Dinakaran News

FDA cracks down on food carts

MARGAO: The directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) conducted a special surveillance drive in South Goa- Margao, Colva, Utorda, Betalbatim, Benaulim --on Saturday and cracked a whip on several food outlets found operating without proper registration from the licensing authorities.
Sources in the FDA said that 11 sugarcane carts, two kulfi, four ice-cream and four bhel puri stalls were directed to stop their activities until they obtain necessary food licenses from the FDA.

"The public should refrain from procuring sugarcane juices as well as kulfi and other ice-based food articles from such unhygienic food carts, which are fully exposed to flies, etc. as it can lead to health-related hazards," Salim Veljee, FDA director said, adding that such drives will be conducted on a regular basis.

Bee-harming pesticides banned in EU

Europe will enforce the world’s first continent-wide ban on widely used insecticides linked to serious harm in bees, after a European Commission (EC) vote on Monday.
The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees, who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). But it is a serious defeat for the chemical companies, who make billions a year from the products and also two U.K. ministers, who both argued that the ban will harm food production.
Neonicotinoids have been widely used for more than decade and are used as seed treatments rather than sprays, meaning the insecticide pervades the growing plant, as well as its nectar and pollen. They are less harmful than some of the sprays they replaced, but scientific studies have increasingly linked them to poor bee health.

Food Import Regulatory Standards Forum to be Held on May 24

Apr 30, 2013

Food Import Regulatory Standards (FIRS) Forum, a much-awaited strategic initiative focusing on the most critical issues pertaining to the food import regulations, will provide solutions to the current regulatory challenges, sampling & analysis ambiguity, custom clearance hurdles and labelling issues, which the food industry is facing currently. FIRS Forum will be held on 24 May 2013 at The Hilton Hotel, New Delhi, India.
Food Import Regulatory Standards India has on board eminent speakers such as Vinod Kotwal, Director Imports, The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), Krishna Kumar Joshi, Head Regulatory Affairs Department, ITC Foods, Rajendra Dobriyal, Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager, Unilever, Prabodh Halde, Head Regulatory, Marico, A Savitri, Head Regulatory affairs, Britannia and Raghu Guda, General Manager, National Institute for Smart Government, among other industry experts, all of whom are at the centre stage of developmental of import regulations in India.
This forum will bring together regulators, importers and supply chain heads from food & beverage manufacturers, ingredient manufacturers, packaged food importers and ingredient suppliers. This initiative will help to increase awareness about the new FSSAI regulations on food imports and will provide practical insights to streamline the food import process with the FSSAI regulations to boost the import of food and ingredients in India. To know more about Food Import Regulatory Standards (FIRS) India 2013

Edible Oil Manufacturers Show-Caused by the FDA for Publicizing Products With Misleading Ads

Facing major allegation for falsified claims and misleading ads, the big shots in manufacturing edible oil were show-caused by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, this was not an isolated incident, almost 10 or more manufacturers throughout the industry got show cause notices from the FDA for giving wrong product information on their package labels. Topping the chart are the Adani Wilmar Ltd and the Agro Tech Foods Ltd holding their forte in cooking oil manufacturing. Making claims of offering the best solutions for cholesterol and heart related problems, these two brands were in for a rude jolt as the FDA stated right away that they cannot make such baseless claims that have not yet been proved. The Adani Wilmar Ltd, with their hefty claim of providing the healthiest cooking oil in the world, was slapped with the allegation that this claim of theirs is made without a scientific proof. FDA on the other hand was clear with its agenda of sending show-cause notices to the edible oil giants to make sure that they rectify their mistakes at the earliest as their ads with the are swarming everywhere starting from the internet to radio and TV.
FDA officials observed that the probabilities state that this is some publicity tactic in attracting more consumers in buying edible oil since the hike in prices of oil is sure to cause a fall in their sales. Additionally, some oil packets have been seized by the FDA to send them for scientific tests to determine adulteration signs if any. Agro Tech Foods Ltd, with similar claims about Sundrop Heart Oil ads got a notice from the FDA for claiming to be the most effective solution in controlling cholesterol in a month's time. To add to their miseries, FDA imposed an additional allegation on them for having the image of a heart on their packaging. This is something strictly banned by the FDA according to the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The ATFL officials simply declined from commenting on this. According to the Section 24 of the FSSA, 2006 Food safety & standards act publicity about food items cannot be based on false claims.
Businesses cannot indulge in unfair trading procedures for promoting their products through false information about ingredients, usefulness or guarantee that has not been proved scientifically. Adani Wilmar with their prestigious Fortune Rice Bran Oil project received a rude shock as their claim of being the best Refined Rice Bran Oil across the world was negated outright by the FDA. The Adani Wilmar officials stated that they got a notice from FDA asking them to rephrase their statement and they have responded suitably to it. They also revealed that the Advertising Council Of India had similar complaints and that issue has also been handled smoothly. Adani Wilmar Group stated that with a qualified team of scientists, Fortune Oil has been tried and tested for every situation before being concluded as the best product.

About the Author

However, the FDA had a different story up the sleeves as it claimed that no responses have come from the Adani Wilmar Group.
If you want to know the original fact of this over populated cooking oil, check this link.
Fortune Rice Bran Oil

New Guidelines Issued by FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new advisory on 11th December, 2012 relating to sale of new or existing proprietary food products. As per Section- 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA), “no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import any novel food, genetically modified articles of food, irradiated food, organic food, foods for special dietary uses, functional foods, neutraceuticals, health supplements, proprietary foods and such other articles of food which the Central Government may notify in this behalf”. As on date, there is no standard for these food items in India. Hence, new advisory has been issued in this regard. This advisory has been drafted after detailed consultations.

This information was given by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி உறுப் பினர் நாகை மாலி சுகாதாரத்துறை மானியக்கோரிக் கைகள் மீது நடைபெற்ற விவாதத்தில் பேசியது

சென்னை, ஏப். 29-மாநிலம் முழுவதும் அரசே மருந்து கடைகளை திறந்து மருந்துகள் குறைந்த விலையில் கிடைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று சட்டப்பேரவையில் மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி உறுப் பினர் நாகை மாலி கேட்டுக்கொண்டார்.சட்டப்பேரவையி
ல் மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வு மற்றும் சுகாதாரத்துறை மானியக்கோரிக் கைகள் மீது நடைபெற்ற விவாதத்தில் அவர் பேசியது வருமாறு:

இந்தியா முழுவதும் அமல் படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ள உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரச்சட்டம் 2006மற்றும் விதிகள் 2011ஐ அமல்படுத்த தமிழகம் முழுவதும் 520க்கும் மேற்பட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு ஆய்வாளர்கள் வட்டாரம், நகரம் மற்றம் மாநகராட்சிகளில் உணவு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத்துறையில் பணிபுரிந்துவரு கிறார்கள். அவர்களுக்கு அரசு ஆணைப் படி சம்பளம் இன்றுவரை வழங்கப்பட வில்லை. நீண்ட தொலையில் பணியாற்று வோருக்கு இடமாறுதலை கவுன்சிலிங் மூலமாக முடிவு செய்யவேண்டும்

Stern action against users of contaminated ice

A meeting of the District Development Committee has decided to take stern action against companies adding toxic chemicals during the production of ice and those found using such contaminated ice blocks. District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareeth, who presided over the meeting, said health squads would be asked to submit reports once in three months.

