Kerala to bring anganwadi, college canteen under food safety law

Kerala government has decided to bring anganwadies, school messes, college and hostel canteens under the purview of food safety law as part of its ambitious food safety drives. 

License or registration would be made mandatory for all entities that handle food and strict action would be initiated against those which do not follow the standards specified in the Food Safety and Standards Act of India, state Health Minister V S Sivakumar said here today. 

"We have decided to bring anganwadies, school messes and college and hostel canteens under the purview of license and registration system. Our objective is to bring all entities that handle food--from wayside eateries to five star hotels-- under the registration," he said. 

"Registration or license has already been made mandatory for vegetable traders and the vehicles which transport vegetables to the state from outside," he said while participating in the MoU signing ceremony between state Commissionarate of Food Safety and Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). 

As per the MoU, the Commisionarate, under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, would collaborate with CFTRI to develop methods of food sample analysis, train laboratory staff and upgrade the state laboratories, he said. 

"Kerala is the first state in the country to sign such an MoU with the central agency. It is part of our intense initiatives to ensure safe food for public. We can not build up a healthy society if the food available to people is not safe," he said. 

The minister said the "Operation Ruchi", a drive launched by the government to check spurious food articles and arrival of vegetables containing pesticides from neighbouring states, was a great success. 

"The inflow of pesticide-ridden vegetables from neighbouring states has come down to some extent due to our regular monitoring at check posts," he said. 

In the wake of increasing instances of food adulteration, Kerala government had recently launched a mass drive to regulate and restrict use of chemicals and other harmful ingredients in food articles sold and check the arrival of pesticide-ridden vegetables from neighbouring states.

A series of raids had been conducted and several eateries and vegetable shops had been either closed or served notice across the state under the drive.

Drug regulator wants multi-vitamins to be classified as 'drugs'

MUMBAI: The Drug Controller General of India has proposed to bring some popular vitamin supplement brands under the category of 'drugs', a move that could give rise to a tussle between pharma companies and the regulator as it will mean stringent restrictions on marketing of these products. 

Among the 10 products that have been mentioned in the proposal are Sun Pharma's multi-vitamin capsule 'Revital', Pfizer's 'Ferradol' and Alkem Pharma's 'A to Z'. These products are currently classified as 'food' and come under the Food Safety Act, which exempts them from stringent rules on pricing and marketing. 

An eight-member committee looking into the matter was of the view that the ingredients of these multi-vitamins fall under the category of 'drugs'. It considered parameters like composition of the products, effect of each ingredient on the body, food safety and standard requirements as well as the indications claimed by the firms. 

One critical recommendation the committee made was that if a multivitamin product claims that it treats, mitigates or prevents any disease or disorder then it should be classified as 'drug'. 

In an email response to ET query on the matter, Sun Pharma said it is still reading the drug controller's recommendations. Pfizer and Alkem could not be reached for comment. 

India's nutraceutical market is estimated to be close to $2 billion, with companies having a free hand in determining prices and marketing of such products. 

If implemented, the drug controller's proposal could deal a big blow to many companies that are betting big on this segment, according to an industry executive did not wish to be named. 

According to figures available from research firm All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Association (AIOCD), the vitamins and minerals segment grew 13% in the last one year to touch .`8,329 crore. 

"Vitamins are essential dietary supplementation, just like any other 'food' substance. It is strange that there was only one doctor present in the committee that made this recommendation," said RK Shanghvi, medical and nutraceuticals head of Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA), a lobby group of Indian drug makers. "Also, it is sad that there was only one medical professional on the committee that made this recommendation, and that it is not enough to determine the fate of the country's health." Shanghvi also said that such proposals end up being ambiguous, as with the current recommendation, and that even some health drinks can be classified as drugs.

Popular antidepressant found to be unsafe for adolescents

Under a new initiative to publish corrections to misreported trials, the prestigious medical journal The BMJ (formerly known as the British Medical Journal) has published a study showing that the popular antidepressant paroxetine is neither safe nor effective for adolescents with depression. 

The original, influential study was published in 2001. It was funded by major pharamecutical maker SmithKline Beecham, now GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Known as Study 329, it compared the effectiveness and safety of the antidepressant drugs paroxetine and imipramine with placebo for adolescents with major depression. It reported that paroxetine was safe and effective for adolescents and was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) in 2001. 

