Dinakaran

Look out for ‘GM’ label on packaged food from Tuesday

Starting Tuesday, consumers will get to know whether the packaged foods they are buying contain any genetically-modified (GM) ingredient, even as the food processing industry wants more clarity.

A Gazette Notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution mandates packaged food producers to disclose the GM ingredients, if used any, in their product.

The notification will come into effect from January 1, 2013, officials at the Food and Consumers Affairs Ministry said.

“Every package containing the genetically-modified food shall bear at top of its principal display panel the words ‘GM’,” the notification under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2012 said.

Such packaged commodity rules are applicable to some 19 products including biscuits, breads, cereals and pulses among others.

“The labelling will basically help inform the consumer about the presence of GM content in packaged food products,” said B.N. Dixit, Director, Legal Metrology, Department of Consumer Affairs.

It will help consumers make a choice as urban markets in the country are flooded with food products derived and processed in countries such as the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, where a majority of GM crops are cultivated.

India is still debating the regulation of GM crops and the only crop allowed to commercialise so far is Bt cotton. However, the implementation of such GM food labelling would be done by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health.

The FSSAI is yet to announce any rules for implementing the labelling exercise.

The processed food sector wants the Government to withdraw the notification till such time the implementation rules are formed by the FSSAI.

“The Government should withdraw the regulation till the rules are formulated by FSSAI,” industry sources said.

“Though the Government’s intention to label GM products is good, there is lack of clarity on the implementation part of it. The notification is too sketchy and does not mean anything,” said Rajesh Krishnan, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, GreenPeace.

The labelling notification does not specify the threshold limits nor does it talk of traceability or the liability aspects.

GreenPeace and other agencies such as Consumer Coordination Council (CCC) want the Government to make the GM labelling rules more stringent.

In a letter to the Food Minister K.V. Thomas, the CCC – the apex body of Indian consumer organisations that represents some 75 outfits - said setting a minimum threshold will strengthen the labelling initiative.

Besides, the notification should also make the role of the agencies involved in monitoring and regulation, clear and ensure there is strict punitive action in case of any violation, it said.

Further, CCC wants liability measures to be explicitly mentioned in the labelling rules.

Food samples collected from Mittal Avenue

Ujjain: Food department officials conducted a raid at Hotel Mittal Avenue on Wednesday and collected samples of packed items, spices and gram flour. City Magistrate Shyamendra Jaiswal led the first raid of 2013.

During the raid, the team found packed food items sans batch number, expiry and manufacturing dates. Even the kitchen of the hotel was unhygienic. Official directed the hotel manager to keep the ambiance of the kitchen hygienic.

Shailesh Gupta of food department and food safety officer Sachin Logariya said that samples would be sent to the laboratory at Bhopal under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

Strict action will be taken against the hotel owner if the reports were found positive, one of the team members said. There are several hotels and eateries in the city that provides adulterated food materials and do not keep their establishment hygienic. Administration should also raid other such places to check adulteration and unhygienic surroundings.

Contain the poison

The High Court has taken a strong exception, and rightly so, to the inept performance of the government in checking food adulteration. In Srinagar, the court has apparently been informed, only four food samples have been taken for testing this summer. The court was hearing a PIL seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 to check food adulteration. The petitioners have rightly pointed out that there is adulteration in all kinds of eatables, which in some case is life-threatening.
However, it’s not merely the so called life-threatening adulteration which is a cause of concern. The deteriorating quality of food stuff and the grave trend of increasing adulteration is a slow-poison that is wreaking havoc on the state of health in the valley. The shocking increase in the prevalence of various kinds of cancer is one of the direct results of this menace. One can imagine the state of general health and well being of people in Jammu and Kashmir. The government, however, seems to not bother.
The court has noted: “Before dealing with [the concerned authorities] in accordance with law, one more opportunity is given to them to discharge their duty honestly and with sincerity.” Leaving aside the question whether the authorities deserve “one more opportunity”, it is hoped that the court continues to maintain pressure on the government so that the people are saved from the “slow-poison” they eat and drink.

Blurb: The grave trend of increasing adulteration in food is a slow-poison that is wreaking havoc on the state of health in Kashmir. The shocking increase in the prevalence of cancer, for example, is one of the direct results of this menace. The government, however, seems to not bother

The government must follow the directions of the court on a priority basis. The court has directed the authorities to take necessary steps for making the provisions of the Act “effective and visible on the ground”. The authorities have been asked to take samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds, ensure testing and initiate necessary action by law. The court also directed authorities to test the milk which is sold in the market and proceed in accordance with law wherever samples are found adulterated.
District Magistrates have been directed to closely monitor the functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts. The court has also demanded a report on the condition of slaughter houses in the districts, while asking the respondents to provide further information about the result of samples which have been already taken and referred for testing in past. The directions of the court regarding the issue are well taken and must be followed by the authorities without any delay.