‘Check and Chew Foreign Chocolates’

CHENNAI: The country’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has been facing roadblocks in regulating imported goods, especially chocolates, even as the regulatory body has brought within its ambit about 30 lakh food business operators.

Speaking at a two-day national seminar on Consumer Product Safety, organised by CONCERT and sponsored by the US Consulate here, FSSAI chairman K Chandramouli said during the Deepavali season, a large chunk of chocolates shipped to India violated domestic regulations of ‘zero vegetable fat’.

While the companies adhered to the US and the European food safety standards, they failed to satisfy Indian standards, he said.

“On testing one of the brands, we found that it contained 70 per cent of vegetable oil,” Chandramouli said, adding that the FSSAI drew flak for its action while cracking down on imported chocolates. He said some of the imported goods used Chinese or Arabic labelling, making it difficult for Indian consumers to ascertain their manufacturing and expiry dates. However, the situation had improved with FSSAI’s intervention, he said.

Speaking of another hurdle in the registration of food business operators, Chandramouli said, “This is applicable from a small-time sundal vendor to big corporate food manufacturers. It’s a tough task and for the last three years, we have had only 30,000 registered operators.”

Schemes for strenthening of (i) the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and (ii) the State Food Regulatory System

FSSAI Has Brought 30 Lakh Food Business Operators Into Its Ambit

CHENNAI: India’s Food Safety and Standard’s Authority (FSSAI) has been facing roadblocks in regulating imported goods, especially imported chocolates, even as the food safety regulator has brought in its ambit 30 lakh food business operators.

Speaking during the two-day national seminar on Consumer Product Safety organized by CONCERT and sponsored by US Consulate in Chennai, K Chandramouli, chairman of FSSAI, said that during Deepavali a majority of imported chocolates shipped into India violated the domestic regulations of zero vegetable fat.

He said while these companies adhere to the US and European food safety standard, they failed to adhere to Indian standards of zero vegetable fat. “While testing one of the brands we found that it has 70 per cent of vegetable oil,” said Chandramouli.

Interestingly, after FSSAI tried to crackdown on the imported chocolates it drew flak for its action. Chandramouli now has left the issue with the consumers.

He also highlighted how the imported goods were using Chinese or Arabic labelling making it hard for Indian consumers to know about the manufacturing as well as expiry date of these goods. “Now things has improved after FSSAI intervention,” he said.

Interestingly, another big headache for FSSAI is to register the food business operators. “They can be from a usual sundal seller to big corporate food manufactuer. This is a really tough task. For the last three years we had only 30,000 registered food operators. But since we left it out to the state government who has to enforce the act, we now have 30 lakh food business operators. But we can’t quantify the exact numbers,” says Chandramouli.

FDA officials seize gutka worth Rs 72k in two-day drive

KOLHAPUR: Food and drug administration officials have in two days raided seven paan shops in the city and seized gutka (scented tobacco) worth Rs 72,565 from them.

The officials also lodged complaints at the Shahupuri police station on Tuesday against two of the shop owners from whom the gutka was seized and at Juna Rajwada police station on Wednesday against the remaining five.

The sale or hoarding of gutka is banned in Maharashtra and the FDA officials have stated that they will continue taking action against shops in the district that violate the law.

Assistant commissioner (food) of the FDA, Kolhapur, S N Deshpande said, "The two-day drive was part of our routine surprise check at paan shops in the city. The raids were conducted following information from sources. We have taken action against the paan seven shop owners under section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act"

He added, "Now word has spread among the paan shop owners and they have become alert. So we have stopped our drive for some time. We will renew it after a few days and organize surprise raids at several places in the district at a time. We suspect that the gutka enters Kolhapur from Karnataka state and is sold on the sly. The shop owners sell the gutka only to a select customers they know. All these shop owners will be nabbed soon," he said.

Under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, those selling gutka can face a year's imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

Now word has spread among the paan shop owners and they have become alert. So we have stopped our drive for some time. We will renew it after a few days and organize surprise raids at several places in the district at a time. We suspect that the gutka enters Kolhapur from Karnataka state and is sold on the sly. The shop owners sell the gutka only to a select customers they know.

Priority for parking, sanitation during Vaikunta Ekadasi festival

Collector Jayashree Muralidharan speaking at the review meeting on the arrangements to be made for Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam on Thursday. 

Planning of parking facility for vehicles coming from other districts to Tiruchi, special medical camps, parking of ambulance, and 108 service vehicle, construction of temporary toilets and urinals will be some of the arrangements to be made for the forthcoming Vaikunta Ekadasi festival at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple.

A department-wise discussion was taken up at a preliminary meeting convened by the district administration at the temple to chalk out plan for the festival here on Thursday.

Presiding over the meeting, Jayashree Muralidharan, District Collector, said the festival would commence on December 21 with the recital of ‘Tirunedunthandagam’ and conclude on January 11, 2015. As the main festival of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ falls on New Year’s Day, the district administration has planned to take up additional arrangements. She said that round-the-clock power supply would be ensured for three days (December 31, January 1 and 2) when a large congregation of devotees would gather at the temple. This was a preliminary meeting and the second meeting would be held close to the festival. A. Jaya, Mayor, said that water tanks would be set up at 51 places. Temporary toilets would also be set up at select places around the temple. V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, said that steps would be taken to clear pavement vendors, especially near the entrance to the ‘Rajagopuram’. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, City Police Commissioner, said that a periodical assessment of vehicles from all over the State entering the city would be conducted – first meeting 10 days ahead of the festival and second meeting two days ahead of the festival. Both the Corporation Commissioner and Police Commissioner said special arrangements would be made for parking the vehicles. Mr.Yadav said the vehicles from outside the districts would be parked at these grounds.

