Kalewadi food poisoning caterer was unlicenced

FDA officials issue show-cause notices to caterer, organiser of event; will conduct awareness workshop for caterers in city

A victim of the Kalewadi food poisoning incident being taken to hospital The food poisoning case at the Kalewadi temple that left two dead and more than 150 ill has now got a new twist – the caterer who prepared the ‘prasad’ did not have a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) licence. FDA officials have sent a show-cause notice to both the caterer and organiser and are organising a workshop for caterers in the city on Sunday afternoon, aimed at making them aware of FDA guidelines, as well as punishments in case of noncompliance. S S Desai, FDA assistant commissioner (Food), said, “The caterer had been in this business for around 10 years, and yet not applied for a licence. We have sent a showcause notice to Ramesh Prabhu Bhalerao of Mauli Caterers, and will be filing a case against him for not having a licence.” Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune division, said, “We have also sent a show-cause notice to the organiser, as it is compulsory to keep a record of all food items purchased, including the name of the grocery shop and their contact number, which they did not have. The prasad should have been prepared in clean surroundings, covered adequately and consumed without too much delay, which was not paid heed to.” Caterer Bhalerao said, “As caterers, our job was to prepare food. Raw materials were either bought by the temple trust or donated by devotees. I have been in this business for over 10 years now, but most of my orders used to be from Khedgaon. This was the first time I took an order in the city, as it was for a religious cause. I am illiterate and don’t know about legalities. I had tasted the food myself before serving it, and hope God helps me.” FDA mandates that caterers with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above need to obtain a license, while those garnering less need to get registrations. As many as 310 caterers have sought licences in the district, while registration has been granted to over 124 food business operators and caterers so far. “We have contacted the president of the Caterer’s Association and invited all caterers for a workshop. There will be a presentation on precautions and hygiene by Dr Abhay Desai, director of the Food Hygiene and Health Laboratory,” added Desai. ►   Our job is to prepare food. Raw materials were from the temple or devotees. I am illiterate and don't know about legalities - Ramesh Prabhu Bhalerao, Mauli Caterers

Govt initiates action against water bottlers

KATHMANDU: The government has filed 33 cases against water bottling plants in the first four months of current fiscal year 2012-13. Bottled water is a major problem sector with regards to public health, said senior food officer of Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) Promod Koirala.

DFTQC filed 25 cases and Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) filed eight cases in the period. The regulators have taken action according to the Food Act and Consumer Protection Act, respectively.

Bottled water is one of the major problem sectors, and there were lots of incidents of substandard water in the market. “We identified them and filed cases against them,” he said, adding that DFTQC filed cases at the District Administration Office according to the Food Act. DoCSM filed eight cases at the District Administration Court.

DFTQC examined 79 samples of bottled water in fiscal year 2011-12, and found 52 samples contaminated with either fungi or coliform, a harmful bacteria. Similarly, pH value was also not maintained in bottled water. The best pH value is seven but drinking water can be between pH 6.5 and 9.5, according to World Health Organisation.

According to clause 5 of the Food Act, bottling industries not meeting basic standards or ignoring consumer safety must be fined Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 or six months to one year imprisonment or both. However, the Consumer Protection Act has a more stringent fine and punishment provision. Clause 18 (c) of the law has a provision of up to Rs 50,000 fine or three years imprisonment or both.

DFTQC has decided to introduce a provision of issuing a licence to only those water bottling plants that maintain basic standard. The department has drafted directives to enforce the provision in February.

Unsafe drinking water is major cause of diseases among people living in urban areas. According to public health experts, about 80 per cent to 90 per cent of people living in cities suffer from water borne diseases. Therefore, controlling unsafe drinking water will not only help reduce public health risk but also save millions spent in treatment.

In Lok Sabha Today

Iodized Salt

Iodized Salt Coverage Study 2010 conducted by Salt Commissioner, GOI along with some International Organisations has revealed that 47.2% rural households were consuming adequately iodated salt (>15 ppm), 42.2% households were consuming inadequately iodated salt (<15 ppm) and 10.5% households were consuming salt with no iodine.

The Iodized Salt Coverage Study 2010 was conducted in eight states i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand while the Coverage Evaluation Study (CES) conducted by M/o Health &Family Welfare, Government Of India and UNICEF covering 30 states of the country has revealed that 66.1% of rural households were consuming adequately iodated salt (>15 ppm), 22.6% rural households were consuming inadequately iodated salt (<15 ppm)and 10.5% rural households were consuming salt with no iodine.

In order to prevent & control Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Government of India is implementing National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) in the country for entire population. Financial assistance is provided to all States/UT’s for establishment of IDD Cell and IDD Monitoring Laboratory, conducting district IDD surveys, health education and publicity to create awareness amongst people to use only iodated salt. In addition, funds are provided to Salt Commissioner’s Office for quality control of iodated salt at production level.

