No pesticide limits prescribed for veggies, fruits sold in State

Enforcement of food safety during Onam to go toothless

The absence of prescribed limits on the use of chemical pesticides for various crops could hinder the government move to step up enforcement of food safety during the Onam festival season, experts feel.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not prescribed the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of many of the pesticides used on vegetables and fruits.

This, according to official sources, poses legal hurdles in cracking down on the indiscriminate use of pesticides by domestic farmers and curbing the import of pesticide-contaminated items from other States.

MRL is the legally permitted level of pesticide residue in food items. The MRL value is fixed on the basis of a rigorous evaluation. It acts as an indicator of the correct use of pesticides and ensures compliance with legal requirements for food safety.

“It is a matter of concern that the majority of pesticides that have been detected in vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments do not have MRL values,” says a senior scientist associated with pesticide safety.

“This makes a mockery of the periodic monitoring of food items for pesticide residue,” he said.

The State government conducts regular surveillance sample testing of food items and the reports are published on the official website. But in the absence of MRL values, officials are hamstrung in taking legal action.

“For example, Profenophos is a typical highly neurotoxic insecticide registered for use only in cotton. But it has been detected in chilli, chilli powder, curry leaf, coriander leaf, mint leaf, cardamom, cumin seed, fennel seed, and curry powders. The FSSAI has not fixed the MRL for this insecticide in any of these commodities, because its use is not approved in any of these crops,” says an official.

Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), P. Rajendran said the multiplicity of pesticides used for various crops posed a problem in regulation. “Fixing the MRL value for a pesticide used on a crop is a complex, time- consuming process, often taking years. To complicate matters further, pesticide manufacturers come up with new products every now and then, by changing the formulation.”

Under a special food safety drive for the forthcoming Onam festival season, the Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory under KAU is screening samples of vegetables and fruits collected from markets across the State.

Legal hurdles

MRL is the legally permitted level of pesticide residue in food items

Officials hamstrung in taking legal action

FDA seizes adulterated food items

PANAJI: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials detained a consignment of defective and adulterated banana and tapioca chips on Saturday at Konkan railway station, Margao. The consignment booked by a Kerala-based firm AB, Chips Chalad Kannur for Goa market was brought via Konkan railway.

A team of FDA officials led by food safety officer Rajiv Korde, found the products misbranded and did not meet the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. They were also defective in labeling requirements and suspected to be adulterated with artificial colour.

The consignment estimated to cost 1.3 lakh was seized from the possession of one Sivagurunath. A sample has been sent for analysis to the FDA lab at Bambolim. The claimant of this consignment is M/s Universal Alliance Group, Quepem.

Citizen rights awareness in Kohima

The team from Kohima Law College with others.

Kohima, August 29 (MExN): A team of students from Kohima Law College led by Professor-in-Charge Kezhokhoto Savi conducted citizen rights awareness at Konyak Baptist Church, Kohima on August 27. The team, which consisted of Tekalong Jamir, Paiwang Konyak, Kelengu-u Rutsa, Peter Rana, Aliba Ozukum, P. Mhonbeni Ezung, and Ayeho Sumi, covered various topics such as National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, RTI, Lokayukta, Consumer Awareness, Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, Child Protection, and Human Rights.

On Food Safety & Standard Act (FSSA) 2006, the team presented that over the years the need for change and modification of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 & Rules 1955 was felt and thus the Food Safety and standard Act 2006 was made for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of food, to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption. “This is an Act to ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may harm the ‘Consumer’ and unsafe, contaminated or sub-standard food.” In implementing the Act, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) was constituted on September 5, 2008.

The FSSA was implemented in Nagaland in 2012 and accordingly the State government has prohibited the preparation, sale, exposure for sale of unsafe food items, including imported foods in the state.

The team further stressed that it is every citizen’s right and duty as a consumer to question the distributor of food as every consumer is buying for consumption. “Food safety means an assurance that the food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended and standard means the relation to any article of food as in the standard notified by the Food Authority,” they stated.

For further query, the release asked consumers to call Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free No. 1800-345-3701 or visit the office situated at Old Nagaland State Legislative Assembly building, Kohima during office hour.

INDIAN EXPRESS NEWS

Food officials to inspect water in college hostels

COIMBATORE: A week after 64 students of the Government Women's Polytechnic College were treated for diarrhoea at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, the food safety department has ordered inspection of all college canteens and hostel mess. Meanwhile, the food safety department has confirmed that water contamination was the reason for illness of Government Women's Polytechnic College students.

Designated officer of the food safety department, Coimbatore, O L S Vijay told TOI that as a preventive measure, the department would carry out inspections at all college canteens and hostel mess. "We will be checking the standard of hygiene at the canteens and mess, and if anything concerning the safety of students is identified we will give them notice," said Vijay. "In case colleges do not act, we will issue an improvement notice, and colleges will have to respond within 15 days," he added. 

While the food safety department will be inspecting all canteens after the incident at the Government Women's Polytechnic College, the department, as a routine, conducts random checks at two canteens, said Vijay. "We collect two samples every month, and carry out tests. At the same time, we ensure that the colleges renew their licences on time," the officer said. The maximum period given to a college to run canteens is five years. 

The culture reports of the water and food samples collected from the college revealed that the water was the reason for the students' illness. This is the third time in the last five years that contamination of drinking water at the college has caused illness to the students.

"We collected two samples of drinking water- one at the college main building and another at the hostel. Both samples were found to have yeast, moulds, Escherichia Coli and coliform bacteria," said an officer of the food safety department. "The presence of Escherichia Coli and coliform bacteria are the reason for the illness. Faecal contamination and human or animal blood traces could be the reason for the presence of these bacteria," the officer added.

The food safety department also pointed out that the water samples did not have chlorine. "If the water had been chlorinated, the infection could have been prevented. There should be 2ppm (part per million) of chlorine," the officer added. 

The department also found that annual maintenance works were not carried out for the water filters installed at the college building and mess. "The college authorities have been asked to replace the filters, and after that we will collect samples of water again and test them," a food safety official said.

As a result of the report confirming that the drinking water contamination was the reason for the students' illness, the food safety department has asked the college to clean and whitewash the sump. "A chlorine test kit has been provided to the college. They can test if the water supplied to the college has been chlorinated or not," the official of the food safety department said.

Masrakh MDM tragedy: 17 year jail to HM

DINAKARAN NEWS

Absence of pesticide regulation hits food safety enforcement

The absence of prescribed limits on the use of chemical pesticides for various crops could hinder the government move to step up enforcement of food safety during the Onam festival season, experts feel.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not prescribed the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of many of the pesticides used on vegetables and fruits.

This, according to official sources, poses legal hurdles in cracking down on the indiscriminate use of pesticides by domestic farmers and curbing the import of pesticide-contaminated items from other States.

MRL is the legally permitted level of pesticide residue in food items. The MRL value is fixed on the basis of a rigorous evaluation. It acts as an indicator of the correct use of pesticides and ensures compliance with legal requirements for food safety.

“It is a matter of concern that the majority of pesticides that have been detected in vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments do not have MRL values,” says a senior scientist associated with pesticide safety.

“This makes a mockery of the periodic monitoring of food items for pesticide residue,” he said.

The State government conducts regular surveillance sample testing of food items and the reports are published on the official website. But in the absence of MRL values, officials are hamstrung in taking legal action.

“For example, Profenophos is a typical highly neurotoxic insecticide registered for use only in cotton. But it has been detected in chilli, chilli powder, curry leaf, coriander leaf, mint leaf, cardamom, cumin seed, fennel seed, and curry powders. The FSSAI has not fixed the MRL for this insecticide in any of these commodities, because its use is not approved in any of these crops,” says an official.

Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), P. Rajendran said the multiplicity of pesticides used for various crops posed a problem in regulation. “Fixing the MRL value for a pesticide used on a crop is a complex, time- consuming process, often taking years. To complicate matters further, pesticide manufacturers come up with new products every now and then, by changing the formulation.”

Under a special food safety drive for the forthcoming Onam festival season, the Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory under KAU is screening samples of vegetables and fruits collected from markets across the State.

Community kitchen gets food safety certification

BENGALURU: The Art of Living International Centre’s community kitchen has become one of the first mega ashram kitchens in the country to be awarded an ISO 22000 certification for maintaining high standards in food safety and cleanliness.The certification was awarded after an extensive audit of the food safety management practices at the Ashram premises.

The community kitchen dishes out about 23,000 meals on an average every day and 8.4 million meals per annum.

“Food safety is linked to the presence of food-borne hazards in food at the point of consumption. Since food safety can get compromised at any stage in the food value chain, it is essential that the hazards are identified and adequate control measures are put in place at each stage, which we have done at our premises,” said Venkatesh T V, administrator, Ved Vigyaan Maha Vidya Peeth, in a release issued on Saturday.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

FOOD CONCERN (FC) LINK https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/cmsweb/HOME.aspx

FDA seizes 750 kgs of mava, two vehicles detained

The Goa state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Sunday intercepted and seized a van and a bus carrying 750 kilos of unlabeled mava/kalakand in Panaji and Margao.

PANAJI 

FDA officials had initially detained a Maruti Eco van at Panaji that was carrying around 55 kilos of unlabeled kalakand packed in two boxes of 40 kilos and 15 kilos each. 

Upon interrogation, Rama Chaudhary, resident of Karaswada, Thivim who was driving the car disclosed there was a larger consignment that was arriving by an interstate Pune to Goa non air conditioned bus. 

The bus was then intercepted at the Margao interstate bus terminus where the additional consignment was found. 

The packages were found stored in the non-air-conditioned bus below the passenger seats and not in the conventional luggage compartment. The entire consignment was pulled out of the bus in the presence of Chaudhry who disclosed that the consignment was brought from one Gujarat-based supplier, M/s Vahanvati Sweet Mart at Mehesana, Gujarat. There were no documents with the consignment. 

In a statement issued by the FDA, Director Salim Veljee said, “A total of 25 plastic bags, each containing 30 kgs of mava/kalakanand (totaling 750 kgs worth around Rs 1.50 lakh), which was brought under a misdeclaration/wrongly label declaration labeled as ‘Vahanvati Special Barfi’ was found. The bags did not contain any particulars of the date of packing, etc and all the 25 bags were unloaded from the bus and confiscated.” 

Improper storage of milk-based food articles or its raw materials during transportation are unfit for consumption on account of its high risk of spoilage and microbial contamination, he said. 

“The Maruti vehicle as well as the person accompanying the said vehicle have been detained for further interrogation and investigation in the manner to identifying the names of the person for whom the said mava / kalakand raw material were brought from Gujarat are on,” said Veljee, adding 

that those involved will be booked under the Food Safety and standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulation. 

The FDA enforcement team consisted of Food Safety Officers Rajaram Patil, Shailesh Shenvi and Shivdas Naik. 

- See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=21613#sthash.UDk1T6p1.dpuf

FSSAI proposes new standards for frozen veggies, jams

According to the draft, standards have been framed for canned tomatoes, tomato juice, frozen beans, cauliflower, peas and spinach

Food regulator FSSAI has proposed new standards for frozen vegetables and processed fruit products, including commonly used canned tomatoes, frozen peas and jams.

In a draft regulation, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has invited suggestions from all stakeholders.

"The framing of standards for new products is a continuous process. In this, we have drafted quality norms for commonly used frozen vegetables and fruit products," FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal told PTI.

According to the draft, standards have been framed for canned tomatoes, tomato juice, frozen beans, cauliflower, peas and spinach. Similarly, the regulator has come out with benchmarks for jams, fruit jellies and marmalades.

The standards relate to limits for metallic contaminants in these products.

In the draft, FSSAI has specified that these products will have to follow the packaging and labelling norms of the regulator. Food additives used in these products should be permitted by the regulator.

Recently, FSSAI came out with a host of initiatives to promote safe food at homes, schools, offices, eateries and religious places, besides a national survey for assessing milk quality.

The idea of launching the 10 new initiatives is to create "a culture of food safety" in the country.

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, FSSAI had said the new initiatives would focus on safe and nutritious food at home, school, workplace, religious places, on trains and railway stations, at restaurants and other places.

FSSAI will provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe/nutritious food at home.

Similarly, for schools, it will prepare a negative list of high fat, sugar and salt foods (commonly referred to as junk food), seeking to ensure food safety and nutrition. It plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Worms found in burgers from two Kentucky McDonald’s restaurants

At least two people have reported finding worms in food from McDonald’s restaurants in two Kentucky communities.

Mayfield resident Madison Stephens tells WPSD-TV that she visited the local McDonald’s on Sunday and purchased food for her and her 1-year-old son. She says that as she was about to bite into her hamburger, a live worm fell out.

At the McDonald’s in Draffenville, about 25 miles away from Mayfield, Lacey Jo Lovett says she also found a worm in her burger on Tuesday.

Stephens says she contacted McDonald’s about the incident, and they sent her a $10 gift card.

McDonald’s spokesperson Michael Love says in a statement that the company is investigating and will “take all appropriate measures to resolve the matter”.

Order imposing Rs 3L penalty on oil trader set aside

Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has set aside an order imposing Rs 3 lakh penalty against an oil trader in Tirunelveli district for want of complying with the mandated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act by the food safety officer.

The adjudicating authority/ district revenue officer of Tirunelveli district on October 10, 2014 imposed the penalty against the trader R Chandramohan alleging that the trader supplied non-edible gingelly oil as edible oil and also that the analyst report revealed adulteration in it.

The trader, Chandramohan was engaged in selling Shanmugha gingelly oil. On March 19, 2013, food safety officer Vikramasingapuram collected samples of four packets manufactured by Chandramohan, from a shop in the locality and subjected them to analysis. Based on a report, the penalty was imposed.

Challenging it, the trader filed a petition before the high court bench. The petitioner's side told the court that the food safety officer failed to issue notice to the petitioner before collecting the samples or sending the same to the test. Had the officer given notice to the petitioner, he would have sought second test to the sample. Besides, the petitioner printed a label on the packet saying that the oil was non-edible. When an item is a non-edible, the same would not come under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, the petitioner's side said.

The government told that the employee and the owner of the shop admitted that even though it was printed on the packet as non-edible oil, it was sold as edible oil.

After hearing, the court said, "Thus, the court is of the view that a valuable right of the petitioner has been deprived to send the samples for a second examination. The court also holds that the food safety officer did not adhere to the procedures contemplated under the Act and the rules while initiating action against the petitioner and two others. There are lot of deficiencies in the prosecution launched by the food safety officer," the court said.

Ordering food from iconic resturants is now just a click away!

BENGALURU: Be it your favourite steaming hot idlis from Veena Stores or Masala Dosa from Vidyarthi Bhavan, Bisibelebath from Adigas. You can now enjoy the food from Bengaluru's iconic restaurants at the comfort of your house or office. No traffic hassle, no waiting in the queues, the mouth watering delicacies will land at your door step. However, make sure that the restaurant you are ordering from is within 4.5 km radius of your location.The service is on for the last two months.

