States demand shifting of FSSAI to Consumer Affairs Ministry

Currently, FSSAI comes under the purview of Healthy Ministry. The regulator has been in the news since the start of the Maggi controversy.

NEW DELHI: Cutting across party lines, state governments have demanded that the Centre shift the food safety regulator, FSSAI, to Consumer Affairs Ministry from Health Ministry for better regulation of processed food items. 

Currently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) comes under the purview of Healthy Ministry. The regulator has been in the news since the start of the Maggicontroversy. 

"Jharkhand, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh demanded that FSSAI should be governed by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry and not Union Health Ministry. Other states/UTs supported their demand unanimously," Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters here. 

He refused however to comment on the demand made by state governments in this regard. 

The FSSAI issue was raised in the meeting of state food ministers on price rise issue. Around 33 states and Union Territories attended the meeting. 

Jharkhand Food Minister Saryu Rai said, "FSSAI should be part of the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry because the issue is related to food." 

Unlike Health Ministry, Rai said, the Consumer Affairs Ministry is well-equipped with labs to check food safety as well as consumer courts to take further action against offenders. 

"I hope Paswanji will taken action on this issue. If need arises, a delegation of state governments will meet the Prime Minister to explain the logic behind our demand," Rai said. 

Karnataka Food Minister Gundu Rao said a cabinet note in this regard has also moved in the state government. "Since there are legal hurdles, we want the Centre to take lead on this issue," he added. 

Last month, FSSAI banned Nestle's Maggi noodles due to presence of lead and taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond permissible limits. It ordered Nestle to immediately withdraw and recall all nine variants of Maggi instant noodles from market. 

The regulator has stepped up surveillance on other food products including snacks and beverages.

பெங்களூரில் இருந்து கொண்டு வரப்படும் ‘போட்டி’ சேலம் மீன் மார்க்கெட்டில் அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி ரெய்டு 25 கிலோ அழுகிய மீன் அழிப்பு

சேலம், ஜூலை 8-

சேலம் மீன் மார்க் கெட்டில் விற் ப னைக் காக வைக் கப் பட்டி ருந்த 25 கிலோ அழு கிய மீனை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.

சேலம் வ.உ.சி.மார்க் கெட்டில் பெங் க ளூ ரில் இருந்து கொண்டு வரப் ப டும் அழு கிய ஆட்டுக் கு டல் (போட்டி) விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி களுக்கு புகார் வந் தது.

இதை ய டுத்து அப் பி ரி வின் நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா, உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் பாலு ஆகி யோர் இன்று காலை வ.உசி மார்க் கெட் பகு திக்கு சென்று அதி ர டி யாக சோதனை செய் த னர்.

மீன் கடை களை ஆய்வு செய்த போது விற் ப னைக் காக அழு கிய மீன் கள் இருந் தது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட்டது. உட ன டி யாக அதனை அப் பு றப் ப டுத்த உத் த ர விட்ட னர். இதை டுத்து 25 கிலோ மீன் கள் குப்பை தொட்டி யில் போடப் பட்டது.

மட்டன் க டை களில் அழு கிய குடல் கள் இருக் கி ற தா? என சோதனை நடத் தி னர். மேலும் முக மது புறா பகு தி யில் இருந்த 25க்கும் மேற் பட்ட மாட்டி றைச்சி கடை களி லும் சோதனை நடத் தப் பட்டது.

இது கு றித்து நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறி யது: பெங் க ளூ ரில் இருந்து அழு கிய ஆட்டு குடல் கொண்டு வந்த விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக புகார் வந் தது. இது தொடர் பாக விசா ரணை நடத் தி ் னோம். இதில் 25 கிலோ அழு கிய மீன் கள் கைப் பற் றப் பட்டு அழிக் கப் பட்டது. மீன் கடை, மட்டன், சிக் கன், மாட்டி றைச்சி போன்ற கடை களை நடத்த வேண் டும் என் றால் அனு மதி பெற் றி ருக்க வேண் டும். ஆனால் யாரும் உரி மம் பெற வில்லை. சிலர் மட்டும் அனு மதி வாங் கி யி ருந் தா லும் இந்த ஆண்டு புதுப் பிக் க வில்லை.

