Prominent food sellers fined for Rs 49 lakhs violating food safety act

EXPRESS, WESTERN LOGISTICS, NEW SEKHON DAIRY BESIDES SEVERAL OTHERS

Ludhiana: For the violation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and selling eatables below the quality standards under rules 2011, eight food sellers of the city have been fined Rs 45 lakh by the District Administration. This fine has been imposed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General)-cum-Adjudicating Officer Rishi Pal Singh.

While passing the magisterial order, Rishi Pal Singh informed that few days ago a team of officials of health department- Ravinderpal Garg, Mr Manoj Kumar Khosla, and Yogesh Goyal, from had collectedsamples of Roasted Chana from Smart Shoppe in Kochar Market, of Bikaneri Namkeen from Om Quality House in Nanak Nagar Sabzi Mandi, Paneer from Mahal Express in Pavilion Mall, Curd from New Sekhon Dairy on Jawaddi Sua Road, slice bottles from Western Logistics near Jalandhar Byepass, confectionary, rose-e-ruffin drink and namkeen from TK Confectionary on Bhamian Road Jamalpur Chowk, khoya from Swadeshi Sweets in GK Mall Jawaddi and of natural kiwi juice from Camfood Products on Hambran Road.

He informed that when these samples were checked as per the government process in the laboratory, all these products were below the quality standards under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Rules 2011. A checking report from Food Analyst Punjab, Chandigarh, was also issued. Keeping in mind the safety of residents and public interest, these persons have been fined Rs 49 lakh. This includes Rs 1 lakh to Smart Shoppe, Rs 9 lakh to Om Quality House, Rs 5 lakh to Mahal Express, Rs 5 lakh to New Sekhon Dairy, Rs 2 lakh to Western Logistics, Rs 25000 to TK Confectionary for namkeen and producer of namkeen, Bansal Namkeen, Malerkotla has been fined Rs 2.75 lakh, for rose-e-ruffin drink, the TK Confectionary has been fined Rs 5000 and its producer DD Agro Foods Pvt Ltd Dera Bassi has been fined Rs 14.95 lakh, Rs 5 lakh to Swadeshi Sweets and Rs 4 lakh to Camfood Products. This fine has been imposed under section 51 of the act. The violators have been directed to deposit the amount in government treasury immediately.

While giving a clear cut warning to those selling below standard food products, Rishi Pal Singh said that the violation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 would not be tolerated at any cost. He said that if any person is caught violating the act, hefty fines would be imposed on them.

FSSAI BID TO ENSURE SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD

Country’s top food regulator will soon unveil a bouquet of 10 new initiatives that seek to connect people of all age groups for ensuring safe and nutritious food at home, school, workplace, religious places, in trains and railway stations, in restaurants and other places.

To begin with, FSSAI will provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe and nutritious food at home. Similarly for schools, it will prepare a negative list of high fat, sugar and salt foods (commonly referred as junk food), seeking to ensure food safety and nutrition in and around schools, including lunch box and canteens, said FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of enactment of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 being marked recently, he said, all these 10 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, Health Minister J P Nadda said in a statement, "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.

The FSSAI also plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.

For offices, FSSAI said the canteens and cafeterias should be registered/licenced with the food regulator. The establishment should also ensure monthly testing of kitchens, water and equipment.

As far as religious places are concerned, the official said it is engaging with the management of places of worships to help them implement the Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai has already adopted FSMS, while Saibaba temple in Shirdi is in the process of doing so for their kitchens.

FSSAI announces ten new initiatives to promote safe food culture

Aiming to create a culture of food safety in the country, regulator FSSAI today announced a host of initiatives to promote safe food at homes, schools, offices, eateries and religious places, besides a national survey for assessing milk quality.

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

According to a PTI report: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of enactment of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the FSSAI said it will launch ten new initiatives that seek to connect people of all age groups for ensuring safe food through an integrated approach.

“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,” Health Ministry was quoted by PTI as saying.

