Australia warns India over food exports

One of key reasons for rejections has been new food labeling law and policy in Australia
Barely six months after Russia lifted a ban on import of rice and peanut from India on grounds of contamination, Australia has warned India of violation of laws governing processed food exports to the country.
An advisory by the department of agriculture, Australia, has been issued and circulated through APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), that Indian exporters involved in the exports of processed food products especially, containing milk, have not been following the relevant regulation of imports into Australia, after detection of cases violating the import regulations.
In tandem, India's food exports to Australia fell by 17% in value (from Rs 556 crore to Rs 458 crore) and nearly 12% quantity (from 57,877 MT to 5,1077 MT) in one year's time between April and November2012-13 and 2013-14, according to data from APEDA. Last year, India exported 460 metric tonne of dairy products to Australia (between April-November2012-13), which came down to 327 MT to same period this year.
One of the key reasons for rejections has been the new food labeling law and policy in Australia. In 2011, the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council together with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commissioned an independent review of Food Labelling Law and Policy. The review made 61 recommendations covering a wide range of food labeling issues.
"Rejection Australia has upgraded its import norms for foodproducts, and thus most of the rejections are on account of issues like packaging," said P C Sunish, partner, Arul Appalam Depot, a processed food exporter to Australia.
Notably, last year, much of the food exports to Australia were driven by guar gum boom, but the slump this year in guar gum had been largely compensated by higher Basmati rice exports from India. This apart, non-adherence to safety standards, especially labeling, has been one of key reasons for largenumber of refusals for Indian products in other markets as well.
For example, Indian food products are in the top of refusal lists at the US FDA (Food & Drug administration),mostly on the ground of being adulterated and misbranded. In the month of January alone, India faced the highest number of rejections, about 236, according to the monthly refusal list issued by the Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS), of the US FDA. A large number of products in the list are either processed food, followed by pharmaceutical products.

Food Safety Act defaulters fined Rs 12,000

Jammu, February 26

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today imposed a fine of Rs 12,000 on traders for violating norms of the Food Safety Act. An inspection was conducted by a team of municipal officials of different markets ahead of the Mahashivratri. 

Led by Health Officer Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan, a team of municipal veterinary officer, food safety officers and other field staff visited Janipur, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Roop Nagar, Durga Nagar, Bantalab, Muthi, Talab Tillo, Vikram Chowk, New Plot and Shiv Nagar and inspected shops and eateries. 

A number of food establishments, including sweet shops, meat shops, fish shops, provisional stores and food stalls, were checked. A compounding fee of Rs 12,600 was also realised from defaulters. Dr Khan said shopkeepers dealing with food items were warned and directed to ensure supply of good quality of food to people.

Modi urges traders to face global challenges

‘Don’t be scared of competition’ 

New Delhi: BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Thursday said the consumers in small towns and cities have become brand conscious and small traders should seize the opportunity to service this demand.” Do not be scared by these things. Our children have taken IT to the world. You have to embrace modern science and technology. Set up e-commerce. You can set up virtual malls in small shops,” Modi said without committing his stance on allowing foreign retailers in the country. 

The BJP has opposed the entry of global retailers such as Wal-Mart and Tesco and its government in Rajasthan has reversed a decision to allow foreign chains in the multi-brand retail sector. 

Modi, who is seen as a tough administrator, also called for eliminating outdated laws which have stifled the common man and the business community. “Sometimes I feel that there is a need to devise a law which would ensure that a new law will be enacted only when 10 old and outdated laws are done away with,” Modi said, while calling for an across the board overhaul of government machinery. 

“A massive web of laws has been created. Give us strength so that we can end these laws every week. Laws should be simple, easy and should empower the common man,” he said. 

Veerappa Moily okays field trials of GM crops

NEW DELHI: Seed companies and agriculture research institutes can go ahead with scientific field trials of different transgenic varieties of GM crops which had got clearance from the government's regulatory body Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in March last year. 

A day after agriculture minister Sharad Pawar spelt out the government's stand over the contentious issue while pitching for field trials, environment minister M Veerappa Moily on Thursday gave his go-ahead to the move. 

Moily said he had cleared the file as the GEAC's decision was not bound by the Supreme Court's moratorium (on field trials) order. 

The decision, which had been kept in abeyance by his predecessor Jayanthi Natarajan, will now allow companies and institutions to put more than 200 transgenic varieties of rice, wheat, maize, castor and cotton on field trials to check their suitability for commercial production. 

Moily emphasized that these companies (both government and private) and research institutions can, however, go for trial only after getting nod from respective state governments. 

"If a particular state government does not allow it, these entities will not be able to go for field trial," environment secretary V Rajagopalan said. 

It is learnt that some states like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat do not have any problem in allowing field trials. At present, government allows commercial production of only Bt cotton (transgenic variety of cotton). Though Bt brinjal had passed its field trial, it was not allowed to go for commercial production amid strong protests by civil society groups. 

The government has, meanwhile, called the next meeting of GEAC on March 21 to decide other pending applications. 

Though the GEAC in its last meeting on March 22 last year had given approval for field trials of these 200—odd varieties of food and non—food crops, the then environment minister had decided to keep it in abeyance until strict regulatory mechanism and bio safety protection regime were put in place in the country. 

Both anti— and pro—GM crop groups, meanwhile, crossed swords over Moily's move to reverse his predecessor's decision. Reacting over the move, AAP leader and senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the decision was a clear violation of the apex court's order. 

While the Coalition for a GM Free India and Greenpeace condemned the Moily's action as "unscientific, anti-people and reeking of vested interests", industry body Association of Biotech Led Enterprises—Agriculture Group (ABLE—AG) welcomed the removal of restrictions on previously approved field trials of genetically modified crops. 

"The writing on the wall is clear now. The UPA government is against the interest of the citizens, our farmers and the welfare of the nation. It is hand in glove with the multi—national GM seed industry that stands to gain immensely from the numerous open field trials of GM crops," said Rajesh Krishnan, convener, Coalition for a GM Free India. 

Greenpeace was equally critical of Moily's decision. Its campaigner Neha Saigal said, "This proves that the government has turned a blind eye to the growing scientific evidence on the adverse impacts of GM crops and the massive opposition to GM crops from around the country. The government has clearly chosen corporate interests over the interests of the people." 

ABLE-AG executive director N Seetharama, on the other hand, lauded Moily's decision. He said, "At a time when agriculture is under severe stress and requires immediate infusion of technology and innovation, we can't afford to ignore biotechnology which has a proven track record of enhancing crop yields in a safe and sustainable way the world over."

Food and drug authority raids shops, collects samples

ALLAHABAD: A team of FDA (Food & Drug Authority) led by city magistrate on Wednesday carried out a series of raids at different eateries, including a restaurant on Railway Station Road, and two sweetmeat shops at Nakhas Kohna and collected samples.

The team also destroyed stale food products, including sweets, paneer and vegetables.

Food safety officer Mahendra Yadav told TOI that the team first raided a restaurant located near railway station road and checked the status of paneer and butter and vegetables. He added that the team destroyed fried paneer and stale vegetables.

The team also collected samples from the restaurant and sent it for laboratory tests.

The team also inspected and checked several food items (sweets) at two sweetmeat shops located at Nakhas Kohna and destroyed stale sweets.

He further maintained that the owners of sweetmeat shops could not answer the queries of FDA team and stringent action would be initiated once the laboratory reports arrive.

Meanwhile, FDA officials said that they have chalked out a strategy to carry out a series of raids and checks ahead of Holi festivals. For that teams have been constituted who would conduct raids at city and dehat pockets.

