Jul 26, 2013
10 mineral water brands fail quality test
Lab analysis reveals sub-standard water being supplied in Madurai
Mineral water cans are routinely delivered on doorsteps
with a mere phone call. But if you are under an impression that the
water that you buy matches the parameters to be classified as packaged
drinking water or mineral water, then you are in for a shock. Water
analysis tests done at the Government Food Analysis Laboratory in
Chennai of drinking water samples collected in Madurai have revealed
that sub-standard water is being sold to households and offices.
The
results, which were despatched to the Food Safety and Drug
Administration office here this week, point to deficiencies in the
drinking water being supplied by seven manufacturers in the district. A
team of Food Safety Officers collected water samples earlier this month
and sent them for analysis. “We sent 32 water samples collected from
various places in the district to our Chennai lab and received the
results for 29 samples on Tuesday. The report clearly says that seven of
them were sub-standard and three misbranded,” J. Suguna, Designated
Officer for Food Safety, Madurai district, told
The Hindu
on Thursday.
The samples were collected from shops,
manufacturing units, reverse osmosis plants and storage points during
the surprise checks.
A wide range of local water
brands were covered at places such as Kalavasal, Vadipatti, Pudupatti,
Tirumangalam, Peraiyur, Othakadai, Chinthamani, Oomachikulam,
Chettikulam, Chellampatti, Poikaraipatti, Kochadai, Melur,
Thanakkankulam, Bypass Road and Anuppanadi.
The samples fell into four categories — genuine, unsafe, sub-standard and complied to standards.
It
was found that the pH level in seven water samples was far lower than
the prescribed 6.5-8.5 pH level meant for packaged and mineral water.
This sub-standard water is supplied in cans and bottles.
“We
issued notices to the seven suppliers and within 15 days they have to
correct the deficiencies. Even though there is nothing alarming as such,
the pH level has to be maintained as per the standards. Samples will be
collected once again to check for compliance,” Dr. Suguna said.
The
Food Analyst Report available at the Food Safety wing office in
Viswanathapuram lays down exact specifications with regard to level of
content for colour, odour, aerobic microbial count, fluoride, sulphide,
alkalinity, and so on.
Suspect water
As
per the report, the suspect drinking water was supplied from seven RO
plants and stockists in Anuppanadi, Paravai, Arumbanur, Athalai,
Sathiyapuram (Melur), Thanakkankulam and Meyyappanpatti.
The revelation of three ‘misbranded’ mineral water products (wrong label) is another challenge for the authorities.
According
to the Food Products Standards, packaged drinking water means water
derived from surface water, underground water or sea water which is
subjected to specified treatments — filtration, aeration, cartridge
filter, de-mineralisation, re-mineralisation, reverse osmosis — and
packed after disinfecting the water to a level that should not lead to
any harmful contamination.
Those who doubt the
genuineness of mineral water can make a complaint to the Designated
Officer for Food Safety on mobile number 98423 03625.
Two SHGs found violating midday meal licence norms
Inspection drive by FDA team in Goa did not find any major sanitation lapses
Apart from minor lapses of sanitation and other things
on the premises where midday meal food was being cooked by self-help
groups , inspection teams of the State Food and Drugs Administration
(FDA) on Thursday found a couple of instances of SHGs in Canacona in
south Goa sub-letting their midday meal food preparation to
un-authorised persons at unlicensed premises.
Responding
to the rising cases of food-poisoning and other complaints over midday
meal scheme across the State, Food Safety Officers (FSOs) of FDA
continued their inspection drive of the various SHGs involved in the
supply of midday meals to various schools.
Three
teams of FSOs on Thursday conducted such inspections of the SHGs located
in Bicholim, Sanquelim, Assonora, Karaswada, Pirna, Colvale, Tivim,
Revora, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona areas and a total of 20 SHGs
premises were inspected in the early hours of the day from 6 a.m. to 1
p.m. to check their activities during the cooking operation and also
verify their sanitation and hygienic conditions while preparation of the
midday meal.
