Not adding potassium bromate in breads: Bakery owners

Mysuru: Bread makers in Mysuru are upset over the reports that banned and 'deadly' substance - potassium bromate is being used to make bread as it has hit their business by 50% in the last two weeks. 

Hotel, Sweets and Bakery Owners Association members are making a last-ditch to woo their customers back saying consumers can visit their work places to check the process of making bread and also can test their products in any labs including city-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). 

The reports have kept its consumers away from buying bread from bakeries. This percentage is little higher in upscale localities as they have totally stopped eating it. 

Krishna Bakery, Kuvempunagar, proprietor Anand told TOI that almost half of his customers have stopped buying bread. This is the first such situation he is facing. "We don't use any chemical to prepare bread or bun. Maida, sugar, refined oil and yeast is used to make them. We'll buy the best quality maida from well-known manufacturer, he claims. 

Mohammed Nissar who is the secretary of the association said, "Preservatives are used in making bread or bun to improve their shelf life. Branded makers of bread may use them as they have to keep bread for nearly a week till they're sold. The bread we make has a shelf life only of less than 48 hours or two days as no preservative is added to it. We make bread depending on the daily demand." 

"We provide quality bread and its products to our customers and none of local bread makers use any chemical substance like potassium bromate. Customers can visit shops to check how bread is made and what are the raw materials used. If they have any doubt, let them test the product in any labs or CFTRI for their satisfaction. Controversial report has hardly hit the business in Mysuru. We, the bakers see this as an effort to harass bread makers. Let the government fill in the vacancies of Food Safety Officers to conduct test of raw materials in factories as more than 80% posts are vacant in Mysuru," said Narayanagowda C, president, Association of Hotel, Bakery and Sweet shop owners. 

Potassium Bromate is used during the process of milling maida to claim their product is whiter and better than others. Some bakers or manufacturers of raw materials may add the agent for dough texture improvement to get white and soft bread, Ram Rajshekaran, director of Central Food Technological Research Institute said.

This is done to have a guaranteed shelf life of bread. "If maida is whiter, the price will be higher as it is believed that maida which is whiter is of better quality. Hence, its makers use chemical substance to make it white," he added. 

"Chemical substance like potassium bromate, however is used but it should be well within the permissible limit. It is the job of Food Safety Officers to ensure that the substance is not used beyond permissible limits as per the standards of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Officers have to collect samples and send it for analysis on regular basis and as and when it is needed. Some of the chemicals used in raw materials will be 'deadly' and hence they're supposed to send samples for analysis without fail," he said.

He said either CFTRI has received samples for analysis or any food safety officers have contacted them in this regard.

Court: Hire more food inspectors

HC to TS: Appoint food safety officers in 90 days

HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday directed both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to take steps for filling the posts of food safety officers (FSOs) and other required staff in three months. Further, it wanted both the states to double the number of existing posts of FSOs in the near future.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice P Naveen Rao was dealing with a PIL case which was taken up suo moto based on a news item published in a vernacular daily last year on rampant usage of calcium carbide chemical for artificial ripening of fruits in AP and Telangana.

Following the court direction, principal secretary to medical and health of AP state Poonam Malakondaiah appeared before the bench on Wednesday. The bench earlier ordered for appearance of the official before it to explain the reasons for delay in filling the vacant posts in the food safety wing.  During the course of hearing, the bench felt that a constant vigil on adulterators is required to prevent food adulterations and also use of chemicals in preserving foods and ripening of fruits keeping in view of safety and health of future generations.

Advocate general of AP Dammalapati Srinivas, appearing for the senior official, submitted that the government has issued a GO to fill vacancies of 9 assistant food controllers, 26 food safety officers, 13 office superintendents and 13 junior assistant which are vacant in 13 districts of the state.

The bench asked about the time to be taken for filling the above sanctioned vacancies.

In reply, the AG said that the AP Public Service Commission (APPSC) has to fill the vacancies once the authorization letter is sent to the commission by the government.

Meanwhile, the special counsel of Telangana A Sanjeev Kumar said that they had already authorised the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) for filling the posts of FSOs and other vacancies of the department.

After hearing the counsels of both the states, the bench said that as both the commissions are not parties to the present case, it would request both the commissions to complete the recruitment within three months if both the governments fulfil all formalities in authorising the commissions on the issue.

The bench posted the matter after six weeks for further hearing.