The new results, published by The BMJ on 16 September, contradict the original research. Using previously confidential trial documents, the researchers led by Adelaide University professor Jon Jureidini, reanalysed the original data and found that neither paroxetine nor high dose imipramine was more effective than placebo in the treatment of major depression in adolescents. The authors considered the increase in harms with both drugs to be clinically significant. They conclude that "paroxetine was ineffective and unsafe in this study." 

Paroxetine is sold in the US under the brand name Paxil. Its patent expired in 2003 and since then it is a commonly prescribed generic, including in India. It belongs to a class of chemicals known as SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is a neurochemical that is thought to induce a feeling of wellbeing and happiness. The drug encourages reabsorption of serotonin produced by the body. 

In an accompanying article, Peter Doshi, Associate Editor for The BMJ says the new paper "has reignited calls for retraction of the original study and put additional pressure on academic and professional institutions to publicly address the many allegations of wrongdoing." 

He points out that the original manuscript was not written by any of the 22 named authors but by an outside medical writer hired by GSK. And that the paper's lead author - Brown University's chief of psychiatry, Martin Keller - had been the focus of a front page investigation in the Boston Globe in 1999 that documented his under-reporting of financial ties to drug companies. 

The study was criticised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. Yet, that year, over two million prescriptions were written for children and adolescents in the United States. In 2012 GSK was fined a record $3bn in part for fraudulently promoting paroxetine. 

Doshi also details the refusal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to intervene and retract the paper, and Brown University's silence over its faculty's involvement in Study 329. 

Dr Fiona Godlee, The BMJ Editor-in-Chief says publication of the reanalysed data from Study 329 "sets the record straight" and "shows the extent to which drug regulation is failing us." It also shows that the public and clinicians do not have the unbiased information they need to make informed decisions. 

She calls for independent clinical trials rather than trials funded and managed by industry, as well as legislation "to ensure that the results of all clinical trials are made fully available and the individual patient data are available for legitimate independent third party scrutiny."

Assam bans Triveni masur dal, lifts prohibition on Wai-Wai noodles

An official press note said the the particular masur dal packed by the Delhi-based company had potential deleterious effect on human health on being consumed.

The Assam government on Thursday imposed a ban on storage, distribution and sale of masur dal manufactured and packed by RS Triveni Foods Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based company for six months with immediate effect after the state food analyst found samples of this dal coated with oily substance which is unsafe for consumption.

An official press note said the the particular masur dal packed by the Delhi-based company had potential deleterious effect on human health on being consumed. The Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam, has directed the designated Food Safety Officers in the districts to strictly enforce this prohibition immediately, it said.

Meanwhile, by another order, the Assam government on Thursday lifted the prohibition it had imposed on manufacture and sale of Wai-Wai mini Ready-to-Eat Noodles and Wai-Wai 1-2-3 Noodles after declaring the products as safe.

These two varieties of noodles, manufactured by a Guwahati-based company called CG Products were in June banned after they were found to contain Mono Sodium Glutamate, another official press note said. The two products were found safe after the manucfacturers had improved upon its quality, it said.

Assam Withdraws Ban on Wai-Wai Noodles

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has withdrawn a notification that banned Wai-Wai mimi ready-to-eat noodles and Wai-Wai 1-2-3 mini noodles in June, an official statement said on Thursday.

The government issued a speaking order on September 14, declaring both the Wai-Wai products safe, the statement said.

On the basis of a sample analysis report on Wai-Wai mimi ready-to-eat noodles and Wai-Wai 1-2-3 mini noodles issued by the Assam food analyst, the samples were declared unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as these contained monosodium glutamate, which is prohibited from use in dried pastas and noodles.

The state's commissioner of food safety issued prohibition notification on June 15 against CG Foods, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of the products in the state for a period of 30 days.

Authorities also served an improvement notice to CG Foods, Industrial Growth Centre, Chaygaon.

After necessary improvement steps were taken, the samples of Wai-Wai mimi ready-to-eat noodles and Wai-Wai 1-2-3 mini noodles were sent for further analysis to the Assam government's food analyst.

The state food analyst then declared that the samples conformed to the prescribed standards.

Following this, the ban on the products was lifted.

Top Ramen makers challenge state lab reports on MSG levels

KOLHAPUR: After Maggi, another noodle brand has come under the radar of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the city. A state government laboratory report stated high percentage of Monosodium glutamate in Top Ramen noodles, and hence a sample has been sent to a UP-based central referral lab for a detailed report. The report was challenged by the makers of the noodles. 

