Nestle resumes Maggi noodles production at all five plants in India

Nestle, which relaunched Maggi noodles on 9 November after a 5-month ban, resumed production at its Tahliwal plant in Himachal Pradesh
New Delhi: Nestle India Ltd on Monday said it has resumed production of Maggi noodles at all five facilities in India.
Nestle, which relaunched Maggi noodles on 9 November after a five-month ban, has started production of Maggi noodles from its Tahliwal plant in Himachal Pradesh. Nestle manufacturers Maggi noodles at its plants in Nanjangud (Karnataka), Moga (Punjab), Bicholim (Goa), Tahliwal and Pantnagar in Himachal Pradesh.
“The company has resumed manufacturing of Maggi noodles at its Tahliwal (Himachal Pradesh) factory. With this, the company has resumed manufacture of Maggi noodles at all five noodle manufacturing facilities,” Nestle said in a BSE filing.
In June, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned Maggi noodles, saying it was “unsafe and hazardous” for consumption after finding lead content beyond permissible limits. Nestle India, which took a hit of `450 crore including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned because of alleged excessive lead content, had stated that it would continue with the existing formula of the product and would not change the ingredients.
The consumer affairs ministry had also filed a class action suit against Nestle India, seeking about `640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labeling and misleading advertisements. It was for the first time that the ministry dragged a company to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) using a provision in the nearly three ­decade-­old Consumer Protection Act.

2 yrs on, food business operators wait for registration certificates

The health department is under scanner for receiving fees from hundreds of food business operators working in the rural areas of the district for mandatory registration under the Food Safety Act, but it failed to issue any registration certificate to them.
Operators were handed over receipts of depositing fees by health centres in their respective areas and were asked to show receipts if any health official visits their outlets for checking.
As the civil surgeon office was authorised to issue certificate to them but even after two years after depositing the money, operators are waiting for registration certificates.
Most business operators are shopkeepers, sweet manufacturers, bakery owners, flour mills owners belonging to Malsian, Shahkot, Lohian Bhogpur, Kala Bakra, Bara Pind and other adjoining areas, who had deposited `100 to `500 for registration between the period 2013 to February 2014.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, it is mandatory to have a licence for food business operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 crore, while those earning less than this amount must get a registration certificate.
A payment receipt of food registration issued by the health department to a general store owner at Malsian village. (HT Photo)

The registration fee is Rs 100 for the single year and the licence fee is Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 depending on the category of business.
HT went to Malsian, Shahkot and Kala Bakra areas and met food business operators who had submitted the requisite fees but yet to get certificate from the health department.
Sanjiv Kumar, proprietor of Laxmi General Store near Shahkot, said, “I had paid Rs 100 for one year registration on January 14, 2014 (a receipt shows) at the health centre but even after 23 months, no certificate was issued to me by the health department.”
Kumar told he used to inquire about the certificate from the health centre, but it gave only false claims of sending the certificate to him.
Joginder Pal, owner of Malli Sweet Shop in Malsian, told that he had deposited `200 at the health centre two years ago and also got a receipt of it, but he has not been issued any certificate by the health department yet.
When HT asked about the payment receipt, he said that it has been misplaced, but the department has not issued any official document.
“I had paid Rs 500 as registration fee for five years in 2013, but I have yet to get any registration document from the department,” Raj, owner of Pappu Bakery House, said.
Operators in other areas also complained of not receiving certificates even after paying fees.
HT also talked to several sanitary inspectors (SIs) in these areas, who were given the charge of asking food business operators for registration. Requesting anonymity, inspectors said that they had deposited the fees at the civil surgeon’s office at that time.
They added that they are helpless as they had themselves raised hue and cry with the senior officials but to no avail. They rued they are unable to tell about the status of their applications and fees.
Ramesh Kumar Hans, president, SIs association, said that his union is with operators and it would ensure them to get back their money.
Showing unawareness about this, civil surgeon Kailash Kapoor said it is a serious issue and if operators are not being issued registration certificates even after payment, the then district health officer (DHO) is responsible.
“I will call a meeting on this issue on Monday,” civil surgeon said, adding that operators should have also followed up their claims.
Food safety commissioner Hussan Lal said that the department would look into whole incident and he would ensure that those who have deposited fees, get registration certificates soon.

FSDA’s scheme to get your food item tested in Rs1,000 gets poor response

MEERUT: The Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) scheme by the state government that began in June this year is yet to gain traction in Meerut. As per the scheme, the laboratories are open to ordinary citizens - if someone is wary of a certain food item and wants it tested, he or she can submit a sample, pay Rs 1,000 and have it tested. So far, the scheme has got a poor response with only four takers from the city.
JP Singh, Chief Food Safety Officer, told TOI, "Only four items have been tested under this initiative - ghee, mustard oil, refine oil and namkeen. Out of these four samples, mustard oil was found substandard. Apart from mustard oil, all items were found up to the mark."
"Rs 1,000 is not a huge amount for a middle class person and the people who are taking benefit from this initiative are basically manufacturers who purchase food items in bulk. If a shopkeeper makes besan ladoos, he can get besan and ghee checked in the lab, and in case of any irregularity, he wouldn't face the wrath from the authorities," added Singh.
He further stated that the food sample test report cannot be used for legal purposes; it is only for their personal use. If the city residents find that the report for a certain food item is negative, they will have to ask the local authorities to conduct a fresh testing of the samples from that shop—which will invite a lawsuit if found negative.
When asked about the reason behind the scheme's poor response, Singh, said, "The government is not advertising it due to limited funds. Hence, most of the people are unaware about it."
You can get these tested:
# Milk and milk products # Oil and vanaspati # Fruits and vegetables # Cereals # Pulses # Sweets and confectionary items # Sweetening agents # Salt and spices; items manufactured using them # Tea/Coffee # Pan masala # Cooked food # Proprietary food

Conscious citizens walk food safety talk

LUCKNOW: From Vartika Singh of Miss India fame to madrasa student Rafia, people from all spheres of society walked for the cause of raising awareness towards importance of safe and hygienic food in the city, on Sunday. Organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in association with NASVI (National Association of Food Vendors of India) and consumer Body VOICE on Sunday, the WALKATHON was in alignment of Union Government's Surakshit Khadya Abhiyaan.
Guest of honor Vartika Singh flagged off the event and moved youngsters to spread awareness on the issue. "Safe, healthy and hygienic food is a basic human right and we at our end should ensure the food we eat is clean and safe. Youngsters can apprise the vegetable and food vendors in their vicinity about measures for safe preparation and handling of raw as well as cooked food," she said.
Raising consumers' awareness about food safety the speakers emphasised on shared responsibility of farmers, food industry regulators and consumers. Speaking to over 2,000 students present for the walk they appealed to them to make their family, friends and relatives follow the basic practices of food safety like washing hands before eating, cleaning properly raw food before it is cooked and making efforts to keep surroundings of eateries near them clean.
Students from 40 schools and colleges of the city along with guests pledged to contribute towards safe food for all.
Around 150 students from madrassas and Muslim orphanages participated in the trek. Listening attentively to the speakers, 15-year-old Iqra said, "I will explain this to my mother once I reach home. We all know the importance of clean food but at times we are ignorant about practices like washing hands before eating and avoiding food from vendors not following hygiene. From today I will follow it religiously," she said.

FSSAI should follow international standard: Harsimrat Kaur Badal"

As the food processing minister I have to answer a lot of questions when I travel abroad and to ask them to invest in India." 

India should open up vegetable and fruit retailing to foreign investors as this will help farmers get a better price while consumers will get cheaper rates, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said. She also said there was a fear psychosis and confusion in the industry after the controversy over Maggi noodles, the court order and the recent detection of impurities in packaged pasta in Uttar Pradesh. In an interview with ET's Madhvi Sally and Himangshu Watts, Badal said that if companies are in the wrong, they should be punished, but if inspectors are blackmailing companies and damaging them, strong action should be taken against them. Excerpts:

