Nov 30, 2014
Bake to offer colour-free items as part of Good Bye To Colour campaign
As a part of its Good Bye to Colour campaign, Bakers Association Kerala (Bake) plans to remove colours from all the bakery items produced in the state. As an experimental initiative, 210 bakery producers in the Nattika assembly constituency of Thrissur district have been producing non-coloured bakery items of late.
Colourful bakery products, a specialty of Kerala, have huge markets in both its rural and urban areas. Bakers in the state feared that a complete removal of colours from bakery products could reduce their demand and adversely affect profits.
With the campaign (which was launched in 2007), Bake aims to create public awareness about the consumption of colourless bakery products. It initiated various awareness programmes and cleanliness drives to encourage healthy bakery products. If it succeeds in Nattika, it would spread to all parts of Kerala.
P M Sankaran, state president, Bake, said, “We lost many of our homemade traditional products due to the nuclear family system and the introduction of artificial products. Bake is deeply involved in bringing those traditional products back.”
“Every colour used by the bakers in the state is permitted by the government and causes no harm. Barring banana chips and meat, colours are allowed in all food products," he added.
"But using colour above a certain level is harmful for consumption. Doctors say that colours contain adulterants,which may cause diseases,” Sankaran stated.
Bakers to say ‘Goodbye to colours’
The Bakers’ Association Kerala (Bake) has taken a healthy step. ‘Goodbye to colours,’ a programme launched by Bake in 2007, is being pursued with renewed vigour now thanks to an improved awareness among the public on the harmful effects of artificial colours. Perhaps, the fresh initiative is born out of a necessity
Colours are being used by almost all food manufacturing companies. Limits on the use of colours are being monitored by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The violation is liable for punishment, which could include jail term.
“Bakeries in Nattika in Thrissur have begun displaying ‘jalebis’ and ‘laddus’ sans colour, as part of the initiative. The move is being followed by bakers in Kottayam. The project is to be spread across Kerala”, says P.M. Sankaran, president of Bake.
Jalebis made of black gram flour and sugar will have a whitish tinge unless coloring matter is added. Laddus made of Bengal gram flour and sugar too will have a faint white colour. It may take time for the consumer psyche to accept the product as such, but bakers are opting for a trouble-free course that would ultimately benefit buyers. The mission should be seen as a move to promote a healthy habit, he says
Standards for hygien
Earlier, Bake had launched an initiative to ensure hygienic practices in bormas (kitchens) of bakeries. Accordingly, standards for hygiene to be adopted in kitchens were stipulated by the organisation. Tips for improving cleanliness were given to the employees as well as the owners, based on individual requirement, as noted by a committee of experts. The organisation proposes to give a Bake-fit certificate to the bakeries which ensure standards on subsequent examinations by a team of food services authorities and Bake representatives.
Traditional savourie
A movement to produce transfat-free products has been launched by the organisation. It is also focussing on reviving the production of traditional items such as ‘kozhukatta’, ‘sukhian’ and ‘ada’, in a bid to present age-old savouries and snacks to the new generation
Nov 29, 2014
போலியாக தயாரித்து விற்பனை நெய் குடோனுக்கு அதிகாரிகள் சீல்
விழுப்புரம், நவ. 29:
விழுப்புரத்தில் உள்ள மளிகைக்கடைகளில் மக்கள் வாங்கி பயன்படுத்தும் பொருட்களில் அதிகளவு கலப்படம் இருப்பதாக புகார்கள் எழுந்த வண்ணம் உள்ளது. கலப்படத்தில் வரும் பொருட்கள் குறைந்த விலைக்கு விற்பனை செய்வதால் மக்களும், அதனையே வாங்கிச்செல்கின்றனர். ஆனால் அது கலப்படம் என்பது அவர்களுக்கு தெரிவதில்லை.
இதுதொடர்பாக வந்த புகாரின் பேரில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் ஆறுமுகம் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் நேற்று விழுப்புரம் பகுதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அப்போது 5க்கும் மேற்பட்ட கடைகளில் விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த நெய் களில் கலப்படம் இருந்து கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. அதில் ஈரோடு முகவரியிட்டு, கிருஷ்ணா நெய் என்று லேபிள்கள் ஒட்டப் பட்டிருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. அதிகாரிகள் விசாரணை நடத்தியதில் ஈரோட்டில் அப்படியொரு நிறுவனம் செயல்படவில்லை என்பது தெரியவந்தது. கடை உரிமையாளர்களிடம் மேற் கொண்ட விசாரணையில் விழுப்புரம் கேகே ரோட்டை சேர்ந்த ஒருவர் தான் இந்த நெய்யை தயாரித்து கடைகளுக்கு சப்ளை செய்து வந்ததாக தெரிவித்தனர்.
பின்னர் அந்த நெய்குடோனுக்கு சென்று பார்த்த போது பாமாயில், வனஸ்பதி ஆயில் மூலம் நெய் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆயில்கள் மூலம் நெய் தயாரித்து மக்களை இதுநாள் வரையில் ஏமாற்றிவந்துள்ளனர்.
இதனை உட்கொள்வ தன் மூலம் உடலுக்கு தீங்கு ஏற்படாவிட்டாலும் நெய் என்று கூறி மக்களை ஏமாறவைத்துள்ளனர். தொடர்ந்து நெய் குடோ னுக்கு அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்தனர். பின்னர் கடைகளிலிருந்து 50 லிட்டர் கலப்பட்ட நெய் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இதேபோல் போலியாக தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட 2 மூட்டை பாக்குகளும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.
விழுப்புரத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் ஆறுமுகம் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் உணவு பொருட்களை ஆய்வு செய்தனர்.
Steps taken to Curb Adulteration in Food Items
Consumption of adulterated and spurious food items is a serious health hazard. As per information received from States/UT Governments, in the year 2013-14, 72,200 food samples, including milk/milk products, edible vegetable oils, spices, pulses, vegetables, etc. were analyzed, and out of these, 13,571 samples were found to be adulterated and misbranded.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides for graded penalties for infringement of the provisions of the Act. To curb the menace of food adulteration, regular surveillance, monitoring & sampling of food products is undertaken by the State /UT Governments under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. Instructions in this regard are issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) from time to time. Random Samples of food items are also drawn by the State Food Safety Officers and sent to the laboratories recognized by the FSSAI for analysis. In cases, where samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the Act and the Rules & Regulations made thereunder, penal action is initiated against the offenders. As per available information, the details of prosecutions launched and convictions/penalties imposed during 2013-14 in the country, are as under:-
No. of Cases Launched
|
No. of Convictions/ Penalties
| ||
Criminal
|
Civil
|
Convictions
|
Penalties/Amount raised in Rupees
|
3105
|
7130
|
913
|
2932/ Rs. 7,29,89,474
|
The Supreme Court, has while hearing a Petition (c) No. 159/2012, wherein the petitioner had raised issues regarding rampant adulteration/contamination in milk and milk products in the country, observed/directed that considering the gravity of the situation as well as in larger public interest, it is necessary that the Union of India should think of making appropriate amendments in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, so that such crimes could be curbed to a large extent. The menace of food adulteration can be curbed only by strengthening of food safety structures in the country and more effective implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
The udder option
Tired of adulterated milk, two young entrepreneurs come up with a healthier alternative for consumers
On a 60-acre dairy farm near Satara, some 500 hybrid cows roam around freely. The farm, located about 325 km from Mumbai, is their home where they are pampered with good quality fodder, oilseeds, pesticide-free grass, greens, alfalfa and plenty of water. The milch cows reared in this pollution-free environment respond by giving milk that is both tastier and healthier.
This is the farm from where Rahul Jain and Anmol Trikannadsource the milk for their organic milk brand, Doctor Moo. While pursuing a master's course in business administration from the Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB), the two felt that the milk they were consuming wasn't pure enough. So they decided to do something about it. And Doctor Moo, a milk distribution startup that offers organic milk, was born.
In December 2013, 28-year-old Jain and Trikannad, a 31-year-old graduate from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, launched Doctor Moo. Today, Doctor Moo supplies nutritious milk certified by Ecocert as being environmentally friendly. The milk is sold in pilfer-proof pouches to a range of people, including film stars, corporate honchos and household's with growing children in Mumbai, its suburbs and the neighbouring Navi Mumbai.
"Milk is an integral part of every Indian household, be it the morning cuppa or a night cap," says Trikannad. "But unfortunately, there is no guarantee of the purity of such a popular food item. The increased incidences of adulteration of milk, both at pre- and post-production stages, really bothered us. To enhance milk production, cows are routinely subjected to antibiotics and growth hormones. We wanted to step back in time and adopt the methods used till, say, about four decades ago. We wanted to go back to basics, you might say. That was the genesis of our brand, Doctor Moo."
A nation-wide study of milk by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, in fact, found that 70 per cent of milk samples did not conform to standards. The adulterants used are urea, detergent, harmful chemicals, filthy water and several other contaminants. Adulterated milk seized by Food and Drug Authority, Mumbai, has often tested positive for starch, sodium and glucose.
Experts warn that regular consumption of adulterated milk over a prolonged period can permanently damage the vital organs through slow poisoning. According to food safety standards, adulteration includes not only externally and intentionally added adulterants, but also unintentionally or incidental contamination during the period of growth, harvesting, processing, transportation and distribution.
This is where Doctor Moo decided to bring in the change. Doctor Moo's milk is tested for 100 contaminants at Pune's TUV Nord lab. The next step is to ensure hygienic and nutritious milk with minimal human intervention. The young entrepreneurs have achieved this by developing a unique packaging system - it is pouches that change colour. The inside of the milk pouch changes colour once opened. "The pouches are specially customised and are totally tamper proof," says Jain. "They are recyclable too," adds the former investment banker who has worked with Deutsche Bank in cities like Mumbai, Singapore and Hong Kong and is also an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology-Bangalore.
Jain and Trikannad started out with supplying 20 litres of milk a day. Today, they supply 1,200 litres daily. The demand is increasing despite the price. Doctor Moo milk is premiumly priced at Rs 60 a litre as opposed to about Rs 37 a litre for Mahananda toned milk and Rs 36 a litre for Amul toned milk.
"People who love quality life will opt for pure milk delivered by groups like Sarda Farms, Doctor Moo and others," says Jaidev Mishra, the marketing head of Nashik-based Sarda Farms, which also promises pure natural cow's milk. "People don't mind paying slightly extra for a good product. We provide guaranteed good milk. And both of us don't advertise. Such products are marketed solely through word-of-mouth. But we need more players in this field to change the pure milk scenario."
In the beginning, Doctor Moo was publicised through presentations in playschools during parent-teacher meets and at stalls with milk pouches filled in ice boxes during Diwali festivities in schools. "We credit our growth to references from family, friends and Facebook presence," says Jain, adding that a sizeable chunk of the clientele includes senior citizens and mothers with growing children.
Besides promising zero adulteration and being rich in antioxidants, Omega 3 and calcium, Jain and Trikannad claim the milk can be consumed without boiling. Untouched by human hands, the entire process is highly automated in order to check adulteration.
