JMC conducts drive against 'milk-adulteration, use of polythene'

Jammu, Dec 5 : Following instructions from Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation,Kiran Wattal, the enforcement wing of corporation launched a special against adulteration of milk and the use of polythene.

According to official spokesperson, the team of officers comprising Municipal Veterinary Officer, Chief Enforcement Officer, Chief Transport officer, Food Safety officers, Sanitation Officer and other field staff of JMC during drive conducted in Amphalla, Sarwal, Bakshi Nagar, Indra Chowk, Manda here today.

During drive Milk shops of M/S Gupta Milk at Sarwal and Sunil Cheese corner Sarwal were on spot checked milk products with the help of lactometer and of Garber Machine which showed the percentage of Fat & SNF below standard .

The department also checked products by 'urea test' and cautioned the milk traders to provide quality milk products.

Meanwhile during the inspection of vegetable sellers at Sarwal some polythene bags were found in their possession and the Polythene was sized on spot and a fine was imposed to these vegetable sellers. During the said drive an amount of Rs.17500/- as fine has been recovered from the defaulters & JMC has also directed to the Milk sellers to use Lecto-Meter at the time of purchasing of Milk so that the public can get standard/good quality of milk.

On the same day an another drive was conducted to unauthorized Rehriwallas and the consumer goods were seized by the JMC team on spot while JMC officials directed the rehriwallas to get the proper license from the JMC.

பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும்

புதுடெல்லி, டிச 6: 

பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும். இது தொடர்பாக மாநில அரசுகள் சட்டத்தில் திருத்தம் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும் என்று உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் அதிரடியாக உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. 

உத்தர பிரதேசம், மேற்கு வங்கம், ஒடிசா உட்பட பல மாநிலங்களில் பாலில் கலப்படம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது. கலப்பட பால் விற்பனை எங்கும் புற்றீசல் போல பரவி உள்ளது. பாலில், செயற்கையாக ரசாயன பொருட்கள், டிடெர்ஜன்ட் பவுடர் போன்றவை கலப்படம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதனால் குழந்தைகளுக்கு பெரும் ஆபத்து ஏற்படுகிறது என்று அவ்வப்போது சர்வேக்களில் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இது குறித்து பல நுகர்வோர் அமைப்பினரும், நிபுணர்களும் கவலை தெரிவித்து வந்தனர். 

இது தொடர்பாக உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் பொதுநல மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டது. அதை விசாரித்த நீதிபதிகள் கே.எஸ். ராதாகிருஷ்ணன், ஏ.கே. சிக்ரி கடுமையான கருத்துக்களை தெரிவித்தனர். 

அவர்கள் தங்கள் தீர்ப்பில் கூறியதாவது: 

பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வது என்பது மன்னிக்க முடியாத குற்றம். உச்சக்கட்ட குற்றமாக கருதப்பட வேண்டும். அதற்கு ஆயுள் சிறை தண்டனை அளிக்கும் வகையில் சட்டங்களை திருத்த வேண்டும். மாநில அரசுகளிடம் இது தொடர்பான சட்டம் உள்ளதால், அவர்கள் இந்த சட்டத்தில் கடுமையான திருத்தம் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். 

குழந்தைகள் உட்பட பலரும் அருந்தும் பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வதை சகிக்க முடியாது. அதிலும், பிளாஸ்டிக் போன்ற ரசாயன கலவை சேர்ப்பது, நுரை வருவதற்காக சோப்பு டிடெர்ஜன்ட் பவுடரை கலப்பது போன்றவற்றை ஒரு போதும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாது. இதை இரும்புக்கரம் கொண்டு தடுக்க வேண்டும். இதை சம்பந்தப்பட்ட துறையினர் முழு கண்காணிப்பை மேற்கொண்டு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். இதில் தயவு தாட்சண்யம் காட்டக்கூடாது. 

உணவுப்பாதுகாப்பு, தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு சட்டத்தின் படி, பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வோருக்கு ஆறு மாதம் வரை தான் தண்டனை தர முடியும். இது போதாது. மனித சமுதாயத்தை பாதிக்கும் பால் கலப்படக்காரர்களுக்கு இந்த தண்டனை போதாது. அதனால் சட்டத்தில் உரிய மாற்றங்களை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு, கலப்படம் செய்த பாலை விற்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை தரும் வகையில் திருத்தம் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். 