Ineffective drives

The meeting came to a conclusion that inspections being carried out by the food safety wing to ensure the quality of ice and drinking water were not effective.

It was pointed out that the health department could not absolve itself from the responsibility of quality compliance by citing that the food safety wing was conducting its own inspection drives. The participants of the meeting said delay in taking stringent action would lead to serious consequences. The collector said show-cause notices would be served on all officials of the food safety department who failed to attend the meeting.

Dinamalar

மசினகுடியில் காலாவதியான உணவுப் பொருள்கள் பறிமுதல்

மசினகுடியில் காலாவதியான ரூ.50 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள உணவுப் பொருள்களை உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் சனிக்கிழமை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

   மசினகுடி பஜார் பகுதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் ரவி தலைமையில் அலுவலர்கள் சிவராஜ், செல்வராஜ், ஆதி கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன், அருண்குமார் ஆகியோர் திடீர் சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

   இதில் 30 கிலோ கலப்பட தேயிலைத் தூள், ஹார்லிக்ஸ், பூஸ்ட், போர்ன்விட்டா, 20 கிலோ கோழி இறைச்சி, மீன் உள்ளிட்ட உணவுப் பொருள்களும் பால், தயிர், நெய் மற்றும் குளிர்பானங்கள் உள்ளிட்ட ரூ.50 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள காலாவதியான மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பற்ற உணவுப் பொருள்களை பறிமுதல் செய்த பின்னர்  அழித்தனர்.

  மாவட்டத்தின் அனைத்துப் பகுதிகளிலும் இதுபோன்ற சோதனை தொடர்ந்து நடைபெறும் என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Cold & deadly: Bad ice spreads disease

Contaminated Juice Causes Jaundice, Diarrhoea

Chennai: The heat of the summer is shimmering off the road. What could be better than an ice-cold beverage?
    Just about anything else if it’s coming from the neighbourhood juice stall.
    Almost every fresh fruit juice stall and vendor in Chennai uses ice made for industrial purposes that is manufactured in the hundreds of unlicenced units that dot the city. The ice contains a variety of germs and disease-causing bacteria, including Escherichia coli and salmonella.
    Health experts in the city report a sudden spurt in cases of jaundice, typhoid and diarrhoea and say an increase in consumption of beverages chilled with contaminated ice is the most likely cause of people falling ill.
    A TOI investigation of ice factories, retail outlets and fruit shops in the city found that the manufacturing, supply, storage and use of ice are completely unmonitored.
    Ice manufacturing units in places like Thiruvottiyur, Royapuram, Royapettah, Mylapore and Ambattur operate in filthy conditions. They do not have any quality control systems or concerns about hygiene. The units make ice from untreated water drawn from borewells or supplied by water tankers. The units use chemicals to speed up the freezing process and store the huge blocks of ice in squalid storerooms. Wholesalers transport the ice in dirty sacks for sale.
    “Most roadside vendors make do with industrial ice, which is unfit for human consumption,” said S Elango, former director of public health.
    Chennai Ice Manufacturers Association secretary J Chandreshkaran said the difference in price forces juice outlets to use industrial ice. “There are few takers for ice made of RO-treated water. A block of industrial ice costs 1.50 per kg wholesale and retails at around 4 per kg. Ice from RO-treated water costs 4 per kg wholesale and the retail price can be as high as 12 per kg.”
    With adults and children falling ill, people in the city are worried.
    “People are obviously consuming more chilled juice these days because it is summer. Children are most vulnerable to diseases caused by germs in juice or ice candy,” said Shanthi Raj, a resident of Kilpauk.
    Consumer activists say that there should be an effective mechanism to ensure that vendors and restaurants use ice that is manufactured hygienically.
    Food safety officials admit that they have received complaints about ice-making units. “We will conduct inspections and take action against those breaking the rules,” a health department official said.
DIRE AND ICE
Ice manufacturing units operate in Thiruvottiyur, Royapuram, Royapettah, Mylapore and Ambattur
They supply ice to outlets that sell fruit juice, hotels, hospitals, bars and fish markets
    These units source water from borewells, Metrowater pipelines or from wells at the units
    Most units in the city function in unhygienic conditions without licences
    The units thrive with no system in place to keep check on them by the food safety department

Noon-meal scheme: Panel suggests distribution of packaged food

Monica Tiwari The Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD has asked the Ministry to consider the feasibility of providing packaged food in line with the norms and standards of the mid-day meal scheme.

New Delhi, April 28:  

Taking note of increasing complaints about the food served under the mid-day meal scheme in schools, a Parliamentary panel has suggested distribution of packaged food to children.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD has asked the Ministry to “explore the feasibility of providing packaged nutrition food in conformity with the norms and standards of the scheme”.

This may be done initially on a pilot basis in some selected districts to ascertain its viability, it suggested.

The food cooked in schools for children has come under the scanner, especially on hygiene and quality.

“... reports indicate that even in Delhi, the quality of food being served in schools was found to be wanting in norms and standards prescribed under the programme. If the situation is such in the Capital, the position in the interior could well be imagined,” the committee, headed by Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, said.

The panel also drew the attention of the working group which had suggested roping in the Food and Nutrition Board to provide training to teachers and cook-cum-helpers and for regular monitoring of food safety among others.

One of the particular concerns of the committee was that hundreds of schools were lagging behind in meeting infrastructure requirements, including construction of kitchen-cum-stores, under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

The deadline for meeting these requirements ended on March 31.

According to Ministry reports, of 9.55 lakh kitchen-cum-stores sanctioned between 2006-07 and 2012-13, only 5.99 lakh or 63 per cent of them have been constructed.

In States such as Andhra Pradesh, only 3,077 have been put in place out of the 75,283 kitchen-cum-stores sanctioned.

“Proper kitchen-cum-stores have to be in place. Only then, it can be ensured that students are being served a good quality meal as mandated,” the committee said.

It recommended follow-up action by the State Governments for completing kitchen-cum-stores to ensure their construction at the earliest.

