பாலக்கோட்டில் அனுமதியின்றி இயங்கிய தக்காளி பழ ரச நிறுவனத்திற்கு ‘சீல்’ 2 ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் கீழே கொட்டி அழிப்பு

பாலக்கோடு, 

பாலக்கோட்டில் அனுமதியின்றி தக்காளி பழ ரசம் தயாரித்த நிறுவனத்திற்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் சீல் வைத்து 2 ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் பழ ரசங்களை கீழே கொட்டி அழித்தனர்.

ரகசிய தகவல்

தர்மபுரி மாவட்டம் பாலக்கோடு காவல் நிலையத்திற்கு பின்புறம் உள்ள வீட்டில் அனுமதியின்றி தக்காளி பழ ரசம் போலியாக தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்வதாக கலெக்டர் விவேகானந்தனுக்கு ரகசிய தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதுதொடர்பாக ஆய்வு செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமாறு தர்மபுரி மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத்துறை அலுவலர்களுக்கு கலெக்டர் விவேகானந்தன் உத்தரவிட்டார்.

இதனையடுத்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் தினேஷ் தலைமையில் அலுவலர்கள் சந்திரன், சேகர், சிவமணி, நாகராஜ், நந்தகோபால் உள்ளிட்டோர் நேற்று பாலக்கோட்டிற்கு நேரில் சென்று அந்த வீட்டில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அப்போது உஸ்மான் (வயது 30) என்பவர் வீட்டில் அனுமதி பெறாமல் பாதுகாப்பற்ற முறையில் ரசாயன பொருட்களை பயன்படுத்தி போலி நிறுவன முகவரியில் தக்காளி பழ ரசம் மற்றும் மிளகாய் கூழ் தயாரிப்பது தெரியவந்தது.

2 ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் அழிப்பு

அங்கு பாட்டில்களில் அடைத்து அட்டை பெட்டிகளில் விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்ப தயாராக இருந்த 2 ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் போலி தக்காளி மற்றும் மிளகாய் கூழ் இருந்தது கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டது. அதனை அலுவலர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்து கீழே கொட்டி அழித்தனர். மேலும் ரசாயனம் கலந்த போலி தக்காளி பழ ரசம் மாதிரியை கோவையில் உள்ள அரசு உணவு பகுப்பாய்வு கூடத்திற்கு ஆய்வுக்காக எடுத்து சென்றனர். 

மேலும் போலியாக இயங்கிய நிறுவனத்தை அலுவலர்கள் பூட்டி சீல் வைத்தனர். தர்மபுரி மாவட்டத்தில் சட்ட விரோதமாக யாரேனும் போலி முகவரி மற்றும் முறையான அனுமதி பெறாமல் இதுபோன்று பழ ரசம் மற்றும் கூழ் தயாரிப்பது தெரியவந்தால் அவர்கள் மீது கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று அலுவலர்கள் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். அலுவலர்களின் இந்த திடீர் நடவடிக்கையால் அந்த பகுதியில் பெரும் பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது.

TRANS-FATS

Jul 21, 2014

Trans fats or Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are the most harmful type of fats which can pose many adverse effects on our body. Major TFAs include elaidic acid primarily found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and vaccenic acid found in meat/ dairy products.

The commonly consumed vegetable oils like soybean, sunflower, safflower, mustard, olive, rice bran, sesame are the sources of cis mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and their saturated fatty acid content is also low.

To obtain textural similarity to pure ghee and to improve their oxidative stability, these vegetable oils are subjected to hydrogenation.

Since, complete hydrogenation would result in a waxy and excessively hard product; these oils are subjected to partial hydrogenation. Partially hydrogenated oils have a longer shelf life and are less liable to rancidity.

However, this process converts some of the cis-isomers into their trans counterparts and thus leads to the production of trans fatty acid. Deodorization of fats/oils (usually carried out at high temperatures; 180ºC to 270ºC) also results in the formation of trans fatty acids.

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) have been a significant part of the human diet since ages. Many studies have reported the deleterious effects of trans fats derived from PHVO; and this hard fact has been of great relevance in formulating the health guidelines.

Indian consumer today is incognizant of the amount of TFA present in the commercially prepared fried food items and lacks understanding regarding the actual amount of TFA they are consuming during the day through these fried foods. The population in general is ignorant of the adverse effects of TFAs on health.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (2010) has recommended that the TFA level in PHVOs should be below 10% which needs to be brought down to 5% in 3 years. Further, it has been proposed to mandate trans fat labelling so as to reduce its intake.

