New Delhi:
D K Samantaray is all set to join the Government of India as CEO of Food Safety and Standard
Authority of India (FSSAI). He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.
May 1, 2014
Celebrities should not endorse junk food say government guidelines
NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has called for strict control on promotions and advertisements that are designed and targeted to children and adolescents across all media.
In guidelines prepared recently with regard to junk food, the FSSAI has also made strong recommendations against celebrity endorsement of such foods.
Consequently, Chief Justice Gorla Rohini and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog in the Delhi High Court have asked amicus curiae N K Kaul to file a detailed response within three weeks segregating what out of the submitted guidelines is enforceable and what is suggestive. The court also stressed on the need to specify the junk food items that should be regulated in schools. The court has now fixed the matter for 6 August.
Criticising the Guidelines which it claims have been ‘diluted’ at the instance of the food industry, the Centre for Science and Environment has said that the a provision put initially in the Guidelines that establishes the need for mandatory self regulation of advertisements has been removed.
Uday Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit NGO filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 2010 seeking a ban on junk food sold in schools and around them, regulation of junk food promotion and advertisement, and development of a school canteen policy. In response to this, the court had asked the FSSAI to set guidelines, which were framed recently. The FSSAI submitted these guidelines to the court for “making available quality and safe foods in schools”.
The guidelines were developed by an expert group set up by the FSSAI following directions of the court in September 2013.
Hotel Mountview operating sans food safety licence
Throwing norms to the wind, Hotel Mountview, a flagship five -star hotel of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO), is functioning without the mandatory licence required under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Act, which was implemented in 2011, aims at regulating manufacturing of food articles, storage, distribution and sale to ensure availability of hygienic, wholesome and free of contaminants food items.
0Small-scale food business operators with annual turnover of not above Rs. 12 lakh are required to get registered by paying an annual fee of Rs. 100, while large-scale units having turnover of above Rs. 12 lakh should operate after getting a licence.
The registration is renewed every year. As per norms defined under the Act, CITCO is liable for punishment for carrying out business without licence. The Act says if any person or food business operator - except the persons exempted from licensing under sub-section ( 2) of section 31 of this Act - himself or by any person on his behalf who is required to obtain licence, sells, stores or distributes or imports any article of food without licence will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with a fine which may extend to Rs. 5 lakh.
According to sources, the issue was taken up earlier this year, but in vain.
Hotel Mountview of ficiating general manager Jagan Chaudhary said their chef left the job as a result the process got delayed. “Due to model code of conduct, we have not been able to find a replacement,” rued Chaudhary.
When contacted, CITCO managing director Tanvi Garg said the process for getting licence was underway and we would get it very shortly.
It has been learnt that the Chandigarh administration has online food licensing/registration system (FLRS) to facilitate food business operators (FBOs) to file and track their applications.
The administration had set the system on February 4, 2013, for all FBOs to obtain a food licence.
சிதம்பரம் பஸ்நிலையத்தில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு
சிதம்பரம், மே 1:
சிதம்பரம் பஸ்நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் நேற்று உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை நடத்தினர். கடலூர் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ராஜா தலைமையில் ஆய்வாளர்கள் பத்மநாபன், குணசேகரன் கொண்ட குழுவினர் நேற்று காலை சிதம்பரம் பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள அனைத்து கடைகளிலும் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள் மற்றும் சுகாதாரமற்ற பழச்சாறுகள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறதா? என சோதனையிட்டனர்.
சில கடைகளில் காலாவதியான குளிர்பான பாட்டில்கள், தடை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள பான்மசாலா, குட்கா, கலர் பவுடர் கலந்த இனிப்புகள், தேதி குறிப்பிடாமலும் ஐஎஸ்ஐ சான்றிதழ் இன்றி பொதுமக்களுக்கு விற்பனை செய்த தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள், பழச்சாறுகள் போன்ற பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். பின்னர் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான்பராக், புகையிலை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்தால் கடை உரிமம் ரத்து செய்யப்படும் எனவும் எச்சரித்தனர்.
