Midday meal sample testing has to wait

The Centre’s proposal for testing midday meal samples in schools across the country has hit a roadblock. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) wants all schools to first get registered with it and then obtain a licence for preparing food.

The authority wants all the government schools to obtain a licence from it for preparation of midday-meal on the ground that it comes under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

It has also recently written to all state governments, asking them to get their schools registered for the purpose, drawing stiff objection from the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which felt the move would lead to various “operational problems”.

The issue came up at a meeting of the empowered committee for midday meal scheme last month. At the meeting, HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who heads the committee, noted that registration and licensing of schools under the Food Safety and Standards Act would create “another Inspector Raj”.

“Preparation of midday meal at schools does not come under the purview of the Act because this is not a catering activity. But the FSSAI is insisting that schools must get registered with it and obtain licence for preparation of food,” sources said.

The minister has asked the school education secretary to take up the matter with FSSAI, saying the authority should not insist on registration and licencing of the schools. 

The ministry has been pushing for testing samples of meals served to school children under the midday meal programme for the last one year to improve the quality and monitoring of the food cooked at schools as in many cases children fell ill and even died after consuming contaminated food served to them under the scheme.

‘Enforcement of food regulations need of the hour’

Chairman of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, New Delhi, K. Chandramouli, inaugurated the Food Testing Laboratory at the School of Food Technology in Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (JUNTK) here on Sunday.

Addressing the students, Mr. Chandramouli said acute shortage of laboratories remained the major challenge for food testing. “India has reached the stage of food sufficiency and now the focus has been shifted towards food quality,” he said, adding that there was an immediate need of creating awareness among people on the importance of food quality. “Enforcement of food regulations to ensure delivery of qualitative food is the need of the hour,” Mr. Chandramouli said.

JNTUK Vice-Chancellor G. Tulasi Ram Das explained the activities undertaken by School of Food Technology. He said that launch of a B.Tech. programme in Food Technology was on the cards. Programme Director P. Ramakrishna made a presentation on the School of Food Technology and the Food Testing Laboratory. The objective of the lab was to offer an accessible and affordable food testing facility to industries, consumers, regulatory agencies and all other stakeholders, he said.

Paneer, milk cream worth Rs 11.67 lakh seized

PUNE: Officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday seized a stock of paneer (cottage cheese) and cream worth Rs 11.67 lakh brought to Pune from Karnataka in an unhygienic condition. The stock was destroyed.

"We received a tip-off that a truck carrying a sizeable quantity of paneer and cream would reach Shreenath cinema hall in Budhwar Peth on early Sunday. We intercepted the truck when it reached the spot for inspection. We found that paneer and milk cream were stored in rusted tin containers, consumption of which would be harmful," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.

The officials seized the total stock that included 478kg of paneer and 664 kg of milk cream.

"We have drawn samples of paneer and cream and sent them for tests to the state-run Public Health Laboratory. We will initiate action against the transporters based on the laboratory reports," Kekare said.

Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA said, "The milk products were transported in a truck from Hudchi, a village in Karnataka. The carriers did not have any bills or the licence to sell them."

Sanjay Naragude, assistant commissioner (food) carried out the raid along with food safety officials Yogesh Dhone, Rajendra Kakade and Balasaheb Kotkar.

12 packaged drinking water units shut down

Karnataka: The office of the designated officer, Food Safety and Standards Act, Mysuru, has stated that 12 packaged drinking water units had been shut down in Mysuru following complaints that they were running without the mandatory licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) and were selling packaged water without an ISI symbol.

In a press release here, the office said stringent steps had been taken against such units, which come under the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Mysuru district.

“It is illegal to manufacture and sell packaged drinking water without ISI symbol and FSSA licence. It has become mandatory to follow the rules laid down under FSSA, maintaining proper hygiene in manufacturing and supplying water,” the release said.

Dr. Chidambar S., designated officer, Food Safety and Standards Act, Mysuru, has appealed to the public to inform his/her office if they come across any unit manufacturing and selling packaged drinking water without an ISI symbol and FSSA licence.

The contact address is Designated Officer, FSSA, NPC hospital premises, Nazarabad, Mysore – 10. Phone: 0821-2438144 or emaildomcca2013@gmail.com

Meanwhile, in another press release here, Dr. Chidambar said that information on registering under the FSSA was available online in order to bring transparency in the implementation of the Act. Interested persons can visit the website www.foodsafety.kar.nic.in or www.fssai.gov.in for more details.

