‘Fake licences’: Punjab food and safety dept finds irregularities

The food registration certificates and licences issued by the Jalandhar civil surgeon’s office to certain food business operators was in gross violation of the mandatory online facility started by the central government in March 2014.
The Punjab food and safety department has found many irregularities in the inquiry into some of the food registration certificates and licences issued by the Jalandhar civil surgeon’s office to certain food business operators in gross violation of the mandatory online facility started by the central government in March 2014.
Food safety commissioner Hussan Lal, who had ordered a probe and deputed food safety nodal officer Dr Naresh Kumar to find out the truth, said only the district health officer (DHO) was a signing authority for issuing the licence to food operators, as per the provisions of the Food Safety Act.
Informing about the licences and registration certificates which were carrying the stamp and signature of the civil surgeon, Lal said the department checked the records and found no approval was sought by the civil surgeon to issue the same.
He said, “If the signing authority is not available in the office, then the civil surgeon can issue the licence by using special powers. But this can only be done by informing the headquarters in Chandigarh. In this case, this was not available in the records.”
The food and safety commissioner also said the inquiry also pointed that in many cases water-testing reports were also not available.
However, the inquiry left many points unanswered, raising the questions on it. It did not talk about the non-availability of the registration certificates and licences in question on the website -- foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in.
Confirming the fact, the state commissioner said he would look into this matter. However, he said it may be due to the nonavailability of computers, scanners and other infrastructure in the district offices.
‘DHO to be grilled’
He also added that he would ask the DHO to give details over his preliminary report that records were not available in the office, as when the nodal officer checked the records, the same were available.
As per the preliminary report, the DHO was asked to provide records of these registration certificates and licences and given a 15-day deadline to respond it. After an extensive search for the records, the department wrote to the nodal officer that it did not have any record of these documents.
Hindustan Times had reported on December 16, 2015 that many of the food business operators, unaware of the online system, had paid Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 despite the fact that the annual registration fee was just Rs 100 for a licence.
Balbir Singh, owner of a grocery shop and flour mill at Aman Nagar, was issued a licence for which he paid Rs 6,000. However, there was no record of Singh’s certificate (000071) on the Food Safety and Standards Authority website.
Shockingly, the certificate carried the renewal date as April 1, 2018, while the validity of the same was just one year. Singh claimed that he was not aware of the online facility and contacted the civil surgeon’s office for the purpose.
Similarly, the civil surgeon’s office issued a registration certificate (22114361006141) to Om Dhara Sweet Water at New Hardyal Nagar on November 9, 2014, with the renewal date mentioned as November 8, 2015. The certificate had manual alterations on it. The unit owner, Sukhwinder Singh, said he paid Rs 5,000 for the certificate.
Process for online registration
For online registration, one has to apply on the website after filling the requisite information. Then, the application goes to the designated food safety officer (FSO). The applicant approaches the officer who then asks him/her to submit the fee in the bank and submit the payment details. The applicant can get the registration certificate after 10 days.

'Eat Traditional,stay Healthy'

KOCHI: The office-bearers of Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) said they were not against outlets selling any type of food or delicacies. But they emphasised that it was the duty of the government and authorities concerned to make sure that authentic cuisines were served in hygienic conditions.
“We are ready to extend our support to the Food and Safety Department to ensure that only authentic and healthy food are served to the public. But they should also take steps to create awareness among the public on the necessity to cling to healthy food habits and the hazards of blindly aping foreign food habits and need to give preference to our traditional food culture,” said KHRA general secretary G Jayapal.

 

He said that along with raids on middle-level food outlets, the authorities concerned should take steps to prevent the widespread popularity of junk food among the new generation. “The overuse of Cola and other soft drinks, overuse of junk food and charred food are very dangerous,” he said.
Awareness,Need of the Hour
Kochi: A proper awareness among the public on good food habits is the need of the hour, believe experts. According to Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety (Ernakulam), K V Shibu, it is not easy to convince the public of issues related to food habits. “After each raid, we expose the harmful effects of unhealthy food habits. There are many instances in the past, the recent one being the issues related to illegal ‘chaat’ shops. But has anyone stopped eating ‘chaat’ or ‘pani puri’?. What we can do is to make sure that quality food is served to public,” he said. Regarding the health threats posed by illegal Arabian food outlets, he said the Department would take necessary action. “Usually, such shops function from the evening. We will conduct regular inspections to make sure the delicacies are served in hygienic conditions,” Shibu said.

