`Min government, Max governance' trigger behind downsize decision

FSSAI Shuts City Office From Today

Less than a year after forcing Nestle India to recall samples of Maggi, and running-in with Patanjali Ayurved for manufacturing and selling atta noodles without requisite licenses, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is quietly moving towards a `deregulation' and `self-compliance' regime.

As a first step in this direction, the country's food regulator has ordered the winding up of its sub-regional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh, with effect from March 31.

From April 11, the Authority will carry out its regulatory work; licensing, enforcement and monitoring of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, remotely , from the FSSAI headquarters in New Delhi, and four regional offic es in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Guwahati. The closure orders were communicated to the Chandigarh and Lucknow offices through an office order of February 24, signed by director establishment, FSSAI, Rakesh Chandra Sharma. However, the order was not avilable on the FSSAI website, until the time of going to press.

Speaking to TOI, FSSAI chief executive officer, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, said, “The decision to close down sub-regional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh was a carefully considered one.These offices had limited staff and were not adding value. Our attempt is to downsize and rationalise our resources. We dont wan't food safety officials to be a nuisance to food businesses, rather we want citizens to have confidence in them.“

Saying inspection was not the way forward in the food industry , and the FSSAI was keen to encourage self-regulation and declaration, Agarwal added, “We are using a pragmatic approach, and moving towards a regime of self-compliance. We plan to use technology meaningfully to reach out to businesses and encourage them to selftest and upload results online.Penalties can be issued online for non-compliance. Consumers are also encouraged to be more aware and act as a food safety inspector.“ While deregulation ap pears to be the key word, the FSSAI is mandated, at present, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to lay down “science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.“ The Act was enforced across India from 2011, after the Food Safety and Standards Rules and Regulations, respectively, were notified by the Central government. It governs about 35 lakh food businesses across India of which about 27,000 licenses are issued directly by FSSAI. In comparison to the size of food business, however, the number of food safety officers under FSSAI is woefully low; less than 10%.

Citing a severe manpower crunch and the Authority's inability, as a result, to fully control the food industry , Agarwal said enforcement will now shift into the hands of the concerned state governments, while the regional office in New Delhi will monitor overall regulation of food in UP and other states in India FSSAI could not, however provide TOI a copy of an office order, or gazette notification announcing the change in procedure, authorising state governments to take over en orcement, inspections and monitoring of food business es.

Agarwal, the chief execu ive, and also the Food Com missioner of India, quoted the FSS Act, 2006 as having pre scribed `Minimum Govern ment but Maximum Govern ance,' which is the trigger be hind the Authority's decision o “downsize and rationalise“ resources. TOI could not, how ever, find a reference to any such statement in the Act.

The Lucknow office of FSSAI, in its capacity as food regulator, has issued 2672 food icenses from its inception in September 2008, until March 27, 2016. In addition to issuing licenses, it has also served show cause and improvement notices on food manufacturers, conducted over 250 inspections of food production facilities, and initiated penal action against a prominent food manufacturing business.

According to RTI information sought by TOI from the FSSAI Lucknow office, among key companies that were issued improvement or show cause notices for sub-standard or unsafe food products include Nestle for its Maggi noodles, and Mother Dairy for its `Fruit Added Lassi', which RTI information shows was being sold across India without a product license. The offices also suspended the license of JVL Agro, manufacturers of `Jhoola Vanaspati', among other oils produced by the company , and found during surveillance sampling that all brands of packaged drinking water sold in UP were sub-standard and unsafe for consumption. Among other food majors pulled up by FSSAI include Hindustan Unilever for producing substandard bread under the label “Modern“, and for illegal slaughter against Abu Dhabibased Lulu Group's Amroon Foods Pvt Ltd at its Barabanki facility.

Speaking to TOI, sources in New Delhi said the Centre and FSSAI, as food regulator, were for some time faced with adilemma; whether to keep up its stringent regulatory check in public interest, or to resolve regulatory issues in favour of food manufacturers like Nestle and other prominent names in the food industry . An FSSAI resource person, on condition of anonymity , told TOI: “Considering that FSSAI was established in public interest, and with an aim to function as a regulatory , enforcement and monitoring agency controlling the entire food industry in India, it only makes sense to expand the Authority's network, rather than to close down its offices.“

Self-regulation new mantra for country's food security

 

Lucknow

Less then a year after forcing Nestle India to recall samples of Maggi, and runningin with Patanjali Ayurved for manufacturing and selling atta noodles without requisite licenses, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has said it's moving towards a “deregulation“ and “self-compliance“ regime.

As first step in this direction, the country's food regulator has ordered the winding up of its sub-regional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh, with effect from March 31.

From April 11, FSSAI will carry out its regulatory work; licensing, enforcement and monitoring of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, remotely , from the its headquarters in New Delhi, and four regional offices in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Guwahati. The closure orders were communicated to the Chandigarh and Lucknow offices through an office order of February 24, signed by director establishment, FSSAI, Rakesh Chandra Sharma. Speaking to TOI, FSSAI chief executive officer, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, said, “The decision to close down sub-regional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh was a carefully considered one. These offices had limited staff and were not adding value. Our attempt is to downsize and rationalise our resources. We don't want food safety officials to be a nuisance to food businesses, rather we want citizens to have confidence in them.“

Saying inspection was not the way forward in the food industry , and FSSAI was keen to encourage self-regulation and declaration, Agarwal added, “We're using a pragmatic approach, and moving towards a regime of self-compliance. We plan to use technology meaningfully to reach out to businesses and encourage them to self-test and upload results online. Penalties can be issued online for non-compliance. Consumers are also encouraged to be more aware and act as a food safety inspector.“

While deregulation appears to be the keyword, the FSSAI is mandated, at present, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to lay down “science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.“

The Act has been enforced across India from 2011, after the Food Safety and Standards Rules and Regulations, respectively, were notified by the Central government. It governs about 35 lakh food businesses across India of which about 27,000 licenses are issued directly by FSSAI. In comparison to the size of food business, however, the number of food safety officers under FSSAI is woefully low, less than 10%.

FSSAI moves away from inspector raj, shuts 2 offices

Lucknow: Less than a year after forcing Nestle India to recall samples of Maggi and having a run-in with Patanjali Ayurved for manufacturing and selling atta noodles without requisite licenses, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has said it's moving towards a "deregulation" and "self-compliance" regime.

As a first step, the food regulator has ordered its subregional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh to be wound up with effect from March 31.

From April 11, the FSSAI will carry out its regulatory work: licensing, enforcement and monitoring of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 remotely, from its New Delhi headquarters and four regional offices in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Guwahati. Orders for the closures were communicated to the Chandigarh and Lucknow offices on February 24 by FSSAI director, establishment, Rakesh Chandra Sharma.

FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told TOI, "The decision to close down the two offices was carefully considered. They had limited staff and were not adding value. Our attempt is to downsize and rationalise our resources. We don't want food safety officials to be a nuisance to businesses. Rather we want citizens to have confidence in them."

Agarwal said FSSAI was keen to encourage self-regulation and declaration.

Citing a severe manpower crunch and the regulator's inability to, ever, fully control the food industry, Agarwal said enforcement will now shift into the hands of the concerned state governments, while the regional office in New Delhi will monitor the overall regulation of food in Uttar Pradesh and other states in India.

According to RTI information sought by TOI from the FSSAI Lucknow office, companies issued notices included Nestle for its Maggi noodles, Mother Dairy for its 'Fruit Added Lassi', which RTI information shows was being sold across India without a product license, Hindustan Unilever for producing sub-standard bread under the label 'Modern', and Abu Dhabibased Lulu Group's Amroon Foods for illegal slaughter at its Barabanki facility.

FSSAI on a ride to provide safe food to consumers'

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO at FSSAI who is on a mission to safe food for a healthy and happy India, talks to Restaurant India about his plans to take this forward.

For all street food junkies who love lip-smacking roadside eateries but disgust them too for lack of hygiene, can now relish them fully without regretting over safety issues. India’s food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come down hard on street food vendors to sanitize road side snacks through multiple initiatives. Pawan Kumar Agarwal, the man in-charge of quality testing and CEO of FSSAI share the changes underway.