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are the major source of Trans fats in our diets. A small amount of TFA though present in dairy fat and meat products is not that harmful.

Frying process is another which leads to the production of trans fatty acids; and their formation has been closely associated with the temperature of frying the food, duration of frying, number of times the fats/oils are heated/reheated.

In 2003, World Health Organization had recommended the trans-fat intake (from industrially produced hydrogenated oils and fats) should be less than 1% of the total energy. However, the Indian dietary guidelines propose that the trans fat intake should be less than 2% of the total energy.

Suitable strategies to limit the Trans Fat intake include:

Avoid using “Vanaspati/ Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils” or margarine in your kitchen.

Most of our people consider vanaspati to be an economical substitute for pure ghee.

Avoid consuming food items prepared in “Vanaspati/PHVOs” or margarine; ensure to check the food labels.

Limit the intake of fried/baked foods, particularly the marketed fried foods.

Even while frying Poori/ bhatura etc. occasionally, use oils (and not the hydrogenated fat) and do not heat the oil for very long time.

Do not repeatedly heat the oil or re-use the same oil for frying. Generally, masses are not aware of the adverse health effects of TFA and that reheating of fats/ oils results in the formation of TFA.

Further, after the frying process, cool the left-over fats/oils, strain out the suspended food particles and store the fat/oil in refrigerator/cool place and use it in the preparation of dry vegetables/curries and pulav etc.

Avoid using ready to use/instant mixes for preparing foods as they have a greater chance of containing the Trans fats.

Check the Nutrition Facts label on packaged food items for their TFA content, if indicated.

Always check the ingredient list on packaged foods for the words like “shortening”, “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil”, since, these contain transfats.

Avoid processed foods like cookies, chips, cakes and patties. Also, avoid consuming commercial fried foods andmithais esp if prepared in Vanaspati/PHVOs; and limit their quantity as well as frequency of intake.

While eating out/ ordering food from outside, try to find out the oil being used in food preparation. If possible, request for reducing the amount of oil in the food preparation. A better option is to skip the deep-fried foods while eating out.

For bakery items like biscuits and cake, red palm oil having a semi-solid texture can be blended with other edible oils, in 1:1/ 1:2 blends and used. It will also enhance the Betacarotene/vitamin A content of the food item. Due to the semi-solid texture, RPO will help in bringing about the shortening effect in baked items without adding to their TFA content.

IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE AND EDUCATION:

The authorities need to check the use of vanaspati and margarine as well as control an excessive use of the reheated fats/ oils. The halwais should be advised not to use oils over and over again for frying but to consume the used oils in the preparation of vegetables, curries, dough making, pulav etc. Nutrition education needs to be imparted to the halwais regarding TFA and their adverse health effects as well as they should be trained on correct frying practices.

The government should consider specifying achievable lower limits for TFA and SFA content of vegetable oils and the processed/fried foods. Nutrition labels on processed foods should indicate the TFA and SFA contents separately along with the optimal recommended ranges. The restaurants should avoid the use of ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and if otherwise, its use should be disclosed.

Further, the consumers should be made aware of the health hazards associated with TFA intake. In oil processing, the food industry should implement newer technologies so as to produce zero trans fat containing products with desired functional properties. A multi-sectoral and proactive approach is required to successfully remove/reduce industrially produced TFAs from the food supply chain.

Targeted message campaigns discouraging the intake of trans-fats containing foods can be of great help.

While some developing countries have laid down norms for TFA content of food, India needs strict regulations regarding the TFA content of fats/ oils as well as that of the commercially prepared food items. Therefore, at present the responsibility lies with the consumers to safeguard their interest.

Therefore, steps need to be taken for curbing the trans fat intake through foods prepared both at industrial as well as household level.

ER TO ENSURE QUALITY FOOD o­n BOARD : SURPRISE CHECK AT HOWRAH BASE KITCHEN BY GM

Kolkata, July 21, 2014

Taking serious note o­n the recently published news item in a section of press regarding the quality of food supplied in Rajdhani Express, Shri R. K. Gupta, General Manager, Eastern Railway made a surprise inspection of the Base Kitchen at Howrah this morning.

Shri R. K. Gupta, General Manager, instructed Divisional Railway Managers of Howrah and Sealdah for regular inspection of base kitchens by the Divisional officials and collection of periodic samples of food items for checking at authorized laboratories to ensure hygienic quality of food. He also instructed for cleanliness of Pantry Cars and ensure pest control measures o­n time for the entire rake of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains in particular and other mail/express trains in general.