FDA Director Salim A. Veljee told
The Hindu
on Thursday that although the inspection drive did not find any major
lapses of sanitation on the part of the various SHGs, minor defects of
improper raw materials storage, lack of soak pit, tiles required on the
kitchen walls and overall cleanliness required at the raw materials
storage area were observed by the officers and the SHGs have been
strictly advised to rectify the same and submit their compliance report
within a week’s time.
The inspection drives have also
been carried out at the request from the Education Department, he said
and proposed to forward them the reports of these inspections.
FDA
had conducted earlier on July 13 similar surprise visits to 32 SHGs in
various pockets of the State. “So far we have completed the drive
against 61 SHGs since June and inspection at the remaining 20-odd SHGs
shall be completed in the next two days and thereafter in the early next
week all reports would be forwarded to the Director of Education for
their information and action,” said Mr. Veljee. This would be in
addition to notice ordering improvement issued by the FDA, he said.
Giving
details of the inspection, he said that it was observed that at
Canacona two SHGs, namely, Surabhi SHG and Astha SHG located at
Kotegaon, Canacona in south Goa had sublet their tender for the supply
of midday meals to Roshan Gaonkar and Ramda Gaonkar, both at Kotegaon,
Canacona. They were found preparing the midday meals on their premises
which were not licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and
as such SHGs have been directed to immediately stop illegalities.
The raid comes in the wake of rising cases of food-poisoning over midday meal scheme
So far we have completed the drive against 61 SHGs since June, says an official
2 self-help groups told to stop midday meal supply for sub-letting
PANAJI: The food and drugs administration (FDA), during its inspection drive on Thursday, found that two self-help groups (SHGs) in Cotigaon, Canacona, had sublet their contract to supply midday meals.
Two SHGs, namely Surabhi and Astha, allowed Roshan Goankar and Ramda Goankar to replace them as suppliers of midday meals. Both these individuals had not obtained a licence under Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006.
FDA director Salim Veljee said both SHGs have been directed to immediately stop unauthorized preparation of midday meals. The education department has been intimated about this incident and asked to take further action.
Three teams of food safety officers attached to the food and drugs administration (FDA) conducted a special inspection drive to check hygienic conditions in premises of 20 self-help groups (SHGs) involved in the supply of midday meals to various schools.
The FDA inspectors inspected SHGs in Bicholim, Sanquelim, Assonora, Karaswada, Pirna, Colvale, Tivim, Revora, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona.
The inspection was carried out on Thursday between 6am and 1pm to check on sanitary and hygienic conditions whilst preparing the midday meals.
Veljee said that the food inspectors did not find any major lapses with regard to the sanitation. But minor deficiencies were noticed such as improper ways of storing raw material and absence of soak pits.
In cases where raw materials were not stored properly, the SHGs have been asked to make necessary changes and submit compliance reports within a week's time. He said that they conducted the inspection drives on a request of the education department and that reports will be forwarded to the department.
Earlier, FDA had conducted similar surprise visits of 32 SHGs in various parts of the state. Since June, the FDA has inspected premises of 61 SHGs. The remaining SHGs will be inspected in the next two days.
Two SHGs, namely Surabhi and Astha, allowed Roshan Goankar and Ramda Goankar to replace them as suppliers of midday meals. Both these individuals had not obtained a licence under Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006.
FDA director Salim Veljee said both SHGs have been directed to immediately stop unauthorized preparation of midday meals. The education department has been intimated about this incident and asked to take further action.
Three teams of food safety officers attached to the food and drugs administration (FDA) conducted a special inspection drive to check hygienic conditions in premises of 20 self-help groups (SHGs) involved in the supply of midday meals to various schools.
The FDA inspectors inspected SHGs in Bicholim, Sanquelim, Assonora, Karaswada, Pirna, Colvale, Tivim, Revora, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona.
The inspection was carried out on Thursday between 6am and 1pm to check on sanitary and hygienic conditions whilst preparing the midday meals.
Veljee said that the food inspectors did not find any major lapses with regard to the sanitation. But minor deficiencies were noticed such as improper ways of storing raw material and absence of soak pits.
In cases where raw materials were not stored properly, the SHGs have been asked to make necessary changes and submit compliance reports within a week's time. He said that they conducted the inspection drives on a request of the education department and that reports will be forwarded to the department.