Tell us about your project ‘Clean Street Food’ and how will it help India tackle the hygiene issue?

Through this initiative of capacity building of food vendors we have found a model and we can do it across the country. This will benefit the poorest section of the society and also the citizen and consumers in many ways. As a country, we are not known for good hygiene and particularly there is concern about the basic hygiene. This initiative will help us in coming out of very crucial situation that is prevailing in the country. We are working with Ministry of Skill Development and other tourism and hospitality partners under Pradhanmantri Kaushal Yogna for capacity and skill building of the food vendors.

How does the recently launched FSSAI app empowers consumers?

FSSAI app is a free mobile application developed by FSSAI which would help consumers make informed food choices and bring to light the vendors who are operating without proper licenses and violating the safety norms. The app provides food safety tips, essential information about product and establishment and a hygiene rating for food product and outlet.

Would there be any acknowledgment for these vendors from the government?

Vendors would receive a government recognised certificate that would encourage them to continue upgrading their skills and knowledge through structured training to help them achieve a formal qualification.

Are food brands and restaurants also in the frame of quality testing?

We are working on a plan to bring all the restaurants in the food safety propaganda. We will partner with all food brands and restaurants in the country, train one member from each of them at FSSAI about the basic food safety and hygiene and they will be placed at these restaurants. Hence, it will become easier for both of us to make sure that the food served is meeting the basic hygiene tool and the person looking after it is trained by FSSAI.

How are you executing this initiative of providing safe street food?

We are planning to reach out to the smallest food vendors and see if they adopt the basic hygiene rule. In Phase I of the project, over two lakh street food vendors in identified areas would be taken up including all metropolitan and major cities, pilgrimage and tourist centres. There are 23,000 street food vendors in Delhi alone who are being trained, skilled and educated by our partners on hygiene factors. Based on the results, this would be rolled out in other places in the country. We are also planning to work out for Railways and Ports.

Nestle dragged to court in UP over 'sub-standard' Maggi

Barabanki/New Delhi, Mar 30: Nestle India and its two sellers have been dragged to court over alleged sub-standard Maggi noodles, a charge denied by the FMCG major which questioned the testing standards.

District Designated Officer Manoj Kumar Verma of Barbanki said that a case was lodged in the court of additional district magistrate yesterday after Nestle failed to reply to notices sent by it after samples were found "sub-standard during lab test at Gorakhpur".

When contacted, a Nestle India spokesperson said: "We have not received any notice from the concerned authorities about samples of Maggi noodles collected from Umesh Chandra, Barabanki. We have also not received any notice from the Court and we have heard about this only from a media report."

Asserting that Maggi is "100 per cent safe for consumption" the spokesperson said: "In recent past we have come across instances where in Uttar Pradesh, standards for 'Macaroni products' are being applied for 'Instant Noodles with seasoning' which is erroneous and misleading."

She further said: "We categorically re-iterate that testing of instant noodles against norms set for macaroni products will reflect in incorrect results and wrong interpretations."

Last year, Uttar Pradesh Food & Drug Administration took samples of Maggi from the shop of Umesh Chandra in Joshi Tola, which was purchased from Ravindra Traders.

According to Verma, "samples were found sub-standard during lab test at Gorakhpur" and notices were sent to Nestle and two sellers.

JK goes for online registration, licensing of food business operators

ParvezDewan, Advisor to J&K Governor, formally launched the system, in presence of Dr M. K. Bhandari, Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department (Commissioner Food Safety, J&K), an official spokesman said. 

With reports of food adulteration pouring in every day, the Drug and Food Control Organization on Wednesday launched an online system for issuing licenses and registration certificates to food business operators throughout the State. ParvezDewan, Advisor to J&K Governor, formally launched the system, in presence of Dr M. K. Bhandari, Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department (Commissioner Food Safety, J&K), an official spokesman said. Speaking on the occasion, Dewan stressed on the need for ensuring that the check of interest of health of the consumers, registration and licensing of operators dealing with food items must be undertaken, alongside strengthening the system for better monitoring and testing. 

 He also noted that consumers must be made sufficiently aware about consuming healthy, safe and wholesome food. 

Dr. Bhandari informed that it is for the first time that such an online system of registration and licensing of food business operators has been introduced in the State, which will benefit more than one lakh food business operators including hotels, restaurants, manufacturers, food vendors, hawkers among others. 

The Department has worked out a detailed mechanism in consultation with Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, National Institute of Smart Governance, Department of Information Technology, J&K for ensuring that the system is available as a convenient model registration to all the Food Business Operators. It shall require the applicant to simply approach the Common Service Centres (KHIDMAT Centres) and submit the details to the CSCs, based on which, the application would be uploaded on payment of nominal prescribed fee and within a stipulated time, the applicant would get a response through SMS alert as well as through email as to the certificate/license having been issued. The same can be secured by the applicant at his discretion from the CSCs or otherwise. 

Shridhar, General Manager, NISG Hyderabad informed that J&K is the first State in India to put into place the online registration system based on Common Service Centres. 

 This shall surely ensure that the vendors do not find difficulty in approaching the District Officers for securing their certificates/licenses, which was hitherto the case. 

“The system would, inter alia, eliminate inconsistencies, improved transparency and accountability, help in better managing the time lines, ensure streamline reporting and capturing of data base. It may be recalled that the Department had stopped manual registration/licensing since 1st March, 2016,” the spokesman said.

30 More Admitted to DHH for Food Poison

JAGATSINGHPUR: At least 30 more persons, who had taken ill after consuming stale ‘Dahi Bara’, were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Wednesday. With this, the number of patients being admitted to the hospital for food poison due to consumption of stale ‘Dahi Bara’ rose to 80. On Tuesday, at least 200 villagers of Gopalpur, Putting, Jaisinghpur and Ainipur under Raghunathpur and Tirtol blocks had consumed ‘Dahi Bara’ from a cycle vendor, who sells the food item by moving from one village to another. After a few hours, the villagers complained of vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea. Some of them were rushed to Sanra Primary Health Centre and later 50 persons had to be shifted to the DHH. Medical teams of the DHH were also rushed to all the four villages to provide treatment to the other affected persons.

Sources said there are not enough beds in the DHH to accommodate all the patients as a result of which, they are forced to sleep on the floor. On the other hand, a squad from the Health department led by Food Safety Officer Amitav Das raided different food kiosks selling ‘Dahi Bara, Aloo Dum’ and ‘gupchup’ in Jagatsinghpur Raghunathpur and Tirtol and stopped the sales. Similar raids were conducted at Gandhi Chowk, Bada Bazaar and Sana Bazaar in Jagatsinghpur town. Vendors were asked to stop selling the food items for 15 days. Samples of the food items were collected and would be sent to the State Laboratory in Bhubaneswar for tests. Till now, unhygienic and stale food were being sold in many parts of the district in the absence of any monitoring by civic body and local administration.

Das said as raids are not being conducted regularly on roadside eateries and other food vendors, sale of unhygienic food is on the rise. Das added that the municipality does not have enough staff to conduct raids. He has sought the intervention of District Food Safety Committee to stop sale of ‘Dahi Bara’ and ‘gupchup’ in different parts of the district for the time being.

Collector Bijay Ketan Upadhaya visited the patients in the DHH and interacted with the health officials. He assured financial assistance to the patients for treatment and purchase of medicines. Meanwhile, Tirtol police on Wednesday detained the ‘Dahi Bara’ seller Gopal Nayak, who hails from Barunpada under Tirtol police limits. He had sold the food item in the four villages on Tuesday.

மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்க ரசாயன கற்களை பயன்படுத்தினால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை பாயும் மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் எச்சரிக்கை

சேலம், மார்ச் 31:

மாம் ப ழங் களை பழுக்க வைக்க, ரசா யன கற் களை பயன் ப டுத் தி னால் கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என, மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் அனு ராதா எச் ச ரித் துள் ளார்.

