TN FOOD SAFETY ADVT

JMC lifts samples from Industrial area

JAMMU, DEC 27: Jammu Municipal Corporation, in its drive against Food adulteration, today lifted samples from the Industrial area of Gangyal under the guidance of Commissioner, Kiran Wattal.

The team comprising of Health Officer, Dr Mohd Saleem Khan, Food Safety Officers and other staff members lifted samples of Ghee, Pasteurized Milk and Skimmed Milk Powder from M/S Vaid Milk Products (Surya Milk) and Sounf powder from M/S Mahavir (Jain Masala) Industries. The samples were lifted under Food Safety and Standards Act to check the quality and other parameters.

The team also realized a compounding fee of R 71,000/- from M/S Vaid Milk Products, s 30,000 from M/S Kailash Industries, s 20,000 from M/S Kesar Industries and s 30,000 from M/S Mahavir (Jain Masala) Industries on account of non-maintenance of hygiene, cleanliness and usage of Polythene Carry Bags in their manufacturing units and surrounding premises.

During the inspection, awareness regarding the norms under different Acts applicable on these units was also made and strict instructions were issued for complying with terms and conditions of the Acts. 

JMC appeals to all the Food Business operators especially those dealing with milk products to maintain hygienic environment and make available quality products to the consumers.

Corporation further warns all these operators of strict action, in case they fail to comply with the norms.

Sub-Standard Mechanisms

The decision of High Court directing the three companies involved in the manufacture and supply of adulterated food items is a novel one. The incidents of food being adulterated, sub-standard or even dangerous are not new. As elaborated by SMC, about four samples are picked up from market everyday

and sent for testing.

Every household in the state has a personal experience of ending up buying what appears not to be what they wanted. As per an India-wide milk sample survey 70 percent of milk was found adulterated with a range of adulterants like detergent, caustic soda and even paint.

While the apex court in India has favoured adulteration of milk with life imprisonment, we in the state seem to be sleeping with adulterated food in our stomachs. It is shocking that no steps are being taken to establish a

Food Safety and Testing Laboratory in the state.

The High Court had directed government to create the ‘paraphernalia’ for making the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 “effective and visible on the ground” a long back. But in spite of that, we are dependent on testing infrastructure located thousands of kilometres away.

Last year, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India had announced setting up of 125 food testing labs in India. Apart from these proposed labs, there are more than 70 food testing labs in the country, but alas, none in the state. It would have been a well-timed step if along with the Rs 60 crore drug-testing lab proposal sent for approval to Union Health Ministry, a similar proposal for food testing lab was also forwarded.

But, testing and test results of drugs and foods seem to be highly complicated and sophisticated matters, with common man having no access to them. With Jammu and Kashmir on the path of putting together all the machinery and manpower to create products that can compete for shelf space all over the world, such reports of adulterations have serious implications.

The local market, as well as the one in the view is fast slipping out of hand and big names, not local, are throwing the locally produced brands off the shelves once more. In this scenario, the government needs to be proactive and think out-of-the-box. The misgivings against the adulterations need to be replaced with

information and truth. What and how are the products identified for testing?

Are the products in news the only adulterated products in market? What happens when the authorities seize sub-standard food items and destroy them? Why are culprits not punished then? Is there a way to ensure that the consumer can trust a product? Stray reports, stray tests and stray actions are not an answer.

A mechanism and infrastructure needs to be put in place.

Energy drinks pack a caffeine punch, says CSE

Panaji, July 18, 

Energy drinks touted to have major health benefits are so packed with caffeine that they can cause more harm than good, according to the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment which is calling for strict regulatory controls over caffeine content in drinks like Red Bull and Cloud 9. 

CSE said tests carried out on leading brands like Red Bull and Cloud 9 found high levels of caffeine in 44 per cent of the samples. “Their makers and sellers claim that these energy drinks help increase alertness of the mind and improve concentration, stamina and athletic performance, but in reality, the caffeine in them can cause severe health impacts,” said CSE in a statement.

Forty-four per cent of the samples tested by CSE breached the safe limit of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine prescribed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954.

CSE’s deputy director general Chandra Bhushan points out that currently, the caffeine content in energy drinks is unregulated and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is mulling a norm of 320 ppm. “The government has set 145 ppm as the safe limit for carbonated beverages – how can it now allow 320 ppm in energy drinks?” he argues.

What’s more worrying is that energy drinks are being confused with sports drinks. “Studies show that these drinks are not made to rehydrate and replenish the body. In fact, consumed during intense physical activity, they can lead to dehydration,” he says.

The brands tested by CSE were Red Bull, Coca-Cola’s Burn, Cloud 9, Hector Beverages’ Tzinga, Monster Energy Ltd's Monster Ripper and three of JMJ group’s XXX energy drink brands — Rejuve, Nicofix and Minus.

Centre to rethink arecanut ban: Gulam Nabi Azad

Families in Malnad and Coastal districts of Karnataka depend on the arecanut crop for their livelihood 

The Central government has decided to "rethink" the proposed ban on arecanut cultivation in Karnataka.

The move follows pressure from various quarters and the state government, said Gulam Nabi Azad, minister for health and family welfare.

Talking to reporters after reviewing the various schemes of the health and medical education departments, here today, he said the government has decided to put on hold the proposed arecanut ban.

A delegation led by chief minister Siddaramaiah had met Azad in Delhi a few days ago and urged him not to impose ban on arecanut.

Thousands of families in Malnad and Coastal districts of Karnataka depend on the arecanut crop for their livelihood.

On September 6, 2013, Amal Pusp, Director, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, wrote a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to examine the scientific evidences on the harmful effects of arecanut.

The move was aimed at initiating necessary action to classify the nut as an injurious substance and accordingly prohibit its use as ingredient in any food product, in conformity with the objectives of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader and Minister of State for Medical Education Dr Sharan Prakash Patil reviewed the progress of various schemes with Azad.

Himachal HC bans sale, entry of food items with plastic packaging

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Thursday imposed a ban on the sale of junk food in non-biodegradable plastic packaging. The ban will come into effect from January 26.

The ban will come into effect from January 26.

"The High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday vacated the stay on the state government's notification dated June 26, 2013, and directed it to implement the notification banning the storage, supply, sale and entry of non-essential food items packaged in plastic and non-biodegradable material from January 26, 2014," a court release said.

The court has, however, allowed sale of essential items like bread, milk, drinking water and medicines in plastic packaging till March 31, 2014. 

The division bench comprising Justices Rajiv Sharma and V.K. Sharma further directed the government to ensure that edible oil is not sold in plastic bottles/pouches and shall only be packed in tin containers. The court also directed the government to ensure that from March 31, next year no food stuff, including primary and essential food, is manufactured, transported, sold, packaged and distributed without conforming to the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulation, 2011.

The court has directed the district magistrates and superintendents of police in the state to enforce the ban.

While ordering that a food commissioner be appointed within four weeks, the court also directed the state to ensure that no person is permitted to commence or continue any food business without obtaining licence.

Another direction came for laying down the norms as per Section 3A of the Himachal Pradesh Nonbiodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 within 12 weeks and to implement Section 7 of the said Act in order to determine the new non-essential food items, which are required to be packaged in biodegradable material.

The court also asked all the municipal authorities to ensure safe storage, transportation, and disposal of plastic waste so that no damage is caused to environment.