While working on the project, the two visited dairy farms and milk chilling plants in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolhapur, Nashik and Ratnagiri to study how the farms managed their business processes and maintained hygienic surroundings.
"We found that there were incidences of adulteration at every stage - before, during and after milking," says Trikannad. "Most of the milk in and around Mumbai comes from cooperatives made up of small dairy farmers. Even in the 21st century many of them still milk manually and in unhygienic surroundings where bacteria and other contaminants can be introduced."
The year-old, self-funded start-up follows what it calls 'the udder to kitchen' strategy. Jain and Trikannad have so far invested Rs 30 lakh in the venture. "Our business model has evolved from direct-to-home to one with multiple distribution channels previously unheard of in this space. It will further evolve as we look to introduce new products," says Trikannad.
Doctor Moo's cows are milked at 6 pm daily. The milk is then packed in pouches and arrives in Mumbai in cold vans. It is delivered to customers by 7.30 am the next day by delivery boys on bicycles and dabbawallas. The milk is stocked in organic product outlets in suburbs like Mulund, Wadala and Sea Woods (New Mumbai). "We insist on bicycle delivery as we believe in lessening our carbon footprints, at least in the last mile," says Jain.
Ask Jain whether the investment has paid off and he promptly says. "Yes. We exceeded our expectations in the first year itself. The past year was dedicated to testing the concept, introducing the brand and streamlining the operation. The goal for next year is to increase our coverage within and beyond Mumbai and introducing new product lines."
Trikannad, who grew up in New Zealand, is now revisiting the country which is at the forefront of the dairy industry. "Given the scope for dairy products in India, I am focusing my efforts on validating the market and products. I am looking at things we need to reinvent for the Indian market," he says.
Ask them what next and the duo chorus: "Our immediate goal is to notch 20,000 litres in Mumbai."
Nov 28, 2014
Is your college canteen safe?
College canteens across city operate without the Food Safety and Food Adulteration licences exposing students to health hazards
The colleges of Mumbai have developed excellent canteen facilities on their campuses to feed the perpetually hungry students, but many of them have been found lacking two very important licences to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. Many college canteens have been running without the Food Safety and Food Adulteration licences issued by the health department of the BMC.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Act, it is necessary for a canteen to have two licences - registration under the Shops and Establishment Act, 1959, and BMC trade licence under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, which is now the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.
The Shops and Establishment registration is a licence given to the owner when the canteen is registered, whereas Food Safety and Food Adulteration licence is given by the health department of the BMC after checking the hygiene and maintenance of the kitchen along with the standard of food products and the eatables.
Pradeep Sawant, a senate member at the Mumbai University (MU), said “Most colleges hold the Shops and Establishments registration licence but do not hold the Food Safety and Food Adulteration license. This increases the risk of students falling prey to adulterated food. The University should soon sent an investigation team to track down these colleges.”In February 2012, the ADC had reported about three MU canteens in the Kalina Campus which were running without the food license. Only one canteen - Students' Canteen – had both the Shops and Establishments license and also the food license. After the report was published, the BMC raided the canteens and fined them for not holding the appropriate licences.
The ADC spoke to Dr Mrudul Nile, Department of Students' Welfare, MU, who said, “It is essential for college canteens to have both the Shops and Establishment as well as the Food Safety and Food Adulteration licences. The college management should also keep a check on the quality of food ingredients. Colleges should not allow canteen contractors to run the canteen without proper licence.”
Dr Padmaja Kesarkar, senior inspector of health at the BMC, said, “Colleges should have both the licences of food trade and health and should not risk the life of students. If colleges don't have these two licences, they should apply for them as soon as possible.”
தமிழக கறிக்கோழி, முட்டைகளுக்கு மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ் அவசியம் கேரளா அதிரடி
அன்னூர், நவ.27:
கேரள மாநிலத்தில் தற்போது பறவை காய்ச்சல் வெகு வேகமாக பரவி வருவதால் தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கேரளா கொண்டு செல்லும் கறிக்கோழி மற்றும் முட்டைகளுக்கு மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ் வாங்கி வர வேண்டும் என கேரள முதல்வர் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.
கேரள மாநிலம் ஆழப்புழா பகுதிகளில் தற்போது, வாத்துகள் மூலம் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவி வருகிறது. இதையடுத்து கோழி, வீடுகளில் வளர்க்கப்படும் புறா, லவ் பேர்ட்ஸ் உள்ளிட்டவற்றிற்கும் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவவே கேரள முதல்வர் பறவை காய்ச்சலுக்கு காரணமான வாத்துகளை அழிக்க உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.
கேரளாவில் இருந்து தமிழகத்திற்கு பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவாமல் தடுக்க கேரளாவில் இருந்து தமிழக கோழிப்பண்ணைக்கு வரும் வாகனங்கள் மற்றும் வேலையாட்களை பண்ணைக்குள் அனுமதிப்பதில்லை.
வாகனங்களில் மருந்துகள் தெளித்த பின்னரே அதுவும் பண்ணையின் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட தொலைவிற்கே அனுமதிக்கப்படுகின்றன.
இந்நிலையில் கோவை யை சுற்றி உள்ள பல்லடம், அன்னூர், பொள்ளாச்சி, உடுமலை பகுதிகளில் உள்ள கோழிப்பண்ணைகளில் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவாமல் இருக் மருந்து தெளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. முட்டை வைக்க கூடிய அட்டைகளுக்கும் மருந்து தெளிக்கப்பட்டு தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது.
இதற்கிடையே, தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கேரளாவிற்கு கறிக்கோழி மற்றும் முட்டைகள் ஏற்றி செல்லும் வாகனங்களில் பறவைக்காய்ச்சல் இல்லை என்ற மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே கேரள மாநிலத்திற்குள் அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது. இல்லை என்றால் அவை திருப்பி அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படுகின்றன.
கேரள மாநிலத்தில் தற்போது பறவை காய்ச்சல் வெகு வேகமாக பரவி வருவதால் தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கேரளா கொண்டு செல்லும் கறிக்கோழி மற்றும் முட்டைகளுக்கு மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ் வாங்கி வர வேண்டும் என கேரள முதல்வர் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.
கேரள மாநிலம் ஆழப்புழா பகுதிகளில் தற்போது, வாத்துகள் மூலம் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவி வருகிறது. இதையடுத்து கோழி, வீடுகளில் வளர்க்கப்படும் புறா, லவ் பேர்ட்ஸ் உள்ளிட்டவற்றிற்கும் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவவே கேரள முதல்வர் பறவை காய்ச்சலுக்கு காரணமான வாத்துகளை அழிக்க உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.
கேரளாவில் இருந்து தமிழகத்திற்கு பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவாமல் தடுக்க கேரளாவில் இருந்து தமிழக கோழிப்பண்ணைக்கு வரும் வாகனங்கள் மற்றும் வேலையாட்களை பண்ணைக்குள் அனுமதிப்பதில்லை.
வாகனங்களில் மருந்துகள் தெளித்த பின்னரே அதுவும் பண்ணையின் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட தொலைவிற்கே அனுமதிக்கப்படுகின்றன.
இந்நிலையில் கோவை யை சுற்றி உள்ள பல்லடம், அன்னூர், பொள்ளாச்சி, உடுமலை பகுதிகளில் உள்ள கோழிப்பண்ணைகளில் பறவை காய்ச்சல் பரவாமல் இருக் மருந்து தெளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. முட்டை வைக்க கூடிய அட்டைகளுக்கும் மருந்து தெளிக்கப்பட்டு தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது.
இதற்கிடையே, தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து கேரளாவிற்கு கறிக்கோழி மற்றும் முட்டைகள் ஏற்றி செல்லும் வாகனங்களில் பறவைக்காய்ச்சல் இல்லை என்ற மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே கேரள மாநிலத்திற்குள் அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது. இல்லை என்றால் அவை திருப்பி அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படுகின்றன.
Nov 27, 2014
Food Safety Helpline introduces Food Safety App for Android users
Food Safety Helpline has introduced a food safety mobile app, an application which is being introduced for the first time in India for the convenience of the food business operators in India to understand, learn and implement the requirements in compliance with Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
With a growing need of a source which has everything related to the FSSAI compliance needs, food business operators can now access all the latest updates and notifications regarding FSSAI regulations plus a self-inspection tool through the Food Safety Mobile App.
The mobile application will not only provide the information on FSSAI compliance needs, but will also feature food safety inspections for food businesses. The mobile app will assist the food business community, who are intending to operate with FSSAI regulations, with a traceability system at their premises.
Currently the mobile app is available only on the Android platform.
With Food Safety Inspection tool, one can:
do the audit through a mobile device
generate automated reports
save cost of hiring a professional firm for inspection
cover multiple locations of one's food business
identify the gaps in the system and can take corrective action
Nov 26, 2014
Can’t stomach their indifference
After an RTI was filed by DC only nine zones out of 15 responded to petition . one zone Tondiarpet had a report of an inspection, while the rest are yet to respond
Chennai: There are no records of the raids and inspections conducted by the city corporation at various malls, beaches and other food outlets in the city. In a response to an RTI petition filed by DC, as many as nine zones out of the 15 under the Chennai corporation responded to the petition out of which only one zone Tondiarpet had a report of an inspection, while the rest are yet to respond.
The report states that inspection was done in four wards (35, 36, 37, 45) and shops, which prepared food on the roadsides, were penalised Rs 2,000. Meanwhile, every other zone, which responded to the petition, pointed out that the food safety department regularly inspected the shops while corporation health officials inspected the eateries once a month. However, there were no reports on the inspections generated.
Meanwhile, there is a cold war on between the corporation and food safety department over the right to inspect eateries in the city. Officials in the food safety and drug administration department find the city corporation to have poorly equipped labs to analyze samples of foods and complain that they are conducting independent raids without coordinating with the food department.
The corporation meanwhile finds the food department to be understaffed to carryout mass raids and often raids the city’s eateries for hygiene to avert any outbreak and relieve its health officials from stress.As per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 of the Government of India, the TN government had established the Food Safety and Drug Administration department (FSDA) from August 5, 2011, to ensure standards of food items sold.
“But the corporation, though having no authority to seal shops, often conduct inspections without any intimation to us. As a result, raids done by the corporation and food safety department in consecutive days are considered as harassment by food vendors,” said Mr S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer, FSDA, Chennai.
So far the FSDA has identified 12,400 eateries out of which 5,229 have been inspected and four shops have been sealed. “The corporation does not have dedicated labs to test the samples. But coordination among the two departments must improve,” Mr Narayanan added.
Chennai: There are no records of the raids and inspections conducted by the city corporation at various malls, beaches and other food outlets in the city. In a response to an RTI petition filed by DC, as many as nine zones out of the 15 under the Chennai corporation responded to the petition out of which only one zone Tondiarpet had a report of an inspection, while the rest are yet to respond.
The report states that inspection was done in four wards (35, 36, 37, 45) and shops, which prepared food on the roadsides, were penalised Rs 2,000. Meanwhile, every other zone, which responded to the petition, pointed out that the food safety department regularly inspected the shops while corporation health officials inspected the eateries once a month. However, there were no reports on the inspections generated.
