Dec 4, 2016
Madras HC criticises food safety authorities on Sago testing matter
"We do believe that such a request for a long period of time shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large", the bench said recently.
Madras High Court has criticised the Food Safety Standards Authority of India for seeking 18 months time for conducting scientific tests on the quality of sago produced in various factories. The First Bench Comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, before which a batch of PIL’s seeking for scientific testing, in its order said “we fail to appreciate the stand which is now taken before us that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India needs 18 months more time to determine the tests, in view of the fact that the scientific panel has been re-constituted.
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“We do believe that such a request for a long period of time shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large”, the bench said recently.
“Be that as it may, since the whole thing cannot be at a stand-still for 18 months, we direct the respondent to place before us as to in the interregnum period, what test has to be followed”, the bench said.
The matter relates to several petitions by stating that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, who is predominant manufacturers and suppliers of sago in India, added acid and other chemicals in order to make it attractive.
Noting that it is harmful for health, they said consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat had even stopped consumption because of high presence of chemicals.
It indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers, they submitted and sought an interim direction to the authorities to conduct the prescribed test by the authorities of Referral Food Laboratory, Pune.
When it was brought to the notice of the First Bench by the designated officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department present in Court that there were various criminal original petitions and writ petitions pending in respect of the action taken by the Department, the bench in its order said “we consider it appropriate to list all these matters before a single court, for which necessary administrative orders may be obtained from the Chief Justice.
The bench then listed the matter for further hearing to January 24, 2017.
FSSAI rapped for asking 18 months to suggest tests on sago
The Madras High Court has slammed the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for seeking 18 months to spell out the tests that needs to be held to ascertain the addition of acid and other harmful chemicals to sago products.
Chennai:
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan while directing FSSAI to place before it the test that has to be followed in the interregnum period, said “We fail to appreciate the stand which is now taken before us that FSSAI needs 18 months’ time to determine the tests, since the scientific panel has been re-constituted. We do believe that such a request for a long period shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large.”
The issue relates to a plea moved by various farmers’ association from Namakkal district that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, which remains a major suppliers of sago, added acid and other chemicals to make it white. Noting that this had resulted in consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, UP and Gujarat stopping consumption the product owing to the high presence of chemicals, they submitted this had indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers.
However, based on the submission of TN Food Safety and Drug Administration Department that various petitions were pending on the action taken, the bench held that it is appropriate to post these matters before a single court. The case has been posted to January 24.
Khan Market shops under scanner
Food Department says shops are selling sub-standard food products as food samples fail tests
Delhi’s luxury shopping hub Khan Market is under the scanner from the Food Department. Officials from the department say that end of October they had collected six food samples of cheese and ketchup from both Khan Market and INA market, out of which three have failed the quality test and found to be of sub-standard quality. They add that these samples also failed the labeling test.
Dr Mrinalini Darswal, commissioner, Department of Food Safety, Delhi government said that strict action would be taken against the offenders, which so far the department has refused to name. “We are sending a strict message to all the importers from where the products are used. We have issued them notices as the samples were found to be of sub-standard quality. These three samples flouted labelling guidelines and the information on these products was also misleading,” she said.
While the brands of these cheese and ketchup products — under the scanner — are not known, officials did confirm that all the food samples are from imported brands.
However, Sanjay Mehta, president, Khan Market Traders’ Association denied that there was any problem and said,“We have six such shops that sell imported food products. But all of them follow the required guidelines.”
The government’s food and drug department is responsible for ensuring that food policy complies with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Officials say that on average they receive 125 food samples a month for testing.
They add that they keep vigil that labelling and other norms are followed by way of surprise inspections and raids on food establishments.
Ask about the process that will be followed against the allegedly offending companies, AK Singh, designated officer, New Delhi district, Department of Food and Safety, said,“We have given a month’s time to the companies to respond to our notice. Once we have received the reply, we will go ahead with the process. If the companies will object to our results, the samples will be sent for testing again.”
As per the official process, the department receives a complaint about an adulterated food item after which a report is made. This report is then marked to the designated district officer, after which the officer, along with another safety officer, collects samples. The samples are then sent for testing where the food analyst supervises the work and sends the reports back to the concerned department.
Wardha CJM awards six-month jail to man for selling adulterated milk
NAGPUR: Wardha chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Saroj Mane Gadekar has sentencedRajendra Awathale, vendor and proprietor of M/S Rajendra Dhoodh Dairy, to six-month imprisonment for selling adulterated milk.
The accused has to pay a fine of Rs 1000. In case of failing to pay the fine, he faces one more month of imprisonment.
S R Kekare, assistant commissioner food and drugs administration (FDA), Nagpur told TOI that the punishment has been ordered under the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act 1954.
Raviraj Dhabarde and L P Soyam, food safety officers, were following the case from the beginning. S D Sthool was the public prosecutor in the case.
S P Nandanwar, the then food inspector, FDA Wardha had drawn the adulterated milk sample and filed a case on May 19, 2010.
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