Rajnath extends support to arecanut growers

‘Arecanut will be declared safe for consumption’ 

Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh has said the party will take initiatives to address problems faced by arecanut growers if it comes to power at the Centre.

He was addressing a convention of booth-level party workers here on Wednesday.

Mr. Singh said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s direction to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to examine the scientific evidence regarding the harmful effects of arecanut had created apprehension among growers.

He said that various research works had proved that consumption of arecanut was not injurious to health. If the BJP came to power, it would protect the interests of arecanut growers by declaring that consumption of arecanut was not injurious to health, he said.

சுகாதார சீர்கேடு புகார் எதிரொலி மாட்டிறைச்சி கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு

வாணியம்பாடி, பிப். 27: 

வாணியம்பாடி பகுதியில் உள்ள மாட்டு இறைச்சி கடைகளில் சுகாதார துறை அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று திடீர் ஆய்வு செய்தனர். 

வாணியம்பாடி பகுதியை சுற்றியுள்ள முஸ்லீம்பூர், புதூர் ரயில்வே கேட், ஆற்றுமேடு, நேதாஜிநகர், ஜப்ராபாத் ஆகிய இடங்களில் மாட்டு இறைச்சி கடைகள் அதிக அளவில் உள்ளது. இங்கு கடைகளிலேயே மாடுகளை அறுப்பதால் சுற்றுப்புற பகுதியில் சுகாதார சீர்கேடு ஏற்படுகிறது. இதனால் அப்பகுதி மக்கள் கடுமையாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர். மேலும் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையிலும், கன்றுக்குட்டிகளின் இறைச்சியை விற்பதாக அப்பகுதி மக்கள் வேலூர் மிருகவதை தடுப்பு பிரிவுக்கு மனு கொடுத்தனர். அதன்பேரில் வாணியம்பாடி ஆணையாளர் ரவி உத்தரவின்பேரில் சுகாதார துறை ஆய்வாளர்கள் சீனிவாசன், நடராஜன், விஜயகுமார் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று காலை புதூர் ரயில்வே கேட், ஆற்றுமேடு ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அங்கு 15 கன்றுக்குட்டிகளின் இறைச்சிகளை விற்பனைக்காக வைப்பட்டிருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து அதிகாரிகளே அனைத்து இறைச்சிகளையும் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். மேலும் கடையின் உரிமையாளர்களை எச்சரித்தனர். 

இதனைதொடர்ந்து வாணியம்பாடி பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள பெட்டிக்கடைகளில் தடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினார்கள். அப்போது கடைகளில் விற்பனைக்காக வைக்கப்பட்டு இருந்த காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், தின்பண்டங்கள் மற்றும் குட்கா உள்ளிட்டவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். மேலும் கடை உரிமையாளர்களை அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரித்து வந்தனர்.

Public food labs short-staffed, poorly-equipped, low on infrastructure

Food testing laboratories run by state governments in India are characterised by a host of problems. Besides being a few in number, they are short-staffed and ill-equipped.

The sole labs in Gulzaribagh, Bihar, and Dalgate, Jammu and Kashmir, are two cases in point.

However, they provide private facilities an opportunity to undertake the task of testing samples. 

Besides being located in urban centres, they have the requisite number of personnel and are better-equipped. 

Moreover, they are certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s apex food regulator, and offer such services as third-party food testing. 

Gulzaribagh, Bihar

Bihar’s health department’s food safety wing - which itself is facing an acute shortage of manpower - has just one laboratory, which is located in Gulzaribagh, a city in Patna district.

Ironically, it became defunct a couple of years ago, following the retirement of the food analyst. Moreover, it did not have a specialist to check food samples for the presence of micro-bacteria, if any.

Food safety officials seized a number of items and sent these to the Mines Area Development Authority Laboratory in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, which charges a fee of Rs 200 per sample.

A few months ago, the services of a private facility in Kolkata, which is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), were sought. The department agreed to pay Rs 1,000 per sample, which is steep.

Food safety officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that every food safety inspector has the target of collecting twelve samples per month, and concurred that it is a cumbersome process, and the test reports are often delayed.

However, the department has big plans, and has given its nod to the proposals to set up a laboratory at every divisional headquarters and a state-of-the-art super lab in the state capital. 

It was proposed that the divisional lab would be manned by a ten-member staff, comprising food analysts, technicians and assistants, while the super lab would be headed by a director. 

The proposal also suggested that the latter would have food analysts to check food samples for the presence of chemicals, while another specialist will look into bacteria and other harmful microbes. It is now upto the finance department to take a call in this regard.

At present, there are only 14 food safety inspectors (against a sanctioned strength of 30), and they are expected to look after all the 38 districts of the eastern state. 

There are nine designated food safety officers (FSO), who are expected to keep tabs on adulteration in all the divisions. 

According to Sanjay Kumar, Bihar’s food safety commissioner, the existing manpower is not enough to implementing the objectives of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, and the food safety department proposed that new posts be created for all the ranks. 

As per the proposal, there would be one food safety officer (FSO) at the block level; one FSO per one lakh persons at the town level, and two joint commissioners at the state headquarters (who would look into the legal and enforcement aspects). 

The food safety officials claim the new set-up would be in place in about a year.

Jammu and Kashmir

Dalgate in Jammu and Kashmir has a food laboratory, which is not only inadequately staffed, but also short on equipment, despite the fact that it caters to the Kashmir division and receives samples from the remotest of areas.

In fact, sources stated that Srinagar’s assistant controller of food doubles up as the food analyst at the facility, and only six officials are currently serving, as against the sanctioned strength of 17. Of these, two are lab attendants, one is a lab technician and three are food safety officers.

Of the vacant posts, one is for a senior laboratory technician, two each are for lab assistants, food analysts and lab assistants, are three are for assistant food analysts. 

“The work at the laboratory is badly hit due to the shortage of staff, and even the preparation of sample reports takes over a week,” a senior official of the food safety department said on the condition of anonymity. 

“If staff was available, more tests could have been conducted,” he stated, adding that while these issues were brought to the notice of the government many a time, but no action was initiated.

Officials said the laboratory is ill-equipped to conduct analysis of food samples to detect carcinogenic chemical and biological toxicants.

It does not have a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) machine, a gas liquid chromatography (GLC) machine, a spectrophotometer, a water testing kit, and even basic equipment, like a projector microscope, a binocular microscope and a milk testing kit.

“These equipments are vital. The HPLC machine could have been used for the detection of residual pesticide in packaged drinking water and carbonated water,” a Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) official said. 

“A spectrophotometer is vital for the detection of colouring agents in juices and spices,” he stated, adding that due to the lack of equipment, many samples are being sent outside the state for testing.

An NABL team visited the facility recently, and during its inspection, it took note of the shortage of manpower and equipment.

An official of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) said they have started sending samples to the Central Food Laboratory (CFL) in Kolkata, because all tests cannot be conducted at the Dalgate laboratory. 

“We have seen that the analysis reports prepared by the Dalgate lab contradict those of the Kolkata-based referral laboratory,” he added.

Satish Gupta, controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, Jammu and Kashmir, said that the government is in the process of upgrading the facilities at the laboratory. 

“We are in the process of providing adequate staff and equipment at the laboratory,” he said.

At the other end of the spectrum is Gujarat, which has shown the way, with mobile testing vans and investment in the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility. However, the food testing scenario in India continues to be dismal.

This is evident from the fact that while plans are now afoot for 125 laboratories across India, a gap analysis of the country’s 72 existing public labs highlighted the need to upgrade the facilities (for which a corpus has been earmarked).