Find out if the honey you consume is pure – Here's how!

New Delhi: Not sure, whether or not the honey you got from the supermarket is pure? Unfortunately, adulteration of pure honey with synthetic honey has become more prevalent nowadays.

As per a report from Times of India, recently tests conducted at the regional analytical laboratory in Kakkanad in Kerala showed that the product available in the market had colouring agents and additives.

Food safety officials found the presence of four colouring additives -tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmozine and ponceau 4R - in the sample that were collected from different shops in the city.

The adulteration was found in ATK Food Product with its address in Manickamanga lam in Kalady, although officials believe the address is wrong.

The tests were conducted following complaints regarding the widespread use of colouring additives in honey.

While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows synthetic colours up to 100 PPM (parts per million) in a single of combination of products such as bread, chocolates and biscuits, adding colouring additives to honey is prohibited, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011.

Here are some properties that will help you distinguish pure honey and adulterated honey:

Stickiness 

Your honey is pure if not sticky when rubbed between fingers.

Thickness

Pure honey is fairly thick and takes time to move from one side of the jar to the other, whereas fake honey is light and runny.

Taste

The taste of pure honey goes away in a matter of minutes, whereas it remains for a little longer in fake honey due to presence of sugar.

Smell

Pure honey will posses a mild smell or the actual scent of the flowers from where the nectar is collected. However, a fake honey will have none or sour smell.

Dissolving method

Pure honey doesn't get dissolved in water, but settled as a solid body at the bottom of the glass. Whereas fake honey stays mixed up and gets dissolved in water right away.

Heating

Pure honey gets caramelized quickly and doesn't form foam, whereas fake honey becomes bubbly and never caramelizes.

Loose edible oil on slippery slope

Voluntary consumer organisation, Consumer Voice, has found adulteration in loose edible oil sold in the open market across the country.

Laboratory tests on loose edible oil of eight varieties namely Mustard, sesame, coconut, sunflower, palmolein, soyabean, groundnut and cottonseed conducted by the Consumer Voice has found 85% of 1,015 samples collected from 15 States including Delhi were adulterated.

Test base

The base of the tests was both on quality and safety parameters as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and samples were tested at the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratory, the Consumer Voice in a statement said.

Adulteration in oil can cause diseases like cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage, cardiac arrest and epidemic dropsy.

The 15 States covered for the samples collections include Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The Consumer Voice says as per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations 2011), no person is allowed to sell, expose to sale, distribute, offer for a sale, dispatch or deliver to anyone edible oils in loose form.

Public interest

The State government, however, in public interest, can exempt any or all edible oils from this regulation for a specific period.

“The main objective behind these tests made by Consumer Voice was to draw conclusive evidence based on scientific testing that loose edible oils sold are prone to various kinds of adulterations,” said Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Voice.

“This is true for all varieties of edible oil and cuts across all States where adulteration is done unhindered with no control by State FDA’s.”

The Consumer Voice collected samples of two largest selling varieties of oils in loose form from each State and tested them for visibility, odour, suspended particles, argemone oil and unsaponifiable matter.

The Consumer NGO found 85% samples of coconut oil, 74.07% samples of cottonseed oil, 74% sesame oil and 71.77% samples of mustard oil adulterated.

DINAKARAN NEWS

Study finds ramant adulteration of loose edible oil sold across country

NEW DELHI: It's the large section of poor buying loose edible oil across the country, who are at risk as they consume the adulterated kitchen item, according to a recent study conducted by a consumer organisation. 

The laboratory tests carried out by Consumer Voice after lifting 1,015 samples of loose edible oil from 15 states found that nearly 85% of coconut oil samples failed to meet the specified norms. Similarly, 74.1% of the cotton seed oil samples, 74% of sesame oil and 72% of mustard oil samples could not pass the tests. The pass percentage was better in the case of soyabean oil and sun flower oil. 

According to the findings, out of the 230 soyabean oil samples only 46 failed and in the case of sunflower oil only 34 out of the 206 samples could not pass the test.

The samples were collected from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the organisation said. The sale of loose oil is banned, though it's sold across the country. As per regulations, a state government, in public interest, can allow any or all edible oils to be sold for a specific period. 

