Seeking Comments with regard to Draft Order on Meat and Poultry Products on the Indian Market

CCFI slaps legal notice on FSSAI for issuing organic certificate, logo

Mumbai: 

The Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) recently issued a legal notice to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for issuing organic certificates and logos to companies caught cheating consumers. 

In the notice, the federation alleged that the country’s apex food regulator let fake, wrongly-labelled and misbranded organic products deceive millions of people.

CCFI collected and shared 25-30 samples from across the country, where organic brands were clearly found flouting and misusing the certificates and logos issued by FSSAI. Some of these were manufactured by the biggest names in the Indian organic industry. The federation also alleged that these companies were spreading deliberate misinformation about conventional foods consumed by a large number of people.

Rajju Shroff, chairman, CCFI, said, “These are serious violations by organic brands who are openly flouting various provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011. These brands are also spreading fear among the consumers by printing unsubstantiated and unscientific claims.”

Although a sample of organic rava idli mix showed the FSSAI licence number, the label did not disclose the percentage of ingredients used at the time of manufacturing. And the label on a packet of organic chaat masala nor disclosed the percentage of ingredients, nor bore a FSSAI licence number.

To top it, it was found that the FSSAI has not booked a single violator for mislabelling products sold as organic in the past eight years. “We have decided to take FSSAI to court, because we feel they are not vigilant and apparently have no intention to crack down on such fake organic brands carrying objectionable, unscientific and unsupportable label claims.”

“FSSAI has also not drawn any sample of organic products from the retail market for tests in the past eight years,” said Shroff. FSSR, 2011 state that no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or expose for sale or dispatch or deliver to any agent or broker for the purpose of sale, any packaged products which are not marked and labelled in the manner as may be specified by regulations.

“The organic logo does not and cannot represent any health or safety or nutrition distinction over conventionally-produced farm products. It certifies that the product was produced using certain organic production and processing standards,” said Ganesan Shunmugam, public policy advisor to CCFI. 

The federation demanded that FSSAI take action against the organic food companies.

Legal notice

Mumbai High Court advocate Hiranya Pandey said, “My client (CCFI) obtained samples of organic products widely sold in domestic markets. They observed that the sale of these products in retail markets contravenes various provisions of FSSR, 2011.”

“It would like to state that the weak implementations of the regulations by the concerned authorities are responsible for this. CCFI also suspects the connivance of the authorities in certain acts of omission and commission,” he added.

“My client found flagrant labelling violations in the organic products sold in retail markets. They remain unnoticed/unchecked. The term organic should only be used on the labels of raw or processed agricultural products without regard to end-use properties of the product,” Pandey said.

“CCFI, therefore, would like to present some examples, with material evidence, to show the poor enforcement by FSSAI, leading to the production and marketing of fake organic products and the mislabelling of organic labelled products with all sorts of unscientific and tall claims on the package,” he added.

Examples

Sresta Natural Products Bio Products Pvt Ltd

Dry ginger powder

The company, based in Gundla Pochammpally Village, Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad, Telangana, sells dry ginger powder as an organic product under the brand name 24 Letter Mantra at Rs 600 per kg. 

Its label bears three logos - those of Indian Organic, United States Department of Agricultural Organic and IN-ORG. But it does not have an FSSAI licence number.

The package gives ten reasons for going organic, which inter alia state that children must be protected from pesticides that cause cancer. FSSR, 2011, is meant for laying down science-based standards. 

Pandey said, “CCFI seeks to know if the apex food regulator approves of such misleading and unscientific claims on the labels of organic products.”

“My client purchased a product, whose batch number was GAH 2014204 and date of packing was August 20, 2014, from Delhi. FSSAI ought to know that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) does not consider any pesticide to be human carcinogen,” he added.

“In fact, no chemical would be approved to be registered as a pesticide if it is found to cause cancer in humans,” Pandey said.

Organic chaat masala

Sresta Natural Products Bio Products Pvt Ltd also sells organic chaat masala - a combination of various spices - at Rs 900 per kg. But the label does not disclose the percentage of the ingredient used at the time of the manufacture of the food as required by FSSR, 2011.

Moreover, there is no FSSAI licence number on the label. Pandey said the product, bearing batch number GK12041720, was packed on August 7, 2014, and purchased by his client in New Delhi.

Phalada Agro Research Foundations Pvt Ltd

Organic rava idli mix

The Bengaluru-based firm sells organic rava idli mix at Rs 260 per kg. The label bears a licence number, but does not disclose the percentage of the ingredient used at the time of the manufacture of the food, as mandated by the FSSR, 2011. 

The label shows that it has been certified as organic by three certification agencies. The product, which bears batch number 022809 and was packed in September 2014, was purchased by Pandey’s clients in Delhi.

Brahm Arpon Organics (Pvt) Ltd

Organic uradh dal

The company sells organic uradh dal at Rs 136 per kg. It bears the Indian Organics logo and an FSSAI licence number. 