What is the mood in the food processing industry after the Nestle issue?
Figures clearly show that they have received a huge setback which we can't deny. The setback has been there in many ways besides what the Maggi issue did, even the courts declaring that FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) orders need not be followed anymore. So the industry is in a limbo. There is no clarity. So, of course, the industry is suffering and as per law, product approval is not required but as approval has been the norm for so many years, industry is not sure that if they go for it tomorrow what happens. So it much more important for FSSAI to create those protocols, transparent environment to what is needed and what is not.
You have an inside view of the government. Are things happening in that direction?
What I have been telling FSSAI is that we need to harmonise with international standard. So eventually we are looking at Make In India, it had to be in par with what is happening globally. So first step was that this product by product approval needs to be stopped, self-regulation needs to come in, transparent systems needs to be in place, so that a person producing knows what ingredient he can put in his product and the way it will be tested. FSSAI could go about monitoring the situation, rather than approving thousands of products which take a number of years to be on shelves. From 300 safety standards for food items put by FSSAI, they have now finalised 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients, which are in harmony with Codex standard. Once this system is done, it eases the situation. It is a step in the right direction.
Another ministry says the class action consumer suit against Nestle will continue.
I can't comment on what another ministry is doing. At the end of the day everyone is trying to safeguard the people of the country and ensure what they are eating is safe and healthy. I don't know why they took this step. They must have their reason and I can't comment on it.
Once the court's order came, one thought the issue has been resolved.
As the food processing minister I have to answer a lot of questions when I travel abroad and to ask them to invest in India. Unfortunately, with Maggi being approved in so many countries and Nestle being such a worldwide company, throughout the world everyone heard about this Maggi episode. So it's important for us to get our product approval system act together in place.
Again there are reports that some inspector in Uttar Pradesh has found lead in Maggi pasta.
When I said that the industry is under fear psychosis, it is for this reason also. Any inspector getting up anywhere and with the level of corruption at all levels, it's worrisome. This was a sitting duck for anyone to walk into and say that I have found this and I will take it up and ban it (product). It happened in my state also. Luckily those people were able to get through to me as I could be approached. When we checked the issue, we found that someone (food inspector) was up to some mischief. That's why it is important if what this guy finds that pasta is not ok, there should be a lab to do that test in a specified time, in the correct form and if the person has taken a wrong call, he should be held responsible for misleading and spoiling the name of the brand. It takes a lot of time to build up the brand and the name of the product. Someone come and chuck muck at you which is proved to be incorrect, you have lost your business. End of the day whether it was Maggi or anyone else, they did lose business, even when court declared all was ok. There has to be absolutely transparent system in place.

Food safety regulator and industry at loggerheads again

The bone of contention is product approvals, which pharma and neutraceuticals companies say cannot be re-introduced through the regulation route
The Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) and Vital Neutraceuticals, a city-based company best known for challenging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's product approval advisory process, are set to write to the government highlighting what they say are "illegal" measures of the regulator.
At the heart of the matter are product approvals again, which the company and the IDMA fought to scrap last year. It was the verdict by the Bombay High Court in the Vital versus FSSAI case in 2014 that paved the way for the scrapping of the latter's approval advisory process by the Supreme Court this year. The apex court in its order dated August 19, 2015, had declared advisories as being arbitrary and hence illegal.
The FSSAI has adhered to this directive but has also indicated it will bring back approvals once regulations are done. It is this move by the regulator that the IDMA and Vital are seeking to quash.
"There is no question of getting the product approval process back again because food safety regulations are based on the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. And the Act does not indicate anywhere that food business operators should be subjected to a product approval process if they have used ingredients in their products as per law. If they are looking to get the product approval process back again, this time through the regulation route, then they will have to amend the Act. Because all food safety regulations are based on the Food Safety and Standards Act," said GV Kamath, director, Vital Neutraceuticals.
The company and the IDMA, which was a party to the Bombay High Court case last year, will write to the Prime Minister's Offifce (PMO) and the health and food processing ministries apprising them of the situation. The letter was expected to go out in the next week, Kamath said, in view of the "urgency of the matter".
Ashish Bahuguna, FSSAI chairman, when contacted today, said, "Once regulations are formulated, the process of approvals can be re-introduced." He did not disclose when this was expected. But sources said it could take up to a year.
Some food safety experts have questioned the regulator's stance, saying if the list of ingredients under the food safety regulations of 2011 is being expanded then why consider regulating product approvals.

A TALE OF PRODUCT APPROVALS

June 30, 2014: Bombay High Court terms product approval advisories issued by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India as illegal Contention is that it is an arbitrary process August 19, 2015: Supreme Court upholds Bombay High Court verdict August 26, 2015: FSSAI issues notification, saying it will adhere to SC directive, but indicates at the same time that it would bring back approvals once regulations were done November 2015: Vital alongwith Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, which was a party to the Bombay High Court case, saying will write to PMO, Health & Food Processing Ministries apprising them of the matter

The FSSAI is fast-forwarding the process of notifying guidelines for proprietary foods, health and dietary supplements, food additives and neutraceuticals. These items are not covered under the food safety regulations of 2011, which operationalise the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Almost 12,000 ingredients have been put up on the FSSAI website for comments from industry. Neutraceuticals and health supplement majors were given till November 11 to post their comments, while food companies have been given till early next month.
The 2011 norms cover 377 food items, implying these products are standardised and the rest are not. A thin list of standardised ingredients has led to the regulator-industry fracas.
The move to standardise additional ingredients, experts say, will also bring India up to international standards under Codex Alimentarius, a collection of internationally recognised standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to food, food production and food safety.

Don’t learn it the hard way

There are several laws and regulations that prohibit false and misleading advertisements

Whenever you come across advertisements that you feel are misleading or false, you can complain on the website of the Union Ministry Of Consumer Affairs
Pushpa Girimaji 

I often see advertisements that are highly misleading and even blatantly false. As a teacher, I feel very concerned, particularly about advertisements pertaining to educational institutions that make false claims to attract students. Is there anything I can do in the matter? 

Yes, concerned citizens like you can do a lot to stop such advertisements and protect consumers, including students. Whenever you come across advertisements that you feel are misleading or false, you can complain online on the website of the union Ministry Of Consumer Affairs, provided specifically to deal with such complaints about advertisements. The website is http://gama.gov.in. The ministry forwards the advertisement to the regulator concerned for suitable action and follows it up. You can also track the status of your complaint online. 

I do not know if you are aware of this, but there are several laws and regulations that prohibit false and misleading advertisements. The Cable Television Network Regulation Act and Rules, for example, mandate that all advertisements transmitted through the cable television network adhere to the advertising code formulated under it. It also prohibits any advertisement that violates the Advertising Code for Self-Regulation formulated by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a professional body of all those involved in advertising, including the advertisers, advertising agencies and the media. 

Similarly, the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act prohibits advertisements pertaining to drugs and magical cure and is enforced by the health departments in State governments. Likewise, all regulators, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Reserve Bank of India, have formulated regulations to curb false and misleading advertisements in the sectors they deal with. 

While all these laws are meant to curb such advertising, the Consumer Protection Act gives consumers the right to seek compensation for any loss or damage caused on account of such false and misleading advertisements. The law also gives the consumer courts constituted under it, the power to stop such advertisements and issue directions for corrective advertisements. The consumer courts have dealt with many such cases of false and misleading advertisements, including those issued by educational institutions and awarded compensation to the victims. 

As I said earlier, the ASCI also has a code of advertising practice and as part of its efforts at self-regulation, examines complaints against advertisements and asks advertisers to withdraw those found to violate the code. You can thus also complain online on the ASCI's website. 

In fact, I would recommend that you look at the ASCI's website, ascionline.org. The ASCI has a code for educational institutions and it would help you in your endeavor if you go through it. 

Can you quote a couple of cases pertaining to educational institutions with regard to their advertising? 

In Buddhist Mission Dental College and Hospital Vs Bhupesh Khurana and Others (Civil appeal no 1135 of 2001), the Supreme court came down heavily on the college 'for playing with the careers of students', resulting in the loss of two academic years and awarded a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of the eleven students who had filed the appeal. 

This was in addition to the relief given by the apex consumer court (the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission) which had directed the college to refund the fees collected from the students, along with 12 per cent interest and also pay Rs 20,000 as compensation to each of them. 

 In this case, the college had falsely claimed in its advertisement that it was affiliated to Magadh University and was recognised by the Dental Council of India. 

In Tesol India Vs Shri Govind Singh Patwal (RP No 2501 of 2010), the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the college guilty of unfair trade practice for promising 'guaranteed overseas jobs' in its advertisements and asked the college to refund the fee along with interest and costs of litigation to the six students who had lodged the complaint, saying that the promised jobs were not provided. In addition, the Commission awarded compensation ranging from Rs 7,500 to Rs 20,000 to the students.