Shri Anirban Dutta, Divisional Railway Manager, Howrah and officials of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) were present during the inspection.

It may be mentioned here that Base kitchen at Howrah is an ISO 22000 certified establishment, a state-of-the-art kitchen using the most modern cooking gadgets. About 4500 packed breakfast, lunch & dinner are being cooked daily by the base kitchen for the passengers of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express trains. The cook and chef working in this kitchen are all qualified and trained by Institute of Hotel Management.

Food Safety Department slaps fine on unhygienic food joints

Kerala’s State Food Safety Department in order to tighten its grip on food joints operating in highly unhygienic conditions, has decided to pursue with its intra-district raids.

The department conducted flash raids in three districts from July 14 to 17, covering a total of 216 hotels. Of them, almost 66 per cent of hotels were found violating the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA).

Food Safety officials have slapped a fine to the tune of `8.64 lakh on various hotels till date.

According to the sources, the Bharath Hotel, which the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) claims as one of the best hotels in terms of cleanliness, was fined around `1 lakh for not following the 30-point guidelines, which was put in place in July 2012 by the then state Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhaker.

These guidelines were announced after a person died on July 10, 2012, after eating ‘shavarma’ from a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

State Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama told a national daily that for the last four months the department had not been conducting raids in the hotels as the commissioner’s post was lying vacant.“After I took charge recently, we resumed raids by colleting inputs from the Food Safety Department’s intelligence officers posted in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. 

In the intra-district raids, assistant food commissioners of other districts were given a list of hotels where the raids need to be conducted in Thrissur, Kottayam and Kannur, and the raids yielded good results,” she added.

As such flash raids will continue in future, the department would not divulge any further matters in this regard, she added.“According to the information I received from the officers who initiated the raids recently, most of the violations were with regard to cleanliness in the kitchen,” she said.

Joseph Shaji George, the Assistant Food Safety Commissioner in Malappuram, who conducted raids at Bharath Hotels here as a part of the intra-district raids, said that a hefty fine of `1 lakh was compounded considering the daily turnover at the hotel.

Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association state secretary G K Prakash said they would be filing an appeal before the Food Safety Commissioner seeking withdrawal of the `1 lakh fine imposed on the hotel as the violations found out were not serious.

GM Field Trials – Government must be guided by Consumer and Farmer Choice

The fear mongering by anti-GM activists defocuses the issue away from the Food Safety aspect. 

“It is better to die eating genetically modified food instead of dying of hunger,” said Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug – regarded as the father of the Green Revolution – during his visit to India in 2005. While it’s a grim reality that thousands die of hunger daily in India, Norman’s belief doesn’t adequately answer how safe Genetically Modified Foods are. The only way to answer this question is to subject GM Foods to Scientific Scrutiny.

In a move which has earned the BJP-led Government flak from none other than the BJP’s own ideological cousins from within the Sangh Parivaar, a regulatory body under Environment and Forest Ministry has approved new field trials of genetically modified (GM) food crops. On July 18, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the regulatory body for GM crops under the Environment and Forests Ministry, gave approval for field trials of genetically-modified (GM) rice, mustard, cotton, chickpea and brinjal at its meeting in Delhi. The Sangh Parivar affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch(SJM) has accused the BJP-led Government of deceiving the people. “Neither the Government nor the GEAC has disclosed as yet the contents of the promised scientific evaluation,” SJM’s all-India co-convenor Ashwini Mahajan said. In response, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar clarified on Twitter yesterday that the decision was not by the Government but by an empowered expert committee.

GM Field Trials in India spur a heated debate

The bone of contention of the anti-GM activists is an apparent promise made by the BJP in its election manifesto that GM foods will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation on the long-term effects on soil, production and biological impact on consumers.

Genetically Modified crops are those crops in which genetic material (DNA) is altered artificially to enhance crop nutrition, and make them disease and pest resistant. Opponents of GM crops argue that this technology not only causes harm to the soil, human health and environment, but they also believe that GM seeds will enslave farmers to powerful multinational seed corporations like Monsanto. Since its introduction in 2002, genetically modified Cotton is the only crop allowed to be commercially grown in India. In 2010, the Central Government stopped the commercialisation of GM Brinjal owing to a lack of consensus among scientists and opposition from Brinjal-growing States. In 2013, a Supreme Court appointed panel suggested moratorium on GM field trials.