City's iconic restaurants like Maiyas, Shri Sagar CTR, Veena Stores, Anand Sweets, Vasudev Adigas, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Halimane, Empire and A2B among many others have linked up with mobile app 'goodbox'. The app is configured in such a way that the user will informed about the service delivery area. Area upto 4.5 km distance from the location of the restaurant will be covered. If the user is located beyond the service delivery.Q It takes about 45 minutes to reach out to the customer," said Abey Zachariah, CEO, Co-founder of goodbox. The company has tied up with third party delivery services for home delivery.

All that one needs to do is to download goodbox app on your smart phone, chat, order, pay online and receive the food on your doorstep from your favourite restaurant.

'goodbox' is a channel of communication for commerce between businesses and consumers that links up to as many as 4000 business.

It's a whatsapp like messaging platform to buy and pay online. These businesses may range from grocery shops, laundries, restaurants, outstation cabs, home bakers, Harley renters, hourly drivers and so on. So, basically good box provides many local and city based services in one app, making the life of a consumer easy.

Ghee maker held on charge of adulteration

The accused confessed that he has supplied the adulterated ghee to small grocery stores in various parts in the city at lesser prices.

The officials of Food and Safety Wing of GVMC with the support of City Task Force Police on Saturday raided a house where one person was manufacturing adulterated ghee at Muralinagar area in the city, and seized about 1,500 kgs of adulterated ghee. The police also arrested T. Sanyasi Rao, the owner of the small scale industry and investigation is on to nab a few others.

Acting on a tip-off, the team led by Food Safety Inspector G.V. Appa Rao along with the CTF raided the unit and they also recovered boilers, vanaspati and palm oil sachets and sealed the premises.

The GVMC officials said that Sanyasi Rao has been preparing the spurious ghee with vanaspati and palm oil by adding around 30 to 40 per cent pure ghee of a popular brand for past six months.

The accused confessed that he has supplied the adulterated ghee to small grocery stores in various parts in the city at lesser prices.

“We will send the samples to the laboratory and a case has been registered against Sanyasi Rao under Food Safety and Standard Act,” said the Food Safety Officer.

The police and GVMC officials have appealed to the public to pass any information to police about food adulteration.

Some drinking water units fake the public out

Officials of the State unit of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have been detecting fake ISI labels on some.

Even the assurance of an ISI logo on packaged drinking water can no longer be taken for granted. Officials of the State unit of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have been detecting fake ISI labels on some.

These fakes were seized during a raid conducted by the officials two days ago in Palakkad district. Similar instances had come to light in raids in Alappuzha earlier.

Misuse of ISI mark is an offence punishable with one-year simple imprisonment or fine up to Rs.50,000, or both, as per the BIS Act, 1986. The 30-year-old and relatively mild punishment codified in the Act could be no big deterrent, say officials, urging a scaling up of the fine to at least Rs.2 lakh and a more severe incarceration clause. The new rules are understood to be in a draft stage now.

State BIS chief Kadirvel told The Hindu that packaged drinking water, filled in 20-litre jars bearing spurious ISI mark, was found at a unit at Kannadi in Palakkad. The product was being sold under brand names such as ‘Aqua Varshah’, ‘Surabhi Aqua’, ‘Gogul Dew’, ‘Pure.O’, ‘Holy Aqua’, and ‘Suraksha H2O’. The manufacturing unit consisted of just a shed, where workers filled the jars with water drawn from a tank nearby, he said.

“The unit did not have a BIS licence, which is mandatory as per the FSSAI Act, 2006. Every unit manufacturing drinking water is required to have facilities such as Reverse Osmosis and ultraviolet (UV) filtration to ensure quality. The manufacturing facility should be certified by BIS and the product must conform to quality standards as per quality norms set by it.”

Food material seized from manufacturing units are to be tested at government-approved laboratories, since the BIS has no laboratory of its own in Kerala. The Kochi-based BIS office has to depend on the food testing laboratory of the Cashew Export Promotion Council at Kottayam or a few other select laboratories approved by the government.

While BIS officials can take action against those using the fake ISI mark, it is for the FSSAI officials to find out whether drinking water units are functioning with valid permits. Consumers could verify the genuineness of names and addresses of BIS certified products from the website www.bis.org.in, the official said

Dispose of that disposable cup

Chemicals and wax lining in various throwaway containers can cause heart diseases, diabetes, bladder stones, kidney failure and even cancer\

The longer you take to drink your coffee, tea or cold drink, higher will be the wax content in your drink thinkstock

In the course of attending a long training course, the only solace for the participants was different mouth watering snacks, served along with a steaming cup of tea. The tea break was the most awaited of sessions as this was the time to for interactions and networking, while holding tightly to that small, seemingly unsuspicious disposable cup of tea. 

After almost a week, the problem started. Those with sensitive stomachs complained of some discomfort, and began avoiding their morning cuppa. Others laughed it off as an excuse to their diet consciousness. Another week passed, the problem spread. Now, the members of the laughter club also switched sides with non-tea drinkers. Since the snacks and tea were all freshly prepared, who or what was the culprit? The answer lied in that cup only. The wax from disposable paper cups being ingested through hot beverages was probably causing the problems though some remained sceptical. However, many scientific studies have found out similar results.

Wikipedia says that ‘a disposable cup and other tableware are a type of disposable tableware and disposable food packaging. Disposable cups and other containers are meant for single use, thus contributing as a major source of consumer and household waste.’ 

Historically, disposable cups were developed in the USA in 1907 by Lawrence Luellen, a lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts, as these were convenient and addressed hygiene concerns. 

Deadly cocktail

Disposable cup types include paper cups, plastic cups and foam cups. Research indicates that plastic cups may cause 52 types of cancer. Toxins released into food by plastic cups have been linked with heart diseases, diabetes and reproductive development failure. Styrene migration into food has been observed in case of polystyrene or foam cups. This migration increased with increase in fat content of the food and at higher temperatures. Styrene can cause fatigue, nervousness, sleep disorders, reduction in platelet counts and in some cases has been linked with cancer. 

Not a lesser threat

Considering the hazardous effects of plastic and foam cups, food retailers and restaurants are substituting these with paper cups. Disposable paper cups use high-quality, bleached, virgin paper board. These have to be lined with polythene or wax in order to provide insulation, durability and for preventing the paper getting soaked. The cups have also to be glued at the seams. There are many health concerns related to disposable paper cups as well. The polythene or plastic lining releases Bisphenol A (BPA) and the glue releases melamine into the food. The Journal of the American Medical Association says the BPA is linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and liver problems. Melamine has been shown to be a contributor of weight gain, diarrhoea, bladder stones, kidney failure, and cancer. 

Not just cups, all other disposable tableware also contributes to the similar risk of contaminating the food due to migration of styrene from polystyrene, plasticisers from PVC, acetaldehyde from PET, etc. This migration of contaminants is dependent on the chemical structure of the migrants, type of food, and its temperature. Even aluminum leaches from the foil into the food depending on the spices in the food, its acidity and temperature.

Waxing woes

Approved waxes are safe to eat and are added in minute amounts in chocolates and confectionery items. Wax is also used as a coating of fresh fruits and vegetables to retain their freshness. In case of instant noodles and pastas, though there has been lot of hullabaloo on social media that these are coated with wax, manufacturing standards and various tests prove otherwise. In fact, the wax is not digested by our body and is excreted as such. But with no checking measures in place, industrial wax may be used for lining the cups in order to reduce the production costs. So, the harmfulness of paper cups depends on the quality control in its manufacturing. Food-grade waxes can be naturally sourced from plants, petroleum, beeswax, and/or shellac or resin. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mentions that packaging material should be designed such that migration of any of the specified contaminants should not render the food served in it unfit for consumption.

