Health department fails to meet food safety targets

Health department officials continue to adopt a casual approach towards the monthly targets set by the food safety branch as all districts have completely failed to achieve targets.

Out of the state-wide target for collection of 1,740 samples set by the health department in January, only 816 samples were collected by authorities in the districts. Of these 46% collected samples, 25% tested ‘fail’ and were declared unfit for consumption.

Districts blatantly failing to achieve targets in January include Jalandhar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Patiala, Moga, Mansa and Muktsar.

Jalandhar health department was given a target of 150 food samples, but it collected only 75 samples, out of which 12 were found unfit. Ludhiana health department had a target of 250 food samples, but it collected only 87, out of which 40 failed to pass the food safety test. Similarly, 41 samples were collected by Bathinda health department out of a target of 100.

It is not the first time that of ficials are showing apathy towards food safety as in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2015, out of 15,560 target samples, Jalandhar had collected 9,936, out of which 28% samples tested failed.

Moreover, the Food Safety and Standards Act has the provision of compulsory registration for all food businesses to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, but districts have been lagging behind in ensuring complete registration.

On March 6, 2014, online registration of food businesses was begun. Jalandhar food safety administration issued 434 licences and did 2,124 registrations of food businesses till February 26 this year. Businesses with a turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh are issued licenses.

Sources in the health department said only milk, milk products, bakery products, sweets and other such samples were being collected as per guidelines issued by higher officials.

They further said even though senior officials had fixed a minimum target to be completed every month, apathetic officials failed to meet the targets.

They added that most drives were undertaken on the heels of Diwali only when the sale of sweets shot up and manufacturers prepared items in bulk with complete disregard of hygiene and food safety.

A health department official said the sampling drive against adulterated food products was being hampered due to interference of political leaders. He added that huge workload and shortage of staff were other reasons behind the failure in achieving targets.

Cop actions on gutkha illegal: High Court

Aurangabad: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court has said raids and actions taken by the police against people possessing and storing gutkha were illegal.

Quashing the police action against some applicants and petitioners for possessing and storing gutkha after carrying raids under various sections of the IPC, the court on Friday observed, "The food safety officers were not prohibited from proceedings against the applicants/petitioners under provisions of chapter X of the Food and Safety Standard (FSS) Act, 2006."

It said, "Since all these criminal applications and criminal writ petitions are taken up for final hearing by consent of all the parties and as the point raised in all these cases is more or less similarly placed, they are disposed of by this common judgment. For the purpose of disposal of the cases, we the bench utilised facts of Writ Petition No. 1027 of 2015 as representative."

The petitioners had approached the high court through lawyers including R R Mantri, Rameshwar Totla and Rahul Totla, while the government was represented by additional public prosecutor Archana Gondhalekar.

As many as 13 criminal writ petitions and applications were filed in the Aurangabad bench of the HC, challenging the police actions such as conducting raids and seizing of gutkha and pan masala in different parts of the state.

The food security officials had subsequently initiated registration of offences against the petitioners under sections 372, 373, 188 and 328 of the IPC.

While passing the order, the bench of Justice A V Nirgude and Justice Indira K Jain said the police action in these cases were illegal. The bench observed, "By no stretch of imagination, manufacturing and possessing gutkha and pan masala would amount to administering poison."

It added, "The commissioner (FDA) opined that its sale is not in public interest. This opinion is based on various reports, but not the report of the food analyst appointed under the provisions of the FSS Act. Therefore, it cannot be said that gutkha and pan masala are stupefying, intoxicating or unwholesome drug. Besides, offering these items of food would not amount to intention to cause hurt. The provisions of Section 328 of the Indian Penal Code to the present cases is therefore impermissible."

The bench noted the contention of the petitions that "on May 14, 2015, the petitioner was found transporting large quantities of pouches of tobacco, which is called 'gutkha' in common parlance, pouches of pan-masala in a truck. The truck was stopped by the food security officer, Osmanabad. The officer not only seized the goods but even lodged a police complaint, alleging that the petitioner had violated the government notification (dated May 15, 2014), prohibiting certain acts pertaining to gutkha/pan masala and thereby committed offence punishable under sections 26 and 30 of the Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006."

Five years after Fukushima nuclear disaster, India puts Japanese food imports off radioactive scanner

While India has decided to stop scanning Japanese food imports after five years of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, US, Germany, Turkey, Russia and Australia still scans all products coming in from Japan.

Food products from Japan that run the risk of being contaminated by radioactive substance will now get an easy access into India as the Centre has decided to discontinue the scanning of these items. Even after five years of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, reports indicate that food products from Japan carry the risk of radioactive contamination that can lead to various forms of cancer. Several other countries are still following a strict mechanism to keep a check on Japanese food imports, but the Indian government feels otherwise.