He said it was mandatory for food manufacturers, distributors and marketers to avail licence under the Act after due registration and to collect certificate from his office by submitting pplications along with relevant documents and necessary fees.

He said that if more money was sought and applicants were harassed by any officers or staff in his office or any person, such complaints can be submitted in writing either to the chairperson, District Food Safety Advisory Committee or the designated officer, Food Safety and Standards Act, NPC Hospital Premises, Nazarabad, Mysuru.

பொம்பளை சகாயம்!

Food business comes under scanner

An FBO having its annual turnover at Rs 12 lakh or below pays its registration fee of Rs 100 and if its annual turnover exceeds Rs 12 lakh, it pays Rs 2,000.

Rajahmundry: Exploring new avenues to earn revenue, the funds starved state government has called for a thorough survey of food business operators ranging from kirana shops which sell food items to star hotels having restaurants, manufacturers of various food items and those involved in repacking of glucose powder, chilly powder and even rice, to register them promptly, collect license fee and assess their volume of production in the state.

In a meeting held in Hyderabad, the state food safety authority reviewed the registration and collection of license fee from the FBOs under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and felt the need to carry out a thorough survey as many of them are showing their volume of business highly under-valued and paying meager amount for either registration or for obtaining license.

An FBO having its annual turnover at Rs 12 lakh or below pays its registration fee of Rs 100 and if its annual turnover exceeds Rs 12 lakh, it pays Rs 2,000. Food manufacturers and re-packers of food items pay Rs 3,000 as license fee in case their production is one tonne or below per day and those whose volume of production goes up to two tonnes per day, they pay Rs 5,000. Several star hotels having restaurants fall under this category.

Those involve in food processing, refineries, wholesale trade and distribution pay Rs 7,500 as license fee as their volume of production goes beyond two tonnes per day. Some FBOs involved in procuring huge quantum of Glucose powder from its manufacturer based in Ahmedabad and repack them in small quantity with their own brand and sell them as a petty vendor.

Similarly, with regard to chilly powder and even rice, some FBOs are adopting the same practice and pay a meager amount as license fee.The existing license fee is fixed as per the norms of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Act is being implemented effectively from December 2011.

Earlier, there used to be very meager registration or license fee to the FBOs as per the norms of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and petty vendors used to pay Rs 20, Kirana shop Rs 50 and food manufacturers Rs 75.

In East Godavari, the food safety authorities registered 2,126 FBOs where they collected registration fee of Rs 100 per unit as its annual turnover is less than Rs 12 lakh.

Mumbai on a platter

From the ever popular tikkas and tandooris to the chocolate-plated golas, we bring you some of the best (and quickest) bites in the westcoast

Mumbaikars are always on the lookout for that perfect bite on the go. Our penchant for all things flavoursome, convenient and pocket friendly is second to none. And while it's assumed that every food joint maintains acceptable hygiene standards, the reality is well a bit distorted. So, join us on a tour across westcoast to sample some of the most delightful and interesting fare available, albeit with a focus on hygiene.

Perpetually donned in white, Dubey Mewalal cuts a serene figure in the dwindling light of dusk. Serving crispy, piping hot jalebis since 1984, his tiny stall has been my greatest discovery. One can savour a pack of 250 grams of jalebis for a meagre Rs. 40. To ensure quality and hygiene at his stall, Mewalal chooses to offer only one item on his menu. "I prepare everything from scratch and in a limited quantity, and I never sell leftovers, as jalebis lose their flavour within six hours," he explains, beaming with pride.

Where: Near Mumbai Tawa, Esic Nagar, Andheri (W)

On a sunny holiday, it is a common sight to watch kids and their parents revel in flavoursome golas at this popular haunt. Ranging from Rs. 40 to Rs. 80, the menu at Gogola offers more than 20 variations of golas, kulfis, milkshakes and much more. Butterscotch gola (Rs. 60), mango malai gola (Rs. 70) and creamy chocolate plated gola (Rs. 80) are Gogola's bestsellers.

Sachin Jain's Gogola was set up in 2008 with the idea of treating Mumbaikars with traditional yet hygienic golas. Biswajit Seal, Associate Director, Gogola, informs, "Our flavours are healthy, fruit based and FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) certified." He adds, "We use only bottled water and make golas with gloves on."

Where: 16th and 30th Road Junction, Palinaka, Bandra (W)

When Rajinder Singh, a retired navy officer, was awarded a stall on Linking Road by the Government of India, he landed up with the perfect opportunity to showcase his love for food. And that's how Jai Jawan was born.