It makes a number of exaggerated claims, such as being high on nutrition, organic food is healthier than conventional foodstuff; conventional crops have a high amount of toxins; the use of composted manure reduces the chances of such diseases as cancer, brain damage or infant abnormalities.

The batch number of the product is URC5 CA-10, and the date of packing is November 12, 2014. 

“My clients seek to know if FSSAI has scientific evident to support the claim that the use of compost reduces cancers, brain damage and birth defects, as claimed in the label,” Pandey added.

JMC destroys 4503 litres of ‘Go’ brand milk

JAMMU: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Monday destroyed the already seized nearly 45o3 litres of double toned substandard milk of ‘Go’ brand.

Under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner, Kiran Wattal, the Food Wing of JMC headed by Health Officer, Dr. Mohammad Saleem Khan and Food Safety Officers lifted two samples of Double Toned Milk ‘Go Brand’ during routine checking in the month of August, 2014 from the premises of M/s Best Price, Wall Mart India Pvt. Ltd. Akhnoor Road and M/s Parag Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd. Akali Kour Singh Nagar, Digiana, Jammu (Distributor/Supplier) of Double Toned Milk ‘Go’ brand and were sent to the Food Analyst, Jammu for analysis . About 4,503 litres of said milk was seized and kept in the safe custody of designated officer (Health Officer) Jammu Municipal Corporation.

The Food Analyst reported the samples Mis-branded on 20th September 2014 and accordingly prosecution was launched in the Court of Law i.e. Adjudicating Officer (FSSA 2006) (Additional District Magistrate), Jammu by the concerned Food Safety Officers Ashwani Kumar and Parveen Gupta.

The designated Court after hearing, convicted accused parties i.e. M/s Best Price, Wall Mart India Pvt. Ltd and Parag Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd and M/s Parag Milk Product Pvt. Ltd by imposing a fine of Rs. 20,000 to the accused parties referred above and further ordered that the seized product being of perishable nature and also not safe for the consumers be destroyed.

In compliance to these orders dated 6th January 2015, the designated officer and Food Safety officers concerned on Monday destroyed the seized products in the presence of Executive Magistrate and local media.

It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu Municipal Corporation in its previous major drives on certain occasions also destroyed huge quantities of sweets, milk, milk products and other food articles being prepared under unhygienic conditions largely in the public interest and for safety of general public.

Ethnic food court on wheels

Taste of Malabar:Tourism MinisterA.P. Anil Kumar tasting ethnic dishes during the launch of ‘Durbar,’ the DTPC’s mobile food court, in Malappuram on Sunday.

The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) launched a mobile food court with the objective of promoting ethnic food items of Malappuram district.

Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar flagged off the mobile food venture titled ‘Durbar’ at a function held here on Sunday.

“Even when promoting the ethnic dishes of Malappuram, we are trying to woo foreign tourists to the genuine taste of the district,” said DTPC secretary V. Umer Koya.

“But Durbar will not confine to ethnic food items alone. It will provide all kinds of continental dishes. It will move along with the tourists and prepare food for them if there is demand. But its preference will be ethnic food items,” he said.

Prominent among the dishes provided by Durbar on the first day were ‘pathiri,’ coconut rice, and biryani. Other dishes will also be available on demand.

The DTPC had launched ‘Treat’ restaurants at some places in the district with the aim of introducing and popularising ethnic dishes a month ago.

The public response to the Treat restaurants promoted the DTPC to launch Durbar now.

Durbar can be reached on the phone 9746459570.

JMC launches drive against adulterated milk

Jammu Tawi, January 19

Under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner, Er Kiran Wattal, Food Wing of Municipal Corporation headed by Designated Officer Dr. Mohd. Saleem Khan and Food Safety Officers, two samples of Double Toned Milk "Go Brand" were lifted during routine checking in the month of August, 2014 from the premises of M/S Best Price, Wall Mart India Pvt. Ltd. Akhnoor Road,Toph Sherkhania and M/S Parag Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd. Akali Kour Singh Nagar, Digiana, Jammu (Distributor/Supplier) of Double Toned Milk "Go Brand" and were sent to the Food Analyst, Jammu for analysis . 4503 Ltrs of said milk was seized and kept in the safe custody of designated officer (Health Officer) Jammu Municipal Corporation.

The Food Analyst reported the samples Mis-branded on September 20, 2014 and accordingly prosecution was launched in the Court of Law i.e. Adjudicating Officer (FSSA 2006) (Additional District Magistrate), Jammu by the concerned Food Safety Officers Ashwani Kumar and Parveen Gupta.

The designated Court after hearing, convicted accused parties i.e. M/S Best Price, Wall Mart India Pvt. Ltd. Akhnoor Road,Toph Sherkhania and M/S Parag Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd. Akali Kour Singh Nagar, Digiana, Jammu and M/S Parag Milk Product Pvt. Ltd. Samundrapalli Village Pengeragunta Post, Palamaner Mandal, Chittor Disst. Andra Pardesh by imposing a fine of Rs. 20,000 (Twenty Thousand Only ) to the accused parties referred above and further ordered that the seized product being of perishable nature and also not safe for the consumers be destroyed. In compliance to these orders dated 06.01.2015, the designated officer and Food Safety officers concerned destroyed the seized products on January 19, 2015 in presence of Executive Magistrate and local media.