TÜV SÜD South Asia [Mumbai (Maharashtra), Gurgaon (National Capital Region) and Bengaluru (Karnataka)]

Owing to growing consumer awareness and rapid globalisation, food companies have begun to realise the importance of food safety, according to Pankaj Jaiminy, assistant vice-president (food, health and beauty), TÜV SÜD South Asia [which operates three food testing labs (in Mumbai, Gurgaon and Bengaluru)].

“TÜV SÜD was among the first third-party testing agencies to be authorised by FSSAI to carry out inspection of food business operators (FBO) and issue Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) certifications on their behalf,” he informed.

As regards an inadequacy in the number of government labs creating opportunities for private food testing facilities, he said, “If we look at the present scenario, food testing facilities are less, but are increasing at a fast rate.” 

“However, more improvement is required in the central and state labs in terms of infrastructure, equipment and manpower,” Jaiminy added. 

“Fortunately, this gap in food testing facilities and requirement of food testing in India is bridged by third-party food testing agencies like TÜV SÜD,” he stated.

All that glitters isn’t healthy

Those with a sweet tooth probably find plates of sweets very hard to resist, and when they come served with a shiny thin sheet of silver or gold on top, the allure is even more so. However, with a growing increase of adulterated varks (thin sheets of edible metals) in the city, experts warn us to be careful about what we consume.

Varks, or varak from the Sanskrit word, are thin delicate malleable foils. Either made from silver or gold, they are very common in Indian and even South Asian cuisines. Mostly used as decorative garnish at sweet shops, varks are also used on hot items like biriyani.

However, with the increase in demand, supply has become susceptible to less than appetising adulterants. Explains YV Anuradha, commissioner, Food Safety of Andhra Pradesh, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), “The Food and Drug Administration of India examined silver foils from various shops in Pune and discovered that some of them contained high levels of aluminium. They also seized about 66 kgs of sweets which were adulterated. So keeping the public health in mind, we plan on initiating testing of silver foil in Hyderabad as well.”

The initiative also stems from the fact that the organisation has received complaints of adulteration in the city, the commissioner further informed. 

“It is very true that high levels of aluminium intake may result in severe health problems. A Hyderabadi myself, there have been instances where I specifically chose sweets which had silver foil on them due to the appeal. But these reports of adulteration have forced me to be very careful about what I consume,” expressed Anuradha who added that testing of vark from across the city would be initiated soon.

But until a proper inspection is conducted, the commissioner says the best way to safeguard against such consumption is by being aware of the adulteration. “I would like to bring about an awareness in public about what they consume and how much they consume,” she says. For adulterated varks in small quantities may not be harmful, however, incessant consumption could be fatal.

Besides the possibility of the city’s sweetmeats being contaminated, earlier, there was also the controversy over the varks being non-vegetarian as the metals were beaten into thin sheets with the innards of a bull, sandwiched between the skin of a sheep or camel and treated with animal fat.

While this was indeed a fact during lesser advanced times, Mohammed Waliuddin, who owns a vark production company near Mecca Masjid in old city, assures us that technology has long replaced this traditional practice.

“This was the case about 80 to 100 years ago when these techniques were used to prepare vark. But, with the advancement in technology, even we have adopted new techniques. The preparation of vark is 100 per cent vegetarian now and we only sell pure quality of silver,” says Waliudin who has been in the business for the past 35 years.

Explaining the shift in methods, the 55-year-old alumni of City College tell us, “With the rise of awareness of safe guarding animals and introduction of modern equipments, intestines of bulls and animal skins were replaced with iron headed hammers and German sheets of butter paper respectively.” The metal is interleaved in the booklet of thin butter sheets that are then hammered with the iron, thus producing the foil. The smooth surface of the German sheets make it easier to store and peel off the vark, which is sold per booklet.

So how does one tell a good vark from an adulterated one, considering that both silver and aluminium tend to look the same when drawn into sheets?

“It is very easy to recognise between the pure silver vark and an alloy of aluminium and silver, or even a pure aluminium vark. While the silver vark is very fine and wafer thin, aluminium-mixed varks aren’t as fine. Also, silver varks disintegrate rapidly when rubbed between the fingers whereas aluminium varks tend to roll up into a solid ball.”

Pointing out that only smaller shops tend to buy adulterated varks, Waliudin suggests rubbing the vark between one’s fingers to test for ourselves.

“These silver foils are beaten very thin so that they can spread evenly on the sweets. But when two metals are mixed, the vark isn’t as smooth and breaks off quite easily.”

So in case you haven’t been paying much attention to your food thus far, now would be a good time to start. In case you do find a discrepancy, the FSSAI welcomes complaints on 040-2465 0365 / 2756 0191.

Trivia

Chandi (silver) vark was initially introduced in Hyderabad for its medicinal purposes in Unani and Ayurveda. It was later picked up as a decorative garnish by confectionary makers. While silver and gold are inert metals that do not harm the body’s composition, adulterants like aluminium, nickel and copper cause serious side affects to one’s health, including skin diseases, breathing problems and irregularities in the heart. While most of the established shops use pure varks, smaller nondescript shops tend to market adulterated vark. 

How it’s made 

The Chandini Vark is got in the form of solid silver weighing 100 grams each. The silver is put into a machine and cut into thin strips. These strips are further cut into one inch-sized pieces and put within the leaves of the German butter paper booklet. Each booklet can fit up to 150 pieces of silver which are beaten for three to fours hours to draw them into thin foils. The process is very simple with no usage of chemicals nor any chance of other metals getting mixed up, unless done so intentionally. During Ramzan and other major Hindu festivals, sales of the vark go up for decorating sweets and biryani too.

SMC to check army canteens for food adulteration

Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the civic body in Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital, will lift food samples inside the army’s largest garrison Badami Bagh to check food adulteration. 

SMC’s move to extend its jurisdiction has come as the cantonment had no designated food safety officer or laboratory to test quality of eatables. SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba had called a meeting in this regard and directed the health official to carry out the necessary measures to implement the Food Safety Act inside the cantonment to ensure food quality and standards. 

“It’s important that all eatables, wherever it is sold in Srinagar, are not adulterated or violating the Food Safety Act 2006. The SMC will be lifting samples from the cantonment for necessary test to ensure sale of safe and healthy food items,” said Dr Qasba. “The SMC will be now lifting samples from all the sellers housed inside and outside the cantonment area. 

The SMC will be testing food samples periodically so that hygienic and up-to-mark unadulterated eatables are sold inside the cantonment,” said SMC health officer Shafqat Khan. The health officer on Wednesday on the instructions of Commissioner SMC held a meeting with the cantonment authorities, which was also attended by the officials of the Chinar Station Canteen and OIC station. 

The cantonment authorities had requested to the SMC to “collect food samples from various shops in and around BB Cantonment and arrange analysis of the same to rule out any adulteration.” The SMC has now asked the cantonment authorities to send a complete list of food business operators and retail food outlets. 

“The licensing of the same will be done under the relevant clause of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, which shall thereafter enable the Public Health Department of SMC to undertake regular sampling in the cantonment area,” said a SMC official communiqué to the cantonment authorities.

JMC conducts surprise drive ahead of Maha Shivratri

JAMMU: While conducting drive against the menace of food adulteration in commonly consumable food items especially on the eve of Maha Shivratri, Municipal Veterinary Officer, Health Officer and Food Safety Officer conducted a surprise tour and realised Rs. 12,600 as fine from defaulters under the Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.

On the directions of Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Kiran Wattal, the JMC team conducted drive in the areas like Satwari, Nai Basti, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Vikram Chowk, Talab Tillo, Bantalab, Muthi, Durga Nagar, Roop Nagar and New Plot and were checked number of food establishments including sweet shops, meat shops, fish shops, provisional stores, food stalls and different moving vendors.