அரசு சட்டம் இயற்ற உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு 

உணவுப்பாதுகாப்பு, தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு சட்டத்தின் படி, பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வோருக்கு ஆறு மாதம் வரை தான் தண்டனை தர முடியும். இது போதாது. மனித சமுதாயத்தை பாதிக்கும் பால் கலப்படக்காரர்களுக்கு இந்த தண்டனை போதாது. அதனால் சட்டத்தில் உரிய மாற்றங்களை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு, கலப்படம் செய்த பாலை விற்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை தரும் வகையில் திருத்தம் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். 

கடந்த 2011 ம் ஆண்டில், பல மாநிலங்களில் எடுக்கப்பட்ட மாதிரிகளில் திடுக்கிடும் தகவல்கள் தெரியவந்துள்ளன. பல மாநிலங்களிலும் பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வது பரவி உள்ளது என்ற தகவல் அதில் இருந்து தெரியவந்துள்ளது. பொதுநல மனுவை தாக்கல் செய்தவர்கள் அளித்த ஆதாரங்களில் இருந்து இது தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இது மிகவும் வேதனையானது.  இவ்வாறு நீதிபதிகள் கூறினர். 

ஆந்திரா, மகாராஷ்டிரா, பீகார், கர்நாடகா உட்பட பல மாநிலங்களிலும் பாலில் கலப்படம் நடப்பது பெரிய அளவில் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மத்திய அரசின் பொறுப்பில் உள்ள உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு ஆணையம் சமீபத்தில் பல மாநிலங்களில் ஆய்வு நடத்தியது. அதில் பல இடங்களிலும் பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்வது தெரியவந்துள்ளது. 

சமீபத்தில், மும்பை, புனே போன்ற இடங்களில் பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்ததாக அதிரடி ரெய்டுகளில் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. பல கோடி மோசடி செய்யும் அளவுக்கு இதில் மாபியா கும்பல் இருப்பது தெரியவந்தது. பல தனியார் அமைப்புகளும் இது தொடர்பாக தகவல்களை சேகரித்துள்ளன. அவற்றின் தொகுப்பு தான் இப்போது சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் மனுவாக தாக்கல் ஆகியுள்ளது. சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் உத்தரவை தொடர்ந்து மாநில அரசுகள் இது தொடர்பாக நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது.

Delay in product approval; registration to go online now: Chandramouli

With rising concern about delay in completion of product approval process, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to speed it up by going in for computerisation of registration and disposal of application for the purpose.

The process is likely to get completed by February 2014 and thereafter the applicants could check the status of their application, according to K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI. He was speaking while taking part in a CII (Confederation of Indian Industry)-hosted programme on food safety here recently.

“We’re in the process of making registration and disposal of application for product approval online and in next couple of months we’ll be able to make it a reality,” he stated.

He said that the issue of product approval has been one of the several issues, the Authority was grappling with for sometime now.

“The Authority has asked suggestions from the industry and (now) the product approval process is by and large summed up. The heartening part is that the product approval exercise is getting online formally in the next couple of months. The startoff month is Feb’14,” he stated, while acknowledging that the industry was facing problem with the product approval process.

Meanwhile, Chandramouli told categorically that there shall be no change and extension in the final deadline for the Food Business Operators (FBOs), small, medium or big for getting licence and registration. The deadline is nearing – February 4, 2014.

According to FSSAI, there are approximately 5.5 crore FBOs in the country. While calling it a big challenge to get licensing and registration done across the country in due time as majority players are small, the FSSAI chairman said that all concerned need to understand their responsibility and be taken on board to accomplish the huge task.

On this issue, he informed that lot of states are doing well in getting licensing and registration done, particularly Uttar Pradesh. “We need to accelerate the process to meet the deadline,” he said.

On the Codex front, Chandramouli said that India’s say had increased in various fora of Codex and the country made its presence felt with improved participation. He also welcomed setting up of Codex Committee on Spices and Herbs by describing it as a “feather in India’s cap.” He, however, pointed out that the Authority had huge responsibility of checking food imports to the country. Earlier, the imports were not checked thoroughly, and even in the absence of labelling norms there was little information about the food product that was imported. There were reports indicated that how cheating was done when products like chocolate having more than 30% vegetable oil fat in it were imported.

“To check and regulate food imports, the authority has opened its offices in all major importing points across the country. We’ve offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Cochin from where the food imports could be regulated in terms of labelling and unsafe food,” he stated, while not ruling out the possibility of more such offices. He also said that the FSSAI was in talks with the ministry to amend the FSS Act so that the various notifications become part of it.