The imports' division of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Union Health Ministry has recently issued an order saying, "The advisory dated 15.03.2011 issued regarding monitoring of food articles imported from Japan for radioactive contamination, issued earlier as a temporary measure in 2011, is hereby withdrawn." The order has been conveyed to the customs department and the food safety commissioners of all states.

The abrupt end to the practice has, however, alarmed experts. "The Indian government should not have stopped the screening because the kind of nuclear disaster that happened in Japan can still have its effects. Five years is not enough time to decide that food products from Japan are free from radiation and will be safe in the future," said a senior radiation oncologist based in a government hospital in Delhi.

Items like sea food, vegetable seeds, confectionery, fruits and vegetables are imported to India from Japan.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FSSAI, told Mail Today that the screening of food items was unnecessarily delaying the process of imports from Japan. "All the food products from Japan were under strict surveillance for the past five years for any radioactive contamination. However, no food product was found to be contaminated with any radioactive substance. So, we decided to stop the monitoring because it is not required anymore," Agarwal said.

The move by the Indian government can be seen as an attempt to bolster the already strong business and cultural ties with Japan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Japan in 2014 and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe returned the favour with a Delhi visit in 2015 - putting in place a new chapter of Indo-Japan ties.

The withdrawal of scanning of food items from Japan comes even as the United States Food and Drug Administration continues to monitor Japanese food imports for any likely radioactive presence. Along similar lines, countries like Germany, Turkey and Russia also scan all imports from Japan. There are also checks on vessels and containers from Japan for any radioactive contamination by the US, the Netherlands and the EU. Australia, which imports automobiles from Japan, also keeps a strict check on radiation. In March 2015, radiation was found in sample of green tea imported from Japan to the US. A study by Stanford University and Stony Brook University on radioactive levels in the Pacific Ocean found high levels of radioactive contamination in Bluefin tuna caught off the shores of California.

Recently, a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the US stated that freshwater fish and ocean bottom dwellers around Fukushima are at a higher risk of radioactive contamination compared to most other types of ocean fish in the same area.

In 2011 a massive earthquake in Japan lead to radioactive leaks from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants. Radioactive isotopes were released from the reactor containment vessels and discharged into the sea. Trace quantities of radioactive particles from the incident, including iodine-131 and caesium-134/137, have since been detected around the world.

Caesium-137 has a half-life of about 30.17 years and if enters human body it can cause cellular damage and potentially lead to cancer. "Half life of Caesium-137 is around 30 years which means it takes 30 years for the radioactivity of the Caesium-137 isotope to fall to half its original value," says a Delhi-based senior radiation specialist.

Fortification of Milk to Combat Malnutrition

The milk, which you buy off the shelves, is going to be fortified with Vitamin A and D to address the deficiencies among the Indian masses. Milk cooperatives across the country have agreed to the proposal and the standards will soon be notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The move, which the government says will help combat malnutrition, is part of the plan to fortify major food substances like wheat, rice, edible oil and other food products. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of an inter-ministerial group comprising the ministries of Health, Women and Child Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Human Resource Development. “The milk cooperatives were given a presentation by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, and now the food ministry is preparing the detailed guidelines,” sources said. The FSSAI will now notify the standards. The proposal was made by a group of secretaries, working on health and education, before the Prime Minister’s Office in the beginning of January. Wheat is to be fortified with iron, rice with iron and vitamin D, milk and edible oils with vitamin A.

The recommendation also talks about double fortification of salt with iodine, as it was felt that the present standards were not enough. 

How safe is your milk to drink? Experts caution against contamination

A cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru. Express files A cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru. Express files

India is today the world’s largest producer of milk thanks to the white revolution. Yet more than two thirds of the milk in India does not meet the food safety standards. Adulteration of milk is rampant, a startling six per cent of the samples tested in 2015 by the Ministry of Health had presence of ‘detergents’ in them confirming that ‘synthetic milk’ is a huge problem.

For a lay person trying to differentiate between contaminated and pure milk is a tall order and only specific chemical tests can reveal the truth. Contaminated milk can be a huge health hazard especially when it has been laced with urea, detergents and other toxic chemicals. With the festival of Holi round the corner, it is time to be alert about the dangers of milk contamination.

Now a cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru, which is a part of the gigantic Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This kit, which even an untrained person can use at home, helps within minutes detect contamination of six common adulterants in milk.

Recently as part of another initiative, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan unveiled another dedicated system for the detection of adulteration and analysis of milk, developed by Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani.

According to Vardhan, “The gravity of the situation had been such that the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) identified the problem of detecting adulteration in the milk within three minutes at Rs 4 or less, as one of the grand challenge areas being considered under the ‘Atal Innovation Mission’.

