Apr 25, 2013
Food vendors to be answerable to government
LUDHIANA: In a bid to improve the quality of food available in the city, additional district commissioner Neeru Katyal and district health officer Avinash Kumar held meetings with representatives of food associations at the mini secretariat.
They informed them that every food selling entity should have licenses and should also get them registered as soon as possible. "This will help ensure the health of people around the city," said Neeru Katyal, ADC, Ludhiana.
Punjab government has given food entities the deadline of February 4, 2014 to get themselves registered. Under the Food Safety and Standard Act, once the food vendor is registered, he will be authenticated to sell hygienic food.
The health department will keep a tab on registered entities by conducting surprise checks.
"The idea is to ensure that consumers get to eat hygienic food. If any entity is found unregistered, they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh or jail term for six months," said Avinash Kumar, district health officer.
For registration in the health department, food selling entities with an annual sales turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh will be charged up to Rs 100 while those with an annual sales turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh will have to pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000.
Taking strict note of the samples that failed in the city over the last two years, the department has made it compulsory for all organisations to get registration done as soon as possible. Around 5,000 applications for registration have been submitted, of which 950 have been passed.
Associations at the meeting on food safety included Ice cream Association, Bakery Association, Hotel and Restaurants Association, Confectionary association, Dairy association, Retail and Karyana Association.
They informed them that every food selling entity should have licenses and should also get them registered as soon as possible. "This will help ensure the health of people around the city," said Neeru Katyal, ADC, Ludhiana.
Punjab government has given food entities the deadline of February 4, 2014 to get themselves registered. Under the Food Safety and Standard Act, once the food vendor is registered, he will be authenticated to sell hygienic food.
The health department will keep a tab on registered entities by conducting surprise checks.
"The idea is to ensure that consumers get to eat hygienic food. If any entity is found unregistered, they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh or jail term for six months," said Avinash Kumar, district health officer.
For registration in the health department, food selling entities with an annual sales turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh will be charged up to Rs 100 while those with an annual sales turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh will have to pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000.
Taking strict note of the samples that failed in the city over the last two years, the department has made it compulsory for all organisations to get registration done as soon as possible. Around 5,000 applications for registration have been submitted, of which 950 have been passed.
Associations at the meeting on food safety included Ice cream Association, Bakery Association, Hotel and Restaurants Association, Confectionary association, Dairy association, Retail and Karyana Association.
Four ice plants get closure order
District Food Safety Officials checking the quality of the ice-blocks at an ice factory near Thoppumpady in Kochi on Wednesday
Against the backdrop of selling contaminated ice, the District Food Safety Authority has directed the shutting down of four such plants.
The authority has ordered four ice plants in Thoppumpady and Perumbavoor to close down after they were found using highly poisoned chemicals such as Ammonia and Formalin in the manufacture of ice on Wednesday. The authority has also identified the juice parlours and bars using adulterated ice in the city.
According to officials the plants that have been asked to close down are Mythri Ice plant owned by Ice Plant Owners Association state president Shenoy, Saroma Ice Plant and Simla Ice Plant, all in Thoppumpady, and Venkitesha Ice plant in Perumbavoor.
According to health experts, formalin which is commonly used in laboratories and mortuaries for preserving dead bodies and ammonia, a deadly poisonous substance, are being used in making ice.
Food Safety Officials said that most of the wayside kiosks where shake sherbeth (Kulukki Sarbath) is sold make use of such adulterated ice. Juice stalls and bars are also resorting to such ice. The district food safety officer said that following complaints regarding the poor hygiene of ice plants, the Food Safety Department has collected ice samples across the state. “We will initiate further inspections on Ice plants after getting reports from the regional analytical laboratory,” he said.
Reports on five ice plants in the district were received so far and four of them have been found to have flouted the prescribed norms. These plants have been directed to close down immediately.
