Heritage clarifies

Heritage Foods Ltd is maintaining the highest standards of quality control to supply unadulterated pure milk and milk products. The company does not use Oxytocin at all as it does not have any cows or buffaloes.
In a statement here on Wednesday, Heritage Foods clarified that there was no complete ban on its milk in Kerala.
During August 2012, the Food Safety Commissioner, Kerala, issued a temporary order that one variant of Heritage milk called ‘Padmanabh’ would not be sold for one month.
Sale of other variants were allowed during that month also.
Following an appeal based on facts, the Food Safety Commissioner later withdrew its order.

TDP protests in Telangana assembly over milk adulteration issue; house adjourned twice

The Telangana Assembly was today adjourned twice as TDP members protested over ruling TRS' allegation that a company owned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's family was supplying adulterated milk that was banned by Keralagovernment. The TDP members were on their feet during Question Hour as TRS member E Ravindra Reddy and Redya Naik, who recently switched from Congress to the ruling party, alleged that the milk supplied by the firm was adulterated.
State Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao supported his party colleagues and flashed a purported order issued by Kerala government banning the milk.
Deputy Chief Minister S Rajaiah, who holds the health portfolio, said a case was registered against the company at Panjagutta in Hyderabad following a sample test in which the milk was found to contain "detergent" and action was taken against it as per the Food Safety Act, 2006. Taking exception to this, TDP's senior legislator A Revanth Reddy and others came into the Well of the House. Revanth pointed out that Kerala government permitted sale of the company's milk after it found nothing amiss.
Amid the din, Speaker S Madhusudanachari adjourned the House for ten minutes, but order did not restore as the IT Minister alleged that the TDP members were acting like "stooges" of the neighbouring state's Chief Minister. "You are not directors or stakeholders of the company. Why are you bothered," Rama Rao questioned the TDP MLAs.
As the opposition members continued their protest, the Speaker adjourned the House again for ten minutes. The ruckus happened during Question Hour when legislators of TDP and Congress raised the adulterated milk supply issue and expressed serious concern over it.
"It's a social evil and the government needs to take stringent action against those indulging in supply of adulterated and synthetic milk as it seriously affects public health," senior Congress MLA J Geetha Reddy said. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, who also holds the animal husbandry portfolio, expressed concern over adulterated milk and administration of Oxytocin injections to milch cattle to increase yield. The Deputy Chief Minister (Health) assured the House that the government would take stringent action against producers of adulterated milk.

Squads to check food prices

The district administration here has issued orders fixing the price of food items on sale at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pampa, Nilackal and other base camps during the two-month annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival that begins on November 16.
In a statement here on Wednesday, Collector S. Harikishore said squads would be deployed at Sabarimala, Pampa, Nilackal and other base camps to enforce guidelines issued by the government with regard to food safety and to monitor the prices. Stern action, including cancellation of sales licence and registration of criminal case, would be taken against those who violated the norms

More ‘shaped’ the food, the worse it is for health

While healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes, food does not. The next time you are attracted by that finely “shaped” food item, beware.
Remember, the more appropriately shaped it is, the worse it is for your health. Experts in India have found that such food items have more trans-fatty acids (TFA), the biggest villain for the body that increases bad cholesterol, raises blood pressure and could lead to various metabolic disorders, like diabetes. The four-year study by the Diabetes Foundation of India, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation and IIT also revealed that the TFA increased immensely if the oil for frying was “re-utilised”, a practice found to be adopted by 96 per cent of respondents.
While so far there is limited data in India on the content of TFAs in fried and baked food items, their formation in re-heated oil or their consumption among the general population in India, this is the first study of its kind to find that vanaspati is the main source of TFAs in India, providing approximately 40 per cent TFAs. Experts therefore recommend using mustard oil, olive oil or canola oil, and no vanaspati at all. “This study clearly shows that if proper oil and method of cooking are not chosen properly, the possibility of developing diabetes and heart disease is high,” said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis, C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology. Experts found a 20-25 per cent increase in TFA after the oil was reused. “We found that when we keep refrying the oil, the oil developed TFA which kept increasing each time the oil was reused,” said Dr Swati Bhardwaj, senior research officer, DFI.
Admitting that many household cannot afford to throw away oil that has been used once, Dr Bhardwaj recommend that either the oil used for frying should be very little or it should be used to prepare vegetables.
Experts also said that natural TFA found in items like milk, curds and cottage cheese are not so good either.
Experts found that while the TFA content of parantha, bread pakora, gulabjamun and bhatura had relatively low levels of TFA content per 100g, per serving their TFA content may be high. TFA content in fried food items like bhujia, samosa, potato chips, French fries, tikki and aloo chaat ranged from 1.48g/100g to 1.02g/100g. In baked items like patties, bakery biscuits, pastries, burgers, rusk and pizza, TFA ranged between 1.58g/100g and 0.22g/100g. The study found the total TFA content in a cheese slice was 0.4g/100g and that mayonnaise (vegetarian) had having a lower level (1.95g/100g) of the food item as compared to egg mayonnaise (2.98g/100g of food item).
TFAs are the most important type of “bad fats”. Several countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and the United States, have introduced regulatory norms to restrict the intake of TFAs. Experts therefore recommended that “policy-makers can make and enforce laws to limit the TFA content of manufactured foods,” added Dr Misra.