Forum calls for abolition of service tax on AC hotels

The Tamil Nadu Food Grains Merchants Association has requested the Prime Minister to abolish service tax levy on air-conditioned hotels and restaurants.

In a letter sent to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the association urged him to withdraw the service tax proposed to be levied in the 2013-14 budget.

In a press statement on Saturday, association president S.P.Jeyapragasam said air-conditioned restaurants were striving to provide safe and hygienic food to public as per the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006 that came into force in August 2011.

“The essential feature of the Act is to see to it that restaurants are free of dust, flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Air-conditioned hotels are taking steps for quality and hygiene. Service tax is penalising restaurants,” he stated.

According to Mr.Jeyapragasam, local bodies are not functioning properly and hence garbage is accumulated.

As the drainages were not cleaned, waste water stagnation was leading to breeding of flies and mosquitoes, which spread to business establishments, he added.

“Air-conditioned restaurants were striving to provide safe and hygienic food”

Dharmapuri Dist Food Safety Dept. News

Stale food seized from seven hotels

The Health Department officials of the Aluva Municipal Council conducted a raid on Friday in which a large quantity of stale food was seized from seven hotels and two cold-drink shops near the KSRTC bus stand.
Swapna Bar Restaurant, Surabhi, Everest, Royal, Paradise, Sagar and Breeze were among the hotels from where stale food was seized.
Several dishes, including meat and fish masalas and vegetable curry were found to be stale and non-edible.
According to officials, biriyani served to the customers, though labelled ‘steaming hot,’ was in fact stale.
The officials also found that the cooking oil had turned dark brown or blue due to repeated and long use.

TNFS Dept News - Pudukottai District

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புதுகை கடைகளில் ஆய்வு:தரமற்ற உணவுப் பொருள்கள் பறிமுதல்

புதுக்கோட்டையில் அரசு அலுவலர்களைக் கொண்ட குழுவினர்  சனிக்கிழமை மேற்கொண்ட திடீர் சோதனையில், ரூ. 1.60 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள தரமற்ற உணவுப் பொருள்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் செ. மனோகரன் உத்தரவின் அடிப்படையில், புதுக்கோட்டை நகரில் கீழராஜவீதி, மேலராஜவீதி, வடக்குராஜ வீதி ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் உள்ள  முக்கிய உணவு விடுதிகள், வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் டாஸ்மாக் பார் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் வருவாய்த் துறை, உணவுப்பொருள் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை, உணவுப்  பாதுகாப்பு மருந்து நிர்வாகத் துறை, தொழிலாளர் துறை, நகராட்சி ஆகிய துறைகளைச் சார்ந்த அலுவலர்களைக் கொண்ட  5 குழுவினர்  திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.

இந்த ஆய்வில் வணிகத்துக்காகப் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட 3 வீட்டு உபயோக  சிலிண்டர்கள், ரேஷன் அரிசி, மண்ணெண்ணெய் உணவுப் பொருள்கள் உள்பட  ரூ. 18 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள பொருள்களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். மேலும், காலாவதியான உற்பத்தி நாள் குறிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த குடிநீர் கேன், குளிர்பானங்கள் கொண்ட பாட்டில்கள், உற்பத்தி தேதி குறிப்பிடப்படாத பிஸ்கெட் பாக்கெட்டுகள் ஆகியவை பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. பறிமுதல் செய்த உணவுப் பொருளின் மதிப்பு ரூ. 1.42 லட்சமாகும்.

புதுக்கோட்டை வருவாய் கோட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட உணவுப் பொருள்களை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் செ. மனோகரன் பார்வையிட்டபின் கைப்பற்றப்பட்ட தரமற்ற உணவுப் பொருள்களை புதுக்கோட்டை உரக் கிடங்குக்கு கொண்டு சென்று அழிக்க ஆட்சியர் உத்தரவிட்டார்.

ஆய்வுப் பணிகளில், வருவாய் கோட்டாட்சியர்கள் (புதுக்கோட்டை) சி. முத்துமாரி, (அறந்தாங்கி) கே. துரை, மாவட்ட வழங்கல் அலுவலர் பா. மணிவண்ணன், மாவட்ட ஆதிதிராவிடர் நல அலுவலர் ஜெயராஜ்,  உணவுப்பொருள் பாதுகாப்பு மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் வரலட்சுமி, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் எம். மகாமுனி, வட்டாட்சியர்கள் ஸ்டாலின், (குடிமைப் பொருள் வழங்கல்), கே. ராஜேந்திரன் (பறக்கும் படை), வட்ட வழங்கல் அலுவலர்கள் கதிரேசன், குருநாதன், தவ வளவன், யோகேஸ்வரன், குமரப்பன், சாமிநாதன், மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

Dinakaran

Beyond broilers for breakfast?

Ticket price shocker for film buffs

The State government on Friday increased the ticket prices in cinema theatres for different grades from municipal corporations to gram panchayats. The new rates will be enforced with immediate effect.

Balcony ticket price in air-cooled theatres has been increased from Rs.55 to Rs.70 and for air-conditioned theatres, from Rs. 60 to Rs.75 in GHMC limits.

While the price of Rs.10 class remains the same, the government has permitted theatre managements to increase the second and third class ticket prices by a maximum of Rs.15 per ticket.

Managements have to justify the increase with reference to space, quality of seats etc in theatres.

Mandatory

It has now been made mandatory for all theatres and multiplexes to provide wheelchairs at two places on the theatre premises.

Theatre managements should also adhere to conditions stipulated under the Legal Metrology Act and Legal Metrology Packaged Commodity Rules. Further, provisions under Food Safety and Standard Regulations will be applicable to all food canteens in theatres and multiplexes.

Sweet mart owner asked to pay Rs 25,000 fine

PUNE: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a sweet mart owner in Kolhapur district for adding more edible colour in sweet than the permissible limit.
The fine was imposed by the FDA joint commissioner S R Kekare after giving a hearing to the shop owner on Thursday.
According to the FDA officials , the food security officer G P Kokane collected samples of sweets (Mhaisurpak) from Renuka Sweet Mart in Dasara chowk, Gadhinglaj from Kolhapur district on January 18, 2013. 
 The officials stated the samples were sent to district public health laboratory in Kolhapur for analysis. 
 The laboratory analysis reports confirmed that the aforesaid sweet Mhaisurpak had more edible colour than legally permissible norms set by the food safety and standard acts, 2006. The food security officer had lodged a complaint under relevant sections 26 (1), 26 (2) (ii) sub section 3.2.1 (7) of the act on March 23, the officials added. 
 The hearing was held before Kekare also an adjudication officer, on Thursday. Kekare imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the owner Jeevarajsingh Joharsingh Purohit. 
 Meanwhile, the FDA continued its routine inspection of sweet marts, hotles and restaurants in the city and also ice factories.