எனவே இறைச் சிக் கடை நடத் து வோர் முறை யாக அனு மதி பெற வேண் டும் என அறி வு றுத் தப் பட்டுள் ளது இதற் காக நோட்டீஸ் வழங் கப் பட்டுள் ளது. ஆகஸ்ட் 4ம்தே திக் குள் அனு மதி பெற வேண் டும்.

ஆட்டி றைச்சி, மாட்டி றைச்சி போன் ற வற்றை வெட்டிய அன்றே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். விற் பனை ஆக வில்லை என கூறி மறு நாள் விற் பனை செய்ய கூடாது. அப் படி வைக் கும் கறி யில் கிறு மி கள் பர வும். உட லுக்கு பெரும் ஆபத்தை ஏற் ப டுத் தும். இவ் வாறு இருக் கும் கறி களை பொது மக் கள் வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத் து வதை தவிர்க்க வேண் டும். மீன் வாங் கும் போது அதன் செதிளை பார்த் தால் சிவப்பு கலர் இருக் கும் பட சத் தில் அதனை பயன் ப டுத் த லாம்.

மேலும் ஆடு, மாடு, கோழிக் க றி களை கடை யின் உள்ளே வைத் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். ரோட்டின் அரு கில் தொங்க விட கூடாது. இவ் வாறு தொங்க விடு வ தால் துசி படிந்து நோய் பர வும்.

இவ் வாறு டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறி னார்.

Nestle Maggi row: Parliamentary panel to take up food safety issues on July 10

FSSAI under the Health Ministry, is likely to give a presentation while the Consumer Affairs Ministry will place before the panel concerns of consumers.

NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary panel is slated to discuss regulation of toxic contents in packaged food on July 10 amid safety concerns over processed food products following the Maggi controversy. 

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs, headed by JC Divakar Reddy, will deliberate on recent food safety issues in packed food as well as packaging and labeling regulations, among others, sources said. 

Senior officials of food safety regulator FSSAI and Secretaries of both Health, and Consumer Affairs Ministries will brief the panel about the controversy and the steps taken on sale of packed sub-standard food products, they said. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Health Ministry, is likely to give a presentation while the Consumer Affairs Ministry will place before the panel concerns of consumers. 

Last month, FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi, saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding excessive levels of lead and violation of labeling regulations on taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG).Nestle India had recalled Maggi from markets since. 

With FSSAI cracking the whip further, HUL withdrew its Knorr Chinese noodles and Indo Nissin, Top Ramen noodles, pending approval from the regulator. 

Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to file a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on the Maggi issue.

FSSAI needs to streamline provisions: Harsimrat Badal

Expressing concerns over "fear" in the food processing sector following the regulatory steps taken by the FSSAI, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said the regulator needs to streamline its provisions and stress on innovations in the sector. 

"...A lot needs to be done as the FSSAI has created environment of fear in the industry. It needs to streamline its regulations as its steps are stopping innovations in the processing sector," Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an agency established under the Food Safety and Standards Act. 

The growth of food processing sector is very vital as it ensures food security and better remuneration to farmers for their produce, the Minister said here. 

Speaking at the conference on 'Driving Make in India in Food Processing sector' organised by the CII, Harsimrat said the government is keen and committed for growth of domestic food processing sector as well create a environment for its progress. 

She also mentioned about a task force formed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on her request for the growth of the sector. 

The task force would analyse the various existing impediments and bottlenecks and provide expert guidance on key policy interventions to her ministry and states also, she added. 

"I would even create a special committee within my ministry, with the representatives of the CII and the respective state heads in this task force as the members, in order to resolve the issues and help the food processing industry realise its desired potential," the Minister said. 

The FSSAI has a mandate to look into the quality standards of food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for consumption. 

Last month, the FSSAI had banned Nestle's Maggi saying it was 'unsafe and hazardous' after tests found presence of lead and Monosodium glutamate above permissible limits. 

