குற்றாலத்தில் சுறாகாதாரமற்ற உணவுப் பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் கலெக்டர் உத்தரவு

நெல்லை, செப். 23:

குற்றாலத்தில் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் உணவுப் பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழிக்க கலெக்டர் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.
குற்றாலத்தில் சுற்றுலா பயணிகளுக்கு தேவையான வசதிகளை மேம்படுத்துவது தொடர்பாக அதிகாரிகளுடன் கலெக்டர் கருணாகரன் ஆலோசனை நடத்தினார். அப்போது அவர் பேசியதாவது:
குற்றால அருவிகளில் சோப்பு, ஷாம்பு, எண்ணெய் உபயோகித்து குளிபபது முற்றிலும் தடை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. அருவி பகுதிகளில் இந்த பொருட்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறதா என கணகாணிக்க வேண்டும். தடையை மீறி பொருட்கள் விற்றால் பறிமுதல் செய்து தொடர் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் கண்காணிப்பு கேமிரா மூலம் தொடர்ந்து கண்காணிப்பு பணிகள் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகம் சார்பில் சுற்றுலா பயணிகளுக்கு வசதியாக மினி பஸ்களை இயக்க வேண்டும்.
குற்றாலத்தில் பேரூ ராட்சி மூலம் 125 குப்பை தொட்டிகள் வைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். குறறாலம் பகுதிகளில் உள்ள கடைகளில் சுகாதாரமான உணவுப் பொருட் கள் விற்கப்படுவதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும். சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் தயாரித்து விற்கப்படும் உணவுப் பொருட்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழிக்க வேண்டும்.
இவவாறு அவர் பேசி னார்.
கூட்டத்தில் மாவட்ட வருவாய் அலுவலர் குழந்தைவேல், தென்காசி ஆர்டிஒ ரெகொபெயாம், நேர்முக உதவியாளர் (பொது) ஹாரிஸ், உதவி இயக்குநர்கள் ஜோதிமுருகன் (பேரூராட்சி), வீரபத்திரன் (ஊராட்சி), செய்தி, மக்கள் தொடர்பு அலுவலர் மாரியப்பன், நெடுஞ்சாலைத் துறை கோட்டப் பொறியாளர் செல்வராஜ், தென்காசி தாசில்தார் சொர்ணராஜ் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

நலச்சங்க கூட்டத்தில் வலியுறுத்தல் ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளில் ஈர மாவு உற்பத்தியை நிறுத்தும் பிரச்னைக்கு தீர்வு