Civic body launches major drive against milk adulteration in Jammu city

Collects samples from Roop Nagar, Bantalab after complaints of sub-standard milk being sold
Jammu, April 27
In a major drive against adulteration of milk, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today took samples from milk suppliers and dairies in the Roop Nagar and Bantalab areas.
The civic body had earlier received reports of adulterated milk being sold in these localities.
Adulteration has become a major issue for residents who are concerned about the quality of milk and other milk products being supplied to the consumers.
A team led by JMC Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma conducted a surprise visit in the area and checked quality parameters which were reportedly found below the standards marked by the civic body.
“Sudden appearance of municipal team was a shock for many suppliers and shopkeepers as they were caught unaware. Many of them were seen pleading before the MC and health officials,” said Kishore Sharma, a local resident.
In absence of modern equipment and manpower, the fight against adulteration has been losing sheen of late. However, fine has been imposed on a number of people and dairy owners for playing with the health of the people in the past months.
There was a proposal to buy computerised mobile testing labs to check samples on daily basis but the same has been pending for want of funds with the government.
JMC Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma said, “Fine has been imposed and vendors have been directed not to accept sub-standard milk which could endanger the health of citizens. Further orders have been passed that no person can supply milk without mandatory license.”
In a survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2012, it was found that 83 per cent of milk sold in urban centres and district headquarters of the state is not safe for consumption.
The study had found that most common types of adulteration in the state was glucose and skimmed milk products (SMP).
“The Health Wing of the Municipal Corporation has repeatedly sent a proposal to the government to buy mobile labs but no decision was taken in this regard nor any funds have been released so far. This has been hampering our drive against milk adulteration,” said an official.
Surprise check
A team led by JMC Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma conducted a surprise visit in the area and checked quality of milk
The quality parameters were reportedly found below the standards marked by the civic body
Residents have been complaining about the quality of milk and other milk products being supplied to them
Govt apathy mars drive
A proposal was sent by JMC to government to buy computerised mobile testing labs to check samples on daily basis
The proposal has been pending for want of funds with the government for long
In absence of modern equipment and manpower, the fight against adulteration has lost tooth

கார்பைட் கற்கள் மூலம் பழுக்க வைத்த 2 1/2 டன் மாம்பழங்கள் பறிமுதல்

திருச்சி,ஏப்.27-

 

திருச்சி மாநகராட்சிப் பகுதிகளில் மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைப்பதற்கு கால்சியம் கார்பைட் கற்கள் பயன்படுத்துவதாக தெரிய வந்ததை அடுத்து, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் ஜெயஸ்ரீ உத்தரவின் பேரில் மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் ஏ.இராமகிருஷ்ணன் தலைமையில், மாநகராட்சி உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் டேவிட் முத்துராஜ், செல்வராஜ் மற்றும் பாஸ்கரன் ஆகியோரால் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.

 

இந்த ஆய்வில் காந்தி மார்க்கெட் நெல்பேட்டை தெருவில் உள்ள இரண்டு மொத்த விலை விற்பனை நிறுவனங்களில் மாம்பழங்கள் கார்பைட் கற்கள் கொண்டு பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது கண்டறியப்பட்டது,

 

இந்நிறுவனங்களிலிருந்து சுமார் 2.6 டன் (2600 கிலோ) மாம்பழங்கள் மற்றும் கால்சியம் கார்பைட் பவுடர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறி முதல் செய்யப்பட்டு மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் மாநகராட்சி வாகனங்களின் உதவியுடன் மாநகராட்சி உரகிடங்கிற்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்பட்டது.

 

மாம்பழங்களை இயற்கை முறையில் பழுக்க வைத்து விற்பனை செய்ய வேண்டும் அல்லது வேளாண்மை மற்றும் தோட்டக்கலை துறையால் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட முறைகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி பழுக்க வைக்க வேண்டும்.

 

கால்சியம் கார்பைட் கற்கள் உபயோகித்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்படும் மாம்பழங்கள் உட்கொள்ளும் பொழுது வயிறு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட கோளாறுகள், தலைவலி, வயிற்றுப் புண், நரம்பு மண்டல கோளாறுகள் போன்ற உபாதைகள் ஏற்படும். கால்சியம் கார்பனைட் கற்கள் பயன் படுத்தி மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைத்தாலோ மற்றும் இப்பழங்களை விற்பனை செய்தாலோ உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தர நிர்ணய சட்டம் 2006-ன் படி பறிமுதல் செய்வதோடு கடைகளின் உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது சட்ட விதிகளின்படி மேல் நடவடிக்கை மேற் கொள்ளப்படும் என அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

Public warned not to consume two brands of synthetic litchi drinks

Deputy Food Safety Commissioner of Directorate of Health Services, Tekcham Brojendro Khaba has issued an advisory to the public  to stop consuming two brands of synthetic litchi drinks, namely,         Swaad Litchi Drink and I Cool Litchi Drink.
He also stressed the need for disseminating information to the public on the contents of common beverages available in the state.
Brojendro was speaking at a press meet held at the Directorate on Friday.
He stated that with the gradual rise in temperature, people irrespective of ages are depending on beverages and cold drinks to refresh themselves and beat the heat. But they appear to show a complete lack of knowledge on the health aspects of the different drinks stacking the store shelves.
He disclosed that a team from the department visited various areas of Imphal to investigate the qualities of the beverages being sold.
Two products were found to have violated the mandatory requirements for packaging and labelling, he stated and identified the products as Swaad Litchi Drink (synthetic) and I Cool Litchi Drink (synthetic) manufactured by Arham Beverages, Assam.
A report was sent on the matter to the Food Authority of India and Directorate of Health, Assam to seal the manufacturer and their units but they reported back that they were unable to find the offices.  Moreover, the above products were not found in Assam.
“The people of the state need to be aware of the mandatory requirements for packaged foods and beverages available in the market. As per sub-regulation (General Requirements) of Labelling and Packaging of pre-packaged foods of the Food Safety and Standards Labelling Regulations 2011, contents on the label must be clear, prominent, indelible and readily legible by the consumer under normal conditions of purchase and use.  The nutritional information or nutritional facts per 100 gm or 100 ml per serving of the product must be given on the label containing energy value in Kcal and the amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat in gram or millilitre. Every packaged food item should be clearly indicated as  ‘non vegetarian’ and ‘vegetarian’ by a symbol and color code.
The symbol shall consist of a brown or green color filled circle inside a square with brown or green outline having sides double the diameter of the circle indicating brown color as non vegetarian and green color as vegetarian respectively, “ he informed.

