DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Health impact of unsafe food

March 17, 2015:

Maintain hygiene; separate raw and cooked foods; cook thoroughly; cool and keep food at safe temperatures; use safe water and raw materials-these are some crucial elements to keep food safe and nutritious, and the same has been highlighted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which will be observing April 7 as World Health Day . 

“Globally, the health impact of unsafe food includes vicious cycles of disease and malnutrition particularly affecting most vulnerable. Notably, food containing harmful bacteria, viruses or chemical substances is responsible for over 200 diseases, from diarrhoea to cancer,” Dr Asheena Khalakdina, WHO Country Office for India, told Metrolife, listing food and waterborne diarrhoeal diseases, which kill an estimated two million people, mostly children, annually. 

Ironically, food even leads to non-communicable diseases too. “Foods rich in trans fats, saturated fats, sugar, salt or sodium increases the risk of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Therefore, food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked,” Khalakdina said at a conference organised by WHO along with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), recently. 

Unsafe food has non-health impact too. “Foodborne diseases have negative economic consequences for individuals, families, communities, businesses and countries. They impose substantial burden on health care systems, trade and tourism, reduce economic productivity and threaten livelihood,” Vinod Kotwal, director, National Codex Contact Point, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), MoHFW, said. 

Khalakdina also highlighted the role of FSSAI in regulatory mechanism, risk assessment and risk management. 

The experts underscored the importance of ensuring food safety globally as well. “Food supply chain now crosses countries and multiple national borders. There are a wide range of issues which vary from country to country like microbiological contamination, drug residues and genetically modified foods. Since there has been globalisation of food trade, it directly links to outbreak of foodborne illnesses, trade disputes and food recall,” Khalakdina said. 

Experts pointed out that new threats are constantly emerging due to changes in food production, distribution and consumption, thanks to intensive agriculture, globalisation of food trade, mass catering and street food. Even new and emerging bacteria and toxins, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, food allergies and diets increasingly rich in salt, sugar and fats are the problem areas.

“There is a challenge to ensure microbiological safety of food. Since infected animals show no illness, so public health initiatives must include apparently healthy animals and safety of their food. Secondly, contaminated food usually looks, smells and tastes normal, therefore, visual inspection of food is not sufficient to guarantee it is safe. Lastly, new control techniques are required because pathogens survive traditional food techniques,” said Khalakdina.

Interestingly, these issues are important to India due to its nationwide food supplementation programmess like midday meal, Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS), public distribution system and in light of the rising incidence of ailmets like diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and hypertension. 

DM fines traders for substandard quality of food

PANAJI: The district magistrate (DM), North Goa, has imposed a penalty of 75,000 on a Karnataka-based food trader, Sharda Traders, for violating provisions of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulation 2011.

District magistrate Nila Mohanan also imposed a fine of 50,000 each on Suresh Kumar Borana of Kohinoor Sweet Mart, KTC, Panaji, and distributor, Mandora Rajivbhai of Paresh Namkeem, Chimbel, and fine of 10,000 against vendor, Narendra Purohit for similar violations.

The samples of the namkeen were drawn by food and drug administration's senior food safety officer Rajiv Korde . The laboratory analysis proved that the food items were of substandard quality.

The samples contained synthetic non-permitted colour tartrazine, the officials alleged. The FDA official also found that food items were misbranded, as packets did not contain label declaration as required under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard (packaging and labelling) Regulation 2011.

In the order, Mohanan also directed the Karnataka food trader to immediately discontinue further manufacture and distribution of sub-standard and misbranded food article. The trader has been directed to file an affidavit in compliance within 15 days of the order, failing which stern action will be initiated against him.

The samples contained synthetic non-permitted colour tartrazine, the officials alleged.

Are You Getting a Raw Deal When You go Shopping?

Nasimuddin also expressed his worries about the digital divide between urban and rural demographics, where the latter were not yet aware of their rights as a consumer.

CHENNAI: The consumer has a right to get whatever he is promised; however in most cases the consumer rarely gets even half of the benefits that is advertised by a product, said Md Nasimuddin, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Food and Consumer Protection Department of Tamil Nadu.

Nasimuddin made the comments in his address as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘Food Safety, consumer product safety and Misleading Advertisments’ as part of the world consumer rights day celebrations on Monday, at the JBAS College for Women.

“Much of the advertising fails at this front (delivery). The consumer has a right to get what he is promised,” Nasimuddin said, adding that the entire responsibility of protecting consumer rights was not of the government department alone, but of all stakeholders, including civil society.

Nasimuddin also expressed his worries about the digital divide between urban and rural demographics, where the latter were not yet aware of their rights as a consumer. “With more and more e-commerce coming in, we face a big challenge in the years to come. All stakeholders must come together and work on solutions,” he said.