Following the Maggi fiasco, FSSAI had ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies, to check compliance with the norms.

Up to 75% companies who adulterate, misbrand food go scot-free

Over the past seven years, 72,861 companies were found guilty of misbranding and adulteration

Three of every four companies found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food products get away without any punishment, according to health ministry records, even asNestle India and the instant-noodle industry continue tosuffer what now appears to have been an exaggerated scare over contaminants.

Canada, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, Australia and New Zealand have all found Maggi two-minute noodles to be safe, as have many Indian states, and while legal proceedings continue, the controversy is a reflection of how food-safety procedures unfold in India.

Over the past seven years, about 25% of 53,406 companies against whom prosecution was launched for violating food safety laws were convicted. As many as 72,861 companies were found guilty of misbranding and adulteration during the period.

As many as 72,200 samples of foodstuff, such as dal, ghee and sugar, were collected from across India last year. Of these, 13,571 (about 18%) were found adulterated and substandard.

Experts say that the low conviction rate is one of the primary reasons for the rise of adulterated food in market during the past five years. The percentage of adulterated food tested by government has risen from 8% in 2008 to about 18% in 2014.

Adulterated food can cause cancer, insomnia and other neurological problems, and adulteration is a growing concern across India, as IndiaSpend previously reported.

Who will analyse suspect food?

Officials blame the low conviction rates on a shortage of food analysts. Last year, as this Times Of India report said, Rajasthan closed seven public-health laboratories because it could not find such analysts.

“There are only about 200 food analysts in the country, so it becomes really difficult to prove charges in the court,” an official with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) toldIndiaSpend. He spoke on condition of anonymity, since he is not authorised to speak to the media.

There are many states that are yet to establish appellate tribunals, as mandated in the Food Safety and Standards Act (2006), to quickly conclude cases where the adjudicating officer has already passed orders, thus leading to trial delays, said the official.

Indeed, the 45% conviction rate in 2014-15 is an improvement from 16% in 2008-09. The spike in conviction rate is mainly because of the establishment of the FSSAI in August 2011.

The food-safety act replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and multiple regulations. Its implementation is the responsibility of state governments.

Stiff punishment, lax enforcement

Punishments for mislabeling, adulterating or sale of unsafe food can range from six months in jail to life imprisonment, and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.

Over the past three years, the government has collects about Rs 17 crore in fines.

State food-safety officers pick random samples and send them to government laboratories for testing, a process monitored and regulated by the FSSAI.

A scrutiny of the past three years’ records show that except for a few state authorities, such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, none of them have convicted offenders. Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana are among the worst performers.

Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were among the states where every third sample tested was found below standards.

(IndiaSpend is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit)

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குடோனில் பதுக்கிய ரூ.1.40 லட்சம் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் அழிப்பு

கிருஷ் ண கிரி, ஜூலை 8:

கிருஷ் ண கிரி அருகே குடோ னில் பதுக்கி வைக் கப் பட்டி ருந்த ரூ.1.40 லட் சம் மதிப் பி லான புகை யிலை பொருட் களை அதி கா ரி கள் கைப் பற்றி அழித் த னர்.

கிருஷ் ண கிரி மாவட்ட கலெக் டர் ராஜே சுக்கு வந்த ரக சிய தக வ லின் படி, மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் கலை வாணி, தாசில் தார் ஜெயக் கு மார், உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் ராஜ சே கர், இளங் கோ வான், வரு வாய் ஆய் வா ளர் வடி வேலு, கிராம நிர் வாக அலு வ லர் ரமேஷ் ஆகி யோர் கிருஷ் ண கிரி அடுத்த சின் ன ப ன முட்லு கிரா மத் தில் உள்ள முகேஷ் கு மார் என் ப வ ருக்கு சொந் த மான குடோ னில் அதி ரடி சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

அப் போது அந்த குடோ னில் தமி ழக அர சால் தடை செய் யப் பட்டுள்ள ரூ. ஒரு லட் சத்து 40 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் பி லான 46 மூட்டை களில் வைக் கப் பட்டி ருந்த புகை யிலை பொருட் களை அவர் கள் கைப் பற்றி அழித் த னர்.

