FDA ensures hygienic food at iftaar stalls in Pune

Pune: This Ramzan, officials of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune will be undertaking a special drive to ensure that the food that you eat off the stalls conforms to minimum health standards. FDA officials have been requested by the police department to ensure that no untoward incident of mass food poisoning takes place during the month of prayer which has prompted FDA officials to alert all food safety officers (FSOs) to carry out local surveys of the neighbourhoods in which food stalls are set up and conduct hygiene audits.

Speaking to dna, Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA Pune said that an area-wise plan is being drawn up and the parameters to check food safety would include source of water used, potability of water, cleanliness and quality of raw materials, hygiene of surroundings in which food is prepared and served, hygiene practices followed by chefs etc.

"During Ramzan, large crowds of people leave their fasts together at these food stalls and there is a high chance of mass food poisoning incidents in case the basic food safety standards are not followed. Anticipating such a situation, even police department has requested us to carry out the inspections, similarly to what we did during the Pandharpur wari. Even if we find that hygiene practices are not followed, we will ensure that these food stall owners make changes. We don't intend to close down these stalls unless we find no improvement and threat to public health," said Kekare.

Assistant commissioner (food) Dilip Sangat said that all caterers would be informed about standard cooking methods and procedure. "We would also request people to help us in this drive. If they find that hygiene or food quality is compromised at any place, especially where a large number of people might be eating out during Ramzan, please alert us about such places so we can encourage them to take remedial measures," he said.

DINAMALAR NEWS

அரசு விதிகளை பின்பற்றி ஜவ்வரிசி தயாரிக்க முடிவு

சேந்தமங்கலம், ஜூலை 2:

நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம் செல்லப்பம்பட்டியை தலைமையிடமாக கொண்டு சுமார் 50க்கும் மேற்பட்ட சேகோ, ஸ்டார்ச் தொழிற்சாலைகள் இயங்கி வருகிறது.

இங்கு தயாரிக்கப்படும் ஜவ்வரிசி மற்றும் கிழங்கு மாவு வடமாநிலங்களுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படுகிறது. ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தியில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு விதிமுறையை பின்பற்றாமல் மக்காச்சோளம் மற்றும் ரசாயன பொருட்கள் கலந்து தயாரிக்கப்படுவதாக புகார் எழுந்தது. இதையெடுத்து ஜவ்வரிசி உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் சங்க கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது.

இந்த கூட்டத்தில் சுற்றுப் பகுதியில் உள்ள அனைத்து சேகோ தொழிற்சாலையிலும் அரசின் விதிகளை பின்பற்றி மரவள்ளி கிழங்கின் தோலை உரித்து பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

மேலும், மக்காச்சோளம் மற்றும் ரசாயன பொருட்களை கலப்படம் செய்யாமல் ஜவ்வரிசி தயாரிப்பது எனவும் முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டது. இதேபோல், நுகர்வோருக்கு தரமான உணவு வழங்க சேலம் சேகோ சர்வ் மூலமாக ஜவ்வரிசி விற்பனை செய்ய முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டது.

காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

மணமேல்குடி, ஜூலை 2:

மணமேல்குடி அம்மாபட்டிணம், கிருஷ்ணாஜிப்பட்டிணம் ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தி காலாவதியான பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

இதையொட்டி உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் வேல்முருகன் தலைமையில் அதிகாரிகள் கடைகளில் விற்பனைக்காக வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த திண்பண்டங்கள், பான்மசாலா, பாலிதீன் கேரிபேக் கப்புகள், கூல்ட்ரிங்ஸ் மற்றும் கல் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்கள் ஆகியவை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். பின்னர் ஊராட்சி குப்பைக்கிடங்கில் கொட்டி அவைகள் அழிக்கப்பட்டன.

மானாமதுரை பகுதியில் சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் விற்பனை நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க பொதுமக்கள் கோரிக்கை

மானாமதுரை, ஜூலை.2:

மானாமதுரை முழுவதும் தரமற்ற குடிதண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகளை விற்பவர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்று பொதுமக்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தில் இந்தாண்டு கோடையை மிஞ்சும் அளவுக்கு கடந்த சில வாரங்களாக வெயிலின் தாக்கம் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. மானாமதுரையில் புதுபஸ்ஸ்டாண்ட், அண்ணாசிலை, காந்திசிலை, குண்டுராயர் வீதி, பைபாஸ் ரோடு, பழைய பஸ்ஸ்டாண்ட், டாஸ்மாக்கடை அருகே உள்ள தனியார் பார்கள் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் சுகாதாரமற்ற மறுசுழற்சி செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் கவர்களில் குடிநீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் விற்பனை தாராளமாக நடக்கிறது.