Meanwhile, there is a cold war on between the corporation and food safety department over the right to inspect eateries in the city. Officials in the food safety and drug administration department find the city corporation to have poorly equipped labs to analyze samples of foods and complain that they are conducting independent raids without coordinating with the food department.
The corporation meanwhile finds the food department to be understaffed to carryout mass raids and often raids the city’s eateries for hygiene to avert any outbreak and relieve its health officials from stress.As per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 of the Government of India, the TN government had established the Food Safety and Drug Administration department (FSDA) from August 5, 2011, to ensure standards of food items sold.
“But the corporation, though having no authority to seal shops, often conduct inspections without any intimation to us. As a result, raids done by the corporation and food safety department in consecutive days are considered as harassment by food vendors,” said Mr S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer, FSDA, Chennai.
So far the FSDA has identified 12,400 eateries out of which 5,229 have been inspected and four shops have been sealed. “The corporation does not have dedicated labs to test the samples. But coordination among the two departments must improve,” Mr Narayanan added.
Shopkeeper caught selling flood-contaminated goods with tampered labelling
Poultry birds found slaughtered in toilet; FCO starts 9596089227, 9419601090 helpline
Srinagar, Nov 25: The next time you visit a grocery store do check the labeling of the goods you buy because the lot could be flood-contaminated and labeling tampered.
In the latest the authorities on Tuesday caught a provision store selling flood-hit goods with tampered labeling.
“One provision store namely Jan Provisions(at Regal Chowk) had displayed flood affected food articles with tampered labels of date of packing as November 2014 in his shop. Whole stock was seized and prohibition orders were issued on spot,” said an official handout from the office of Drugs & Food Control Organization(FCO).
The FCO under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Srinagar, Hilal Ahmed Mir inspected various areas of Srinagar. “During the course of inspection two poultry shops M/s Pattoo poultry and M/S Bhat Poulty at Koker Bazar were found selling /slaughter the poultry birds in total unhygienic conditions. Toilet of the building was converted into slaughtering point wherein the condition was pathetic,” the official handout said.
“Moreover some of the slaughtered birds were found in suspicious conditions. The operation of these shops had become nuisance for public in general and for the shopkeepers of that area in particular. In the interest of public health, the sale/slaughtering of poultry birds by M/s Pattoo poultry and M/S Bhat poulty has been prohibited immediately and Station House Officer of the Maisuma Police Station has been intimated to ensure the implementation of prohibition order,” the official handout added.
“In addition a huge quantity of flood-affected food articles including spices, skimmed milk, ghee, confectionery, tea, coffee, edible oil, salt and other ready to eat foods amounting more than Rs seven lakhs were seized from the various shops operating in the area of Lal Chowk and Koker Bazar, for further disposal as warranted under law.”
“Also some of the tea stalls and restaurants were found in insanitary conditions. They were put on five days’ notice to meet out the requirements as laid down in Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.”
Meanwhile the department of Drugs & Food Control Organization has started a helpline. “The public at large is informed to be careful enough while purchasing food articles. In case of any complaint please inform on the following Nos 9596089227, 9419601090,” the official handout said.
Meanwhile people have hailed the organization for the inspections and appealed them to continue with the efforts. Shabir Ahmed Lone Food Safety Officer said the drive could continue
Srinagar, Nov 25: The next time you visit a grocery store do check the labeling of the goods you buy because the lot could be flood-contaminated and labeling tampered.
In the latest the authorities on Tuesday caught a provision store selling flood-hit goods with tampered labeling.
“One provision store namely Jan Provisions(at Regal Chowk) had displayed flood affected food articles with tampered labels of date of packing as November 2014 in his shop. Whole stock was seized and prohibition orders were issued on spot,” said an official handout from the office of Drugs & Food Control Organization(FCO).
The FCO under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Srinagar, Hilal Ahmed Mir inspected various areas of Srinagar. “During the course of inspection two poultry shops M/s Pattoo poultry and M/S Bhat Poulty at Koker Bazar were found selling /slaughter the poultry birds in total unhygienic conditions. Toilet of the building was converted into slaughtering point wherein the condition was pathetic,” the official handout said.
“Moreover some of the slaughtered birds were found in suspicious conditions. The operation of these shops had become nuisance for public in general and for the shopkeepers of that area in particular. In the interest of public health, the sale/slaughtering of poultry birds by M/s Pattoo poultry and M/S Bhat poulty has been prohibited immediately and Station House Officer of the Maisuma Police Station has been intimated to ensure the implementation of prohibition order,” the official handout added.
“In addition a huge quantity of flood-affected food articles including spices, skimmed milk, ghee, confectionery, tea, coffee, edible oil, salt and other ready to eat foods amounting more than Rs seven lakhs were seized from the various shops operating in the area of Lal Chowk and Koker Bazar, for further disposal as warranted under law.”
“Also some of the tea stalls and restaurants were found in insanitary conditions. They were put on five days’ notice to meet out the requirements as laid down in Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.”
Meanwhile the department of Drugs & Food Control Organization has started a helpline. “The public at large is informed to be careful enough while purchasing food articles. In case of any complaint please inform on the following Nos 9596089227, 9419601090,” the official handout said.
Meanwhile people have hailed the organization for the inspections and appealed them to continue with the efforts. Shabir Ahmed Lone Food Safety Officer said the drive could continue
Drives conducted at Food Stalls of Sangai Fest
Imphal, November 25 2014: Designated Officer Food Safety cum Chief Medical Officer Imphal West Dr S Bimola Kumari in collaboration with team of Food Safety and Standards Enforcement Wing under the aegis of Department of Health conducted a survey of the food stalls within the Sangai Festival 2014 venue today.
The survey was conducted to not only to check food items but the health condition of the concerned Chefs.
Dr Bimola Kumari said that Rules and Regulations of Food Safety Standard Act, 2006 was implemented on August 5 in 2011 in India.
She continued that it is the duty for the department to survey food stalls of the Sangai Festival to serve the festival crowd safe and hygienic eatables.
Drives conducted at Food Stalls of Sangai Fest
She noted that it is necessary to check every step how the foods are prepared to maintain food safety and hygiene.
She said the survey also renders awareness as part of implementing the Rules and Regulations of the Act.
Disposable plastic gloves, mask and caps were distributed freely by the surveying RMO to every food stall.
However some of the food stalls were already equipped with essential safety and hygiene standards.
During the survey, food stalls were checked whether they have Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI certificate.
The survey was conducted to not only to check food items but the health condition of the concerned Chefs.
Dr Bimola Kumari said that Rules and Regulations of Food Safety Standard Act, 2006 was implemented on August 5 in 2011 in India.
She continued that it is the duty for the department to survey food stalls of the Sangai Festival to serve the festival crowd safe and hygienic eatables.
Drives conducted at Food Stalls of Sangai Fest
She noted that it is necessary to check every step how the foods are prepared to maintain food safety and hygiene.
She said the survey also renders awareness as part of implementing the Rules and Regulations of the Act.
Disposable plastic gloves, mask and caps were distributed freely by the surveying RMO to every food stall.
However some of the food stalls were already equipped with essential safety and hygiene standards.
During the survey, food stalls were checked whether they have Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI certificate.
Nov 25, 2014
HC notices to state over food adulteration
Shimla, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notice to the Chief Secretary on the issue of large-scale use of the harmful oxytocin vaccine in milk, fruits and vegetables.
Besides Chief Secretary, the court issued notices to the Principal Secretary (Health), Director of Health Services, Director (Food & Civil Supplies), state Drug Controller and the Drug Controller General of India, directing them to file their replies by January 8.
The order was passed by a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, on a petition taken up suo motu by the court as public interest litigation on a news report published in a vernacular daily.
It was stated in the news paper that the use of oxytocin vaccine in milk, vegetables, fruits and non-vegetarian products was on the rise and it had harmful side effects.
The vaccine is used to increase the milk production of milch cattle, enlarging the size of vegetables and fruits and to improve their colour and shine. The news item had also reported that there is a large-scale production of oxytocin in the pharmaceutical hub of the state in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh.
Court seeks reports
* The High Court has directed health officials to file their replies on the use of the harmful oxytocin vaccine in milk, fruits and vegetables by January 8
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notice to the Chief Secretary on the issue of large-scale use of the harmful oxytocin vaccine in milk, fruits and vegetables.
Besides Chief Secretary, the court issued notices to the Principal Secretary (Health), Director of Health Services, Director (Food & Civil Supplies), state Drug Controller and the Drug Controller General of India, directing them to file their replies by January 8.
The order was passed by a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, on a petition taken up suo motu by the court as public interest litigation on a news report published in a vernacular daily.
It was stated in the news paper that the use of oxytocin vaccine in milk, vegetables, fruits and non-vegetarian products was on the rise and it had harmful side effects.
The vaccine is used to increase the milk production of milch cattle, enlarging the size of vegetables and fruits and to improve their colour and shine. The news item had also reported that there is a large-scale production of oxytocin in the pharmaceutical hub of the state in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh.
Court seeks reports
* The High Court has directed health officials to file their replies on the use of the harmful oxytocin vaccine in milk, fruits and vegetables by January 8
Food safety & FSSAI's regulatory role
In mid-September, a few hundred children at a government school in a poorer part of Bangalore fell ill after eating contaminated food given to them through the mid-day meal scheme. Predictably all hell broke loose with every agency associated with the activity washing its hands off and blaming everyone else for the tainted batch of food items sent from a central kitchen.
This is not the first such incident. These things happen regularly across the country in such schemes as well as in eateries. Millions of passengers travelling in the government monopoly Indian Railways face food contamination regularly. Railways have now decided to allow packed food from private companies to be supplied to provide alternate options to harassed passengers. Thousands of flyers patronising the no-frills airlines have no such alternatives and are forced to pay more than three times the normal price for routine food items inside planes.
So what is the actual role of the country’s omnibus food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Ministry of Health, in ensuring safe food across the country? After all that is the mandate of this regulatory authority. The regulator says “FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption”.
Set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the authority has been trying to get its act together. It is not an easy task. Part of the reason is the humungous nature of the mandate given to FSSAI after eliminating more than a dozen legislations that regulated a wide range of food products and essential ingredients of food.
In fact, in our national regulatory system, there is no institution that has an ambit as wide as FSSAI. Just take the case of regulators in sectors such as banking, insurance, telecom, investment, power to name a few. Almost all these sectors have to essentially regulate companies and related institutions in few hundreds in numbers at the most. It is much easier to regulate companies operating in these sectors because of their keenness to maintain their brand image in these ultra competitive business areas. Even with such limited players to oversee, still scams occur with regularity with people exploiting the grey areas in regulation. Chit funds is one such example.
Because of its wide ambit, FSSAI is constantly facing the ire of organised institution players in the food sector. It is rare to find an industry leader in the food sector happy with FSSAI. Also, currently FSSAI does not have the bandwidth to enforce its regulatory orders as it has to depend on under-staffed and under-trained food safety authorities in all the states. This is a sure fire recipe for disaster.