Obtain licences, caterers told

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday held that the catering service providers need to obtain licence or permission from the authorities concerned under the Food Safety and Standard Act.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique made the observation while hearing a petition seeking a directive to make the Act applicable to the caterers as well.

Petitioner Saiju of Kalady said most of the caterers in the State were doing business without valid licences and the court should prohibit the functioning of such caterers.

Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar informed the court that necessary steps had already been taken to insist for licences as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The State also submitted that a circular was issued asking all the hotels and restaurants to take licence by the end of February 2014 for conducting business. The court asked the State government to issue a similar circular in respect of caterers.

The petitioner contended that though the caterers came within the ambit of the Act, the authorities had not taken any steps to legalise the functioning of caterers.

Food vendors get lessons in hygiene to check ‘Delhi belly’

A street food vendor prepares kebabs in New Delhi.

The millions of food vendors peddling tasty morsels from roadside stalls and rickshaws across India have long been an emblem of the country’s boisterous, chaotic spirit.

But now, Indian officials have a stern message for these often-unregulated roadside chefs — Wash your hands after using the toilet. Don’t sneeze into the food. And, above all, please don’t pick your nose.

“A lot of street food guys are not very scrupulous,” said Tejinder Singh (48), who serves up spicy black lentils known as daal makhani from a stand in New Delhi. “We are not sons of gods. We have a lot to learn.”

Singh was among about 500 vendors who took part in an October training seminar in New Delhi on the basics of food safety and hygiene, an attempt to curtail the infamous “Delhi belly” that has struck down many an adventurous snacker in India.

Launched by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority and the National Association of Street Vendors of India, the seminar offered a primer on safe drinking water and disposable gloves, along with a list of food—handling do’s and don’ts.

Number one on the forbidden list? Don’t pick your nose. Also banned are cleaning one’s ears, smoking while handling food and spitting into the wash basin or sink.

The goal of the program is to create “safe zones” in popular areas, but is it really possible to sanitize street food in India, where suspending any fastidious concern for hygiene has always been part of the deal? Many Indians already have ways of finding the freshest and most succulent chaat, the small plates of savory snacks sold on the streets.

Dharm Singh, an 18-year-old high school student in New Delhi, said he only goes to places recommended by others and where there are no flies on the food. “He washes his utensils right next to the sewer,” said Singh, who was tucking into a plate of lentils, cucumbers and warm bread known as roti on a recent afternoon. “I was sick for a week.”

Indian food vendors get lessons in hygiene

Many Indians have ways of finding the freshest and most succulent chaat, the small plates of savory snacks sold on the streets (Reuters) 

SummaryWash your hands after using the toilet. Don't sneeze into the food: Indian officials to vendors 

The millions of food vendors peddling tasty morsels from roadside stalls and rickshaws across India have long been an emblem of the country's boisterous, chaotic spirit. 

But now, Indian officials have a stern message for these often-unregulated roadside chefs: Wash your hands after using the toilet. Don't sneeze into the food. And, above all, please don't pick your nose. 

"A lot of street food guys are not very scrupulous,'' said Tejinder Singh, 48, who serves up spicy black lentils known as daal makhani from a stand in New Delhi. "We are not sons of gods. We have a lot to learn.'' 

Singh was among about 500 vendors who took part in an October training seminar in New Delhi on the basics of food safety and hygiene, an attempt to curtail the infamous "Delhi belly'' that has struck down many an adventurous snacker in India. 

Launched by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority and the National Association of Street Vendors of India, the seminar offered a primer on safe drinking water and disposable gloves, along with a list of food-handling do's and don'ts. 

Number one on the forbidden list? Don't pick your nose. Also banned are cleaning one's ears, smoking while handling food and spitting into the wash basin or sink. 

The goal of the program is to create "safe zones'' in popular areas, but is it really possible to sanitize street food in India, where suspending any fastidious concern for hygiene has always been part of the deal? 

Many Indians already have ways of finding the freshest and most succulent chaat, the small plates of savory snacks sold on the streets. 

Dharm Singh, an 18-year-old high school student in New Delhi, said he only goes to places recommended by others and where there are no flies on the food. 

He also pays special attention to where the vendors wash their utensils. He learned that lesson the hard way, through a brutal stomach infection he contracted by eating chole bhature, a dish of spicy chickpeas, from a vendor who used dirty dishes. 

"He washes his utensils right next to the sewer,'' said Singh,

Ban on canned fish revoked

Imphal, December 05 2013: Ban imposed on sale of canned fish brand called Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar (in brine) has reportedly been revoked by the Health Department's Food Safety Commissioner.