சீசன் தொடங் கி யுள் ள தால் சேலம் மார்க் கெட் டு க ளில் மாம் ப ழங் க ளின் வரத்து அதி க ரித் துள் ளது. பொது மக் க ளும் ஆர் வ மு டன் மாம் ப ழங் களை வந்து வாங் கிச் செல் கின் ற னர். இத னி டையே மாம் பழ மண்டி உரி மை யா ளர் கள் மற் றும் வியா பா ரி க ளு ட னான ஆலோ சனை கூட் டம் சேலத் தில் நேற்று நடந் தது. கூட் டத் திற்கு, சேலம் மாவட்ட மாங் காய் மற் றும் பழ வியா பா ரி கள் சங்க தலை வர் குப் பு சாமி தலைமை வகித் தார். செய லா ளர் உமா பதி முன் னிலை வகித் தார். இதில், பொரு ளா ளர் லட் சு ம ணன், துணை செய லா ளர் சேஷா, சட்ட ஆலோ ச கர் கணே சன் உள் பட பலர் கலந்து கொண் ட னர். இது கு றித்து உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறி ய தா வது:

சீசனை பயன் ப டுத்தி மாம் பழ விற் ப னையை அதி க ரிக்க, ரசா யன கற் க ளைக் கொண்டு மாம் ப ழங் கள் பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டு கின் றன. குறிப் பாக கார் பைட் கற் கள் அதி க மாக உப யோ கப் ப டுத் தப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. இதி லி ருந்து வெளி யே ரும் அசிட் டி லின் என்ற வாயு, பழத் து டன் கற் களை வைத்த 10 முதல் 12 மணி நே ரத் தில், பழத் தின் பச்சை நிறத்தை மஞ் ச ளாக மாற் று கி றது. இத னு டன் ஆர் சி லின் என்ற வாயு வும் ெவளி யே று கி றது. இவ் வாறு பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டும் பழங் களை சாப் பி டு வ தால், பல் வேறு உடல் பாதிப் பு க ளுக்கு ஆளாக நேரி டும். குறிப் பாக வாந்தி, வயிற் றுப் போக்கு, வயிறு எரிச் சல், தலை சுற் று தல், தோல் தடிப் பது போன்ற பாதிப் பு கள் ஏற் ப டும். தொடர்ந்து, நரம்பு மண் ட லம் பாதித்து ஞாபக சக்தி குறை வ து டன், சிறு நீ ர கம் மற் றும் கல் லீ ர லும் செய லி ழக்க வாய்ப் புள் ளது.

சேலத் தில் கடந்த சில வரு டங் க ளாக உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை யி ன ரால் மேற் கொள் ளப் பட்டு வரும் நட வ டிக் கை க ளால், 90 சத வீ தம் இது கட் டுப் ப டுத் தப் பட் டுள் ளது. தடையை மீறி ரசா யன கற் கள் மூலம் பழங் கள் பழுக்க வைப் பது கண் ட றி யப் பட் டால், உணவு பாது காப்பு தர நிர் ணய சட் டம் 2006ன் படி, வழக் குப் ப திவு செய் யப் ப டும். இதன் மூலம், ஒரு லட் சம் முதல் 5 லட் சம் வரை அப ரா தம் அல் லது ஒரு லட் சம் அப ரா தம் மற் றும் 6 மாதம் சிறை தண் டணை பெற்று தர நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும். தற் போது பழங் களை பழுக்க வைக்க, எத் தி லின் வாயுவை பயன் ப டுத் த லாம் என அரசே சில வழி மு றை களை அறி வித் துள் ளது.

இம் மு றையை வியா பா ரி கள் பயன் ப டுத்தி கொள் ள லாம். ரசா யன கற் களை பயன் ப டுத் தும் போது, மற்ற பழங் களை காட் டி லும் கூடு தல் எடை இருக் கும். மேலும், முழு மை யாக மஞ் சள் நிற மாக மாறா மல், ஆங் காங்கே பச்சை நிறம் தென் ப டும். இதனை பொது மக் கள் எளி தில் கண் ட றிந்து, ரசா ய னம் மூலம் பழுக்க வைத்த பழங் களை தவிர்க் க லாம். இவ் வாறு நிய மன அலு வ லர் அனு ராதா தெரி வித் தார்.

சேலத் தில் பழக் கடை உரி மை யா ளர் க ளு ட னான ஆலோ சனை கூட் டம் நடந் தது. இதில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா பேசி னார்.

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பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட் கடைகளில் குடிநீரின் தரத்தை ஆய்வு செய்த உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள்

 

தர் ம புரி, மார்ச் 31:

தர் ம புரி பஸ் ஸ்டாண் டில் உள்ள கடை க ளில், பேக் கிங் கில் பாது காக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீர் தான் உள் ளதா என உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று அதி ரடி சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் தில் கேன் க ளில் பேக் கிங் குடி நீர் விற் பனை செய் யும் நிறு வ னங் கள் 50க்கும் மேற் பட் டவை உள் ளன. இது தவிர சேலம், கரூர் மாவட் டங் க ளில் இருந் தும் கேன் குடி நீர் விற் ப னைக் காக கொண்டு வரப் ப டு கி றது. நடப் பாண் டில் மார்ச் மாதத் தி லேயே கோடை கொளுத்த துவங்கி விட் டது. இத னால் குடி நீ ரின் தேவை இரு ம டங் காகி, பேக் கேஜ்டு குடி நீர் கேன் கள் விற் பனை அதி க ரித் துள் ளது.

கேன் க ளில் அடைக் கப் பட்டு விற் பனை செய் யும் பாது காக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீர், முறை யாக சுத் தி க ரிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளதா என உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்த வேண் டும் என பொது மக் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் தி ருந் த னர்.

இதை ய டுத்து நேற்று, மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் பிருந்தா தலை மை யில் பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட் மற் றும் அதனை சுற் றி யுள்ள டீ கடை கள், ஓட் டல் கள், ஜூஸ் கடை க ளில் உள்ள குடி நீர் பாட் டில் களை சோத னை யிட் ட னர். அப் போது காலா வ தி யான குடி நீர் பாட் டில் களை விற் பனை செய்ய கூடாது என எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் த னர். இந்த சோத னை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் கோபி நாத், சேகர், நாக ராஜ், கும ணன், சந் தி ரன் உள் ளிட் ட வர் கள் ஈடு பட் ட னர்.

Enforcement activities on Nutraceuticals, Food Supplements and Health Supplement

Think twice before you sip juice

HYGIENE MATTERS:An ice block being moved out of a manufacturing unit in Erode.

With summer season showing signs of strong entry, fresh juice centres have been springing up in the recent weeks at many places in the city.

This has meant good business for suppliers of ice blocks. The very reason why people prefer fresh juice is nutrition. But, none, for sure, knows the conditions in which ice is manufactured, hygiene-conscious consumers of fresh juice apprehend.

Food Safety Department officials explain that the entire process of ice-making warrants wholesome attention for hygiene. Right from use of purified water to packaging, the process has to be free from germs.

The conditions of ice-manufacturing units in the city leave a lot to be desired on the hygiene front. Dirty walls, and rusting equipment, provide a right atmosphere for proliferation of germs.

However, there has been no specific complaint so far to the Food Safety Department about hygiene inadequacy in the ice-block manufacturing units. Nevertheless, periodic inspections will be carried out in future to remedy the situation, official sources said.

Vendors warned against artificial ripening

Khammam: The Food Safety Department officials on Tuesday conducted raids on the fruit stalls to check the presence of calcium carbide (CaC2) content in the stocks in Khammam. A team of food inspectors led by Zone-V Warangal Assistant Food Control Officer N Prabhakar Reddy inspected several wholesale and retail shops in the city. 

The officials, who raided wholesale fruit market behind Vinoda Mahal theatre and other cold storage units, collected samples. Prabhakar Reddy said that the collected samples would be sent for laboratory examination. Stating that nine out of the 16 fruit samples collected hitherto from the city’s shops were found ripened artificially using calcium carbide and other chemicals, he warned that authorities were preparing to file criminal cases against those vendors. 

He said that calcium carbide can cause cancer as it contains traces of Arsenic and Phosphorous Hydrides. It might be noted here that calcium carbide crystals absorb moisture and produce acetylene gas that aids in the artificial ripening of the fruit. P Chandrasekhar, A Rajendranath, V Srinivas, R Krishna Kumar and TV Ramana Kumar and other officials took part in the raids.

