FOOD SAFETY LATEST: Jul 23, 2016

Jul 23, 2016

Is your food safe? 20% of samples tested in 2015 were adulterated, government says

It looks like the food safety issue is here to stay in India. The problem that first found its ground in the Maggi noodles debacle last year, was soon joined by other ready-to-eat noodles that were dragged into the laboratories for testing. And recently, even our breads and pizza naans have been found to be highly carcinogenic.

In 2015, over 74,010 food samples were tested, out of which, 14,599 samples (19.72%) failed to meet safety standards and were found to be adulterated and misbranded, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare, Faggan Singh Kulaste, said in a response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The Minister's response included comprehensive data of all the food items collected and tested under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 from 2012 to 2015.

For example, in Maharashtra alone, 6,985 food samples were analysed, and 1,162 of them were found to be adulterated last year, while 1,243 samples of the 11,700 tested in Gujarat failed the tests.

In 2013, 72,200 food samples were analysed for adulteration, out of which 13,571 or 18% failed the test, the data showed. In 2012, 14% or 10,380 food samples out of the 69,949 tested, failed the standards' test.

A study by the Centre for Science and Environment said in May this year that 85% of bread and bakery items made in the country, used potassium bromate and potassium iodate, both known carcinogens that have been banned in several countries.

The study revealed that popular brands like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Subway, Mc Donald's, Slice of Italy, and Domino's used these ingredients in their bread-based recipes.

However, a quick look into the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Additives) Regulations, 2011, showed that restaurants were allowed to use these ingredients in their food, till a permissible extent (50 parts per million). With effect from June 20, the use of Potassium Bromate in bread was banned by the authorities.

Answering a question about adulteration of milk and milk products, the Minister said that special cell has been created in the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

“The FSSAI has in the month of April, 2016, distributed rapid milk testing equipment [Electronic Milk Adulteration Tester (EMAT) with Milk Analyser] to three States/UTs i.e. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh on pilot basis.

The Cell is now coordinating with the states to check adulteration of milk and milk products,” the ministry said in a statement.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Corpn. steps up food safety drive

The eateries that had minor problems were issued warning and were fined.

Shops without proper licence will not be allowed to function, says Mayor

The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation will set up a permanent facility to conduct inspections on eateries and food processing units in the city, in the wake of large scale irregularities found during inspections carried out by the Health Department recently.

Mayor Thottathil Raveendran told reporters here on Friday that shops that did not have a proper licence would not be allowed to function.

A set of rules had been prescribed for the eateries with regard to preparation and storage of food, which if found neglected would be severely dealt with, he said.

The Corporation’s health wing along with Food Safety officials had conducted inspections in around 160 eateries in the city, of which three have been issued closure notice as they were found to be operating under unhygienic conditions.

Eateries fined

The eateries that had minor problems were issued warning and were fined. The Corporation has collected Rs.21,000 as fine in the last two days. Roadside food vendors are also under the scanner of the Corporation’s health officials.

Mobile units evicted

All the mobile eateries parked along the Kozhikode Beach Road were evicted during Wednesday’s drive. It was noted that most of them were not licensed.

“Thousands of people come to the beach every evening and they have been taking food from these eateries. From the ice and water they use to the fruits and vegetables as well as oil used for frying, everything was unhygienic. This cannot be allowed, with so many contagious diseases spreading,” the Mayor said.

Health standing committee chairman K.V. Baburaj said a special squad would be formed to conduct flash raids on a regular basis.

“Keeping food items open, usage of industrial ice in eateries and parking mobile eateries on the roadside at night will be strictly prohibited. A health card will be made mandatory for employees of all eateries and baking units. They should undergo timely check-up and should be granted leave from duty when they are sick. We cannot allow people with contagious diseases to prepare food that thousands of people eat,” Mr. Baburaj said.

Closure notice issued to three eateries in city found operating under unhygienic conditions

Deadly cocktail hits Indian palate

Food firms try to alter Indians’ tastes by using flavours, enhancers in food.

About five per cent of the general population is sensitive to one or more flavouring agents, colours and enhancers.

Hyderabad: The Indian palate is now dominated by food flavours and taste enhancers, according to latest market reports. The market is estimated to be $745 million, and is expected to grow. Colouring agents, flavours, sweeteners, enhancers, emulsifiers and preservatives are seeing a huge demand.

Food expert Vinod Kumar said, “A taste is being developed wherein foods not flavoured with these ingredients do not attract much attention. At the same time, with Codex being set for all the additives, there is a huge code of standardisation which makes it very important for people to only use within those limits. If the limits are in excess, then action will be taken against them.” While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has re-designed standards to international standards, it has also ensured that the Indian palate has a variety of flavours to experiment.

Nutritionist Madhu-rima said, “With people opting to eat out at least two times a week, there is a scope for development of these tastes. Enhancers make one eat more than required leading to abdominal obesity and also early onset of non-communicable diseases.” Sweeteners made from corn, high fructose corn syrup, and high-intensity sweeteners have seen a sharp rise thanks to the huge increase in the consumption of packed fruit juices, sharbats, artificial fruit drinks and other beverages.