DINAKARAN NEWS

940 சர்க்கரை மூட்டை பறிமுதல்: தனியார் குடோனுக்கு சீல் வைப்பு

ஓமலூர்: ஓமலூரில் வெல்லம் தயாரிக்க, கர்நாடகாவிலிருந்து கொண்டு வரப்பட்ட, 940 சர்க்கரை மூட்டைகளை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

சேலம் மாவட்டம், ஓமலூர் மற்றும் அதை சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதியில் வெல்லம் தயாரிக்கும் ஆலைகள் செயல்படுகிறது. இவர்களில் சிலர், விதிமுறை மீறி, சர்க்கரை மூலம் வெல்லம் தயாரிக்கும் பணியில் ஈடுபடுகின்றனர். இதையடுத்து, சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையிலான குழுவினர், நேற்று, ஓமலூர் அடுத்த, நாலுகால்பாலம், சர்க்கரைசெட்டிப்பட்டி, காமலாபுரம் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதியில், வாகன தணிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்டனர். அப்போது, அவ்வழியாக சென்ற மூன்று மினி லாரிகளை மடக்கி விசாரித்தனர். அவர்கள், கர்நாடகாவில் இருந்து, 240 சர்க்கரை மூட்டைகளை, வெல்லம் தயாரிக்கும் ஆலைக்கு கொண்டு செல்ல முயன்றது. அதையடுத்து, அந்த சர்க்கரை மூட்டைகளை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து, லாரியில் வந்த பன்னீர்செல்வம், குமார், பழனிவேல் ஆகியோரிடம் விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர். மேலும், காமலாபுரம் பகுதியில் சோதனையிட்ட போது, அங்கு தனியார் அரிசி குடோனில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த, 700 சர்க்கரை மூட்டைகளை பறிமுதல் செய்து, அந்த குடோனுக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்து விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

Nestle India Questions Lucknow Lab Test on Pasta

NEW DELHI: Nestle India, which is facing a fresh controversy over its pasta products after Maggi noodles, today questioned the validity of lab test done by the Uttar Pradesh government saying it was neither "NABL accredited" nor "notified by FSSAI".

Reiterating that its MAGGI Pazzta is 100 per cent safe, Nestle India said that Lucknow-based National Foods Analysis Laboratory and its reports can not be relied upon.

"The media reports also mention that the tests have been conducted at National Foods Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow. The laboratory is not National Accreditation Board For Testing And Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited nor is notified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The results of the laboratories which are not accredited cannot be relied upon," said a Nestle India spokesperson.

The company further added that it came to know about the alleged presence of lead in its pasta through media reports only, and it is investigating these claims.

"We have not received any formal notification from the authorities in UP or from the FSSAI about such test results," he said adding: "We will work with the authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible."

On Friday, a Uttar Pradesh state government official has claimed that they had foundpresence of lead in Nestle's Pazzta beyond permissible limits.

Pasta samples collected from Nestle distributor -- Sriji Traders -- at Mau district in the state on June 10, were sent to a government food testing laboratory in Lucknow, designated Officer at Food and Drug Administration,Mau, Arvind Yadav said on Friday.

"According to report received on September 2, they failed the tests," he added.

"The standard limit is 2.5 PPM (parts per million) while it has been found to be 6 PPM. The letter informing Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address has come back here undelivered," Mr Yadav said.

As per the company's website, Nestle sells pasta under its brand Maggi Pazzta in four flavours - Masala Penne, Cheese Macaroni, Mushroom Penne and Tomato Twist.

Maggi pasta unsafe, doubts UP lab

Foods maker Nestle has landed in trouble yet again with its pasta food samples. After tests being conducted at a food testing laboratory in Uttar Pradesh, the pasta was found to be carrying lead beyond the permissible limits.

An officer at the Food and Drug Administration, said that after Maggi, the sample of macroni pasta was taken from Mau and sent to the National Food Analysis Laboratory in Lucknow.

He said that the samples contained 6 PPM, which is much more than the permissible limit, that can't exceed the standard limit of 2.5 parts per million (PPM).

Nestle India has said, it was not aware of any test done on its pasta brands. The company's spokesperson said that they would need to see the contents of reports and confirm whether the tests were conducted at FSSAI Notified and NABL accredited laboratory that has the expertise and is certified for testing lead under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The spokesperson also said that Nestle's products are safe for consumption.

Fresh trouble for Nestle: UP lab finds Maggi Pazzta sample with excess lead

Nestle claims it never got any notice from Lucknow lab, says its product ‘100% safe’

Days after it relaunched its instant Maggi noodles, the Nestle India has landed in fresh trouble, with its pasta products —- sold under the brand name Maggi Pazzta —- found to be carrying lead beyond permissible limits in tests carried out at state-owned food testing laboratory in Lucknow. The company, however, said its products are safe to consume.

Pazzta samples collected from Nestle distributor – Sriji Traders – in Mau on June 10, were sent to a government food testing laboratory in Lucknow, said Arvind Yadav, designated officer at food and drug administration (FDA), Mau.

“The samples were taken from Mau and sent to National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow. According to report received on September 2, the samples failed the tests. The standard limit is 2.5 PPM (parts per million) while it has been found to be 6 PPM (in the samples),” Yadav said.

The official said a letter informing the Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address a month ago “has come back here undelivered”. Yadav also showed the undelivered letter to media persons.

The company, however, said that it has not received any formal notification from the authorities in UP or from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) about such results, but added that , “We will work with authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”

“Maggi Pazzta is 100 per cent safe. The finished product and the raw materials used to make it undergo rigorous testing during every stage of the manufacturing process. We have seen media reports claiming that lead has been found in the product and we are investigating. We regret the confusion that these reports may be causing. They are safe to consume,” a Nestle India spokesperson said in a statement.

However, FDA officer Yadav said, “On the basis of the report, this food product now comes under the ‘unsafe food category’.”

“The report has been sent to the FDA Commissioner (Lucknow) on October 12 for sanction to lodge a case and in case it is received, it will be filed in the court of the CJM here,” Yadav said.

The official, to questions, said, “It can also lead to banning the product”.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivasatav said, “The sample, which has failed the test, is of June and we will take immediate action on the directives…we are in touch (with the authorities) on phone”.

In June, Nestle had to take Maggi noodles off the shelves after FSSAI banned the product terming it “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption. However, the Bombay High Court later ordered lifting of the ban and fresh tests, which the product cleared. Subsequently, the noodles were relaunched.

UP Lab Now Finds Nestle Pasta Unsafe, Lead Beyond Permissible Limit

After Maggi noodles, Nestle's pasta has now landed in trouble as its samples, tested at a state-owned food testing laboratory, were found to be carrying lead beyond permissible limits, a state government official said today.

Pasta samples collected from Nestle distributor -- Sriji Traders -- here on June 10, were sent to a government food testing laboratory in Lucknow, said Arvind Yadav, Designated Officer at Food and Drug Administration Mau.

The company, however, said its products are safe to consume.

"We will work with the authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," Nestle India said in a statement.

"After Maggi, the sample of macroni pasta was taken from Mau and sent to National Food Analysis Laboratory, Lucknow in which the lead was found to be much more that the permissible limit," Yadav said.

"According to report received on September 2, they failed the tests," the officer said.

"The standard limit is 2.5 PPM (parts per million) while it has been found to be 6 PPM. The letter informing Nestle company sent at its Modinagar address has come back here undelivered," Yadav said.

Yadav also showed the undelivered letter to media persons.

He also said, "On the basis of the report, this food product now comes under the 'unsafe food category'."

"The report has been sent to the FDA Commissioner (Lucknow) on October 12 for sanction to lodge a case and in case it is received, it will be filed in the court of the CJM here," Yadav said.

The official, to questions, said, "It can also lead to banning the product."

"They (Nestle) were sent a letter over a month ago, intimating them about the results. They had a month's time to appeal against the test but the letter sent by the FDA was not received by the company and was returned here," Yadav said.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivasatav also said, "The sample which has failed the test is of June and we will take immediate action on the directives... We are in touch (with the authorities) on phone."

In its statement, Nestle said, "We have not received any formal notification from the authorities in UP or from the FSSAI about such results."

Stating that Maggi Pazzta is 100 per cent safe, the company further said, "The finished product and the raw materials used to make it undergo rigorous testing during every stage of the manufacturing process."

In June, Nestle had to take Maggi noodles off the shelves, after some states decided to ban it.

The move came after Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned Maggi instant noodles, terming them "unsafe and hazardous" for human consumption.

However, the Bombay High Court later ordered lifting of the ban and fresh tests, which the product cleared

State food lab says it has no idea about samples taken from KFC

HYDERABAD: Four months after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) lifted food samples from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets for tests at the State Food Laboratory (SFL), RTI activists are stumped by the conflicting versions being given by the two state bodies. 

City-based RTI activist Bakka Judson sought the status of the KFC samples by filing two applications before GHMC's food safety wing and SFL. But, both passed the buck on to each other. 

When asked about the details of samples it tested from June 2014 to August 2015, the chief public analyst of Nacharam-based SFL said: "...the information regarding KFC is not available with the lab as it is not mentioned in the memorandum to food analyst." 

"This is surprising as the admission by SFL of not having any information on KFC only goes on to show that health of the people is not a priority for the GHMC's food safety department. In other words, it only means that they did not receive the samples at all," said Bakka Judson. 

Under the memorandum to food analyst Form-VI, a food safe ty officer is required to fill details like code number, date and place of collection, name and nature of articles etc. before sending the same to the food analyst for testing. 

However, what raises more eyebrows is the claim made by the GHMC's food safety wing in another RTI reply dated November 13 (copy with TOI) that they sent 42 KFC samples as `surveillance samples for bacteriological analysis purpose and sent the same to the state food safety laboratory'. 