Environmental issues

In addition to health concerns, environmental pollution due to non-degradable wastes generated, deforestation, water consumption, chemicals and energy in manufacturing of these containers is a major threat. In order to mitigate these challenges, recycled cups are being manufactured. However, these should not have recycled content of more than 10 per cent as it leads to higher concentration of BPA.

Scary facts

A research was published in the proceedings of International Conference on Recent Advances in Emerging Technologies (ICRAET – 2016). The study comprised testing wax content and its migration into hot and cold beverages from different branded and unbranded paper cups. Wax content in the inner lining of these cups was found to be in the range of 3.83 per cent to 4.88 per cent. Wax migration was more in case of hot beverages as compared to cold beverages and the amount increased with longer holding time. The longer you take to drink your coffee, tea or cold drink, higher will be the wax content in your drink. Average two cups per day consumption of hot beverage from wax-coated paper cups leads to an annual consumption of wax from 15g to 34g; while for cold beverages, it is 3.64g to 5.1g, for drinking time of 15 minutes. 

There should be guidelines in place for takeaway containers. Regulators need to formulate guidelines on wax as a food contaminant. Also usage of paper cups should be made discretionary and fast-food joints should be willing to serve in containers of our choice.

— The writer is head, Department of Food Science, MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh

Cleaning the water

The poor in India often fall sick by drinking contaminated water; many even die. The middle classes are over-cautious, even paranoid, installing sophisticated water purifiers, while water continues to be non-potable.

The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) is exploring the possibility of making municipal corporations and State water supply boards accountable for the quality of water.

About time. At least 32 per cent of households which have access to treated tap water can be assured of safe drinkable water.

The CCPC (Central Consumer Protection Council) supports the FSSAI’s move on monitoring the quality of water; one hopes a well-intended move doesn’t end up in jurisdictional tussles. Regulations for packaged water are in place; the FSSAI is the licence-giving body; the certification comes from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Despite this, several cases of violation of standards have come before the Green Tribunal. Though standard procedures are prescribed for water supply under different Water Boards, contamination persists in the absence of monitoring. Even in the capital city, water is found to be non-potable.

There are reports of water getting mixed with sewage at several points. About 21 per cent of the communicable diseases are related to unsafe water; diarrhoea alone causes 1,600 deaths daily.

The source of water - rivers - is blamed for causing contamination in potable water. For the first time, the CCPC is advising the government to standardise the quality of water supplied through pipelines, irrespective of its source.

This should make several agencies accountable, including those involved in storage, treatment and supply. Lack of accountability of Water Boards has promoted a 25 per cent annual growth of packaged water; bottled water alone does business worth Rs 3,000 crore and the sale of water purifiers exceeds Rs 7,000 crore a year.

By 2012, about 15 million units of water purifiers were sold in India. The FSSAI Act is undergoing amendments; standardising and monitoring water quality should be its priority. The Modi government is doing the right thing in focusing on these every-day issues.

Even though the TV channels are discussing only the controversies, a lot of silent and good work is being done. And the case in point being this development on the water front.

Vadodara Municipal Corporation food safety teams check eateries

VADODARA: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) continued with its extensive checking of eateries in the city in wake of the monsoon season that brings with itself diseases related to food.

Teams of the civic body checked eateries around the Uma Crossroads on the Waghodiya Road and Sangam Crossroads in the Karelibaug area of the city. Shops, handcarts and restaurants operating in these areas were checked by the food safety officers of the civic body.

In all, the teams checked 61 establishments and collected 10 samples that were sent to the public health laboratory of the civic body for testing. Around 260 liters of tamarind and mint water used for panipuris, 195kg of other material including gravy, sauces, syrups and raw material were destroyed by the teams. As many as 19 food business operators were issued notices for not maintaining hygiene.

Two-day National Trade Leaders’ conference at Nagpur will be stormyGST, e-commerce, FDI in retail and cashless economy to be centre of agenda

Nagpur: More than 200 prominent Trade Leaders from all States and Union Territories will be assembling tomorrow and day after at Nagpur for participation in two day Conference of National Governing Council of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to be held at Nagpur on August 27 and 28, 2016.

The Conference is being held at a time when both Central and State Governments are working hard to ensure implementation of Goods & Services Tax (GST) from April 1, 2017 and even supporting the GST, the trade and industry have voiced their various concerns. The two day Conference of trade leaders of the Country will deliberate on many burning issues concerning retail trade of India including having a marathon session on GST. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis are also likely to address the trade leaders and will ascertain their input on various issues.

CAIT National President B.C.Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal while addressing a Press Conference today at Nagpur said that GST is an attempt to bring radical changes in taxation system of India which is a welcome step since current taxation system is fraught with various anomalies and disparities but at the same time the proposed model of GST also provides various provisions which will be difficult for the traders to comply with efficiently. Element of ease of doing business is somewhat missing in model GST Bill and some complicated provisions related to input credit and place of supply will certainly give rise to litigation. In the light of the same, the trade leaders will have a serious debate on the proposed model Bill of GST and will compile a series of suggestions which will be handed over to Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on August 30, 2016 at Delhi at a meeting already scheduled with trade & industry by the Committee.

The Conference will also have a critical evaluation of Food Safety and Standards Act which is so far have not been amended despite the demand of traders and assurances of the Government. This issue is hanging fire since year 2011 and needs to be settled. Unfortunately, the dictatorial attitude of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India has proved to be a major road block. The trade leaders will finalise their strategy as to how pressurize the Government to re-visit the Act which encourages packed food culture in the Country and this sector is dominated ither by the MNCs or big Corporate houses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid greater stress on adoption of cashless economy in the Country. The CAIT while terming it as a necessity for the growth of economy has supported this initiative and has designed a “less cash national movement” which is already been undertaken by the trading community all over the Country. However, this initiative needs greater support from the Government in terms of incentivization policy to encourage more usage of card payment in the Country. Senior officials of HDFC Bank, MasterCard and CIBIL, a credit scoring company will be a part of the discussion to be held during one of the session at the Conference.

Launching Mudra Bank by the Prime Minister last year was a landmark initiative taken by any Government in past 68 years in the Country but however, it has not reached the real people for whom it was designed. Unfortunately, the inclusion of Bank as a lending agency in Mudra has vitiated the very fundamental of Mudra. Originally, it was proposed that Non Banking Finance Companies, Micro Finance Institutions, Trust and Societies will be register and accredited under Mudra for lending the money whereas the Banks will act as re-financing agency. The two days Conference will chalk out its strategy to impress upon the Government to make Mudra as an independent regulator and inclusion of NBFCs, MFIs and others as lending agency.

The Conference will also discuss in detail the role of E Commerce Companies who are indulging in deep discounting while violating the FDI policy which is proving much detrimental to retail trade. It is noteworthy to mention that the CAIT had made a complaint against these Companies to Union Government on August 10, 2016 and the Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sithraman has taken a cognizance of this grave issue and declare to form a Grievance Cell in the Ministry.

However, the CAIT will demand for a specified policy for the e commerce business in India to retail equal level playing field. The trading community of the Country is deeply aggravated for allowing FDI in retail particularly in food sector. Such steps are against the commitment made by the BJP at the time of polls in 2014.

Various other issues like upgradation and modernization of retail trade, empowerment and financial literacy of women entrepreneurs in India, formation of a Retail Regulatory Authority and a separate Ministry of Internal Trade will also be discussed in the Conference-said both Bhartia and Khandelwal.

Joint Resolution agreed upon during the 'Joint Commemorative Meeting' was held on 23rd August, 2016.

