FSSAI - HOLI WISH!

Amway seeks more time to present its side

Nagpur: Amway Enterprises Pvt Ltd has sought some more time from the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA-food section) to put forth its side before the administration, in response to the show cause notice issued by FDA on February 21 on recall of certain products. FDA has agreed to give the company some time and discuss the issue with Amway officials.

The need for the recall arose when the Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI) warned the company at national level to withdraw six of its products as they did not meet the FSSAI specifications. Following this the state FDA sent a letter to various cities in Maharashtra to recall these products. But in Nagpur, despite a recall notice of seven days, FDA found two of the products in two different inspections at the company's warehouse in Wadi and a showroom in Eternity mall on January 30 and February 27 (almost after a month).

Assistant commissioner FDA (food) NR Wakode told TOI that in the first inspection at Eternity mall by food safety officer PA Umap, Nutrilite Natural B 100 tablets (batch num 4363BK52 manufactured 12/14) and 160 Nutrilite Cal mag-D tablets (batch no 4365BLA1 manufactured 12/12/14) were found while in the second inspection conducted after the recall notice on February 27, a stock of 480 Cal Mag-D tablets and 120 Natural B tablets were found.

However, Amway has submitted that it will not be selling any of these products, even if the findings were true. Also the company has sent a list of 403 persons (probably of clients who are members of the chain marketing system) who have recalled these two products. "We trust the company and will wait for an adjudication till we discuss the issue on one to one basis," said Wakode.

After an earlier news by TOI dated February 2, Jignesh Mehta, regional corporate communications and CSR manager (west) Amway India Limited at Mumbai had clarified that the company had already withdrawn BIO C from the market. He had claimed that the current recommended dose of Indians was much lower as compared to WHO norms. Hence the company was selling the Cal mag-D and Natural B products with lower dose and changed labels. "However, this is also illegal until FSSA has given it a product approval," said Wakode.

On Wednesday Mehta in a statement sent to TOI said, "We are a law abiding corporate and are complying with the advice of the state FDA authority. We have given a detailed written response to the FDA's notice and have also sought a personal meeting to explain our stand."

Holi 2015: The Bitter Truth About Adulterated Sweets

The 'Festival of Colors' is knocking at our door. Holi is celebrated with much fervor and fanfare in northern India. No celebration is complete without sweets, and Holi is no exception. But while Holi is a time for merriment, we should also be alert about what we eat. Delicacies like Gujia, Thandai, Lavang Latika and Khoya Burfi are all synonymous with the festival.

Gujiya, a sweet dumpling made with suji or maida is stuffed with khoya. Sometimes, kesar(saffron) is added to enhance the yellow color of the sweet. But since kesar is very expensive, chances are kesar Gujia will only be available at reliable outlets selling branded products, otherwise chances of adulteration are quite high. While buying branded products, check the batch number, manufacture date, expiry date, food license number, as well as ISI or AGMARK certifications on the packaging. Also, make sure that the packaging has not been tampered with.

Paneer, khoya and milk are generally adulterated with starch which is used to give a thick, rich texture to sweets. To check for the presence of starch mixed with khoya, take a small sample and mix it with water and bring to the boil. Allow it to cool and add two drops of iodine in the solution. If the solution turns blue, then it has been adulterated with starch.

Thandai, a milk based summer drink is synonymous with Holi. An exotic mix of spices, nuts and full fat milk go into the making of this cooling summer drink, which is traditionally mixed with bhang during Holi. The popularity of this drink lies in its recipe, which includes a number of ingredients that can be subject to adulteration, particularly during Holi, when the demand increases. Synthetic artificial colors and flavors are also used in such drinks, which may not be allowed under the food safety regulations due to their harmful effects. Therefore, it is advisable to buy the ingredients fresh from a reliable retailer and prepare this traditional drink at home.

In order to reduce the cost of production of sweets and give them a finer appearance without putting in extra capital, unscrupulous sweet merchants put in unhealthy add-ons to serve their purpose. These chemicals could be used to enhance color, texture or taste. Always taste or smell the sweets before buying in bulk. Stale products emit a musty smell and taste slightly sour. Before purchasing sweets, you should also make sure that the shopkeeper is trustworthy.

The larger public is not optimally aware about adulteration and the ways in which items of consumption are laced with harmful additives. In fact, most people are unaware that a law prohibiting adulteration actually exists. The Food Safety and Standards Act (2006) safeguards the consumer against misbranded food, sub-standard food and food containing extraneous matter by keeping provision of penalties. If a food product is found unsafe then the food business operator may be levied with a maximum fine of Rs. 10 lakhs along with an imprisonment which may extend even up to a life-term.

It is also important for the consumers to see the hygiene standards of the sweet shop while buying sweets to check if cleanliness is being maintained and whether food handlers are following basic personal hygiene standards. Look out for the following:

Are food handlers wearing clean clothes?

Are they wearing gloves while packing sweets from the counter?

Are they chewing or smoking tobacco?

Are they touching their mouth, nose, eyes or other body parts?

Are they spitting, sneezing, or coughing near food?

Are they handling food and money simultaneously?

At the end of the day, it is up to you to save yourself and your family from becoming victims of food adulteration. Just follow these tips and celebrate a safe and happy Holi

DINAMALAR NEWS