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.