உணவு பொருள் பேக் கேஜ் க ளில் உற் பத்தி தேதி, அளவு விவ ரங் களை பெரிய எழுத் தில் அச் சிட வேண் டும் விதி களை கடு மை யாக்க முடிவு

புது டெல்லி, ஆக. 24:

உணவு பொருள் பேக் கேஜ் விதி களை கடு மை யாக்க மத் திய அரசு முடிவு செய் துள் ளது.

நவீன வாழ்க்கை முறைக்கு ஏற்ப பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளின் ஆதிக் கம் அதி க ரித்து வரு கி றது. பிஸ் கட், சாக் லேட், நூடுல்ஸ் மட் டு மின்றி இட்லி, தோசை, உப் புமா கூட உட னடி பயன் பாட் டுக்கு ஏற்ப பேக் கேஜ் உண வு க ளாக வரு கின் றன. வாடிக் கை யா ளர் க ளின் கவ னத்தை ஈர்க் கும் வகை யில் வண்ண மய மாக இவை உரு வாக் கப் ப டு கின் றன. சில நிறு வ னங் கள் பேக் கேஜ் வடி வ மைப் பில் உள்ள கவ னத்தை, அதற் கான விதி களை பின் பற் று வ தில் செலுத் து வ தில்லை என்ற குற் றச் சாட்டு நீண் ட கா ல மாக உள் ளது.

பிர பல நிறு வ னங் க ளுக்கு போட் டி யாக வரும் போலி தயா ரிப் பு களை நுகர் வோர் அடை யா ளம் காண முடி வ தில்லை. இதை தடுக்க பேக் கேஜ் விதி களை கடு மை யாக்க மத் திய அரசு முடிவு செய் துள் ளது. இது கு றித்து நுகர் வோர் விவ கார அமைச் சக அதி காரி ஒரு வர் கூறி ய தா வது:

பேக் கேஜ் சட் டத் தில் உள்ள 7வது பிரிவு, அதி லுள்ள உணவு பொருட் க ளின் விவ ரங் களை எந்த எழுத்து அள வில் அச் சிட வேண் டும் என்று குறிப் பி டு கி றது. ஆனால் பெரும் பா லான நிறு வ னங் கள் இதை கடைப் பி டிப் பதே இல்லை. அது வும், சிறிய பேக் கேஜ் க ளில் எழுத்து அளவு மிகச் சி றி தாக படிக்க முடி யாத வகை யில் உள் ளது. எனவே அமெ ரிக் கா வில் உள்ள பேக் கேஜ் விதி களை பின் பற்றி மாற் றங் கள் செய்ய திட் டம் உள் ளது. தற் போது, பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளில் பெயர், முக வரி, அளவு, உற் பத்தி தேதி, காலா வதி தேதி, சில் லரை விலை ஆகி யவை 1 மில்லி மீட் ட ருக் கும் குறை வாக இருக் கி றது. அமெ ரிக் கா வில் இது 1.6 மில்லி மீட் டர் என நிர் ண யிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இதை அடி யொற்றி, 200 கிராம் அல் லது 200 லிட் டர் பேக் கே ஜில் 1.5 மில்லி மீட் டர் அள வில் விவ ரங் களை அச் சி ட லாம்.

200க்கு மேல் 500 கிராம் / லிட் டர் பேக் கேஜ் க ளில் இந்த அளவு தற் போ துள்ள 2 மில்லி மீட் ட ரில் இருந்து 4 மீல்லி மீட் ட ரா க வும், 500 கிரா முக்கு மேல் 8 மில்லி மீட் ட ராக உயர்த் த வும் முடிவு செய் யப் பட் டுள் ளது.

இது மட் டு மின்றி, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட உண வுப் பொ ருள் இந் தி யா வில் தயா ரிக் கப் பட் டதா அல் லது வெளி நாட் டில் தயா ரிக் கப் பட் டதா என் பதை அறிய பிரத் யேக பார் கோடு அறி மு கம் செய் ய வும் நுகர் வோர் விவ கார அமைச் ச கம் திட் ட மிட் டுள் ளது. இது போலி களை தடுக்க உத வி யாக இருக் கும். இது மட் டு மின்றி பேக் கேஜ் உச் ச வ ரம்பு அளவு 25 கிலோ என இருப் பதை 50 கிலோ வாக உயர்த் த வும் திட் டம் உள் ளது. சிறிய பேக் கேஜ் க ளாக வாங் கும் நுகர் வோர் இதற் கென அதிக விலை கொடுக் கின் ற னர். உதா ர ண மாக அரிசி, கோதுமை போன் றவை பெரிய பேக் கேஜ் க ளாக வரும் போது விலை குறை ய வும் வாய்ப்பு உள் ளது. இவ் வாறு அந்த அதி காரி கூறி னார்.

பிரட் தயாரிப்பில் தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் பயன்படுத்தக்கூடாது பேக்கரி உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை

விழுப் பு ரம், ஆக. 26:

பிரட் தயா ரிப் பின் போது தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புற் று நோய் உண் டாக் கும் பொருட் களை பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூ டாது என்று பேக்கரி உரி மை யா ளர் க ளுக்கு மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ளார்.

விழுப் பு ரம் நக ரில் பேக் கரி தயா ரிப் பா ளர் கள் மற் றும் விநி யோ கஸ் தர் கள் சில் லரை விற் ப னை யா ளர் க ளுக்கு பேக் கரி பொருட் கள் தயா ரிப்பு விழிப் பு ணர்வு கூட் டம் மாவட்ட உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை சார் பில் அதன் அலு வ ல கத் தில் நடந் தது. இக் கூட் டத் திற்கு தலைமை தாங் கிய உண வு பா து காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் வர லட் சுமி பேசு கை யில், பிரட் தயா ரிப் பின் போது பொட் டா சி யம் புரே மிட், பொட் டா சி யம் லோடிட் பயன் ப டுத் து வது தடை வி திக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இதனை கலந்து தயா ரித் தால் பொது மக் க ளுக்கு புற் று நோய் களை ஏற் ப டுத் தும் என் ப தால் இப் பொ ருட் கள் பயன் ப டுத்த தடை வி திக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இதனை மீறி பிரட் டில் இப் பொ ருட் களை சேர்த் தால் சம் பந் தப் பட் ட வர் கள் மீது கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும்.

மேலும் குழந் தை கள் விரும்பி சாப் பி டும் ஜாம், ஜெல்லி போன்ற பொருட் க ளில் சைக் ளா மீட் பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூ டாது. பிரட் டில் பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் மூலப் பொ ருட் க ளான எண் ணெய் மாவு போன் றவை தர மா ன தாக பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். விழாக் கா லங் க ளில் கூடு தல் க வ னம் செலுத்தி தர மா ன தாக உற் பத்தி செய்ய வேண் டும். சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் உண வுபொ ருட் களை தயா ரிக்க வேண் டும். மேலும் வண் ணப் பொ ருட் கள் அதி க ளவு பயன் ப டுத் து வதை தவிர்க்க வேண் டும். பாக் கெட் செய் யும் பிளாஸ்ட் க வர் 40 மைக் ரான் அள வுக்கு மேல் இருக் கக் கூ டாது. இவ் வாறு அவர் பேசி னார். நக ராட்சி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் சங் க ர லிங் கம், சர வ ணன் மற் றும் விழுப் பு ரம் நக ராட் சிக் குட் பட்ட பேக்கரி உரி மை யா ளர் கள் உள் ளிட்ட பலர் கலந்து கொண் ட னர்.

How meat is raised may influence taste

Tug-of-war between two government departments leaves the midday meal untested

AIPUR: A tug-of-war between the midday meal commissionerate and the food safety department regarding the responsibility of testing of the midday meal served to 62 lakh school children in the state left the mandatory monthly exercise on hold for months together.