இது போல் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் க ளான பான் ம சாலா மற் றும் குட்கா ஆகி ய வற்றை ரக சி ய மாக பதுக்கி வைப் போர் மற் றும் விற் பனை செய் வோர் மீது சட்டப் படி நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் கலை வாணி எச் ச ரித் தார். தொடர்ந்து இது போன்ற சோத னை கள் தொட ரும் என அதி கா ரி கள் தரப் பில் தெரி விக் கப் பட்டது.

நாகர்கோவிலில் கடையில் பதுக்கிய 10 லட்சம் போதைபாக்கு பறிமுதல்

 

நாகர் கோ வில், ஜூலை 8:

நாகர் கோ வி லில் போதை பாக்கு பதுக் கிய கடைக்கு உண வு பா து காப் பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று சீல் வைத் த னர். பின் னர் போலீஸ் பா து காப் பு டன் கடை யின் பூட்டை உடைத்து ரூ.10 லட் சம் மதிப் பி லான பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா ஆகி ய வற்றை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா உள் ளிட்ட போதை பொரு ளுக்கு தமி ழக அரசு தடை வி தித் துள் ளது. இந்த போதை பாக்கு, புகை யி லையை கடை களில் விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. விற் பனை செய் யும் வியா பா ரி கள் மீது நட வ டி ககை எடுக் கப் பட்டும் வரு கி றது. குமரி மாவட்டத் தில் உள்ள கடை களுக்கு கோட்டார், ஈத் தா மொழி ரோடு ஜங் ச னில் உள்ள ஒரு கடை யில் இருந்து பான் ம சாலா, போதை பாக் கு கள் விநி யோ கம் செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக உண வு பா து காப் பு துறை அதி கா ரி களுக்கு புகார் கள் வந் தன.

அதனை தொடர்ந்து உண வு பா து காப் பு துறை நிய மன அதி காரி டாக் டர் சாலோ டீ சன் தலை மை யில் உண வு பா து காப் பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் குமா ர பாண் டி யன், சங் க ர நா ரா ய ணன், சிதம் ப ர தாணு, பிர வின் ரகு, முரு கன் ஆகி யோர் அந்த கடைக்கு நேற்று மதி யம் சென் ற னர். கடை பூட்டப் பட்டு இருந்து. கடை யின் உரி மை யா ளர் யார் என விசா ரணை மேற் கொண் ட னர். அந் த ப கு தியை சேர்ந்த வியா பா ரி கள் தெரி யாது என தெரி வித் த னர். பின் னர் கடையை வாடகை கொடுத் த வ ரி டம் விசா ரணை மேற் கொண் ட னர். அப் போது வாடகை எடுத்த நப ரி டம் இருந்து 5 நபர் களி டம் அந்த கடை கைமாறி இருப் பது தெரி ய வந் தது. கடை யின் உரி மை யா ளர் யார் என்று காண் ப தில் சிக் கல் ஏற் பட்டது.

அதனை தொடர்ந்து உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அந்த கடைக்கு தனி யாக பூட்டு போட்டு சீல் வைத் த னர். பின் னர் நேற்று மாலை கோட்டார் போலீ சார் பாது காப் பு டன், கோட்டார் வியா பா ரி கள் சங்க நிர் வா கி கள் முன் னி லை யில் உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அந்த கடை யின் பூட்டை உடைத் த னர். பின் னர் உள்ளே இருந்த போதை பாக்கு, புகை யிலை என மொத் தம் 35 பண் டலை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். இதன் மதிப்பு சுமார் ரூ.10 லட் சம் இருக் கும்.