திருவண்ணாமலையில் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் மற்றும் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் விற்பனை ஆர்டிஓ தலைமையில் அதிரடி ஆய்வு

திருவண்ணாமலை, நவ. 13:

திருவண்ணாமலையில் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் மற்றும் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் விற்பனை குறித்து ஆர்டிஓ தலைமையில் நேற்று திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
திருவண்ணாமலையில் காலவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக தொடர்ந்து புகார்கள் குவிந்து வருகின்றன. ஆனாலும், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வுகள் நடத்துவதில்லை. உயர் அதிகாரிகளின் நெருக்கடியால் நடத்தப்படும் திடீர் ஆய்வுகளும் கண்துடைப்பாகவே நடத்தப்படுகிறது.
இந்நிலையில், கார்த்திகை தீபத்திருவிழா விரைவில் நடைபெற உள்ள நிலையில், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் விற்பனை மற்றும் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனையை கண்டுபிடித்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க கலெக்டர் ஞானசேகரன் உத்தரவிட்டார்.
அதைத்தொடர்ந்து, திருவண்ணாமலை ஆர்டிஓ உமாமகேஸ்வரி தலைமையில், நகராட்சி ஆணையர் ஜோதிமணி, சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் ஆல்பர்ட், டவுன் டிஎஸ்பி சரவணகுமார், இன்ஸ்பெக்டர் ரமேஷ், நகர உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் கலேஷ்குமார், தொழிலாளர் நல உதவி ஆய்வாளர் சிவக்குமார் ஆகியோர் உள்ளிட்ட குழுவினர் நேற்று திருவண்ணாமலையில் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
தேரடி வீதி, சின்னக்கடை தெரு, பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், ரவுண்டானா சந்திப்பு உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் நடந்த சோதனையில், சுமார் 165 கிலோ தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. மேலும், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டி பொருட்கள் பயன்படுத்திய மற்றும் விற்பனை செய்த கடைகளுக்கு தலா ரூ.500 வீதம் அபராதம் வசூலிக்கப்பட்டது.
அதேபோல், தயாரிப்பு தேதி மற்றும் காலவாதி தேதி குறிப்பிடாத பேக்கிங் உணவு பொருட்கள், காலவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்ட உணவு வகைகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்பட்டன. தொழிலாளர் துறை மூலம் அபராதமும் விதிக்கப்பட்டது. இந்த அதிரடி நடவடிக்கை தீபத்திருவிழா முடியும் வரை தினசரி தொடரும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
திருவண்ணாமலை நகரம் முழுவதும் உள்ள கடை மற்றும் உணவகங்களில் காலாவதியான உணவு மற்றும் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறதா என ஆர்டிஓ உமாமகேஸ்வரி தலைமையில் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