Regulation is a constantly improving science. It may be better for FSSAI to concentrate its energies for a few more years to bring some order to the organised sector, and focus on packaged food. With increasing prosperity, Indian consumers are turning more to such food items because of its assured quality, thanks to the stringent regulatory standards brought in over the last few decades. Peer pressure will then take over and those on the sidelines of the food business too will join the quality bandwagon in due course.
This is not the first such incident. These things happen regularly across the country in such schemes as well as in eateries. Millions of passengers travelling in the government monopoly Indian Railways face food contamination regularly. Railways have now decided to allow packed food from private companies to be supplied to provide alternate options to harassed passengers. Thousands of flyers patronising the no-frills airlines have no such alternatives and are forced to pay more than three times the normal price for routine food items inside planes.
So what is the actual role of the country’s omnibus food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Ministry of Health, in ensuring safe food across the country? After all that is the mandate of this regulatory authority. The regulator says “FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption”.
Set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the authority has been trying to get its act together. It is not an easy task. Part of the reason is the humungous nature of the mandate given to FSSAI after eliminating more than a dozen legislations that regulated a wide range of food products and essential ingredients of food.
In fact, in our national regulatory system, there is no institution that has an ambit as wide as FSSAI. Just take the case of regulators in sectors such as banking, insurance, telecom, investment, power to name a few. Almost all these sectors have to essentially regulate companies and related institutions in few hundreds in numbers at the most. It is much easier to regulate companies operating in these sectors because of their keenness to maintain their brand image in these ultra competitive business areas. Even with such limited players to oversee, still scams occur with regularity with people exploiting the grey areas in regulation. Chit funds is one such example.
Because of its wide ambit, FSSAI is constantly facing the ire of organised institution players in the food sector. It is rare to find an industry leader in the food sector happy with FSSAI. Also, currently FSSAI does not have the bandwidth to enforce its regulatory orders as it has to depend on under-staffed and under-trained food safety authorities in all the states. This is a sure fire recipe for disaster.
Regulation is a constantly improving science. It may be better for FSSAI to concentrate its energies for a few more years to bring some order to the organised sector, and focus on packaged food. With increasing prosperity, Indian consumers are turning more to such food items because of its assured quality, thanks to the stringent regulatory standards brought in over the last few decades. Peer pressure will then take over and those on the sidelines of the food business too will join the quality bandwagon in due course.
Development of Agro-Food Market
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and is responsible for implementing the Rules & Regulations made thereunder. The quality standards of various agro-food products are prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations. The vertical standards for food products are prescribed in Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 & horizontal standards in Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011.
FSSAI is in the process of harmonizing the existing Indian standards with Codex and other international best practices.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides financial assistance for promoting Research & Development in the food processing sector under the plan scheme for Quality Assurance, Codex Standards and Research & Development and Other Promotional Activities. All Universities, IITs, Central/State Government Institutions, Public Funded organisations, R&D laboratories and CSIR recognised R&D units in private sector are eligible for assistance as per the guidelines of the scheme.
Ministry also has two academic -cum- research institutions viz. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana and Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. Both these institutions are mandated to undertake research in various aspects of food processing. Research in food processing is also being undertaken by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and institutions like Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Science and Technology, Defence Food Research Laboratory under Ministry of Defence and various State Universities.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
FSSAI is in the process of harmonizing the existing Indian standards with Codex and other international best practices.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries provides financial assistance for promoting Research & Development in the food processing sector under the plan scheme for Quality Assurance, Codex Standards and Research & Development and Other Promotional Activities. All Universities, IITs, Central/State Government Institutions, Public Funded organisations, R&D laboratories and CSIR recognised R&D units in private sector are eligible for assistance as per the guidelines of the scheme.
Ministry also has two academic -cum- research institutions viz. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana and Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. Both these institutions are mandated to undertake research in various aspects of food processing. Research in food processing is also being undertaken by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and institutions like Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Science and Technology, Defence Food Research Laboratory under Ministry of Defence and various State Universities.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Radiation Processing Technology
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a scheme for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure with the objective of preventing post-harvest losses of horticultural & non-horticultural produce. One of the components of the Cold Chain scheme is the setting up of Irradiation facilities for preservation of the food products like onion, potato etc.
Irradiated food is regulated in the country in accordance with the Atomic Energy (Control of Irradiation of Food) Rules, 1996. Food can be irradiated only in a food irradiation plant, which is authorized by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and licensed by the competent Government Authority. The license to carry out food irradiation operation is given only after ascertaining the safety of the installation, its suitability to ensure proper process control, and availability of licensed operators and qualified staff. Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) is providing consultancy services for establishment of food irradiation plant. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also regulating the food safety aspects of irradiated food products.
Under the scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure, the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% of the total cost of plant & machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for NE region and difficult areas (North-Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10 Crore for setting up integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility. The entrepreneurs/ promoters are free to set up Irradiation facility as per their business model and financial capability throughout the country including Maharashtra. The Ministry has approved 04 irradiation projects under the Scheme. A total grant of Rs. 24.04 crore has been approved for these four projects.
The Ministry is also assisting setting up of Irradiation facility as one of the components under scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure for non-horticultural products under National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) through State/UT Governments. The financial assistance is provided as Grant-in-aid @ 35% of the bank appraised project cost for general areas, and @ 50% of the project cost for difficult areas including North-Eastern Region, subject to maximum of Rs. 5 crore. Interest Subsidy @ 6% per annum subject to a maximum of Rs. 2.00 crore per project or actual interest accrued on term loan, whichever is lower, for a period of 5 years from completion of the project for general areas, and @ 7% per annum subject to a maximum of Rs. 3.00 crore per project or actual interest accrued on term loan, whichever is lower, for a period of 7 years from completion of the project for difficult areas including North-Eastern Region and hilly States.
The scheme guidelines for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure prescribe implementation schedule for setting up the cold chain projects including Irradiation projects as 24 months in general areas and 30 months in difficult areas from the date of issue of the sanction to the project.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Irradiated food is regulated in the country in accordance with the Atomic Energy (Control of Irradiation of Food) Rules, 1996. Food can be irradiated only in a food irradiation plant, which is authorized by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and licensed by the competent Government Authority. The license to carry out food irradiation operation is given only after ascertaining the safety of the installation, its suitability to ensure proper process control, and availability of licensed operators and qualified staff. Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) is providing consultancy services for establishment of food irradiation plant. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also regulating the food safety aspects of irradiated food products.
Under the scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure, the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% of the total cost of plant & machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for NE region and difficult areas (North-Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) subject to a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs. 10 Crore for setting up integrated cold chain projects including irradiation facility. The entrepreneurs/ promoters are free to set up Irradiation facility as per their business model and financial capability throughout the country including Maharashtra. The Ministry has approved 04 irradiation projects under the Scheme. A total grant of Rs. 24.04 crore has been approved for these four projects.
The Ministry is also assisting setting up of Irradiation facility as one of the components under scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure for non-horticultural products under National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) through State/UT Governments. The financial assistance is provided as Grant-in-aid @ 35% of the bank appraised project cost for general areas, and @ 50% of the project cost for difficult areas including North-Eastern Region, subject to maximum of Rs. 5 crore. Interest Subsidy @ 6% per annum subject to a maximum of Rs. 2.00 crore per project or actual interest accrued on term loan, whichever is lower, for a period of 5 years from completion of the project for general areas, and @ 7% per annum subject to a maximum of Rs. 3.00 crore per project or actual interest accrued on term loan, whichever is lower, for a period of 7 years from completion of the project for difficult areas including North-Eastern Region and hilly States.
The scheme guidelines for Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure prescribe implementation schedule for setting up the cold chain projects including Irradiation projects as 24 months in general areas and 30 months in difficult areas from the date of issue of the sanction to the project.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
FDA's food literacy plan to start in December
AURANGABAD: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants all households in the state to be food literate by the month of May next year. So it is going to start a Safe Food Literacy Campaign from next month.
Food literacy is the attitude towards and knowledge about food and involves opting for healthier diet and nutrition choices leading to improved health.
FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar told TOI, "A number of studies evidence a strong correlation between nutritional knowledge and healthy eating or dietary quality. As part of the campaign to start from next month, we will have public awareness and education programmes. FDA plans to spread food literacy in all sections of society by May 1, 2015 (Maharashtra Day)."
The commissioner added that the literacy campaign could have a positive effect on the consumption habits of children and adolescents. "Children tend to prefer food that tastes good, and the campaign, while helping increasing their nutritional knowledge, would also lead them to make healthier food choices. Involving all the members of a household in food preparation would also help children and youngsters become food literate," he said.
The official elaborated further, "To have safe and wholesome food is the right of all the citizens of the country. As per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules 2011, it is our responsibility to make such food available. Moreover, it is also the responsibility of the Food Business Operators (FBO) to comply with these rules."
He said, "As a subset of health literacy, food literacy affects health outcomes in several ways. Food literacy leads to food safety as it leads to food material being stored and handled properly. Knowledge and use of food label information can help improve diets, thereby helping reduce health risks. Similarly, better cooking and dietary skills in a household can lead to better health outcomes. Finally, dietary knowledge is a factor in food and meal choices that will contribute to overall health positively."
FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said, "The campaign's focus would be on food safety right from the manufacturer to the consumer level. Everyone will be involved, right from the labourers handling food to transporters to end-users."
"The campaign is going to be launched in all divisions of the state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan. The programmes have already been planned," said the official.
FDA deputy joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division M D Shah said, "The campaign, in its first stage, will begin for government officials. Study material would be distributed among the officials and presentations and demonstrations of FBOs in the catering and hotel business will be conducted in Aurangabad division at the taluka level."
The official added, "Later, the campaign will include the sensitizing of around 10,000 students in each district through their schools. Nutrition education is important for children as it influences their eating habits and health. School meal programmes are an excellent means of providing students with nutritious food as well as educating them about a healthy diet. Public-private partnerships leverage a variety of approaches -including experiential learning, point of purchase nutrition logos and labelling, and menu labeling - to increase and enhance household food literacy skills," said Shah.
"Considering the importance of households in the endeavour, the campaign involves the participation of women in a hygienic kitchen campaign for homemakers. Educational material that will contribute positively to overall health would be distributed at the event. Above all, the campaign will also include songs, text messages, street plays, hoardings, posters, a short film and documentary, TV talk show and channel promos," said Shah.
He added, "The participation of many stakeholders - the government, businesses and households as well as the health and education sectors - would be encouraged as they have roles to play. Programmes that use the multi-stakeholder approach can create a bigger impact."
Graphics: 100 words
"FDA aims at improve food literacy and recommends strategies for the governments, industry, the health and education sectors, civil society, and households to further enhance safe food literacy through a campaign which would be implemented through-out the state from next month onwards." - FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar
-----------------
** Project plan for 6 divisions of state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan.
-------------
At a glance: 1st stage campaign
Name of campaign--Place--Participants
Food Safety Students Literacy Campaign Renowned Schools of each District - 10,000 Students.
Consumer Literacy Campaign -At every district's consumer forum - Minimum 500 consumers
Literacy Campaign for Govt officials - At each district place - Minimum 1000 officials
Retails and Street Food Vendors - At each district place - Minimum 1000 Retails FBO's
Hygienic Kitchen campaign for homemakers -Active women group of each district - Minimum 500 women
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Milk and Milk Products - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Meat and Meat Product - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs
Campaign for FBO's engaged in catering and hotel - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Food literacy is the attitude towards and knowledge about food and involves opting for healthier diet and nutrition choices leading to improved health.
FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar told TOI, "A number of studies evidence a strong correlation between nutritional knowledge and healthy eating or dietary quality. As part of the campaign to start from next month, we will have public awareness and education programmes. FDA plans to spread food literacy in all sections of society by May 1, 2015 (Maharashtra Day)."
The commissioner added that the literacy campaign could have a positive effect on the consumption habits of children and adolescents. "Children tend to prefer food that tastes good, and the campaign, while helping increasing their nutritional knowledge, would also lead them to make healthier food choices. Involving all the members of a household in food preparation would also help children and youngsters become food literate," he said.
The official elaborated further, "To have safe and wholesome food is the right of all the citizens of the country. As per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules 2011, it is our responsibility to make such food available. Moreover, it is also the responsibility of the Food Business Operators (FBO) to comply with these rules."
He said, "As a subset of health literacy, food literacy affects health outcomes in several ways. Food literacy leads to food safety as it leads to food material being stored and handled properly. Knowledge and use of food label information can help improve diets, thereby helping reduce health risks. Similarly, better cooking and dietary skills in a household can lead to better health outcomes. Finally, dietary knowledge is a factor in food and meal choices that will contribute to overall health positively."
FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said, "The campaign's focus would be on food safety right from the manufacturer to the consumer level. Everyone will be involved, right from the labourers handling food to transporters to end-users."
"The campaign is going to be launched in all divisions of the state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan. The programmes have already been planned," said the official.
FDA deputy joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division M D Shah said, "The campaign, in its first stage, will begin for government officials. Study material would be distributed among the officials and presentations and demonstrations of FBOs in the catering and hotel business will be conducted in Aurangabad division at the taluka level."
The official added, "Later, the campaign will include the sensitizing of around 10,000 students in each district through their schools. Nutrition education is important for children as it influences their eating habits and health. School meal programmes are an excellent means of providing students with nutritious food as well as educating them about a healthy diet. Public-private partnerships leverage a variety of approaches -including experiential learning, point of purchase nutrition logos and labelling, and menu labeling - to increase and enhance household food literacy skills," said Shah.
"Considering the importance of households in the endeavour, the campaign involves the participation of women in a hygienic kitchen campaign for homemakers. Educational material that will contribute positively to overall health would be distributed at the event. Above all, the campaign will also include songs, text messages, street plays, hoardings, posters, a short film and documentary, TV talk show and channel promos," said Shah.
He added, "The participation of many stakeholders - the government, businesses and households as well as the health and education sectors - would be encouraged as they have roles to play. Programmes that use the multi-stakeholder approach can create a bigger impact."
Graphics: 100 words
"FDA aims at improve food literacy and recommends strategies for the governments, industry, the health and education sectors, civil society, and households to further enhance safe food literacy through a campaign which would be implemented through-out the state from next month onwards." - FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar
-----------------
** Project plan for 6 divisions of state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan.
-------------
At a glance: 1st stage campaign
Name of campaign--Place--Participants
Food Safety Students Literacy Campaign Renowned Schools of each District - 10,000 Students.
Consumer Literacy Campaign -At every district's consumer forum - Minimum 500 consumers
Literacy Campaign for Govt officials - At each district place - Minimum 1000 officials
Retails and Street Food Vendors - At each district place - Minimum 1000 Retails FBO's
Hygienic Kitchen campaign for homemakers -Active women group of each district - Minimum 500 women
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Milk and Milk Products - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Meat and Meat Product - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs
Campaign for FBO's engaged in catering and hotel - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Limit for iron filings in tea to stay till May
PUNE: The tea sipped with much pleasure is most certainly contaminated with iron filings. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allowed the presence of 150 mg per kg as a temporary limit for iron particles in tea powder some time ago, it decided to extend this limit for another six months on November 21.
The limit will be reviewed after the Hyderabad-based National Institution of Nutrition's study on the presence of iron filings in tea is complete and an FSSAI panel's assessment.
The regulator has ordered its enforcement staff in all the states not to lodge prosecution cases against tea companies if iron filings are within this prescribed limit. Tea contains iron filings due to the friction of the machinery used in its processing.
The presence of iron filings in tea has been under the authority's lens for some time. Last year, the regulatory admitted that zero presence of iron filings is not possible in tea. Traders want the Tea Board of India to make the right noises to increase the limit to 500 mg per kg.
Food and Drug Authority officials in Pune have decided send a few samples of loose and packaged tea sold in the city to a laboratory to check if they have iron filings beyond the permissible limit. Safety-conscious countries have permissible levels of filings between 120 mg per kg and 500 mg per kg.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (drug), FDA, Pune said the manner in which tea is processed is to be blamed for the presence of iron filings. "Tea powder may have some iron filings in it because leaves are crushed and processed and chances of fine iron particles being released from the crushing machinery and sticking to the tea grains cannot be ruled out," Kekare said
Tea leaves are dried in a sieve fitted with a mesh and leaves are crushed using iron rollers. "Factories use huge magnets to remove iron filings from tea powder, but some particles may be left behind," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA.
Iron in human bodies carries oxygen for haemoglobin. "But any overload can be a causative factor in liver cirrhosis, osteoporosis, scurvy, diabetes, heart failure, oesophageal cancer and infections," said an internal medicine expert.
Signs and symptoms of iron overload are non-specific. Hence, a physician faced with common findings like chronic fatigue, joint pain, osteoporosis and diabetes must look for iron overload. Inexpensive diagnostic tests that show the overload are ferritin levels and transferrin saturation.
BOX
The limit will be reviewed after the Hyderabad-based National Institution of Nutrition's study on the presence of iron filings in tea is complete and an FSSAI panel's assessment.
The regulator has ordered its enforcement staff in all the states not to lodge prosecution cases against tea companies if iron filings are within this prescribed limit. Tea contains iron filings due to the friction of the machinery used in its processing.
The presence of iron filings in tea has been under the authority's lens for some time. Last year, the regulatory admitted that zero presence of iron filings is not possible in tea. Traders want the Tea Board of India to make the right noises to increase the limit to 500 mg per kg.
Food and Drug Authority officials in Pune have decided send a few samples of loose and packaged tea sold in the city to a laboratory to check if they have iron filings beyond the permissible limit. Safety-conscious countries have permissible levels of filings between 120 mg per kg and 500 mg per kg.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (drug), FDA, Pune said the manner in which tea is processed is to be blamed for the presence of iron filings. "Tea powder may have some iron filings in it because leaves are crushed and processed and chances of fine iron particles being released from the crushing machinery and sticking to the tea grains cannot be ruled out," Kekare said
Tea leaves are dried in a sieve fitted with a mesh and leaves are crushed using iron rollers. "Factories use huge magnets to remove iron filings from tea powder, but some particles may be left behind," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA.
Iron in human bodies carries oxygen for haemoglobin. "But any overload can be a causative factor in liver cirrhosis, osteoporosis, scurvy, diabetes, heart failure, oesophageal cancer and infections," said an internal medicine expert.
Signs and symptoms of iron overload are non-specific. Hence, a physician faced with common findings like chronic fatigue, joint pain, osteoporosis and diabetes must look for iron overload. Inexpensive diagnostic tests that show the overload are ferritin levels and transferrin saturation.
BOX
The order
In continuation of the statutory advisory regarding the limit of iron filings in tea that 150 mg per kg issued on May 23, 2014, it has been decided to extend the timeline up to May 23, 2015. The order has been issued with the approval of the competent authority by virtue of power conferred on FSSAI under 16 (5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
S Dave, FSSAI advisor in a statutory advisory issued to the enforcement staff on November 21
Strange Brew
* The continuous presence of iron filings in tea has raised safety concerns and there have been many demands to fix an upper limit
* In the absence of standards so far, tea manufacturers do not mention the extent of contamination by iron filings
* Iron filings enter tea dust due to wear and tear of the machinery, but the problem is noticed even in new machinery
* Many developed countries have fixed the maximum level for iron filings in tea at 120 mg/kg, the Indian limit is slightly higher
* The limit is as high as 500 mg/kg in poor countries. Sri Lanka allows up to 200 mg of iron filings per kg
In continuation of the statutory advisory regarding the limit of iron filings in tea that 150 mg per kg issued on May 23, 2014, it has been decided to extend the timeline up to May 23, 2015. The order has been issued with the approval of the competent authority by virtue of power conferred on FSSAI under 16 (5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
S Dave, FSSAI advisor in a statutory advisory issued to the enforcement staff on November 21
Strange Brew
* The continuous presence of iron filings in tea has raised safety concerns and there have been many demands to fix an upper limit
* In the absence of standards so far, tea manufacturers do not mention the extent of contamination by iron filings
* Iron filings enter tea dust due to wear and tear of the machinery, but the problem is noticed even in new machinery
* Many developed countries have fixed the maximum level for iron filings in tea at 120 mg/kg, the Indian limit is slightly higher
* The limit is as high as 500 mg/kg in poor countries. Sri Lanka allows up to 200 mg of iron filings per kg
LABEL NORMS - Festive favourites stuck in ports dampen spirits
Pune:
Forget celebrating Christmas and New Year's this time with imported confectionery, truffles, Panettone (a bread loaf imported specially for Christmas), berries and of course, some imported scotch, whiskey and beer.
The imported product market, a roughly estimated Rs 100 crore business in India during Christmas and New Year's, is practically floundering with products stuck at ports or sent back to their countries owing to stringent label norms by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
TOI had earlier reported that the FSSAI rules on product labeling have led to a shortage of imported food products such as canned fish to condiments, sauces, vinegars, cheese, honey , pastas, and many others. The rules mandate imported products to have 17 label requirements. The norms not only seek customized product labels just for India, but also say that all labels should bear the MRP , information in English, the manufacturer's name, ingredients and FSSAI logo number, among other things.
With the holiday season fast approaching, high-end restaurants in the city are already feeling the heat --several exotic ingredients and imported liquor brands have begun to fade from their menus.
The owner of a specialty food store that sells international groceries and gourmet foods told TOI that it is a catch-22 situation -people are unable to get imported products through official channels, but the `grey market' seems to be brimming with imported products.
“There is a 50%-60% shortage of imported products right now, which is likely to continue come Christmas and New Year's when products like chocolates, candy , chewing gum, biscuits and cakes are in huge demand. The entire imported food industry also suffered a setback during Diwali this year,“ the store owner said. He added that people like to have continental dishes during Christmas and New Year's and these dishes depend heavily on imported ingredients. “Cold cut meats are consumed during this time and are facing several import issues right now,” he said.
Amit Lohani, founder-director, the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), a national body of food product importers, said that till a week ago, some categories of imported food products were being accepted by the authorities based on Codex Alimentarius standards, a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to foods, food production and food safety. “However, they have now stopped clearing shipments as per Codex standards and products are being cleared only as per FSSAI standards. So many imported bakery items, which are used during Christmas, are not coming in, such as imported berries or flours,” said Lohani.