The voluntary consumer organisation said that the base of the tests was both on quality and safety parameters as per food safety and standards regulator, FSSAI and the tests were carried at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratory. "Adulteration in oil can cause diseases like cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage cardiac arrest and epidemic epidemic dropsy. Mineral oil in some edible oils causes' cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage. Increase in serum cholesterol are other life risk diseases," the consumer organisation said.

While advocating that sale of loose edible oil be banned it has suggested FSSAI to allow in small packets of 100 ml and 200 ml so that it reaches to everyone.

Vigilance director visits Food Safety Commissioner Office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau director Jacob Thomas visited the food safety commissionerate as part of understanding anomalies in issuing of food safety licenses.

Jacob Thomas said that his visit was as part of the formulation of creation and implementation of creative vigilance, that he has envisioned while taking charge as vigilance director. "The visit was a part of creative vigilance strategy which is a basket of measures and methods," Jacob Thomas said. 

He held discussions with food safety commissioner G R Gokul and other officials. He also sought the details of the licenses that were cancelled by food safety commissioner in the last three years. The vigilance had received complaints in 2012, 13 and 14 alleging anomalies in issuance of food safety licenses. While the complaint received in 2012 stands closed, the two other complaints are pending with the agency.

It is reliable learnt that Jacob Thomas also sought details of the actions implemented in the food safety commissioner's office. While Biju Prabhakar was food safety commissioner, he had sent a detailed letter to the vigilance about the issues to be addressed in the department. On the basis of the letter, Jacob Thomas, who was then in the vigilance, had sent a detailed proposal to the government to be implemented in the food safety sector. His visit on Wednesday was also part of inspecting the steps that have been implemented on the basis of his recommendations.

Steps against artificial ripening: TS, AP make submissions

The division bench said recruitment for FSO should be done soon

A Division bench of the Hyderabad High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice P. Naveen Rao on Wednesday took on record the submission made by the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments that they had taken steps to fill the posts of Food Safety Officer (FSO) and felt that the respective service commissions would expedite the recruitment process.

The bench was dealing with the cases pertaining to usage of carbide gas for ripening fruits and its damage to health of citizens.

On Wednesday morning Poonam Malakondiah, Principal Secretary to the Medical Department of the AP government, appeared in person and submitted proceedings.

Vacancy

As per these proceedings, the AP government had announced nine assistant food controllers, 26 food safety officers, 13 office superintendents and 13 junior assistant which were vacant in 13 districts of AP.

The APPSC had been asked to fill the posts. Similar submission was made by the Telangan government. The bench took on record the submissions made the two State governments.

The bench felt that the recruitment be done expeditiously within three months and the number of posts increased, as health of the citizens was involved.

The case would be listed after three weeks.

Food adulterator penalised Rs 3 lakh

IMPHAL, Jun 8: Adjudicating Officer (Food Safety)/Additional District Magistrate, Imphal East has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on the proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores for misbranding and adulterating Kaziranga tea.

The proprietor has been identified as Ajay Prasad (35) s/o Hargovind Prasad of Khurai Telipati in Imphal East.

According to an order passed by Adjudicating Officer/ADM, Imphal East yesterday, Ajay Prasad has been found violating Section 26 (2) (ii) of the Food Standards Act, 2006 read with Section 3 (1) (zf) (A) & (B) of the said Act and Regulations 2.10.1 (1) of Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 which is punishable under Section 52 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The order mentioned that owner/proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores must deposit the penalty amount to the State Health Department within seven days from the date of passing the order failing which the amount would be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

The order further said that if M/s Ajay Stores wishes to continue its business, the firm should get registered/licensed at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with O/o the Designated Officer (Food Safety Administration)/Food Safety Officer, Imphal East.

The order further said that once the firm is registered, the ban imposed on them would be lifted under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations, 2011.

Samples of Kaziranga tea were collected from M/s Ajay Stores on April 16 last and analysed by the Food Analyst of Public Health Food Testing Laboratory, Medical Directorate, RD Wing complex, Lamphel.

The report given by the Food Analyst regarding the samples said, “The sample bearing Code No and Serial No 8/DO/IE/31 of Imphal East does not conform to the standard and is misbranded as per Food Safety and Standard Regulation 2011.”

The Food Safety officers and police personnel, who raided M/s Ajay Stores also came across the machine used by its proprietor Ajay Prasad in adulterating Kaziranga tea with other low grade tea.

The Kangleipak Students’ Association had busted the food adulteration case.