Informing about the revocation of the ban, Karnataka-based Ms Sowkar Canning Company's PRO Nataraj Kanjod said the company has overhauled its production process with strict emphasis on maintaining quality control of the food item.

Conveying that the ban was officially lifted on November 30 and pledging to adhere to prescribed food safety norms, he said the canned fish brand would be released to the market within 10 days.

According to Manipur agent/trader of the company Yengkhom Jitenchandra Singh sale of Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar was banned under the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 .

Consequent to intimation to the manufacturer about the ban the company overhauled its production/canning system to comply with food safety norms, added the agent.

The revocation order issued by the Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Dr Suhel Akhtar, who is also the Commissioner of Food Safety stated that lifting the ban is subject to the 'conditions that the new batch of the product shall fulfil as the requisite conditions prescribed by the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 and its Rules and Regulation, 2012 .

The canned fish brand was seized from Ms Y Krishna & Sons of Nipa Keithel in March this year as the food product was found rotten and unfit for human consumption.

Adulteration in Food in India

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has, today, ruled that milk adulteration is punishable with life imprisonment. I would read this sentence as one of the most important and historic rulings by the Hon’ble SCI. If I remember correctly, the Hon’ble SCI had expressed its serious concern and anguish over the same case back in June or July 2013. This verdict is a baby of that concern. Hats off to the SCI. But it’s pitiable that the punishment for adulteration and criminals acts equally horrible are treated with less concern in our country. Compare it with other democratic nations like USA, where they give prime importance to the health and hygiene of their citizens. 

We have laws, but it is pathetic that most of them are not enforced. Remember a simple case in the US(?), where a guy ordered a veg burger but was given a non-veg one, unknowingly. This led to compensating the guy with a huge amount of money. If it was in our country, what would have happened, instead? Think! 

In the developed countries viz. the US, the regulations about the quality and quantity are thoroughly examined at various levels through a working system. They regard violation of Food Security laws equally important like any other federal offence. If any of the regulations — be it the violation of quantity, be it the difference in the calories specified on the packet — is violated, the company/manufacturer will be heavily punished. That’s what we lack in India. Let this verdict be an eye-opener, and let our Food Safety and Standards Authority of India keep their vision wide. Democracy is still an institution defined by the people, of the people and ultimately FOR the people.

SC pulls up states, asks for life term for milk adulteration

New Delhi, Dec 5: The Supreme Court on Thursday urged state governments to consider making necessary amendments to the law to make production and marketing of adulterated milk, which is injurious to human consumption, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

The observation by a bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice A.K. Sikri came after it took note of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha having made the sale of adulterated milk, contaminated with synthetic material, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

"That shows the seriousness of the offence. That is why they have made it life imprisonment. Adulterated milk having synthetic material is harmful to heart, lungs, liver and is even cancerous. It also affects ladies, also those pregnant," observed Justice Radhakrishnan. 

Asking the states to make more stringent the law to deal with production and sale of milk which is harmful to human beings, the court observed that the maximum punishment of six months for such offences under the Food Safety and Standards Act was grossly inadequate. 

The court was hearing a public suit by Haridwar-based Swami Achyutanand, which said samples collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011 revealed large-scale sale of adulterated milk across the country. 

As petitioner's counsel Anurag Tomar questioned the size of the sample, the court asked him what information was available with him. "You can't just file a PIL (based on a report) and leave rest to the court." Seeking the details of prosecution launched in the cases of milk adulteration having synthetic material and the number of convictions, the court said though every year thousands of tonnes of sweets are seized and destroyed during festive season of Diwali and Holi, they are not accompanied with prosecution of those involved in making and selling adulterated sweets. 

"What happened to those cases? That should be told to us," observed Justice Sikri. "It is happening. If (state is) not able to apprehend or detect, then it is a failure of the food department." 

"Without a drop of milk, they can make milk," observed Justice Radhakrishnan. 

Mocking the reports by Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments, which said that most of the cases of milk adulteration involved mixing of water and powder, the court said: "We are not happy with the details given in the affidavits." 

"On paper everything is good but ground reality is different," observed Justice Sikri. 

Referring to a report by NGO VOICE that said synthetic milk with synthetic materials like caustic soda, blotting paper, detergents, including white paint to make it look white, were being used, the court said that none of the adulterated samples revealed this kind of adulteration. The court issued notice to VOICE, asking it to assist the court in the matter. 

The court asked counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government why didn't it approach the TV channels and the NGOs that have carried these reports. 