Earlier, FDA had conducted similar surprise visits of 32 SHGs in various parts of the state. Since June, the FDA has inspected premises of 61 SHGs. The remaining SHGs will be inspected in the next two days.
Online food licensing and regn faces manpower & infrastructure hurdles
Even technology has failed to speed up the snail-paced licensing and
registration of FBOs procedure being undertaken across the country under
the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food
Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
That is because, fraught with glitches like lack of tech-savvy users and officials and inadequate infrastructure – software, hardware and manpower - the online version of the procedure, which meant the entire process will be completed in a few minutes at the click of a few buttons, has failed to gather steam in most parts of the country where it has been launched in recent times.
While the above-mentioned glitches are a matter of grave concern for now, they are also likely to impact the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) goal of completing the licensing and registration procedure in the country before the deadline – February 4, 2014 – be it manual or online. Interestingly, the deadline has been extended by the Authority twice earlier.
To know the current scenario, let us take a look at Goa. The tiny state commenced the process of licensing and registration online on January 31, 2012. Jyoti J Sardessai, deputy director, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the South Goa district, said, “Most food business operators across the state prefer offline application.”
This was confirmed by a source in the district FDA, who added that online licensing and registration constitutes 30 per cent, while offline licensing and registration accounts for the remainder.
He said, “Adequate infrastructure has not been created for citizen-centric centres (for instance, cyber-cafes, which charge exorbitant rates). Another hurdle the online system faces in Goa is that most FBOs are not too tech-savvy.”
“We have recently appointed four data entry operators, who upload the information about applications received – both online and offline – from FBOs in the state's two districts (North Goa and South Goa) onto a database,” the official informed.
“Establishments with larger premises and more staff opt for online licensing and registration,” he added.
Software glitches
The online licensing and registration process first started about two years ago. But the software for the same, though developed with a great deal of fanfare and trials, was not upto the mark. While efforts were made to rectify the weak areas, users still found some glitches.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra was the first to start the online licensing and registration. Till date, 3 lakh FBOs across the western state have either registered or obtained licences. Yet, 90 per cent of the registration and licensing has taken place offline, and the remainder online.
Haryana & Chandigarh
Haryana also started the online registration for FBOs on March 22 2013. Chandigarh, the capital of the state (as well as that of Punjab), became the first Union Territory recently to introduce the online food licensing and registration system (FLRS) to facilitate food business operators (FBOs) to file and track their applications.
Tamil Nadu & Kerala
The total number of licenses issued by and FBOs registered in Tamil Nadu so far is 1,85,000, all of which are offline. The online process recently commenced in Madurai district. The number of FBOs who have either obtained a license or registered – all offline – across Kerala is 55,000.
That is because, fraught with glitches like lack of tech-savvy users and officials and inadequate infrastructure – software, hardware and manpower - the online version of the procedure, which meant the entire process will be completed in a few minutes at the click of a few buttons, has failed to gather steam in most parts of the country where it has been launched in recent times.
While the above-mentioned glitches are a matter of grave concern for now, they are also likely to impact the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) goal of completing the licensing and registration procedure in the country before the deadline – February 4, 2014 – be it manual or online. Interestingly, the deadline has been extended by the Authority twice earlier.
To know the current scenario, let us take a look at Goa. The tiny state commenced the process of licensing and registration online on January 31, 2012. Jyoti J Sardessai, deputy director, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the South Goa district, said, “Most food business operators across the state prefer offline application.”
This was confirmed by a source in the district FDA, who added that online licensing and registration constitutes 30 per cent, while offline licensing and registration accounts for the remainder.
He said, “Adequate infrastructure has not been created for citizen-centric centres (for instance, cyber-cafes, which charge exorbitant rates). Another hurdle the online system faces in Goa is that most FBOs are not too tech-savvy.”
“We have recently appointed four data entry operators, who upload the information about applications received – both online and offline – from FBOs in the state's two districts (North Goa and South Goa) onto a database,” the official informed.
“Establishments with larger premises and more staff opt for online licensing and registration,” he added.