FSO inspects food manufacturing units; 350 kgs of Kurkure chips destroyed

Srinagar

A team of Food Safety has destroyed 350 kgs of Kurkure chips in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said. They said Food Safety Offices team, Srinagar, inspected various Food Manufacturing Units (FMUs) at Food Processing Park Industrial Estate Khanamoh including Spice, Milk and Milk Products, Fruit Jam, Jellies besides Packaged drinking water and Dal Manufacturing Units, and during inspection, some of them were found in unhygienic conditions and were put on ten days' notice to plug the loopholes.
From the possession of one of the unit namely Exotic Food Industries, 350 kgs of Kurkure chips were destroyed as wrong formula of manufacturing was adopted, which had rendered the chips unfit for human consumption. The manufacturer was banned from further manufacture of this food article till he engages technical persons for the same. Samples were also lifted from various units for testing.
They said all the manufacturers are directed to put in place Food safety management system which means adoption of Good manufacturing practices. Officials said that they are directed to establish their own food testing facilities for ensuring manufacture of quality food in line with the standards laid down in Food Safety and Standards Act and rules made there under.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Adulterated spices, cause for concern

The Chennai Corporation and the food safety department have asked retail outlets in the city to watch out for adulterated spices sold through wholesale markets.
After seizing four tonnes of adulterated pepper from Sowcarpet two weeks ago, food safety officials and the Corporation’s health department have begun to create awareness among retail outlets.
A large number of retailers have reportedly procured adulterated spices from wholesale dealers. But the civic body is yet to trace all of such retailers. Some of them have informed officials that the adulterated spices have been sold out.
“We identified a shop in the city selling pepper polished with mineral oil. The spice had traces of burnt diesel, liquid paraffin and petroleum jelly, all of which make it a carcinogen. Consumption of such an ingredient can result in indigestion and vomiting,” said an official.
Fewer complaints against the food business in the city have led to insufficient food safety in the city.
“We inspect 200 food business operators every month and monitor the quality of the food. Officials collect surveillance samples and issue improvement notices,” said an official.
Residents are requested to call on 9444042322 or send emails to the food safety commissioner (commrfssa@gmail.com) for complaints pertaining to adulterated food products in Tamil Nadu.

Tobacco items still on sale in city

Patna: The state government announced a ban on smokeless tobacco products in the state on November 7, but they are still being sold. Now the state government has decided to form three-tier task forces to implement the ban from next week.
The state government has asked traders to transfer their stocks of tobacco products by November 28 to other states. However, speaking to TOI, food safety commissioner cum health secretary Anand Kishor clarified it is illegal to sell smokeless tobacco products in this window period. It is only meant for transportation.
"From next week crackdown will start on those found selling these products," he said. Asked why it has not started yet, he said, "Firstly, it was important to create awareness that such a ban has been announced, because you do not expect a common seller on roadside to know this. That's why the department has been issuing advertisements to this effect. From next week, you will see action happening."
However, Deepak Mishra, executive director of Socio Economic Educational Development Society, said, "The window period should have been shorter to prevent blackmarketing on a huge scale."
The task force will be formed at district, subdivision and block levels. Apart from the officials of food safety wing, they will comprise officials of local administration and police. Kishor conceded the strength of food safety wing is not enough to implement the ban. At present, it has 14 food inspectors and four divisional officers. He said, "We will recruit more at the earliest."
On the other hand, people associated with the trade are up in arms, saying it has rendered them jobless all of a sudden. According to official sources, the government used to collect over Rs 50 crore annually from smokeless tobacco. Mishra said, "The total business in these products is of Rs 100 crore monthly."
Traders lament the government did not ponder over creating alternate livelihood. Vineet Kumar, who plans to file a writ in Patna high court in this regard, said, "Over 5-6 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with this business. By a rough estimate, roadside vendors in Patna itself are more than 8,000." Then there are hawkers, mini wholesalers, wholesalers and distributors.
Though large-scale production of these products does not take place in Bihar, there is a zarda factory at Muzaffarpur. Khaini, of course, which is not banned, is produced on a large scale. Zarda used to come to the state from Kanpur, Lucknow, Delhi and Varanasi.
Farmers grow paan leaf in Hajipur and surrounding areas. However, traders say with zarda and flavoured supari being banned, the consumption of leaves will fall. Supari also used to come from southern states, Nepal and Myanmar.
However, health secretary Anand Kishor said, "As of now, creating alternate livelihood is not on our radar. Those engaged in the trade will have to do so on their own."
Experts say none of the state governments who have banned them has come out with an alternate livelihood policy. Mishra says "The Union health ministry had
planned a meet with Union commerce and agriculture ministers to discuss the issue but it has been postponed."