Some studies suggest that this technology is an effective way to increase the food supply. While today GMO leads to enhanced crop nutrition, in future it can lead to crops that would grow in drought, crops that would enable farmers to deal with conditions that spoil conventional crops. Hence, Genetically Modified crops would mean more food to feed a rapidly expanding population and less dependence on external factors like rain, unfavorable climate. While data suggests that farmers in many countries are increasingly adopting Genetically Modified crops and also there is no scientific evidence of adverse effects of GM food. The maximalist position taken by anti-GM activists suggests they are not really interested in any open ended scientific evaluation but would rather have a blanket ban on Trials, leave alone any adoption.

While there are legitimate concerns on long term unknown effects of GM Foods, the ultimate choice on adoption and consumption of GM Foods must be left to Farmers and Consumers. The Government’s role must be limited to making sure there is maximum disclosure on Genetically Modified Foods and in keeping the two Food Chains separate so that the Organic Food Chain remains uncontaminated. The Government must also require all Field Trials to be fully transparent while protecting the Intellectual Property of entities undertaking Research. Ultimately, it should be up to the Indian Farmer to make the choice on adopting GM seeds and up to the Indian Consumer to consume a GM Food product.

The fear mongering by anti-GM activists defocuses the issue away from the Food Safety aspect while creating the impression that a Government Department has been influenced by GM seeds companies. This approach of anti-GM activists is counterproductive and self-defeating. It does little towards ensuring the safety of GM Foods while limiting economic choices for Farmers. It is unfortunate that Swadeshi Economics has been reduced to Socialist Economics of the Leftist/NGO variety which we witnessed during the UPA era.

Why should Swadeshi Economics be so unimaginative as to tread the same path as the Left in limiting economic choice while mongering fears over Large Corporates ?

There is a perfectly Swadeshi position one can take on this issue that protects both Consumer and Farmer interests while being distinct from the Left. It would be in coming up with economically viable and superior alternatives that address both India’s Food Security needs and financial concerns of Farmers.

Which Farmer or Consumer would choose a Monsanto engineered GM-Seed or Food over cheaper and superior Swadeshi Option if there was one ?

What is stopping those who swear by a Swadeshi way of life from investing in agro-innovation that can result in better Swadeshi choices for Indian Consumers and Farmers ?

Indian farms and markets are far from being flooded and overrun by Genetically Modified Foods. Limited Trials are merely a step towards Scientific Evaluation so consumers and farmers can make better and informed choices in the future. It is time Swadeshi activists overcame fear and paranoia and rediscovered their confidence and faith in Indian abilities to offer better choices to consumers and farmers. Letting a motley group of NGO Activists make choices on behalf of consumers and farmers would take us back squarely to the Sonia Gandhi NAC era.

What would it take for Swadeshi Economics to put informed choice above fear and paranoia ? After all “svechha” is hardly a videshi idea!

As Aug 4 deadline approaches, PMC wants authority for licencing of FBO

As the deadline for registration and licencing of food business operators (FBO) - August 4, 2014 - is just around the corner, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) standing committee recently approved a proposal asking that the civic body should be granted the authority to allot them licences, register them and carry out the inspections of eateries in the city. 

Although Maharashtra is among the leading states as far as the processes of licencing and registration are concerned, PMC - in a bid to complete the task as soon as possible - suggested that option.

Speaking about the current progress of licencing and registration, a senior official from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, on the condition of anonymity, informed, “We are doing our best to complete the registration and licensing before the deadline, which ends on August 4, 2014.” 

“We are one of the leading states as far as both licencing and registration are concerned, with 1,21,484 food business units licensed and 2,39,296 food business units registered. We have got a good response both in online as well as offline registration,” he added.

When quizzed about the PMC demanding that they be authorised to allot licenses and registration to FBO in Pune he said, “I am not aware about the progress, but I have heard about it. But FDA is doing their duty efficiently, and I don’t think we would require the assistance of any municipal corporation in Maharashtra to complete our task.”

Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, FDA, Greater Mumbai, said, “Our food safety officers (FSO) are working round the clock, and also going from door to door to get the FBO registered and licenced.” 

“They are also creating awareness among FBO about the importance of getting themselves registered and licenced. Not only FSO, but Maharashtra food commissioner is also keeping a check on the numbers of FBO who are not registered or licenced, and asking them to come forward to complete the formalities as soon as possible,” he added.

