Dec 20, 2016
FSSAI MAKES IT LADDOO AND CLEAR, TELLS TTD TO ABIDE BY NORMS
Is the delicious Tirupati laddu ‘food’ or not? FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) have locked horns over this issue. TTD, in a bid to shrug off an investigation FSSAI had ordered into safety standards of its famous laddus, has redefined the status of laddu – claiming it is not ‘food’, selling it is not an actual sale, laddus are not goods and pilgrims receiving them not consumers. FSSAI in return has rapped it saying laddu is indeed a food whether purchased or distributed free.FSSAI has gone ahead and sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government on action to be taken at the earliest.
The case
It all had started with city-based activist Narasimha Murthy taking up the case of quality, certification, hygiene and food safety standards of laddus at Tirupati in June 2016. He had petitioned FSSAI alleging unsafe and unhygienic processing method in the making of the laddus, besides defects at several stages including its manufacture, storage, distribution and sale. He had also questioned the certification of laddus by the authority concerned or a certified lab. Raising concerns over incidents of the finding of a nut, bolt, key chain and Pan Parag cover in the laddus, Murthy had cited non-issuance of bills that should have quantity, quality, ingredients, date of manufacture and date of expiry on it. He had raised concerns if Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 was being adhered to at Tirupati. FSSAI in turn had sought an investigation and action.
Food or not?
But TTD executive officer, in September had written back to FSSAI putting an interesting defence. TTD had claimed that laddus were being distributed as sacred prasadam to pilgrims and it cannot be termed as food under the provisions of FSSAI Act, 2006. Its second defence was that laddus were being distributed from free-of-cost to subsidised prices ranging from Rs 5, Rs 10, and Rs 25, which cannot be termed sales. The third point was that the laddus were not being given as cost-to-cost or with a profit motto, and hence, cannot be viewed as goods. Further, it had claimed that pilgrims can’t be considered consumers.
It also had said that traditional practice of preparing laddus with ingredients procured from agricultural produce didn’t contain any kind of artificial flavours or preservatives and hence cannot be viewed as unsafe. It said quantities of ingredients were being used as specified, which narrates the scale of ingredient: quantity ratio
with slight modification in consultation with CFTRI. It had inadvertently accepted that these laddus were not licenced. “Laddus are neither goods, nor food for sale, hence the question of obtaining licence doesn’t arise,” TTD had said. It had also taken a dig over the whole issue of questioning the laddus.
“Prasadams of respective Hindu temples will be prepared as per the respective traditional customs, but shall not be intervened under the pretext of FSSAI, CST acts that demean the religious feelings of crores of Hindu pilgrims,” the executive officer had said.
FSSAI hits back
Hitting back at TTD’s ‘laddu not food’ claim, FSSAI said, “Food means any substance whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended for human consumption except categories like drugs, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances. Therefore, as per the definition of food under FSS Act, laddu that is presented as prasadam at a temple is food.”
The applicability of the act is not affected whether the food is purchased or distributed free of cost. It also directed commissioner of food safety, AP government, “You may accordingly ensure that TTD complies with all requirements of FSS Act, rules and regulations. An early report on the action taken would be appreciated.”
Murthy meanwhile maintained action would be sought against the executive director, TTD for violations that were forthcoming under FSS Act.
FSSAI plans to overhaul inspection procedures next year: Sources
CNBC-TV18’s Priya Sheth, quoting sources, says the food regulator will be making procedures more structured to avoid ad hoc inspections. It also plans to add 200 inspectors at the central level.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to overhaul inspection procedures in 2017, sources say. The aim is to make the regime self-regulatory and reduce the notion of harassment to businesses.
CNBC-TV18’s Priya Sheth, quoting sources, says the food regulator will be making procedures more structured to avoid ad hoc inspections. It also plans to add 200 inspectors at the central level.
Surveillance will be tightened at state level, sources say, adding, FSSAI is likely to divide food into five risk categories for the same.
Food that falls under the lower risk categories will see lesser inspections.
Hoteliers in Cantonment could learn from this man
G Narender frying some snacks at his bandi in Secunderabad.
At a time when more than 70 per cent of food outlets including big hotels in the Secunderabad Cantonment area are found wanting in matters of cleanliness and standards maintained in storage and sale of food, G Narender, 40, who sells short eats, such as potato patties and snacks made with green chilli at his bandi in East Marredpally is scoring a point or two.
It is said that ‘Cleanliness is a habit nice, without paying heavy price’. It couldn’t have been more applicable to Narender when last week two food inspectors sauntered in to his little bandi and wanted to extort money.
However, Narender showed them the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) certificate that he proudly displays at his stall and off went the inspectors without a whimper.
An exuberant Narender says, “I informed them how I make sure my customers throw waste packets and leftovers in the bins provided. I also ensure to clean the place and dispose all waste material before going home.”
It has been five years from the time he obtained the FSSAI certificate. He says, “I was once surfing channels and watched a show on how important it is to maintain cleanliness and make the whole process from procuring food material to the final stage efficient and I decided to get the FSSAI certificate.”
The cost of the certificate is Rs 100, which is given after a thorough check by officials. Narender feels that it gives him a sense of relief and confidence. He says that many first timers to the stall are curious when they see the certificate and praise him.
The cleanliness-conscious food seller feels that hoteliers in the city should go in for the FSSAI certificate. He says his business shot up by several notches after he obtained it and many educated customers often pat him on the back for it.
Meanwhile, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is planning to crack the whip on hotels in the area once more.
The Cantonment Act, 2006 states that no person of any classes, vendors of any articles shall carry on trade unless he has obtained a license.
Though many hotels were seized by food inspectors of SCB earlier, there are close to 400 outlets still operating without safety measures.
Over 50 samples found sub-standard in FSDA raid
Dec 18,
In a bid to check cases of adulteration of food items, Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Government of Chhattisgarh raided over 450 shops in festive seasons and collected samples.
Talking to The Hitavada, Assistant Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Dr Ashwani Dewangan said that over 420 samples were collected from general stores, sweet shops, rice mills, pulse mills, masala factory and carrying and forwarding business centres in the months of October and November, in which over 50 samples were substandard.
In October, 260 samples were collected, in which there were 189 normal, 42 substandard, 27 misbranding and 2 unsafe. In November, 162 samples were collected, in which there were 10 substandard, 8 misbranded and 18 unsafe, Dr Dewangan said.
The Department takes action against adulterers and conducts regular food checking and testing at different places across the state. Quality of food items, drinking items and alcohol is checked by the Food and Drug Administration, he added.
General stores, sweet shops, rice mills, pulse mills, masala factory and Carrying and Forwarding business centres are checked by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any trader sells unsafe, sub-standard or misbranded or containing extraneous matter, stern action would be taken against him or her under Food Safety and Standards Act-2006.
Food Safety and Standards Act-2006 is being implemented for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate food manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
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