A compounding fine of Rs. 12,600 was realized from defaulters under Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 during the tour. About 15 quintals of milk was checked in different areas by way of using different methods like Garbar machine, lacto meter and method using Reagents to check the urea in milk. During meat shop checking about 15 Kgs of meat was found unfit for human consumption and destroyed on spot.

Besides this seven Kg of polythene carry bags were also seized and general public also made aware about harmful effect of using polythene carry bags as polythene never decompose like other waste material and due to un-decomposition it will effect on our surrounding environment. The corporation officers directed to ensure the supply of good quality/hygienic food items to the citizens of Jammu city, and asked to keep the premises neat and clean failing which action under law shall be initiated against them.

Udupi: Food retailers must obtain License/registration done-Dr.Praveen Kumar C.H

Udupi; Feb 26: Dr.Praveen Kumar C.H, District Food Safety and Quality control officer said in his speech that all food retailers (F.B.O) by making mandatory license/registration done, should co-operate in the implementation of Food Safety and Quality Act.

In order to give safety and quality food items to the public, safety and quality act 2006 and under its rules and regulations 2011 has been in force since 5th August 2011.

In this Act, section 31(1) and provision of food items under 2.11 and 2.1.2, Food Manufacturers/processing/transportation/distribution and sales, who are engaged, must obtain license/registration done, failing which they cannot carry out food items transactions. Violations of this rules become a crime and will be awarded a maximum of 6-months jail sentence and a penalty of Rs 5 lac will be imposed on the offenders, he said.

Food units, which need to get license and registration done:-

Street vendors, hand cart traders, home based canteens, small scale business people, Cottage Industries (home food manufacturers, religious ceremony, Fair and periodical festival in honour of deity, fish/chicken/mutton vendors, tea stalls, Manufacturers and Processors, cold storage centres,Milk traders, sundry retailers,re-packing companies, Distributors and suppliers,re-labelling companies,transporters,Import/Exporters,catering,clubs/canteens/School,college canteens,Hotels,Restaurants,Wine stores, Bar and Restaurants, wedding halls, community Centres,dining co-ordinators,convener of food arrangement in religious places, private lodging and hostels, office canteens and manufacturers of packed drinking water, can make registration done, he said.

To get the license, the business owners or their authorized representatives should visit personally to submit application, after making payment of government fee as mentioned below in taluk treasury related State Bank, in the name of Proper authority, Food safety and Quality Act, District health officer’s office campus, Ajjarakadu Udupi

Documents verification and inspection of the place will be conducted within 15 days. Notice will be given in the event of any mistakes are found. Within 30 days of the notice, proper documents should be provided and license will be issued within 60 days of receiving the application and information will be given through mobile.

No Agents, brokers or middlemen are entertained and except government fee, no other fees should be paid, advised strictly.

Reality bites: Creepy-crawly on your plate!

INDORE: Ten days after a caterpillar was found on burger at an outlet in Malhar Mall, complaints continue to pour in from customers across the city over sub-standard food being served in malls.

On February 14, Prasang Khare, an executive with a private firm and a regular KFC visitor, said he was surprised to find a green vegetable caterpillar on the burger served to him. Khare was with his family in the outlet when they were served the dish.

"The insect was as big as my son's finger. My family was shocked beyond belief," Khare said. Khare said though the manager of the outlet apologized, but he and his wife were already ill. "We had severe gastric problems," he said.

Refuting the allegation, KFC spokesperson said, "As a responsible brand, KFC is committed to following international standards and serving the highest quality products to all our customers. The products served are sourced from state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that follow rigorous food safety standards. We have investigated the matter and the evidence available with us indicates that the claim is false. Customer experience and food safety is of paramount importance and that is why KFC is a taste that you can trust." On February 4, a similar incident took place with the secretary of senior citizen forum V K Bhalla at More in C21 mall. He said he bought a jumbo bread from the outlet and it carried the manufacturing date tag of the same day.

"However, when I opened it to prepare sandwich the following day, to my utter surprise, I found fungus on the bread. When I complained of the matter, a person from the outlet visited me and replaced the bread. However, nobody bothered to give me any feedback after that," said Bhalla. The owner of C-21 Mall and Malhar Mall, Pintu Chhabra, said, "Though we have given these outlets on a rental basis, yet we have instructed them to maintain quality. Whenever we receive any complaint, we take appropriate action after investigating the incident."

Stay on tobacco confiscation

Justice A. Rajasekhar Reddy stayed prosecution and confiscation of the tobacco products manufactured by RK Products Company for four weeks. The judge was dealing with a petition by the company challenging the notification issued by the government prohibiting manufacture, distribution and sale of pure tobacco, khaini, kharra, scented tobacco for one year. P. Vikram, counsel for the petitioner, contended that the products of the company are covered in the definition of "Tobacco products" and are governed by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003, and are excluded from the ambit of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

ADULTERATION IN MILK & MILK PRODUCTS

HC whip on milk adulterators Directs authorities to take milk, curd samples once in two weeks

Srinagar, February 25

To check adulteration in food items, the J&K High Court has directed the authorities concerned to lift the samples of milk and curd sold in the market by different companies under different brand names at least once in two weeks and send the samples for analysis to the notified food testing laboratories. 

The court in its directions, made available today, has also directed the authorities to prosecute the manufacturers/companies if found involved in adulterations of the food items in the light of the analysis reports received from these laboratories. 

These directions have been issued by a division bench of the J&K High Court, while hearing a PIL on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state. 

“The respondents are directed to lift samples of toned milk, skimmed milk and other types of milk/curd or any other milk products marketed by MS Khyber Agro Foods and milk farms at least once in two weeks and to forward the samples to a notified laboratory…. and to produce the analysis report in the court,” the court said in its orders. 

It also directed the authorities concerned to lift the food items marketed by Avon and Kanwal Foods at random at least once in two weeks for analysis and produce the analysis report before the court. 

“The respondents are directed to lift other samples of the milk and curd marketed by other companies at least once in two weeks,” the court added. 

Earlier, on December 24, 2013, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court had ordered owners of three food and spice companies, Avon, Kanwal Foods and Khyber Agro Foods and Milk Farms to pay Rs 10 crore each to a premier government-run medical institute, SKIMS, Srinagar, following reports that their products were found adulterated in laboratory tests. 

However, these companies succeeded in getting a stay from the Supreme Court against these directions of the J&K High Court. 

“The manufacturers of the three adulterated food items were directed to deposit Rs 10 crore each with the Director, SKIMS, and were also directed to withdraw food items in the question…The directions regarding deposit of Rs 10 crore each has been stated by the Supreme Court....However, the manufacturers/companies are not permitted to sell/market the produce forming subject matter of the petition,” the high court observed in its fresh orders.

HC for regular sampling of companies

SRINAGAR, Feb 25: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the authorities to conduct the laboratory testing of various food items of Food Processing companies on regular bases and launch prosecution of manufacturers, dealers, distributors whose products are found adulterated.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Hasnain Masoodi and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed the authorities to lift samples of the food products of AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi, Khyber Agro Farms and M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag and send them for testing to reputed Testing Laboratories.

The Court directed the authorities to lift the food items marketed by M/s AVON and M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries, Anantnag at random at least once in two weeks and also samples from toned milk, skimmed milk, full fat milk or any other type of milk and curd marketed by other companies and forward the lifted samples to notified laboratories within the State and referral laboratory for analysis and produce the result before the Court, and to launch prosecution against the manufacturers, dealers, distributors wherever required in light of the analysis report.

