Adulteration issue: PMO asks food safety office to withdraw cases

A significant number of cases were registered against traders under the erstwhile PFAA and are pending in various courts across the country

Considering the plea submitted by the Chandigarh chapter of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) regarding withdrawal of cases registered under the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFAA), 1954, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has directed the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) to take appropriate action.

A significant number of cases were registered against traders under the erstwhile PFAA and are pending in various courts across the country.

According to CAIT (Chandigarh) President Harish Garg, many of these cases are as old as 20 years and are still in the initial stages. "Now with the PFAA being replaced by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, all the cases registered under the previous Act have no relevance. Highlighting the problems faced by traders, I had told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that all such cases should be compounded because there is no merit to continue these cases after the replacement of the Act."

Garg said the PMO has considered the issue sympathetically and directed the FSSAI to take appropriate actions. The move will help traders carry out their businesses in a smooth manner.

Garg also said earlier the issue was also taken up by the Central office of CAIT with former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, urging him to evolve a "compounding of offences". Alternatively, if compounding of cases is not feasible, then "fast-track court or arbitration or reconciliation proceedings may be initiated, to clear all the pending cases".

Plant Protection Code rolls out to make tea a safer beverage

The document deals with safe usage of crop protection products and methodologies

Plant Protection Code (PPC), a set of guidelines for regulating the chemical inputs in tea cultivation, was rolled out on January 1, 2015. The aim is to make Indian tea a safe and healthy drink.

The PPC is a comprehensive document, which deals with safe usage of crop protection products and methodologies that would be followed to reduce pesticide residues in tea.

The code encourages tea growers to critically review their plant protection formulations (PPF), which are a list of chemicals that are used in tea. The code is based on the Codex Alimentarius, which is a set of international food standards and guidelines.

Tea Board Chairman Siddharth said a roll-out was decided with some modifications. These include asking the small tea growers to give a declaration of their output conforming to the PPC before it is sent to the factories. This was necessary as currently this sector accounts for over 30 per cent of the Indian tea output.

The awareness campaign, now on among small tea growers, would be continued, a Tea Board said.

It may be mentioned here that recently Greenpeace had released a report alleging presence of pesticide residues in Indian tea. The Tea Board and industry had flayed the report.

The PPF, evolved by Tea Board, has detailed the chemicals that can be used in tea plantations making some exceptions for South India. It said that chemical use should be restricted not only in tea estates, but also near water bodies, wildlife habitats and human dwelling to check contamination.

PPF covers insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and bio pesticides. Tea Board noted that in spite of using PPFs, the tea industry loses nearly 30 per cent of its crop due to pests, weeds and diseases. The tea research institutes, which were engaged in the PPF exercise, have ensured that their recommendations comply with food safety standards as stipulated by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India.

Nine restaurants under FDA radar for being unclean on New Year Eve

Thane: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Konkan division, conducted a surprise inspection of 14 hotels and restaurants in Thane and Navi Mumbai on Wednesday night during New Year celebrations. 

Nine such places came under the FDA radar that did not follow general hygiene norms. There were several complaints about the sub-standard quality of food and drinks served, owing to heavy rush. 

The food safety officials collected 15 food samples, besides 13 liquor samples, in an effort to crack down on poor quality of food and drinks. The samples will be sent to Mumbai laboratory for further testing. FDA sources said that the test report was expected in a day or two, which will follow necessary action against offenders based on the Food Safety and Standards Act. 

"We conducted thorough inspection of nine hotels that found to be unhygienic and flouting general sanitary guidelines. They will be served notices," said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner of FDA, Konkan division. 

It may be noted that the standard for liquor was not decided under the Food Safety and Standards Act, which is why it is being opposed by hoteliers. "We want proper categorization of liquor to crack the whip on hotels serving unhygienic alcohol," said Pradip Raut, assistant commissioner of FDA. 