The inspection squad was led by District Food Safety officer Ajith Kumar. Officials of Food Safety department Abdul Jaleel, Jacob Thomas, Sasi kumar, Biju Joseph were the others in the team.
The District Food Safety officer said that the raids were conducted after the authorities received complaints that some of the outlets selling juice in the city and ‘Kulukki Sarbath’ joints were using contaminated ice cubes and blocks. Following this, the Food Safety Department organised a drive and collected ice samples.
The authority has ordered four ice plants in Thoppumpady and Perumbavoor to close down after they were found using highly poisoned chemicals such as Ammonia and Formalin in the manufacture of ice on Wednesday. The authority has also identified the juice parlours and bars using adulterated ice in the city.
According to officials the plants that have been asked to close down are Mythri Ice plant owned by Ice Plant Owners Association state president Shenoy, Saroma Ice Plant and Simla Ice Plant, all in Thoppumpady, and Venkitesha Ice plant in Perumbavoor.
According to health experts, formalin which is commonly used in laboratories and mortuaries for preserving dead bodies and ammonia, a deadly poisonous substance, are being used in making ice.
Food Safety Officials said that most of the wayside kiosks where shake sherbeth (Kulukki Sarbath) is sold make use of such adulterated ice. Juice stalls and bars are also resorting to such ice. The district food safety officer said that following complaints regarding the poor hygiene of ice plants, the Food Safety Department has collected ice samples across the state. “We will initiate further inspections on Ice plants after getting reports from the regional analytical laboratory,” he said.
Reports on five ice plants in the district were received so far and four of them have been found to have flouted the prescribed norms. These plants have been directed to close down immediately.
The inspection squad was led by District Food Safety officer Ajith Kumar. Officials of Food Safety department Abdul Jaleel, Jacob Thomas, Sasi kumar, Biju Joseph were the others in the team.
The District Food Safety officer said that the raids were conducted after the authorities received complaints that some of the outlets selling juice in the city and ‘Kulukki Sarbath’ joints were using contaminated ice cubes and blocks. Following this, the Food Safety Department organised a drive and collected ice samples.
Contaminated ice: four plants closed down
Officials have also sought police protection for the factories that were closed down following threats that the units would be forcibly opened the next day.
K. Ajithkumar, Food Safety Officer, Ernakulam, has filed a police complaint in this regard.
Mixed with chemicals
Inspections held at the ice plants at Thoppumpady, Kochi Harbour and Perumbavoor revealed that water mixed with chemicals such as formalin and ammonia were used for making ice. Of the 24 ice samples tested earlier, four samples were found contaminated.Samples of ice, collected during the first week of April, were tested at the Regional Analytical Laboratory, Kakkanad.
Raids were held in the factories on Wednesday from where the contaminated samples were obtained, he said.
Ice samples were provided to the factory owners for them to conduct tests.
The samples collected by the Food Safety officials would be tested at a lab shortly, said Mr. Ajithkumar.
The inspections held in Kochi were part of the State-wide drive against the use of contaminated ice.
Formalin is generally used as a preservative. Ice made with water containing formalin is used to preserve fish. Ammonia-mixed ice made the fish look fresh, said Mr. Ajithkumar.
Health hazards
M.K. Mukundan, director, Council for Food Development and Research, Konni, said the use of chemicals such as formalin and ammonia in ice could lead to health hazards. Formalin could arrest the digestive process. It kills bacteria and prevents bacterial spoilage. Ammonia is available in gas and liquid forms.It can also suppress bacterial activities. Food contaminated with ammonia could also upset the digestive process, he said.
Traders briefed on Food Safety & Standards Act
Ludhiana, April 24
Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Adjudicating Officer Neeru Katyal has stated that getting a licence is mandatory for selling food items under the Food Safety and Standards Act. She has ordered for a full implementation of the Act in the district.
She met the representatives of different associations and told them about the provisions of the Act. She told them doing business without licence would attract a fine up to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment up to six months.