• FSSAI will provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe and nutritious food at home.
• Similarly for schools, it will prepare a negative list of high fat, sugar and salt foods (commonly referred as junk food), seeking to ensure food safety and nutrition in and around schools, including lunch box and canteens.
• It plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.
• For offices, FSSAI said the canteens and cafeterias should be registered/licenced with the food regulator. The establishment should also ensure monthly testing of kitchens, water and equipment.
• As far as religious places are concerned, FSSAI said it is engaging with the management of places of worships to help them implement the Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
• Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai has already adopted FSMS, while Saibaba temple in Shirdi is in the process of doing so for their kitchens.
• Noting that food safety is an important health and economic issue, Health Minister J P Nadda was quoted by PTI as saying, “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.

Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said all these 10 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 was quoted by PTI as saying.

• Apart from these initiatives, FSSAI also announced plans to conduct national milk quality survey and frame standards for food fortification, organic food. It will also simplify the registration and licencing regulations.
• FSSAI will also take steps to bridge standards divide from farm to trade and to rediscover the rich culinary heritage of India.
• It also launched food safety display board that would help connect consumers directly with food safety officers. Twelve corporates including Mother Dairy, Haldiram, StarBucks, BurgerKing, among others, have already volunteered to display this board at their 1,300 outlets.

Addressing a FSSAI conference late last evening, Health Minister J P Nadda had said the Centre will support the state governments in capacity building and setting up high quality labs for proper enforcement of food safety standards.

“We are all for capacity building not only at the national level…We are working to have high quality labs. We are working to support states (in setting up) high quality laboratories,” Nadda was quoted by PTI as saying.

The Government will finetune the food safety standards to make it more meaningful, Nadda was further quoted by PTI as saying. “It is (fine tuning) a continuous process. We will be doing it,” the Minister was quoted by PTI as saying.

He emphasised on more awareness programmes to promote safe food at home, schools, offices and eateries.

Nadda said the food standards act is a paradigm shift from regulatory regime under the provisions of Food Adulteration Act to self-regulatory and facilitatory regime.

“Now, basic groundwork is done. We are ready for a big leap forward,” Nadda was quoted by PTI as saying.

The minister emphasised 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.

FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna was quoted by PTI as saying, “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”.

We thank Honorable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri J.P.Nadda, Shri C.K Mishra, Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Corporates, Associations and other key dignitaries for their presence and support which helped in making this event a great success.

FSSAI to test honey samples to revise standards

Sources Around 10 market samples will be collected by FSSAI from 5 major players in distribution and manufacture of honey namely, Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Khadi and Himalayan. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is going to test honey samples on 21 parameters which have been set by a scientific panel. 

The data so generated will be used to revise standards. Around 10 market samples will be collected by FSSAI from 5 major players in distribution and manufacture of honey namely, Dabur , Patanjali, Baidyanath, Khadi and Himalayan. 

FSSAI will collaborate with the National Bee Board for collection of the honey samples. 

The data generated will be tested on additional parameters for adulteration.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

விருதுநகரில் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் நடவடிக்கை

விரு து ந கர், ஆக. 24:

விரு து ந க ரில் காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், தின் பண் டங் களை உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் கடை க ளி லி ருந்து பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.

விரு து ந கர் பழைய பஸ் நிலை யம், புல் லா லக் கோட்டை ரோடு, புளு கா ணு ரணி ரோடு, பாவாலி ரோடு, நக ராட்சி அலு வ லக ரோடு பகு தி க ளில் உள்ள குளிர் பான கடை கள், பேக் க ரி கள், தின் பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யும் கடை க ளில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் சாலே டி சன் தலை மை யில் அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு நடத் தி னர்.

கடை க ளில் குளிர் பா னங் க ளில் தயா ரிப்பு மற் றும் காலா வதி தேதி கள் இல் லாத காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் களை கொட்டி அழித் த னர். திறந்த வெளி யில் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட்டு இருந்த வடை க ளில் பிளீ சிங் பவு டர் களை போட்டு அழித் த னர்.

தயா ரிப்பு மற் றும் காலா வதி தேதி இல் லாத தின் பண் டங் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து எடுத்து சென் ற னர்.