சிதம்பரம் பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு குழுவினர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
Increasing number of food vendors threaten for health in Nagaland
With the increasing number of unauthorized and unsafe food vendors in street corners of town of the state, Nagaland Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Principal Director and Additional Food Safety Commissioner, Dr. Neiphi Kire has directed to all food business operators in the state to obtain license or register their food business.
In an official order issued last night Dr. Kire said under food safety and standards Act, 2006 and rules 2011 from the office of the designated officer, the Chief Medical Officer, of the district on before August 4. He directed food manufacturers, miller, grinder, whole sellers, retailers, godowns, warehouse, cold storage, distributor, transporters, departmental suppliers pharmacies dealing with food items, food supplements, hotels, restaurants, canteens, caterers, slaughter houses, fish & meat shop, all petty food business operators and street food vendors.
He also informed that Licensing and Registration Forms and other details can be obtained from the office of the designated officer on all working days. Directorate of Health and Family welfare cautioned that operating food business without a license or registration will attract penalty up to Rs. 5 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 months under section 63 of the Food Safety Standards Act 2006.
Firms get alternative ways to sell tobacco
TRICHY: Even though the state government had banned the sale of tobacco products, the food safety officials in the district could not completely control the sales due to loophole in the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA). The shrewd move of the manufacturers to market tobacco products has made the officials sit as mute spectators.
As per the FSSA, tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in food products in any name. The Tamil Nadu government in May 2013 invoked the rule in the Act and banned the sale of tobacco products like Gutkha, Pan Masala to save people from succumbing to deadly diseases like cancer. But the sales couldn't be controlled despite frequent raids and warnings. Moreover, the manufacturers have even found a new method to escape from the grip of FSSA. For instance, the betel nuts are packed in sachets without mixing tobacco or nicotine so that they can show that they obey the state government's ban. On the other hand, the tobacco powder is also packed separately in a sachet. Tobacco lovers buy both the sachets and chew them together for kicks. "During the raids, we found some pan masala claiming to have zero percentage of tobacco and nicotine. But we also found tobacco powder sachets sold separately in shops. We came to know that they are jointly sold to customers. We will try to prove it in the court," said corporation CHO Dr Mariappan.
Insisting on total ban of tobacco, Dr Ramakrishnan, the designated officer of Food Safety Wing in Trichy, said, "Though we have found shopkeepers selling tobacco powders in separate sachets, we are unable to prove how people mix it with betel nuts for kick. Only a complete ban can put an end to this problem."
Interestingly, the one year ban too is coming to an end on May 23 this year.
Mango trader remanded in one-day police custody
NASHIK: The trader, who was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly using calcium carbide to ripen mangoes, has been remanded in police custody for a day.
The trader, Kamaluddin Bagwan, was nabbed by the Panchavati police on Tuesday after a team of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials raided his shop at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) along Peth Road. The trader was found ripening 520 kg of mangoes with calcium carbide in violation of the new Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Panchavati police nabbed the trader after FDA lodged the complaint with Panchavati police late on Tuesday night. He was produced in the district court on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off that mangoes are being ripened with the use of chemicals harmful for health, a team of FDA officials from Nashik led by joint commissioner Chandrakant Pawar and the Panchavati police raided Bagwan's shop.
The FDA officials seized twenty-six crates with 520 kg mangoes worth Rs 15,000 from the spot and later destroyed them. Each crate of mangoes had two or three pouches of carbide powders. The samples of mangoes have been sent to the lab for further investigation.
Artificially ripened mangoes seized
TRICHY: Food safety officials in the city seized 2.25 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes from some shops in Gandhi Market here on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off, the food safety wing officials led by its designated officer Dr Ramakrishnan conducted surprise raid in the famous Gandhi Market in the city on Wednesday morning. The team checked the mangoes kept in around 50 shops in the area. The raid disclosed the possession of artificially ripened mangoes weighing 2.25 tonnes in eight shops. The value of the seized mangoes was assessed to be around Rs 1.47 lakh.
"The raid brought to light the artificial ripening of mangoes using carbide stones in local market. It was found that some traders wanted to earn money by putting public's health at stake. So, we warned stringent against them if they continue to do so. Meanwhile, the traders in the Gandhi Market have assured that they would not sell the artificially ripened mangoes," said Dr Ramakrishnan.