According to the rules, the samples of the midday meal had to be tested every month for ensuring quality and nutritional value of the meal but the midday meal commissionerate says they do not have the wherewithal to conduct the monthly exercise and asked the food safety department to carry out the job.

According to the order of September 30 2015, the samples of the midday meal had to be tested once in a month in every district at a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The midday meal commissionate said they had duly informed the state food safety department of the requirement as they have infrastructure for testing food articles, but they refused to comply. So, the food served under the midday meal programme has not been fulfilled the mandatory testing for the last several months.

Rajasthan Food safety commissioner Dr BR Meena said the testing of the meal served under midday meal is not their job as it is not covered under the Food Safety Act. According to the Food Safety Act those foods which are bought and sold in the market is covered under the act. Thus midday meal is outside their purview.

FDA, FSSAI to collaborate for new initiatives for Goa

Panaji: The state food and drugs administration, (FDA) Goa has been selected by theFSSAI to pilot three 10 @ 10 initiatives in the state.

These will be providing safe and nutritious food at home, in schools and by restaurants/railways.

"The FSSAI is commemorating the decade of enactment of the FSS Act 2006 by launching 10 @ 10 initiatives to cover every place where food is consumed. 10 @ 10 initiative is planned to connect with citizens in multiple ways for creating food safetyculture," said director, FDA Goa and commissioner, food safety, Goa, Salim Veljee.

Under these initiatives, the FSSAI will provide in-house training to the enforcement officials of FDA, Goa in coming months. These trained officials in collaboration with consumers and other agencies conduct such programmes all across the state at home, schools, restaurants, etc to promote the culture of safe and nutritious food to all.

Under safe and nutritious food at home, FSSAI is bringing out a 'green book- your companion on safe nutritious food at home. This would have useful and practical tips and information about food safety and nutrition that Indian households need on a day to day basis.

The target is to provide every household a printed version of the curated handbook on safe and nutritious food at home. Also, have a web-based platform for homemakers to share their experiences and thus create vibrant community of homemakers.

Through safe and nutritious food at schools, FSSAI seeks to ensure the standard of safety and nutrition across the entire eco-system of food around schools, including lunchbox, canteens, cafeteria, foodjoints, mess, aanganwadi.

Three components are included to strengthen the safety and nutrition at midday meals: compulsory FSSAI registration/licence for food business involved with the scheme, periodic inspections and regular testing of food.

At restaurants, a FSSAI-trained food safety supervisor will be designated at each restaurant to carry out hygiene standards; a mandatory food safety display board will be put up; and hygiene rating of restaurants will be done to inform consumers about health promoting restaurants.

At railways, FSSAI has tied up with railways to initiate 'project safety on track.' At places of worship, FSSAI is engaging with the managements of places of worship to help them implement food safety management systems.

GM food test for Modi- Experts clear mustard seeds, final approval pending

A scientist holds a genetically modified rapeseed crop under trial in New Delhi in February 2015.

New Delhi, Aug. 25 (Reuters): A government panel has cleared commercial use of what would be India's first genetically modified (GM) food crop but politicians still have to give final approvals amid widespread public opposition.

Technical clearance for indigenously developed GM mustard seeds was given on August 11 by the panel of government and independent experts, following multiple reviews of crop trial data generated over almost a decade, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The decision to go ahead is likely to be made public soon by the environment ministry's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, and is expected eventually to move to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desk via environment minister Anil Madhav Dave.

Dave could not immediately be reached for comment.

The environment ministry said in a statement that no final decision had been taken yet and that its Genetic Engineering Approval Committee would put up a "safety document" on the issue on its website seeking comments from the public.

The news of the technical approval comes when US seed maker Monsanto - which dominates the GM cotton market in India - faces heightened government regulation that has forced it to consider quitting a country it has operated in for decades.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Monsanto had withdrawn an application seeking approval for its next generation GM cotton seeds in India, escalating a long-running dispute between New Delhi and the world's biggest seed maker.

Top India-based executives of multinationals like Monsanto, Bayer Biosciences, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont Pioneer and Syngenta have called a joint news conference on Friday to make an "important announcement", following what they called difficult times that have impacted operations of seed companies.

Permitting GM food crops is a big call for India, which spends tens of billions of dollars importing edible oils and other food items every year. Farmers are stuck with old technology, yields are at a fraction of world levels, cultivable land is shrinking and weather patterns have become less predictable, analysts say.

But political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong amid fears that GM crops could compromise food safety and biodiversity.

Some grassroots groups associated with Modi's nationalist BJP have also opposed GM crops because of the reliance on seeds patented by multi-nationals like Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and Syngenta, which is to be taken over by a Chinese company.

India placed a moratorium on GM eggplant in 2010, also after an experts panel had given its clearance, effectively bringing the regulatory system to a deadlock.

Modi, however, who was instrumental in making Gujarat state India's leading user of GM cotton when he was chief minister there, cleared several field trials for GM crops soon after taking office in New Delhi in 2014.

The GM mustard developed by Delhi University scientists makes use of three genes already incorporated in rapeseed hybrids in Canada, the US and Australia.

Extensive bio-safety tests have revealed no cause for concern, according to a field trial report submitted to the government and seen by Reuters.

What is stevia and why are food & beverage makers looking at it?

The sweetener is billed as an effective substitute to sugar, considered a key cause of diabetes in India

Stevia, a natural sweetener, first came into the spotlight five years ago when the scientific panel at the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommended its usage in food & beverage products. 

The sweetener was billed as an effective substitute to sugar, considered a key cause of diabetes in India. 

But, it was only in November 2015 that FSSAI finally gave the go-ahead for stevia's usage in products here, implying manufacturers could go ahead and use it in their formulations.

The products where stevia was allowed included carbonated water (that is, soft drinks), dairy-based desserts and flavoured drinks, yoghurts, ready-to-eat cereals, fruit nectars, jams, jellies, marmalades, soft drink concentrates, non-carbonated water-based beverages, ice lollies, chewing gum and table-top sweeteners.

While companies such as Coca-Cola, Cargill and PureCircle had applied to FSSAI for use of stevia in their products earlier, PepsiCo has trumped them all by developing and test-marketing a stevia-based drink under 7Up.

FSSAI had recommended upto 200 mg per kg of steviol glycoside in carbonated water, soft-drink concentrates, yoghurts, fruit nectars, dairy-based flavoured drinks and non-carbonated water-based beverages. Ice Lollies or edible ice could have upto 270 mg per kg of steviol glycoside, dairy-based desserts and ready-to-eat cereals can have upto 330 and 350 mg per kg respectively of the chemical compound, while jams, jellies and marmalades can have upto 360 mg per kg of the ingredient, the Novembre 2015 notification said.

Chewing gum, on the other hand, could have upto 3,500 mg per kg of steviol glycoside, while table-top sweeteners could have upto 7 mg per 100 mg of the ingredient, the notification said.

Globally, Coca-Cola uses stevia in products such as Coca-Cola Life, which is billed as a health-conscious spin-off of its flagship cola. Rival PepsiCo has Pepsi True in its portfolio which has stevia in it.

Cargill, in contrast, markets a popular table-top sweetener in the US called Truvia. This product uses two additives stevia and erythritol in combination with each other.

Stevia extracts, according to food safety experts, are upto 300 times sweeter than sugar. To achieve the profile of sugar therefore using it with another additive helps, they say. 

Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi in India, for instance, use aspartame and acesulfame K, which are synthesied, high-intense sweeteners. So does Coke Zero, which also uses a combination of aspartame and acesulfame K.

If stevia is allowed, say sources, it is to be used in combination with low-intense sweeteners so that it could go a long way in helping manufacturers replace high-intense, synthesied sweeteners, which are said to be cancer-causing.