In its reply, the superintendent of the GHMC's health and sanitation department said that on June 26 and June 27, food safety officials of GHMC lifted 42 food samples from `various outlets of KFC in GHMC limits under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and rules made thereunder for analysis purpose and sent the same to the state food laboratory'. 

It may be recalled that soon after the samples were lifted, KFC. owned by Yum! Restaurants India Pvt. Ltd, obtained an interim stay order from the High Court on July 7 by filing a writ petition against commissioner of food safety , Telangana, following which the latter filed a petition to vacate the stay .The petition is yet to be heard. 

When contacted, Dr T Damodar, one of the food safety officers (FSDOs) in GHMC's health and sanitation department, said that he could not immediately respond without seeing the RTI replies furnished by the two state government bodies.

'Dal crisis' is a man-made scam: India Today probe reveals cartel of price-fixers in Naya Bazaar

The dal crisis which recently hit the country was more man-made than natural, a special investigation by India Today TV has revealed.
The channel caught on camera middlemen and forward traders dealing in Delhi’s biggest commodity market - Naya Bazaar - explaining how not just dal, but much of the agricultural produce in India is priced by a cartel of big dealers.
In April this year the price of arhar dal suddenly spiked - dal that was available in the market for less than Rs 70 a kg, jumped to over Rs 200.
While commodity traders blamed untimely rains, an India Today TV special investigation conducted over three weeks exposed that the real culprits were hoarders sitting in Old Delhi.

Posing as farmers who were looking to sell their crop of arhar in the market, the team spoke to several commodity traders who explained how the entire racket is run.
“Big hoarders and commodity traders keep track of agricultural production in such states as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. They specially depute a person to track the production and the yearly fluctuations. Thus, they do a complete data analysis. Then they pick up a commodity whose production has been weak - the “loose point” - and start tugging its price. This time arhar was the loose point. It is also happening to urad, which unlike arhar, is not even imported. This is complete fixing,” said one of the dal ‘fixers’ Mohan Lal (name changed).
According to the India Today TV investigation, the big traders of Naya Bazaar act as a cartel. They first engage experts who survey crops in major agricultural states and estimate the prospective yields of each crop.
Another fixer Rajesh Bhalla (name changed) explained the modus operandi.
“While a common man does not know how prices will fare in next 15 days, big firms engaged in commodity trading are in a position to know well beyond that as they hoard a lot. This time for arhar dal, there was just one crop coming in from South Africa. There was less crop in India already. Stock was almost nil. They also measured the stock in Mumbai, then started increasing prices in the market,” Anand said.

The India Today TV team found that the dal scam had its tentacles spread from Myanmar all the way to African countries

The price of arhar dal had shot up to over Rs 200 per kg. The rise is allegedly manufactured by a cartel of big dealers in Naya Bazaar.
According to the India Today TV investigation, while forward trading in agricultural commodities is legal in India, people such as Lal and Bhalla do not operate at the official NCDEX Agricultural Commodity Exchange. Instead, they bet in an illegal ‘satta’ market that operates out of Naya Bazaar. Here the future price of a commodity has little correspondence to the actual produce, instead it depends on manoeuvrings of speculators who scheme many months in advance to make a killing.
Lal told India Today TV that big firms that had hoarded large sums of dal or other produce sell it on their own terms by keeping a margin. While it may appear they stand to loose and not profit if one sees daily fluctuations, it is not so as these companies work over a long term, 3-4 months.
The investigation further revealed that this was just tip of the iceberg. The satta operators manufactured an artificial scarcity.
The India Today TV team found that the dal scam had its tentacles spread from Myanmar all the way to African countries which are major pulses producers. Big importers, mostly based in Mumbai, sent procurement agents to these countries.
Everything is perfectly calculated: how much dal has been produced in India, how long will it take for stocks from Myanmar and Africa to reach India, etc. Importers take delivery of the stock, but hoard it at foreign ports so that prices shoot up in the Indian market.
“Ships from Myanmar carrying tonnes of dal are made to halt for days at ports in Singapore; those coming in from Africa are asked to slow their journey to India. The aim is simple, to create scarcity in India,” claimed Bhalla.
On being asked why rates of foreign imports went up and ours down, he casually said: “It’s all manipulation sir. That’s imported stuff, available in bulk.”
If these fixers are to be believed, the imported stock, available for cheap in bulk, is then sold at inflated prices in India. Mill owners are forced to purchase dal from importers at these hugely inflated rates, who then spike the rates in the wholesale market. Small retailers charge their own premium, making dal unaffordable for consumers.
An importer-retailer nexus exists across Asia and Africa. While these importers and fixers make a killing by manipulating dal prices, farmers struggle to get even the bare minimum for their crops.
As per India Today TV’s findings, arhar might have been the latest target of the commodity cartel, it was by no means an isolated case.
Mewa Singh (name changed) who owns a shop in the Gali Jatwara at Naya Bazaar confidently told the India Today TV team to brace for a spike in the prices of masur and urad next.
“The pulses produced in UP are of better quality this year. The prices will go up by Rs 20-30. Prices of masoor dal will be not as high as that of black dal. Right now black dal is Rs 92-93 a kg and it will go up to Rs 120,” Singh said.

Deadly dal makes a comeback

Khesari pulse which can cause paralysis and was banned in 1961 creeps back into NCR markets as arhar prices soar 

Dal is not just costly, it may well be harmful.
With the price of Arhar rising beyond reach of many consumers, local traders are mixing it with the cheap and low-quality Khesari pulse that was banned by the government in 1961.
A large number of complaints of adulteration have been pouring in from various parts of Gurgaon.
Khesari was once used as cattle feed, but its side-effects were found to be so dangerous that the practice was stopped.

+5 A team of food safety officials conduct a raid at a shop in Khandsa Anaj Mandi in Gurgaon
Experts say Khesari dal contains di-amino-pro-pionic acid which could lead to paralysis of the lower body. It could even cause numbness in the limbs and spine. But traders in Gurgaon have begun selling it to cash in on the Arhar crisis.
A Mail Today investigation revealed that rampant adulteration of dal is taking place.
On Thursday, Mail Today visited Khandsa Anaj Mandi, Dundahera, Mulahera, Surat Nagar, Begampur Khatola, Naurangpur, and villages surrounding IMT Maneser and found adulterated Arhar and Khesari Dal being openly sold.
Officials claim the situation is not as bad in Delhi.
“Khesari dal has been banned since 1961 and orders and circulars are issued every year. We have so far not received any complaint regarding such adulteration in Delhi,” a senior official from the department of food and safety, Delhi government, told Mail Today.

+5 Cheap and low quality khesari pulse was banned by the government in 1961

+5 Khesari pulse is being sold mostly in Gurgaon's industrial belt where a large number of poor, migrant labourers stay
Retail traders in Gurgaon said Khesari dal, available at Rs 40- 50 a kg, is being mixed with Arhar dal and it is very difficult to separate the two because of their striking similarity.
Many migrant labourers who consume it are not even aware of the harmful effects of Khesari dal.
The Khesari pulse was banned by the central government way back in 1961 due to its high degree of Beta-N-Oxalylaminoalanine, a neurotoxic amino-acid in the legume, which results in Lathyrism.
Khesari pulse contains 41 per cent carbohydrate, 31 per cent protein, 17 per cent total dietary fibre, 2 per cent fat and 2 percent ash. It also contains diamino pro-pionic acid which is hazardous to health.
Chief medical officer of Gurgaon Ramesh Dhankhar has constituted a team of food safety officials to raid places where Khesari is being sold. The team has raided 10 shops of Khandsa Anaj Mandi and taken samples of Khesari pulses.

+5 Food safety officials conducted raids at 10 shops of Khandsa Anaj Mandi in Gurgaon
“We have raided 10 shops at Anaj Mandi after we got to know that Khesari and adulterated Arhar Dal are being sold. Shop owners are selling these items at cheap rates. We have taken pulse samples from shops at Anaj Mandi and sent them to the lab,” said S D Sharma, food safety officer of Gurgaon.
Ramesh Yadav, a labourer from Harinagar locality adjacent to Khandsa Anaj Mandi, said people can’t afford pure Arhar dal, which is being sold at Rs 230 per kg, and hence they have been buying mixed pulses at Rs 90 to Rs 100/kg.
“We know the Arhar Dal available in the market is not pure. Despite that we have been buying it as most cannot afford pure Arhar dal at Rs 230/kg,” said Yogesh Kumar, another resident.
Khesari pulse is being sold mostly in Gurgaon’s industrial belt where a large number of poor, migrant labourers stay.
The Khesari crop is produced in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. It reaches Gurgaon through Delhi, Neemach and Hapur Mandi.