It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu Municipal Corporation in its previous major drives on certain occasions also destroyed quintals of sweets, milk, milk products and other food articles being prepared under unhygienic conditions largely in the public interest and for safety of general public.

Tetra Pak® concluded its food safety seminar with chef Vikas Khanna in Delhi

After receiving an encouraging response from mothers under their Right to Keep Food Safe campaign, Tetra Pak® concluded its food safety seminar in the city with celebrity chef Vikas Khanna recently.

Close to 250 mothers attended the seminar and were trained to spread their knowledge and become safe food ambassadors. Chef Vikas Khanna said, "As a chef, I am responsible for the safe preparation and handling of food and awareness about good nutritional habits. In the same context, every mother feels responsible for her family and child's food safety. I strongly recommend they become a part of the campaign as it is an important step in this direction."

Khanna shared his tips on safe food handling and cooking in an interactive session with the mothers, who were also given a tour of the unique Nutrition Quotient (NQ) website, a first-of-its-kind online programme on food safety, nutrition and packaging. The website has been developed by experts from the Indian Medical Association, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Dietetics Association, and the National Dairy Research Institute. They also urged all mothers to log on to the website www.nutrition-quotient.com and test their own nutrition quotient.

Nutritionist Ritika Samaddar addressed mothers' queries regarding food consumption choices and said, "Lack of awareness on the importance of safe food habits leads to poor health and susceptibility to infections. The rising incidences of food adulteration and absence of proper understanding proves that there is a need for them to have access to better information. I am certain these initiatives will go a long way in doing just that." Tetra Pak® South Asia Markets MD Kandarp Singh said, "We are encouraged to see the increased participation at the seminar and are glad that mothers are slowly becoming aware of the cause of food safety. Tetra Pak®, as a responsible industry player, takes pride in the Right to Keep Food Safe campaign and the Nutrition Quotient online programme. We think this will help mothers become more aware and make safer and healthier choices for their families."

Government may challenge World Trade Organization’s order to lift ban on US poultry imports

Talks with stakeholders continue on ways to protect growing domestic poultry industry from inflow of US chicken legs, which are cheaper by about Rs 100/kg

NEW DELHI: Competitively priced American frozen chicken legs may take longer to hit the Indian market as the government is set to challenge the World Trade Organization's October order asking it to lift a ban on poultry imports from the US.

Simultaneously, the government is brainstorming with stakeholders on ways to protect the growing domestic poultry industry from the inflow of US chicken legs, which are cheaper by about Rs 100 per kg. India banned US poultry imports on account of avian influenza in 2007, a decision the WTO called 'unscientific' in its judgment.

"We are ready with our argument and will be filing an appeal in a day or two to the appellate body. We are expecting an improvement in the dispute settlement panel decision, which will help us in future," a government official said. "We are committed to protect the industry with huge employment potential and are looking at various measures to that effect. We have had a meeting with the poultry industry and breeders."

India is the fourth-largest producer of chicken in the world, after the US, China and Brazil, with an annual production of 3.5-4 million tonnes.

Last week, China banned the import of US poultry and eggs after the detection of an avian flu strain in the Pacific Northwest. More than 20 countries, including members of the EU, South Korea and South Africa, have imposed curbs on poultry from certain US states or the entire country.

With US consumers preferring chicken breasts, the less-favoured chicken legs are frozen for export to other markets at highly competitive prices. "As Russia has also banned American poultry, they are really eyeing the Indian market to sell chicken legs frozen for the last four-five years at may be Rs 40-50 a kg compared to Rs 160 -170 a kg price prevailing in India," said another official privy to the matter.

The department of commerce called a meeting that was attended by representatives of the All India Poultry Breeders' Association and others to suggest ways to protect the domestic industry and assess the grounds on which other countries have banned US poultry. But as per WTO rules, national treatment must be accorded, which means the domestic industry must be subjected to the same rules as the foreign seller.

Given that the US will export chicken legs that are four to five years old, India could restrict imports to products that are not more than six months old, said a poultry expert. "For this, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) can come out with standards," he said. According to experts, India could also look at options such as anti-dumping duties to curb imports and use the argument that the chicken are fed with genetically modified food.

"US chicken is given genetically modified feed, which is not allowed in India. They are also injected with a lot of hormones," said an expert who asked not to be identified.The EU banned US chicken on account of chlorine treatment. An anti-dumping case could be possible but difficult."

If India files an anti-dumping case, it will have to allow US chicken for a year to assess the dumping margin or else dumping analysis can be done by apprehending the price at which US sells to different markets, which will be difficult," said the expert.