பழைய பஸ் நிலை யம் எதிரே இருந்த டாஸ் மாக் கடை பாரில் ஆய்வு செய்த அதி கா ரி கள் அங் கி ருந்து தண் ணீர் பாக் கெட் டு கள், உணவு பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர். ரூ.50 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் பி லான பொருட் கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து அழிக் கப் பட் ட தாக அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் த னர். நட வ டிக் கை யின் போது உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் ராஜேந் தி ரன், சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் குரு சாமி மற் றும் சுகா தார பணி யா ளர் கள் உட னி ருந் த னர்.

அதி கா ரி கள் கூறு கை யில், ‘தயா ரிப்பு மற் றும் காலா வதி தேதி யின்றி பொருட் கள், குளிர் பா னங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. மீறி விற் பனை செய் தால் பறி மு தல் செய் வ து டன் கடை உரி மை யா ளர் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும். ஆய்வு தொடர்ந்து நடை பெ றும்’ என் ற னர்.

DINAKARAN NEWS

FSSAI worked quietly for years till Maggi noodles happened

It has been nearly 10 years since the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) came into being, but it largely worked behind the scenes till it came into public focus only last year over the lead and monosodium glutamate content in Maggi noodles.

The authority came into being following the passage of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

It has since registered over 38 lakh food businesses. It tests food samples through 184 notified primary testing labs and 14 referral labs and also decides on food labels and claims.

Officials said FSSAI sought to make people aware about food adulteration, which alone claims the lives of 2.2 million people across the globe every year.

"The FSSAI has made positive contribution to the Indian food industry. Initially, people were less aware about food safety, but now many of them will not buy a food product if does not have a mention of FSSAI," Bimal Dubey, Director (Regulatory Compliance/Vigilance), FSSAI, told IANS.

The FSSAI has been entrusted with the task of laying down scientific standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Food Ministry officials said the food safety and standards law was enacted to create a single statutory body for food laws, standards and enforcement so that there is no confusion in the minds of consumers, traders, manufacturers and investors.

Officials said FSSAI's responsibilities also include training and certifying food safety supervisors and food handlers, ensure safety of food imported at 142 points across the country, as well as promote safe food management practices in processing, transportation, storage and distribution.

It is also mandated to enhance consumer choice and building consumer engagement through effective complaints redress mechanism.

At a function organised by FSSAI here on Monday to commemorate 10 years of the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda advised FSSAI to be aware of the concerns of small food businesses.

He noted that during the past 10 years, considerable work had been done in laying down scientific standards and regulating manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items.

After the controversy over the lead and MSG content of Maggi noodles erupted last year, the FSSAI had ordered its manufacturer Nestle to "withdraw and recall" all Maggi noodle variants, halt their production and also stop exports, saying the samples were found to be "unsafe and hazardous" for humans.

Nestle then announced the withdrawal of Maggi across India but maintained that the product was "safe".

Later, the Bombay High Court lifted the ban on Maggi noodles and ordered fresh tests on the samples. The noodles subsequently made a re-entry in the Indian market.

FSSAI announces initiatives to promote safe food culture

NEW DELHI: With an aim to promote safe and nutritious food across the country, the food regulator is set to launch a bouquet of initiatives to improve quality of food not only at schools and eateries, but also at homes, religious places and railway stations.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is engaging with management of different religious places, and releasing guidelines to improve quality of food and ensure it is not high in fat, sugar and salt.

"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," health minister JP Nadda said, commemorating the 10th anniversary of enactment of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

FSSAI said it will launch ten new initiatives that seek to connect people of all age groups for ensuring safe food through an integrated approach. The regulator has also launched a national survey for assessing milk quality.

The regulator will also provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe and nutritious food at home.

Similarly for schools, it will prepare a negative list of producrs high on fat, sugar and salt. Sale and availability of such products will be restricted in schools and their vicinity.

The regulator also plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.

For offices, FSSAI said the canteens and cafeterias should be registered or licenced with the food regulator. The establishment should also ensure monthly testing of kitchens, water and equipment.

As far as religious places are concerned, FSSAI said it is engaging with the management of places of worships to help them implement the Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai has already adopted FSMS, while Saibaba temple in Shirdi is in the process of doing so for their kitchens.