குடோனில் பதுக்கிய ரூ.2 லட்சம் பான்மசாலா பறிமுதல்

மதுரை, நவ. 27:
மதுரை உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந் தி யல் பிரிவு அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் சுகுணா தலை மை யில் நேற்று நக ரில் உள்ள ஓட் டல் கள், கடை க ளில் அதி கா ரி கள் திடீர் சோதனை நடத் தி னர். தர மற்ற, காலா வ தி யான பொருட் கள், தடை விதிக் கப் பட்ட புகை யிலை குட்கா, பான் மசாலா விற் பனை நடக் கி றதா என சோத னை யி டப் பட் டது. மதுரை சின் னக் கடை வீதி யில் ஒரு குடோனை சோத னை யிட்ட போது ரூ.2 லட் சம் மதிப் புள்ள புகை யிலை, பான் மசாலா பொருட் கள் இருப் பது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. இப்பொ ருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து குடோன் உரி மை யா ள ருக்கு அப ரா தம் விதித் த னர்.

Drive against sale of preservation salt

Stepping up the drive against sale of preservation salt as iodised edible salt, the District Food Safety wing of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has seized ten tonnes of preservation salt, packed for sale as iodised edible salt.
Couple of days after seizing two tonnes of fake salt, the food safety officials, led by Designated Officer M. Jagadish Chandra Bose, made a surprise visit to a salt pan near Sitharkottai on Thursday and seized the huge quantity of salt packed and kept ready for transportation.
The salt, packed in fake plastic bags and claiming that the iodine level was 30 parts per million when packed was found kept ready for transportation near the salt pan by one Kannan of Pullangudi, Mr. Bose said.
The packets had pictorial display as if it was edible salt, he said.
There was, however, no manufacturing and expiry dates in the packets, he said adding the mandatory batch and lot numbers were also missing in the packs. The warning that it was “for preservation only” was written in small fontand would go unnoticed by the consumers, he said.
The salt in crystal form was priced at Rs. 10 per kg and the packets were meant for distribution to retail shops in the district and neighbouring districts, Mr. Bose said.
Seasonal pans
After many salt pans in Tuticorin district remained submerged in water due to recent rains, there were attempts to sell salt produced in the district for preservation purpose as edible salt, he said. There were more than 200 seasonal salt pans in the district, he added.
Samples drawn from the lot have been sent to the Food laboratory at Palayamkottai for tests, he said adding further action would be taken after obtaining the results. He was accompanied by food safety officers Chellapandi, Karnan and Thangasivam in the raid.

IDMA worried over FSSAI bringing food products approval system

Indian Drug Manufacturers Association today criticised FSSAI's attempts to bring back the 'food product approval system', saying the move is against the FSS Act and if implemented it will put the Rs 45,000-crore packaged foods industry in jeopardy.
Recalling that a Supreme Court order had disapproved the FSSAI attempts for such a system, the association said this led to the relaunch of the popular brand Revital after its ban.
It also alleged the FSSAI is obsessed with bringing back this restrictive trade practice and urged the government to not allow the regulator to go ahead with any such draft notification.
IDMA chairman, nutraceuticals and medical sub-committee, RK Sanghavi said such product approval system does not exist in any country as no food authority globally enforces such laws for consumer safety, once the basic ingredients are approved.
"The industry cannot be told to follow a non-existing regulations. It is the IDMA and the Confederation Of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry (CIPI) which informed the Bombay High Court that FSSAI has been dodging with the regulations since 2011," Sanghavi claimed.
The association also said the industry cannot be barred and restricted to carry out its business unless food safety officers approve of that the articles of food are unsafe.
He said the industry will soon approach the Prime Minister and the Union Health ministry.

Standards for alcoholic beverages: FSSAI continues with the adventure

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come out with the proposed standards for alcoholic beverages. This draft is divided into six chapters—the first deals with general provisions, such as definition clauses, and the last with labelling. In the other four chapters, the draft lays down applicable standards for ‘distilled alcoholic beverage’, ‘wines’, ‘beer’ and ‘low alcoholic beverages’. Within these chapters, the beverages are classified according to various known types (brandy, whiskey and so on) and various sub-types within each type.
This very structuring is an area of concern. For each type of alcohol, the draft uses the phrase “(this spirit) shall be of the following types.” For instance, in the section governing ‘liqueur/alcoholic cordials’, there is a general definition provided for this type of alcohol. This is followed by the statement that “(liqueur/alcoholic cordials) shall be of the following types,” and thereafter lists nine sub-types. This may be interpreted to imply that only those subs-types exhaustively constitute ‘liqueur/alcoholic cordials’ and that other non-listed sub-types may not be covered even if they may fulfil the main definition. This structure is seen in many locations and the use of the word ‘shall’ in such context and implying a limitation in the varieties doesn’t serve any stated public purpose.
Old wine in new, broken bottle
The proposed draft has been mostly copied from the existing Indian Standards (IS) issued by the Indian Standards Bureau, though there are some interesting departures, such as proposed definition of brandy, which has been defined to be an alcoholic beverage “made from grapes and other fruits that possesses the distinctive colour, odour and taste of its own.” In the earlier IS, brandy could be made from grains also. However, a liquor made from grains alone would not fall within the definition of ‘brandy’ any more. If mixed with 2% grape brandy, it may fall under the scope of ‘blended brandy’.
Some strange modifications have been suggested and standards have not been updated. An example is the proposed draft incorporating threshold requirements of ingredients for various alcoholic beverages. Beverages like tequila, liqueur/alcoholic cordials and some kinds of brandy are missing from table-1, even though the draft requires such beverages to “conform to the requirements of table-1.” No characteristics are provided for several alcoholic beverages, adding to uncertainty. For example, while ‘grape brandy’ must be matured for at least one year in oak vats or barrels, ‘blended grape brandy’ need not necessarily be matured in oak vats or barrels; instead, a wooden vat or barrel may be used. With respect to liqueur/alcoholic cordials, the draft only mentions the use of fruit, cream, herbs and spices as flavourings. Other flavours like chocolate, coffee, nuts, schnapps, honey and caramel have not been mentioned, which may be construed as an implied exclusion of such other flavourings.
A major shortcoming of the draft is its lack of consistency and coherence. This starts right from the definition chapter where 18 terms have been defined, of which seven have not at all been used in the standards. The term ‘alcoholic distillate’ has been used in several places, but has not been defined. On the other hand, the term ‘fermented liquor’ has been defined, but has not been used.
While various standards have been prescribed for different types of alcohol, in several instances such as for wine, beer, low-alcoholic beverages, tequila, liqueur/alcoholic cordials, the draft makes no reference to the method of analysis to be applied or the tolerance levels allowed. For brandy and whisky, the draft makes a reference to the FSSAI Manual of Method of Analysis of Food 2015-Alcoholic Beverages and sets a tolerance limit of ethanol at +/-3%. The said manual itself does not contain any method of analysis or tolerance for all types of alcoholic beverages covered within the scope of draft regulations.
Chapter 6, relating to labelling of alcoholic beverages, presents its own set of problems. The draft clarifies it is in addition to the applicable requirements arising from the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011. The draft proposes additional information to be part of the label and clarifies some pre-existing issues. It refers to the need to include a statement of ‘standard drinks’, and for wines the label is allowed to carry the name of a grape variety, only if the wine is made using at least 75% grapes of that variety.
Under existing norms, alcoholic beverages are not legally treated as a single ingredient product and a list of ingredients needs to be printed in English or Hindi. This listing has to be in the descending order of composition and labelling must be such that it cannot be separated from the product itself. This has resulted in problems because alcoholic beverages from several countries do not always contain information on ingredients in the manner contemplated under Indian law and many are not in English/Hindi. Existing rules do not allow such information to be added as a sticker, post-importation in India. Unfortunately, these issues do not seem to have been remedied in the draft.
Given recent developments in the food sector, the efforts of FSSAI to develop such standards in a transparent and consultative manner is welcome. But the draft needs to get rid of errors and inconsistencies and provide a set of robust regulations for alcoholic beverages.
The author is joint partner in law firm Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. Views are personal

How effective are diet food, dietary supplements?