Crackdown on fruit vendors using chemicals

Noting a rise in complaints against fruit vendors and traders for using harmful chemicals to ripen fruits, the city police will be launching a crackdown from Wednesday on outlets and godowns.

The State government has banned the use of Calcium Carbide (CaC2) and had asked municipal bodies and officials from the Commissioner of Food Safety to take the help of traders to effectively prohibit use of Calcium Carbide.

It had also directed the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and Commissioner of Food Safety to inspect commercial establishments selling fruits to ensure implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, which bans use of Calcium Carbide.

Apart from the CaC2, the authorities are also keeping a watch on traders using ethane and ethephon for ripening. According to health experts, inappropriate use of these chemicals results in health problems.

The Hyderabad High Court also asked the government to initiate action against fruit traders and vendors who are using harmful chemicals for ripening fruits.

பேக்கிங் குடிநீரின் தரம் ஆய்வு செய்யப்படுமா? கோடை வெயில் எதிரொலியால் விற்பனை அதிகரிப்பு

தர் ம புரி, மார்ச் 30:

தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் தில் பேக் கிங் குடி நீர் விற் பனை இரு ம டங் காக அதி க ரித் துள் ளது. இதை ய டுத்து பேக் கிங் குடி நீ ரின் தரம் குறித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை நடத்த வேண் டும் என கோரிக்கை எழுந் துள் ளது.

தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் தில் ஒகே னக் கல் குடி நீர் வினி யோ கம் செய் யப் பட் டா லும், அதில் கிணற்று நீரை கலந்து நக ராட்சி, பேரூ ராட்சி, ஊராட்சி நிர் வா கங் கள் வினி யோ கம் செய் கின் றன. இத னால் பெரும் பா லா ன வர் கள் வாட் டர் கேன் தண் ணீ ரையே பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர். குடி நீ ரால் ஏற் ப டும் நோய் க ளில் இருந்து தங் களை பாது காக்க மக் கள் நினைப் ப தால், பாட் டில் தண் ணீர் விற் பனை பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், ஷாப் பிங் கு கள் உள் ளிட்ட அனைத்து இடங் க ளி லும் அதி க மாக உள் ளது. பல வீடு க ளில் ஆர்ஓ பிளான்ட் பொருத் தப் பட் டுள் ளது. அவ் வாறு ஆர்ஓ பொருத்த வச தி யில் லா த வர் கள் பேக் கிங் குடி நீர் வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர்.

தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் தில் ஒகே னக் கல் குடி நீர் வினி யோ கம் செய் யப் பட் டா லும், அதில் கிணற்று நீரை கலந்து நக ராட்சி, பேரூ ராட்சி, ஊராட்சி நிர் வா கங் கள் வினி யோ கம் செய் கின் றன. இத னால் பெரும் பா லா ன வர் கள் வாட் டர் கேன் தண் ணீ ரையே பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர். குடி நீ ரால் ஏற் ப டும் நோய் க ளில் இருந்து தங் களை பாது காக்க மக் கள் நினைப் ப தால், பாட் டில் தண் ணீர் விற் பனை பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், ஷாப் பிங் கு கள் உள் ளிட்ட அனைத்து இடங் க ளி லும் அதி க மாக உள் ளது. பல வீடு க ளில் ஆர்ஓ பிளான்ட் பொருத் தப் பட் டுள் ளது. அவ் வாறு ஆர்ஓ பொருத்த வச தி யில் லா த வர் கள் பேக் கிங் குடி நீர் வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர்.

தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் தில் கேன் க ளில் பேக் கிங் குடி நீர் விற் பனை செய் யும் நிறு வ னங் கள் 50க்கும் மேற் பட் டவை உள் ளது. இது தவிர சேலம், கரூர் மாவட் டங் க ளில் இருந் தும் கேன் குடி நீர், தர் ம புரி மாவட் டத் திற்கு விற் ப னைக் காக கொண்டு வரப் ப டு கி றது.

நடப் பாண் டில் மார்ச் மாதத் தி லேயே கோடை காலம் துவங்கி விட் டது. இத னால் குடி நீ ரின் தேவை இரு ம டங் காகி, பேக் கேஜ்டு குடி நீர் கேன் கள் விற் ப னை யும் அதி க ரித் துள் ளது. கேன் க ளில் அடைக் கப் பட்டு விற் பனை செய் யும் பாது காக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீர் முறை யாக சுத் தி க ரிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளதா என உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்த வேண் டும் என கோரிக்கை எழுந் துள் ளது.

இது பற்றி பொது மக் கள் கூறு கை யில், ‘கோடை காலம் என் ப தால் வழக் கத்தை விட குடி நீர் தேவை அதி க மாக உள் ளது. 4 பேர் உள்ள வீட் டிற்கு வாரத் திற்கு 75 லிட் டர் குடி நீர் தேவைப் ப டு கி றது. கோடை என் ப தால் இது 150 லிட் ட ராக உயர்ந் து விட் டது. 3 கேன் வாங் கி ய வர் கள் 6 கேன் வரை வாங்க வேண் டி யுள் ளது. கடந்த சில நாட் க ளாக கேன் க ளில் அடைக் கப் பட் டுள்ள குடி நீர் சுவை மாறி வரு கி றது. எனவே, சுத் தி க ரிக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீரை தான் பேக் கிங் செய் கி றார் களா என உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை நடத்த வேண் டும்’ என் ற னர்.

Crackdown on Tanker Lorries

KOCHI: The District Food Safety Authority on Tuesday inspected various water distribution facilities in the Aluva area, in the wake of increasing complaints against the quality of drinking water being supplied through tanker lorries.

The Food Safety Authority sent the samples collected from five wells and two drinking water treatment plants to the Regional Analytical Laboratory at Kakkanad for further inspection.

Dewan for Strict Implementation of Food Adulteration Prevention Measures

JAMMU, MARCH 29: Advisor to Governor Mr Parvez Dewan convened a meeting with senior officers of Drugs and Food Control Organization (DFCO) and discussed the measures to ensure prevention of food adulteration.

The meeting took serious note of food adulteration and warned food manufacturers and vendors against using colouring agents dangerously harmful for humans.

The Advisor asked Drug Controller, J&K to ensure strict enforcement of Food Product Standard and Food Additives (FSSA) law across the state and ensure that no colouring agent is applied in preparation of any kind of food items.

The Advisor said there is a need to curb the use of synthetic colouring materials in the famed Kashmiri Wazwan cuisine. For this purpose, he said wazwan would be brought under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. He said the aim is also to maintain the originality of kashmiri wazwan and protect it from any adulteration.

It was also decided in the meeting that any person indulging in use of colouring matter in food articles shall invite action under law and the punishment can be extended to the ‘life imprisonment’ viz-a-viz fine which can be extended to Rs 10 lakh depending upon the severity of offence.

Earlier, the Drug Controller J&K, Ms Lotika Khajuria briefed the Advisor about the steps being taken by the organization.

Among others, Assistant Food Controller Headquarters, Mr Khurshid Ahmad Wani and Public Analyst, Mr Sumit Singh were also present in the meeting.

Students spot lizard in lunch, 10 fall ill

INDORE: Nearly 10 students of a private engineering college fell ill after having lunch in college mess on Tuesday. They were taken a Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) for treatment.

Students alleged that a dead lizard was spotted in the 'Dal-rice' served to the students at LNCT group of Engineering on Sanwer Road. Soon after consuming contaminated food, students one after the other started vomiting and complained of nausea.

Later, food safety officials took food samples and sent it to laboratory for chemical examination. On the other hand, students protested demanding action against the guilty. "We have issued improvement notice to the college administration. We will revisit the hostel canteen after 14 days to take stock of the situation. Canteen operator is responsible for lapse. Ill students were admitted to a private hospital," said food safety officer, Manish Swami.

No takers for street vendors licence

Kakinada: Street vendors trading food items without completing the registration formalities will have to face the music as the Food Safety authorities plan to tighten the rules of the sector.