Lohani added that Panettone and turkey for instance are imported products and may not be available this Christmas. Around 800 shipments of imported products are still stuck at various ports, while many of the earlier shipments have been sent back to their countries, destroyed or abandoned, as per laws.
Ravish Arora, director, at restaurant Incognito said that the situation is unlikely to be resolved by Christmas or New Year’s. “Japanese items such as teriyaki sauce and sake, which are an integral part of the menu, are particularly in shortage.
Among imported alcoholic drinks, Arora said the restaurant has stopped getting supplies of Triple sec (a variety of Curaçao liqueur), Jägermeister (a German 70-proof 35% abv digestif), Sauza Tequila, Kahlúa and some beers. The owner of another high-end restaurant in Koregaon Park said that imported single malts and scotches are not available and the shortage could continue till New Year's. November and December see a decent demand for imported liquor, he added.
A liquor retailer told TOI that supplies of imported liquor are not regular at all. “We are now stacking goods for New Year's but we are doubtful about their demand since prices of imported alcohol have gone up by 5% recently . We also have limited stock. Though retailers may get many of the imported brands, restaurants do not as most of the imported alcohol stocks are first being picked up by retailers, leaving nothing or very little for restaurants,“ he said, adding that come New Year's, customers may not get what they want on the imported liquor shelf.
A source from an international spirits company said that around 40 to 50% imported alcohol brands are not available, and the situation is likely to be the same during the upcoming festive season. This includes scotch, beer, liqueurs, tequila, among others. Sources in the industry , however, said that the limited stock of imported liquor and imported products is unlikely to affect their prices.
The imported product market, a roughly estimated Rs 100 crore business in India during Christmas and New Year's, is practically floundering with products stuck at ports or sent back to their countries owing to stringent label norms by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
TOI had earlier reported that the FSSAI rules on product labeling have led to a shortage of imported food products such as canned fish to condiments, sauces, vinegars, cheese, honey , pastas, and many others. The rules mandate imported products to have 17 label requirements. The norms not only seek customized product labels just for India, but also say that all labels should bear the MRP , information in English, the manufacturer's name, ingredients and FSSAI logo number, among other things.
With the holiday season fast approaching, high-end restaurants in the city are already feeling the heat --several exotic ingredients and imported liquor brands have begun to fade from their menus.
The owner of a specialty food store that sells international groceries and gourmet foods told TOI that it is a catch-22 situation -people are unable to get imported products through official channels, but the `grey market' seems to be brimming with imported products.
“There is a 50%-60% shortage of imported products right now, which is likely to continue come Christmas and New Year's when products like chocolates, candy , chewing gum, biscuits and cakes are in huge demand. The entire imported food industry also suffered a setback during Diwali this year,“ the store owner said. He added that people like to have continental dishes during Christmas and New Year's and these dishes depend heavily on imported ingredients. “Cold cut meats are consumed during this time and are facing several import issues right now,” he said.
Amit Lohani, founder-director, the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), a national body of food product importers, said that till a week ago, some categories of imported food products were being accepted by the authorities based on Codex Alimentarius standards, a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to foods, food production and food safety. “However, they have now stopped clearing shipments as per Codex standards and products are being cleared only as per FSSAI standards. So many imported bakery items, which are used during Christmas, are not coming in, such as imported berries or flours,” said Lohani.
Lohani added that Panettone and turkey for instance are imported products and may not be available this Christmas. Around 800 shipments of imported products are still stuck at various ports, while many of the earlier shipments have been sent back to their countries, destroyed or abandoned, as per laws.
Ravish Arora, director, at restaurant Incognito said that the situation is unlikely to be resolved by Christmas or New Year’s. “Japanese items such as teriyaki sauce and sake, which are an integral part of the menu, are particularly in shortage.
Among imported alcoholic drinks, Arora said the restaurant has stopped getting supplies of Triple sec (a variety of Curaçao liqueur), Jägermeister (a German 70-proof 35% abv digestif), Sauza Tequila, Kahlúa and some beers. The owner of another high-end restaurant in Koregaon Park said that imported single malts and scotches are not available and the shortage could continue till New Year's. November and December see a decent demand for imported liquor, he added.
A liquor retailer told TOI that supplies of imported liquor are not regular at all. “We are now stacking goods for New Year's but we are doubtful about their demand since prices of imported alcohol have gone up by 5% recently . We also have limited stock. Though retailers may get many of the imported brands, restaurants do not as most of the imported alcohol stocks are first being picked up by retailers, leaving nothing or very little for restaurants,“ he said, adding that come New Year's, customers may not get what they want on the imported liquor shelf.
A source from an international spirits company said that around 40 to 50% imported alcohol brands are not available, and the situation is likely to be the same during the upcoming festive season. This includes scotch, beer, liqueurs, tequila, among others. Sources in the industry , however, said that the limited stock of imported liquor and imported products is unlikely to affect their prices.
2 more shops caught selling flood contaminated medicines
Srinagar, Nov 24: Authorities have caught two more medical stores selling flood-hit medicines, an official handout.
“A team of Food Safety Officers of Drugs and Food Control Organization headed by Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, District Srinagar visited Ram Bagh, Nati Pora, Chana Pora and Hazuri Bagh areas of Srinagar City. Two medical stores namely M/S Al-Saba Medicate and M/S New Khan Dispensary at Nati Pora were found displaying flood affected food supplements worth Rs 20000.00 and same was destroyed on spot,” an official handout from Food Safety Officers of Drugs and Food Control Organization said.
“A team of Food Safety Officers of Drugs and Food Control Organization headed by Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, District Srinagar visited Ram Bagh, Nati Pora, Chana Pora and Hazuri Bagh areas of Srinagar City. Two medical stores namely M/S Al-Saba Medicate and M/S New Khan Dispensary at Nati Pora were found displaying flood affected food supplements worth Rs 20000.00 and same was destroyed on spot,” an official handout from Food Safety Officers of Drugs and Food Control Organization said.
திரையரங்கு கேன்டீன்களில் காலாவதி தின்பண்டங்கள் பறிமுதல்
கடலூர், நவ. 25:
கடலூர் பகுதி திரையரங்குகளில் உள்ள கேன்டீன்களில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகின்ற தின்பண்டங்கள் தரமானதாக இல்லை என்ற புகார்களின் பேரில் நேற்று கடலூர் தந்தை பெரியார் சிலை அருகே உள்ள பிரபல திரையரங்கத்திற்குள் உள்ள கேண்டீனில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா தலை மையில் அலுவலர்கள் நந்தகுமார், சுப்ரமணியன், மாரிமுத்து, கொளஞ்சியான் ஆகியோர் சோதனையிட்டனர்.
இதில் கடையில் விற்கப்பட்ட 100 பாக்கெட் கான்பார்ப், 100 மிராண்டா பட்டில்கள், வெங்காய வத்தல்கள் 200 கி.லோ என ரூ.5 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள தின்பண்டங்கள் மற்றும் குளிர்பதனங்கள் காலவாதியானவை என கண்டறியப்பட்டது. அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்த அதிகாரிகள் கேன்டீன் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கினர். இதுபோல் மீண்டும் நடந்தால் திரையரங்கிற்கு சீல் வைக்க நேரிடும் என உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ராஜா தெரிவித்தார். மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் உள்ள திரையரங்கங்களில் இதுபோல் அதிரடி சோதனைகள் நடத்தப்படும் எனவும் அவர் கூறினார்.
கடலூர் பகுதி திரையரங்குகளில் உள்ள கேன்டீன்களில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகின்ற தின்பண்டங்கள் தரமானதாக இல்லை என்ற புகார்களின் பேரில் நேற்று கடலூர் தந்தை பெரியார் சிலை அருகே உள்ள பிரபல திரையரங்கத்திற்குள் உள்ள கேண்டீனில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா தலை மையில் அலுவலர்கள் நந்தகுமார், சுப்ரமணியன், மாரிமுத்து, கொளஞ்சியான் ஆகியோர் சோதனையிட்டனர்.
இதில் கடையில் விற்கப்பட்ட 100 பாக்கெட் கான்பார்ப், 100 மிராண்டா பட்டில்கள், வெங்காய வத்தல்கள் 200 கி.லோ என ரூ.5 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள தின்பண்டங்கள் மற்றும் குளிர்பதனங்கள் காலவாதியானவை என கண்டறியப்பட்டது. அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்த அதிகாரிகள் கேன்டீன் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கினர். இதுபோல் மீண்டும் நடந்தால் திரையரங்கிற்கு சீல் வைக்க நேரிடும் என உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ராஜா தெரிவித்தார். மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் உள்ள திரையரங்கங்களில் இதுபோல் அதிரடி சோதனைகள் நடத்தப்படும் எனவும் அவர் கூறினார்.
Nov 24, 2014
அதிகரித்து வரும் போலி மினரல் வாட்டர் நிறுவனங்கள் கண்டு கொள்ளாத அதிகாரிகள்
ஈரோடு, நவ. 24:
ஈரோட்டில் புதிது புதிதாக போலி மினரல் வாட்டர் நிறுவனங்கள் உருவாகி வரும் நிலையில் மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் இதனை கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் இருப்பதாக ஐஎன்டியுசி குற்றம்சாட்டியுள்ளது.
ஈரோடு மாவட்ட ஐஎன்டியூசி கவுன்சில் சார்பில் செயற்குழு கூட்டம் நடந்தது. கூட்டத்திற்கு மாவட்ட கவுன்சில் தலைவர் தங்கராஜூ தலைமை வகித்தார். மாவட்ட செயலாளர் கதிர்வேல், மகளிர் ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் துளசிமணி, துணைத்தலைவர்கள் சுந்தரமூர்த்தி, தனகோடி மற்றும் சுப்ரமணி, குணசேகரன், ராஜாமணி ஆகியோர் முன்னிலை வகித்தனர்.
கூட்டத்தில், அடுத்த ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் 5ம் தேதி அகில இந்திய அளவில் அனைத்து தேசிய தொழிற்சங்கங்களும் இணைந்து நடத்த உள்ள போராட்டத்தில் ஐஎன்டியூசி சார்பில் அதிகளவில் உறுப்பினர்கள் கலந்துகொள்வது, உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்புகளில் பணியாற்றி வரும் துப்புரவு பணியாளர்கள், குடிநீர் தொட்டி இயக்குநர்கள், உதவியாளர்கள் ஆகியோருக்கு அரசு அறிவித்த ஊதிய உயர்வு, நிலுவை தொகைகள் மற்றும் இதர பலன்களை உரிய காலத்தில் வழங்காமல் அலுவலர்கள் அலட்சியம் காட்டி வருகின்றனர். இதனால் ஏராளமான பணியாளர்கள் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர். இதற்கு உரிய தீர்வு காண வேண்டும். அதோடு தற்காலிக தொழிலாளர்களை பணி நிரந்தரம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
மாநகரை சுற்றிலும் ஏராளமான மினரல் வாட்டர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள் புதிது, புதிதாக உருவாகியுள்ளன. இந்நிறுவனங்கள் தயாரிக்கும் தண்ணீர் பாட்டில்களில் ஐஎஸ்ஐ., முத்திரையை போலியாக அச்சிட்டு வெறும் சுகாதாரமற்ற தண்ணீரை விற்று கொள்ளை லாபம் சம்பாதிக்கின்றன. இந்நிறுவனங்களை கண்டறிய மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதில்லை. மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் ஆய்வு செய்து உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.