Bapu Karne, chairman, standing committee, PMC, said, “I have approved the proposals of two PMC standing committee members stating that the civic body should also be given the authority to allot food licences and carry out registration of FBO.” 

Adding that the same powers were vested in FDA three years ago, he added, “This way, FDA would get PMC’s support and it would be easy to complete the licencing and registration of all the FBO in Maharashtra by August 4, 2014.”

FDA concerned about online sale of powdered pure caffeine in bulk bags

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned about the direct marketing of powdered pure caffeine to consumers, and recommended avoiding these products. The regulator is particularly concerned about powdered pure caffeine sold in bulk bags over the Internet, and is aware of at least one death of a teenager who used these products.

These products are essentially 100 per cent caffeine. A single teaspoon of pure caffeine is roughly equivalent to the amount in 25 cups of coffee. Pure caffeine is a powerful stimulant, and very small amounts may cause accidental overdose. Parents should be aware that these products may be attractive to young people.

Symptoms of caffeine overdose could include rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death. Vomiting, diarrhoea, stupor and disorientation are also symptoms of caffeine toxicity. These symptoms are likely to be much more severe than those resulting from drinking too much coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages.

Who should know?

All consumers seeking caffeinated products should be aware of the potentially high potency of these powdered pure caffeine products. Parents should recognise that teenagers and young adults may be drawn to these products for their perceived benefits.

What to do?

FDA advises consumers to avoid powdered pure caffeine

It is nearly impossible to accurately measure powdered pure caffeine with common kitchen measuring tools, and you could easily consume a lethal amount

If you believe that you are having an adverse event related to caffeine, stop using it and seek immediate medical care or advice

FDA wants to know about adverse events associated with powdered pure caffeine and other highly caffeinated products. You or your health care provider could help by reporting these adverse events to FDA either by phone or via e-mail

Why is this advice is important?

Pure caffeine products are potentially dangerous, and could result in serious adverse events, including death. People with pre-existing heart conditions should not use them.

Lizard found in egg puff, 3rd in a month

COIMBATORE: The city police have registered a case against owner of the New Ragam Bakery at Ammankoil near Sivanandapuram after one of the customers found a dead lizard in an egg puff on Friday evening. The customer was rushed to a nearby hospital after he started vomiting in the bakery. A similar incident was reported last month after a man found a dead lizard in an egg puff bought from a bakery near Town Hall.

A Balachandran, 29, a car driver, P Rameshkumar, 31, an electrician, and their friend T Rajendran, 32, a coconut seller from Chinnavedampatti had gone to New Ragam Bakery near Sivanandapuram on Friday evening.

"I ordered two vegetable puffs and one egg puff for my friend Rameshkumar. He took a few bites and saw the dead lizard inside the egg puff. He started vomiting and felt giddy. I took him to a private clinic at Sivanandapuram and lodged a complaint against the bakery with Saravanampatti police station," said Balachandran.

He added that they were regular customers at the bakery for the last eight years. "After seeing the dead lizard in the egg puff, we have decided to stop eating puffs altogether," said Balachandran.

Based on his complaint, city police registered a case against the bakery owner under sections 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) and 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance) of the Indian Penal Code.

"We are conducting detailed inquiry with the bakery owner. We have sent a letter to the food safety department to intervene in the issue," said T Jothi, inspector, Saravanampatti police station. He added that the victim Rameshkumar seemed to have recovered.

The food safety department said it has not been informed about the incident. "We have neither received a complaint from the victim nor have the police notified us about the case. We can take action only if there is a written complaint," said Dr Kathiravan, food safety officer.

This is the third incident where food contamination issues have cropped up in the city. On June 28, a worm was found inside a chicken in the popular joint KFC in D B Road. On June 18, a lizard was found inside a puff bought at a bakery near Ukkadam.

Food safety officials said the extension of the deadline making it compulsory for eateries and restaurants to get a food safety license under the Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 has had an adverse effect on ensure that food sold in the city is clean and hygienic.

"We are not able to conduct random checks and inspections because the government has extended the deadline for compulsory licensing by a year," said a senior food safety officer. "If it had been implemented now, we could have checked all their kitchens and store rooms before issuing and renewing licenses," he said.

TIMES OF INDIA NEWS

What's cooking? McDonald's, KFC in China face new food scandal

McDonald's and KFC in China faced a new food safety scare Monday after a Shanghai television station reported a supplier sold them expired beef and chicken.