Software glitches
The online licensing and registration process first started about two years ago. But the software for the same, though developed with a great deal of fanfare and trials, was not upto the mark. While efforts were made to rectify the weak areas, users still found some glitches.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra was the first to start the online licensing and registration. Till date, 3 lakh FBOs across the western state have either registered or obtained licences. Yet, 90 per cent of the registration and licensing has taken place offline, and the remainder online.
Haryana & Chandigarh
Haryana also started the online registration for FBOs on March 22 2013. Chandigarh, the capital of the state (as well as that of Punjab), became the first Union Territory recently to introduce the online food licensing and registration system (FLRS) to facilitate food business operators (FBOs) to file and track their applications.
Tamil Nadu & Kerala
The total number of licenses issued by and FBOs registered in Tamil Nadu so far is 1,85,000, all of which are offline. The online process recently commenced in Madurai district. The number of FBOs who have either obtained a license or registered – all offline – across Kerala is 55,000.
Gujarat – An exception
However, Gujarat is a state whose Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has fared better than its counterparts in the other states.
H G Koshia, the state's food commissioner, said, “About 1,20,000 FBOs have either obtained a license or registered offline so far. And I am proud to say that Gujarat has become the first state in the country to start the online registration and licensing process in all 26 districts at one go.”
He added, “We imparted training to all the FBOs and also organised five workshops covering all the districts along with the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”
Koshia added, “I am sure Gujarat will complete its licensing and registration well before the deadline stipulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, namely February 4, 2014.”
Puducherry's poor performance
“There are seven months to go before the February 4, 2014 deadline lapses, but the process of licensing and registration is yet to commence in Puducherry,” said Ragesh Chandra, the Union Territory's health and education secretary.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, FSSAI is organising workshops and educating FBOS across the country hoping that all the states concerned come up with solutions for their problems soon.
However, Gujarat is a state whose Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has fared better than its counterparts in the other states.
H G Koshia, the state's food commissioner, said, “About 1,20,000 FBOs have either obtained a license or registered offline so far. And I am proud to say that Gujarat has become the first state in the country to start the online registration and licensing process in all 26 districts at one go.”
He added, “We imparted training to all the FBOs and also organised five workshops covering all the districts along with the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”
Koshia added, “I am sure Gujarat will complete its licensing and registration well before the deadline stipulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, namely February 4, 2014.”
Puducherry's poor performance
“There are seven months to go before the February 4, 2014 deadline lapses, but the process of licensing and registration is yet to commence in Puducherry,” said Ragesh Chandra, the Union Territory's health and education secretary.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, FSSAI is organising workshops and educating FBOS across the country hoping that all the states concerned come up with solutions for their problems soon.
Over 700 poor quality foreign food shipments rejected since ’11
In a little over two years, nearly 750 consignments of imported food
and agricultural products were stopped at Indian ports and international
airports after they were found to be of unacceptable quality. Nearly 18
per cent of rejected shipments came from countries of the European
Union.
The bulk of the material examined and rejected by Indian
regulators consisted of moong dal, garlic powder, white onion powder,
fruit drinks, chocolates and dietary supplements such as True-Mass, a
protein powder popular with bodybuilders.
Among the other products denied entry are soyabean oil, spices,
additives, fruits, peach syrup, jack cheese (an American semi-hard
cheese) and Haribo Happy-Cola gummy candy.
According to information provided by the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in response to a query filed by The
Indian Express under the Right to Information Act, of a total 1,40,534
samples of imported food and agri products examined between March 2011
and June 2013, 746 were stopped — a rejection rate of about 0.5 per
cent.
Consignments began to be examined at the international airports
in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, seaports in Mumbai, Kolkata and
Chennai, and at the Inland Container Depot in Delhi in March 2011
following the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA),
2006, and the establishment of the FSSAI.
European Union member countries have rejected over 800 Indian
products over the last five years (The Indian Express, May 15, 2013);
however, K Chandramouli, FSSAI chairperson, said the rejection of 134
consignments from EU nations since March 2011 was "not a case of tit
for tat".
