Lizard in noon meal; 166 fall ill

A total of 166 students of Melkaaranai Government High School near here who took mid-day meal served in the school on Wednesday were admitted to the Mundiyambakkam government medical college hospital after they complained of giddiness and stomach pain.

As news spread, parents rushed to the school and took up the matter with the headmaster, Ananthanarayanan.

Students were taken to the hospital in ambulances. Sighting of a lizard in the meal is said to have caused them nausea.

On information, Collector V. Sampath rushed District Revenue Officer R. Brindadevi and Deputy Director (Health) R. Meera to arrange for treatment.

On the inputs from the two officials, the Collector placed the organiser of the mid-day meal centre, Lakshmi, and her assistant, Ambika, under suspension for not observing rules for hygiene.

Dr. Meera said the condition of the students stabilised soon after admission to hospital, and they weredischarged after an hour of observation.

Food samples collected from the mid-day meal centre were sent to the public health laboratory at the Kallakurichi government hospital.

Hotel owners, distributors, traders exempted from filing annual returns

PUNE: Food traders, restaurants and distributors are now permanently exempted from filingannual returns by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The move has been facilitated by a new amendment in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, which came into effect on June 10.

The exemption applies to food traders, retailers, caterers, hoteliers, owners of restaurants, mess,fast food joints, grocery shops besides transporters.

"Earlier, the regulatory body had issued a letter granting temporary exemption to traders, restaurants and distributors. With the new amendment, the exemption is permanent. Now, only food manufacturers, packers, re-packers, labellers and re-labellers and importers will have to file annual returns. They will be fined Rs 100 per day for failing to do so," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier directed all foodbusiness licencees with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above to submit their annual returns by May 31, failing which, a fine of Rs 100 per day was to be levied.

Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA said, "It is easy for food manufacturers, packers, re-packers, labellers and re-labellers and importers to keep a record of the stock and transactions made. But the same is difficult for owners of grocery shops and restaurants and other food distributors."

A member of the Poona Merchants Chamber, said, "Traders have been facing a lot of problems ever since the new Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in August 2011. One of issues is filing annual returns. Former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had held a meeting with FSSAI officials on March 7 last year following which food regulators decided to make certain amendments to resolve the issue. The present amendment is a fall out of our long-drawn struggle."

For the first time food business operators were asked to submit annual returns of their transactions made till March-end when the new Act came into force in August 2011. The Act aims at bringing the food industry under one umbrella by scrapping all old licences. The food industry needs to be regulated in order to ensure food safety.

There are over 9,000 licensed food business operators in the city who have an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above. They include food manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, recyclers, processors, transporters, restaurants, hotels and catering business operators.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Act and Regulations 2011 (licensing and registration), the business operators have to submit the returns in the particular format (form D-1). Only owners of milk businesses have been asked to submit the returns in half yearly format as given in form D-2.

"Another amendment made in the Act exempts food business operators from paying fine for delay in renewal of registration. Only licenced food business operators will have to submit a fine of Rs 100 per day for delay in seeking renewal of licence," Sangat said.

The Changes

1. The amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, came into effect on June 10

2. Food traders, retailers, caterers, hotels, restaurants, mess owners, fast food joints, transporters, distributors and grocery shop owners have been permanently exempted from filing annual returns

3. Food manufacturers, packers, re-packers, labellers, re-labellers and importers have to submit annual returns

Cus - Cocoa Beans were found contaminated with fungal growth

Cus - Cocoa Beans were found contaminated with fungal growth – since Cocoa Beans is a 'food product' unless it is cleared by Food Safety & Standards Authority same cannot be released - Petition dismissed: High Court 

ERNAKULAM, June 19, 2014 : THE petitioner imported 132 bags of fermented and dried Coco Beans and certain other items under Bill of Entry. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on inspection, found that Coco beans were contaminated with fungal growth. As per the prescribed standards, the materials should be free from fungus. According to the petitioner, after necessary fumigation, the fungal growth would be wiped off and there is no reason for detaining the goods.

The goods were not permitted to be released to the petitioner by the Commissioner of Customs, Cochin and it was proposed to either confiscate or destroy the same or to grantnecessary permission to re-export the materials, if it is permissible, as per the procedure prescribed.

The Petitioner has filed a WP before the Kerala High Court seeking a direction to the Commissioner of Customs to order release of the goods.

