Food safety body issues alert over recalled products

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the national food regulatory body, has issued an alert over the presence of the bacterium listeria monocytogenes' in US-based Blue Bell Creameries' ice cream products.

Blue Bell recently voluntarily recalled the product after its two half-gallon containers of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, manufactured on March 17 and 27 this year, tested positive for listeria.

Though, the recalled products are not being sold in India, these products may be available online, the FSSAI said. Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium called listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain higher risk groups which include the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

"The FSSAI issued the advisory in the country because there is a possibility that the product might have entered the country through online portals which sell imported products. The product has already been recalled in the USA," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune division.

Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune said: "We are going to keep a watch over online portals selling imported products in India. Consumers also need to be alert and vigilant while buying products online." The symptoms of listeria infection include gastrointestinal distress, muscle aches and fever.

AMWAY MADE FALSE HEALTH CLAIMS FOR NUTRILITE DAILY PILLS: UP COURT

In a boost to the country's top food regulator's move against misleading advertisements by the food firms, a UP court has slapped a fine of `10 lakh on Noida-based Amway India Pvt Ltd, one of the largest direct-selling company in the country, for making false claims regarding its leading supplement food product Nutrilite Daily.

The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2011 had filed a case against Amway in the court of Adjudicating Officer (FSSA) cum Additional District Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar for violating the provision of the Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 which pertains to misleading advertisements - and the Food Safety and Standards (Packing and Labelling) Regulations (FSSR), 2011.

It alleged that the company in its advertisements placed in the newspaper, television and other media for its Nutrilite Daily product has been falsely claiming "if you are not taking a truly adequate and well balanced diet, the Nutrilite Daily may be a convenient once a day choice for supplemental nutrients you have been looking for".

The product also claimed that "each tablet supplies 13 vitamins, 11 minerals and phytofactors plant compound from nutrilite's exclusive plant concentrate. Nutrilite exclusive nutria lock makes tablet easier to swallow."

In its defence, the company said that the product does not claim that don't eat food and that it will fulfill your need, rather it said that it can provide nutritional supplements to the consumer in case they are not able to take "balanced" diet.

However, the FSSAI pointed out that the claims made by the company were not proved by the signs on the products. It further maintained that to avoid stringent rules and the clinical trials under the DCGI, many companies are trying to sell their products under the 'food' category under the FSS Act which is more relaxed and flexible.

Agreeing with the FSSAI contention, ADM Chandra Sekhar also doubted the report of the lab that the company had submitted to substantiate its claim. While imposing fine against the company, the court also took note that its other products such as Iron Folic, Natural B had not got the approval from the food regulator.