Moreover the additives permitted for use in foods, the class titles must be used together with specific names or recognized international numerical identifications e.g. Acidity Regulator (330), Antioxidant (300), Citric Acid (E-330), Sodium citrate (E-331), Permitted Class II Preservative (202) or Sodium Benzoate (E-211)/202/224 etc. “CONTAINS ADDED FLAVOUR” (NATURAL/NATURE IDENTICAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURING SUBSTANCES) in capital letters must be displayed on the following combined statements beneath the ingredients on the label attached to any package of food so colored and flavored. As per sub-regulation no 6 (i) of 2.2.2 of Food Safety and Standards Regulation 2011, the name and complete address of the manufacturer, manufacturing unit, packing or bottling unit must be declared on every package of food. Fourteen digit license number allotted by Food Products Order (FPO) or Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSA) must also be also be marked at the package. The Swaad Litchi Drink and I Cool Litchi Drink did not fulfil any of the mandatory requirements of the Food Safety and Standard Regulations 2011. The bottle is totally unhygienic, improperly sealed, did not provide added ingredients, expiry date and complete address of the manufacturer etc.

He further made an appeal to buy ice creams only from those sellers who displayed their registration certificates and identity cards at their vehicles. He urged the public to report to the Directorate of Health Services, Lamphel if they find unhygienic products during consumption and not dispose them beforehand.

Workshop for food vendors

A workshop on safe food preparation was organised here recently for food vendors by the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), and the Consumer Association of India, a non-profit group that promoted consumer awareness.

R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), urged the vendors to avoid using artificial food colours and refrain from selling products in the vicinity of toilets. The vendors were also requested to desist from using the same oil repeatedly and to buy only packaged quality oil for cooking. Further, they were also told not to hang chicken or fish from iron rods for display in their shops.

Around 50 vendors took part in the programme in which they were educated on the kind of locations they could sell food products, how to use water safely, and ensure hygienic conditions while preparing food items.

Food Safety Officers S.R. Gerald Sathiapunithan and K. Sakthivel handled the technical sessions. The participants were also given free aprons, supplied by the Central Government, besides a booklet containing the requirements for food operators as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The vendors were also given certificates.

K.K. Chockalinkam, Coimbatore regional coordination, Citizen Consumers Club, said that adulteration of food products was leading to food poisoning. Pointing out that the shops located on the roadsides were covered with dust rising from frequent movement of vehicles, he urged the vendors to cover the products.

Focus on hygiene to safeguard health of tourists

Food safety officials inspecting a hotel near the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam on Tuesday

Beginning Tuesday, officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department have started going round various parts of Ooty to enhance awareness about the role of hygiene and sanitation in enhancing the prestige of this popular holiday destination.

Objective

The Officer-in-Charge of Food Safety, R.V. Ravi, told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the objective of the exercise was to ensure that hoteliers and dealers of various kinds of food items do not give any room for complaints from the tourists who have started arriving here in droves.

Adverting to instructions issued by the district administration to enlist the cooperation of the trading community in safeguarding the health of the tourists, Dr. Ravi said that no one should exploit the tourist season to make a fast buck.

During the surprise inspections carried out since Tuesday some of the shopkeepers were found to be selling various items, including cooking oil and water bottles, which were time barred.

Stating that they have been cautioned, he said that vigil has also been stepped up to prevent sale of artificially ripened fruits. He added that surprise checks would also be carried out in residential schools, colleges, hostels, marriage halls etc. Erring establishments would be referred to the appropriate authority for action.

The campaign would in a phased manner be extended to other parts of the district.

Industry awaiting July 22 hearing on junk food ban in & around schools

The food industry is eagerly awaiting July 22, 2013, the date fixed by the Delhi High Court for hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking ban on the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools in the country, because the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would be presenting the guidelines for and definition of junk food.
And now, since the High Court has directed the country's apex food regulator to release a paper on the definition of junk food, it is said to be working with a private agency on defining junk food, which it would present before the court at the aforesaid hearing.
Speaking at a recent function, K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI, voiced his concern about junk food. He said, “We are going to take the issue of food safety to schools. We would consult the education ministry to include the subject of food safety in the curriculum. Children are most affected and ill-informed about the choices regarding food habits. And a food-related disease like obesity is a huge problem.”
The industry raised its concerns too. “I feel the right way is to educate and guide people about what they should eat and in what quantity,” said D V Malhan, executive secretary, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA). He added that awareness was the key and the role of FSSAI would be vital in correcting the situation by means of regulations and making informed choices.
“Industry experts stressed on the need to maintain a balance, because that could affect the employment of people involved in manufacturing. The problem is people's eating habits. There are many items, which are prepared with a lot of oil and in-house. For example, parathas are heavy, but parents give the kids these items,” they said.
The High Court also directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to consult the All India Food Processors' Association while framing the guidelines, but AIFPA officials said that they are yet to be approached by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Uday Foundation's Rahul Verma, who filed the PIL, emphasised that anything that is high on sodium and low on nutrition should not be sold in and around schools.
He raised four suggestions, namely guidelines be framed on what should be sold in schools; a comprehensive canteen policy be implemented in schools; the sale of junk food be banned in the peripheries of schools, and children be prohibited from endorsing junk food in advertisements.
Verma said the court’s ruling would have an impact on three of the four recommendations, the only exception being the one concerning advertisements. He added, “Kids need nutritional food when the first recess happens around 11am in schools, because the last nutritional food they had would have been the previous night and most of the school-goers do not have much time for a proper breakfast in the morning.”