In the Counter affidavit filed, the Customs authorities elaborated the measures that are to be taken while importing food products. It is inter alia stated that import of all edible/food products including tea, domestic sale and manufacture of which are governed by Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules thereunder, shall also be subject to the conditions laid down in the aforesaid Act and Rules framed thereunder and the import of all these products will have to comply with the quality and packaging requirements as laid down in the Act. As it is indicated that Cocoa Beans comes under `food product', coming within the schedule to the said Act, unless it is cleared by the FSSAI Department, it may not be possible for the petitioner to take release of the goods.

The Petitioner produced a certificate dated 13/05/2014 issued by the Director of Plant Protection, QuarantineStorage Department, Government of India indicating that the consignment has 'passed'.

The High Court observed that no specific details are mentioned in said certificate and at any rate, if the Customs wanted to clear the goods aforesaid, necessary permission from the FSSAI is required, which is a mandatory provision. It was also noted that the certificate would not render any assistance to the petitioner.

Holding that, in the factual circumstances, there is no reason to permit release of the aforesaid goods, the Writ petition was dismissed.

However, the petitioner was granted liberty to approach the respondent authority seeking re-export, if it is permissible, as per the procedure prescribed.

Guidelines issued for serving food to Ambubachi Mela pilgrims

Guwahati: The Kamrup Metro district administration has laid down certain guidelines regarding serving of food for pilgrims during the forthcoming Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple here on June 22-28. The administration today said that all food stuffs prepared and served during the Ambubachi Mela will be monitored by the Food Safety Department.

All the bhandaras have been directed to maintain hygiene and sanitary standards while preparing and serving food. All food articles like flour, pulses, cereal, rice, edible oil and vegetable used for preparation of different food stuff at bhandaras or langars during the Mela have to be of good quality.

Besides, packaged drinking water served to the devotees and pilgrims must be of ISI/BIS marked with presence of original seal in packed condition.

It has been directed that food items should be prepared with minimum oil, spices and chillies, and the potable water used for cooking should be treated one.

The administration has also directed that the floor of kitchen and dining room should be cleaned and dried at least twice a day and all bhandaras or langars should serve the same items of food at the same time uniformly.

It has also said that food should be served inside the dining halls and every bhandara and langar should make their own arrangement for disposal of waste.

The administration has also said that no food brought from outside will be allowed to be served and serving of left-over food stuff has been prohibited. “No plastic plates, cups or spoons should be used for serving food in the bhandaras,” as per the guidelines.

There will be total restriction on distribution of food stuff outside the dining hall by the bhandaras.

While vegetables like potol, squash, gourd (panilau), ladies finger, jika, beans, soya bean, gram, moongdal, green chillies and paneer has been recommended for serving, among the restricted food items are chillies powder, dry chillies, pumkin, khichiri and curd.

Health Department collects food samples from shops, factories

Amritsar, June 19

The food safety wing of the Health Department collected 15 food samples from various ice cream factories and dairy shops in view of the increased demand of the products during the summer season.

District Health Officer, Dr Shivkaran Singh Kahlon, said they had received complaints that poor quality ice creams were being sold in the city after which they had initiated a drive to check the ice cream factories.

He said samples were collected from the premises of Kartik Ice Cream factory, Dolphin Ice Cream factory and A One Kulfa shop. The milk samples were collected from Sardar Dairy, Sharma Dairy and Nijjer Dairy.

Earlier, the department had collected samples of ice cream from four shops in May this year. Kahlon said the test reports of the samples sent earlier would be received soon.

The department has warned ice cream manufacturers against indulging in any unfair means to meet the increased demand, said Kahlon, adding that strict action would be taken against the shopkeepers if any of the samples failed on quality parameters.

India-born scientist named winner of 2014 World Food Prize

Washington: India-born plant scientist Sanjaya Rajaram has been named the winner of the USD 250,000 World Food Prize for his contribution in increasing global wheat production by more than 200 million tonnes in the years following the Green Revolution.

Rajaram's breakthrough achievement in successfully cross-breeding winter and spring wheat varieties, which were distinct gene pools and had been isolated from one another for hundreds of years, led to him developing plants that have higher yields and a broad genetic base.

More than 480 high-yielding wheat varieties bred by Rajaram have been released in 51 countries on six continents and have been widely adopted by small- and large-scale farmers alike. "Dr Rajaram's work serves as an inspiration to us all to do more, whether in the private or public sector," said Secretary of State, John Kerry, at an event where he delivered the keynote address.

"When you do the math, when our planet needs to support two billion more people in the next three decades, it's not hard to figure out: This is the time for a second green revolution," Kerry said.