EWG RELEASES NEW "DIRTY DOZEN" GUIDE TO FOOD ADDITIVES

Read on to learn all about the food additives you should avoid, and which foods they can be found in.
POTASSIUM BROMATE
Potassium bromate helps to strengthen the dough in bread and crackers. It also helps dough to rise. Baking is meant to make the compound non-carcinogenic, but some British research has suggested that trace amounts are still found in bread. The state of California classifies potassium bromate as a carcinogen and the international cancer agency considers it a possible human carcinogen. The United Kingdom and Canada prohibit the use of it, but the U.S. still allows it to be added to flour.

PROPYL PARABEN
Even though the government classifies probyl paraben under the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) guideline, several studies have shown that it disrupts endocrine processes, lowers sperm count in men, decreases fertility in women and can even accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells. It acts as a preservative in tortillas, muffins and food dyes and people can even be affected by it during food processing and packaging.

NITRATES AND NITRITES
Nitrates and nitrites help to give cured meats likesalami and ham a fresh and pink appearance because they prolong the shelf life of many foods. Unfortunately, when consumed they can set off a reaction to create cancer-causing compounds. Several studies have linked nitrites to cancer and scientists at the Word Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that nitrates and nitrites are likely human carcinogens.

BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA)
The National Toxicology Program considers BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" and the international cancer agency classifies it as a possible human carcinogen, but the FDA still classifies BHA as "generally recognized as safe." Higher doses of BHA can lower testosterone and the thyroid hormone thyroxin, but still the endocrine-disrupting chemical can be found in chips and preserved meats.

PROPYL GALLATE
Used as a preservative in products like sausage and lard, propyl gallate is "generally recognized as safe" even though studies associated the chemical with tumors in rats. There isn't enough data on propyl gallate to properly demonstrate any link to cancer, but it should be studied further.

THEOBROMINE
Found in chocolate, bread, cereal and sports drinks, theobromine is "generally recognized as safe," however the FDA found that the typical consumption of the chemical was five times higher than the levels reported as safe. According to the EWG, even though the FDA has some serious concerns with theobromine, the chemical is still being used without the FDA's oversight.

SECRET FLAVOR INGREDIENTS
The words "natural flavors" and "artificial flavors" appear on thousands of different foods even though the word "flavor" doesn't mean much on a food label. The vagueness of the words allows companies to use "incidental additives" that they don't need do disclose openly. Many "natural" flavors can actually contain BHA!

ARTIFICIAL COLORS
According to the EWG, artificial colors increase the appeal of foods without much nutritional value. According to a National Toxicology Program study, caramel colors III and IV could cause tumors. Several studies have even found that synthetic colors alter the behavior of children, potentially causing hyperactivity. This has been an ongoing debate.

DIACETYL
Diacetyl is used as a butter flavoring inmicrowave popcorn, which has been associated with an irreversible respiratory condition known as bronchiolitis obliterans. Diacetyl also flavors dairy products like yogurt and cheese, "brown flavorings" like butterscotch and maple and even fruit flavorings like raspberry and strawberry. The flavoring is harmful not just to consumers, but to the workers who use it as well. There have been several cases of production workers coming forward with respiratory-related illnesses.

PHOSPHATES
Found in over 20,000 products on the EWG's Food Score database, phosphates can be used to leaven baked goods and to make processed meats more tender and moist. Many fast foods contain phosphates too. For people with chronic kidney disease, high phosphate levels are associated with heart disease and death. Several studies have linked phosphorous levels in blood to heart disease and heart disease risk.

ALUMINUM ADDITIVES
While aluminum can occur naturally in food, most people consume aluminum through food additives. Look out for sodium aluminum phosphate and sodium aluminum sulfate, which can be used as stabilizers in many processed foods. There is no direct link between aluminum food additives and harmful neurological effects, but many studies have resulted in potentially troubling findings, which warrants keeping aluminum food additives on a "watch list."