"Our action is not prompted by their action against Indian
products. We are supposed to maintain the quality of imported food
products, and we are doing that," Chandramouli said.
According to the FSSAI, the most rejections (448) were at Mumbai,
followed by Chennai (198 rejections), Kolkata (64) and Delhi (36).
Experts highlight potentials of street food sector
The country needs to tap the huge potential of street food sector as it
can provide employment and help growth of tourism, food experts said
today.
At a national consultation organised by National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) here, street food advocates demanded that the government should formulate a national policy for encouraging street food vendors.
They also called for creation of food streets, trainings to street food vendors and support for entrepreneurship development of food vendors.
"FSSAI had notified Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations under which food and beverage firms, manufacturers and vendors, including companies in the unorganised sector, have to be registered and licensed and the regulations had helped street food vendors get legitimacy in several cities," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) chairperson K Chandramouli said.
"A lot still have to be done...Implementation is a huge challenge and multi-sectoral synergies are needed to professionalise the street vended foods," he said.
Chandramouli also welcomed the recommendation of the parliamentary standing committee to create a 'Retail Regulatory Authority' to monitor the entry of foreign chains through foreign direct investment (FDI) and study the impact of FDI on medium, small and micro enterprises.
Delhi Food Safety Commissioner K J R Burman who extended support to street vendors said, "Professionalising leads to good advocacy. The food safety department is thinking over opening facilitation centres for registering street food vendors."
Senior CII functionaries Deepak Mathur and Anju Bisht announced that the industries' body would engage with NASVI in its new intervention project, which includes street food.
At a national consultation organised by National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) here, street food advocates demanded that the government should formulate a national policy for encouraging street food vendors.
They also called for creation of food streets, trainings to street food vendors and support for entrepreneurship development of food vendors.
"FSSAI had notified Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations under which food and beverage firms, manufacturers and vendors, including companies in the unorganised sector, have to be registered and licensed and the regulations had helped street food vendors get legitimacy in several cities," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) chairperson K Chandramouli said.
"A lot still have to be done...Implementation is a huge challenge and multi-sectoral synergies are needed to professionalise the street vended foods," he said.
Chandramouli also welcomed the recommendation of the parliamentary standing committee to create a 'Retail Regulatory Authority' to monitor the entry of foreign chains through foreign direct investment (FDI) and study the impact of FDI on medium, small and micro enterprises.
Delhi Food Safety Commissioner K J R Burman who extended support to street vendors said, "Professionalising leads to good advocacy. The food safety department is thinking over opening facilitation centres for registering street food vendors."
Senior CII functionaries Deepak Mathur and Anju Bisht announced that the industries' body would engage with NASVI in its new intervention project, which includes street food.
Traders fined Rs 60,000 for selling sub-standard products
JAMMU: The Additional District Magistrate (ADM), R.K Shavan on Thursday
imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 each on two traders in case of selling
sub-standard and mis-branded food stuff .
The ADM, who is Adjudication Officer under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, imposed the penalty on the retailers, Vijay Paul S of Kishtwar and Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Patimhala for selling miss-branded and substandard biscuits and candies.
As per the charges, Food Safety Officer took the samples of Yougata Bites candy and Burkha Biscuit being sold by the two shopkeepers and sent the samples to NABL Lab for quality test.
The test report found both the products sub-standard and mis-branded.
The Additional District Magistrate, after hearing Tariq Ahmed Butt, Designated Food Safety Officer and Sajjad Hussain Food Safety Officer pronounced the judgment imposing Rs 30,000 fine on each defaulter.
The ADM, who is Adjudication Officer under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, imposed the penalty on the retailers, Vijay Paul S of Kishtwar and Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of Patimhala for selling miss-branded and substandard biscuits and candies.
As per the charges, Food Safety Officer took the samples of Yougata Bites candy and Burkha Biscuit being sold by the two shopkeepers and sent the samples to NABL Lab for quality test.
The test report found both the products sub-standard and mis-branded.
The Additional District Magistrate, after hearing Tariq Ahmed Butt, Designated Food Safety Officer and Sajjad Hussain Food Safety Officer pronounced the judgment imposing Rs 30,000 fine on each defaulter.
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