The High Court directed the authorities to ensure that M/s Khyber Agro Milk is prevented from selling the spurious and synthetic milk to the consumers and other two companies, AVON Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd Delhi and M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries, Anantnag are also made to desist from adding prohibited colouring agents to the food items.

The Bench further directed to lift samples of the tuned milk, skimmed milk, full fat milk, or any other type of milk under whatever name it is marketed and curd marketed by M/s Khyber Agro Farms, at least once in a week and to forward the samples, to laboratory within the State or to the referral laboratory at Pune-41001 or any other laboratory as identified by food authority and to produce the analysis report of the samples so lifted before the Court.

The Bench also directed to inform the Court about the status report of prosecution launched against M/s Khyber Agro Farms Ltd after the receipt analysis reports earlier.

Court observed that having regard to the adulterants added as per the CFL Kolkata report, it prima facie appears that the adulteration is made with design. The adulterated food products are injurious to health and cheaper in cost as, synthetic milk is supplied to the consumers and colouring agent added to the food items.

The Bench also observed that Apex Court of the country has also directed these companies not to sell the products.

In another direction with regard to manpower and infrastructure under the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006, Court directed the State Government to submit status report on next date of hearing indicating therein the staff sanctioned/created and recruited from the date after the Act came into force, and also indicate in the status report the particulars of designated officer for each district and Food Safety Officer and Food Analyst for each local area with their respective territorial jurisdiction.

The Bench observed various direction were issued from time to time but the response to such directions has been lukewarm by and large and not up to the mark. “Resultantly non-availability of manpower and infrastructure contemplated under the Act remains a “paper Tiger” and the general public left at the mercy of unscrupulous manufactures/ dealers/sale/distribution of adulterated food items”, the Court observed.

The Bench was hearing a PIL regarding the menace of food adulteration, where in on last hearing Court had imposed Rs 10 crore to Kyber, AVON and Kanwal for selling and manufacturing adulterated food items. After the Director SKIMS furnished his report about the damages caused by the adulterated food, the Court asked them to show cause why further Rs 10 crore may not be imposed as penalty on them.

HC seeks test reports of toned milk, curd sold in Valley

Srinagar: To prevent sale of spurious milk, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed authorities to fortnightly lift samples of toned milk and curd and submit laboratory details about the merchandise before it.

However, in case of Khyber Agro, a division bench of Justices Hasnain Massodi and Tashi Rabstan directed authorities to lift samples at least once a week.

“In order to ensure that M/S Khyber Agro Milk is prevented from selling the spurious and synthetic milk to the consumers, authorities are directed to lift samples from the toned milk, skimmed milk, full fat milk or any other type of milk under whatever name marketed and curd marketed by (it), at least once in a week and to forward the samples, so taken to laboratory within the state as also to the Referral Laboratory at Pune or any other such laboratory as identified by Food Authority,” the court said, asking the authorities to produce the analysis report of the samples before the court.

The bench also directed the authorities to lift the samples from the food items marketed by M/S Avon and Kanwal Foods at random “at least once in two weeks.”

“Forward the samples to notified laboratory within the state as also to Referral Laboratory for analysis and produce the results/analysis report before the court,” the court said.

It also directed the authorities to launch prosecution against the manufacturers, dealers, distributors wherever required in light of the analysis reports.

“The authorities are directed to inform the court whether prosecution against M/S Khyber Agro Milk Farms Ltd has been launched after the receipt of analysis reports mentioned in order dated December 23, 2013,” the court said, directing authorities to file status report by next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

The court also directed government to submit status report regarding the strengthened staff as envisaged by the FSSA, staff recruited from the date Act came into force.

“The status report shall also indicate the particulars of Designated Officers for each district and Food Safety Officer and Food Analyst for each local area with their respective territorial jurisdiction,” the court added.

PIL alleges caffeine content beyond permitted limit in energy drink

Summary

Through amendments, authority proposes to add caffeinated beverage as an additional category under FSSAI, court was informed.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) heard by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday accused the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) of having made amendments to the existing regulations to permit companies, particularly Red Bull, to add caffeine in energy drinks beyond prescribed limits. The PIL states that this would have been done without evaluating the risk to health of consumers.

The amended regulations would provide caffeinated beverages to contain not less than 145 mg of caffeine per litre and not more than 320 mg per litre whereas the existing regulations state that the limit is 145 mg per litre, a bench of Justices V M Kanade and G S Kulkarni was told.

Through the amendments, the authority proposes to add caffeinated beverage as an additional category under the FSSAI, the court was informed. “By the said amendment, the authority proposes to add caffeinated beverage as an additional category. The said exercise is done only to permit the companies (that sell carbonated beverages containing caffeine and more particularly Red Bull) to add more caffeine than the standards mentioned in the existing regulations,” the PIL alleges.

According to information sought by the petitioner under the RTI, Red Bull Energy Drink in 2009 had undergone seizure of various stocks as the samples analysed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that the samples contained more than 200 mg per litre, which is more than the prescribed limit. The RTI further revealed that the stock of the seized drinks were ordered to be destroyed by the Alibaug judicial magistrate.

Arguing for petitioner Yajurvedi Rao, advocate Anjali Purav urged the judges to restrain the FSSAI from permitting any company to sell beverage with more caffeine than prescribed, and from creating a new category in beverages than already provided in the FSS Act 2006.

The PIL also listed out the side effects of caffeine and termed them “serious”. “Caffeine being a stimulant, it affects all parts of the body. Blood vessels in the brain constrict heart beats more intensely and the muscles contract,” it stated.

It further said, “Caffeine contributes to weight gain and obesity. Though there maybe warning on the can of the drink ‘not more than 2’, but there is no machinery or statute available to control or regulate or supervise its consumption or sale.” The FSSAI sought time to respond to the allegations levelled by the petitioner and was granted three weeks by the court to file its reply.

What is the definition of ‘Tea’ as per FSS Regulations? What is the labelling guideline on added flavour in Tea?

As per FSS regulations, ‘Tea’ is mentioned under Beverages and has three sub-types – Tea, Kangra Tea & Green Tea.

‘Tea’ has been defined as; tea which is obtained by acceptable processes, exclusively from leaves, buds and tender stems of plant of the Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze. The form of tea could be of black or oolong tea. Tea shall have characteristic flavour free from any off odour, taint and mustiness and it should also be free from living insects, moulds, dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination visible to the naked eye. 

‘Kangra Tea’ is the tea which is exclusively derived from the leaves, buds and tender stems of plants of the Camellia sinensis or Camellia tea which is grown in the Kangra and Mandi valleys of Himachal Pradesh. 

‘Green Tea’ means the tea product which is derived solely and exclusively, produced by acceptable processes, notably enzyme, inactivation, rolling or comminution and drying from the leaves, buds and tender stems of varieties of the species Camellia Sinensis (L) O. Kuntze, known to be suitable for making tea for consumption as a beverage. 

A package containing tea will have to comply with the labelling requirements as have been mentioned under FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011.

A packaged tea product with added flavour shall bear the following label: 

“Flavoured Tea” (common name of permitted flavour / percentage)                                       Registration No. ………………………

 The specifications and the requirements of the tea product have been declared under FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. A tea product shall conform to the requirements and the figures on the materials as have been defined under BEVERAGES (Other than Dairy, Fruit & Vegetable based).

32 food samples fail purity tests Tobacco sample found containing nicotine

Bathinda, February 24

Thirty-two food samples that were collected in the district under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have failed the purity tests. Of the samples collected, the health authorities have lodged complaint regarding 19 samples collected by the authorities. 

