Acid use in Food Processing

Regulation 3.1.12(ii) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 prescribes the standards and limits of acids as buffering agents to be used in  food processing. The details are annexed.

The implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests with the State/U.T. Governments. In this regard, random samples are drawn regularly by the State/U.T. Governments and penal action is taken against the offenders, in cases where samples are found to be nonconforming to the provisions of the Act and Regulations and Rules made there under.

Annexure

Section 3.1.12: SEQUESTERING AND BUFFERING AGENTS
(ACIDS, BASES AND SALTS)

(i) “Sequestering agents” means substances which prevent adverse effect of metals catalyzing the oxidative break-down of food forming chelates; thus inhibiting decolourisation, off taste and rancidity;

(ii) “Buffering agents” means materials used to counter acidic and alkaline changes during storage or processing steps, thus improving the flavor and increasing the stability of foods;

1)      Restrictions on the use of sequestering and buffering agents.

Unless otherwise provided in these regulations the sequestering and buffering agents specified in column (1) of the Table below, may be used in the groups of food specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the said Table, in concentration not exceeding the proportions specified in the corresponding entry in column (3) of the said Table:

TABLE

Sl No.	Name of sequestering and buffering agents	Group of food	Maximum level of use (parts per million) (ppm) (mg/kg)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1.	Acetic Acid	(i) Acidulant, buffering and neutralizing agents in beverages soft drinks (ii) in canned baby foods	Limited by G.M.P. 5000
2.	Adipic Acid	Salt substitute and dietary food	250
3.	Calcium Gluconate	In confections	2500
4.	Calcium Carbonate	As a neutralizer in number of foods	10000
5.	Calcium Oxide	As a neutraliser in specified dairy product	2500
6.	Citric acid malic acid	Carbonated beverage and as an acidulant in miscellaneous foods	Limited by G.M.P.
7.	DL Lactic Acid (food grade)	As an acidulant in miscellaneous foods	Limited by G.M.P.
8.	L(+) Lactic Acid (food grade)	As an acidulant in miscellaneous foods	Limited by G.M.P.
9.	Phosphoric Acid	Beverages, soft drinks	600
10.	Polyphosphate containing less than 6 Phosphate moleties	(a) Processed cheese, bread (b) Milk Preparations (c) Cake mixes (d) Protein foods	40000 4000 10000 4000
11.	L(+) Tartaric acid	Acidulants	600
12.	Calcium Disodium, Ethylene, Diamine tetra acetate	(i) Emulsions containing refined vegetable oils, eggs, vinegar, salt, sugar and spices; (ii) Salad dressing; (iii) Sandwich spread or fat Spread	50
13.	Fumaric acid	As an acidulant in miscellaneous foods	3000ppm

Note:- DL Lactic acid and L(+) Tartaric acid shall not be added to any food meant for children below 12 months (The lactic acid shall also conform to the specification laid down by the Indian Standards Institution.)

This information was given by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare ShriGhulamNabi Azadin written reply to a question in the LokSabha today.

ஆய்வகங்களில் "மைக்ரோ பயாலஜிஸ்ட்' இல்லை: குடிநீர், உணவு மாதிரிகள் பரிசோதிப்பதில் சிக்கல்

உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ஆய்வகங்களில், மைக்ரோ பயாலஜிஸ்ட் (நுண்ணுயிரியாளர்) இல்லாததால், பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாய உத்தரவுப்படி எடுக்கப்படும் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள் மற்றும் உணவு மாதிரிகளை பரிசோதிக்க முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில், குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் குடிநீர், தரமானதாக இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், தேசிய பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் (தெற்கு மண்டலம்), தாமாக வழக்கு பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகிறது. சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், அனுமதியில்லாத குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் இழுத்து மூடப்பட்டன. பின், குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து, பரிசோதனைக்குப்பின் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த நிலையில், தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில், குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து பரிசோதிக்க, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. இதற்காக, மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரிகள், தமிழகம் முழுவதும் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து வருகின்றனர். இவற்றை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புதுறை, தனது ஆய்வுகள் மூலம், பரிசோதித்து அறிக்கை தர வேண்டும். பீகாரில் சத்துணவு சாப்பிட்ட குழந்தைகள் மரணம், நாமக்கல் மாவட்டத்தில் வாந்தி, பேதி பாதிப்பைத் தொடர்ந்து, சத்துணவின் தரத்தையும் கண்காணிக்கும் பொறுப்பு, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறைக்கு வந்துள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில், சென்னை (கிண்டி), சேலம், கோவை, மதுரை, தஞ்சாவூர், பாளையங்கோட்டை என, ஐந்து இடங்களில் ஆய்வகங்கள் உள்ளன. இதில், பல நிலைகளில் ஆய்வாளர்கள் இருந்தாலும், சென்னை தவிர மற்ற இடங்களில், மைக்ரோ பயாலஜிஸ்ட் (நுண்ணுயிரியாளர்) இல்லை. இந்த இடங்கள் காலியாகவே உள்ளதால், குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள், உணவு மாதிரிகள் எடுத்தாலும், உரிய பரிசோதனை செய்ய முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை உயர் அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: ஐந்து - ஆறு மாவட்டங்களுக்கு ஒரு ஆய்வகம் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதில், குடிநீர், உணவின் தரம் சார்ந்த பரிசோதனைக்கான, மைக்ரோ பயாலஜிஸ்ட் பற்றாக்குறை உள்ளது உண்மைதான். தற்போது, டி.என்.பி.எஸ்.சி., மூலம், இரண்டு பேர் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இவர்கள், கோவை, மதுரை ஆய்வகங்களில் நியமிக்கப்பட உள்ளனர். மற்ற ஆய்வகங்களுக்கு, பொது சுகாதாரத்துறையிலிருந்து, வாரத்திற்கு ஒரு நாள் பணி மாற்ற முறையில், மைக்ரோ பயாலஜிஸ்ட்களை பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ள முயற்சித்து வருகிறோம். விரைவில் இந்த சிக்கல்கள் தீரும். இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்

NCDEX in a fix over order to destroy 900 t of pepper

Leaves contracts worth crores of rupees in jeopardy

The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) is facing the heat as the Kerala Food Safety Commissioner has ordered it to destroy 900 tonnes of adulterated black pepper, leaving the contract worth crores of rupees in jeopardy.

In December last , six warehouses accredited by NCDEX in Ernakulam and Alappuzha district in Kerala were sealed over complaint of adulteration of pepper stock. “We have ordered that black pepper found to be adulterated with mineral oil be destroyed immediately in concurrence with the Spice Board of India,” Commissioner, Food Safety (Kerala), Biju Prabhakar said in its order.

As per the order, about 6,000 tonnes of black pepper has been sealed after found to be adulterated with mineral oil.

Mineral oil used in adulterated black pepper is made of burnt diesel, paraffin oil, white petroleum and other un-digestible and insoluble petroleum products. Black pepper coated with mineral oil is considered carcinogenic, and even otherwise harmful for human consumption.

NCDEX officials said they could not comment unless the exchange received a copy of the order.

The Food Safety Commissioner sealed six warehouses and issued notice to NCDEX to ensure that commodity did not enter the market. The Spices Board of India was asked to examine the samples of the black pepper.

On suspicion, the Commissioner had collected samples of the black pepper from NCDEX-accredited warehouses in October, 2012.

Meanwhile, the writ petition filed in the Indore High Court by the Kalimirch Vyapari Association will be heard on September 17. The association represents traders suffering due to non-delivery of black pepper by NCDEX.

The KVA members have reportedly bought black pepper on NCDEX by paying about Rs.350 crore.

With seizure of six warehouses in Kerala, black pepper traders of NCDEX have also made representation to the FMC and also to the exchange demanding delivery of valid goods or refund of the value of the pepper.

Food officer crunch in NE

Guwahati, Aug. 19: The northeastern states are facing a dearth of food safety inspectors, adequate infrastructure and laboratory facilities required to monitor food quality in the region.
This was revealed by officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) during a training programme for food safety officers of the northeastern states in Guwahati today.