தேனி மாவட்டத்தில் நோய் பாதிப்பு அபாயம் கலப்படபொருட்கள் விற்பனையை கண்டுகொள்ளாத அதிகாரிகள்
உத்தமபாளையம், நவ. 24:
தேனி மாவட்டத்தில் கலப்படபொருட்கள் விற்பனை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. உணவு தர கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகள் எந்த சோதனையும் நடத்தாமல் மவுனம் காக்கின்றனர்.
தேனி மாவட்டத்தில் கம்பம், உத்தமபாளையம், சின்னமனூர், போடி, பெரியகுளம், ஆண்டிபட்டி, கூடலூர் உள்ளிட்ட நகரங்களில் அதிகளவில் பான்ப ராக், குட்கா, மசாலா பொருட்கள் எல்லா கடைகளிலும் விற்பனை நடக்கிறது. பெரிய அளவில் வியாபாரம் பார்ப்பவர்கள் மொத்தமாக இதனை வாங்கி பதுக்கி வைத்துள்ளனர். உரிய அனுமதி பெறாமலேயே பாட்டிலில் அடைத்து வைக்கப்பட்ட தண்ணீர் விற்பனை நடக்கிறது. இது தரமானதா அல்லது அனைத்து அனுமதிகளையும் பெற்றுதான் விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படுகிறதா என்பதையும் இது வரை சோதனை செய்வதாக தெரியவில்லை. ஓட்டல்கள், டீ கடைகளில் சுகாதாரம் இல்லாமல் இயங்குவதால் நோய்கள் பாதிப்பு அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. பாட்டிலில் போட்டுவிற்பனை செய்யப்படும் தின்பண்டங்கள், பிளாஸ்டிக் பைகளில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் சிறுவர்களுக்கான பொருட்களில் அதிகமான கலப்படம் உள்ளது. கலர்கலராய் கலப்படம் கலக்கப் பட்டு விற்பனை நடைபெற்ற போதிலும் எதைப்பற்றியும் கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் உணவுதரகட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகள் உள்ளனர்.
எல்லா ஊர்களிலும் இதற்கென தனியாக அதிகாரிகள் உள்ளனர். புகார்கள் சென்றால் பெயருக்கு சென்று சோதனை நடத்திவிட்டு சென்றுவிடுகின்றனர். இதனால் உணவில் கலப்படம், தண்ணீரில் கலப்படம், பாலில் கலப்படம், சிறுவர்களுக்கான திண்பண்டங்களில் கலப்படம் என தினமும் தேனிமாவட்டம் கலப்பட பொருட்கள் விற்பனை சந்தையாக மாறிவருகிறது. இதனால் சுகாதா ரம் கெடுவதுடன், பொதுமக்களுக்கு புதுப்புது நோய்கள் பரவும் ஆபத்தும் உள்ளது. உணவு தரக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு சோதனை செய்ய எல்லா உரிமைகளும் இருந்தும் அதனை காற்றில் பறக்கவிட்டு சோதனையே நடத்தாமல் வேலை செய்கின்றனர்.
இதுகுறித்து பொதுமக்கள் கூறிய புகாரில், நாம் சாப்பிடும் உணவு சுகாதாரம் அற்றதாக உள்ளது. அதிலும் கலப்படம் கலந்துள்ளதால் புதுப்புதுநோய்கள் பரவுகின்றன. உணவு தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு, பாதுகாப்பு மிகவும் அவசியம். ஆனால் இதற் கென நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள அதிகாரிகளோ எந்த சோத னையும் செய்யாமல் உள்ளனர்’ என்றனர்.
தேனி மாவட்டத்தில் கலப்படபொருட்கள் விற்பனை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. உணவு தர கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகள் எந்த சோதனையும் நடத்தாமல் மவுனம் காக்கின்றனர்.
தேனி மாவட்டத்தில் கம்பம், உத்தமபாளையம், சின்னமனூர், போடி, பெரியகுளம், ஆண்டிபட்டி, கூடலூர் உள்ளிட்ட நகரங்களில் அதிகளவில் பான்ப ராக், குட்கா, மசாலா பொருட்கள் எல்லா கடைகளிலும் விற்பனை நடக்கிறது. பெரிய அளவில் வியாபாரம் பார்ப்பவர்கள் மொத்தமாக இதனை வாங்கி பதுக்கி வைத்துள்ளனர். உரிய அனுமதி பெறாமலேயே பாட்டிலில் அடைத்து வைக்கப்பட்ட தண்ணீர் விற்பனை நடக்கிறது. இது தரமானதா அல்லது அனைத்து அனுமதிகளையும் பெற்றுதான் விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படுகிறதா என்பதையும் இது வரை சோதனை செய்வதாக தெரியவில்லை. ஓட்டல்கள், டீ கடைகளில் சுகாதாரம் இல்லாமல் இயங்குவதால் நோய்கள் பாதிப்பு அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. பாட்டிலில் போட்டுவிற்பனை செய்யப்படும் தின்பண்டங்கள், பிளாஸ்டிக் பைகளில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் சிறுவர்களுக்கான பொருட்களில் அதிகமான கலப்படம் உள்ளது. கலர்கலராய் கலப்படம் கலக்கப் பட்டு விற்பனை நடைபெற்ற போதிலும் எதைப்பற்றியும் கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் உணவுதரகட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகள் உள்ளனர்.
எல்லா ஊர்களிலும் இதற்கென தனியாக அதிகாரிகள் உள்ளனர். புகார்கள் சென்றால் பெயருக்கு சென்று சோதனை நடத்திவிட்டு சென்றுவிடுகின்றனர். இதனால் உணவில் கலப்படம், தண்ணீரில் கலப்படம், பாலில் கலப்படம், சிறுவர்களுக்கான திண்பண்டங்களில் கலப்படம் என தினமும் தேனிமாவட்டம் கலப்பட பொருட்கள் விற்பனை சந்தையாக மாறிவருகிறது. இதனால் சுகாதா ரம் கெடுவதுடன், பொதுமக்களுக்கு புதுப்புது நோய்கள் பரவும் ஆபத்தும் உள்ளது. உணவு தரக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு சோதனை செய்ய எல்லா உரிமைகளும் இருந்தும் அதனை காற்றில் பறக்கவிட்டு சோதனையே நடத்தாமல் வேலை செய்கின்றனர்.
இதுகுறித்து பொதுமக்கள் கூறிய புகாரில், நாம் சாப்பிடும் உணவு சுகாதாரம் அற்றதாக உள்ளது. அதிலும் கலப்படம் கலந்துள்ளதால் புதுப்புதுநோய்கள் பரவுகின்றன. உணவு தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு, பாதுகாப்பு மிகவும் அவசியம். ஆனால் இதற் கென நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள அதிகாரிகளோ எந்த சோத னையும் செய்யாமல் உள்ளனர்’ என்றனர்.
3 மாதத்திற்கு பிறகு மீண்டும் ஏலம் தொடங்கியது பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை முன்னிட்டு சேலத்தில் வெல்லம் உற்பத்தி தீவிரம்
சேலம், நவ.24:
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் ஓமலூர் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் 2 ஆயிரத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட வெல்லம் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் உள்ளனர். இவர்கள் வெல்லத்தை உற்பத்தி செய்து செவ்வாய்பேட்டை வெல்ல மண்டிக்கு ஏலத்திற்கு அனுப்புகின்றனர்.
இவற்றை வியாபாரிகள் ஏலம் எடுத்து கொல்கத்தா, மும்பை, கர்நாடகா, கேரளா ஆகிய மாநிலங்களுக்கும் அனுப்புகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில், கடந்த செப்டம்பர் மாதம் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள், செவ்வாய்பேட்டையில் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய்தனர். இந்த ஆய்வில் அதிக ரசாயனம் கலந்து இருப்ப தும், அதிகளவு சர்க்கரை பயன்படுத்தி இருப்பதை அதிகாரிகள் கண்டுபிடித்து எச்சரித்தனர். இதையடுத்து கலப்பட வெல்லத்தை வியாபாரிகள் ஏலம் எடுக்க வரவில்லை. கடந்த 3 மாதமாக வெல்லம் உற்பத்தியை நிறுத்திவிட்டனர்.
பின்னர், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ஆலோசனையின்படி, உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் தற்போது வெல்லம் உற்பத்தி செய்கின்றனர். உற்பத்தி செய்த வெல்லத்தை விற்பனைக்காக மண்டிக்கு இரு தினங்க ளுக்கு முன்பு கொண்டு வந்தனர். மூன்று மாதத்திற்கு பிறகு வெல்லம் ஏலம் நடந்ததால், வியாபாரிகள் போட்டி போட்டு வெல்லத்தை ஏலம் எடுத்தனர்.
இது குறித்த உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் கூறுகையில், பொங்கலை முன்னிட்டு வெல்லம் உற்பத்தி அதிகளவில் நடக்கும். வெல்லம் உற்பத்தியில் ஒரு சிலர் எடை வரவேண்டும் என்பதற்காக சிறிதளவு அஸ்கா சர்க்கரை கலந்தனர். இதை அதிகாரிகள் கண்டுபிடித்து எச்சரித்தனர். மூன்று மாதத்திற்கு பிறகு இரு தினங்களுக்கு முன்பு தான் வெல்ல ஏலம் நடந்தது. 30 கிலோ எடைக்கொண்ட 13 ஆயிரம் சிப்பம் ஏலத்திற்கு வந்தது. இதன்மூலம் 45 லட்சத்திற்கு வர்த்தகம் நடந்தது. ஆண்டுதோறும் பொங்கலுக்கு ரேஷன் கடைகள் மூலம் அரசு பொங்கல் பரிசுப்பொருட்களை வழங்கி வருகிறது. பொங்கல் பரிசு பொருளில் வெல்லம் கொடுக்க, ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு முன்பே வியாபாரிகள் ஆர்டர் தருவார்கள். நடப்பாண்டிற்கு இன்னும் ஒரு வாரத்தில் ஆர்டர் வரும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கிறோம் என்றனர்.
இருமடங்கு விலையுடன் தடைமீறி போதை பாக்கு விற்பனை
கோவை, நவ.24:
வாயில் மெல்லும் போதை புகையிலை, பான் மசாலா பொருட்களுக்கு தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்து 7 மாதங்களாகி விட்டது. ஒட்டு மொத்த விற்பனை கிடங்கு, கடைகளில் ரெய்டு நடத்தப்பட்டு 13 டன் பான் மசாலா பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. மண் தோண்டி அதில் பான் பராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் போன்றவற்றை மூடியும், போதை வஸ்துக்களின் வரத்து குறையவில்லை. மாவட்ட அளவில் ரகசியமாக பான் பொருட்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறது.