Nodal Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said the sample of gutka, which was collected during a raid conducted at Maur on June 26, 2013, was found to contain nicotine. “The sale of tobacco is banned if sold under the name of gutka. Lab results have shown that the samples collected from Maur had nicotine in them, which is unsafe for human consumption,” he said. The case now lies pending with the local court.

The Maur police have arrested one and booked two others for selling fake and sub-standard tobacco products. The accused Sikandar Singh was arrested and 80 quintals of tobacco was recovered from his possession.

The remaining 18 cases were filed with the Adjudicating Officer, ADC Rajiv Prashar. Of these, six have been decided including five penalised cases and the rest of the 12 cases are pending. 

Only those cases are filed with the Adjudicating Officer in which the lab results show food samples to be sub-standard and not unfit for human consumption. 

The ADC had imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on sub-standard milk-seller and a fine of Rs 40,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000 in cases of selling sub-standard mustard oil. The seller of over-ripened bananas was let off after being served a warning.

The collected food samples are first tested at the Public Analyst, State Food, Drugs and Excise Lab of the Government of Punjab at Chandigarh. If tested negative, the accused is given an opportunity to get the sample tested from Food Research and Standardisation Laboratory, Ghaziabad. It’s the accused who bears the expenses of getting the sample tested for the second time from Ghaziabad lab. Four such cases have been sent from Bathinda so far seeking a second test of the samples collected.

The health authorities encouraged food business operators to get enrolled under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to avoid any kind of future problems. 

With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India being implemented throughout the country, it is slowly becoming mandatory to display one’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licence or registration number before making any deals in the food business.

The ones who enroll earlier would be saved from future problems, added Dr Randhawa.

Govt sanctions prosecution of Kanwal, Khyber, AVON

SMC to file charge sheet today

Srinagar, Feb 23: State Government has accorded sanction for the prosecution of the leading Food Processing Companies whose products were found adulterated with carcinogenic chemicals.

Drug Controller of the State, Satish Gupta, told Excelsior that Government has accorded sanction for the prosecution of AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi, Khyber Agro Farms and M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag whose food products were found adulterated by the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata.

Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Dr Shafaqat Khan told Excelsior that he has got sanction from the Commissioner Food Safety Jammu and Kashmir, Ganzafar Ali,for the prosecution of M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag whose Sounf powder was found adulterated and that of a Punjab based Food processing company whose Karela and Jamun juice were found adulterated.

Dr Shafaqat said that he will produce charge-sheet against these two companies tomorrow before the Municipal Magistrate Srinagar under Food Safety Standards Act 2006. “There was no delay on my part for prosecution but I was waiting for the government sanction”, he added.

The Food Safety Officer, Budgam, Shugufta, told Excelsior that she has not received any sanction for the prosecution of Khyber Agro Farms whose toned milk has been found adulterated. “Once the sanction is accorded, we will go through legal process”, she added.

The turmeric powder of AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi, toned Milk of Khyber Agro Farms and Sounf powder of M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag was found adulterated by the Central Food Laboratory Kolkata whose reports came in November and December last year.

The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata report about turmeric powder manufactured by AVON Agro Industries Pvt Ltd Delhi said that it contained Tartrazine adulteration.

The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata report about the Khyber Milk states that besides containing detergent, the sample has failed to conform to various other standards stipulated under laws and regulations.

The Central Food Laboratory Kolkata about Saunf powder manufactured by M/s Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag found it unsafe and misbranded, containing added colouring matter – Carmoisine and Tartrazine.

Sources said that these companies are facing serious charges as the Director SKIMS, Shoukat Ahmad Zagar, in its report has said that the colouring agents and other material found in the spices and the toned milk are carcinogenic, can damage various body organs and cause heart diseases.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has already penalized these companies and asked them to deposit Rs 60 crore with the Director SKIMS for damaging the health of people.

Food Act changes good but inspectors pay bad

5-member panel to discuss pay uniformity

Structural inequality among cadre of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is holding back officers from doing their job. Step-motherly attitude of the state government towards the Food Safety Officers (FSO) underplay their importance for a healthy society, discussed FSOs from all across the state here at an annual convention.

“To do away with ‘Inspector Raj’, state has brought in new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006; the Act is progressive, but the government has failed to provide adequate infrastructure and staff,” said Secretary General of FSO Cadre Association of India VK Rathi.

As the Act came into force, the role of Food Inspector has been changed from a regulator to a facilitator.

The FSOs in the state are being paid class-IV employee wages. “Our salary is Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000, whereas those in other states are being paid Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000. Our grade pay is Rs 2,100 against Rs 4,200 to FSOs in other states,” said Manish Swami, a senior FSO.

“Promotion opportunities are bleak. FSOs end up in the same post till their retirement. We had sent a list of recommendations to the pay commission and the state government, but none have been accepted,” said Swami.

A five-member committee has been constituted at the annual convention with food commissioners from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa and Maharashtra states to discuss uniformed pay structure of the officers across India, irrespective of the state cadre they belong to.

Given the amount of arable land in our country, food security is a big challenge and at the same time providing quality food to people is equally important, said an officer.

Check illegal vendors

As per provisions contained in Food Safety and Standards Act, all food vendors, including restaurants, roadside eateries, tea shops, juice shop, fruit and vegetable vendors, fish and meat stalls should register them and obtain a licence from Food Supplies Department, failing which a fine or imprisonment should be awarded.

Further the owners may have to shut down their shops. But it is seen that half of city’s food outlets have not yet been enrolled by the authorities and therefore continue as illegal vendors. In addition, many mobile vendors from the suburban areas continue their business in the city by means of their cycles and sell their products within 2-3 hours and return back.

Further, some meat and fish sellers also come to city during morning hours and sell their products in and around the city and leave the place before noon, but they do not possess any licence. They also do not keep the area clean. In such cases, the authorities should create an awareness programme and force them to register with their names for licence.

K. C. Mohanti, Bhubaneswar

Baby-poop bacteria to help make healthy sausages?

Scientists have found a bizarre new way of making sausages healthier - by using baby poop. 

According to a new research, bacteria from baby poop can help make sausages, which could transform savoury meats into health foods much like probiotic yogurts. 

Several types of sausages are made using bacterial fermentation, which helps give sausages their characteristic tangy flavour and provides them chewy texture and intense red colour, 'LiveScience' reported. 

Scientists in Spain reasoned that probiotic bacteria could be used in fermented sausages. 

"Probiotic fermented sausages will give an opportunity to consumers who don't take dairy products the possibility to include probiotic foods to their diet," said study co-author Anna Jofre from Catalonia's Institute of Food and Agricultural Research's (IRTA) food-safety programme in Girona, Spain. 

Researchers focused on microbes found alive in human feces as for probiotic bacteria to work, they must survive the acids in the digestive tract. 

They concentrated on 43 fecal samples of healthy infants up to 6 months old. The samples were taken from diapers, mostly provided by midwives in support groups for new parents. 

The two kinds of bacteria used most often in probiotics, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are far more abundant in infant poop than in adult excrement. 

"Infant feces are natural samples, easy to obtain," Jofre said. 

Scientists tried fermenting six batches of sausages using three strains of bacteria found in baby poop and three other, commercial probiotic strains of bacteria. 

Previous research established the strains the researchers used from infant excrement were safe for people.

Specifically, the investigators made "fuet," a kind of Mediterranean fermented sausage. 

Only one of the six strains of bacteria became the main, dominant microbes within the sausages: one of the strains from infant feces, the report said. 

This strain grew "to levels of 100 million cells per gramme of sausage enough to produce health-promoting effects to people," Jofre said.

Food units in Karnataka to come under mapping exercise of state government

Bengaluru, Feb 22 (KNN) The Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project (KHSDRP) is keen to strengthen its food safety strategy and enhance regulation of food safety standards in the state by carrying out a mapping exercise and monitoring delivery mechanisms.