The fruit you eat may not be so sweet

As supply does not meet the demand, traders artificially ripen mangoes

Come summer and the sales of fruits, especially mangoes, increases exponentially. People see it as the safest and the tasty way to beat the intense heat of the season, and the dehydration that accompanies it.
A large district such as Coimbatore consumes, according to a conservative estimate, over 15 tonnes of mangoes every single day during peak summer.
However, the supply does not always meet this huge quantum of demand for a multitude of reasons and unscrupulous traders, intent on making a quick buck, resort to illegal measures to artificially ripen not only mangoes, but a whole gamut of fruits that sell well now.
More than 3.5 tonnes of artificially-ripened chikoo (‘sapota’) were seized from just two shops last year, indicating the scale of the problem, says R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing).
Explaining the process behind artificial ripening, he says ethylene gas initiates the ripening process in a fruit. Normally, several other processes follow this step, including the conversion of starch to sugar, the crucial step which makes mangoes so mouth-wateringly tasty.
However, in an artificially ripened fruit, only the chlorophyll (green pigment) changes colour and none of the other natural processes take place. This results in a seemingly ripe fruit tasting very sour.
The process
Among the most common method for artificial ripening, he says, is the use of calcium carbide - primarily due to its easy availability and cheap cost - which emits acetylene gas when mixed with water. Calcium carbide is predominantly used in arc welding.
Just one kilogram of this substance, brought for as little as Rs. 30, can ripen around 10 tonnes of fruits. For example, he says raw fruits of the much-sought after Imam Pasand mango can be procured for half its market price, ripened using a kilogram of carbide and sold for the market price, resulting in a 100 per cent profit.
The calcium crystals, Dr. Kathiravan says, are kept among the stones for 12 hours, mostly during the nights making it difficult to catch the errant traders.
Other less-common methods include the use of Ethiphon, a pesticide in liquid form which is diluted and sprayed on the fruits, and Oxytocin, a hormone injected into the fruits.
Health hazard
The major health hazard is the acetylene gas emitted by calcium carbide. This targets the neurological system and reduces the oxygen supply to the brain.
While short-term effects include sleeping disorders and headaches, he says the long term effects are memory loss, seizures, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, renal problems and possibly, even cancer.
Any one having information on artificial ripening of fruits could mail the information todofssacbe@gmail.com. All information will be kept in confidence and action taken, assures Dr. Kathiravan.

Artificially ripened mangoes seized

About 2.6 tonnes of mangoes being ripened using calcium carbide stones at two wholesale outlets at Nelpettai Road near Gandhi Market were seized by Food Safety officials on Friday.
The mangoes were seized during surprise inspections conducted by a team of officials led by A.Ramakrishnan, Designated Officer, TN Food Safety and Drug Administration (Food Wing), on the orders of the District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan following complaints from the public.
The seized mangoes were later destroyed.
An official press release issued later warned traders against using calcium carbide to ripen mangoes as it was hazardous to health. Stern action would be taken against traders indulging in such practice, the release said.

Mangoes’ ripening: Raids on, but calcium carbide still used in Maharashtra

Unscrupulous traders continue to use calcium carbide to ripen fruits such as mangoes and apples despite the fact that the carcinogenic chemical was banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Regulations (FSSR), 2011.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, the state food regulator, took strict action against the mango traders in the past by seizing and destroying over 100 kg of mangoes, which were ripened using calcium carbide. But now it is difficult to tour the state and raid the premises of every fruit trader who allegedly uses the chemical.
Therefore, the practice is still rampant in many parts of the state, because the traders no longer fear being noticed by the authorities. Besides mangoes (the state's favourite summer fruit), calcium carbide is used to ripen such vitamin-rich fruit as papaya, bananas and watermelon.
On the condition of anonymity, a top food official from FDA Maharashtra informed FnB News that they had issued a circular to all the food safety officers (FSOs) across the state, instructing them to roll up their sleeves and make sure no amount of artificially-ripened mangoes make their way to markets across the state this year.
Navi Mumbai
It has been learnt that traders at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, are still using calcium carbide to ripen mangoes. The fruit, which has been ripened artificially, arrives in the wholesale market earlier than that ones ripened naturally.
The weather plays a key role in the yield, and according to Sanjay Pansare, director, fruit market, APMC, this year's crop was good because the weather was good. He said, “APMC, Vashi receives around 55,000 boxes of mangoes every day. Each box contains between four and eight dozen mangoes, depending on the quality.”
Mangoes are normally priced at Rs 1,000 per dozen during the season, but the early arrivals are priced between Rs 100 and Rs 400 at the APMC market. These prices tempt many to buy the artificially-ripened fruit. Unaware of the method used to ripen the fruit, they consume them and become susceptible to a number of ailments.
The Thane division of FDA Maharashtra recently raided APMC, Vashi, to check the use of calcium carbide, which hastens the ripening of mangoes unnaturally. The FDA officials said that they did not have any evidence to prove the allegation that the traders use the banned chemical on the market premises.
The traders at the APMC fruit market, on their part, claimed that calcium carbide is no longer used on its premises, adding that all the mangoes sold there have ripened naturally. However, the reality is different. The stench emanating from the fruit lingers in the air, putting visitors off.
On a recent visit to APMC, FnB News discovered that despite the ban on calcium carbide and the action the authorities are taking against the traders, workers hailing from states like West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand make small pouches of the banned chemical and put these inside the boxes containing the fruit.
Sohail Shah, a fruit agent at APMC, informed, “The excess mango supply and the slowdown in prices have been worrying traders a lot. Traders fear that the fruit may get spoilt if not sold on time. That is why they have been adopting unfair means to ripen the fruit and sell it in the market.”
Aalam Khan, who hails from Bihar's Madhubani district and is a worker at the APMC market, said, “We secretly use calcium carbide after the official raids, not in the front of market.” But a trader, on the condition of anonymity, informed, “Calcium carbide has been used to ripen the fruit for years, and the process will continue forever.”
However, Pansare refuted the allegation and blamed the media for maligning the market. He added, “The practice of using calcium carbide stopped long ago. Not even a single fruit trader in the APMC market uses calcium carbide. They only use ethylene as a catalyst to ripen the fruit nowadays. The use of this gas is permitted.”
Dr Jayashree Sharad, managing director, Skinfiniti, said, “The excessive use of calcium carbide to ripen fruit can cause cancer in the long run. The mangoes normally ripen at the end of April, therefore all mangoes which are available before Gudi Padwa in the market are ripened through acetylene gas produced from calcium carbide.”
“Mangoes cannot be ripened in just 12 hours. Only the skin of the fruit turns yellow when acetylene gas is used as the catalyst to ripen it, but it doesn't ripen. Industrial-grade calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which are harmful to the body. It damages the skin, kidneys, heart and liver, and causes ulcer and gastric problems,” Sharad said.
Nashik
At a recent meeting, the Nashik division of FDA Maharashtra created awareness among mango traders about the adverse impact calcium carbide could have on the health of the consumers, and warned them that strict action would be taken against them if they did not stop using the chemical.
Chandrakant Pawar, joint food commissioner of the state food regulator's Nashik division, said, “At the meeting, we explained to them about the ill-effects of using calcium carbide to ripen the fruit. It was also suggested that the traders adopt the safer methods of ripening fruits – using ethylene gas or keeping the fruit in a box containing hay.”
“But if the use of calcium carbide is still in vogue, nothing can be done with the shortage of manpower,” he said. A fruit trader from Nashik, on the condition of anonymity, said, “One kg of calcium carbide costs only Rs 80, and it can ripen one tonne of mangoes overnight. Thus without thinking about the ill-effect of it on consumers, we take the opportunity to cash on it.”