Food samples collected
Ludhiana, April 24
A team of the Health Department collected samples of food items in the city. A sample of milk cream was collected from a dairy on the Haibowal Complex while a milk sample was taken from Durga Colony at Haibowal.
The team also collected "rasgulla" samples from a sweet shop located on the Jassian Road, a biscuit sample from a bakery situated at Hambran, a rice sample from a grocery store on the Jassian Road, a sample of sweetened carbonated water from Manna Singh Nagar and a grain sample from Moti Nagar.
Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Adjudicating Officer Neeru Katyal has stated that getting a licence is mandatory for selling food items under the Food Safety and Standards Act. She has ordered for a full implementation of the Act in the district.
She met the representatives of different associations and told them about the provisions of the Act. She told them doing business without licence would attract a fine up to Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment up to six months.
Food samples collected
Ludhiana, April 24
A team of the Health Department collected samples of food items in the city. A sample of milk cream was collected from a dairy on the Haibowal Complex while a milk sample was taken from Durga Colony at Haibowal.
The team also collected "rasgulla" samples from a sweet shop located on the Jassian Road, a biscuit sample from a bakery situated at Hambran, a rice sample from a grocery store on the Jassian Road, a sample of sweetened carbonated water from Manna Singh Nagar and a grain sample from Moti Nagar.
New tech to detect food contamination more accurately
Washington:
Scientists, including two Indian-origin researchers, have developed a
new technique to detect food contamination more rapidly and accurately.
The technique was developed by researchers from University of Missouri led by Professor of Engineering Shubhra Gangopadhyay.“Quickly stopping the spread of toxins saves lives, whether those toxins are from natural processes or enemy attacks,” said lead author Sangho Bok, postdoctoral fellow in MU’s College of Engineering.
“Our technique uses nanoparticles to make detection one hundred times more sensitive than the standard method now used, known as ELISA. We have also reduced the time needed to detect a threat to only one hour, compared to four to six hours for ELISA,” Bok said.
Currently, Bok’s testing method detects a toxin that causes food poisoning, a chemical known as Clostriudium botulinum neurotoxin A.
Engineers and biologists at MU now seek to adapt the test to detect many other dangerous chemicals.
“Science, employment and economic development are all tied together,” said study co-author and MU research professor, Keshab Gangopadhyay.
“Food safety testing presents a large market that is growing quickly in developing nations like China and India,” Gangopadhyay said.
The study was published in journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Juicy mangoes Bright yellow could mean danger
Chennai: Agriculturists last month predicted a bumper
mango harvest this season,but the first batches of the fruit,all a
luscious yellow,could pose a serious health hazard.
Traders are using the carcinogenic compound calcium carbide to artificially ripen the fruit,food safety officials said after carrying out raids in the Koyambedu wholesale market on Tuesday.They raided 53 shops and seized two tonnes of mangoes that were ripened using calcium carbide.They seized 250kg of the chemical.
Officials said they would issue notices to fruit and vegetable shops in the city on Wednesday,cautioning them against the use of calcium carbide.
Experts say many traders use calcium carbide to artificially ripen the fruit early in the mango season.Many of the batches that arrive in the market early are artificially ripened, environmentalist V Arun said.Traders are exposing customers to serious health risks.
He said farm owners do not wait for the mangoes to ripen.They give contracts to traders early instead,looking to clear the fruit from the trees at one go.These mangoes look ripe because they are a bright yellow and have a shorter shelf life,but they are dangerous to eat, Arun said.
The recently set up commissionerate of food safety has made it clear to fruit traders that calcium carbide is banned under Section 44A of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.But it is widely used by fruit merchants.
Gastroenterologist Dr J Sukumaran said industrial-grade calcium carbide may contain traces of the poisonous chemicals arsenic and phosphorous.Experts say it can damage the kidney,heart and liver and can also cause ulcer and gastric problems.Calcium carbide can also affect the brain and lungs.