FDA collects samples of liquor, food items in Pune hotels

PUNE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials collected samples of prepared food items and liquor from various hotels in Pune on Wednesday to assess the quality of food and liquor served in the city for New Year celebrations.

"We asked our 20 food safety officials to each draw at least two samples of prepared food items and liquor from various hotels and restaurants in Pune on December 31. Around 40 samples were collected till late midnight which will be tested to check whether they conform to all parameters of safety and quality at Public Health Laboratory," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.

A week back, the food safety officers also drew six samples of liquor and sent the samples to laboratory for tests. "The reports are awaited. The aim is to ensure that the liquor sold in Pune conforms to specified quality and standard norms," Kekare said.

The samples of foreign liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor and country liquor were subjected to quality tests during a six-day drive. "The drive was primarily aimed at ensuring that all kinds of alcoholic beverages sold in Pune are not adulterated as sale of alcohol usually increases during this time of the year," he said.

Last year's samples of alcoholic beverages that were collected were found conforming to the quality standards. The samples were tested at the state-run public health laboratory, he added.

There is a perceptible rise in the sale of country liquor in city's slums and rural parts during the New Year celebrations. Hence, our officers had also drawn samples from country liquor outlets as well, Kekare said.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into effect on August 5, 2011, looks at various aspects of alcohol adulteration and divides them into various segments like substance or quality demanded, extraneous but harmless matter, misbranded items and unsafe for consumption.

"Since alcohol has now been classified as food, samples will be subjected to quality tests to ensure that the liquor meets FDA standards. We have to ensure that the quality is genuine and it is free of solvents that are injurious to health," said Shivkumar Kodgire, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.

FDA collects samples from popular eateries in Mumbai, Maharashtra

To ensure safe New Year celebrations for Mumbai, the food and drug administration (FDA) carried out checks on food items at eateries across the city and Maharashtra on Wednesday.

At the time of going to press, 19 food safety officers had taken 21 samples from across Mumbai and carried out 25 surprise inspections. The drive, according to FDA, continued till midnight.

The FDA had deputed 200 officers across the state. “We instructed our food officers to collect samples from hotels and eateries from the area under their jurisdiction for lab tests,” said Purushottam Bhapkar, FDA commissioner.

“The drive is massive. We are doing everything possible to get the results in time,” said Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, food, FDA. “If we find any irregularity, we will issue a notice. On getting the reports from the laboratory, we will initiate action against those guilty,” said Annapure.

The FDA said the food samples collected on December 31 will be tested within 24 hours. “The samples will be tested for adulteration as well as quality. The officers will be on field through the night and will visit party spots in their jurisdiction to collect samples,” said Bhapkar.

Shocking: Heaps of bones recovered from biscuit factory in Uttar Pradesh!

Moradabad: It may be a little difficult to believe but nonetheless its true. The Food and Supply Department recovered heaps of bones from a biscuit and rusk factory located in Katghar area of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, while conducting raid on Monday.

Confirming the news, City Magistrate, AK Srivastav said, “We conducted raid based on some inputs, have recovered heaps of bones,” as per ANI.

He also said that the factory was indulging in child labour. “Children below 14 years were working inside,” Srivastav added.

Though he said that it was a matter of investigation, it was “clear, under the circumstance the material was produced” that it was not as per established food standards.

The well known food factory is situated on Rampur road. The authorities subsequently cancelled the licence of the factory.

The raiding team sealed the factory and the samples which were collected were sent to the state laboratory.

Reports said that animal bones were allegedly being used for making eatable products.

Reports also said that the owner of the factory could face a jail term and a fine of Rs five lakh if tests confirmed adulteration or presence of ingredients which were unsafe for human health.

15 children were reportedly rescued from the factory premises The district labour inspector was summoned by the raiding team after children were found working in the factory.

The Centre had recently announced setting up of a task force to recommend changes in the Food Safety and Standards Act. This is the legislation which regulates food quality in the country.