KUMUDAM SINEGITHI ARTICLE

Andhra to Set up Fast Track Courts to Deal With Adulterators

HYDERABAD: In the wake of increasing cases of sale of adulterated food items reported in the State, AP government is contemplating setting up of fast-track courts to deal with cases related to food adulteration. The State government has also decided to appoint food safety officers in all the mandals of the State to curb the use of adulterated food items.
It has also decided to make it mandatory for fruit traders to register with the department concerned to keep track of their business. The State government has booked 266 cases and collected fine to a tune of Rs. 1.65 crore in the last three months from traders involved in the sale of adulterated food items.
Disclosing this to reporters after conducting a review meeting with the senior officials of health departments here, on Wednesday, Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas said following High Court direction to the State government to take steps to curb the use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits, it has decided to strengthening the regulatory structure and work towards effective implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act in the State. “Government is serious about putting an end to the sale of adulterated food items in the State and has decided to implement food safety laws strictly,” he said.
“Officials of food safety department conducted special raids in Vijayawada town in December last and collected 65 samples of ghee, oils, dals and spices and took stringent action against the traders involved in the sale of adulterated items,” he informed.
The Health minister agreed that the government was not able to implement the Food Safety Act effectively due to shortage of staff.
Steps to curb adulteration
 AP Govt contemplating to set up fast track courts to deal with food adulteration cases

•  Food safety officers to be appointed in all the mandals to curb the use of adulterated food items
•  Govt to make it mandatory for fruit traders to register with the concerned Dept
•  266 cases booked, Rs 1.65 cr fine collected in the last three months from erring traders

Hefty Penalties

•  In case of substandard food, fine up to Rs 5 lakh under Food Safety and Standards Act
•  Misbranded food, fine up to Rs 3 lakh
•  Misleading advertisement, fine up to Rs 10 lakh
•  Unsafe food, imprisonment for a period of 6 months to 6 years and fine up to Rs 10 lakh
•  In case of unsafe food resulting in death or injury, Rs 5 lakh compensation

Fast food and health

The Government had imposed a ban on the sale of Maggi noodles following the detection of lead whose level was higher than what is permissible. While such stringent action is welcome, it throws up the problem of fast food in the larger context. Big companies produce unhealthy food like pizza, candies, and soda. Such items contain a high component of fat and sugar, but are low in terms of essential nutrients. Extensive marketing campaigns are undertaken to attract the people, school children in particular, to consume food that is potentially harmful. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes, heart problems, cancer and chronic respiratory ailments account for a large number of deaths every year. Unhealthy diet, resulting in overweight and obesity, can drive a person quicker to death. A nutritious diet can check the rate of mortality.
The big companies target school children to expand the market of harmful food items. They place advertisements in the course of children’s programmes. Cartoon characters are printed on the boxes that contain these items. Free samples are distributed in schools. Promotional campaigns such as sponsoring school events are undertaken. Altogether, it is a picture of fun and games and the harmful effects of such food are concealed. Children are particularly vulnerable and tend to suffer from excessive fat and malnutrition. They are susceptible to health problems if they miss out on essential elements in their diet.
The Government is aware of the negative impact. The tax on soft drinks was increased in the last budget to curb the spread of such food. In parallel, the Government also wants to attract FDI. Coca Cola has promised to invest $ 5 billion. This investment will generate a demand for bottles, transport, and labour. Thus the Government is reluctant to regulate these companies, fearing loss of investment and a downturn in the economy. But economic benefits of large companies are just one side of the story. If the consumption of fast food leads to sickness and death, the loss to the economy can be enormous.
Going by WHO’s projections, India will suffer a loss of national income from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, amounting to $ 336.6 billion in terms of purchasing power. This means that gains to the economy from the entry of big companies are small in comparison to the loss from the deterioration of public health. And yet the Government is pushing for such investments because the benefits from the setting up of such factories are directly visible, while the losses from deterioration of health are “invisible.”
People are shortsighted like the Government. According to economic theory, the consumer knows how to maximize his welfare. We must assume that his welfare is enhanced by the consumption of pizza and carbonated drinks if he chooses to buy them. It is forgotten though that a condition underlying this economic theory is of “informed” choice. It is assumed that the consumer is aware of the harm that his health can suffer by the consumption of fast food. This is the crux of the problem. The companies launch large campaigns to communicate the benefits from expanded choice, good ambience of the restaurants and quick energy obtained from the consumption of fast food. But the harm caused by obesity and malnutrition are not mentioned. Thus the consumer is surreptitiously led to believe that his welfare will be enhanced by the consumption of such food, while actually his welfare gets undermined.
Government intervention can rectify such situations. For example, advertisements for liquor and cigarettes are banned. The idea being that people do not realise the negative impact of consumption. Therefore, the Government should step in as a trustee of people’s health and act accordingly. Some people might wish to consume more liquor but the Government says ‘no’ and thus dissuades them from the damaging consumption of liquor and tobacco. In the same way, it is imperative for the Government to step in and dissuade the consumers from consuming fast food.
Many developing countries have formulated rules to prevent such advertising aimed at school children. Costa Rica has banned chips, cookies, candy and carbonated sodas from elementary and high schools. Mexico has barred schools from serving or selling sugary sodas, juices or processed snacks; and has directed that all tacos, burritos and salads are to be prepared with low fat content. In Peru, only health food can be sold in school cafeterias. Philippines has prohibited the sale of carbonated drinks, sugar-based synthetic or artificial flavoured juices, junk food and any food product that may be detrimental to the child’s health. Only items that are rich in nutrients, such as root crops, noodles, rice and corn products, seasonal fruit and vegetables and fortified food products labeled as “rich in protein, energy, vitamins and minerals, milk, shakes and juices prepared from fruit and vegetables” are allowed to be sold.
The Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets the standards for foods that are sold. The ban on Maggi noodles was imposed because the amount of lead was found to be in excess of these standards. But the role of FSSAI is restricted to ensuring safety of the food items. It is like ensuring that the paper used in the manufacture of cigarettes does not contain any poisonous material. FSSAI does not have the mandate to assess the impact of fast food, let alone regulate the marketing campaigns that are geared to promote these items. The Government must enact a law to regulate the manufacture, sale and marketing of fast food. We need to go beyond the marketing campaigns in schools and regulate the entire economic system in relation to fast food.
The writer is former Professor of Economics at IIM Bangalore.