The companies said they immediately stopped using meat from the company, Husi Food Co., Ltd. The official Xinhua News Agency said authorities ordered the supplier to suspend operations and were investigating.

Dragon TV said Sunday that Husi, owned by OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois, repackaged stale beef and chicken and put new expiration dates on them. It said they were sold to McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants.

The report added to a series of food safety scares in China that have battered public confidence in dairies, fast food outlets and other suppliers.

McDonald's Corp. and Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said in separate statements they were conducting their own investigations.

"Food safety is a top priority for McDonald's," the company said on its microblog account. The company said it pursues "strict compliance" with consumer safety laws and regulations and has "zero tolerance for illegal behavior."

A third company, sandwich shop chain Dicos, said in a statement it stopped using sausage patties supplied by Husi. Dicos is owned by Taiwan's Ting Hsin International Group and the company website said it had 2,000 outlets in China as of September 2013.

Phone calls to the Shanghai office of the food and drug regulator were not answered.

A woman who answered the phone at Husi's headquarters said no one was available to comment. The official Xinhua News Agency cited a company manager, Yang Liqun, who said Husi has a strict quality control system and will cooperate in the investigation.

KFC is China's biggest restaurant chain, with more than 4,000 outlets and plans to open 700 more this year.

The company was badly hurt after state television reported in December 2013 that some poultry suppliers violated rules on drug use in chickens.

Yum said KFC sales in China plunged 37 percent the following month. KFC launched an effort to tighten control over product quality and eliminated more than 1,000 small poultry producers from its supply network.

China has suffered a string of product scandals over the past decade in which infants, hospital patients and others have been killed by phony or adulterated milk powder, drugs and other goods.

Foreign fast food brands are seen as more reliable than Chinese competitors, though local brands have made big improvements in quality.

The high profile of foreign brands means any complaints involving them attract attention, while their status as foreign companies with less political influence means Chinese media can publicize their troubles more freely.

Scandal-weary consumers on Monday expressed mixed feelings.

Chen Lu, 24, an employee of an Internet company, was eating a chicken burger and fries at a McDonald's in central Shanghai that was half-empty at midday, a time when most restaurants are crowded.

"My boyfriend called and told me not to eat McDonald's one minute after I ordered this chicken hamburger, but what can I do? I've already ordered and I am in a hurry," she said.

"I am worried about my health," she said. "I will try to avoid it, at least for a while. I am pretty disappointed in this brand."

Another diner, Liu Kun, a 24-year-old student from Nanjing who was visiting Shanghai, said he was unconcerned.

"The incident won't change me eating here," said Liu. "There have been negative reports all the time, McDonald and KFC are the leaders in the industry."

Food and Drugs Administration renews gutka ban for the third time

Pune: Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has decided to renew the ban on gutkha and related products for the third year in a row. FDA has seized illegal tobacco products worth Rs 5 crore in the last two years from the state.

Gutkha was first banned in the state in 2011 under section 30 (2)(a) of the Food Standards and Safety Act 2006. In the following year, the state-run regulatory authority also banned flavored and scented betel nut (supari) and pan masala.

“Though the manufacturing of gutkha is stopped all over the state, there are gutkha stocks coming in from different states. FDA has conducted raids since the ban was implemented” said joint commissioner (food) Shashikant Kekare.

In the continuous raids in the city conducted by the FDA in the past two years, 266 cases for gutkha sales were filed with the police and 306 were prosecuted for either possessing gutkha, selling gutkha or carrying gutkha when traveling to Pune from different cities. Kekare added, “An estimate of 5,72,55,188 rupees worth gutkha has been destroyed since the ban was implemented and the till date gutkha stocks from various parts of the city are being taken under custody and destroyed”

The FDA has already taken help of local police and authorities to help with the raids and inspections in the city.

“The joint actions by FDA and police are proving quite useful. On Saturday itself, police helped FDA to cease gutkha stocks worth 31000 rupees being sold in the adarsh market areas of Shivaji Nagar” said assistant commissioner (food) Dilip Sangat.

Along with local authorities, now the FDA wants to include citizens in the ‘gutkha ban’ drive to make a better impact this year. “If the citizens join hands with us we will have a better reach. Anybody can inform us on the gutkha sales in the city and we shall take immediate actions” added Sangat.

Report here

To inform on gutkha possessions or sales in any part of the city, call on

020 - 24430113 - FDA Office

9028999444 - Joint Commissioner, FDA

9867264888 - Assistant Commissioner, FDA

Loose edible oil safe, but 2/3rd of samples impure

MUMBAI: Almost 64% of loose edible oils sold in the city's markets are adulterated, a survey has found. The extent of adulteration is up to 90%, though the products are not unsafe.