Checking will shortly begin in the district to find out such illegal traders. Items used for trade will be seized besides the legal actions. The vigil is tightened mainly to avoid the chance of food poisoning and the distribution of contaminated items. 

“We have noticed the mushrooming of wayside food vendors without any valid registration and food safety measures. This has to be controlled for health reasons,” says a senior officer attached to the Food Safety Department.

He says only through a proper registration, the department will be able to identify the genuine traders and ban the unhygienic players. The tightening of rule will mainly lock out the flooding number of migrant vendors who occupy the streets with their products manufactured in unknown locations and often using unhygienic contents.

The official said the vendor would be liable for sale of any sub-standard food material and liable for action. Failure to get themselves registered will also attract heavy penalty, he added.

It may be recalled here that under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, which was implemented across the country in 2011, any person engaged in food business will have to register and obtain a licence to run his business. The vendors will have to fulfil safety and hygiene conditions to obtain a licence.

Under this, all sorts of food businesses, including fruits and vegetables sellers, roadside tea stalls, grocery and milk shops, restaurants, hotels, canteens and caterers will have to obtain a licence. Rentals from the vendors will be collected by the civic bodies. The Act will streamline the entire street vending system as there will be a concrete list of registered vendors. 

Most importantly, the rules are expected to remove bribery, which will benefit the vendors in a big way, said FSSAI officer BVSRK Prasad. He said the government would start registering vendors and issue food licenses very soon. The officials concerned will first conduct surveys to prepare a final list of street vendors. 

For registration, a vendor will have to provide a photo identification card along with other documents. The officials will also have the authority to revise monthly rentals from time-to-time, based on prevailing rates of the area concerned. There are over 35,000 street vendors in the city. 

Though the tightening of regulations is mainly aimed at unhygienic migrant vendors, local vendors, who have been dealing with the trade of food items for a long time, are also likely to be pulled up for not having registrations. So far, many of them have been enjoying a good income without any registration formalities. Ch Srinu, a native food vendor, says the registration formalities have been tightened mainly to grab a portion of their meagre income for unwanted technicalities. “In the name of rules, they will conduct searches among the poor traders like us and as a result, several of us will have to find other business options for gaining something during Godavari Pushkaralu,” he rues.

Earlier, the civic body had cracked down on fast food vendors at many places in the city, evicting them from the streets, stating that the food sold on streets was a health hazard. Defending its swift action on street food vendors, the civic body said that it had launched the eviction drive as street food vendors were creating problems for smooth pedestrian movement and polluting the environment. 

An awareness meeting on the precautions to be taken by street vendors was conducted at Ambedkar Bhavan here in December 2015.

AITUC East Godavari president and CPI leader Tatipaka Madhu said many poor families were dependent on hawking for sustenance. He said that the stringent provisions will severely impact the lives of thousands of vendors. The provisions notified by the State government are not vendor-friendly, he added.

அம்பை பகுதியில் சோதனை ரூ.50 ஆயிரம் கலப்பட கருப்பட்டி புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

அம்பை, மார்ச் 29:

அம் பா ச முத் தி ரம் பகு தி யில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யி லைப் பொருட் கள் மற் றும் கலப் பட கருப் பட்டி, குளிர் பா னம் உள் ளிட்ட சுமார் ரூ.50 ஆயி ரம் ரூபாய் மதிப் புள்ள பொருட் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட் டன.

அம் பா ச முத் தி ரம் பகு தி யில் கலப் ப டம் செய்த மற் றும் சுகா தா ர மற்ற உண வுப் பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக வந்த புகா ரை ய டுத்து அம்பை வட் டார உண வுப் பாது காப்பு அதி காரி நாக சுப் பி ர ம ணி யன் தென் காசி சாலை யில் சோத னை யில் ஈடு பட் டார்.

அப் போது அந் த வ ழி யாக சைக் கி ளில் வந் த வரை நிறுத்தி சோதனை செய் த போது அவ ரி டம் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யி லைப் பொருட் கள் இருந் தது கண்டு பிடிக் கப் பட்டு பறி மு தல் செய்து அழிக் கப் பட் டது.

மேலும் அந்த வழி யாக மினி லாரி யில் குடி நீர் கேன் கள் கொண்டு வந் த னர். கேன் கள் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் இருந் த தால் பறி மு தல் செய்து தண் ணீர் தரை யில் கொட் டப் பட் டது. மேலும் விற் ப னைக் காக கொண்டு சென்ற சீனியை கலப் ப டம் செய்து தயா ரித்த சுமார் 120 கிலோ கருப் பட்டி, பனங் கற் கண்டு, சில் லுக் க ருப் பட்டி மற் றும் தரம் இல் லாத குளிர் பா னங் கள், பான் ப ராக் உட் பட சுமார் ரூ.50 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் புள்ள பொருட் கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து அழிக் கப் பட் டன.

அம்பை பகு தி யில் கலப் பட முறை யில் தயா ரிக் கப் பட்ட கருப் பட்டி, பனங் கற் கண்டு சில் லுக் க ருப் பட் டி கள் பறிமு தல் செய்து அழிக் கப் பட் டது.

Rotten eggs destroyed

Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department seized 1,830 rotten eggs that was supplied to a bakery in Ariyanoor and destroyed it here on Monday.

Based on a tipoff, Food Safety Officer Siranjeevi inspected a bakery and found eggs being unloaded from a vehicle. Officials found 1,830 broken rotten eggs, all packed in covers, and supplied to the bakery. Only 100 eggs are found to be in good condition. The eggs were used for making cakes and other bakery products and were purchased from poultry farms in Namakkal at very low price. The eggs were destroyed and notice was issued to the bakery owner and the vehicle driver. Samples were also taken for analysis.

Recently, officials seized large quantities of broken eggs that were brought from Namakkal district and supplied to bakeries, hotels and roadside eateries in the city. Salem District Egg Traders Welfare Association had also sought ban on the usage of these eggs as it pose serious health issues to the consumers.

Food safety officials to inspect soft drink manufacturing unit

Following a written assurance given by the owner of a soft drinking manufacturing unit in Attur, officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department would inspect the plant premises on Tuesday after which decision would be taken on re-opening the plant.

On March 16, expired soft drinks were sold at temporary shops during a temple festival in North Chennimalai.

District Designated Food Safety Officer T. Anuradha inspected the shop and seized over 200 bottles.

They also visited the plant in Attur and found production carried out under unhygienic circumstances.

Also, products kept ready for distribution did not carry the date of manufacturing or the expiry date of the product. The ingredients used for manufacturing the product and percentage of chemicals used were not mentioned in the label. Officials said that the company had violated the Packaging and Labelling Regulation Act, 2011. Officials stopped the production and asked the owner to appear in the office with relevant documents on March 28.

On Monday, the owner appeared in the office and gave written assurance that sanitation would be ensured on the premises, cap, mask and gloves would be given to workers, chemicals would not be used beyond allotted quantity for production activities and all bottles would be washed properly before using. Ms. Anuradha said that the unit would be inspected on Tuesday after which a decision would be taken.

Differences in Labelling Standards Between India and the US

Cultural diversity makes it necessary to consider what information should be communicated with nutritional labels and to standardize how that information is conveyed to varying demographics.

The designated purpose of food labels is to outline the nutritional values of consumable food products. The ultimate goal of these labels is to help people make the best possible decisions when they are shopping and to meet their nutritional needs.

Furthermore, cultural diversity makes it necessary to not only consider what information should be communicated but also to standardize how that information is conveyed to varying demographics. Variances that must be considered between cultures include language, word choice, the format used to present information, and nutritional goals. Standardized information and formats used to communicate to specific cultural markets may differ drastically from one to another.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India mandates the requirements for food packaging and labeling through what is known as The Food Safety and Standards Regulations. These regulations must be adhered to in order for producers and manufacturers to be in accord with the food laws of India. These laws demand that every marketable food item has to be labeled—and that the label must provide certain information.

The information that is required on Indian food labels includes the name of the food, its ingredients, additives present in the food, nutritional information, whether the food is vegetarian friendly, the name and address of the producer, quantities, batch number, the date of production, a date that the product should be used by, instructions for use, and the origins of the product (if the product is imported from a foreign locale). It is also required that information is presented clearly in either English or Hindi languages.