ஆத்தூர், செப்.23:
ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளில் ஈர மாவு உற்பத்தியை தடுத்து நிறுத்தும் பிரச்னைக்கு தீர்வு காண வேண்டுமென நலச்சங்க கூட்டத்தில் வலியுறுத்தப்பட்டது.
சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஆத்தூர் அருகே வடசென்னிமலையில் தமிழக சிறுதொழில் ஸ்டார்ச் மாவு உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் நலச்சங்கத்தின் கூட்டம் நடைபெற் றது. செயலாளர் நடராஜன் தலைமை வகித்தார்.
இந்த கூட்டத்தில் நாமக்கல் மாவ ட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த பாபு, செந்தில், தர்மபுரி மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சுதாகர், செந்தில், சேலம் மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த செல்வம், ரவி, குமரேசன், பெரியசாமி, அசோகன், சிவசண்முகம், ராஜாமணி உள்ளிட்ட 100க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் பங்கேற்றனர்.
இந்த கூட்டத்தில் ஆத்தூர் பகுதியில் சில ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகள் சங்கத்தினர் கடந்த 20ம் தேதி முதல் காலவறையற்ற வேலை நிறுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர். இதனால், மரவள்ளி உற்பத்தி விவசாயிகளுக்கு உரிய விலை கிடைப்பதில் சிக்கல் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.
மேலும், மரவள்ளிகிழங்கு தோல் உரிக்கப்பட்டு எந்தவித ரசாயன கலப்புமின்றி ஈர மாவாக உற்பத்தி செய்ய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையினர் தடை செய்வது எந்த வித த்தில் நியாயம் என்பதை விளக்காமல் உள்ளனர்.
இதனால், தற்போதுள்ள மரவள்ளி ஆலை களில் ஈர மாவு உற்பத்தி செய்ய முடியாத நிலை உள் ளது. மேலும், சில பெரிய உற்பத்தியாளர்களின் தூண்டுதலின் காரணமாக தற்பேது செயற்கையாக உற்பத்தி நிறுத்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும், போராட்டம் நடப்பதாகவும் பொதுமக்களுக்கும் அரசு நிர்வாகத்திற்கும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. ஆனால், எங்கள் சங்கத்தினர் இதுபோன்ற போராட்டம் எதிலும் ஈடுபட விரும்பவில்லை.
எங்களின் ஒரே கோரி க்கை ஈர மாவு உற்பத்தியை தடுக்காமல் இருக்க வேண் டும் என்பது தான். இதன ல் மரவள்ளி விவசாயிகளு க்கு உரிய விலை கிடைக்கும். எனவே, தற்போது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்களின் ஈர மாவு உற்பத்தியை தடுப்பதை அரசு தலை யிட்டு பிரச்னைக்கு தீர்வு காண வேண்டும் என்பது உள்ளிட்ட தீர்மானங்கள் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டன.
சங்கத்தின் பொருளா ளர் பாலாஜி நன்றி கூறினார்.ELANGOVAN N

DINAMALAR NEWS

Issue of stuck packaged food cargo reaches PMO

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 22:
The issue of processed food import consignments worth crores of rupees held up by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in various ports and airports due to ‘improper’ labelling has landed at the Prime Minister’s door.
“I have discussed the issue with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and the matter is now with the PMO. The system needs to be more transparent and less rigid,” said Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal here on Monday. She added that while health safety had to be kept in mind, the growth of industry should also be taken into account.
According to FSSAI, the nodal agency under the Health Ministry, labels on shipped imported packaged food items must list the ingredients used and the nutritional value in English, along with the producer’s name, address and the country of origin in the prescribed format. As per the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 that came into force in 2011, pasting of stickers on products is also not allowed.
Badal, who was addressing the media on the her Ministry’s 100-day report card, however, denied reports that her Ministry was pushing for the food regulator to be brought under her Ministry, or jointly handled with the Health Ministry.
“It does not matter under who the system is, but it should not be arbitrary,” Badal said, adding that various stakeholders had met her regarding their import consignments being held up ahead of the festival season. Among the companies affected are some top MNCs as well as gourmet restaurants that use ingredients, such as olives and olive oil, canola oil liquor, seafood, herbs, sauces, chocolate and other ingredients.
Almost 400-500 odd containers of shipment were lying at different ports and airports for their failure to meet FSSAI’s labelling norms. Some importers are said to have even made advance payments for them.

Food safety standards should not be arbitrary: Minister

Expressing concerns over imported food items getting stuck in customs, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said safety standards should not be arbitrary and detrimental to the industry.
Huge consignments carrying food processing ingredients are lying at ports due to the new labelling norms of the Food Safety Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI).
The matter has been taken up with the PMO and the Health Ministry, she told reporters while briefing her ministry's 100-days initiatives.
"Ingredients imported by the processing industry are lying at the customs as there are certain ingredients on which industry is having issues with FSSAI. It has been taken up with Health Ministry and a solution should be found very soon. The system needs to be very transparent," Badal said.
Badal said the food processing sector should be provided a level-playing field.
"Systems should not be arbitrary. While maintaining the food safety standards, it should also encourage the industry. So, if industry is having some issues that need to be addressed," Badal said.
The Minister said she has met Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and discussed the industry's issues related to FSSAI.
The matter has also been brought under the notice of Prime Minister's Office (PMO), she added. Badal said there is no proposal to bring FSSAI under the Food Processing Ministry from the purview of Health Ministry.
FSSAI has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various ministries and departments.