இது குறித்து உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அதி காரி டாக் டர் சாலோ டீ சன் கூறி ய தா வது: கடை யில் இருந்து போதை பாக்கு, பான் ம சாலா, புகை யிலை என மொத் தம் ரூ.10 லட் சம் மதிப் பி லான போதை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் தோம். அவை உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அதி கா ரி யின் கட்டுப் பாட்டில் வைக் கப் பட்டுள் ளது. பாக்கு, புகை யி லை யின் மாதி ரி கள் சோத னைக்கு அனுப் பப் பட்டுள் ளது. சோதனை முடிவு 15 நாட் களில் வந் து வி டும். அதன் பி றகு அடுத்த கட்ட நட வ டிக்கை மேற் கொள் ளப் ப டும். இவ் வாறு அவர் கூறி னார்.

உணவுபாதுகாப்புதுறை அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை

கோட்டா ரில் கடை யில் பதுக்கி வைத் தி ருந்த புகை யிலை, போதை பாக்கு பொருட் களை உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

Officials seize Rs. 30-lakh worth tobacco products

Officials attached to the Food Safety Department seized about 500 kg of banned tobacco products from an abandoned godown near Kottar Junction here on Tuesday afternoon.

W. Salodeesan, Designated Officer of the Food Safety Department, said that the department received a tip-off about banned tobacco products being stored in a locked godown in Kottar.

The officials rushed to the spot and sealed the godown before conducting the search.

After obtaining the Collector’s nod, the godown was opened and officials found banned tobacco products weighing around 500 kg, packed in small packets and kept ready for distribution to retailers.

The valueof the seized products was estimated at Rs. 30 lakh.

Further investigations are on to nab the owner of the godown, he said. A case had been registered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, Dr. Salodeesan added.

5 fall ill after eating instant noodles

Five persons, including four minors of a family, were hospitalised after they consumed ready-to-eat noodles here, a senior police officer said on Monday.

“An FIR was lodged by the father of the children and since it is a non-cognisable case, we are moving court for approval,” East Khasi Hills district SP (City) Vivek Syiem said.

The siblings, residents of Lawsohtun area in the city, started complaining of severe headache and started vomiting soon after consuming the ready-to-eat noodles bought from a local market yesterday afternoon, the officer at Laban police station said.

“Three of them were admitted to Ganesh Das Hospital and the other two were rushed to Shillong Civil Hospital for immediate medical attention,” Deputy Commissioner of Food Safety S. N. Sangma said.

The Food Safety office has taken samples of the vomit and leftover noodles for a detailed test and has also ordered an inquiry into the incident, Mr. Sangma said. - PTI

Don't Disclose Results of KFC Food Samples: HC

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Commissioner of Food Safety of Telangana and Additional Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation not to disclose the results of tests conducted on food samples collected from KFC restaurants in the city for 10 days. Justice P V Sanjay Kumar was dealing with a petition filed by Yum! Restaurants (India) Pvt Ltd, challenging the action of the food safety officer in collecting the samples from 10 KFC outlets in the last week of June.

The petitioner contended that the action of the authorities is contrary to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and release of the results will tarnish the image of the company. Justice Sanjay Kumar asked the respondents to file their counter affidavits by next date of hearing.

Food for thought

Unclean premises

Bengaluru has been called a foodie’s paradise, and rightfully so. With the existing charm of old eateries and new hole-in-the-wall joints opening up every other day, the choices are aplenty. 

But how many of these restaurants maintain the required safety standards? While it is important for the tastebuds to be tingled, do customers give hygiene enough importance? 

Old is not always gold. The popular and age-old sweet shop on Commercial Street, which is famous for its ‘jamuns’, stands true to this statement. “One is welcomed by a stench arising from the leaking sewage system on entering the store,” says Hari Naidu, a PRO at ‘Rahul Furniture’. 

While it has stood the test of time and serves the best sweets since 1948, this taste comes with a price — a threat to one’s health. It has an unappetisingly sticky floor and a peek into their kitchen details the real story behind the extra added taste. 

“Their kitchen is home to a number of pests. The owners are unapproachable and they do not pay heed to complaints,” adds Hari. 

Workers in unclean clothes, walls coloured with chewed up ‘paan’, garbage lying openly near the kitchen and sweet batter being mixed on the dirty floor — this is  the story behind their exotic tasting ‘jamuns’!