In contrast to India, the United States oversees the food markets and industries under its jurisdiction through a federal organization known as The Food and Drug Administration. The Food and Drug Administration directs specifications for where labels can and should be placed, what content labels can and/or must display, and specified nutritional information.

Food packaging subject to the laws of the United States has more specific laws—probably to ensure that definitions can be understood without mistake because the English language has a great number of regional dialects. It is more likely to find a listing of things that packages may not do in addition to the outline of what they can or must do.

However, under United States law, it is not necessary to list whether every product is vegetarian-friendly. The cultural and spiritual diversity of India requires packagers to designate whether a product is vegetarian-friendly so that consumers do not accidentally violate their spiritual or cultural beliefs. The United States does not officially have any designated spiritual affiliations that are dominant and considered widespread.

Lastly, the Food Safety and Standards Regulations does not permit labels that can become detached from their products, incorrect information, and illegible printing.

Veterinary varsity holds interface on food safety and public health

A three-day interface on ‘Food Safety and Public Health’ that began at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s (KVASU) headquarters at Pookode on Monday highlighted the significance of maintaining personal hygiene and food safety in hotels and resorts in the State.

The programme has been organised by the Centre for One Health, Education, Advocacy, Research and Training (COHEART) under the Directorate of Entrepreneurship, KVASU, for food safety officials, public health scientists, hoteliers and resort owners. The programme envisaged developing a sustainable platform for interaction of all the stakeholders involved in the food industry and public health sectors.

While handling a session on need-based issues in food safety and mandates of Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA), P.K. Aleyamma, Food Safety Officer, Kozhikode, said though the food processing industry was growing at a rate of 18-20 per cent a year in the country, many a hotelier was yet to give importance to maintaining hygiene in the hotel kitchen.

In many instances, Food Safety Officers have found unhygienic conditions in hotel kitchens during surprise inspections. Hoteliers should train the workers, especially those involved in food production and servicing, on personal hygiene and food safety, Ms. Aleyamma said.

T.P. Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU, suggested that while the country was looking for clean air and clean water, it was the need of the hour to provide safe food to the consumers as envisaged in the FSSA . Hoteliers should verify infrastructure, safety of raw materials and the processes to assess safety of food.

HOW SAFE ARE VEGGIES, FRUITS?

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Patanjali products get clean chit in Himachal

The Health Safety and Regulation Directorate gave a clean chit to the food products manufactured by yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth but found “misbranding” in certain products being sold after it detected a variation in sugar quantity .

After adulteration was reported in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand, the health department swung into action and directed its health safety wing to pick up some samples.

Ramdev had launched whole wheat atta noodles, claiming that the noodles were healthier than those being produced by other manufacturers in the country.

Patanjali’s atta noodles were being sold in the market for Rs 10 per packet whereas atta noodles of other companies are sold at Rs 25. However, the noodles were mired in controversy as the Ayurveda company had not sought the mandatory permissions from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

28 samples picked

Food safety officers in Mandi, Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur and Una picked samples of food products randomly. As many as 18 products were sent for examination to the central forensic laboratory, Kandaghat.

The products sent for testing included Soanpapdi, Nutty Delite biscuit, unpolished rajmah, atta noodles, cow’s ghee, moongdal namkeen, kachi ghani mustard oil, sabzi masala, biscuits, malka masoor dal, barley dalia, doodh biscuits , jeera bites, haldi powder, multi grain daliya and iodised salt.

“ We lifted at least 28 samples for testing,” Dr Rameshwar Sharma said. The samples were also collected from different shops in Mandi and Shimla.

Clean chit with rider

After the samples were tested , the laboratory at Kandaghat did not find any contamination or adulteration in the products. But it found misbranding in some products, including atta biscuits. Sharma said the health department will issue a notice to Patanjali Ayurveda for the misbranding of products. Patajanli has more than 500 sale outlets scattered in different parts of the state, along with 21 yoga clinics in different areas.

Fruit drinks marketed at children 'unacceptably high in sugar'

Fruit drinks marketed at children 'unacceptably high in sugar'

Fruit drinks marketed at children are "unacceptably high" in sugar, a new study has warned.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and Queen Mary, University of London, analysed 203 products aimed at children which were sold in seven major supermarkets. They found that 42 per cent of products contained at least 19g of sugar.

A further 64 per cent of branded and supermarket own-brand products contained at least 8g of sugar.

On average, the drinks contained 7g of sugar per 100ml, rising to 10.7g among '100% fruit juice' products.

Under the traffic-light system for marking the contents of food and drink, researchers found that 117 of the drinks would be class as red, or high, in sugar.

Overall, smoothies were found to contain the highest amounts of sugars and juice drinks the lowest.

The study comes after Chancellor George Osborne announced a new sugar levy on the soft drinks industry in the 2016 Budget, which does not include juice or milk-based drinks.

The team behind the paper stressed that drinks with high sugar content should not be regarded as part of the Five a Day of fruits and vegetables that children and adults should eat.

Instead, they said that children should consume fruit in its whole form, rather than in juice.

"Parents should dilute fruit juice with water, opt for unsweetened juices and only give them during meals. Portions should be limited to 150ml a day," they advised.

The study authors also placed pressure on manufacturers to stop adding "unnecessary sugars and calories" into fruit-based drinks in order to combat the childhood obesity crisis.

"Otherwise, it will be essential for the Government to introduce legislation to regulate the free sugars content of these products," they said.

The researchers went on that it was "cruical" for Public Health England (PHE) to push ahead with plans to reconsider fruit juice and smoothies as part of the Five a Day campaign.

Current guidelines state a 150ml glass of pure fruit juice at meal times is an equivalent to one of a Five a Day.

Responding to the study, Dr Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at PHE, acknowledged that juice and smoothies are high in sugar, but said they can provide fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Commenting on the study, Dr Gunter Kuhnle, food scientist at the University of Reading, added: "These drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and smoothies are often seen as a 'healthy' alternative and their sugar content is ignored.

"This study shows that the average sugar content in fruit juices is similar to that in cola drinks; and the content in smoothies is even higher, by almost three sugar cubes per 300ml serving."

டீ கடை பெஞ்ச் - கம்பெனிக்கு 'சீல்' வைத்த 'கட்டிங்' அதிகாரி

'சென்னை அண்ணாநகர் ஏரியாவுல, டீ துாள் தயாரிக்கிற கம்பெனி இருக்கு... அங்க, டீ துாள்ல சாயம் அதிகமாக கலக்குறதா, மாநகராட்சிக்கு புகார் வந்திருக்கு... வழக்கமா இப்படி புகார்கள் வந்தா, அதை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறைக்கு அனுப்பிடுவாவ வே...

''ஆனா, டீ துாள் கம்பெனி மேல வந்த புகாரை வச்சிக்கிட்டு, சுகாதார துறை பெண் அதிகாரி, 'கட்டிங்' கேட்டிருக்காங்க... அவங்க கேட்ட தொகை கிடைக்காததால, நள்ளிரவுல

அந்த கம்பெனியில, 'ரெய்டு' நடத்தி, 'சீல்' வச்சிட்டாங்க...''அங்க இருந்து,

டன் கணக்குல டீ துாளை பறிமுதல் செஞ்சு, அம்மா உணவகத்துல வச்சிருக்காங்க...'' என்ற அண்ணாச்சி, ''நேத்து, 'டிவி'யில, 'சரஸ்வதி சபதம்' படம் போட்டாங்களே பார்த்தீயளா...?'' எனக் கேட்க, நண்பர்கள் பேச்சு, சினிமா பக்கம் திரும்பியது.

DINAMALAR NEWS

ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகம் அருகில் சாலை யோ ரம் கொட்டி கிடந்த நிவாரண பொருட்கள்

கட லூர், மார்ச் 28:

கடந்த ஆண்டு டிசம் பர் மாதத் தில் வர லாறு காணாத மழை, வெள் ளம் கட லூர் மாவட் டத்தை கலங் க டித் தது. பல் லா யி ரக் க ணக் கான வீடு கள் உடைந் தன. இதை ய டுத்து தமி ழ கத் தின் பல் வேறு பகு தி க ளி லி ருந் தும் இந் தி யா வின் பல் வேறு மாநி லங் க ளி லி ருந் தும் நிவா ரண பொருட் கள் கட லூர் மாவட் டங் க ளுக்கு கொண்டு வந்து விநி யோ கிக் கப் பட் டன.