VISAKHAPATNAM: Targeting calorie-conscious citizens, various companies have flooded the market with products ranging from sugar-free sweets to oil-free alu-bhajjis, diet cold drinks, dietary supplements, slim tea and fruit juices. However, doctors and dieticians caution that all that glitters is not gold. According to them, those willing to take a short cut to weight loss don't even bother to find out how effective these products are or how authentic their claims might be.
Sounding a cautionary note, experts say all the slimming supplements and substitutes may not be suitable for everyone and may not yield desired results for a weight-loss programme unless supported with a regular workout regimen and balanced diet.
Dr Kutikuppala Surya Rao, a noted Padmashree awardee general physician from the city, said, "More often than not, the claims made by these products are a marketing gimmick. It's very important to check the ingredients, nutritional value and their percentage printed on the cover or packet. The problem with many of these products is that there's no scientific study done on them to substantiate their claims with data. Some don't even reveal the detailed formula or ingredients and amount used. And all potato chips do use some kind of oil while diet soft drinks are also not as healthy as people mistake them to be. However, if diabetic sweets or sugar-free sweets use artificial sweeteners instead of refined sugar or glucose, then it's a better option."
Diabetologist and head of the department of endocrinology at King George Hospital (KGH) Dr KAV Subrahmanyam rated diet food and nutrition supplements above junk food but said these foods can't be certified from the health point of view with surety as many of their labels often don't elaborate on the exact quantity of ingredients used or whether these have the right nutritional balance. "Also, there are several herbal weight loss products and drinks that have not been scientifically evaluated. For general public, their results may vary from person to person but we may not advice them for diabetic patients. Even if diabetics take sweets and drinks with artificial sweeteners, a stipulated amount of these should be consumed to prevent any adverse health impacts," added the doctor.
Coming to dietary supplements, dietician R Anusri, working at a city based-fitness centre, averred, "One should remember to use these as supplements and as not substitutes for regular meals. These can thus help in cutting down on the quantity of meal by reducing cravings or appetite or can be consumed instead of junk food to aid weight-loss. However, there are certain herbal products such as high protein and fibre bars or protein-vitamin drink which can be taken as substitute for meals as prescribed by doctors and nutritionists. But it should be remembered that despite claims of 'no added sugar' many of the chocolate-flavour products or fruit juice do contain some amount of sugar. The efficacy of slimming Ayurveda capsules has also not been scientifically proven. Therefore, those trying to lose weight should opt for fresh fruits and vegetables as well as high fibre, low-carb eatables such as oats and dal items rather than depending only on costly food supplements."
"Moreover, there are contraindications for such dietary supplements as well. Diabetic and gastric patients and pregnant women should not start consuming the supplements on their own unless recommended by doctors. Too much of protein concentration on the body can lead to nutritional imbalance or depending on the body type some people may suffer from allergies if a particular supplement doesn't suit them," added the dietician.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI), a dietary supplement is defined as a product taken by mouth that contains a dietary ingredient and / or a new dietary ingredient intended to supplement the diet. The dietary ingredients in these products may include: vitamins, minerals herbs or other botanicals, amino acids and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandular and metabolites.
These are foods, which are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements, which exist because of a particular physical or physiological condition or specific diseases and disorders. The composition of these foodstuffs must differ significantly from the composition of ordinary foods of comparable nature, and may contain one or more of the following ingredients, namely - plants or botanicals or their parts in the form of powder, concentrate or extract in water, ethyl alcohol or hydro alcoholic extract, single or in combination; minerals or vitamins or proteins or metals or their compounds or amino acids (in amounts not exceeding the Recommended Daily Allowance for Indians) or enzymes (within permissible limits); substances from animal origin and a dietary substance for use by human beings to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake. Such foods should not have any hormones, steroids or psychotropic ingredients added to them as per Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

5 Unknown Facts About Hidden Toxins In an Indian Diet

There is a multitude of reasons the mystical South Asian country India, is famous. The rich cultural heritage, the superfluity of colors, the glorious hospitality and not to forget, the culinary extravagance are the key aspects that make India widely popular, the world over. While India’s gastronomical secrets may have reached even minuscule parts around the globe, one can’t ignore the fact that when it comes to food safety standards, India still has a long way to go. According to Food Sentry, a global food source monitoring organization, India tops the list of food violators in the world, followed by China. For a country that comprises of almost 18% of the world’s population, this data is indeed quite alarming and requires strict precautionary and corrective measures at the earliest. Here are five facts about the hidden toxins in an Indian diet:



Noxious Breakfast Necessities – What does your typical breakfast comprise of? A glass of milk, a slice of bread and maybe an egg? What if you learnt that none of these foods you consume on a daily basis are, indeed, fit for consumption? Shocking, isn’t it? Research suggests that 5-7% of eggs are contaminated and can put you at the risk of salmonella poisoning, a condition that can result in nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, headaches, fever, bloody stools and even pregnancy complications. This is mainly a result of the inhumane treatment and living conditions of hens. You may think that the bread you purchase from the bakery next door is fresh, however, it could contain contaminants like potassium bromate, a chemical added to increase the elasticity of bread. Potassium bromate has carcinogenic effects, and many countries have banned it for the same reason. Even the milk you drink every day may contain hazardous chemicals like gentamicin, boric acid and formalin that can all have a highly disastrous effect on your health.
Unwholesome Meal Essentials – Rice is one of the key staple foods in almost every Indian household. Numerous reports and studies suggesting the high amounts of arsenic content in rice found in many Indian states are making the rounds. High levels of arsenic can reportedly give rise to serious health concerns like DNA damage, melanosis, keratosis, skin cancer, etc. As per 2013 news reports, rice imported from India and China had dangerously high levels of lead in them. The excess oil and salt content in pickles, another popular accompaniment to Indian meals, aren’t the only reasons to worry about. Packaged pickles also contain the preservative, Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite (E 250) that can lead to the formation of nitrosamines in the body, compounds that can cause cancer.
Adulterated Beverages – Tea/Chai is by far the most commonly consumed beverage in India and turns out that there’s some adulteration even in that. Research suggests that packaged teas contain contaminants like old tea leaves, sand, sawdust, coal tar and iron fillings and can lead to liver, lung and skin disorders. A study conducted by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) found many carcinogenic compounds like bromates in bottled drinking water samples in Mumbai. Packaged juices and drinks also contain a host of artificial color additives that can increase your susceptibility to cancer.
Contaminated Fruits And Vegetables – Don’t get tempted the next time you see big, bright and juicy looking apples arranged neatly on the supermarket shelves – to make them look inviting, they may have chemicals injected into them. Chemicals like copper sulfate are used to color fruits and vegetables artificially, and they can lead to nausea and tissue, liver, and kidneys damage. Its excessive intake can even lead to shock and death. Oxytocin, a prescription drug is also injected in fruits like melons and papayas to make them grow big in size. Their excessive intake can have highly damaging results on your health by contributing to memory loss, nervous breakdown and heart disorders.
Toxic Packaged Foods – Dr. Suneeta Chandorkar, Assistant Professor, Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Services, MS University, Vadodara, in an India Today article stated that many Indian packed food brands mislabel their products to make them seem healthy. The tests, however, report contrary results. Though Maggi may have emerged victorious after having defied the claims that it contains high quantities of lead, one still can’t help but worry about the safety of consuming packaged foods. MSG, a common preservative and flavor enhancing ingredient in many packaged foods can lead to a flurry of health problems like migraines, palpitations, increased heart rate, nausea, chest pain and even liver damage. Artificial coloring used in sauces, cereals, candies, etc. can trigger a hoard of health troubles ranging from ADHD, nausea, high blood pressure, tumors, to cancer.
Above mentioned are just some of the many glaring reasons for you to increase your awareness and keenness about your food selections. Read the food labels, keep yourself informed about the latest food security news, ask questions, speak to people and watch out for any unfortunate cases of people falling sick having eaten at restaurants around you. Stay mindful, stay healthy!
About Author Aradhana

 

Aradhana is a writer from India. She covers topics concerning parenting, child nutrition, wellness, health and lifestyle. She has more than 150+ publications from reputable sites like Huffington Post, Natural news, Elephant Journal, Lifehacker and MomJunction.com to her credit. Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Food safety, sample tests low on health department agenda

The food safety seems to remain a low concern for the health department as the most of the districts in the state have failed to achieve monthly targets for collection of food samples or any other substance.
Out of 1,740 targets set by the health department, only 782 samples were taken up by the districts. Among these 45% collected samples, 31% failed test and were unfit for the consumption.
The major failing districts, include Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Mansa and Muktsar.
The Jalandhar health department was given the target of 100 food samples, but it collected only 56 samples in which 14 were found unfit. The Ludhiana department had a target of 250 food samples, but it collected only 73 in which 35 failed to pass standard test and similarly, 40 samples were collected by the Bathinda health department out of a target of 100.
Roopnagar was a district that had asked to collect 40 samples, but the numbers remained zero. In 2013-14, the shortfall in achieving target was around 80% in the most of the districts.
Moreover, the Food Safety Act has the provision of compulsory registration for all food businesses to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, but most of the districts have been lagging behind in ensuring complete registration.
Since online provision of registration since March 6, 2014, only 363 licences and 1,970 registrations were done by Jalandhar food safety officers till October 31, while it’s neighbouring district Ludhiana did 1,086 food licences and 2,275 food registrations in the same period.
The sources in department claimed that mostly local milk and milk products, bakery products, sweets and other samples were being collected every year as per guidelines issued by higher officials.
They told that senior officials fixed a minimum target every month but due to the lackadaisical attitude of officials, they usually fail to cover the target.
They added that the most drives start near Diwali festival when the sale of sweets gets increased and sweet manufacturers prepare items in bulk with complete disregard of hygiene and food safety. Sources revealed that most of the food processing outlets ignore the health of people in order to earn profit.