Junk Food Scandal: Fast Food Giants Respond

 

Just a few days ago we had published an opinion piece by a food consultant who revealed what goes on behind the scenes in the fast food industry, where quality takes a beating and cheaper ingredients that can seek for a good price is all that matters.(More: The Shocking Secrets about the Junk Food Industry)
The response to this article was tremendous. According to the food consultant, "It was shared on various social media platforms and got many hits. It was even circulated in my office and was sent to the QSR's R&D (Research and Development) teams to share with them the consequence of this crippled creativity. It's funny that everyone who read it raised their eyebrows, took a breath and reconciled that there is someone amongst us who is perturbed. It's a storm in a cup which we all must look into."
We got in touch with few fast food restaurants to clear the clouds of doubt and here's what they have to say as far as quality control is concerned.
"Yum! Restaurants brands - Pizza Hut and KFC are responsible brands and committed to following the best international standards and serving the highest quality products to all our customers across all our brands and each of their restaurants. Our brand is synonymous with great quality food which is consistent regardless of the price point of the products we offer. All products served at our restaurants are sourced from the best in class, state -of-the-art manufacturing facilities that are compliant with rigorous food safety standards and audited regularly," Yum! Restaurants spokesperson.
The infamous 'yoga-mat' controversy roped in Subway and challenged its 'healthy fast food' image in the United States. A food blogger petitioned the chain to remove a controversial ingredient used as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner for breads, which is also used to make yoga mats and has been banned in some other parts of the world. (More: Subway Removes Controversial Ingredient)
We asked Subway how they've addressed this issue in India and here's their response.
"The quality control mechanisms at SUBWAY® are thoroughly supervised by the development agents, quality control experts through regular checks with authorized vendors in order to ensure consistency in quality of raw materials used for food preparation.
Indeed, SUBWAY® does believe in rewarding and appreciating its loyal consumers and is always keen to find ways to offer them everyday value. However, at SUBWAY®, the concept of value cannot ever be interpreted as offering lower quality ingredients. Quality is sacrosanct, for that is the underlying USP of the brand. Under no circumstances will SUBWAY®'s 'value offers' involve any compromise on quality. These value offers, in fact, aim to deliver a wholesome meal to the consumer at an attractive price point.
We would like to place on record that SUBWAY® restaurants does not use Azodicarbonamide (ADA) in any of their breads," Mr Sanjiv Pandey, Marketing Manager, SUBWAY® India.
Recently, the China Meat Scandal regarding the use of contaminated and expired meat products by Shanghai Husi Food went viral. Shanghai Husi Food supplies products to various fast food chains such as McDonald's, Starbucks, Papa John's and Burger King in several cities of China.(More on the China Food Scandal)
Another food safety scare in Russia seems to have got McDonald's cash registers dwindling on claims of alleged sanitary violations. It led to the temporary closure of five of their restaurants in Moscow and Southern Stavropol region. According to a Wall Street Journal report, following the food scandal the overall sales drop of 3.7% was the worst since February of 2003. (More: McDonald's August Sales Hurt by China Scandal)
We asked McDonald's if there are any precautionary measures that are being taken in Indian outlets while procuring ingredients from suppliers. Here's their statement.
"At McDonald's India, we go through a lot of efforts to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. In India, as also globally, McDonald's adheres to the highest food safety standards and pursues strict compliance with consumer safety laws and regulations. We source our products locally and ensure that all our suppliers are HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certified and also undertake regular quality checks at their end.
McDonald's India accords highest priority to the health, safety and well being of its customers. The quality of our food is very important and, with every customer, we're committed to serving the highest quality of products possible," Mr. Sriram Venkateswaran, Director - Supply Chain & Quality Assurance.
In an attempt to change its image, McDonald's has launched several campaigns where they are now focusing on the fact that cheaper products may not always be low on quality. They held a dinning event in New York to give a shout out to their new motto - ''Transforming dining experience of 'fast food' to 'good food served fast.'' (More: McDonald's Confronts its Junk Food Image)
We also contacted Dominos, haven't received a response from them yet.
In today's scenario, India is warmly welcoming a host of International fast food chains and the youth seems to be more than thrilled with the 'quick-bite' culture. But this growing taste for fast food is becoming a major concern.
For long, health experts have criticized the aggressive advertising and marketing tactics that these restaurants adopt to influence consumer preference. Previous studies have linked fast food to an increased burden of obesity, high sodium intake and cholesterol, especially on the youth. A recent report published by World Health Organization recommends stronger regulations on fast foods to help curb the global obesity epidemic.
Despite this, these restaurants have not encountered much opposition in India. They have, in fact, managed to garner a forever-growing customer base.
While they have been battling alleged health concerns, shocking revelations made about fast food restaurants using inferior ingredients and cost-effective but unhealthy practices, add fuel to fire. All we can say is that it's good to question and make more informed food choices.
Disclaimer
You are requested to always do your own research on products and companies before using a product you choose. NDTV, its affiliates and its management does not claim responsibility for any of the products/ or companies discussed on this site.