இந் நி லை யில், நிவா ரண பொருட் களை மாவட்ட ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ ல கத் தில் ஒப் ப டைக் கு மாறு ஆட் சி யர் சுரேஷ் கு மார் உத் த ர விட் டார். அதன் படி கட லூர் மாவட் டத் திற்கு நூற் றுக் கணக் கான நிவா ரண வாக னங் களை போலீ சார் மறித்து மாவட்ட ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ ல கத் திற்கு கொண்டு சென் ற னர். அங்கு நிவா ரண பொருட் கள் இறக்கி வைக் கப் பட் டன. வெள் ளத் தால் பாதிக் கப் பட்ட ஏரா ள மான கிராம மக் கள் தங் க ளுக்கு நிவா ர ணப் பொ ருட் கள் எது வும் வழங் கப் ப ட வில்லை எனக் கூறி மாவட்ட ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ ல கத் திற்கு படை யெ டுத் த னர். ஆனால், மாவட்ட நிர் வா கம் அந்த நிவா ரண பொருட் களை அதி முக நிர் வா கி க ளுக்கு அனுப்பி வைத் த தாக புகார் எழுந் தது. பாதிக் கப் பட்ட மக் க ளுக்கு வழங் கா மல் ஆளுங் கட் சிக் கா ரர் க ளுக்கு நிவா ரண பொருட் களை விநி யோ கிப் ப தாக அனைத்து பொது நல இயக் கங் க ளும் குற் றம் சாட் டின.

இந் நி லை யில், மாவட்ட ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ ல கத் தில் மறைத்து வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த நிவா ரண பொருட் களை தேர் தல் நாள் அறி விக் கப் பட்ட அன் றைய இரவு வாக னங் க ளில் ஏற் றிச் சென் ற தா க வும் புகார் எழுந் தது.

இந் நி லை யில் நேற்று மாவட்ட ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ ல கம் அரு கில் சாலை யோ ரம் அத் தி யா வ சிய மளிகை பொருட் கள் கொட் டப் பட்டு கிடந் தன. பதுக்கி வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த அப் பொ ருட் கள் காலா வ தி யா கிய நிலை யில் அவற்றை என்ன செய் வது என்று தெரி யா மல் சாலை யோ ரம் வீசி யி ருக் க லாம் என அப் ப குதி மக் கள் கருத்து தெரி வித் துள் ள னர். பாதிக் கப் பட்ட மக் க ளுக்கு பலர் நல்ல மன து டன் கொடுத்த உத விப் பொ ருட் களை அவர் க ளுக்கு வழங் கா மல் அப் பொ ருட் களை பறித்து, இப் போது சாலை யோ ரத் தில் வீசி எறிந் தி ருப் பது மனித தன் மை யற்ற செயல். இது குறித்து உரிய விசா ரணை நடத்தி உண் மையை வெளியே கொண்டு வர வேண் டு மென பொது ந ல அ மைப் பு களின் நிர் வா கி கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

தேவாரத்தில் காலாவதியான உணவுப் பொருட்கள் விற்பனை கனஜோர்

தேவா ரம், மார்ச் 27:

தேவா ரத் தில் காலா வ தி யான உண வுப் பொருட் க ளின் விற் பனை கன ஜோ ராக நடக் கி றது. நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டிய அதி கா ரி களோ கண் டு கொள் வ தில்லை என சமூக ஆர் வ லர் கள் குற் றம் சாட் டு கின் ற னர்.

தேவா ரம் மற் றும் அத னைச் சுற் றி யுள்ள தம் மி நா யக் கன் பட்டி, தே.மீனாட் சி பு ரம், லட் சு மி நா யக் கன் பட்டி, டி.சிந் த லைச் சேரி கிரா மங் க ளைச் சேர்ந் தோர் தங் க ளுக்கு தேவை யான பொருட் களை வாங்க தினந் தோ றும் தேவா ரம் வந்து செல் கின் ற னர். இங் குள்ள பல ச ரக்கு கடை கள் மற் றும் பெட் டிக் க டை க ளில், காலா வ தி யான உண வுப் பொருட் கள் அதி க ள வில் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக கூறப் ப டு கி றது.

குறிப் பாக பெட் டிக் க டை க ளில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பான் ப ராக், குட்கா, புகை யிலை, காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், பல ச ரக்கு கடை க ளில் எண் ணெய், டால்டா, மசால் பொடி என காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை அதி க ள வில் விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இத னைத் தடுக்க வேண் டிய உண வுத் தர பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி களோ எந்த நட வ டிக் கை யும் எடுப் ப தில்லை. உள் ளூர் பேரூ ராட்சி சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி க ளும் கண் டு கொள் வ தில்லை. காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை பயன் ப டுத் து வ தன் மூலம் பொது மக் க ளுக்கு சுகா தா ரக் கேடு ஏற் ப டும் அபா யம் உள் ளது. எனவே, தேவா ரம் நக ரில் உண வுத் தர பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் அடிக் கடி சோதனை நடத்தி தர மான பொருட் க ளின் விற் ப னைக்கு நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும்’ என கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

பொது மக் கள் கூறு கை யில், ‘தேவா ரத் தில் காலா வ தி யான பொருட் க ளின் விற் பனை அதி க ரித்து வரு கி றது. அதி க மான அள வில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை, குளிர் பா னங் கள், உண வுப் பொ ருட் க ளின் விற் பனை அதி க மாக நடக் கி றது. ஒதுக் குப் பு ற மான ஊராக இருப் ப தால், யாரும் கண் டு கொள் வ தில்லை. காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை விற் போர் மீது அதி கா ரி கள் உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும்’ என் ற னர்.

CURB ON USE OF BULLS’ GUTS IN CHANDI KA VARK SOON

The country’s top food regulator is finalising a move to end the widely used practice of manufacturing silver leaf — popularly called ‘chandi ka vark’ — by hammering thin sheets of silver in middle of booklets made of intestines of bull/ox.

The Food and Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a ban on usage of animal parts at any stage of manufacture of the ‘chandi ka vark’, used on paan, sweets and fruits etc. ‘Vark’ is also used in syrups like in Kesar (saffron) syrup and in some Ayurvedic medicines.

The FSSAI has also proposed the norms regarding thickness, weight and purity of the silver leaf. And manufacturers will have to adhere to the labeling standards like any other food products.

“To regulate the industry which has so far been dominated by the unorganised sector, the food regulator has made it clear that under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, relating to other food and ingredients, ‘no material of animal origin shall be used at any stage of manufacture of the silver leaf,” said sources in the Authority.

The regulation also proposes that “silver leaf shall be in the form of sheet of uniform thickness, free from creases and folds and that its weight should be upto 2.8 gm/Sq meter while the silver content shall be of minimum 999/1000 purity.

The regulator has already received suggestions from the stakeholders and it will soon finalise the guidelines, said the sources.

When enforced, the standards would do away with the widely used method of preparing the silver leaves, wherein the intestines of cattle/ox, obtained from slaughterhouses, are used for making it. “It is unhygienic too,” sources said.

“The ‘chandi ka vark’ is made by hammering thin sheets of silver in middle of booklets made of a bull’s intestines. After slaughtering a bull, its intestines are removed immediately and sold to the manufacturers of foils.

“The foil manufacturer removes blood and stool from the intestines, and cuts them into pieces. Then he puts one piece of intestine over another, making a booklet out of it. At his home, or in the factory, he puts one silver (or gold) sheet in-between each such booklet and hammers it hard until those metal sheets turn into thin wafers,” explained a manufacturer, on condition of anonymity.

“Old intestines are of no use. Even a one-day-old intestine cannot be used as it stiffens within a few hours,” he said even as he pointed out that sometimes, because of the hammering, some tissues of the intestine mix with the foils.