இங்கு விற்கப்படும் குடிநீர் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் தயாரிப்பு தேதி, காலாவதியாகும் தேதிகள் இல்லை. புதுப்புது பெயர்களில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் இவற்றில் நிறுவனத்தின் முகவரியோ, தொலைபேசி எண்களோ இருப்பதில்லை. இந்த தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகளை குடிப்பவர்களுக்கு குடல், இரைப்பையில் பாக்டீரியா, வைரஸ் கிருமிகள் எளிதில் பரவும் வாய்ப்புள்ளதாக டாக்டர்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர். இதனை சுகாதாரத்துறையினரும் கண்டு கொள்வதில்லை.

இது குறித்து தனியார் ரத்த பரிசோதனை நிர்வாகி ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், குடிசை தொழிலாக தயாரிக்கப்படும் குடிநீர் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் கிருமிகள் சுத்தம் செய்யும் யூவி முறை, மெம்பரேன்கள் தரமற்றதாக இருக்கின்றன. குடிநீர் நிரப்பப்படும் பிளாஸ்டிக் கவர்கள் தரமற்றதாக உள்ளன. மேலும் பெரிய கேன்களில் விற்கப்படும் தண்ணீரும் சுகாதாரமானதாக இல்லை. ரூ.30 க்கு விற்கப்படும் இந்த கேன்கள் மிகவும் அசுத்தமாக இருக்கிறது. இந்த கேன்களை கிருமிநாசினிகள் கொண்டு சுத்தம் செய்வதில்லை. பாக்டீரியா, வைரஸ் கிருமிகள் பெரும்பாலும் காற்று மற்றும் குடிநீர் மூலம் எளிதில் பரவும். அதனால் சுகாதார அலுவலர்கள், உணவுபாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகளை பரிசோதிக்க வேண்டும் என்றார்.

HC quashes FSSAI advisory; relief to health supplements industry

Bombay high court on Monday quashed, as unlawful, an advisory issued in May 2013 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for prior product approvals for dietary food and health supplements already licensed and existing in the market.

Vital Nutraceuticals pvt. Ltd. of Ambarnath in Thane district and Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) had moved the high court and filed a writ petition challenging the advisory.

Justice R S More delivered the order on Monday. Earlier, a two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court comprising of Justce V M Kanade and Justice Girish Kulkarni had delivered a split verdict on whether the FSSAI had the power to issue guidelines requiring existing manufacturers to take approval for products that are already in the market. Hence the Chief Justice had referred the matter to Justice R S More.

The petitioners had filed the petition primarily on the ground that FSSAI does not have power or authority to issue these advisories which have an effect of amending regulations which have been framed under section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and that they are illegal and without any statutory force; they being issued neither under section 92 of the Act nor having been in consonance with section 16(2) and 18(2)(d) of the Act.

According to the May 2013 advisory of the FSSAI, food products covering a broad spectrum, including “novel foods, functional foods, food supplements, irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, foods for special dietary uses or extracts or concentrates of botanicals, herbs or of animal sources” should apply for product approval.

Chhattisgarh food department overlooks recruitment norms

RAIPUR: True to the proverbial saying of putting the cart before thehorse, Chhattisgarh food and drug administration department recently took an approval from state government for the creation of 38 posts of Food Safety Officers (FSOs), even when the recruitment process had been completed last year. 

While recruitment process in any government organisation begins with the creation of posts and is followed by issuing of advertisements for inviting applications, the department literally reversedthe norms and conventions while hiring the FSOs. 

The department had, in fact, advertised for the recruitment of 38 FSOs two years ago in 2012, even when the posts were non-existent, and the entire process was completed, after tests and interviews, in 2013.

However, the officers were hired only last month, after the department received sanction for the posts from state government. According to sources, senior officials in the department realised their mistake after it was pointed out to them earlier this year that no posts existed for the recruitments that had been undertaken. 

Even the government notification regarding Service Recruitment Rules (2013) of food and drug administration department has no mention of FSO posts, clearly indicating their non-existence at the time of completion of the recruitment process. 

The department subsequently sent a proposal to the state government for creation of 38 posts of FSOs in March 2014. The proposal was approved on May 22, 2014 and the FSOs were appointed on June 24. 

When contacted, state food & drug controller Dr Kamalpreet Singh said that some posts were created while advertising and the rest by the time of appointment. 

Claiming that there was no error and all rules were followed, Singh said the recruitment process was initiated as posts of food inspectors had to be converted to food safety officers. 

"We are on sound footing and would be able to defend the act, if challenged in the court of law," he said. 

However, an officer in the department confided that a faux pas had been committed. They claimed that under the rules, no department could initiate any recruitment when the posts don't even exist.State Government Union (class III employees) president Virendra Namdev said the entire recruitment process is wrong. 

He said the union had brought this irregularity to the notice of officials but they were not ready to accept their fault. "The only option left now is to approach the courts and challenge the recruitment," he said.

India's import trade survives scare

Market access threat over residue levels eases as All India Fresh Fruit Importers’ Association engages with FSSAI 

India’s fresh produce import trade appears to have survived a major scare, after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) started paying closer attention to declarations of post-harvest treatment on fruit with chemicals not registered in India. 