Meeting to end strike

With members of Natural Tapioca Sago Manufacturers Association continuing their protest against adulteration of sago with wet starch, Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy has called for a meeting at the Collectorate on Tuesday to solve the issue. A release said that members of various associations involved in sago production, including sago manufacturers, wet starch producers and suppliers, besides officials of food safety wing, agriculture, pollution control board, and revenue department would participate.

Smoked meat now deadlier than liquor

Study Finds Food Cooked Over Fire May Increase Risk Of Esophageal Cancer
Smoked meat — red meat or fish dipped in greasy oil, and covered with a mix of salt, chilli powder and spices, before it is cooked directly over fire — is one of the most common causes of cancer of the foodpipe in the state, doctors from Government General Hospital announced at a scientific conference in Vancouver, Canada.
When meat or fish is cooked directly over fire, it gets covered with cancer-causing carcinogens, making it more dangerous than even smoking or consumption of alcohol, surgical gasteroentrologist Dr S M Chandramohan said.
As a part of an ongoing study, Government General Hospital’s department of surgical gastroenterology asked five undergraduate medical students to quiz 101 cancer patients about their lifestyle and eating habits and compare them with answers to the same questions by healthy people.
Statistical analysis of the data gathered showed that people eating smoked meat were at up to nine times higher risk of developing cancer compared to people who did not have it on their diet. The study found that people who smoked had an eight times higher risk of contracting cancer than others and those who consumed alcohol were at four times higher risk.
This is not the first time smoked meat has been linked to cancer. The National Cancer Institute in the USA has linked barbequed or grilled meat to cancer. Coal or gas used to cook meat emits chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that adhere to meat. Laboratory tests show these substances can cause cancer in animals.
“Some studies have linked occupational exposure to PAH to cancer in humans,” Dr Chandramohan said. Food experts say when salty, fatty meat exposed to smoke of wood or coal absorbs large amounts of tar, which may contain carcinogens. “In that sense, eating smoked meat isn’t very different from smoking tobacco,” said Dr Rajendran Vellaisamy, who was a part of the study.
The researchers admit that various factors outside the study are linked to cancer, but say the risks they found should be considered. For instance, during the interviews, many people with cancer, par ticularly those in lower socioeconomic groups, said they ate sutta karuvadu (dried fish cooked in direct fire) or leftover rice with karuvadu fry (deep fried dried fish).
“Many households reuse oil and that could be one of the factors that triggered cancer,” Rajendran said. “We’re not saying ‘no deep fries or smoked meat at all’. We do not have direct evidence to say that with certainty. But the study helps us know which foods are high-risk and should be avoided.”

DINAMANI NEWS