The survey was done by the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) from January to July. Its volunteers collected 269 samples of loose edible oils from pockets including Malad, Kandivli, Vile Parle, Mahim, Dadar (East), Byculla and Bhandup. The oils included sesame, coconut, groundnut, mustard, sunflower, cottonseed and soya bean. Of the samples, 172, collected from 60 shops, were found to be adulterated, mainly with palmolein oil.

"Twenty-two did not conform to the Food Safety and Standards Act's guidelines, but were given the benefit of the doubt (unintentional contamination) as they were found only slightly away from standards," said CGSI chairperson Sitaram Dixit.

The samples were found without any harmful substances. Dixit said the aim of the sellers is not to harm consumers, "but to make as much profit as possible". Still, consumers should not be cheated into paying more for low-quality oil, he said.

One of the main reasons why loose edible oils are adulterated is because packaging rules do not apply on their sale, said CGSI secretary Manohar Kamath.

About the adulterant, palmolein oil, Dixit said it is light-coloured, making it convenient for mixing with expensive oils. "It is one of the cheapest oils that can be found in the market, costing Rs 45-55 per kg."

The CGSI has kept the food and drug administration in the loop and plans to soon submit its findings for necessary action. "The list of places from where the samples were collected will be submitted to the FDA so that raids, if essential, can be conducted," said Kamath.

Oil merchants urge Min Pawar to resolve problems

SATPUR: A delegation of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA), met with former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday and discussed the issues related with regulations imposed by Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) on oil merchants in the district.

The delegates brought it to the notice of Pawar that FDA is compelling the oil merchants to install oil testing laboratories at their shops under Food Safety & Standards Act 2006. The administration has also banned sale of loose oil and directed the merchants to recycle the tin-boxes for repacking.

FDA has also slapped notices in this regard on some of the oil merchants in the district, they added. MACCIA vice-president Santosh Mandlecha put the details regarding problems generated due to FDA regulations for merchants.

In his response, Pawar assured that he would look into this matter, discuss the issue with concerned officials and try to resolve it at the earliest. MACCIA members Raju Rathi, Bhavesh Manek, Mahendra Chhoriya, Manoj Lodha, Shivdas Daga, Chandrakant Dixit and other dignitaries were present at the time.

Stale food seized during raid

A special squad of the Health Department seized stale food during raids that were conducted in restaurants in Kayamkulam and Mavelikkara on Monday.

Official sources said, stale food items that were found to be stored in refrigerators were seized and destroyed. Raids were conducted in three restaurants in Mavelikkara and four restaurants in Kayamkulam. The establishments apparently prepared food in unhygienic conditions and disposed waste at public places. Notices have been served to the owners of the restaurants.

Food Safety Department to Tighten Grip on Erring Eateries

THRISSUR: Tightening its grip on food joints operating in highly unhygienic conditions, the State Food Safety Department has decided to pursue with its intra-district raids.In the flash raids conducted by the department in three districts from July 14 to 17, covering a total of 216 hotels, as many as 66 per cent of hotels were found violating the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) norms. Food Safety officials have slapped a fine to the tune of `8.64 lakh on various hotels till date.

Surprisingly, the Bharath Hotel here, which the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) claims as one of the best hotels in terms of cleanliness, was fined around `1 lakh for not following the 30-point guidelines, which was put in place in July 2012 by the then state Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhaker.

These guidelines were announced after a person died on July 10, 2012, after eating ‘shavarma’ from a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

State Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama told ‘Express’ that for the last four months the department had not been conducting raids in the hotels as the commissioner’s post was lying vacant.“After I took charge recently, we resumed raids by colleting inputs from the Food Safety Department’s intelligence officers posted in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. In the intra-district raids, assistant food commissioners of other districts were given a list of hotels where the raids need to be conducted in Thrissur, Kottayam and Kannur, and the raids yielded good results,” she added.

As such flash raids will continue in future, the department would not divulge any further matters in this regard, she added.“According to the information I received from the officers who initiated the raids recently, most of the violations were with regard to cleanliness in the kitchen,” she said.

Joseph Shaji George, the Assistant Food Safety Commissioner in Malappuram, who conducted raids at Bharath Hotels here as a part of the intra-district raids, said that a hefty fine of `1 lakh was compounded considering the daily turnover at the hotel. Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association state secretary G K Prakash said they would be filing an appeal before the Food Safety Commissioner seeking withdrawal of the `1 lakh fine imposed on the hotel as the violations found out were not serious.