S M Deshmukh, FDA commissioner, Kolhapur, told TOI, "The state government has asked my office to test the samples of Top Ramen noodles, after lead levels in Nestle's Maggi noodles was found to be higher than the permissible limit. The results of the state laboratory were positive. But the company has objected to the results and so, the government sent the same samples to a UP-based national referral laboratory." 

The unit sent the samples on Monday, and the results will be given after a month-long wait, Deshmukh added. 

He said, "Each district FDA office was given one product to analyse and test. Kolhapur was given Top Ramen noodles and we submitted our reports to the state government." 

On June 8, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had come out with an advisory on product safety testing of all instant noodle products in the country in the wake of reportedly high lead levels in Maggie noodles along with taste enhancer Monosodium glutamate (MSG). 

Top Ramen is a product of Indo Nissin Food Ltd and is currently off the shelves in the retail markets. 

When asked about the possibility of the product being retailed, Deshmukh said, "The company's products are being tested in the lab and the company is willing to wait for some time. It is true that the state lab report is challenged by the company but it does not mean it can immediately start selling it in the retail market. There will be other similar instant food products that are being referred to the UP-based union government's laboratory; hence the reports are lined up. If the UP lab reports are similar to the state lab's, then a detailed letter will be drafted to the state government. The reports will be attached so that the state government can initiate action of banning or suspending the distribution of the instant food product." 

Deshmukh also pointed out that some complaints have been raised against packed food and their sale through retail shops. "As per the requirement, I will refer these samples to the labs for further tests," he said.

FSDA seize 250 sacks of adulterated spices

AGRA: The city's food safety and drug administration (FSDA) on Wednesday seized over 250 sacks of adulterated spices, which were to be sold in the market during the upcoming festive season. 

The administration's crackdown took place 200m from Peepal Mandi police station at a grinding factory in Kala Mahal. The FSDA officials found about 100 sacks of dried coriander twigs mixed with some crushed wooden gangue particles, 100 sacks of adulterated red pepper with poor quality dried peppercorns and unidentified substances, and 50 sacks of powder and raw turmeric. 

According to the residents, this factory has been in operation for the past several years. The poorly lit factory was equipped with commercial grinders and a digital weighing machine. 

Kunal Agarwal, who owns the factory, alleged the sacks of coriander twigs, powder and raw turmeric belong to Guddu Garg of Gudri Mansoor Khan and B K and Sons of Tiwari Gali, Rawatpada own the red pepper. He claimed he only ran the grinding unit and was unaware of the adulteration of the spices. 

Agra FSDA designated officer Ram Naresh Yadav said: "We have collected seven samples which will be tested by the department laboratory. The factory has been sealed. The statement of the owner will be recorded and action would be taken after the results of the tests from the seized spices come out." 

Last week, the FSDA had seized more than 2,500 bottles of flavoured milk, after a local resident complaint that his family fell ill after consuming the product.

பெரியார் பல்கலை பட்டமளிப்பு விழா விஐபிக்களுக்கு புழுவுடன் உணவு

சேலம், ெசப்.17:

சேலம் பெரி யார் பல் க லைக் க ழ கத் தின் பட்ட ம ளிப்பு விழா வில், விஐ பிக் களுக்கு வழங் கப் பட்ட மதிய உண வில் புழுக் கள் இருந் தது அதிர்ச் சியை ஏற் ப டுத் தி யுள் ளது.

சேலம் பெரி யார் பல் க லைக் க ழ கத் தின் 15வது பட்ட ம ளிப்பு விழா நேற்று நடந் தது. இதில் ஆளு நர் ரோசைய்யா கலந்து கொண்டு மாணவ, மாண வி களுக்கு பட்டங் கள் மற் றும் தங் கப் ப தக் கத்தை வழக் கி னார். விழா வில் பல் க லைக் க ழக ஆட் சிக் குழு மற் றும் ஆட்சி பேரவை உறுப் பி னர் கள், பேரா சி ரி யர் கள், மாணவ, மாண வி கள் என ஏரா ள மா னோர் கலந்து கொண் ட னர். விழா வில் கலந்து கொண் ட வர் களுக்கு, பட்ட ம ளிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சி முடிந் த தும், பல் க லைக் க ழக தேர் வா ணைய வளா கத் தில், விஐ பிக் கள் உள் பட கலந்து கொண்ட அனை வ ருக் கும் மதிய உணவு பரி மா றப் பட்டது. அப் போது விஐ பிக் களுக்கு வழங் கிய சாம் பா ரில் புழுக் கள் நெளிந்து கொண் டி ருந் தது. இதை கண்ட விஐபி ஒரு வர், சாப் பி டு வதை நிறுத்தி விட்டு, இதைப் பற்றி வெளியே எது வும் கூறா மல் கமுக் க மாக எழுந்து சென்று விட்டார். சிறிது நேரத் தில் பத் தி ரி கை யா ளர் ஒரு வ ருக்கு ஊற் றப் பட்ட சாம் பா ரி லும் புழு இருந் தது. இதை கண்டு அதிர்ச் சி ய டைந்த அவர், தன் னு டன் உண வ ருந் திக் கொண் டி ருந்த சக பத் தி ரி கை யா ளர் களி டம் கூறி ய தால், அவர் களும் திகைப் ப டைந் த னர்.