However, now with growing awareness and a sizable market of vegetarians, some players in the industry have already started claiming of providing ‘100 per cent vegetarian’ silver leaves which are “hygienically” produced.

Terming the FSSAI initiative as a progressive and long-needed one, Shubh Choukesy, Director of Shree Jaannathiji Sterling Products Pvt Ltd, which is in ‘chandi ka vark’ business, claimed that they adopt a purely vegetarian process with the help of fully automatic and computerised machines with new technology.

“Instead of intestines, we use hygienic polyster. Same technology is applied for making gold leaves which is also used for decorating food items like cakes. We adhere good manufacturing practices as those complied in the EU.”

He said the new proposed standards will curb adulteration as some unscrupulous players are selling health hazardous aluminum leaves too in the name of silver foil.

Bottled water under scanner

With demand on the rise, bottled drinking water is under the scanner. Food Safety officials in the district told The Hindu that they had collected samples of the packaged water for analysis, and results were awaited.

Water should meet the safety standards, with no trace of E. coli bacteria.

The pH value of water is another concern. The acceptable deviation from the neutral value of 7 is up to 6.5.

“The manufacturers are expected to use regulators to control the pH value,” said a Food Safety official. Meetings with the association of bottled water manufacturers were held recently to apprise them of norms and guidelines.

Regulator defers decision on importing genetically modified animal feed

The environment ministry has received several requests from companies seeking permission to import genetically modified feed for animals

The debate on whether or not to allow commercialization of genetically modified food crops is far from settled in India. 

New Delhi: The environment ministry has received several requests from companies seeking permission to import genetically modified (GM) feed for animals, even though the debate on whether or not to allow commercialization of GM food crops is far from settled in India.

However, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the central government’s regulator for giving clearances for field trials of GM crops and import/export of GM seeds, has deferred a decision on these requests in the absence of an expert view on the matter.

According to the minutes of the GEAC’s December 2015 meeting accessed by Mint, four such proposals were received by the committee.

For instance, Suguna Foods sought permission from the GEAC for “import of GM Soybean meal from China, Brazil, Argentina, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, USA for producing of poultry and animal feed”.

“The purpose of import is as an ingredient in the animal feed for self usage for producing poultry and animal feeds. The Member Secretary, GEAC informed that comments of the experts on the proposal are still awaited,” said the minutes.

Another such proposal was from Godrej Agrovet Ltd, which sought “permission for import of processed food—Dried Distillers Grains with Soluble (DDGS)—corn from USA and market in India”.

Most ethanol plants in the US are dry-grind facilities that use starch from corn to produce ethanol. The remainder of the corn kernel is used to produce a variety of wet and dry distillers grains co-products including DDGS, which is considered an excellent low-cost alternative feed ingredient.

But the GEAC was not convinced.

“Besides the comments from experts, comments of department of animal husbandry and FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) may be obtained regarding the export/import of GM feed. Comments from other experts may be followed-up. Decision on the proposal was deferred,” the GM regulator noted.

Environmentalists, too, are against allowing GM food as animal feed.

“This is an issue of grave concern for us. Animals are part of our food chain and if GM feed is allowed in poultry industry, it could have adverse results. GM cotton seed that goes to animal feed has already started showing negative consequences in our cattle (like low pregnancy rates),” said Rajinder Chaudhary of the Coalition for GM-Free India, an organization of activists against GM crops.

Any ill-effects caused by GM cotton seed in animal feed are yet to be verified.

“The real question is whether there is really a need for GM products. If only there is a real need, then only GM food products should be explored,” said Chaudhary, who is a retired professor of economics.

The issue of field trials of GM crops and their commercialization, especially food crops like brinjal and mustard, has been a contentious one in India.

Recently, controversy erupted when the GEAC was hearing an application for commercialization of GM mustard.

Mint reported on 6 February that after a lot of opposition from environmentalists, environment minister Prakash Javadekar assured that the government would not impose GM mustard on consumers and that a final decision will be taken only after due deliberation.

Since coming to power in May 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has been trying unsuccessfully to build consensus around the issue.

In its 2014 election manifesto, the BJP had said that genetically modified crops will not be allowed without proper scientific investigation.

But organizations opposing GM crops include the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, affiliated to the ideological parent of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The strong opposition to GM crops could hamper the government’s push for investment and growth in biotechnology.

FSSAI to start drive to ensure proper display of licence numbers on products

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will start a drive to check whether FBOs are properly displaying the licence numbers on their products or not. “An enforcement drive would begin soon,” informed Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, while addressing a convention of All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) held here recently during the Aahar fair. 

According to FSSAI, there are some 35 lakh licensee FBOs (Food Business Operators) in the country as of now. And there has been a great deal of need to check whether they were properly displaying the number on the products, for which the last date for compliance was December 31.

Agarwal stated, “35 lakh licensees are within our ecosystem. Enforcement system is huge and much of litigation is not around testing but out of all sampling 90% of the rejection is based on labelling. We will have an enforcement drive to check whether the numbers are printed on packed food properly.”

The drive will ensure that those numbers are displayed on the pack properly, as this number will be helpful to the consumer to reach enforcement if they find anything wrong, according to him.

Meanwhile, with regard to surveillance, the CEO stated that there was a need for risk-based assessment through robust lab infrastructure and use of technology. The CEO pointed out that the FSSAI was working towards a concrete roadmap for accredited labs.

“Lab testing has lots of weaknesses at both Central and state levels, we’re working on it and a concrete roadmap is there to make the labs accredited with NABL. The whole process of accreditation is also being fast-tracked,” he said. 

However, surveillance activity was non-existent for some time due to lack of manpower strength. And therefore a greater need for technology-based surveillance activity for risk assessment was desired by the apex food regulator. Together with strengthening lab system and use of risk-based assessment, the enforcement will be transparent and effective, according to the CEO.

The CEO told the FBOs, “The samples (of food products) should be tested twice a year. Many of you perhaps are aware of that. The aim is risk-based assessment, lab accreditation and samples getting tested by FBOs themselves. If there is a chronic defaulter who is not following the norms, only than the enforcement machinery comes into picture.”

Further, the FSSAI CEO, with regard to regulations and standards, stated that the FSSAI was aiming at pragmatic and easy to understand regulation. “We consider ourselves as part of the ecosystem which is responsible for feeding our population. This is a joint responsibility for all of us and we have to work closely and therefore we need to be interacting on day to day basis. We have regular interaction within FSSAI on how to make standards at par with the global benchmarks and fast. Standards is an evolving process, we get feedback and we review it, it takes time and process itself for standard formation is conservative. The decision is taken by the experts in the scientific panel, they make recommendations which than placed before the stakeholders and it then goes to government for legal vetting. Make full use of consultative process," he told the FBOs.

Govt set to make laser printed labels mandatory

The government has already notified changes in the rules from January 1

The government plans to make laser printing of labels on bottles compulsory to prevent production of counterfeit products. Currently, the wrapper of any product is vulnerable to misuse by those who want to produce a duplicate or a fake product, said consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan. He said his ministry wanted laser printing to be made mandatory by making necessary amendments in the packaged commodities rules. The legal metrology division has been asked to work out those rules, he added.

The government has already notified changes in the rules from January 1, asking manufacturers to display all information necessary for consumers in 40 per cent of the total area of the label.

Paswan also said that the government would make sure that the main information on the labels like price, date of manufacturing and expiry and weight would have decent font size. “What is the point if a consumer is unable to read the information because of very small-sized letters,” Paswan said.

With summer approaching, the minister also expressed concern over fake water bottles. He said states should enforce the labelling rule strictly as packaged water must bear the ISI mark.

Around 28 per cent samples of packaged drinking and mineral water and about 23 per cent milk samples tested during 2014-15 were found not to be conforming to the prescribed standards, health minister J P Nadda had said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha earlier this month.

“Some instances of sale of mineral water or packaged drinking water not conforming to the standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI), 2006, and unlicensed packaged water, have come to the notice of FSSAI,” he had said.

Out of 2977 and 806 samples tested during 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, 577 and 226 were found to be not conforming to the standards prescribed under FSSAI.

DINAMALAR NEWS