Dinakaran

FDA starts investigation on use of oxytocin on cattle

In the wake of MiD DAY’s exposé on how the harmful drug is injected into buffalos at tabelas in violation of a government ban, the Food and Drugs Administration has flagged off an enquiry and promised to take action against manufacturers and suppliers
FOLLOWING MiD DAY’s exposé on the illegal use of oxytocin injections on cattle to extract more milk from them, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has initiated an investigation in the case, to bring to book the suppliers who are delivering the drug on request, to tabelas across the city.
Speaking to MiD DAY, Mohan Kekatpure, who is FDA’s assistant commissioner for Zone- VI, said, “ We have taken a serious note of the report published in MiD DAY, which reveals that tabela owners in the western suburbs are still injecting oxytocin into their buffalos.
We have already started our investigation and will take strict action against the manufacturer and supplier of the drug.” The FDA official also told MiD DAY that in 2006, a consignment of oxytocin shipped to Bhiwandi from Kolkata was seized by FDA. “ In 2006, we had got a tip- off that a batch of oxytocin had come to Bhiwandi from Kolkata. We immediately seized it.” MiD DAY’s lead story yesterday had been the culmination of a two- month- long investigation, which exposed how cattle in tabelas are being injected with a hormone called oxytocin twice every day, in violation of a government ban. While the drug forces the cattle to expel a few extra litres of milk, drinking the same may severely harm young children, causing them to experience hormonal problems like premature puberty and gynaecomastia (‘Banned drug injected into cattle is poisoning your milk’). Our reporters visited tabelas in the western suburbs and managed to get their hands on bottles of oxytocin at each of their pit stops.
The drug has been declared a schedule drug by the FDA, which has banned its sale without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
Dairies are using the drug with impunity, and without prescriptions, having obtained it from private suppliers. Our reporters even ran into a man called Sohail, who admitted to supplying the drug in plastic containers to tabelas across the western suburbs.
An official from FDA expressed shock at the expose, and admitted that the FDA has been lax in its duty to keep a strict eye on the use of veterinary medicines.
Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Madhukar Chavan said, “If at all any tabela owners are using the banned medicine to inject into buffaloes, strict action will be taken against them. I will immediately ask the Dairy commissioner to look into the matter.”

Clarification regarding issue of State/Central Licensing

Food Crusader

 It’s said that an empty stomach echoes more and what better to feed it with loads and loads of food. Before gorging on that yummy burger and munching on that delicious Paani-puri, have you checked that it’s hygienic and safe for your health. Well if not, then go in for food safety as safety standards are always there to help you protect your taste and nutritional value which you need and desire.

The Ongoing Forum for Indian Food importers (FIFI) in association with FSSAI (food safety and standards and authority of India) is addressing the challenges faced by the food retail sector.

FSSAI, established under the overarching legislation, lays down science based standards for food items and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

“There is a need to supplement the manpower and strengthening of the system. The licenses are to be issued to all Food Business Operators (FBO) through conversion of their earlier licenses issued under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and in cases where FBOs have come into being, issuance of new licenses. Similarly, a large number of small time FBOs would need to be registered,” Mr K. Chandramouli, chairperson of the Authority has said for the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into effect from August 5 last year.

With more food importers turning to India and opening their dedicated outlets which act as one point contact for people the food sector is experiencing dynamic developments.

As part of expansion, these outlets not only serve food but also cater to business enquiries such as franchising, logistics and so on. Opportunist People who want to end up being business partners or sole dealers of food products by a particular company look into various aspects such as food quality served, taste, texture of food, food safety, hygiene, acquiring raw materials for their preparations etc. come into play .This fuels competition and tends to increase as more new outlets are opened every now and then and in this mad rush to present something new and unique, the food outlets neglect safety and hygiene which is of utmost importance. A key to the concern seems to be available with TQS Global Management System- a known name that offers technical consultancy in the field of food safety also tries to keep up with the regulations which are set by FSSAI. The Global consultancy firm which works on food security and safety has in-depth practical knowledge of safety standards and expertise in it for more than a decade which has earned it the repute of a trusted name when it comes to food safety.