உண வில் புழுக் கள் இருந் தது குறித்து விழா ஏற் பாட்டு குழு வி டம் கேட்ட போது, ‘விழா வில் கலந்து கொண்ட அனை வ ருக் கும் வழங் கப் பட்ட மதிய உணவு, சேலத் தில் உள்ள ஒரு பிர பல ஓட்ட லில் இருந்து வர வ ழைக் கப் பட்டது. சாம் பா ரில் சேர்க் கப் பட்ட கத் த ரிக் கா யில் இருந்து இந்த புழுக் கள் வந் தி ருக் க லாம். இது கு றித்து சம் பந் தப் பட்ட ஓட்டல் நிர் வா கத் தி டம் விசா ரிக் க வுள் ளோம்’ என் ற னர். பெரி யார் பல் க லைக் க ழக விழா வில் விஐ பிக் களுக்கு புழு விழுந்த உணவு வழங் கப் பட்ட சம் ப வம் சேலத் தில் பர ப ரப்பை ஏற் ப டுத் தி யுள் ளது.

திண்டுக்கல் பஸ் நிலையத்தில் திறந்த வெளியில் பலகாரங்கள் மெத்தன போக்கில் சுகாதாரத்துறை

திண் டுக் கல், செப்.17:

திண் டுக் கல் பஸ் நிலை யத் தில் திறந்த வெளி யில் விற் கப் ப டும் சுகா தார மற்ற பல கா ரங் க ளால் நோய் கள் பரவி வரு வ தா க வும், நட வ டிக்கை எடுப் ப தில் சுகா தா ரத் துறை மெத் த ன மாக செயல் ப டு வ தாக சமூக ஆர் வ லர் கள் புகார் தெரி விக் கின் ற னர்.

திண் டுக் கல் பஸ் நிலை யம் மதுரை, திருப் பூர், திருச்சி உள் ளிட்ட பெரிய வர்த் தக நக ரங் களை இணைக் கும் பால மாக உள் ளது. தின மும் ஆயி ரக் க ணக் கான பய னி கள் வந்து செல் கின் ற னர்.

சொந்த தேவை களுக் கா வும், வர்த் தக ரீதி யா க வும் மாவட்டத் தின் பல் வேறு பகு தி களி லி ருந்து மக் கள் வரு கின் ற னர். சிறு மலை, ஆட லூர், பன் றி மலை உள் ளிட்ட மலைக் கி ரா மத்தை சேர்ந் த வர் களும் திண் டுக் கல் பஸ் நிலை யத் திற்கு அதி கம் வந்து செல் கின் ற னர்.

இங்கு பழங் கள் முதல் பல கா ரம் வரை திறந்த வெளி யில் சுகா த ர மற்ற நிலை யில் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. நத் தம், காரைக் குடி, வத் த ல குண்டு, மதுரை பஸ் கள் நிறுத் தம் பகு தி களில் பல கா ரக் கடை கள் அதி க மாக உள் ளன.

நீண்ட நாட் க ளான பல கா ரங் கள், பழைய எண் ணையை பயன் ப டுத்தி செய் யப் ப டும் உணவு பொருட் கள் மனி த னுக்கு உபா தை களை ஏற் ப டுத் தும். இந்த வகை யான உணவு வகை கள் பஸ் நிலை யத் தில் தார ள மாக கிடைக் கி றது.

நாள் பட்ட இனிப்பு வகை கள், பழைய எண் ணை யில செய்ப் பட்ட பல கா ரங் கள், அழு கும் நிலை யில் உள்ள பழங் கள் இவை கள் மலிவு விலை யில் கிடைப் ப தால் அதி க மாக கிரா மத்து மக் கள் வாங் கிச் செல் கின் ற னர்.