An official on condition of anonymity said that due to an interference of political leaders, the sampling drive against adulterated products is being affected. He added that the workload of official work and the shortage of staff are other reasons behind failure in achieving the targets.

FSSAI notice to Ramdev’s noodles

ROORKEE: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd (PAL), the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, has been served a show cause notice on Tuesday by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the sale of its newly-launched atta noodles in the country without approval.
Though neither Ramdev nor his deputy Acharya Balkrishana, managing director of PAL, have confirmed receiving the notice, Akash Yog Health Products, a local noodle manufacturer which produces atta noodles for Pantanjali, and a high-level source at PAL have confirmed the news. PAL's offices are situated at Padartha village on Haridwar-Laksar road here.
According to reports, FSSAI chairman and acting CEO Ashish Bahuguna had issued the show cause notices to PAL and Akash Yog on Nov 19, asking both companies to explain, within 15 days, about manufacturing and selling the atta noodles without due approval from FSSAI. Ramdev had launched his noodles brand as a rival product to Nestle's Maggi instant noodles on November 16 in Delhi. But the product drew controversy instantly when FSSAI officials said it was not standardized or approved by the food safety agency.
However, on the packaging of PAL, an FSSAI licence number is mentioned, and on November 18 Ramdev had denied any illegality as far as PAL was concerned. Since then, confusion has prevailed over the status of a notice from FSSAI as both Pal and Akash Yog stated they were unaware of it.
Akash Yog, which has been producing atta noodles for PAL at SIDCUL industrial area in Haridwar, has now confirmed that they as well as PAL have received the notice from FSSAI. However, the company's officials stated they have all the necessary permissions for producing the noodles, and have committed no wrong. "We have been producing around 22 tonnes of noodles every day in our plant. And since we are a British Retail Consortium (BRC)-certified company, all the work is done in accordance with international food standards. In fact, the notice is about Patanjali's marketing of the product, and not our manufacture of it. Therefore, the notice does not affect us," said Mukund Madhav, general manager (operations), Akash Yog, talking to TOI.
Meanwhile, PAL sources confirmed receipt of the notice but declined to comment further. CP Nagpal, vice-president and head of food operations of PAL had told TOI earlier on Monday that FSSAI's procedures for food manufacture was ambiguous and needed clarification. "They have said that our product does not fall in the category of 'pasta foods', under which we have registered it. However, they don't have any category for 'instant noodles', so what are we to do?" Nagpal had asked.

Indian Railways gives new meaning to food on the go with Foodpanda; Zomato in the works

Food lovers travelling by Indian Railways trains have reason to rejoice, thanks to a tie-up between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC - irctc.co.in) and 70-odd food vendors as well as aggregator Foodpanda.,
Food lovers travelling by Indian Railways trains have reason to rejoice. After incessant complaints over poor-quality food provided by it over the years, the Indian Railways has decided to offer passengers the flexibility to choose meals of their choice, thanks to a tie-up between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC – irctc.co.in) and 70-odd food vendors as well as food-delivery-on-demand aggregator Foodpanda.
Indian Railways passengers can now satiate their taste buds by ordering from an array of cuisines, ranging from a humble vada pav to chicken chettinad to continental food, in addition to the food items provided by IRCTC. Officials with the catering wing of the railways said talks with Zomato, a restaurant listing and service provider, was also under way. People can order food items online while booking tickets, or they can soon call toll-free number 1323 to place an order for the delivery of food on trains.
“We want to give a choice to our passengers. We want to ensure that we are able to provide whatever food they wish to have, and the tie-up with Foodpanda is another step towards customer satisfaction,” said RN Kalita, director of catering at IRCTC.
“We received all the necessary documents from the food aggregator on Thursday. Only the final due diligence is pending,” he added.
However, in the case of the Indian Railways Rajdhani trains, where the cost of the meals is part of the fare, there will be no rebate if a passenger opts to order food from non-IRCTC sources.
IRCTC officials said Foodpanda will initially start services from the New Delhi railway station and will later provide services through IRCTC at other stations. The Indian Railways caterer had earlier this year tied up with with over 70 food vendors, including Dominos, KFC, Travel Food Services and the recently-inducted Hello Curry. Officials said snack food giant Haldiram has also shown interest in collaborating with IRCTC.
Saurabh Kochhar, CEO of Foodpanda, said: “For long, consumers had limited food options to choose from while travelling by trains. But the newly-launched e-catering service by IRCTC is set to change the way Indians eat while travelling. We are excited to begin action in the Delhi station by December and are looking forward to extending this service to other stations as well.”
The Indian Railways’ food aggregator policy states that interested parties should have an agreement with food and beverage operators in 10 cities with valid licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The policy also mandates prospective parties to have a minimum of one year of experience in the business and a minimum annual turnover of Rs 25 lakh.
IRCTC has been managing on-board catering services in some Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and mail express trains and is also involved in static catering services across various stations. As a pilot project, it started providing e-catering services for seven trains in September last year, but with the Indian Railways directing IRCTC to implement ‘station-based e-catering’ on 45 major stations all over India, its portfolio and reach has expanded.
“We are providing 500 meals per day through e-catering (through various vendors), even though demand is not on a par with our estimates. We are confident that e-catering will pick up at a tremendous pace in the coming future,” IRCTC’s Kalita said.
IRCTC officials said they were confident the catering business for all trains in the country will be handed back to them in the near future, as was the case before Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister.

Uttarakhand to approach Centre again on Maggi

Will ask Centre to explain current position on the ban, if any, on the production of Maggi
Nestle India might have resumed production of Maggi noodles on Monday from its Pantnagar plant, the biggest in the country. But the move has put the Uttarakhand government in a spot, which is yet to get any response from the Centre on its clarification on the issue.
Top government officials said on Tuesday it would approach the Centre again on the issue. "We will ask the Centre to explain the current position on the ban, if any, on the production of Maggi," said Om Prakash, state food safety commissioner and principal secretary health. Prakash made it clear that the state did not receive any response from the Centre on the issue.
Nestle India resumed the production from Pantnagar after it withdrew its petition against the government ban from the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital recently.
On the other hand, since the 90-day ban imposed by the state government had also expired on September 3, the company did not wait for the clarification sought by the state government, the officials said.
Last week, Prakash had stated that the government had sought a clarification from the centre on the status of the "ban" imposed on the production and sale of Maggi noodles in the country. The Nestle India withdrew its petition from the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital in view of the Bombay High Court's order lifting the ban imposed by food and safety regulators on Maggi. The product was banned for allegedly containing lead beyond permissible limits. Nestle enjoys a host of tax incentives in the Pantnagar unit.

Consumer Court Reserves Order on Testing of 31 More Maggi Samples

The consumer court asked the government to provide a list of accredited laboratories for testing of the samples.New Delhi: The top consumer court today reserved its order on whether 31 more samples of Maggi noodles should be sent for testing in connection with the government's Rs. 640 crore suit against Nestle India for alleged unfair trade practices.
A bench of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) reserved its verdict after the Department of Consumer Affairs said it wished to test 31 more samples, which would be the last batch to be tested.
The department had said it had identified 31 samples from different batches in a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) godown which it would like to test.
The consumer court asked the government to provide a list of accredited laboratories for testing of the samples.
In its petition, the Department of Consumer Affairs has alleged that Nestle India had "indulged in unfair trade practices by false labelling of Maggi Noodles in as much as it states 'No added MSG' prominently on packet, despite presence of MSG."
Monosodium glutamate is a salt used in the food industry for enhancing flavour.
The department has also alleged that the company sold "defective" goods to the public with the presence of lead and MSG and indulged in unfair trade practices by offering for sale Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker without risk assessment and product approval.
Among other things, it has sought a direction to the company to recall all "defective" and "hazardous goods" with respect to Maggi noodles with Tastemaker in all its variants and Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker.

Ensure no further tests be done on Maggi: NCDRC to Centre

The consumer court asked the government to provide a list of accredited labs for testing of the samples.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on Tuesday asked the government to give an undertaking that it will not seek any further tests on the samples of Nestle’s Maggi noodles at accredited laboratories.
The commission, which is hearing the government’s Rs 640-crore suit against the company for alleged unfair trade practices, made the observation when the government’s counsel sought its direction for testing of 31 batches of the noodles at an accredited laboratory.
The commission, while reserving its order, observed, “Tomorrow you will ask us to send some more samples lying with some other people for testing. It will become an unending process. Are you ready to undertake that this will not go on…”
The consumer affairs department had said it had identified 31 samples from different batches in a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) godown it would like to test.
The consumer court asked the government to provide a list of accredited labs for testing of the samples.
The department of consumer affairs has alleged that Nestle India had “indulged in unfair trade practices by false labelling” of Maggi noodles. The department has also alleged that the firm sold “defective” goods to the public with the presence of lead and MSG and indulged in unfair trade practices by offering for sale Maggi oats masala noodles with tastemaker without risk assessment and product approval.
Nestle India requested the court that it wait until the report of the earlier testing was presented and any further testing may be based on the findings of that report. Some 13 samples collected by the government had earlier been sent for testing. The 31 batches that the department now wants to be tested have been collected by FSSAI.