Dharmapuri Food Safety Dept. News

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Unhygienic snacks destroyed - Tirunelveli Food Safety Dept. News

IN ACTION:Unhygienic eatables being destroyedby officials at Tirunelveli on Friday

Official attached to the Department of Food Safety raided tea and sweet stalls at the Vaeinthaankulam new bus stand on Friday and seized Rs.50,000-worth snacks as they had been prepared and sold in an unhygienic manner.
Following complaints from the public, a team of officials, led by Dr.Devika, Designated Officer, Department of Food Safety, conducted surprise checks on all the stalls selling snacks, and water and soft drink packets.
The team seized halwa and mixture packets that did not carry mandatory information such as the date of manufacturing, best before date, date of expiry, vegetarian logo, etc.
When the team members and Food Safety Officers A.R.Sankaralingam, Kaliyanandi, Kalimuthu and Ibrahim checked Aavin products such as milk kova and mysurpa, the packets carried the manufacturing details and hence those products were spared.
On seeing eateries preparing parotta and chapathi by keeping the LPG stoves on platform, Dr.Devika asked the cooks to keep a protective shield to preserve the food stuff from being polluted by the harmful emission from buses.
“Six teams have been formed across the district to conduct surprise checks and to seize unhygienic food stuff. The drive will continue,” said Mr.Sankaralingam.
The seized food stuffs were destroyed on the spot by sprinkling phenyl on them.

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Central Govt. G.O for DA

Quality Standard for Indian Traditional Sweets

The Sweets and Snacks Products (Traditional Sweets) for which the standards have not been prescribed fall under the category of “Proprietary Food”. These products should comply with the regulatory provisions like FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulation, 2011 and Table 2 of Appendix A and Appendix B of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. Codex has prescribed some standards for Sweets and Snacks under Table 2 of General Standards for Food Additive (GSFA).

Sweets and Snack Products are required to comply with the above mentioned Regulations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of revision/harmonization of standards for food products with those of Codex and other international best practices and to develop new standards in respect of those food products where there is a need to develop standards taking into account the Codex and other international best practices.

Export promotion of Indian traditional sweets and snack products is looked after by Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the Ministry of Commerce. The products have to comply with the standards of the importing countries.

This information was given by Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Shri Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

High lab fee hampers food safety tests

The “high fee” charged by laboratories for testing food samples is deterring Food Safety officials from extensively collecting them, complain food safety officials.
Though the Food Safety Authority of India has suggested that samples should be tested at Rs.1000, many labs are charging a much higher fee, said K. Ajithkumar, district Food Safety Officer.
The agency has to spend a huge amount for testing even a few sardines procured from the open market.
“The labs are charging unaffordable fee, which forces the department to limit the collection of samples. The directorate of Food Safety may take up the issue of lab fee with the authorities,” he said.
This week, the agency had ordered the closure of a few ice plants in the district following the use of chemically contaminated water for making ice.

Awaiting results

The agency is awaiting the test results of ice samples from a few laboratories for follow-up action.
The future course of action would be spelt out after obtaining the lab results, he said.
At the same time, scientists of a Central institute in Kochi where chemical analysis of food and water samples were regularly held, said that they were collecting only a part of the expense incurred for such tests.
Most of the tests are carried out using high-end machines and costly chemicals. Quality test done for fish would cost Rs. 500 a sample.
If the fish samples are to be subjected for profiling of fatty acids and amino acids, the testing fee could be around Rs.7,000 for a sample.
There are high-end protocols fixed for chemical testing of samples. Some of the chemicals required for these experiments are highly expensive. Hence the high fee, said a scientist.
The lab charges around Rs.1,200 for performing potable water quality analysis where 44 parameters are assessed.
If the pesticide content in water samples is to be investigated, the fee would go up to Rs.3,500 per sample. An ampoule of the chemical used for such tests costs around Rs.12,000, he said.
The fee for testing various samples is fixed by price fixing committees of the institutions. It would be the cost of chemicals and expenditure on machines that would come up for consideration while fixing the lab fee, he said.

Spurious fruit drinks impounded

IMPHAL, Apr 26 : Litchi-based bottled fruit juice labelled 'Swaad' and I-cool' have been confiscated from Khwairamband Keithel shopkeepers for non-adherence to prescribed regulations.
According to Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Tekcham Brojendro Khaba Meitei, a team of Food Safety officials raided some shops in Khwairamband Keithel on April 25 and confiscated large quantity of the fruit juice bottles.
Speaking to newspersons at his office chamber attached to the Directorate of Health Services, Lamphel today Brojendro said both the fruit drinks had labels citing Asham Beverages, Assam as the production centre.
Maintaining that the fruit drinks were found to be substandard and unfit for consumption, he informed that on being contacted, an Assam State Food Safety official said there is no fruit juice manufacturing unit by the name of Asham Beverages.
Moreover, shopkeepers from whom the bottles were seized also conveyed that hawkers supplied both the fruit juice brands to them, said Brojendro.
Pointing out that as per guidelines of Food Safety Standard Authority every packaged or bottled food/fruit items should carry 'food product order' number, clearly specify the ingredients such as protein and carbohydrate contents, ensure the bottle caps are firmly sealed and covered, the Commissioner disclosed that none of these mandatory guidelines were found on the fruit juice bottles confiscated from the State's main commercial centre.
In addition to violation of the established norms, Swaad and I-cool litchi drinks were found to have solid particles inside the bottles with the exterior moist/sticky thereby suggesting that the seals were defective, he explained.
Cautioning that consumption of such sub-standard consumer goods poses threat to health and urging the general public to contact Food Safety office if they doubt authenticity of food items, Brojendro also warned shopkeepers of punitive action is case they continue to trade substandard goods.

Kashmir to get modern drug testing lab

Union Health Ministry Seeks Proposal Srinagar, Apr 26: The Union Health Ministry has sought proposal from the J&K Government for setting up a state-of-the-art drug testing facility in Kashmir, which is witnessing outrage over supply of substandard drugs to government hospitals. The Ministry assured that the proposal would be cleared on fast-track basis.
The Drug Controller General of India, Dr GN Singh, said he reminded the State Controller for Drug and Food, Satish Gupta, about the plans of the Union Health Ministry in a meeting at New Delhi today.
Gupta was in Delhi to attend a meeting regarding implementation of the Food Safety Act.
The present Drug Analyst Laboratory at Srinagar is ill-equipped to carry out tests of different medicines and is facing severe financial and manpower crunch.
In the past, many tests of various drugs including life saving medicines have taken months here to get the analytical reports due to lack of machinery, risking lives of patients.
Even the report of samples sent outside for quality tests get delayed by weeks and months.
Dr Singh said the Srinagar Laboratory would be equipped to undertake tests of chemical and biological drugs and herbal medicines.
At the same time the existing laboratory at Jammu would be upgraded to modern requirements.
“The Health Ministry has assured the state that the proposal will be cleared on fast-track basis,” Dr Singh said.
Though there was already financial provision for up-gradation of the infrastructure under 12th five-year plan in all states, Dr Singh said “special emphasis” would be given to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has also issued direction to the authorities at two central laboratories in Kolkata and Chandigarh to entertain cases from J&K on special basis till the state gets fully equipped with the infrastructure.
“The directions were passed today,” Dr Singh said.
Dr Singh said the “recent development” in the state also came up for discussion during the meeting.
“He (Gupta) briefed me about the developments and the steps taken by the government,” Dr Singh said. “The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the developments,” he said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Gupta said the Government of India has already agreed to support J&K for upgrading the infrastructure for testing quality of medicines.
For past many days, Kashmir is witnessing protests over supply of fake and spurious drugs to the government-run hospitals.