இதனை சாப் பி டு ப வர் கள் உபா தை யால் பாதிக் கப் ப டு கின் ற னர். சிலர் ஒவ் வாமை ஏற் பட்டு பெரி தும் சிர மப் பட்டு மருத் து வத் திற்கு செலவு செய்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

இதனை கண் கா ணிக்க வேண் டிய மாந க ராட்சி சுகா த ராத் துறை மெத் த ன மாக செயல் பட்டு வரு கின் ற னர். திறந் த வெளி பல கா ரக் கடை கள் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுத்து பாது காப் பாக சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் உணவு திண் பண் டங் களை விற்க நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என்று சமூக ஆர் வ லர் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

Food safety dept to crack down on hotels, eateries using artificial food colours

The use of certain artificial colors have been banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, because long-term consumption could increase risk of cancer and tumours in the body.

COIMBATORE: The Food Safety Department will embark on a drive to crackdown on restaurants and eateries who use artificial food colouring agents in the food they serve, while eateries found violating the law would be fined heavily.

The use of certain artificial colors have been banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, because long-term consumption could increase risk of cancer and tumours in the body.

The random inspections will take place in all restaurants and eateries across the district from Monday and is likely to go on for almost 10 days. The move comes in the wake of the department receiving many complaints from the public that artificial food colours continue to be used by restaurants in many food items. "Some have complained that the use of colour was so high that the colour residue was remain on their hands," said designated food safety officer, Dr R Kathiravan.

Officials said a majority of complaints regarding use of food colors centred around dishes like Indian chilli chicken, tandoori chicken, chilli gobi, layer biryani and a few North Indian gravies.

" They use a lot of red, orange, yellow and green colours in their food to make it look a lot more appealing, despite us giving them clear instructions on it being banned," said Dr Kathiravan. "We have suggested use of natural colors like turmeric for yellow, saffron for orange and Andhra Chilli and beetroot extracts for red," he said.

However, eateries continue to synethic colours which contain chemicals like erythrosine, carmoisine, ponceau 4R, indigo carmine, brilliant blue FCF, fast green FCF, Tartrazine and sunset yellow FCF. "These colours are approved by the government, but studies have shown that chronic or daily consumption of these colours make them carcinogenic," said Dr Kathiravan. The residues of these colours take almost a month to leave our body, he said.

However, confusion regarding use of colours in food items continues because their use in some desserts like chocolate, ice cream, jelly, candies and Indian sweets are permitted. "These food items come under the category of once in a while consumed foods and thus use of colours is permitted up to the level of 100 parts per million, while normal starters and main course come under day-to-day consumed food," he said.

There is also the issue of a few small and medium sized eateries crossing the permissible levels of colour in Indian sweets or even using banned colours like auramine (yellow), malachite green and rhodamine (pink).

"We have not found such cases yet, but we will keep a look out for them," said another food safety officer.

If you drop food on the floor, can you still eat it?

Have you dropped food on the floor, scrambled to pick it up and continued eating it because of the five-second rule? All those who are aware of the five second rule have done it. For those who aren't aware of it, here's an explainer.

According to a new research, the five-second rule might actually be true. Five second rule states that food dropped on the floor will not be contaminated if it is picked up within five seconds from being dropped.

Food scientist, Paul Dawson from Clemson University studied how quickly food picks up bacteria when it falls on the floor. It was found that the less time food spends on the floor, the less germs it gets.

Where did the five seconds rule originate? 

Popular American chef, author and television personality Julia Child, known for bringing French cuisine to the Americans, in one of her cooking shows drops a potato pancake on the stovetop and gracefully puts it back on the pan, saying, 'you can always pick it up and if you are alone in the kitchen, who is going to see?'

Paul Dawson in the article says that its hard to pin point the origins of the rule, but a 2003 study by Jillian Clarke of Illinois University reports that women are more aware of the five second rule and are more likely to eat food that is fallen on the floor than men.

Food scientists at the Clemson University did a detailed research on the length of time food takes to get contaminated when it comes in contact with a surface that is unhygienic.

For this experiment they inoculated the floor with Salmonela bacteria and placed a bread on the surface for roughly 30 seconds to see the amount of bacteria which entered the food. They continued the experiment by placing the food at longer intervals - 1 to 8 to 24 hours.

The study found the duration didn't matter, but the overall amount of bacteria present on the floor mattered more. The study also says that the surface where the food is dropped makes a huge difference. The rate at which bacteria enters the food on a carpet flooring is slower than tiles or wooden flooring.

