Chewing gutkha may land you in jail in Bengal

KOLKATA: Do you chew gutkha? Better kick the habit soon, or you might land up behind bars. 

Faced with criticism that the ban of gutkha remained on paper only in the state, the government has decided to crack down on the sale and consumption of chewing tobacco from May 1.

The crackdown decision has already been circulated through a gazette notification. The notification states that not only the seller, but the buyer would also be penalized for being a patron of this dangerous substance that causes cancer. 

"The chief minister asked for stringent action against the sale and consumption of gutkha to reduce the risk of oral cancer. So, we are implementing the order," said director (health education) Sushanta Bandyopadhyay. 

Till date, 26 states — including Bengal — and seven Union Territories have banned the sale, manufacture, distribution and storage of gutkha and all its variants under the Food Safety and Regulation (Prohibition) Act, 2011. Maharashtra's has been the biggest success story. Though Bengal banned the manufacture and sale of gutkha in May 2013, it could not enforce the ban effectively. The notification was issued by the commissioner of food safety. 

Manufacturers have taken to providing the tobacco free with a sachet of paan masala.

FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION AT CHALA

Food Safety officials conducted inspections at various wholesale and retail shops selling mangoes at the Chala market on Saturday, following complaints that some sellers are using calcium carbide to fasten the ripening process.

The officials collected samples from various shops. These samples were sent to a laboratory and the test results would be known in a week, said officials. 

HYGIENE ISSUES

Food items are seen cooked and served on the wayside at certain locations in the city under unhygienic conditions. This is a public health threat. The food safety authorities should look into the matter seriously. Action should be initiated against those who stored food items and commodities for cooking in unhygienic conditions.

C. Chandrasekharan Nair, Kozhikode

Quality of tanker water under scanner

The quality of water carried in tanker lorries as drinking water has now come under the scanner with the city police seizing four lorries carrying contaminated water.

The lorries seized recently were commercially supplying water drawn from the well of the house of the owner of the vehicles. The contaminated water was being supplied to several flats and other residences in the city.

City police said they had received complaints about poor quality of drinking water supplied in tanker lorries in different parts of the city.

The police said they would work in tandem with the Health Department and Food Safety officials to curb the sale of contaminated water in the city.

“All vehicles supplying drinking water have to carry licence issued by the Food Safety Department. The source from which they take the water also has to be licensed. It is now mandatory for the tanker lorries supplying water to have the licence details painted on their sides,” said Food Safety Assistant Commissioner K. Ajith Kumar.

Food experts call for good manufacturing practices

CERTIFICATES ON RIPENING OF FRUITS PROVIDED BY THE DEALERS AND SUPPLIERS COULD CURB ARTIFICIAL RIPENING

Calcium carbide, ethylene gases trigger ripening processUse of carbide gas in ripening of fruits has been prohibited

Food safety experts have called for the introduction of guidelines, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), for ripening of fruits following reports of the use of chemicals for ripening mangoes.

The Kochi City police seized 40 kg of mangoes on Saturday, suspected to be ripened using calcium carbide, from a fruit stall at Nettoor market. Besides the mangoes, the police also seized five kg of calcium carbide and detained Sanu, 38, of Nettoor, who operated the stall.

The introduction of GMP for ripening of fruits for domestic markets can address the issue to a considerable extent, says M.K. Mukundan, the director of Council for Food Research Development, Konni. Dealers and suppliers of fruits need to be made to follow a set of procedures for ripening of fruits and its storage. Certificates regarding the ripening of fruits should be provided by the dealers and suppliers. They should be asked to follow GMP for ripening methods. The premises used for ripening and storage should also be certified, suggests Dr. Mukundan.

Acetylene and ethylene gases trigger ripening process. Introduction of smoke fumes, as followed in the traditional methods of ripening, helps trigger the process, he says.

The Food Safety and Standards Act has prohibited the use of carbide gas in ripening of fruits. The Act specifies that “no person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description, fruits which have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas.” However, the use of ethylene gas (fruit ripening plant hormone) in low concentration has been permitted to trigger the ripening of fruits.

K. Ajithkumar, the designated officer of the Food Safety and Standards Act, says the law permits only natural ripening of fruits. He too suggested following of GMP for ripening of fruits. Law prescribes a punishment of imprisonment up to two years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh for the use of carbide gas, often used for inducing uniform ripening of fruits, he says.

Though the traces of the chemicals can be identified in labs, the consumers of fruits can escape the ill-effects of the use of calcium carbide gas by thoroughly washing the fruits. Peeling off the skin of the fruits would also help in avoiding the chemicals, he suggests.

While buying fruits like mangoes, avoid the fruits which don’t have the natural aberrations and black spots on them. Also avoid fruits which are found covered with white powder, he says

Calcium carbide, ethylene gases trigger ripening process

Use of carbide gas in ripening of fruits has been prohibited

Industry call for better product labelling of imported food

Food groups are calling for better food labelling to help shoppers identify imported foods. 

INDUSTRY groups have called for better product labelling to help shoppers identify imported foods.

In the wake of a Federal Government announcement of a country-of-origin labelling inquiry, Roy Morgan research indicates that consumers are “aware of the benefits of buying Aussie products, and of the impact that their purchasing behaviour has on jobs, local business and future opportunities.”

Almost $2 billion worth of foreign fruit, vegetables and nuts landed on our shores last year.

Apple and Pear Australia Limited Industry Services Manager Annie Farrow said stronger labelling laws were needed so shoppers could make informed decisions.

“The current ‘Made in Australia’ label can be a little confusing, if not outright misleading,” she said.

“It can actually mean that all the ingredients are imported, and simply mixed or packaged in Australia.

“Worse, under current legislation ‘Made in Australia’ can be used in labelling processed fruit or juice if more than 50 per cent of the value of the product is added in Australia, regardless of where the fruit comes from.”

Australian Made Campaign chief executive Ian Harrison said it was wrong imports that underwent minor processes here such as juicing, dicing and slicing, crumbing or coating could be termed Made in Australia or Australian Made.

Ritchies Supermarkets has rolled out Aussie-branded bays within aisles to highlight SPC Ardmona’s locally grown and made canned fruit and baked beans in its 70 stores.

SPC, which received a $22 million assistance package from the state government, claims more than 70 per cent of canned tomatoes bought in Australia are imported.

AusVeg spokesman Hugh Gurney urged shoppers to buy more Australian vegetables.

“Cheap imports from countries such as China and New Zealand are creating problems for the Australian vegetable processing industry, which has seen a number of operations cease over the past two years,” he said.

Coles and Woolworths said 96 per cent of all fresh produce they sell is grown in Australia.

Coles said its SmartBuy frozen vegetables and potato products are now 100 per cent Australian grown.

Woolworths has teamed with SPC Ardmona to source Select brand tinned fruit and tomatoes. Its Select frozen vegetables will be 100 per cent Australian-supplied by May.

WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM

Frozen vegetable imports

1. Prepared potatoes $98m

2. Vegetable mixes $38m

3. Peas $26m

4. Other vegetables $21m

5. Sweet corn $14m

FROZEN VEGETABLE IMPORTS BY COUNTRY

1. New Zealand $111m

2. Holland $30m

3. China $27m

4. United States $22m

5. Belgium $20m

PROCESSED VEGETABLE IMPORTS

1. Italy $80m

2. China $36m

3. New Zealand $31m

4. United States $29m