Today, the food industry has diversified in various verticals; food safety being an important one has a lot more to offer. The retail sector in India is growing at a pretty good pace and food retail is one of them. With new consumption patterns and new category market the need to recognize safety is also gaining more prominence. Eating out at restaurants, hotels and roadside vendors is what one is exposed to with major reason being busy schedule of working class individuals. The food served at these places normally does not look into the secure and safe factor while preparing their delicacies.

This leaves scope for a better mechanism wherein not only the food is audited but the various infrastructures used in preparing the food also goes under the scrutiny. To add to it new technology also plays a pivotal role as it uses scientific approach and methodology. Here, the consistency between international technical standards and domestic food standards is what is needed most. Regular checkups at timely intervals and stringent penal action under food safety and standards act 2006 ensure that the food and the technique used in it are in no way more prone to unhealthy and filthy environment. Also, more conscious steps should be taken at operational issues and it needs to match up to international safety standards. So, next time when you are eating out or even for that matter in home, do take care for your stomach and take the needed steps that ensure safe food as it would not only savor your taste buds but also keep you healthy.

CAMPCO wants CFTRI to certify quality of imported arecanut

If the suggestion of a city-based cooperative finds takers, Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) could become the centre for testing the quality of imported arecanut.

This could prevent imports of substandard arecanut into the country.

Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO) has urged Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, to appoint the CFTRI as an authority to test the quality of imported arecanut.

At present there is no government-authorised arecanut testing facility in the country.

Konkodi Padmanabha, president of the cooperative, has written to the Minister urging him to instruct the CFTRI to set standard specifications of the characteristics of imported arecanut.

“…We understand that till date there is no standard specification made available by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for arecanut…,” Mr. Padmanabha said in the letter dated June 3. As a result authorities at ports and those in the Public Health departments were not in a position to judge the quality of imported arecanut effectively.

The letter pointed out that an Arecanut Research and Development Foundation (ARDF) analysis here found four samples of imported arecanut unfit for human consumption due to fungal growth. The samples were sent by the Customs Department, Araria, Bihar, and the Revenue Intelligence Department, Muzaffarpur. But a court ruled that the ARDF was not a legally authorised agency to certify the quality of imported arecanut and the consignments were released later.

A testing centre was all the more important as 85 per cent (53,263 tonnes) of the arecanut imports in 2012-13 were from Bangladesh alone, as revealed by Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP.

M. Suresh Bhandary, managing director of CAMPCO, told The Hindu that food products had standard specifications regarding fat content, acid insoluble ash, PH level, total plate count, etc. In the absence of such specifications for arecanut, one cannot be sure of the quality of imported varieties, Mr. Bhandary said.

Dinathanthi

Dinamalar

Food adulteration crackdown nets 1

KOLKATA: Enforcement Branch officers on Tuesday rounded up a vegetable wholesaler from Howrah for using inorganic colours in his vegetables. Cops also seized 2 quintal pointed gourd from the market.
Enforcement Branch DG Vijoy Kumar said similar raids will be continued across the state to stop adulteration in food and vegetables. The initiative was taken following the order of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had expressed concern over the matter on Monday.
Colours, mostly chemicals harmful for human body, are used to mix with the vegetables for fresh looks. The traders even use most harmful chemicals like copper sulphate, rodamine-B, melaphite green and tatragin to make the vegetables look attractive to buyers. When people consume them, a portion of the chemicals gets into the human system. It can cause several health hazards like fatal infections in lever, kidney and can even cause cancer.
To prevent such adulteration in food items, the central government brought Food Safety and Standards Act in 2006 and set up designated offices in all states. But the practice of mixing colours continued due to lack of action, said Kumar. Police also have scope to prosecute such offenders under sections 272 and 273 IPC.
On Monday, the CM had entrusted the Special Task Force to keep a watch on market price and hoarding of food items. During the meeting at Writers' Buildings, she had expressed concern over food adulteration and asked the task force to take adequate action. Following the CM's instruction, the officers raided Howrah vegetable market on Tuesday and arrested one Tapas Das, who supplies vegetables to the market from Barasat. A case has been registered at Golabari police station.