As counsel for the Rajasthan government urged the court to issue directions, Justice Sikri asked: "Is it not the duty of the states to act on its own? Why should court direct them?" Justice Radhakrishnan observed that the officers of the food department know much more than what the judges know, while Justice Sikri said:

"Your officers go (for raiding) and what they do, we know." Justice Sikri referred to an article by Lok Sabha member Maneka Gandhi, which said one lakh litres of adulterated milk was being produced in Delhi alone as Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain told the court that there were no cases of milk adulteration that was harmful to human consumption. 

As counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government said that of the total samples collected by food department, only 132 were found harmful to human consumption, Justice Radhakrishnan observed:

"These are big numbers. These are just samples. One can imagine what is happening on a large scale." Next hearing of the matter will be held in January 2014.

Milk Adulteration Should be Punished by Life Imprisonment: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday favoured punishment of life imprisonment to people indulging in production and marketing of adulterated milk and asked the state governments to make amendment in laws.

A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri said punishment of six months jail term mentioned in Food Safety Act is grossly inadequate and asked states to amend the law as has been done by the Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.

The bench was hearing Public-Interest Litigations seeking its direction to state governments to stop practice of milk adulteration which is rampant in various states.

Advocate Anurag Tomar, appearing for the petitioners, contended that milk contaminated with synthetic material is being sold in various states particularly in northern states posing serious threat to the life and health of the consumers.

He submitted that samples collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011 revealed large-scale sale of adulterated milk across the country.

The bench, after hearing his submission, asked the states to make punishment harsher for such offence and sought response from the states on what action they are taking to control and eliminate the menace of adulterated milk in the country.

It posted the case for further hearing on January 13.

Food safety has always been a focus for regulator

David Abikzir, CEO

In a conversation with Restaurant India, David shares his perspective on legalities involved on the clearance of gourmet products in India and about the recent tightening of the import law by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

The FSSAI has recently tightened the import policy of gourmet foods in India. What do you think why they have done it? 

First FSSAI tries to reach the international standards in terms of food safety and they are right in doing it. FSSAI sees what are the international norms for the importation of Indian food and try to put the same measure to protect the consumers. For example, beginning of November, about 12 percent of spices brought to the US from India were contaminated with insect parts, whole insects, rodent hairs and other things. Every year in US, 1.2 million salmonella illnesses are declared with a large part due to that contamination.

Second, too many complaints by consumers appear every year about spoiled products with a false or modified labelling. A sticker is easy to remove!

Third, FSSAI guidelines impose to importers to be very rigorous with the origin and the source of the products. As many importers use middle men to import gourmet products, importers will need to go directly to the manufacturer or to be very exigent to the middle men to have the right documents.

What is your take on this?

By principle, every measure taken in favour of the protection of the consumer is a good measure. The fact that the regulator wants to replace stickers on imported food by printed information on packs shipped to the country is a good disposition to protect the Indian consumer. This protection is going in two ways. First- importers will need to work directly with the manufacturers and not middle men, to prepare the labels to comply with the norms. It will help to know exactly the origin of the products. Second, if the information is printed on the food label, you cannot remove it without distorting the packaging of the product.

There is a dispute now with this norm because the Diwali import of gourmet products is down by nearly 40 percent and many containers are blocked at the customs for non-respect of this disposition. When you think about the Chinese contaminated baby milk scandal, all the Japanese food at risk due to radiation or the European eColi responsible of food contamination and death, believe me, the protection of the consumer should remain a priority especially in India. Food safety has always been a topic of major focus by regulator: the consumer protection prevails over the economic interests.

How this is going to impact gourmet food business in India?

Currently this norm impacts import of gourmet food in India. More than 1,000 containers are not cleared at the customs because the labelling doesn’t comply with the FSSAI guidelines. But authorities, by showing a strict position to the importers, put them a constraint where they have to comply with the norm which is very good again for the consumer. In the future if they want to see their containers cleared at the customs, they will have to follow the law.

With time, that won’t be an issue. First because the worldwide producers want to enter in the Indian market so they will do the necessary to comply with the India law; second because importers don’t want to lose their containers and they will take all the measures to respect the norms.

How gourmet retailers should face this challenge?

On one hand, if the gourmet retailer works with an importer, it belongs to him to check the labelling of the products that he purchased with the importer. On the other hand, if the gourmet retailer imports by himself, he will have to respect the law. The consequence is on worldwide manufacturers. If they want to work in the Indian market they will have to adapt the labelling of their products to the FSSAI guidelines. In a long term run this norm won’t be a problem, and will become the base for more protection.