Explaining the three stages that a consumer had to cross-before purchase, time while making a purchase and after purchase, Nasimuddin said that it was there needed to be an effective redressal mechanism, if the consumer was not satisfied with the product. The role of government agencies, as people kept consuming more, was nascent and evolving and officials like himself were trying to make it work, he said.

Speakers at the seminar included Nirmala Desikan, Chairman and Managing trustee of Consumer Association of India (CAI) and Amanda Ling, Director General, Consumers International among others.

Biosafety tests of GM crops a necessity: WHO

While the World Health Organization has not formulated any detailed official position on the issue of genetically modified crops, its India country office is of the opinion that proper evaluation is a must to ensure safety

At present, the global instruments to ensure food safety and public health includes the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005

In order to build awareness about food safety among various stakeholders, the World Health Organization on 13 March 2015, organized a technical briefing for mediapersons. The event, held in Delhi, was for discussing the theme of World Health Day 2015, 'From farm to Plate, keep food safe'

Various speakers representing WHO, Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI), and National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) presented on their respective roles in ensuring awareness about the need to have safe food.

Replying to a question raised by BioSpectrum on WHO's position on GM crops, the WHO's representative maintained that GM crops should be evaluated extensively and the balance must be maintained. Since there is a foreign gene being inserted in to a plant genome, it is the matter of choice for consumers but we believe that can be done after proper tests. "FAO/WHO Codex guidelines exist for risk analysis of GM food. We have been a part of consultations at the multiple levels and will continue to give our inputs whenever required. We are working on it," she said while speaking on the occasion. 

Dr Anil Kumar, additional director, NCDC, Delhi gave insights about the role of organization in providing quick response to the outbreaks. He added, "The institute was, in addition, expected to provide expertise to the States and Union Territories (UTs) on rapid health assessment and laboratory based diagnostic services. Surveillance of communicable diseases and outbreak investigation also formed an indispensable part of its activities."

"The challenge for food regulators is to maintain a food regulatory system that delivers safe food for the population, enables consumers to make informed choices and also maintains public confidence in the food regulations," mentioned the FSSAI representative.

At present, the global instruments to ensure food safety and public health includes the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005; INFOSAN which is International Food Safety Network of food safety authorities managed jointly by FAO & WHO for information exchange and cooperation. Besides that there is CODEX Alimentarius, the Global standards setting based on scientific evidence concerning hygienic and nutritional quality of food (WHO & FAO joint program)

Costco Canada fish import license suspended by food safety agency

(Reuters) - Costco Canada's fish importing license has been suspended, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said, after the federal food safety watchdog determined the company violated the country's Fish Inspection Regulations.

The agency did not issue a recall for any products in relation to suspension.

The CFIA, which suspended the license on February 26, publicized the suspension on Friday, saying Costco Wholesale Corp did not consistently apply adequate food safety controls.

Under the penalty, the wholesale retail giant cannot import fish products into the country until the agency is satisfied the company has implemented the necessary changes.

The CFIA said Costco violated rules that required written notification for each shipment of fish to an inspector either before or within 48 hours of importing the products, and regulations that stipulated imported fish cannot be moved without permission.

The impact of the suspension is unclear. Costco operates 89 warehouses in Canada and reported Canadian revenue of $17.94 billion in 2014.

The company could not be immediately reached for comment. The Canadian Press, citing an e-mail from Costco, said the suspension came about as a result of three administrative incidents in the last two years, impacting a limited number of canned tuna products, and did not affect other fish products sold. (Reporting by Solarina Ho; editing by Gunna Dickson)

After Maharashtra, Haryana govt imposes ban on sale of beef in any form

Close on the heels of Maharashtra government banning sale of beef in any form, Haryana has imposed a similar ban with a proposed 10 years rigorous imprisonment for cow slaughter.

Though several beef traders’ associations are protesting against the ban in Maharashtra, other BJP-run states such as Haryana have been toying with the idea of emulating it. 

Omprakash Dhankad, agriculture and animal husbandry minister, Haryana, informs,“We have imposed complete ban on the sale of beef in any form. Also, canned beef has been covered in the ban, as it was legal during the tenure of the previous government.”

Dhankad explained that the government was considering framing stringent laws to impose ban on cow slaughter under 'Gau Sanrakshan Avm Gau Samwardhan' (Cow Protection and Cow Conservation and Development) Bill and that would soon be presented in the Budget session of the Haryana Assembly.

“The Bill has been framed after studying laws in different states, which would be more rigid and it would include the provision of 10 years of imprisonment, if found guilty of cow slaughter,” he added. 

He said that action would be taken not only against the slaughter house, but also the driver of the vehicle carrying the beef, whereby the vehicle would be confiscated. Further, the new Bill is also expected to double the jail-term for cow slaughter in the state as against the present law with rigorous imprisonment of five years.