In this backdrop, the Vardhan appreciated the initiative of CSIR for developing and deploying this technology solution, ‘Ksheer-Scanner’, which instantaneously detects the above- identified adulterants in milk. It is a low-cost portable system with user-friendly features. It enables detection of contaminants in just 40-45 seconds at the per sample cost of less than 50 paise.

Earlier, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh while speaking at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana said, “India stands first on global milk product scenario. Milk production has been increased from 137.68 million tonne in 2013-14 to 146.31 million tonne in 2014-15. For the first time there is a record enhancement of milk production as 6.3 per cent whereas on international scenario there is only an increment of 2.2 percent enhancement of milk production."

Is your milk safe to drink? Containing contamination in milk

Now a cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru, which is a part of the gigantic DRDO

NEW DELHI: India is today the world's largest producer of milk thanks to the white revolution. Yet more than two thirds of the milk in India does not meet the food safety standards. Adulteration of milk is rampant, a startling six per cent of the samples tested in 2015 by the Ministry of Health had presence of 'detergents' in them confirming that 'synthetic milk' is a huge problem. 

For a lay person trying to differentiate between contaminated and pure milk is a tall order and only specific chemical tests can reveal the truth. Contaminated milk can be a huge health hazard especially when it has been laced with urea, detergents and other toxic chemicals. With the festival of Holi round the corner, it is time to be alert about the dangers of milk contamination. 

Now a cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru, which is a part of the gigantic Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This kit, which even an untrained person can use at home, helps within minutes detect contamination of six common adulterants in milk. 

Recently as part of another initiative, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan unveiled another dedicated system for the detection of adulteration and analysis of milk, developed by Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani. 

According to Vardhan, "The gravity of the situation had been such that the National Institute for Transforming India ( NITI Aayog) identified the problem of detecting adulteration in the milk within three minutes at Rs 4 or less, as one of the grand challenge areas being considered under the 'Atal Innovation Mission'. 

In this backdrop, Vardhan appreciated the initiative of CSIR for developing and deploying this technology solution, 'Ksheer-Scanner', which instantaneously detects the above - identified adulterants in milk. It is a low-cost portable system with user-friendly features. It enables detection of contaminants in just 40-45 seconds at the per sample cost of less than 50 paise. 

Earlier, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh while speaking at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana said, "India stands first on global milk product scenario. Milk production has been increased from 137.68 million tonne in 2013-14 to 146.31 million tonne in 2014-15. For the first time there is a record enhancement of milk production as 6.3 per cent whereas on international scenario there is only an increment of 2.2 percent enhancement of milk production." 

This is a spectacular achievement for the country which in 1950 was producing a mere 17 million tonnes of milk. An almost nine-fold increase in milk production in a little over 60 years. 

However, what is most embarrassing for the country is a 2015 admission by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare J P Nadda that "the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had conducted a nationwide survey on milk adulteration in 2011. A total of 1791 samples were drawn from 33 states and were tested in the government laboratories. 68.4 per cent of the samples were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards. Out of these, in 46.8 per cent samples, milk found to be sub-standard in respect of fat and solid not fat (SNF) contents. Another 44.69 per cent of the samples (548) in respect of skim milk powder were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards where presence of glucose was detected in 477 samples. A total of 103 samples (5.75 per cent) were found to be adulterated with detergents." 

"Milk adulteration is particularly high during the festival season, when the demand peaks but production cannot be increased," explains M C Pandey, a scientist at the DFRL who has helped develop the milk testing kit. 

The kit developed by the defence institute uses just a few chemicals and strips of paper dipped in a different chemical. A change in colour of the milk or a change in colour of the paper indicates the presence of a contaminant. When detergents are present in the milk the colour of test turns to green, yellow or blue and Pandey says the test can detect as low a value as 0.5 per cent of the contaminant. 

Especially in north India, a lot of milk during the festival season is made using detergents and urea. Called 'synthetic milk', it resembles milk but can be very harmful. Every day washing powder and refined oil are mixed and then diluted to make it look and have the consistency of real milk. 

Scientists at this nondescript lab in Mysuru developed the kit at a mere cost of Rs 9 lakh and the box containing 320 strips for testing 8 different contaminants with the cost of each test strip coming to just about Rs 2. 

Pandey says all the other milk-testing kits require sophisticated laboratory settings but this simple strip based test helps Indian soldiers test supplies of fresh milk even at remote locations.

Occasionally to make milk look fresh, some 'neutralisers' are added. Using the strip test the contaminated milk becomes pink in colour. If the milk contains urea the test becomes yellow. 

The technology for the milk testing kit has been transferred to a private company Pearl Corporation says Pandey who says the DRDOsold the technology at a royalty of Rs 1.25 crore annually, this according to him marks the success of this technology. 

Pandey explains this kit should be very helpful to plug ingress of contaminated milk at source. He suggests if such tests become common then milk when it is collected by suppliers at the level of the households could be tested and if found contaminated it should be rejected right at the doorstep of a small dairy supplier. 