Apart from aspartame and acesulfame K, the other high-intense sweeteners permitted in India include splenda or sucralose and saccharine.

Health Ministry partner with Skill India to train street vendors

NEW DELHI: Taking a step towards making food safer, the Union Health Ministry will partner with the Skill India initiative to train dedicated personnel for food safety.

This new initiative will focus on mass training programmes for small and petty food businesses like street food vendors, fruits and vegetable vendors and others in partnership with Skill India and these efforts will be sustained through corporate participation, a senior health ministry official said. 

For this initiative, the health ministry has partnered with the Skill Development Ministry which pilots the Skill India Mission, the official said. 

The new initiative is specially aimed at nuclear families since there is nobody to pass on the wisdom to the next generation about the best pratices in food and nutrition, he said. 

The FSSAI has already come out with a programme to train 23,000 street food vendors in Delhi.

Agrawal said that all these initiatives have been developed collaboratively over the past few months along with other stakeholders and partners.

"States would be facilitated to implement them on pilot basis over the next few months and thereafter national roll out of these initiatives would be done possibly by next year," Agarwal said.

Noting that food safety is an important health and economic issue, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda said: "Provisions of safe food should become a part of ingrained culture in our country".

He said the adoption of global food safety standards would boost exports of agro-products and also provide better returns to farmers for their produce.

FSSAI guidelines ‘a pain point for the catering industry’

In the business of outdoor catering, most catering organisations offer their services at multiple venues, in which the caterers have little or no control

MUMBAI, AUGUST 25: 

One assumes that the Maggi controversy would have led to a scramble for ‘safety’ certification from everybody associated with the food and beverage business. But for the catering business in India, it has led to even more chaos, in a pre-dominantly unorganised sector.

According to the Federation of All India Caterers, an industry body that has more than 3,000 members across 14 States, the rules for food safety in India as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has found more naysayers in their industry.Outdoor catering

Narendra Somani, President, Federation of All India Caterers (FAIC), says that only 30 per cent of its membership base have taken the FSSAI certification. He adds, “There are as many as 35 guidelines as mandated by the FSSAI that are not possible to follow in an outdoor venue.”

Yogesh Chandarana, Vice President, FAIC, adds that in the business of outdoor catering, most catering organisations offer their services at multiple venues, in which the caterers have little or no control. For example, the FSSAI guidelines mandate that the caterer should describe the source of water used for cooking and also get it tested from an accredited laboratory.

The other pain point is when electricity is used in the manufacture of the food items. In this case, the caterer is expected to “state the exact HP used or sanctioned electricity load” (both conditions are difficult to satisfy if the catering contractor has no say in which venue the event is being held).

Kirit Budhdev of Rachit Catering Service, a Rajkot-based caterer and Secretary, FAIC, adds that there have been representations made to the Centre to formulate guidelines that will help in the growth of the catering industry

Industry executives say that the future of the business will come up for active discussion at the large industry convention that FAIC is putting together in Mumbai over this weekend (August 27-29). The line-up of speakers includes names like celebrity chefs Sanjeev Kapoor and Vikas Khanna.

May Lord Krishna guide you along the path of your life, just like he guided Arjuna in the Kurukshetra! Wishing you & your family a very #HappyJanmashtami!

Selling Substandard food? Beware!

Food Sellers fined Rs.49 lakhs for violating norms

Vegetables under scanner ahead of festival season

HEALTH CONCERNS:During the festival season, markets in the city are flooded with vegetables even from places that are not the regular sources of procurement.

Food Safety officials are picking up random vegetable samples from the market to test them for the presence of any pesticide or insecticide residue.

Come the festival season, the market is flooded with vegetables even from places which are not the regular sources of procurement. The action by the Food Safety officials is part of preparations for the Onam and Bakrid festivals which are round the corner. The move is part of the test checking of vegetables in the pre-festival season, according to Food Safety officials.

Leafy vegetables are more likely to harbour chemicals. They have been found to carry high levels of chemicals in earlier tests. Various markets in the district, which source vegetables from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have been selected for sample testing.

Samples have been sent to the Ernakulam Regional Analytical Laboratory and the laboratory at Vellayani in Thiruvananthapuram. The results are yet to be out, but the department would take strong action if the vegetables were found unfit for human consumption, said District Chief Food Inspector K. V. Shibu.

Other food items such as grocery are also being checked for adulteration, he said. Tea dust is one of the most adulterated items found in recent times. Some samples have been found with added synthetic colours and high levels of iron content.

Even the checks carried out and the awareness created by Food Safety officials had not lessened the incidents of low quality and adulterated tea finding its way into the market.

Smuggling of ‘gutka’, ‘khaini’ continues unabated

Porous borders make A.P., particularly Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, a hub for sale of the contraband

Three days ago, a special team of the City Task Force (CTF), led by ACP I. Chittibabu, intercepted a goods van on the National Highway near Indira Gandhi Zoological Park and apprehended two persons, besides seizing 150 bags of banned ‘gutka’ and ‘khaini’ being transported in the vehicle camouflaged under vegetables.

The contraband was reportedly procured by smugglers at Berhampur in Odisha and being brought for sale in the districts of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The market value of the seized stuff is estimated at Rs. 30 lakh.

‘Gutka’, ‘khaini’, and any form of ‘pan masala’ laced with tobacco or nicotine are banned in Andhra Pradesh under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. Since its enforcement in 2006, the ban is being renewed for one year on January 9 every year.

“Initially, 16 States imposed a ban on the contraband. But later, States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu lifted the ban,” said Mr. Chittibabu.

Despite the ban, the products have been finding their way into the State through the porous borders of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu. There are two main entry points — from Chennai to Hyderabad and Vijayawada and from Rayagada and Berhampur in Odisha to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. “Whatever be the entry point, the hubs are Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada,” Mr. Chittibabu told The Hindu .

The mode of transport is by road. In most cases, it has been found that the gunnysacks contain three-fourths of the banned stuff and the remaining space topped with vegetable or household items.

If the products are moved by train, they are neatly packed, sealed, and transported through the luggage van, wherein various items are marked on papers. And they can be intercepted or caught only with prior information.

Game plan

While in most cases ban on an item affects the traders, in the case of ‘gutka’ and ‘khaini’, it is a blessing in disguise.

According to the police, there are a few people or smugglers based in Guntur, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam who have been funding the ban order. It is learnt that they dole out Rs.10 crore to Rs. 15 crore as party fund to enforce the ban. This will help them sell the stuff in the market at four times the normal rate. A packet with MRP of Rs. 5 is sold for Rs. 25 in Visakhapatnam.

“The ban also encourages the spurious market. There are units involved in the making of the banned products operating from houses in Berhampur and Rayagada,” said a senior police officer who had traced the origin of the delivery system.

Though there is a ban, the police are toothless as they do not have the power to arrest the accused.

“We can only seize the material and hand over the culprits and the material to the Food and Safety officials. There is no imprisonment and the fine is up to Rs. 2 lakh,” said Mr. Chittibabu.

It is learnt that in most cases, the accused pose as poor shopkeepers and get away with a meagre fine of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000.

In Visakhapatnam, the fine amount has not crossed Rs. 25,000. It is also learnt that the accused get away with the seized stuff by “managing” the officials concerned.

“Either the fine amount has to be huge, or the police or other enforcement agencies should be given the power to arrest. This apart, the accused should serve a jail term as in the case of NDPS Act. There should be some form of deterrence,” said Commissioner of Police T. Yoganand.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

அதிகாரிகள் மெத்தனத்தால்த டை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை அமோகம்

திருப் பூர்,ஆக.25:

தமி ழக அரசு தடை விதித் துள்ள போதி லும் திருப் பூ ரில் பல பகு தி க ளில் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை அமோ க மாக நடக் கி றது.