So, should you go ahead with the five second rule?

The research suggests that from safety point of view just 0.1% of bacteria on the floor is enough to make you fall ill. The presence of virulent Bacteria like the E.Coli could result in severe sickness or even death among people with a weak immune system. But the presence of this bacteria on most surfaces is relatively low.

Bacteria doesn't exist just on the surface of the floor. Utensils, moist surfaces, even our hands carry different types of bacteria. And some bacteria are also known to have an enhanced resistance against your hand sanitizers and antibiotics.

Eating dropped food is generally considered to be safe. There are other factors which could contribute to illness. Make sure that the floor isn't too dirty.

The best option is to always sanitize your hands, floor and utensils and most of all, to have steady hands while you are eating!

Ban on energy drinks forces makers to go for a remix

Food regulator against ginseng being used with caffeine in such beverages

MUMBAI, 

What’s in a name? A lot, says Ramesh Chauhan. The Bisleri International Chairman is playing it safe by positioning his company’s latest beverage, Urzza, as a ‘liquid charger’ rather than an energy drink. Urzza is derived from the Hindi word Urja, which means energy, yet Chauhan, who received clearance from the food regulator after many months, is giving the energy label a wide berth.

With good reason; in the past couple of months the ₹200 crore energy drink category has come under the lens of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which has imposed a ban on brands such as Monster, Restless, Cloud 9 and Tzinga.

The makers of these energy drinks have halted production to reformulate their respective brands, and are waiting for the regulator’s nod to put their products back on shop shelves.

“The FSSAI is objecting to the combination of ginseng with caffeine in energy drinks. In our case, we are not using caffeine and have positioned Urzza as a liquid charger and not as an energy drink,” explains Chauhan.

Other domestic players have not been able to skirt the ban. For instance, Mumbai-based KG Beverages, which makes the Restless Action brand, has to apply for a fresh licence.

“This is the third time that we have been made to change the formula. Using herbs like ginseng along with caffeine, which is a chemical, is not being favoured by the FSSAI. But the same combination … is commonly used in other markets like the US and the UK,” says Nitin Gupta, MD of KG Functional Beverages.

Even start-up Hector Beverages, which makes the Tzinga brand, has re-formulated its energy drink. “We have replaced the herb ginseng but despite this, we are still waiting to hear from the FSSAI,” says Neeraj Kakkar, CEO, Hector Beverages.

Even imported brands such as Monster, which is distributed by the Narang Group (the erstwhile distributor of the Red Bull energy drink) have been banned by the FSSAI.

This has allowed Red Bull, which does not have ginseng in its drinks, to dominate the category and hike its price from ₹95 to ₹99 for 250 ml, capitalising on its almost monopolistic position.

Spices committee broadens scope of Codex in setting standards: FSSAI chief

Mumbai

The Codex Committee for Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), under the joint aegis of WHO and FAO of the United Nations, which India is hosting, has broadened the scope of the global food safety standard setting body Codex Alimentarius Commission, according to Ashish Bahuguna, chairperson, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. He made these observations while inaugurating the second session of the CCSCH at Canacona in Goa recently.

Bahuguna observed that the importance of CCSCH is discernible from the increasing number of new work proposals coming in from spices producing and consuming countries for setting quality standards. FSSAI, which is the national Codex point in India, is working in close liaison with the Spices Board India, the host organisation of CCSCH, in working towards setting standards.

Welcoming delegates from nearly 40 countries, Dr A Jayathilak, chairman, Spices Board India, said that India had taken up the task of standard setting as a challenge. “There has been a renewed surge in India in getting establishments and products certified under FSSAI which is the link to the international Codex standards. This will pave way for harmonisation of national and international standards. Exports of Indian spices could buck the recessionary trends and have been rising for the past many years owing to the very stringent quality control mechanism the board had established for exports,” he stated.

The session was attended by delegates from the US, Canada, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Argentina, Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, Libya, Algiers, Egypt, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Tanzania, Grenada, Iran, Algeria, the European Union, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and China. Ten new work proposals were mooted for consideration which include dry ginger, dry garlic, dry chillies, nutmeg, saffron, coriander, basil, cloves besides the already proposed standards for cumin, black, white and green pepper, thyme and oregano.

Dr M R Sudarshan, the chair of the CCSCH, struck a note of confidence in the participation of the member countries in the committee proceedings. Dr P S Sreekantan Thampi, organising secretary, CCSCH, proposed vote of thanks.