TNFS Dept News - Salem Districtt

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காலாவதியான, போலி குளிர்பானங்கள் அழிப்பு

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் கடைகளில் விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த  காலாவதியான, போலி குளிர்பானங்களை உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர்.
கோடை காலங்களில் குளிர்பானங்கள் வாங்கும் நுகர்வோர்கள் அதிகம் என்பதால், சிலர் போலி குளிர்பானங்களை தயாரித்து கடைகளுக்கு விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்புகின்றனர். இதைப் பயன்படுத்தும் நுகர்வோர்களுக்கு பல்வேறு உடல் நலப் பாதிப்புகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன.
இந்த நிலையில், சேலம் மாவட்டத்தின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் உள்ள கடைகளில் போலியாக தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட குளிர்பானங்கள், காலாவதியான பானங்கள், குடிநீர் உள்ளிட்டவை விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக, மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு துறைக்கு புகார்கள் சென்றன.
இதையடுத்து, மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் மருத்துவர் அனுராதா தலைமையில் 26 உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.
சேலம் மாநகரில் புதிய, பழைய பேருந்து நிலையம், ஓமலூர், மேட்டூர், ஏற்காடு, ஆத்தூர் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் உள்ள குளிர்பானக் கடைகள், உணவுப் பொருள் விற்பனை நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் பழக் கடைகளில் நடைபெற்ற சோதனையில், பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட குளிர்பான பாக்கெட்டுகள், குடிநீர் பாட்டில்கள், குளிர்பான தயாரிப்புக்கான ரசாயன மூலப் பொருள்கள், மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்க பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட கார்பைட் கற்கள் உள்ளிட்ட ஆயிரக்கணக்கான ரூபாய்கள் மதிப்புள்ள பொருள்களை அவர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர்.
இதுகுறித்து மருத்துவர் அனுராதா கூறியது:
கோடைக் காலத்தில் தாகத்தைத் தணிப்பதற்காக, குளிர்பானங்கள், குடிநீர் பாட்டில்களை பொதுமக்கள் அதிகளவில் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். இந்த நிலையில், போலியான, காலாவதியான பொருள்களை தயாரித்து சிலர் விற்பனை செய்வதாகக் கிடைத்த தகவலின் பேரில். தொடர் சோதனை நடத்தப்பட்டது.
இதில், தயாரிப்பு தேதி குறிப்பிடப்படாத பல உணவுப் பொருள்களும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. ரசாயன முறையில் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்களும் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன.

இதுவரை சுமார் ரூ.5 லட்சம் பொருள்களை உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறையினர் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்துள்ளனர். தொடர்ந்து இரண்டாம் கட்ட சோதனை விரைவில் தொடங்க உள்ளோம். ஏற்கெனவே, தவறு செய்த கடை உரிமையாளர்கள் மீண்டும் போலி பொருள்களை விற்பனைச் செய்வது கண்டறியப்பட்டால், அவர்கள் மீது சட்டப்படி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்றார் அவர்.

Water, water everywhere, but how many brands are safe to drink?

Areas abutting the city are increasingly dotted with packaged drinking water industrial units. A minimum of 30 plants have come up over the last year in the neighbouring districts. The rising demand for water this summer has also paved the way for the sale of sub-standard quality of water and operation of unauthorised units.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Southern Region, cancelled the licences of 15 industrial units in and around the city in the past one year. The units lost their licenses for either not meeting the quality standard, unsatisfactory operation or misuse of the ISI mark.

Over the past decade, packaged drinking water has become an indispensable part of urban life. Even as Chennai Metrowater has stepped up its daily water supply to 830 million litres a day, packaged drinking water still continues to capture a large market. According to statistics of Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association, the city and suburbs consume not less than 70 lakh litres of packaged water daily, which is 15 per cent more than last year's sales.

While some residents say that they prefer packaged drinking water for its quality, those in the fringes of the city deem it a boon as they are yet to be covered with piped water supply. At present, there are nearly 290 licensed industrial units functioning in localities rich in groundwater resources in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. Last year alone, the BIS sanctioned licences to 150 units, which is 35 more than the number of applications approved every year.

The growing demand for water has led to mushrooming of unauthorised units around the city, point out members of the Association.

While the BIS-approved units have to follow stringent norms to avoid cancellation of licence, those functioning without a licence do not have to spend on an elaborate filtration process or testing facilities, they added, alleging that there are about 100 such units operating in the city. “They function like a cottage industry and follow basic filtration process. They brand it as herbal or flavoured water to escape the purview of the BIS,” said A. Shakespeare, the association's general secretary.

Members also point out that unauthorised unit holders often fill water obtained from private tankers and sell them in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands. They take advantage of the system of reusing the containers after sterilisation in the industry. “We found several such containers bearing popular brand names, ready for despatch at Puzhal recently. The unit holder had obtained the containers through some retailers,” said Mr. Shakespeare.

Members said that most of them were BIS licensees who lost the licence for operation for not maintaining standards. V. Murali, patron of the association, said that the business of herbal water is growing as there is no specification or monitoring by government agencies. “People must also check for ISI mark. When they find difference in taste or distorted labels, they may contact the manufacturer,” he said.

BIS, Southern Region's deputy director general, K. Anbarasu said in the last one year, 52 industrial units have been warned for supplying low quality water as the random samples taken from them failed to meet the standards. Of this, 15 were in and around Chennai.

“We can only monitor those who have licenses. The containers are also checked for quality. However, there is no specified standard for herbal water,” he said.

Bottled water that claims to have added minerals and proprietary food are controlled by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a newly established department in the city, he added. Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said that they were awaiting formulation of standards for flavoured water by the Central government.