FSSAI to allow import of food for special medical purposes

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 23: 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on a mechanism to allow imports of products for consumers, especially children, who suffer from IEM (inborn errors of metabolism) disorders. This will be done through a special import notification in a bid to meet the nutritional needs of children who suffer from metabolism disorders.

As part of its “Diet4Life initiative”, the regulator will facilitate the import of Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) products soon. These products are made by companies such as Nestle, Danone and Abbott.

These disorders, which impact a small section of consumers, especially babies, occur due to single gene defect leading to abnormalities in the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The regulator has identified 15 IEM conditions under this project.

Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said that the regulator is taking speedy action to create a platform and allow imports of such products in collaborations with companies and health professionals. Under this project, four leading hospitals have been identified and the regulator is collaborating with doctors and dieticians to train them to be able to prescribe these products since diagnosis of these disorders is difficult.

“Companies have also agreed to offer some of these products at subsidised rates for the next two years especially for poor patients. We are in the process of finalising this mechanism that will allow patients suffering from IEM disorders to have access to these products and this will pave the way for saving thousands of lives,” he added.

Under this programme, the food regulator will also collaborate with other partners to conduct workshops to train health professionals from across the country, so they can diagnose these disorders during preliminary check-up stage and refer them for screening.

Tapping quality

FSSAI promises safe potable 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 Jal Nigams, 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 Jal Nigams 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, regulated prasad can wait.

FSSAI to regulate sale of high fat food to schoolchildren

New food safety guidelines in the offing for packaged water, dairy products and unorganised food sector

On the occasion of completing 10 years as the food safety regulator, Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday set out a volley of new guidelines to ensure food safety in the country.

It was in 2006 that the Food Safety and Standard Act was passed by Parliament and the food safety regulator FSSAI was born.

“This integrated food safety law has been an important milestone in the history of food safety in India. This has brought about a paradigm shift in our focus on ensuring food value and nutrition from limited focus on curbing adulteration. It is a much wider canvas of safe and nutritious food we are working on,” said, Pawan Agarwal, FSSAI CEO.

The FSSAI chief, who had recently called for fresh guidelines for packaged and bottled water, has said that the new food safety guidelines will look to ensure health safety in food for children first.

"To realise the dream of a healthy and capable India, FSSAI is formulating regulations to promote and administer food safety at the school level to enable children to inculcate healthy eating habits that will last them a lifetime," said Agarwal.

Speaking at the occasion, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, under whom the food regulator functions, said that there is a need for wider responsibility sharing on food standards.

He insisted that FSSAI promote food safety habits among children. "The FSSAI should be preparing a negative list of products that are rich in fat, salt and sugar in order to restrict availability of these items in schools," the minister said.

"The list will also have those food items which are known to have negative impact on health if consumed regularly and are not desirable for young people," Agarwal said.

Delhi High Court had ordered regulation of junk food consumption by school children last year and restricted the sale of foods high in fat, salt and sugar such as chips, fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in and around school premises.

States like Kerala, too, have slapped extra levies on sale of unhealthy snacks and high fat food.

Soon FSSAI will make it mandatory for schools to have wholesome and nutritious food available in school canteens.

"Canteens in the schools should not be treated as commercial outlets," he said, on the sidelines of the event. Schools should develop a canteen policy to provide nutritious, wholesome and healthy foods.

"Children are not the best judge of their food choice", Agarwal said, "Schools are not the right place to promote foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and so we will restrict their sale within 50 m of any school."

The food safety regulator is also working on fresh guidelines for dairy products and food produced by the unorganised sector.

Junk food to be out of schoolsSushmi Dey

Pizzas, burgers and aerated drinks may soon be out of the palate of school canteens.

In order to restrict consumption of junk food by children, the food safety regulator is preparing a negative list of products that are high on salt, sugar and fat to prevent their availability in schools and their vicinity.

"The list will have those food items which are known to have negative impact on health if consumed regularly and not desirable for young people," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) chief executive Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

The list is expected to include an array of food and beverages like chips, pizzas, burgers, ready-to eat noodles, sugar-sweetened carbonated and non carbonated drinks, potato fries etc. The move comes in the wake of rising burden of diabetes and obesity, among youngsters.Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.