Chemicals under the microscope included the commonly used fungicide thiabendazole (TBZ), prompting fears amongst suppliers and importers that citrus and apple imports might be brought to a standstill. 

The matter caused a high degree of tension and confusion amongst the trade as India historically does not defer to the maximum residual levels (MRLs) outlined by the UN’s body for food safety standards, the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Some industry stakeholders expressed fears it could take months or years for India to establish workable MRLs or accept Codex harmonisation. 

Last week, FSSAI had taken a hardline approach and rejected some loads of Egyptian citrus because TBZ was listed on thecartons of fruit. They also held off on taking samples of shipments of apples from the US while they analysed the situation and formulated an appropriate policy. 

Asiafruit understands the severity of the threat led some suppliers to discuss options for diverting fruit to other markets with their customers. 

Some form of resolution appears to have been reached, after the All India Fresh Fruit Importers’ Association (AIFFIA) engaged the FSSAI on this issue late last week. According to an official internal FSSAI document obtained by Asiafruit, the regulatory body has provisionally agreed to resume taking samples for testing with additional chemicals on the list. Also, the body has decided to recognise Codex’s MRL standards where Indian MRLs are not established. 

In cases were there is no Indian or Codex MRL the importer can submit a safety risk assessment to FSSAI which may be referred to a scientific panel with a view to potentially establishing an MRL.

Few takers for online food licences

Jalandhar, July 1

Even after four months of the launch of online facility to obtain a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by the Health Department, there are few persons applying for the licence.

According to the data received from the Health Department today, only 10 persons have applied for online licences since March.

The recent announcement of the six-month extension given by the state government till August 5 has also made many people to postpone their plan to get a licence.

Health officials are now expecting a heavy rush of applicants during the end of this month.

“Due to the recent announcement of the six-month extension, very few people are coming to get their licences. Also, we have received very few online applications despite the service being launched four months ago,” said Dr Harjot Singh, food safety officer.

He also informed that though people are aware of the online process, they are approaching officials to apply on their behalf.

Although, the deadline is fast approaching, the Health Department has failed to provide the Licensing Department with the necessary infrastructure.

How to apply online

* Log on to foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in and furnish your business details.

* Submit the fee according to government’s policy.

* Even after applying online, applicants will also have to send documents and receipt through registered post to the office of the district health officer. 

Who should apply

Food business operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 crore must have a licence and those with less than Rs 12 crore a year must get a registration certificate as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. All stall holders, hotels, restaurants, canteens, dhabas, food carts, sweetshops, tea stalls, grocery stores, meat sellers and milk sellers, should get themselves registered with the department. The fee for registration is Rs 100 and for a license, it varies from Rs 2,000-3,000 and Rs 5,000 depending upon the category of business.

Ban on Chinese milk products extended by a year

PUNE: Ban on import of milk and milk products from China has been extended for one more year from June 23, 2014 across the country. The banned items include chocolates and chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations with milk and milk solids as an ingredient.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country's food regulatory body, has made it clear that the ban will continue 'unless there are dependable reports about significant improvement in the situation'.

Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) official have reiterated that they would initiate strict action against those found selling Chinese milk products in and around the city.

The ban was imposed after it was found that melamine, an industrial chemical which could be harmful if consumed, was present in some dairy products imported from China.

"The ban has been in force since September 2008 and has been extended periodically. The ban has been extended by one more year, from June 23, 2014, since there have been doubts about any improvement in the quality of milk from China. Action will be initiated against those found selling the banned products," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had first banned import of Chinese milk products in September 2008 after reports suggested that they contained melamine, which damages kidneys in the long run.

"Chinese dairy farmers were using melamine to increase their profit margins. First, they diluted milk by 30% and then added melamine to increase its protein content. A quality-control equipment is designed to detect nitrogen and not melamine," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA Pune.

No acid sales to sago units, say suppliers

With officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department tightening their grip against adulteration and use of poisonous chemicals in food items, the Salem District Chemicals and Acids Suppliers Association has decided not to supply such products to the food processing industries in the district.

During the recent raids in Sago units, usage of oisonous chemicals for whitening sago starch was found.

As per the Tamil Nadu Poisons (Regulation of Possession and Sale) Rules, 2014, Government OrderNo 249, Home (Pol.XIII) dated March 21, 2014, T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer of the department had written to the suppliers of chemicals and acids stating that obtaining licence and renewing at regular periods are essential. About 19 chemicals and acids that has been declared poisonous should be sold by the licensee only to the purchaser who submits a photo identity card or any document which has his address.

The licensee should maintain a register and enter all sales of chemicals other than those used supplied to a chemist or druggist. If they violate the rules, action will be taken against the licensee, the letter warned.

Of the 45 members, 30 have signed a resolution stating that that they will not supply acids to sago units and submitted it to Ms. Anuradha.