Rajaram followed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman E Borlaug at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, CIMMYT, leading its Wheat Program from 1976 to 2001. The World Food Prize Foundation President and the former US Ambassador to Cambodia, Kenneth M Quinn, said the 2014 World Food Prize Laureate is an individual who worked closely with Dr Borlaug in Mexico and who then carried forward and extended his work, breaking new ground with his own achievements.

"We are grateful for the hundreds of new species of wheat Dr Rajaram developed, which deliver 200 million more tonnes of grain to global markets each year and feed millions across the world," Kerry added. The top diplomat also talked about Feed the Future, a presidential global hunger and food security initiative, through which the US is establishing a foundation for lasting progress against global hunger.

"Feed the Future supports a research agenda to harness scientific innovation and technology in agriculture," he said. The World Food Prize was established in 1986 by Borlaug in order to focus the world's attention on hunger and on those whose work has significantly helped efforts to end it. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the prize, which recognises individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

போதை வஸ்துக்கள் குடோன்

சேலம் மாநகரில், செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டை, சத்திரம் ஆகிய இடங்களில், 10 க்கு 10 அளவிலான கடை மட்டுமே வைத்துள்ள பல வெளி மாநில வியாபாரிகள், டன் கணக்கில், போதை வஸ்துக்களை பதுக்கி, உள்ளூர் ஏஜன்டு மூலம் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர். அதேப்போல, மக்கள் நடமாட்டம் மிகுந்த ஜங்சன், புது பஸ் ஸ்டாண்டு, பழைய பஸ் ஸ்டாண்டு ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் சர்வ சாதாரணமாக போதை வஸ்து விற்பனை நடந்து வருகிறது. மாநகராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டியது அவசியம்.

FSSAI ADVISORY ON BAN ON IMPORT OF DAIRY PRODUCTS FROM CHINA

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

சிவகங்கை, ஜூன் 19:

சிவகங் கை அருகே ஒக்கூர், சோழ புரம் பகுதி கடைகளில் புகையிலை பொருட்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையினர் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர்.

சிவகங்கை அருகே உள்ள கடைகளில் புகையிலை, பான்மசாலா, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் விற்பனை குறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையினர் சோதனை நடத்தினர். இதில் சுமார் 20 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலை பொருட்கள், காலாவதியான மாவு பொருட்கள், தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள், உணவு பொருட்களையும் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். தேதி அச்சிடப்படாத முறுக்கு, மிக்சர், அதிரசம் உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களையும் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

மேலும் அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்க ளை விற்பனை செய்தால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என வர்த்தகர்களி டம் எச்சரிக்கை செய்தனர். உரிமம் இல்லாத கடைகளு க்கு உடனடியாக உரிமம் எடுக்குமாறும், உரிமத்தை புதுப்பிக்குமாறும் வலியுறுத்தினர். இதில் சிவகங்கை வட்டார உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் முத்துராமலிங்கம், திருப்பத்தூர் வட்டார உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் சுரேஷ் உள்ளிட்ட குழுவினர் பங்கேற்றனர்.

உப்பு உற்பத்தியாளர்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம்

வேதாரண்யம், ஜூன் 19:

நாகை மாவட்டம் வேதாரண்யம் ஓய்வு பெற்ற அலுவலர் சங்க கட்டிடத்தில் தமிழ்நாடு அரசின் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத்துறை சார்பில் உப்பு உற்பத்தியாளர்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம் நடைபெற்றது. நாகை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் செந்தில்குமார் தலைமை வகித்தார்.

சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினர் காமராஜ், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் கோதண்டபாணி, ஆண்டனி, மகாராஜன், பிரவின், உப்புத்துறை கண்காணிப்பாளர் நாயர் மற்றும் உப்பு உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், விற்பனையாளர்கள் கலந்துக் கொண்டனர். கூட்டத்தில், உப்பில் அயோடின் கட்டாயமாக கலக்க வேண்டும் என்றும். உப்பளப்பகுதியில் ரோடு ஓரத்தில் உப்பு பாக்கெட்டுகள் போடுவதை நிறுத்தி தனியாக செட் அமைத்து அதில் வைத்து பேக்கிங் செய்ய வேண்டும். தொற்று நோய் உள்ளவர்களை வைத்து உப்பு பாக்கெட் போடக் கூடாது. பாக்கெட் போடுபவர்கள் கையுறை மற்றும் கண்ணாடி அணிய வேண்டும். என்றும் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டது.