Rather than a large consignment of milk being rejected for contamination at the level of a milk plant, where hundreds of tons of milk gets collected for further processing. 

Singh says, "Dairy play an important role in agriculture domain of the country with the 3.9 per cent contribution to the national gross product. It is not only a substantial source of livelihood but also most credible basis to ensure the national food requirement. It is the repercussion of the growth in dairying that the growth rate of agricultural sector has been 4 per cent unabatedly. 

"Today we have been able to provide on an average 302 gm per person per day milk in the country which is more than the minimum required recommended by the WHO." 

So even as India feels proud of being the number one producer of milk in the world having outpaced US, China and Brazil, the large-scale contamination of milk remains a big blemish for the White Revolution. 

Towards that Nadda says "the menace of food adulteration and particularly milk adulteration needs to be eliminated."

Colourful and Tasty but They can Bite You Back

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chilli has a special place in our food habits, saving some our favourite dishes from blandness. But there is an unnoticed and dangerous side. According to a report released by the Kerala Agricultural University, the chilli powder we get in attractive packets contains pesticides that harm our health.

The report discovered that various spices and condiments brands have been selling products with heavy pesticide residues. Pesticide Residue Analytical and Research Laboratory of the university found at least four different types of pesticides in samples taken from branded red chilli powder sold at various super markets in Kottayam, Changanassery, Alappuzha, Malappuram and Kasargod.

It was found that chilli powder, chilli long dry, crushed chilli, Kashmiri chilli powder, cumin seed , cumin powder, sambar powder, tea powder etc contain pesticide residue. The pesticide limits prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for food products is not enough to keep the menace away.

From the list mentioned in the university report, food safety officials can take action only against those selling contaminated cardamom because of the specific Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) prescribed for it in the spice and condiments category.

“There has been a delay in expanding the list. Many products we have analysed did not have a MRL prescribed. detailed study is required on poisonous residues found,” said Thomas Biju Mathew, professor and head, PRRAL. The report indicates widespread use of pesticides, finding its way into the food cycle. However, enforcement agencies find themselves helpless with no expansion of the list in the Safety and Standards Rules since 2011.

“MRL limit is fixed after a lot of process. Until the limit is fixed it would be difficult for food safety officials to take action,” said D Sivakumar, Joint Commissioner of Food Safety.

The report has found pesticide residue levels in fruits, vegetables and processed food products. In the vegetable category curry leaves continue to have high pesticide residue. The report found that fruits and cereals collected from market - organic and farm gates - have less pesticide residues.

CSE hails DoEs advisory on fatty food

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has welcomed the move by the Directorate of Education (DoE) about sensitisation on fatty food. 

The Directorate has directed heads of government/ government-aided and recognised unaided schools to sensitize students and parents about the ill-effects of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) through morning assembly, teacher interactive periods, parent-teacher meetings and school activities. 

Citing adverse health effects of fats, saturated fats, transfats, sugar and salt, the Directorate, as part of measures that could be taken, has asked school heads to consider banning the sale of HFSS foods from school canteens. 

It has also mentioned health hazards of excess caffeine through carbonated beverages and energy drinks. 

Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE said, "We welcome Delhi Government's move to ask schools to consider banning junk foods and create awareness about its ill effects." 

"In the absence of mandatory regulations, we hope that schools will act proactively and prohibit junk foods such as carbonated soft drinks, chocolates, chips, etc. in school canteens to promote healthy food habits among school children," he added. 

Besides, CSE has advocated against sale of junk foods, said Bhushan, and produced evidence and research to show the presence of undesirable ingredients in food commonly sold to children and their impact on their health. 

The circular directs school heads to ensure that school canteens sell fresh and healthy foods which are low in fat, sugar and salt. Other suggested measures to create awareness include regular instructions during morning assembly, organizing events like drawing, paintingand spreading the word about healthy fresh food options which are low in fats, salt and sugar. 

Special emphasis is to be put on lower classes, advises the Directorate. Issued in compliance to last year's directions of the High Court of Delhi, the Directorate in addition has asked school heads to read and implement guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). 

Bhushan said, "Earlier, in January this year, CBSE, based on the report of a group constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, had issued a circular to all schools affiliated to it, aiming to limit consumption of junk foods among school children. The FSSAI, also in October2015, had issued 'Draft guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in India'." 

Commonly available HFSS foods or junk foods include carbonated soft drinks, packaged chips/snacks, chocolates, pizza, burger, instant noodles, etc. 

School children are aggressively targeted through celebrity endorsements; promotional campaigns, etc. by companies of these food products. 

"Globally, banning junk foods in schools and nearby is considered an important measure to limit consumption and exposure to children and decrease childhood obesity and other related non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dental problems, etc," added Bhushan.