DINAMANI NEWS

நெல்லை ரயிலில் கொண்டு வரப்பட்ட ரூ.பல லட்சம் புகையிலை பண்டல்கள் பறிமுதல்

நெல்லை, நவ. 25:
நெல்லை ரயி லில் வந்த பல லட் சம் ரூபாய் மதிப் புள்ள புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.
டெல் லி யில் இருந்து புறப் பட்ட ஜமு தாவி எக்ஸ் பி ரஸ் நேற்று முன் தி னம் மதி யம் நெல்லை வந் தது. அப் போது சரக்கு பெட் டி யில் இருந்து 67 மூட்டை புகை யிலை பண் டல் கள் கீழே இறக்கி வைக் கப் பட் டன. ஆனால், அவற்றை எடுத் துச் செல்ல யாரும் வர வில்லை. சந் திப்பு ரயில்வே சப்-இன்ஸ் பெக் டர் கேத் த ரின் சுஜாதா மற் றும் போலீ சார் பண் டல் களை பிரித்து பார்த் த போது அவற் றில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் இருப் பது தெரி ய வந் தது.
ஒவ் வொன் றும் 50 கிலோ எடை கொண்ட இந்த புகை யிலை பண் டல் கள் பல லட் சம் ரூபாய் மதிப் புள் ளவை. இதை அனுப் பி ய வர் மற் றும் பெறு நர் முக வரி இல்லை. புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை பறி மு தல் செய்த போலீ சார் இது கு றித்து உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை யி ன ருக்கு தக வல் தெரி வித் த னர். உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி காரி டாக் டர் கரு ணா க ரன், உணவு ஆய் வா ளர் கள் காளி முத்து, சங் க ர லிங் கம் மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் அங்கு வந்து புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை கைப் பற் றி னர். பின் னர் அவை தீயிட்டு அழிக் கப் பட் டது. தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை அனுப் பி யது யார்? என் பது குறித்து விசா ரணை நடக் கி றது. டெல் லி யி லி ருந்து ஜமு தாவி எக்ஸ் பி ர சில் நெல்லை சந் திப் புக்கு வந்த புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை போலீ சார் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

தி.மலை கிரிவலப்பாதையில் பக்தர்களுக்கு அன்னதானம் வழங்க கெடுபிடி ஆர்டிஓ ஆய்வு

திரு வண் ணா மலை, நவ.25:
திரு வண் ணா ம லை யில் தீபத் தி ரு வி ழா வை யொட்டி பக் தர் க ளுக்கு அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வோரை ஆர் டிஓ ஆய்வு செய் தார். அதன் படி, அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வ தில் பல் வேறு நிபந் த னை களை விதிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.
திரு வண் ணா ம லை யில் கார்த் திகை தீபத் தி ரு விழா கடந்த 16ம் தேதி கொடி யேற் றத் து டன் தொடங்கி நடை பெற்று வரு கி றது. இவ் வி ழா வின் முக் கிய நிகழ்ச் சி யான மகா தீபத் தி ரு விழா இன்று நடை பெ று கி றது.
இதை யொட்டி பல லட் சம் பக் தர் கள் கிரி வ லம் வரு வார் கள். கிரி வ லம் வரும் பக் தர் க ளுக்கு பல் வேறு ஆன் மிக அமைப் பு கள் சார் பில் அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வது வழக் கம். அதன் படி, இந்த ஆண் டும் கிரி வ லப் பா தை யில் அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க ஏற் பா டு கள் செய் யப் பட் டுள் ளது. இந் நி லை யில், அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க வரு வாய் துறை மற் றும் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் பல் வேறு நிபந் த னை களை விதித் துள் ள னர்.
அதன் படி, அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க முன் அனு ம தி பெற வேண் டும்.
அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வோர் கிரி வ லப் பா தை யில் சமைக்க கூடாது, பக் தர் களை அமர வைத் து தான் அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க வேண் டும் என் பது உள் ளிட்ட பல் வேறு நிபந் த னை கள் முன் கூட் டியே விதிக் கப் பட் டி ருந் தது.
அதன் படி, கிரி வ லப் பா தை யில் அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க முன் அனு மதி பெற்று அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வ தற் கான ஏற் பா டு களை அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு ப வர் கள் செய் துள் ள னர். இந் த நி லை யில் நேற்று காலை ஆர் டிஓ உமா ம கேஸ் வரி, தாசில் தார் பன் னீர் செல் வம் மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் கிரி லப் பா தை யில் அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கப் பட உள்ள இடங் களை ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.
அப் போது அவர் கள் பக் தர் களை அம ர வைத்து உணவு வழங்க போதிய இட வ ச தி கள் உள் ளதா, அனு மதி பெற் றுள் ளார் களா, வீட் டிற்கு பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் எரி வா யுவை பயன் ப டுத் து கி றார் களா என ஆய்வு செய் த னர். ஆய் வின் போது போதிய அன் ன தா னம் வழங்க அனு மதி பெறா த வர் கள், போதிய இடம் வசதி இல் லா த வர் க ளுக்கு அனு மதி மறுக் கப் பட் டது. அதி கா ரி க ளின் கெடு பி டி யால் பக் தர் க ளுக்கு அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு வ தில் பெரும் சிர மம் ஏற் பட் டது. இத னால் அன் ன தா னம் வழங் கு ப வர் கள் மன வே த னைக்கு ஆளா கி யுள் ள னர்.

அயோடின் கலக்காத உப்பு பறிமுதல் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை

ராம நா த பு ரம், நவ. 25:
ராம நா த பு ரம் அருகே அயோ டின் கலக் காத உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து விசா ரணை நடத்தி வரு கின் ற னர்.
ராம நா த பு ரம் அருகே தேவி பட் டி ணம் வழி யாக பெரி ய பட் டி ணத் திற்கு அயோ டின் கலக் காத உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு கள் ஒரு மினி வே னில் கொண்டு செல் லப் ப டு வ தாக மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி காரி சுபாஸ் சந் தி ர போஸ்க்கு தக வல் கிடைத் தது.
இதை ய டுத்து தேவி பட் டி ணம் சாலை யில் மாடக் கொட் டான் அருகே அந்த வேனை அதி கா ரி கள் மடக்கி பிடித் த னர். வேனில் 2 டன் அள விற்கு உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு கள் இருந் தன. பாக் கெட் டு களை அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை செய் த போது அதில் அயோ டின் கலக் காத உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு கள் இருந் தது தெரி ய வந் தது. இருப் பி னும் பாக் கெட் டு க ளில் அயோ டின் கலந்த உப்பு என பிரிண்ட் செய் யப் பட்டு இருந் தது.
உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை கொண்டு சென்ற கழ னி கு டியை சேர்ந்த முரு கா னந் தத் தி டம் அதி கா ரி கள் விசா ரணை நடத் தி னர். அதில் இந்த உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை தூத் து கு டி யில் வாங் கி ய தா க வும், பெரி ய பட் டி ணம் ஊராட் சி யில் கரு வா டு களை பதப் ப டுத்த கொண்டு செல் வ தா க வும் தெரி வித் தார். உணவு பாது காப்பு சட் டத் தில் அயோ டின் கலக் காத உப் பு களை பயன் ப டுத் துக் கூ டாது என்று குறிப் பி டப் பட் டுள் ள தால் 2 டன் உப் பு க ளை யும் அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். தொடர்ந்து உப்பு விற் ப னை யா ளர் முரு கா னந் தம், டிரை வர் அந் தோணி ஆகி யோ ரி டம் விசா ரணை நடத்தி வரு கின் ற னர். இது கு றித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி காரி சுபாஸ் சந் தி ர போஸ் கூறு கை யில், ‘அயோ டின் கலக் காத உப் பு களை உண வாக பயன் ப டுத்த கூடாது. இத னால் உப்பு விற் ப னை யா ளர் கள் இது போன்ற பாக் கெட் டு களை வாங் கும் போதே அதில் அயோ டின் கலந் தது என பிரிண்ட் செய்து வாங்கி விடு கின் ற னர். இதை ய டுத்து இதை அப் ப டியே கடை க ளில் விற் பனை செய்து விடு கின் ற னர். பொது மக் கள் இதை அறி யா மல் அயோ டின் கலந்த உப்பு என நினைத்து பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர். தற் போது இந்த மாதி ரி களை பாளை யங் கோட் டை யில் உள்ள பகுப் பாய்வு மையத் திற்கு அனுப்பி உள் ளோம். ஆய் விற்கு பிறகு சம் மந் தப் பட் ட வர் கள் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும்’ என் றார்.