FOOD REGISTRATION LICENSING - FSSAI

About 1.75 lakh Karnataka FBO to be licenced and registered in 3 weeks

Out of the three lakh eligible food business operators (FBO) in Karnataka, about 1.25 lakh either got registered or obtained licences by December 31, 2014. Food safety officers (FSO) are gearing up to complete the remainder in the next three weeks. This figure includes businesses engaged in the wholesale supply, manufacture or import of food, among others. The state achieved this in the wake of a massive shortfall of FSO.

The total number of FBO in the state is pegged at six lakh, but 50 per cent do not come under the purview of the food licencing and registration system because they have taken the matter of complying with the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, to court. The issue is pending with the Supreme Court. According to FSSAI estimates, the FBO in Karnataka constitute a mere one per cent of the state’s population (estimated to be six crore).

Dr H S Shivakumar, deputy director, office of the Commissioner of Food Safety and Standards, Karnataka, told, “We are now working to ensure that 1.75 lakh FBO complete the formalities of registration and licencing before February 4, 2015 as per the Centre’s orders.”

He added, “The state managed to achieve this despite the serious shortfall of FSO. The total requirement is of 210 FSO, but we have just 60. Further, there is also the need for senior FSO and other designated staff. The food safety offices across the state’s 30 districts is facing a dearth of human resources.”

“Online registration has simplified the process of registration and licencing, so FBO have a big advantage. Now FBO need not come to the food safety commissioner’s office to complete the registration and licencing process. He may also seek assistance by dialling the helpline number,” said Shivakumar.

Karnataka’s food safety commissioner has also embarked on a massive information, communication and education (IEC) drive to ensure that all the FBO are aware of the need to seek licence and registration. The objective is to motivate FBO to comprehend FSSR, 2011, and its importance. The need of the hour is to ensure the highest level of consumer satisfaction, which propels revenue generation.

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are leading in terms of the licencing and registration of FBO. 

“Although there are efforts by many states to seek an extension to the licencing and registration deadline, Karnataka has not sought any such request. We are now in full-throttle mode to achieve the licencing and registration of the 1.75 lakh in three weeks,” stated Shivakumar.

Administration to focus on curbing food adulteration

Mansa, January 18: Vowing to curb the food adulteration the district administration of Mansa has started creating awareness among the all concerned with selling of food products and food items. The health authorities and the district administration along with the ADC (General) Isha Kalia as chief guest, met a number of businessmen, shopkeepers, grocery store owners, street vendors and others at the Bachat Bhawan on Friday and instructed the Health Department while motivating sellers to keep a check on food adulteration.

Raising concerns about the health of the public, ADC, (General), Mansa, also requested each of the shopkeepers, milkmen, dairy owners, and others who sell food items to always give priority to health of consumer.

Earlier, Mansa ADC (General) had imposed heavy fines on those found guilty for selling substandard food. He collcted fine of total Rs 5 lakh in two months in Mansa. As adjudication officer, the ADC, Mansa, in July 2014, held three accused guilty of adulteration and imposed fine of Rs 25,000 each.

In June 2014, Satpal Kumar of Budhlada was imposed a fine after being found guilty of selling substandard milk. To increase the fat in the milk, the accused, running the dairy, used to add some powder in milk meant for consumers.

A fine of Rs 2 lakh was imposed to defaulter whereas in May, the ADC (G) imposed a fine of Rs 4.5 lakh to total four defaulters in separate cases.

“Health should not be compromised at any cost and thus, all people attached directly or indirectly with the business of food items are being motivated to give priority to health of consumers. The awareness about the Food and Safety Act was also made so that the defaulters, if any, committing the crime of food adulteration would be booked under different sections of the IPC besides being imposed a fine.”

Dr Ranjit Singh Rai, Mansa District Health Officer, said, “Food adulteration is smudge on our system and it should be curbed. Nobody has the right to play with the health of the public while the defaulters who are selling the substandard food would have face severe action. All such defaulters would be booked under different sections of the Food Safety Act 2006 and fines would be imposed on them.”

Pieces of plastic in McNuggets

Last year has been quite bumpy for fast food giant, McDonald’s. After the food safety scandal in China, the company was seen dealing with its damaged reputation and falling sales and now the customers complain about the inedible matter tucked inside their ‘happy meals’.

Recently a couple of Japanese customers reported discovering pieces of plastic inside their McNuggets. Another customer, in the same week found a vinyl strip in a chicken McNugget .These incidents brought about a halt in nugget production at a plant in Thailand owned by Cargill Inc and the company recalled close to a million nuggets in a single day. According to Chuck Warta, President of Cargill Meats the plastic film in the nugget occurred outside of our production plant. 

Recently only, a dead mouse was found in coffee in one its Canadian chains and dental material and human tooth was discovered in fries. Reports suggest food is being served with hazardous, inedible material highly harmful to the customers. 

The dipping sales are indicative of its damaged brand image and dwindling customer support. McDonald’s Corp is getting back to basics after a string of disappointing quarterly results which accounts for 30 percent of overall revenue.