Mobile Kitchens Upgrade Street Food in Kerala (Foodie Trail-Kerala)

For a while now, street food has been passe in most middle-class and upper-middle-class households in Kerala. But lately, it's making its way back on to their dining tables. One reason is the way street food has undergone a transformation and the latest fad is the mobile kitchens that appear when dusk sets in on the main roads in cities across the state.
There are more than 150 such mobile kitchens which do business till 11 p m in the state with most concentrating in the 14 district headquarters of the state. These mobile kitchens are modified vehicles, mostly tempo travellers, from which all the seats are removed and it's just the driver's section that remains from the original.
While the concept has been around in other parts of the country, notably in north India, Syed Mohammed claims to have pioneered the transformation in Kerala. Thus, as dusk falls, his mobile kitchen arrives in front of a leading foreign bank, situated a stone's throw from the Kerala governor's residence in this capital city.
"This is my 14th year. This vehicle which I use is modified and we have a state of the art kitchen behind the drivers cabin. It has been beautifully done using different material to keep it very neat and clean. We have made a makeshift water tank that's fixed at the bottom. All the water that my clients use to wash their hands is collected in the tank. At the end of the day, we empty the water on my land," noted Mr. Mohammed.
The mobile vans have an extended menu which mostly includes traditional dishes like the popular thattu dosha (the smaller version of the regular one), chappaties, parottas, idiappom, appam. Some even offer fried rice, while omelettes and bull's-eye (fried eggs, sunny side up) are the most sought after ones.
The curries on offer include various varieties of beef and chicken and also vegetable dishes.
"I am a regular at this eating joint as I have found it very tasty, besides being reasonably priced. If the very same dish that I have from here is eaten at a hotel in the city, I have to pay a minimum of 30 percent more. What I understand is that these mobile vans have very little overheads and what they save on that is passed on to people like me," said John Thomas a post-graduate student in Kottayam who is a regular customer at a mobile kitchen.
Illustratively, four pieces of chicken fry and a couple of rotis would cost Rs.70. An egg curry with a couple of rotis would cost Rs.30.
Sreekumar, a parotta maker at a mobile kitchen in Kochi. said they start around 7 pm and serve curries and other eats.
"Once we are here in the road, we start working on the parottas and make the dosas. All the fries (chicken and beef) are done inside the mobile kitchen, while the curries are all prepared at our home kitchen. We use environmentally-friendly material, which include plantain leaves (placed on steel plates), paper cups for water and also paper plates. We also provide mineral water," noted Sreekumar. "The waste is also collected and we use it in our biogas plant," he added.
The Food and Safety Commissioner is the watchdog for these mobile kitchens. Its commissioner, T.V. Anupama said the mobile kitchens are classified as street vendors.
"These vehicle kitchens have to pay an annual fee of Rs.2,000 ($30). Our officials conduct surprise checks at these eateries and any lapses connected to hygiene invite penalties. In December (2015), we realised a total fine of Rs.288,000 across the state," Anupama told.
With the watchdog doing a good job, good quality food at cheap rates, hygiene being of prime importance and ease of doing business with practically no taxes to be paid by the kitchen owners, more and more mobile kitchens are certain to hit the roads in the state in the days to come.
"Our business model is to improve the quality of the food as this would lead to more sales. I am quite happy doing this business because I have seven staff members working with me," said Mohammed, who uses an electronic machine to generate a bill, which also serves acts as a token to collect the food.
These mobile kitchens are definitely worth trying when in Kerala!