ஆர்.எஸ்.புரம், காந்திபுரம், உக்கடம் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதியில் உச்ச கட்ட போதை தரும் 420 பீடாக்கள் சுவையாக வழங்கப்படுகிறது. பாக்கெட்டுகளில் வெளிப்படையாக வழங்கினால் சுகாதார துறை, போலீசாரின் கண்ணில் மாட்டிக்கொள்ளும் நிலையிருப்பதால் போதை பொருட்களை ரகசியமாக பேப்பரில் மடித்து வழங்குகிறார்கள். தடை போட்டதால் போதை பாக்குகளின் விலை இருமடங்கு ஏற்றி விட்டார்கள். அனைத்து பகுதியிலும் போதை புகையிலைகள் விற்கப்படுகிறது
வாயில் மெல்லும் போதை புகையிலை, பான் மசாலா பொருட்களுக்கு தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்து 7 மாதங்களாகி விட்டது. ஒட்டு மொத்த விற்பனை கிடங்கு, கடைகளில் ரெய்டு நடத்தப்பட்டு 13 டன் பான் மசாலா பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. மண் தோண்டி அதில் பான் பராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் போன்றவற்றை மூடியும், போதை வஸ்துக்களின் வரத்து குறையவில்லை. மாவட்ட அளவில் ரகசியமாக பான் பொருட்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறது.
ஆர்.எஸ்.புரம், காந்திபுரம், உக்கடம் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதியில் உச்ச கட்ட போதை தரும் 420 பீடாக்கள் சுவையாக வழங்கப்படுகிறது. பாக்கெட்டுகளில் வெளிப்படையாக வழங்கினால் சுகாதார துறை, போலீசாரின் கண்ணில் மாட்டிக்கொள்ளும் நிலையிருப்பதால் போதை பொருட்களை ரகசியமாக பேப்பரில் மடித்து வழங்குகிறார்கள். தடை போட்டதால் போதை பாக்குகளின் விலை இருமடங்கு ஏற்றி விட்டார்கள். அனைத்து பகுதியிலும் போதை புகையிலைகள் விற்கப்படுகிறது
ரசாயன உரம், பூச்சி மருந்துகளால் வேளாண் கருத்தரங்கில் கவலை உணவுப்பொருட்கள் நஞ்சாகி விட்டது
திருத்துறைப்பூண்டி,நவ.24:
ரசாயன உரம், பூச்சி மருந்து களால் உணவுப் பொருட்கள் நஞ்சாகி விட்ட தாக வேளாண் கருத்தரங்கில் கவலை தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.
திருவாரூர் மாவட்டம், திருத்துறைப்பூண்டி அருகேயுள்ள ஆதிரெங்கம் கிரியேட் பயிற்சி ஆராய்ச்சி மையத்தில் பொறுப்பு கூட்டுக்குழு மகளிர் விவசாயிகளுக்கு இயற்கை வேளாண்மை, பாரம்பரிய நெல் சாகுபடி குறித்த பயிற்சி மற்றும் கருத்தரங்கம் நடைபெற்றது. தமிழக இயற்கை உழவர் இயக்கத்தின் நன்னிலம் ஒன்றிய ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் உதயகுமார் தலைமை வகித்தார். பொறுப்புக் கூட்டுகுழு ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் அகிலா வரவேற்றார். நிகழ்ச்சியில் கிரியேட் பயிற்சி இயக்குநர் நெல் ஜெயராமன் பேசுகை யில்;
இயற்கை வேளாண்மையும் பாரம்பரிய நெல் சாகுபடியும் தமிழகத்தில் பரவலாக மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. அதற்கு காரணம் ரசாயன உரங்களும், பூச்சிக்கொல்லி விஷங்களாலும் உற்பத்தியாகும் உணவுகள் நஞ்சாக மாறிவிட்டது. இதனால் பொதுமக்கள் பல்வேறு நோய்களுக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ளனர். உணவே மருந்து மருந்தே உணவு என்பது நம்முடைய பாரம்பரிய நெல் ரகங்களில் உள்ளது.
அதை இயற்கை தொழில் நுட்பமான பஞ்சகவ்யா, மூலிகை பூச்சிவிரட்டி பயன்படுத்தி நஞ்சில்லா உணவு உற்பத்தி செய்ய முடியும். சந்தையில் விற்பனை வாய்ப்பும் உள்ளது. இயற்கை வேளாண்மையில் உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படும் எந்த பொருளையும் மதிப்பு கூட்டி விற்பனை செய்ய வேண்டும் அதாவது விதை நெல், அவுல், அரிசியாக விற்பனை செய்ய முடியும் என்றார்.
பயிற்சியில் பொறை யார், தரங்கம்பாடி, நாகை, திருவாரூர் பகுதிகளிலிருந்து பொறுப்புகூட்டுகுழு மகளிர் விவசாயிகள் கலந்து கொண் டனர். பயிற்சியில் இயற்கை இடுபொருள் தயாரிப்பு, மண்புழு உரம் தயாரிப்பு, அசோலா பயன்பாடு, குறித்தும் பயிற்சியளிக்கப்பட்டது. மேலும் பாரம்பரிய நெல்சாகுபடி தொழில் நுட்பங்கள் குறித்து வயல்களில் நேரடி கள ஆய்வு நடந்தது. கிரியேட் ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் செந்தில்குமார் நன்றி கூறினார்.
பிரபல கம்பெனிகள் பெயரில் போலி நெய் தயாரித்து விற்ற நிறுவனத்துக்கு அதிகாரிகள் சீல்
சென்னை, நவ.22:
பிரபல கம்பெனிகள் பெயரில் போலி நெய் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்த நிறுவனத்துக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்தனர்.
சென்னை முழுதும் உள்ள கடைகளில், பிரபல கம்பெனிகள் பெயரில் ஒரிஜினல் ஊத்துக்குளி நெய் என்று கூறி போலியான நெய் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதையடுத்து சிலநாட்களுக்கு முன்பு அண்ணாநகர் பகுதியில் அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.
அப்போது ஒரிஜினல் நெய் போன்றே பிரபல கம்பெனிகளின் பெயரில் போலி நெய் விற்கப்பட்டது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒரிஜினல் நெய் கிலோ 300 ஆகும். ஆனால் இந்த போலி நெய் கிலோ 84க்கு விற்பனை செய்ததும் தெரிந்தது.
நெய்யை சோதனையிட்டபோது 10 சதவீதம் மட்டுமே நெய் இருப்பதும், மீதி 90 சதவீதம் வனஸ்பதி, சூரிய காந்தி எண்ணெய் மற்றும் ரசாயன பொடிகள் கலந்து விற்றது தெரிய வந்தது.
இவற்றை தி.நகர் கண்ணம்மாபேட்டை முத்துரங்கன் சாலையில் பாலசுப்ரமணியன் என்பவர் தயாரிப்பது தெரிந்தது. இதையடுத்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் குழு அங்கு திடீர் சோதனை மேற்கொண்டது.
அப்போது, அங்கு தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த கால் கிலோ, அரை கிலோ, ஒரு கிலோ போலி நெய் பாட்டில்கள் 1,350 கிலோ கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன.
போலி வெண்ணெய் 105 கிலோ கைப்பற்றப்பட்டு தர ஆய்வுக்காக அனுப்பப்பட்டது. அதை தொடர்ந்து அந்நிறுவனத்தை அதிகாரிகள் பூட்டி சீல் வைத்தனர்.
பிரபல கம்பெனிகள் பெயரில் போலி நெய் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்த நிறுவனத்துக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்தனர்.
சென்னை முழுதும் உள்ள கடைகளில், பிரபல கம்பெனிகள் பெயரில் ஒரிஜினல் ஊத்துக்குளி நெய் என்று கூறி போலியான நெய் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதையடுத்து சிலநாட்களுக்கு முன்பு அண்ணாநகர் பகுதியில் அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.
அப்போது ஒரிஜினல் நெய் போன்றே பிரபல கம்பெனிகளின் பெயரில் போலி நெய் விற்கப்பட்டது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒரிஜினல் நெய் கிலோ 300 ஆகும். ஆனால் இந்த போலி நெய் கிலோ 84க்கு விற்பனை செய்ததும் தெரிந்தது.
நெய்யை சோதனையிட்டபோது 10 சதவீதம் மட்டுமே நெய் இருப்பதும், மீதி 90 சதவீதம் வனஸ்பதி, சூரிய காந்தி எண்ணெய் மற்றும் ரசாயன பொடிகள் கலந்து விற்றது தெரிய வந்தது.
இவற்றை தி.நகர் கண்ணம்மாபேட்டை முத்துரங்கன் சாலையில் பாலசுப்ரமணியன் என்பவர் தயாரிப்பது தெரிந்தது. இதையடுத்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் குழு அங்கு திடீர் சோதனை மேற்கொண்டது.
அப்போது, அங்கு தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த கால் கிலோ, அரை கிலோ, ஒரு கிலோ போலி நெய் பாட்டில்கள் 1,350 கிலோ கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன.
போலி வெண்ணெய் 105 கிலோ கைப்பற்றப்பட்டு தர ஆய்வுக்காக அனுப்பப்பட்டது. அதை தொடர்ந்து அந்நிறுவனத்தை அதிகாரிகள் பூட்டி சீல் வைத்தனர்.
Eyeing delicious foods in Sangai Festival! Think again... Food stalls found flouting safety norms
Imphal, November 23 2014: Amidst growing euphoria surrounding over the ongoing 10-day Sangai Festival 2104 which kick-started from November 21 at Hapta Kangjeibung, most of the food stalls being opened in the festival are found flouting Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, raising question on hygienic condition of varieties of food items offer in their stalls.
In last year edition of the festival, food stalls were asked to register and obtain temporary license in accordance to Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 but most of them had not paid heed to the direction.
In the ongoing festival also, most of the food stalls were found without possessing temporary license in defiance of the guidelines of Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) .
foods in Sangai Festival
Sources available to Hueiyen Lanpao said Health Department, Government of Manipur had already asked Tourism Department to direct food stalls to obtain temporary license according to Food Safety & Standard Act for opening stalls in the festival.
However, most of the food stalls are running without temporary license which is due to the failure of Tourism Department to inform food stalls in advance regarding the mandatory obtaining of the license.
According to Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, food stalls should obtain temporary license for running in festival and they should stick the license at their stalls so that visitors could view it.
More than 100 food stalls are being opened in the ongoing Sangai Festival.
When asked whether they are running their stalls after obtaining temporary license in accordance to Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, the answer is 'No' .
Meanwhile, Food Safety Officers of the nine districts of the State have directed food staffs being opened in the ongoing festival to obtain temporary license of FSSAI without fail.
They have also started inspecting whether varieties of food offer in their staffs are safe to consume or not.
The Food Safety Officers team during a raid conducted in the ongoing festival today seized tobacco products which are prohibited by an order of the government from five stalls.
The seized tobacco products including pan and khaini are worth Rs 5, 000 .
In the advent of the unwarranted revelations, it has become necessary to inspect whether varieties of food items offer in food stalls in the ongoing Sangai Festival is sub-standard or not.
It is also necessary to ensure that they do not mix additional substances which would prove hazardous to health.
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