Regulation 2.9.30 (1)(2)(3) of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives), Regulation, 2011 prescribes the standard for edible common salt including iodized salt, iron fortified common salt and iron fortified iodized salt (double fortified salt).

Regulation 2.3.12 of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales), Regulation, 2011 restricts the sale of common salt for direct human consumption unless the same is iodized

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.

To curb the menace of Food Adulteration

To curb the menace of food adulteration, regular surveillance, monitoring & sampling of food products are undertaken by State/UT Governments under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules & Regulations made thereunder. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issues advisories also from time to time to State/UT Governments to check the adulteration in food products. FSSAI also conducts awareness workshop / training programme on Food Safety, involving Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Public Health Departments of State Governments. A national Food Safety Helpline (1800 11 21 00) has also been started for having direct interface/ communication linkages with all the stakeholders in the food chain including the regulators, other government agencies, manufacturing associations, municipal bodies, NGOs, consumers, etc.

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.

Karnataka creating awareness among FBOs to ensure compliance with FSSA

Karnataka is now working to ensure that the food business operators (FBOs) comply with Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, in total. In this regard, they have been conducting massive awareness drives at regular intervals.

According to a senior government official, FBOs in the state have an understanding of the Act and are keen to adhere to the same as it will only depict the quality standards.

There are efforts for registering the food and beverage units and eating joints. The state is also doing the needful to grant the licenses after they undertake the necessary inspections.

A senior official from the department of health and family welfare, Government of Karnataka, said, “By and large Karnataka units are known for good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and the state has been reporting a high level of self-adherence to regulations.”

While the extension of the deadline for registration and seeking licenses has been extended by the Union government to February 4, 2014, it will see a big relief for the small and unwieldy FBOs.

The official said, “However, Karnataka is yet to receive the intimation on this and once we get the confirmation from the FSSA, our officials will not book cases of non-registration of units although it is an offence as per FSSA, going by the extension given till February 4, 2014.”

“But if the units fail in adhering to quality and safety norms, which are mandated as per the state food safety authorities keeping in mind the health of the public, warnings would be issued and action will be taken if the necessary steps are failed to be taken by the FBO,” he said.

The Society for Indian Bakers, a national initiative, has issued 26 good manufacturing practices. Karnataka is now working to ensure that the food business operators refer to the ‘ABC of FSSAI’ for the scores of bakery outlets in the state.

There are also several private initiatives like for instance the recently concluded Akshaya Patra Foundation & Karnataka government seminar to highlight safety and hygiene in mid-meals.

Most city hotels found flouting rules

In first-round inspections being carried out in Mumbai since April 2012, Maharashtra FDA has found more than half the 1,060 hotels and food manufacturers flouting Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.
FDA has issued notices to the establishments to comply with norms. Failure to do so will result in suspension/ cancellation of licences, said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner (food), FDA.
"In the first phase that ends in March, we have to inspect 1,320 (establishments), of which we have covered 1,060 across Mumbai. So far, we have found 600 (establishments) are not complying with rules and regulations and we have sent them improvement notices. They have 30 days to comply with the norms. After that, there will be another round of inspections and if we find they are still flouting regulations, they will face suspension or cancellation of licences," he said.
There are 43,000 hotels and food manufacturers in Mumbai licensed by/registered with FDA.
"We have to inspect all under the new rules," said Deshmukh.
Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, finalised by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, came into effect on August 5, 2011.
The regulations look at licensing and registration of food businesses, food product standards and additives, packaging and labelling, contaminants, toxins and residues. Establishments with annual turnovers of Rs 12 lakh or more are being examined in Mumbai.
Officials said FDA was shortstaffed and it had asked the state government to sanction more posts.
"Some 265 posts of food safety officers were sanctioned in 1972. But now, we have to cover thousands of establishments. This is a massive task and we are grossly understaffed. We have submitted our requirements to the state and have asked to sanction 2,000 posts of food safety officers for Maharashtra. In Mumbai, of the 66 sanctioned posts for food safety officers, only 22 have been filled," Deshmukh said.

Haryana to be 'medical intoxicants free' state in 2013-14

All out efforts are being made to make Haryana a 'medical intoxicants free' state in 2013-14.
Stating this here today, a spokesman for the Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) department said the state had already emerged as the first 'Hookah Bar free State' in the country during the financial year 2012-13.
He said Haryana was also the first state in the country to implement the provisions of Infant Milk Substitute, Feeding Bottle and Infant Food (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992/Amendment Act 2003.
The Act aims at discouraging promotion of infant milk substitute products and promotes breast feeding in the state.
He said online licensing and registration of Food Business Processors under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 would also be introduced.
He said in Haryana, the conviction for violations under Drugs and Cosmetic Act was more than 75 per cent which was the highest in the country.
He said outlay of the Department had been raised from Rs four crore in 2012-13 to Rs 14.42 crore in 2013-14 to further strengthen it and enhance its efficiency.

Dinamalar