But this is not the end of it — there are a number of eateries that are in the same state, among which is a cafe on St Marks Road and a coffee house on Church Street. 

“I used to visit the coffee house quite often, but I don’t want to go there anymore. The restrooms are always dirty and once I was served stale ‘dosa’ for my evening snack. I complained about it but it fell on deaf ears,” says Namratha, a professional. 

However, Sadat, a fashion photographer and a frequent customer at the eatery on  St Mark’s Road, says, “It has been there for so many years now and people do not judge this place as good or bad. It was shut down two to three years back for being unclean, but I have no complaints about it. I am a regular here and I have not had any food poisoning. I like to go here, no matter what anyone says, as it has a homely feel to it.” Gagan Rao, a CA student, adds, “I consider myself a big foodie and I rate restaurants based on three factors — taste, cleanliness and pricing. However, taste plays a major role and I do not mind visiting eateries that are known for their flavours but rate average for cleanliness. I do, however, avoid going to restaurants that are veryunhygienic.”

So, does sanitation mean just avoiding food poisoning? Yatish Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Health, BBMP, says, “From May 2013, the sanitation factors of restaurants fall under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Yet, I have issued umpteen number of circulars that make sure the eateries give first preference to sanitation. I have also conducted a lot of raids and even shut many restaurants for a day, after imposing heavy fines. We have regular checks that happen, but there is a shortage of health inspectors.” 

At present, there are 62 senior health inspectors and 137 junior inspectors. But, he says that there is a need for at least 198 senior and junior health inspectors to conduct raids on regular intervals. 

HS Shivakumar, Deputy Director of Public Health, FSSAI, adds, “We do conduct regular checks, but there are chances that we might have missed out on a few eateries.”

Global standards for food safety set for revision

NEW DELHI: Countries all over the world have come together to revise international standards for food safety and quality, even as concerns have grown in India in the past two months after the food regulator cracked down on major brands including Maggi, Top Ramen and some products of Tata Starbucks.

As many as 185 countries, including India and the European Union, are likely to adopt new food safety and quality standards.

The new norms will contain stringent benchmarks for various categories such as level of lead, standards for safe use of food additives and pesticides, new standards for ginseng products as well as guidelines on how food should be labelled according to the level of potassium consumption associated with a reduced risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases.

This is significant because recently when a lot of products including Nestle's Maggi were recalled from the Indian market, the regulator here had raised concerns on many of these grounds. While some packaged food products in India were found containing harmful substances such as lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG), many companies were caught flouting labeling and packaging norms.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint inter-governmental body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO), is meeting in Geneva this week.

The agenda is to review the existing standards for food safety and quality, while also revising and adopting new standards to upgrade the regulation to address the changes in the marketplace.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of Indian (FSSAI), which is the central enforcement agency for food regulation, also follows Codex standards to keep a check on products available in the Indian market.

While the Indian regulator has already expanded its probe to milk, packaged drinking water, energy drinks and edible oil etc, the international meet will also witness discussions over prevention of residues of certain antibiotics in food of animal origin, control of parasites and levels of toxins in cereal grains, flours etc.

Recently, the FSSAI also asked state food inspectors to keep a close watch on food products of mass consumption and increase the frequency of sampling and testing of such products.

Study reveals that food labels actually confuse consumers

Food labels can often lead consumers to pick unhealthy food, says a study

A new research has revealed that food labels confuse consumers and lead them to select unhealthy food. 

"We found that the range of labels used by retailers and manufacturers can be confusing to customers for a number of reasons," lead researcher Sheena Leek from the University of Birmingham in Britain was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.

"The number of individual pieces of information on a product - such as fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories, as well as percentage of guideline daily amount, grams per serving and a related colour scheme - can cause overload confusion," Leek said.

Technical complexities, such as the difference between fat and saturated fat, also confuse the customers, the research revealed.

The decision making of the shoppers also gets affected by a lack of knowledge about what constitutes a healthy diet, the study said. It involved face-to-face interviews with 30 shoppers.