The five-day training organised by FSSAI began today and will conclude on August 23.
Although the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, guarantees the availability of safe and wholesome food for all, many loopholes exist that hamper the proper monitoring of the quality of food in terms of its manufacture, storage and sale.
“There are not adequate number of food security officers in the northeastern states, whose main responsibility is to monitor the quality of all food items that are manufactured, stored or sold here. More manpower is required so that the process of monitoring and testing of various edible items in a scientific manner can take place properly. Besides, there is also a need of proper infrastructure and adequate numbers of laboratories where tests on food samples can be conducted to ascertain their quality,” said Col C.K. Dalal, director (enforcement), FSSAI.
“The food safety officers of the Northeast do not have the required knowledge of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Awareness on the act is essential as this will help them discharge their responsibilities well according to the requirement of the act. As such, we are conducting a number of awareness meetings for food safety officers of the region. Moreover, funds for the development of infrastructure and laboratories in all the seven states have already been earmarked in the current Five Year plan,” said Dalal.
On the importance of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Dalal said, “The efficient implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is very essential to ensure that all people get to consume healthy and safe food. This act not only prevents adulteration of all edible items available in the market, but also ensures their safety. Under the act, every person is considered a customer, irrespective of whether he is involved in the manufacturing and sale of food items. Hence, it is the responsibility of food safety officers to collect samples of food items, test them for any adulteration and then bring to book the people involved in the adulteration of these edible items.”

PDS Fortified Wheat Atta’ up for grabs at select FPSs

After a substantial course of trials, the A & N Administration's Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs finally rolled out its ambitious pilot project for distribution of fortified wheat flour/Atta under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in South Andaman,  excluding Little Andaman on Aug. 16, 2013, here. This has come as a sure respite for the Islands' Atta lovers, who have been going through tough times with the soaring prices of packed Atta, of late. Packed neatly in a white coloured sachet, the 'PDS Fortified Wheat Flour Atta', manufactured by Associated Industries, R-45, Industrial Estate, Dollygunj, Port Blair, has already been made available for sale to the ration card holders at the counters of a few select Fair Price Shops (FPS) in the city, to start with.

          The 'PDS Fortified Wheat Flour Atta' is now available at these few select FPSs at Rs. 15 for Above Poverty Line (APL), Rs. 12.40 for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Rs. 10.35 for Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) categories.

          Speaking to this correspondent, the Director, (CS & CA), Mr. Som Naidu informed that to begin with, the scheme is being implemented for a period of three months on a trial basis in South Andaman, excluding Little Andaman and will be extended further, depending upon the response received from the consumers. "We will cover the entire South Andaman district in the next ten days. The two other districts will also be covered in due course of time.

          He further said that the card holders can purchase the packed Atta and whole wheat from their respective FPS on a 50-50 basis.

          As per the present plan, the customers of various categories can purchase half of the total quantity of whole wheat issued to them in the form of packed Atta i.e. if a family gets 8 Kg of whole wheat per month, it now has the option of purchasing 4 Kg of whole wheat and 4 Kg of packed Atta. The customers cannot purchase full 8 Kg of packed Atta in place of whole wheat, as of now, due to shortage of supply during the three-month trial period," he added.

          "Manufactured with the help of a pneumatic mill, the 'PDS Fortified Wheat Flour Atta' contains Vitamin A, Folic acid and Iron and a lab certification is sought from the manufacturer in a bid to verify the standards as per the Food Safety & Standard Act, 2006, on a monthly basis, during the trial period, which will be changed to every 3 months, later on," enlightened Mr. Rajesh, who looks after the distribution of food grains at the Directorate.

          Regarding a green coloured square patch observed in the middle of every packet of the packed Atta, Mr. Naidu said that initially it was planned to imprint the state emblem of the nation, the Ashoka Chakra on every packet, but a bit of circumspection was exercised about the likelihood of the empty packets being stamped upon, once discarded in garbage and hence the emblem, already printed on the first lot of the packets was masked.