Govt heat on misleading food ads as self-regulation fails

NEW DELHI: The government is set to target misleading advertisements since the "self-regulation" by advertisers has not happened in a manner in which it was envisaged. While misleading advertisements related to food items are likely to be the priority, a new mechanism to deal with this menace will also target health, housing, education and agriculture sectors. 

As per the plan, both print and audio-visual advertisements will be under scanner and there is also a proposal to check the misleading hoardings. 

Sources said at a meeting called by the consumer affairs department last week, a proposal was mooted to have a "subgroup" having members from the government departments, NGOs and consumer issues experts that can receive complaints, identify the misleading aspects and suggest action. This mechanism would be a stop-gap arrangement until a Consumer Protection Authority is established. 

The authority has been proposed in the draft amendment of Consumer Protection Act. "While the authority will have the power to take cases suo motu and will have the mandate to take strict action against the misleading advertisers, we can't allow the consumers to be misled," said an official. 

Some of the participants in the meeting said Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prepared advertising standards for food items. One of them said, "This can come handy to set the standards for food items related advertisements." 

Professor Ashok R Patil, chair on consumer law and practice at National Law School of India University, Bangalore, said at present each sector has a regulatory authority and a couple of laws related to the misleading advertisements or unsafe trade practices exist. "But hardly these are enforced. Once the sub-group establishes the misleading advertisement, it can ask regulators to take necessary action against the advertisers as per law," he said. 

Sources said some of the experts are also of the opinion that the misleading advertisers must be made to pay penalty and publish or broadcast a "counter advertisement" to neutralize their earlier act.

Camel milk: Can’t get over the hump

Globally, camel milk is getting superfood status. But back home, its sale is still illegal. Lifting the ban may be the only way to save the ship of the desert. 

During a malaria outbreak, members of Rajasthan's Rebari community have a unique remedy: camel milk. 

"Ten to twelve days of camel milk cures the person," says Anand Singh Bhati, a member of Rajasthan's camelrearing community of Rebaris who owns about 200 of the ungainly animals. 

Even as the world gets pumped up about its health benefits — Time magazine recently reported that packaged camel milk is now available at Whole Foods supermarket in the US, while Dubai has been marketing everything from camel lattes to camel chocolates — the Rajasthan government has only now woken up to its potential. After giving the camel the status of state animal, it is now trying to get the sale of its milk in India legalized. 

The Bikaner-based National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) has approached the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to authorize its sale. Abhay Kumar, principal secretary, state animal husbandry department, says, "We have decided to extend our support to NRCC so that camel milk is recognized by the law. It is surprising that Rebaris have been consuming it for decades but it still hasn't been legitimized," he adds. 

Hanwant Singh Rathore of Lokhit Pashu Palak Santhan, a Rajasthan-based NGO that promotes the camel and its produce, is confident that demand for milk will go up with the certification. "People are aware of the therapeutic value of camel's milk and want to buy it but we are bound by the law not to sell," says Rathore. "Currently, 3,000 to 4,000 litres of camel milk end up with roadside tea stalls or milk producers in Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara regions who mix it with cow and buffalo milk as it's cheaper." 

While camel milk was once popular for its therapeutic qualities, things soured in the late 90s, when the Rajasthan high court ruled it wasn't fit for human consumption. In 2000, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling but despite efforts by various milk co-operatives and self-help groups to promote it, the FSSAI refused to legitimize its sale. 

But the Rebari community has continued to consume the milk, which it claims has kept them free of diabetes. While they earn a living out of camel hide and handicraft items made of camel bone, they have never sold the milk because of an ancient superstition which says the camel will die if they do. However NRCC, which has its own camels, not only sells milk from the premises of the institute in Bikaner, but also items like flavoured milk, tea, coffee, kulfi, milk powder, soft cheese, peda, barfi, paneer, butter, ghee and gulab jamun made from it. 

Legalizing sale of milk may also boost the declining camel population which experts say has fallen from 500,000 to 200,000 in the state. 

With demand for camel transportation dwindling, herders no longer find it economically viable to raise these animals except for meat, says Rathore. "The Rajasthan government has taken the first step by giving camel state animal status but that may not be enough. It is imperative that the milk is recognized by the law so that it can be sold. Only then will the animal survive."