When participants were asked to pick up healthy food by reading the labels on the products, one in seven of the decisions taken by respondents were incorrect, the findings showed.

The research was published in the Journal of Customer Behaviour.

Sale of substandard and unhygienic food is going unabated across Kashmir valley

SRINAGAR, JULY 6: The sale of substandard and unhygienic food is going unabated across Kashmir valley with experts of Food Safety department finding many food outlets in summer capital using carcinogenic substances as coloring and flavoring agents in popular food items.On Monday, the officials of Food Safety department raided various food outlets and bakery shops in the summer capital and destroyed contaminated food items, including energy drinks, which were banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI for containing harmful chemicals on spot.

SRINAGAR, JULY 6:

The sale of substandard and unhygienic food is going unabated across Kashmir valley with experts of Food Safety department finding many food outlets in summer capital using carcinogenic substances as coloring and flavoring agents in popular food items.

On Monday, the officials of Food Safety department raided various food outlets and bakery shops in the summer capital and destroyed contaminated food items, including energy drinks, which were banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for containing harmful chemicals on spot.

Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety (Srinagar), Hilal Ahmad Mir told Kashmir Headlines that some food outlets were found using carcinogenic coloring agents like Tatrazine and banned flavoring agents in popular items like biryani, ice cream and milk/fruit shakes.

“We have seized their Food licenses and they will be strictly fined as per Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules,” Mir said. 

Shockingly, the food safety officials have found many food outlets in Lal Chowk using banned Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in food items. MSG is a harmful tasting agent which was found in Maggi noodles and led to its ban across India.

“Unfortunately people are being served food items mixed with harmful chemicals. This is highly alarming situation and needs to be checked as soon as possible,” the officer said.

According to official sources, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety (Hq) J&K has issued a notice to all the designated officers across state asking them to keep vigil over the sale of substandard and contaminated food items including energy drinks and proceed under Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules.

Meanwhile, Valley’s oncologists said the coloring agents like Tartizine and Corsimisine which were found in food items are not permitted to be used in the food products especially spices.

“Many researches have found that these coloring agents act as carcinogens though not fully classified as yet. However, if they are used in smoked or grilled food they become more deadly,” they said.

Sub-standard foodstuff destroyed after 3 years

“Later the items including turmeric powder, edible oil, skimmed milk were supplied to different ICDS centres of Pulwama district in year 2011

After remaining dumped for three years in different Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centers of Pulwama, the government finally ordered the district administration to destroy the substandard and harmful food items costing Rs 38 lakhs.

Supplied to the department by some private companies, the items including 18570 litres of edible oil, 7000 kilograms of skimmed milk and 57 kilograms of turmeric powder were initially approved by the department in 2011 and were supplied by three different private companies but were later found substandard in 2012.

The district administration Pulwama in year 2011 invited tenders for supply of various food items for the ICDS centers of. Later the samples of three private companied were approved after proper verification and examination and were given the authority to supply the items, sources said.

“Later the items including turmeric powder, edible oil, skimmed milk were supplied to different ICDS centres of Pulwama district in year 2011.”

“Following some complaints, the food items where once again sent for laboratory test to Food Safety and Standards Organisation Srinagar where from it was reported on 05/04/2012 that turmeric powder and skimmed milk are OK but showed edible oil sub-standard and harmful”.

“Later the samples of the items were taken for one more test to Kolkata where from it was reported on 16/05/2012 that all the three items are sub-standard and harmful,” officials said.

Ironically, after two years of the report the government order was passed from secretariat on 02/09/2014 vide order number 230-SW OF 2014 DATED 02/09 2014 to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama for destroying the items from all the ICDS centres.

Finally the district administration today by the ORDER NO. 256- DGCP OF 2015, DATED 23/05/2015 ordered to destroy the items. Finally under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Revenue, CMO, district food safety officer, Assistant Director Food and Supplies, programme officer ICDS Pulwama collected the food items from the centres and destroyed them.

While talking to Greater Kashmir, the ACR Pulwama Sajad Qadri said, “The items were dumped in different stores and we were waiting for the government order. We got the orders. Now we have destroyed all the items”.