To regulate food safety, the Government of India enacted the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006 along with its Rules and Regulations 2011 for food products at different stages on scientific basis.

“With an intention to expedite the implementation of FSSA and Rules effectively within the time frame, KHSDRP, under additional financing, has agreed to establish a “Food Safety Cell” with support of a Food Safety Consultant, a legal consultant and data entry operator in the office of the Food Safety Commissioner,” said KHSDRP.

In this context, it wants to hire professionals to conduct a baseline survey and mapping of food business units in Karnataka under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006.

The Food Safety Consultant would support the implementation of the Food Safety strategy of the KHSDRP. She/he would support implementation, management and monitoring of activities planned under agreed strategies for enhancing regulation of the food safety standards in the state of Karnataka.

The project would involve facilitating registration and licensing, building capacity of and upgrading the existing food laboratories in the state, developing IEC strategy and materials to create awareness of both small and large FBOs in the state of their rights and responsibilities under the Statutory Act and strengthening the oversight mechanisms for compliance with safety standards.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) has been assigned the responsibility of the implementation of the FSSA ACT through the Food Safety Commissioner.

Review Food Safety Act: HC

While asking the government if it is willing to reconsider some of the provisions of The Food Safety and Standards Act 2011, the High Court on Friday observed that it might be difficult for hoteliers to establish laboratories to periodically test the food supplied by them. 

Justice A N Venugopal Gowda said, “Even star hotels in the country have not set up laboratories to test the food that is being supplied by them. How is it practically possible for small hoteliers to establish laboratories or to get the food supplied by them tested periodically? Has the government established enough laboratories to test the food supplied in hotels? The government should think of doing things that are practical, to ensure good quality food is supplied in hotels, and improve on it later on.”

While narrating an anecdote to describe the quality of food supplied in some hotels, Justice Gowda said, “We found a cockroach in sambar when I visited a hotel along with my wife 20 years ago, and I have not visited that hotel ever since. There should some mechanism to ensure that the quality of food supplied by hotels is good.” 

The solicitor general submitted before the court that it would be difficult for the common man to demand quality food despite paying for it unless the Act was implemented in its entirety. 

Hoteliers comply with similar provisions when they open hotels abroad. But they oppose it when such rules are enacted in India, he added. 

Justice Gowda directed the petitioners to specify the provisions that they are finding difficult to comply with, instead of opposing the Act in its entirety, during the next hearing, and adjourned the case.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Can't expect small hotels to have food testing labs: HC

The High Court on Friday questioned as to how the Central government could expect small and medium hotels to have a laboratory to test the quality of food they serve to customers.

Hearing a petition by Karnataka Pradesh Hotel and Restaurants’ Association (KPHRA), which had challenged certain regulations laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, Justice A N Venugopala Gowda observed that even seven and five star hotels do not have the facility of food testing laboratories. 

“How can you expect small hotels to have laboratories?"

Mahmood Paracha, the counsel representing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), submitted to the High Court that when Indians abroad open Indian restaurants, they have to maintain the food safety and standards as per the law of the land and cannot compromise on quality. The Central government has brought in the regulations to ensure that quality food is served at restaurants. 

Senior counsel Udaya Holla, representing KPHRA, submitted that it was not possible for small and medium hotels to have laboratories to test food quality as space available in certain restaurants is too less to have testing labs. The bench asked the counsel to submit an alternative plan to ensure the safety of consumable food. 

The counsel for FSSAI submitted that the best of the brains have gone in to making the Act and the standards cannot be lowered. The bench adjourned the hearing to February 28.

Food items rotting in ports and airports as govt introduces new packaging rules

Khushal Dedhia of VK Stores in Crawford Market has been turning away customers; a note at Hypercity, Vashi 

New Indian labelling requirements for imported foods and ingredients have led to a severe shortage of such items in Mumbai and across the country, hitting kitchens of top restaurants. 

Huge consignments of imported meats, cheeses, sauces, edible oil and even mayonnaise, among other popular items, are held up at airports and ports over what authorities describe as insufficient information on the packages' labels. 

The dwindling supply has left chefs wondering how to serve Greek salad without feta cheese, Miso soup minus silken tofu or Thai curry without fish sauce. 

It's also eating into restaurants' profits: prices of foreign foods - labelled in Spanish, Japanese and Italian - have now doubled in Mumbai's markets, but most eateries are unable to hike rates on their menus after having already done so recently. If the supply doesn't improve, they may be forced to pass on the costs to the patrons. 

It's not just eateries. Foodies, too, are struggling to get their favourite Italian Parma ham or Thailand's Sriracha sauce from local vendors and at big stores. 

"We are facing import challenges along with the industry to source international range of products," read a sign stuck in the food section of HyperCITY, Vashi. 

Made in India 

The problems arose late last year after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Union health ministry agency that supervises food imports to ensure quality, started enforcing stricter labelling rules. 

The norms require manufacturers of prepackaged food items to: clearly explain the contents in English or Hindi, list the ingredients used and nutritional values, provide complete name and address of the producer and the country of origin. 

They also demand sticking of green and brown labels for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items, respectively. 

While most countries have packaging requirements, they are not uniform, which made it difficult for Indian authorities to check consignments of imported food items for quality. In 2010-11 the government introduced new labelling standards for all food importers. It was only last September the FSSAI decided to hold back consignments for labelling infractions. 

Stocks rotting 

"For the past few months, I have been hearing horror stories from employees of consulates about how stocks of expensive ham and rare cheeses have been just lying at airport customs or in containers at the dockyard," Kabir Suri, CEO of Azure Hospitality, which owns the restaurant chain Mamagoto. 

"It's not just Mumbai; Delhi is also facing a supply shortage. Silken tofu, mushrooms, Japanese wine vinegar, Mirin sauce and sunflower seeds, which we use liberally at Mamagoto, have all but disappeared from most suppliers' product lists." 

While gastronomists and hoteliers agree that quality checks are important to prevent entry of substandard or spoiled food items into Indian markets, they want more time to speak to manufacturers abroad to implement new packaging rules. 

The Forum of Indian Food Importers has already made numerous representations to the FSSAI in this regard. Rakesh Banga, director at Banyan Fine foods India Pvt Ltd and founder-director at the importers' forum, said an importer can only add the company's name, food safety logo and manufacturing date on the label. Other details, including nutritional values, have to be specified by the manufacturer. 

"We are not saying that products made in Thailand should not meet Indian requirements," siad Banga. "All we are asking for is some more time to implement the law. We have been making representations to the health ministry and to the FSSAI, and we hope to get some relief." 

On the other hand, persuading manufacturers abroad to changing the packaging is proving to be difficult. Already, many manufacturers have cancelled their consignments for India over the new rules. 

End user will be hit 

The order rejections have pushed up prices of foreign foods in local markets and at retail stores. The price of mayonnaise, a popular egg-based sandwich spread, has shot up from Rs 250 to Rs 500 in the past few months. 

Most markets, however, do not have mayo in their stocks. 

Abottle of Thai fish sauce that cost around Rs 80 till a few months ago is sold for Rs 150. Olive oil is also in short supply, while Kraft cheese has all but disappeared from shelves. 

Traders from Crawford Market have been running from port to dock to source whatever stock is still available. "Since November, we have been facing a huge shortage of imported cheese and edible oils. The problem is so severe that we are turning away customers," said Khushal Dedhia, owner V K Stores. 

Hitesh Keswani, director of Silver Beach Entertainment and Hospitality Private Limited, revealed that his restaurants profits had dropped by 30 per cent because of rising prices of foreign food items. 