Dr A. Krishnan, senior consultant, community medicine said, “There is an aggressive marketing technique for these foods and beverages. When children walk into the supermarket with their pa-rents, they are attracted to these products and develop a taste for them after which it becomes a part of their eating habit. Use of preserved and packed-fruit juices and beverages is one of the reasons for rise in obesity levels among school going children.”

Food safety: number of scientific panels under FSSAI increased

Govt move will improve food safety measures

NEW DELHI, JULY 22:

After the Maggi instant noodles controversy that hit the packaged food industry last year, the government has increased the number of scientific panels under the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) and increased the frequency of their meetings.

In a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Kulsate said the government had taken steps to improve regulatory procedures to ensure safe and wholesome foods as well as to improve ‘ease of doing business’. “These include increasing the number of scientific panels under FSSAI and frequency of their meetings, harmonisation of food standards with international standards and laying down more standards,” the Minister said.

He was replying to a query on whether the government was aware that the trust deficit had increased between consumers and packaged food companies and the steps taken to bridge this deficit.

“Government is aware of the concerns of the food processing industries. All steps considered necessary for promoting the interest of consumers through availability of safe and wholesome food and growth of food processing industry are being taken by the government,” he added.

These steps include setting up and upgrading food testing labs and creation of infrastructure like mega food parks and cold chains.

FDA takes illegal fast food stalls to task

Mapusa: Continuing with its raids to clampdown on the selling of illegal and unhygienic food items, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) ordered two fast food centres in Mapusa to shut shop and seized masala (spices) packets which were on the sale beyond the expiry period.

FDA conducted a raid near Alankar theatre in Mapusa and seized expired masala packets worth 7,000 and closed two fast food stalls after the owners of the food carts failed to provide the necessary documents to operate the business involving the sale of the food products.

A team of FDA officers, comprising Rajiv Korde, Richard Noronha, Ankita Palyekar, Madhav Kavlakar and others, under the guidance of FDA director Salim Veljee, conducted a surprise raid at Alankar theatre at Mapusa to check the quality of the fast food items.

FDA officials informed that owner of food stall Sitaram Sawant failed to produce licence and was asked to shut down the stall. A few other restaurants operating next to Alankar theatre, Bobby Fresh Food and Chunky Chicken were found using non-permitted food colour. They were issued notices. Expired masala packets worth 27,000 were seized from the Chunky Chicken stall.

Another food stall near the masjid in Mapusa was found operating in unhygienic condition, without Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licence .

FDA officer Korde said that that during the previous raids at Mapusa, FDA had asked the fast food stalls to operate in hygienic condition and display FSSAI licences . Korde also said that many of the food stall owners were found following the guidelines.

Tobacco products banned for 1 more yr

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned tobacco-based products like gutkha, kharra, pan masala, scented tobacco, and betel nut, whether flavoured, scented or mixed with other ingredients and additives, for one more year. The GR dated July 15, 2016, states that the ban is being implemented from July 20 .

The ban has been imposed for fifth year in a row after 20 organizations and institutions pressurised the Maharashtra government for continuing with the ban and providing fresh data and information on the ill-effects of these products.

"The state government doesn't have the power to ban such 'food products' for more than a year. But even if it is for one year at a time, it is more than welcome. Ban restricts sale, manufacture, distribution and storage of these products which cause diseases like oral sub-mucous fibrosis, oral, oesophageal cancers etc," said Dr Prakash Gupta, president of Action Council against Tobacco Healis — Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Navi Mumbai.

In the GR, the Food Safety Commissioner, FDA, Maharashtra, Harshdeep Kamble has cited data released by Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) Nagpur, RST Regional Cancer Hospital, Nagpur, along with fresh data as per latest media reports (including TOI report dated May 31 and July 3) to substantiate the ban. GR has also added figures of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and studies on economic burden of tobacco related diseases by the Public Health Foundation of India and the WHO country office in India.

GDCH dean Dr Vinay Hazarey and Regional Cancer Hospital director Dr Pankaj Chowdhary hailed the ban. "Nagpur and Vidarbha are oral cancer capitals of India. It is a very serious issue and should concern every person in the city and region. The state government deserves kudos for banning gutkha from 2012 and kharra from 2013," said Dr Hazarey. "Fresh data from Regional Cancer Hospital, GDCH and 20 other institutions and organizations has once again proved the fact that tobacco kills," said Dr Chowdhary.

Dr BK Sharma, deputy director of Regional Cancer Hospital, said chewing tobacco and its products not only cause OSF and oral cancer but they also lead to diseases like leukoplakia, stomach cancer, metabolic abnormalities, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases besides affecting the reproductive health.

In 2015, Tata Memorial Hospital recorded out of 30,107, 16,916 patients were found to have tobacco related cancer which is 56.19% of cancer cases reported there

Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, in 2015-16 reported 151 cases of oral cancer (80% were preoral cancer stage and 20% oral cancer)

30% of all cancers reported at Regional Cancer Hospital, Nagpur, were of oral cancer