“The private companies had supplied the ICDS substandard items but we are thankful to God that the items were not used anywhere. The companies have got some money for the supply but we will get it back under the law,” he said.

Food regulator FSSAI to regulate fish products

Post alcoholic drinks, fish products to come under FSSAI's radar.

Fish products might cause cancer

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come up with strict regulations for fish products as it is one of the largely consumed food items in India, and may pose a potential source of harmful contaminants and biotoxins into humans. Scaling pollution in water bodies is degrading the environment in which fish thrive resulting in contamination. The FSSAI, which works under the Union ministry of health and family welfare, has listed the contaminants and biotoxins (produced by organisms themselves) along with their maximum permissible limits. 

Apart from naturally occurring toxic substances, the major source of contaminants in the fish is due to population pressure and large-scale use of pesticides. Due to poor disposal system in the country, contaminants like Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and bezo(a)pyrene which are major components of pesticides enter into fish that may further enter into the human bodies through food chain. 

Doctors say that if the contaminants are consumed in higher quantities they may cause severe health problems. In fact, PCBs have been demonstrated to cause a variety of adverse health effects. Researches show that they can also cause cancer, and a number of serious non-cancer health effects. They can have harmful effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system and endocrine system. In order to prevent such effects, the FSSAI has prescribed their limits in fish. 

"Polychlorinated biphenyls if found in Inland and migratory fish should not be over 2.0 ppm and if found in marine fish, crustaceans and mollusks should not be 0.5 ppm. Similarly, bezo(a) pyrene in smoked fishery products should not be more than 5 ppb," said a senior official in FSSAI. Biotoxins which are produced by fish themselves can be a threat to humans if consumed in higher quantities. "Apart from contaminants in fish due to water pollution, fish also produce toxins that can have harmful effects on humans," the official added.

FSSAI for fixing limits of melamine in milk, milk products

To check adulteration, food safety regulator FSSAI has proposed for the first time fixing of maximum permissible limit of melamine content in milk and related products.

Currently, there is a ceiling on presence of insecticides and metal contaminants in milk and milk products, while FSSAI has now proposed that limits should be fixed for melamine amid concerns of presence of such chemical in various milk products.

In a notification, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed imposing a permissible limit of 1 mg of melamine in every kg of powdered infant formula, 0.15 mg per kg in liquid infant formula and 2.5 mg per kg in other foods.

The regulator has sought public comments on these proposals by September 6.

Melamine is largely used in plastic and fertiliser industry.

The government recently banned import of Chinese milk and milk products for one year till June 2016 due to presence of this particular chemical.

In another notification, the FSSAI said it has proposed that food companies should mention source of edible vegetable oil or fat on the label of packaged food items for the benefit of consumers.

Public comments have also been sought on this proposal.

The regulator has stepped surveillance on processed food items after the Maggi controversy. It is reviewing safety standards and holding several consultations with stakeholders to strengthen them.

States pass resolution to bring FSSAI under consumer affairs ministry

NEW DELHI: At a time when India is attempting to put in place strong food safety regulations, food and consumer affairs ministers of different states on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to bring the central regulator, FSSAI under food and consumer affairs ministry and not health ministry. The meeting was chaired by Union food and consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan. 

The resolution has raised eyebrows since setting of food standards and regulations across the globe are with the health ministries and the item was not even in the agenda at the state ministers' meet. 

Jharkhand food minister Saryu Roy said since both misbranding and impurity in food items directly affect consumers, FSSAI should come under the food and consumer affairs ministry. 

Roy said, "While citizens look at us for action since we are food and consumer affairs ministers, we have no power to act as food regulation comes under health department." He claimed once the food regulator comes under food and consumer affairs there will be quick action against violators.

Officials said there was a huge debate if FSSAI should come under health or consumer affairs ministry and it was settled when the Act became effective in 2011. 

"As such the regulator is an independent body and any move to bring it under control of any ministry will defeat the entire purpose of having an autonomous authority," said an official.