Today, Jai Jawan has branches in Khar and Lokhandwala, which are popular midnight eateries. Its biggest crowd-pullers are the Punjabi Fish Fry, Punjabi Prawns Fry, Tandoori Chicken (Rs. 150 for half size) and Paneer Tikka. Megha Iyer, a Lokhandwala resident, says, "Never have I experienced stale food at J.J. The butter chicken is an absolute must try." When we inquired into the hygiene and freshness factors at Jai Jawan, pat came the reply, "We buy fresh ingredients every day for the masala (a family secret) in which we marinate the meat. Never do we use the same masala the following day. During monsoon, we use frozen fish and prawns due to lack of fresh ones," explains Gurdish Singh, son of Rajinder Singh.

Where: Anand Hi Anand, Royal Accord Building, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri; Linking Road, Bandra (W); 14th Road, Khar (W)

Offering sumptuous and high-quality Indian food on the streets, Mumbai Tawa is often described as having a relaxed yet professional service. "Mumbai Tawa offers clean, hygienic food that can be relished on the streets. What more does a Mumbaikar want?" asks Shikha Dhar, an Andheri resident. Their kathi rolls and biryani are the most sold items. "We concentrate on hard core live cooking where customers can witness the hygiene standards themselves," informs Amit Verma, Director, Mumbai Tawa.

Where:Next to D. N. Nagar Police Station, Andheri (W); 7 Bungalows, JP Road, Versova; Near Bhoomi Classic, Link Road, Malad (W)

Ajay Pal along with his six friends started the business of serving homemade kulfis five years ago. "The kulfi is cooked for about four-five hours, refrigerated for another five hours and then sold within two days," Pal shares. Today, their humble cart offers blissful flavours like Choco Chip (Rs. 25) and Kesar Pista (Rs. 30). "Mango and strawberry kulfis at Pal's are our go-to desserts," says Nidhi Golecha, a MHADA resident.

Where: Opposite Heera Panna Mall, Oshiwara

150 villagers taken ill for suspected food poisoning

Thane: At least 150 villagers were taken ill after eating food at a death ritual in Kalyan area, police said on Saturday.

According to API S B More of Bazarpeth Police Station in Kalyan, the incident took place late on Friday night after the victims consumed sweets at the ritual in Koni village following the demise of one Sakharam Balaram Mhatre.

Soon after the ritual, guests and relatives of the deceased in the village including women and children began complaining of giddiness and started vomiting, police said.

They were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Later, except for 7-8 people, others were discharged, More said.

The samples of the served 'Dhoodhi Halwa' (a sweet preparation of milk and gourd), brought from a local shop have been collected and sent for testing, police said.

Also, offences have been registered under section 272, 273 of the IPC and Food Safety and Security Act 2006 against shop owner Hydera Ali Rasulbhai Palsania, police said.

However, no arrests have been made so far and investigations are underway.

Berry calls for greater safety in food industry

Britannia Industries Ltd Managing Director Varun Berry on Friday called upon stakeholders of the food industry to achieve the goal of higher safety.

Speaking at a seminar on FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) 2014 - Navigating the Dynamic Regulatory Landscape’ here on Friday, Berry said the authorities are building up infrastructure for delivering safe food in the country.

“We need regulation in the segment because various stakeholders like producers, processors, distributors, consumers and disposal teams are involved in the food value chain. We are currently witnessing a change in consumption patterns of people in our country. So, the challenges ahead are immense,” Berry said.

Business opportunities

Reinforcing the need for a regulatory mechanism in the food industry, he said food safety is non-negotiable.

“Branded packaged food sales are growing at a fast pace with consumers tending to move towards packaged food items. Here, we can find a lot of business opportunities,” he said.

Interacting at the seminar, former director, CIFTI, Vijay Sardana said, “The food industry should give primacy to the safety of customers. It should be based on scientific parameters. If done in a systematic way there is no need for stringent regulations,” he said.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை கெடு

கடலூர், நவ. 9:

கடலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் இயங்கும் குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை டிசம்பர் 5ம் தேதி வரை கெடு வழங்கியுள்ளது.

கடலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் டேங்கர் லாரிகள் மூலம் குடிநீர் விநியோகம் செய்யப்பட்டு வருகிறது. வீடுகளுக்கு மட்டுமல்லாமல் டீக்கடைகள், உணவு விடுதிகள், தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள், தங்கும் விடுதிகள் உள்ளிட்ட பல இடங்களுக்கு டேங்கர் லாரிகள் குடிநீர் சப்ளை செய்யப்படுகிறது.