K.Chandra, Joint Director of Health, said that four medical teams would be stationed at the temple all through the festival. Each team would comprise a doctor, staff nurses and paramedical personnel. To meet any emergency, ambulances and ‘108’ van would also be parked in the vicinity of the temple for immediate transit to the nearest hospital. A. Ramakrishnan, Designated Officer for Food Safety, said that free food packets should be distributed only after proper scrutiny by the food safety personnel. A special team of 22 officials from different parts of the state would supervise the hygienic quality of food packets. Those interested in making arrangements for free distribution of foods could contact him by dialling 98430 – 80106.

P. Jayaraman, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the temple, said that an information centre would be set up at the temple. Hassle-free darshan would be ensured for devotees.

Controversy Over 'Unsafe' Food Samples from KFC, Sagar Ratna in Delhi

The Delhi High Court has been informed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that rice and other food samples collected from three popular eateries in the Capital have been found to be unsafe. 

The affidavit filed by the department states that the presence of artificial colour makes these dishes 'unfit' for human consumption.The samples of 'Rizo Rice' taken from KFC at Scindia House in Connaught Place showed that it contained artificial colour. Rice samples collected for testing from Sagar Ratna restaurant in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar were also found to be unsafe.

It was also found that the samples of ghee (clarified butter) collected from various eateries were of 'sub-standard' quality and were 'misbranded' to mislead the public. Moreover, samples of fruit and vegetable chutney from the Bikanerwala restaurant at ITL Tower in Netaji Subhash Place was also contaminated with artificial colours. (5 Most Shocking Ingredients in Your Food)

Sagar Ratna responded by saying that the department inspected raw uncooked rice instead of what they actually use. "Sagar Ratna has had a lineage of providing great quality food, good service in a clean ambience to a large customer base, several who have been our loyal customers for years. We are aware of this visit by FSSAI officials to our outlet which was conducted in February 2013. We have been very cooperative throughout the entire inspection. The sample that was picked up by FSSAI was primarily the raw uncooked rice, we source this rice from various known brands of rice producers. The raw uncooked rice is firstly thoroughly washed and cleaned, boiled properly and then only it is cooked according to different recipes and served to customers. This is a standard and stringent procedure adopted at all our outlets. The matter is currently subjudice," says Mr. Murali Krishna Parna, CEO, Sagar Ratna.

KFC denied these allegations and the authorities have confirmed that their rice product is safe for consumption. "The recent news reports on KFC rice being unsafe is a case of misinformation. We only use the natural colour (beta carotene) which is sourced from highly reputed international suppliers, in our Rizo rice meals. The recent rice sample collected by FSSAI has also been analyzed from an NABL accredited independent lab at the same time and it confirms that Tartrazine or any other synthetic colour is not present in the product. We are confident of our product quality and are working closely with the regulatory authorities in this matter who have assured that the sample is safe for consumption and no proceedings have been initiated against KFC," they stated.

Sometime back, a Food consultant revealed shocking secrets about the fast food industry that allegedly uses inferior ingredients which raised questions about quality control and food safety. (Shocking Secrets About the Junk Food Industry)

On April 30th 2014, a plea was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking an immediate ban on the sale of fruits and vegetables that contain artificial colours and harmful pesticides. The PIL filed by advocate Sugriv Dubey alleged that fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi are "coated with carbohydrate and other cancerous chemicals to increase their life span." (Simple Tricks to Remove Pesticides From Fruits and Vegetables)

On the High Court's direction, the department has been regularly inspecting food items in the Capital to detect artificial colours and pesticide residue in them. Recently, the Kerala government decided to take strict measures against food adulteration after receiving several complaints about pesticide-laden vegetables and fruits being sold in the markets.

No artificial colours in our dishes, says KFC

New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS) Fast food restaurant chain KFC Friday denied that it uses artificial colours in its rice dishes.

"We only use natural colour (beta carotene) sourced from highly reputed international suppliers in our Rizo Rice meals," KFC said in a statement.

"The recent rice sample collected by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has also been analysed at an NABL-accredited independent lab at the same time and it confirms that tartrazine or any other synthetic colour is not present in the product," KFC said.

"We are confident of our product quality and are working closely with the regulatory authorities in this matter who have assured that the sample is safe for consumption and no proceedings have been initiated against KFC," it said.

The denial came after the Delhi High Court was informed by the city government's food safety department that samples of rice dishes collected by it from two popular eateries, including KFC, here have been found to be unsafe.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the department said the presence of artificial colour rendered the dishes "unsafe" for human consumption.

Samples taken from KFC's restaurant at Scindia House in Connaught Place of its "Rizo Rice" showed it to be unsafe due to the presence of artificial colour, the affidavit said.

Rice samples collected for testing from Sagar Ratna restaurant in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar also were found to be unsafe.

DINAMALAR NEWS