உடல் நலத் துக்கு கேடு விளை விக் கும், பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா உள் ளிட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் களை விற் பனை செய் ய வும், இருப்பு வைத் தி ருக் க வும், உணவு பாது காப்பு சட் டத் தின் படி தமி ழக அரசு தடை விதித் துள் ளது.

இப் பொ ருட் கள் விற் பனை மற் றும் இருப்பு குறித்து கண் கா ணித்து நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க கலெக் டர் தலை மை யில் கமிட்டி அமைக் க வும் அரசு உத் த ர விட் டது.

அதன் படி திருப் பூர் மாவட் டத் தில் கலெக் டர் தலை மை யில் குழு அமைக் கப் பட் டது. இருப் பி னும் அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை நடத் தா மல் சுணக் கம் காட் டு வ தால், பெரும் பா லான கடை க ளில் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் தாரா ள மாக விற் ப னை யா கி றது. 5 ரூபாய் விலை யுள்ள புகை யிலை பொருட் கள், 10 ரூபாய் வரை விற் கப் ப டு கி றது.

திருப் பூர் புற ந கர் பகு தி க ளான முத லி பா ளை யம், சிட்கோ, காசி பா ளை யம், கோவில் வழி ஆகிய பகு தி க ளில் பனி யன் நிறு வ னங் கள் அதி க ள வில் உள் ளன. பீகார், மேற் கு வங் கம், ஒடிசா, அசாம் போன்ற வெளி மாநில தொழி லா ளர் கள் அதி க ள வில் தங்கி வேலை செய் கின் ற னர். இவர் கள் பெரும் பா லும் புகை யிலை பொருள் நுகர் வதை வாடிக் கை யாக கொண் டுள் ள னர். புற ந கர் பகு தி யாக இருப் ப தால், அங் குள்ள கடை க ளில் , பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா, உள் ளிட் டவை, தங் கு த டை யின்றி கிடைக் கி றது. இதை ஆய்வு செய்து, தடுக்க வேண் டிய உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் மற் றும் போலீ சார் மெத் த ன மாக உள் ள னர்.

மளிகை கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு

சூள கிரி, ஆக. 25:

சூள கி ரி யில் உள்ள மளிகை கடை க ளில், தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பிளாஸ் டிக் பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றதா என, உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் சுவா மி நா தன் நேற்று ஆய்வு நடத் தி னார்.

கிருஷ் ண கிரி மாவட் டத் தில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பிளாஸ் டிக் பொருட் கள் விற் ப னையை தடுக்க, உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு நடத்தி வரு கின் ற னர். இதன் ஒரு பகு தி யாக சூள கிரி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் சுவாமி நாதன், ஓசூர் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் துள சி நா தன் மற் றும் அலு வ லர் கள், சூள கி ரி யில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் நேற்று ஆய்வு செய் த னர். சூள கி ரி யில் மளிகை கடை கள், இறைச் சிக் க டை கள், ஓட் டல் கள் மற் றும் டீக் க டை கள் என 300க்கும் மேற் பட்ட வர்த் தக கடை கள் உள் ளன. ஓசூர், கிருஷ் ண கிரி சாலை யில் உள்ள மளிகை கடை க ளில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பிளாஸ் டிக் பொருட் கள், காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றதா என அவர் கள் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். இந்த ஆய் வில் பொருட் கள் ஏதும் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் ப ட வில்லை.

Provisions of safe food should become a part of our ingrained culture: J P Nadda

Shri J P Nadda commemorates a decade of Integrated Food Law in the country

FSSAI announces 10@10 initiatives

Commemorating a decade of integrated food law in the country, and marking ten years of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his congratulatory message underscored the 'need for the Authority to focus on empowering the consumers so that the manufacturers and suppliers of food products become responsive to consumer needs, demands and expectations.' He further added that 'safe an, wholesome and hygienic food will create a 'Swasth Bharat'. And this has to be cornerstone of the efforts of FSSAI.'

Speaking at the function organised by FSSAI to commemorate 10 years of the enactment of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSAI Act), here recently, Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, stated that “Food safety is a very important health and economic issue. It has high employment potential, can boost exports of agro-products out of the country, and also provide better returns to farmers for their produce. Provisions of safe food should become a part of ingrained culture in our country.” He further added that the FSSAI Act is a paradigm shift from regulatory regime under the provisions of Food Adulteration Act to self-regulatory and facilitatory regime. “Now, basic ground work is done. We are ready for big leap forward,” Shri Nadda said. Shri C K Mishra, Health Secretary, Government of India was the Special Guest on this occasion.

Shri Nadda appreciated the unrelenting efforts of FSSAI towards food safety in India. In his address, he emphasized upon ‘two-way communication’ between the food businesses and the regulator. He advised that the Authority should be fully aware of the need and concerns of small food businesses as well in its work of standard formulation and compliance. He further added that during the last 10 years, considerable ground has been covered in terms of achieving the goals of laying down scientific standards and regulating the manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items for the people of India. FSSAI stands for trust and compliance and the synergy between the industry and the authority will ensure that this trust is well placed.”

On this occasion, the Union Health Minister also released the special commemorative volume – a compilation of the history and over fifty invited articles from the scientists, experts, industry people and consumer organizations. Shri C K Mishra, Union Health Secretary also addressed the audience with inspiring messages on the need for collaborative efforts towards setting up of food standards and its implementation strategies.

In his opening address, Shri Ashish Bahuguna, Chairperson, FSSAI said, “One of the most significant provisions of the formation of FSSAI was for setting national benchmarks, regulations and guiding principles for Food Safety and Nutrition. We have completed 10 formative years of this act and are now striving to work towards a collective approach for building safe food culture in India because Food Safety cannot be ensured by enforcement alone.”

Commemorating this milestone, FSSAI also announced 10@10 – 10th anniversary with 10 initiatives. The primary focus of the 10@10 initiative is to engage with stakeholders and consumers to create food safety culture in the country. This bouquet of 10 initiatives focused on safe and nutritious food at home, school, workplace, religious places, in trains and railway stations, in restaurants and other places. The event also saw launch of Food Safety Display Boards that would help to connect the consumers directly to food safety officers. Under the Corporates4FoodSafety initiative, the corporates committed themselves to collaborate, educate and inspire other stakeholders towards food safety as responsible food businesses.

Referring to the 10@10 initiatives, CEO, FSSAI, Shri Pawan Agarwal said that all these initiatives have been developed collaboratively over the past few months along with other stakeholders and partners. He informed that States would be facilitated to implement them on pilot basis over the next few months and thereafter national roll out of these initiatives would be done possibly by next year. He also referred to other initiatives of the FSSAI such as on national milk quality survey, food fortification, farm to trade - bridging the standards divide, rediscovering the rich culinary heritage of India, standards for organic food, eLearning Portal and simplification of registration and licensing regulations.

There were two panel discussions prior to the main event. One on “Food Safety in unorganized sector – Challenges & Opportunities” focused around mass training programme for small and petty food businesses like street food vendors, fruits and vegetable vendors and other in partnership with Skill India and sustaining these efforts with corporate participation. The second panel discussion on “Food Safety a shared responsibility” dealt with need for taking joint responsibility by all stakeholders in assuring food safety.

Also present at the function were members of the food sector fraternity including the science community, industry - big corporates as well as small and medium food businesses represented by their associations, consumer and citizen organizations, international organizations and foreign missions, experts and government officials from Central ministries and States and other key stakeholders.