"Of our six distributors, five have decided to increase all product prices. We had increased our menu rates late last year so we cannot pass on the costs to our customers right now," said Keswani, who owns Silver Beach Cafe, Nom Nom, Copa, Park Bench and Jantar Mantar. 

Nikhil Chib, chef and owner Busaba and Busa-Go, said his costs too had gone up significantly. "Imported products' prices have gone up by 100 per cent. We, of course, don't intend to share the costs with our patrons. We will wait and watch what the government does to help the industry."

China punished 10,000 over food safety since 2011

Beijing, Feb 22 (IANS) China has prosecuted over 10,000 people in last three years since 2011 for production and sale of substandard and poisonous food, Chinese Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said here Friday.

According to statistics from SPP, the highest agency at the national level responsible for both prosecution and investigation in the People's Republic of China, prosecutors also approved the arrest of some 7,000 people linked to manufacture and marketing of food products, Xinhua reported.

Nie Jianhua, SPP vice director in charge of public prosecution, said during a press briefing that illegal workshops, factories and markets were the major sources of problematic food.

Suspects were mainly self-employed business people, farmers or unemployed, he added.

Revealing about a prominent criminal offence concerning food safety, it was stated how a suspect named Liu Liguo sold 100 million yuan's worth of "gutter oil" made from kitchen waste between December 2007 and July 2011. Some 9 million yuan worth of such unsafe oil entered the cooking oil market.

"Gutter oil" literally refers to recycled oil dredged from gutters behind restaurants as well as inedible animal oil. The oil, which contains carcinogenic substances, is dangerous if consumed.

Liu was given a life sentence in 2013.

U.S. not targeting Indian drug companies: FDA chief

The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it was not unduly targeting drug companies in India, which supplies a large portion of drugs used in the U.S., as the agency cracks down on substandard medication from abroad.

In recent months, the FDA banned drugs and drug ingredients from two Indian companies, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd (RANB.NS) and Wockhardt Ltd (WCKH.NS), citing quality concerns. Some Indian officials say the U.S. is disproportionately targeting Indian companies for enforcement actions.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, who recently returned from a 10-day official visit to India, rejected those charges, saying that her agency was simply "undertaking our required regulatory activities" needed to protect public health in the United States.

India supplies about 40 percent of the generic and over-the-counter drugs consumed in the United States, making it the second-largest supplier after Canada. Yet quality control problems have long plagued India's drug industry, largely due to a weak regulatory system.

In 2012, a report by India's parliament alleged collusion between pharmaceutical firms and officials at the country's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), which oversees the licensing, marketing and trials of new drugs. It described an agency that was both chronically understaffed and underqualified.

The country is trying to improve but the task facing both local and overseas inspectors is difficult. The FDA has 12 members of staff in India, while about 500 Indian companies are registered to export drugs to the U.S.

The FDA staff is tasked with fostering communication with their Indian counterparts and can inspect facilities.

Dr. Amir Attaran, a professor of law and medicine at the University of Ottawa, noted that "even if you put a huge number of FDA staff in New Delhi, they have no legal power, no ability to do surprise inspections, no ability to issue subpoenas or take other measures to force a drugmaker to open its books."

"They are foreign agents in a foreign land," he said.

During Hamburg's visit, the FDA and India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed a statement of intent to cooperate to prevent the distribution of unsafe drugs.

The statement is not binding and has no enforcement power behind it. Among other things, the FDA agreed to inform India's regulatory authorities before inspections so that local inspectors can observe.

The ink on the statement was barely dry when the drug controller general of India, G.N. Singh, said in an interview that India would follow its own quality standards and that "the FDA may regulate its country, but it can't regulate India on how India has to behave or how to deliver."

Singh said his agency regularly inspects manufacturing facilities in India and that it plans to raise the number of inspectors to 5,000 in three to five years, from about 1,500.

"We don't recognize and are not bound by what the U.S. is doing and is inspecting," he added.

Some observers are skeptical of India's commitment to improving quality standards.

Last year, Ranbaxy pleaded guilty to felony U.S. charges of shoddy manufacturing practices and data falsification and agreed to pay $500 million in civil and criminal fines. Dinesh Thakur, a former Ranbaxy executive who blew the whistle on the company nearly a decade ago, said no one in the Indian government has contacted him about the matter.

"Clearly this is not a priority for the Indian government at the moment," he said.

The FDA may be able to ban products from individual facilities but its ability to impose widespread restrictions on India's drugs is limited, since the U.S. relies on them so heavily.

"The dirty little secret in all this is that we can't do without Indian products," said Roger Bate, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute who will moderate a congressional briefing on global substandard and counterfeit medicines on Wednesday. "We have to negotiate and pressure because we can't boycott."

A group of critics, including Bate, Attaran and Dr. Harry Lever, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, plans to attend the briefing and hopes to put pressure on the White House to take up the issue of drug quality with the Indian government. Lever plans to discuss problems he is increasingly encountering with inferior-quality medicines.

"The Indian government needs to feel some pain on this," Bate said.

Hamburg repeated a call she made while in India for Indian regulators to step up their participation in discussions about global collaboration on drug production.

"India needs to be a full participant at the table," she said.

Global Study on Smoking

The Government is not aware of any such report. However, Ministry of Health and Family welfare undertook the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, India (GATS) during 2009-10. The survey data revealed that more than one third (34.6%) of adults (15 years and older) in India use tobacco in some form or the other. The use of smokeless tobacco (25.9%) is more prevalent than smoking (14.1%). 

GATS India estimated the number of tobacco users in India to be 27.49 crore, with 16.37 crore users of only smokeless tobacco, 6.89 crore only smokers and 4.23 crore users of both smoking and smokeless tobacco. 

The following key steps have been taken by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to curb smoking and consumption of tobacco products: 

a) The “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) was enacted in 2003” to discourage tobacco use. 

b) In 2007-08 Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) with the objectives to (i) create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, (ii) reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, (iii) ensure effective implementation of the provisions made under (COTPA) and (iv) help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres. 

c) Under the 12th Five Year Plan the coverage of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has been up-scaled from existing 42 districts of 21 states to 53 districts of 29 states in 2013-2014. Approval has been obtained from Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) under NHM for scaling the programme to more than 600 Districts, in a phase-wise manner during 12th Five Year Plan. 

d) Further, the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products. Currently, 33 States / UT’s have issued orders for implementation of the Food Safety Regulations banning manufacture, sale and storage of Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco or nicotine. 

e) Dedicated funds have been made available to air public awareness campaigns. A variety of media have been used to create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and to reach a wider audience. Dedicated spots have been developed as well as adapted from global best practices. 

f) The Ministry of Health has notified the new graphic health warnings which have come into effect from 1st April 2013. 

g) In order to protect the youth from unnecessary exposure to tobacco imagery in films and TV Programmes, the Ministry has notified the rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products or their use in films and TV programmes. As per these rules, all films and TV programmes (both Indian & Foreign) depicting tobacco products or their use have to screen a health spot of 30 seconds duration and a disclaimer of 20 seconds duration on the harmful effects of tobacco use. 

Vide notification G.S.R. 417 (E ) dated 30th May, 2008 Ministry has notified twelve (12) sets of person who have been authorized to impose and collect fine against violation of the provision related to prohibition of smoking in public places. Further vide notification G.S.R. 680 (E) dated 15th September, 2009 , nine (9 ) additional set of persons have been authorized. 

Further Section 12 of COTPA empowers the state governments to authorize any police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector or any officer of State Food or Drug Administration or any other officer, holding the equivalent rank being not below the rank of Sub- Inspector of Police to enforce the provisions under the Act. 

This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.