months, but said it would be insufficient as the Act applies to the whole country and covers all businesses related to food.
Renu raised several key issues, the first of them being FSSAI's failure to strike a logical balance and gradation. "They have surprisingly prepared the same provisions for all levels (from farm to fork), which means a petty dhaba and a seven-star hotel shall be following the same norms, as no parameters or gradations have been described under the new Act," he said.
Another issue raised by him was the fact that the regulator did not study the Indian market, agricultural procedures and other parameters before bringing the Act into effect. He said, "We (VTA) feel that the Act has been enacted in haste, and FSSAI has not given stakeholders a lawful opportunity."
After all, FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. He also alleged that the regulator didn't follow provisions prepared by themselves, such as Sections 18(2)(a)(i) and 18(2)(d) of the Act.
"Another vital issue was existing FBOs would come under the purview of the Act as they have been asked by local authorities to comply with all the provisions and local authorities have also been demanding a mandatory affidavit from all applicants stating that they will comply with all the provisions of Schedule IV within a year of taking registration under the Act," Renu said.
"The penalty provisions under the FSS Act, 2006 - namely Sections 42 to 63 - lack clarity and ambiguity therein, which would lead to a number of litigations. Also, it vests in food inspectors unprecedented powers, which is bound to give a boost to corruption," the VTA secretary pointed out.
Dave, joint secretary, Nagpur Hotel Owners Association, pointed out various discrepancies in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, and said, "Even the best foodgrains available in the market are failing to match the high standards and characteristics defined in the Regulations."
When Mohanty was quizzed about the exclusion of farmers and milk societies from the purview of the Act, he said, "FSSAI was formed after the Act came into existence, and hence it can only be replied by Parliament." However, he categorically stated, "Farmers are also requested to obtain registration under the Act before they can sell their produce in the market."
VTA, in its memorandum, said they would categorically state that they were not against any of the laws or provisions that were in the interests of people, who might be affected upon consuming unsafe or adulterated food, but the system adopted to cover one and all, be it a small FBO or a big one, overnight might surely attract corruption and Inspector Raj was incorrect.
"This should have been imposed slowly and gradation-wise, so that gradually all are covered. After a patient hearing, Mohanty assured us that FSSAI would reply to all the issues raised in our memorandum soon and issue appropriate clarifications in the form of memos or instructions for clarification," said Renu.
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