FSSAI license now mandatory for food units in J&K

Food Safety Dept asks unit holders to obtain registration before March 1
Srinagar, Feb 3
The Food Safety Department has made it mandatory for all Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the State to obtain online registration or license of their establishments for running their business.
Officials told Rising Kashmir that the department has fixed March 1, 2016 as the last date for obtaining license or registration as per the guidelines of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
“All food manufacturers, packers, whole sellers, distributors and sellers, food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, canteens, caterers, food transporters, food storage establishments, food processing units etc will have to obtain online license and registration till March 1 as per FLRS (Food, Licensing and Registration System) of FSSAI,” Controller Drugs and Food Control Organization, Lotika Khajuria told Rising Kashmir.
She said the action would be taken against the operators which failed to obtain license or registration on time under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
“All the business people could contact the Designated Officer or Food Safety Officer of their concerned district for any query,” the Controller said.

DINAMALAR NEWS

காலாவதி உணவு பொருட்கள் அழிப்பு

 

திண் டுக் கல், பிப்.4:
திண் டுக் கல் நகர் பகு தி யில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யி லும், காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் க ளும் விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக உணவு பாது காப்பு துறைக்கு பொது மக் கள் புகார் அளித் த னர். அத ன டிப் ப டை யில் நேற்று திண் டுக் கல் பஸ் நிலை யத் தில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் சாம் இ ளங்கோ தலை மை யில், உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் லாரன்ஸ், செல் வம் ஆகி யோர் ஆய்வு மேற் கொண் ட னர். அப் போது கடை க ளில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் இருந்த எண் ணெய் பல கா ரங் கள், இனிப்பு வகை க ளில் தேதி குறிப் பி டா மல் இருப் பது தெரி ய வந் தது. பெரும் பா லான கடை க ளில் காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், குடி நீர் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந் த தும் கண்டு பிடிக் கப் பட் டது. மதுரை, திருச்சி, நத் தம், கரூர் உள் ளிட்ட பஸ் நிறுத்த பகு தி க ளில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். அப் போது காலா வ தி யான 200 லிட் டர் குளிர் பா னம் மற் றும் 60 கிலோ சுகா தா ர மற்ற உணவு பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

அப் போது கடை க ளில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் இருந்த எண் ணெய் பல கா ரங் கள், இனிப்பு வகை க ளில் தேதி குறிப் பி டா மல் இருப் பது தெரி ய வந் தது. பெரும் பா லான கடை க ளில் காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், குடி நீர் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந் த தும் கண்டு பிடிக் கப் பட் டது. மதுரை, திருச்சி, நத் தம், கரூர் உள் ளிட்ட பஸ் நிறுத்த பகு தி க ளில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். அப் போது காலா வ தி யான 200 லிட் டர் குளிர் பா னம் மற் றும் 60 கிலோ சுகா தா ர மற்ற உணவு பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.
பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட குளிர் பா னங் களை பொது மக் கள் முன் னி லை யில் அதி கா ரி கள் கீழே ஊற்றி அழித் த னர். உணவு பொருட் களை பிணா யில் ஊற்றி அழித் த னர்.