However, the officials could only seize the artificially ripened mangoes. But, they could not initiate action against the owners due to Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA). Taking advantage of FSSA, traders continue to indulge in such practice. But, officials feel that the seizure of the products tantamount to punishment as it involves huge money. Dr Ramakrishnan claimed that compared to last year, the number of such traders has come down due to FSSA.
The seized mangoes were buried at the composite yard in Ariyamangalam.
கார்பைடு கல்லால் பழுத்த மாம்பழங்களை சாப்பிடுவோருக்கு உடல்நலக்குறைவு; உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பார்களா அதிகாரிகள்
விருதுநகர் : விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்தில், கார்பைடு கல்லால், செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைத்து மாம்பழங்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதை வாங்கி உண்போர் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு உள்ளிட்ட உடல்நலக்குறைவால் அவதிப்படுகின்றனர். எனவே, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு செய்து, இதில், உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை எழுந்துள்ளது.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்தில் ராஜபாளையம், ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர், வத்திராயிருப்பு பகுதியில் மாந்தோப்பு அதிகம் உள்ளன. இதில், சப்பட்டா, பஞ்சவர்ணம், கல்லாமை, பாலாமணி, வனாசா, சொரணரேகை உட்பட பல்வேறு மாம்பழங்கள் விளைகின்றன. தற்போது, சீசன் நேரம் என்பதால், மாம்பழ விளைச்சல் அதிகம் உள்ளது. இதை குத்தகைக்கு எடுக்கும் ஏலதாரர்கள், மாங்காயை பறித்து கடைகளுக்கு விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர். இதை வாங்கி செல்லும் மொத்த விற்பனையாளர்கள், குடோன்களில் சாதாரண நிலையில் வைக்கோலால் மூடி, மாங்காயை பழுக்க வைக்க வேண்டும். இதில், பழுக்க, கால தாமதம் ஏற்படுவதால், சில வியாபாரிகள், கார்பைடு கல் வைத்து, மாங்காய்களை பழுக்க வைக்கின்றனர்.
கண்ணுக்கு பளிச்சென்று தெரியும் இந்த மாம்பழங்களை வாங்கி உண்ணும் குழந்தைகள், முதியோர் வயிற்று போக்கு உள்ளிட்ட உடல்நலக்குறைபாடால் அவதிப்படுகின்றனர். செயற்கையாக, கார்பைடு கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்கள், விருதுநகர், சாத்தூர், சிவகாசி, அருப்புக்கோட்டை உட்பட பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் கடைகளில் அமோகமாக விற்கப்படுகிறது. இதை, உணவு கட்டுப்பாடு அதிகாரிகள், நகராட்சி, பேரூராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு செய்து,பறிமுதல் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதே அனைவரது எதிர்பார்ப்பாக உள்ளது. விருதுநகர் ஜெயக்குமார்,"" கார்பைடு கற்களால் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழத்தை சாப்பிடும் குழந்தைகள் வயிற்று போக்கால் அவதிப்படுகின்றனர். இது போன்ற மாம்பழங்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்வதுடன், அதை விற்போருக்கு கூடுதல் அபராதம் விதித்து, விற்பனையை முற்றிலும் தடை செய்ய வேண்டும்,'' என்றார்.
Joint inspection drive launched by JMC
About 40 quintals of milk was checked and Rs 16000/- realised as fine from the defaulters.
Besides this in an another drive headed by Mohd. Saleem Khan health officer alongwith other field staff, the team toured various areas like New Plot, Janipur etc. & about 18 kgs of polythene carry bags was seized besides imposing fine amounting to Rs 5350/- on the defaulters.
Health Officer Jammu Municipal Corporation Mohd. Saleem Khan appealed to all the food business operators not to sell any type of unhygienic food items not conforming to prescribed quality & standards which can put the public health to danger, otherwise stringent action under Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 shall be taken against the defaulters. Moreover all the Food Business operators dealing with milk & milk products are strictly warned not to sell adulterated milk & milk products.
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