இவ்வாறு சப்ளை செய்யும் டேங்கர் லாரிகள் துருப்பிடித்து சுகாதார சீர்கேடாக காட்சி அளித்தன. உள்பகுதி துரு பிடித்திருந்ததால் குடிநீரிலும் துரு கலந்து வந்தது. குடிதண்ணீரும் கலங்கலாகவும் வாடையுடனும் விநியோகிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒரு குடம் 5 ரூபாய்க்கு வாங்கிய பொது மக்கள் இதனால் கலக்கம் அடைந்தனர். இது தொடர்பாக கடலூர் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறைக்கு பல்வேறு புகார்கள் வந்தன. இதன் அடிப்படையில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளை அதிரடியாக ஆய்வு செய்தார்.

ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் குடிதண்ணீரில் நான்கரை கிராம் பிளீச்சிங் பவுடர் கலக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்ற விதிமுறையை எந்த டேங்கர் லாரிகளும் பின்பற்றவில்லை. மேலும் பல டேங்கர் லாரிகள் கழிவுநீர் ஏற்றிச்செல்லும் வண்டிப்போல சுகாதார சீர்கேட்டுடன் காட்சி அளித்தன.

இந்நிலையில், பொதுமக்கள் சுகாதாரத்தை பாதுகாக்கும் நோக்கில் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் சுரேஷ்குமாரின் உத்தரவின் பேரில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையால் குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகள் உரிமையாளர்கள் கூட்டம் நடத்தப்பட்டது. மாவட்ட அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா தலைமை தாங்கினார். வட்டார பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் நல்லதம்பி, சுப்ரமணியன், ரவிச்சந்திரன், நந்தக்குமார் மற்றும் 20 டேங்கர் லாரி உரிமையாளர்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

டிசம்பர் 5ம் தேதிக்குள் அனைத்து குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளின் உட்புறமும், வெளிப்புறமும் குடிநீருக்கு பாதகம் ஏற்படுத்தாத பெயின்ட் அடிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். ஒவ்வொரு ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் குடிதண்ணீருக்கும் நான்கரை கிராம் பிளீச்சிங் பவுடர் கலக்கப்பட வேண்டும். அனைத்து குடிநீர் லாரிகளையும் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறையில் பதிவு செய்து அந்த பதிவு எண்ணையும் உரிமையாளர்கள் பெயர் மற்றும் அவர்களின் செல்நம்பர் ஆகியவற்றை டேங்கரின் மேல் குறிப்பிடவேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு எல்லாப் பணிகளையும் முடித்து டிசம்பர் 5ம் தேதி மஞ்சக்குப்பம் மைதானத்தில் ஆய்வுக்கு அனைத்து குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரி களையும் கொண்டுவந்து நிறுத்த வேண்டும் என இக்கூட்டத்தில் மாவட்ட அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா உத்தரவிட்டார்.

Sago traders end strike

A meeting was held between traders, and officials

The nine-day-old strike by the Salem Sago and Starch Merchants Association in protest against the action initiated against sago traders on charges of adulteration, came to an end on Thursday, following the talks held by the top officials of the State Department of Industries and Commerce, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) here.

Charges

The members of the association were on an informal strike in protest against the surprise checks conducted by officials, and sealing of the premises of some traders.

They alleged that the officials were selective in conducting the checks and were targeting traders leaving the sago manufacturers.

Even while stating that the officials were well within their rights to check, and test the samples from the manufacturers and merchants, the association in a press statement released prior to the negotiations held by the government officials, said that it will be more appropriate if priority in checking for adulteration was given at the production point.

The statement said that the point of contention was that the sulphate and chloride tests conducted by the Sagoserve were not accepted in toto by the officials.

The officials have not served any notice to Sagoserve, but was taking samples from the merchants’ after they took delivery of their purchased goods from the Sagoserve, or from manufacturers.

But specifically targeting a few traders, the department creates fear and insecurity among the traders.

The department should not try to paint the merchants as culprits even before the samples were subjected to any test, the statement said.

Hence the association decided to suspend all its trading activities till proper norms were decided for the product “sago” by the FSSAI Department, and the Sagoserve

The release alleged that a majority of the members of the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association were directly marketing their products for which there were no checks and balances.

The Deputy Directors of the State Department of Industries and Commerce, and the FSSAI Department, who rushed from Chennai held negotiations with the representatives of the association.

Following this, the sago merchants withdrew their agitation and participated in the auctioning held on Thursday evening itself, sources said.