He said people who consume artificially ripened fruit may develop diarrhoea,gastroenteritis and other stomach infections.
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
What is calcium carbide
A chemical compound used by traders to artificially ripen fruits It is cheap.One kg of calcium carbide costs 25- 30 and can ripen 10 tonnes of fruit
How to spot artificially ripened fruits
Mangoes will have black spots on the skin.They are soft and have a shorter shelf life.They are raw at the core and you may find bubbles around the seed Multi-coloured patches on skin.Mangoes develop red,yellow and green patches Do not buy fruits that arrive in the market before their normal season
Traders are using the carcinogenic compound calcium carbide to artificially ripen the fruit,food safety officials said after carrying out raids in the Koyambedu wholesale market on Tuesday.They raided 53 shops and seized two tonnes of mangoes that were ripened using calcium carbide.They seized 250kg of the chemical.
Officials said they would issue notices to fruit and vegetable shops in the city on Wednesday,cautioning them against the use of calcium carbide.
Experts say many traders use calcium carbide to artificially ripen the fruit early in the mango season.Many of the batches that arrive in the market early are artificially ripened, environmentalist V Arun said.Traders are exposing customers to serious health risks.
He said farm owners do not wait for the mangoes to ripen.They give contracts to traders early instead,looking to clear the fruit from the trees at one go.These mangoes look ripe because they are a bright yellow and have a shorter shelf life,but they are dangerous to eat, Arun said.
The recently set up commissionerate of food safety has made it clear to fruit traders that calcium carbide is banned under Section 44A of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.But it is widely used by fruit merchants.
Gastroenterologist Dr J Sukumaran said industrial-grade calcium carbide may contain traces of the poisonous chemicals arsenic and phosphorous.Experts say it can damage the kidney,heart and liver and can also cause ulcer and gastric problems.Calcium carbide can also affect the brain and lungs.
He said people who consume artificially ripened fruit may develop diarrhoea,gastroenteritis and other stomach infections.
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
What is calcium carbide
A chemical compound used by traders to artificially ripen fruits It is cheap.One kg of calcium carbide costs 25- 30 and can ripen 10 tonnes of fruit
How to spot artificially ripened fruits
Mangoes will have black spots on the skin.They are soft and have a shorter shelf life.They are raw at the core and you may find bubbles around the seed Multi-coloured patches on skin.Mangoes develop red,yellow and green patches Do not buy fruits that arrive in the market before their normal season
Food safety officials raided 53 shops in Koyambedu on Tuesday and seized two tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes
After spurious drinks, it’s the turn of mangoes
Officials found sachets of calcium carbide among mangoes at Koyambedu —Photo: M. Vedhan
According to Food Safety officials, the clinically proven carcinogenic chemical is being used across various wholesale and retail outlets to ripen mangoes and other fruits such as papayas. The Koyambedu Wholesale Fruit Market, which is the point of arrival of mangoes in the city, continues to see a lot of use of the chemical despite warning by civic authorities. The officials said they found labourers packing calcium carbide into small sachets on Tuesday so that they could be hidden within the mangoes for ripening. Use of the chemical to ripen mangoes is prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Calcium carbide is a hazardous chemical and contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus hydride.
While inhalation of the chemical can cause unconsciousness, consumption of fruits ripened using the chemical may have serious health implications.
According to T. Jeyakumar, former joint director of public health and State health authority for food adulteration, the calcium carbide stones and powder can severely affect the stomach. “Often, people think that eating a few fruits during the season may not cause harm. The chemical irritates the mucous lining of the stomach and causes ulcers. Over a period of time, unhealed ulcers can cause cancer,” he said.
An even more worrisome trend is spraying of fruit-laden trees with organo phosphorous chemicals. The chemical, which has carcinogenic substances, can cause serious health problems to the persons who spray the chemicals too, Dr. Jeyakumar explained.
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