காலாவதியான உணவுப் பொருட்கள் அழிப்பு!

திருச்சி அருகே காலாவதியான குளிர்பானம் மற்றும் உணவுப் பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் தரையில் கொட்டி அழித்தனர்.

திருச்சி அடுத்த சமயபுரம் மற்றும் கண்ணூர் பேரூராட்சியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் கடந்த வாரம் திடீரென ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது, காலாவதியான உணவுப் பொருட்கள் தொடர்ந்து விற்பனை செய்வது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. இதனையடுத்து, பல ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள உணவுப்பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். இதனைத்தொடர்ந்து பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட உணவுப் பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் இன்று அழிக்கும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டனர். இதில், சுமார் 500 லிட்டர் குளிர்பானம் தரையில் கொட்டி அழிக்கப்பட்டது. மேலும், பிஸ்கட் உள்ளிட்ட சில உணவு பொருட்களும் அழிக்கப்பட்டன.

Delhi deputy CM orders cooking of mid-day meals to be monitored

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday directed the Chief Secretary to monitor cooking of mid-day meals served in Delhi schools after a dead rat was found in the food due to which nine children were taken ill.

Police has also lodged an FIR against two operators of an NGO who supplied mid-day meals to Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Deoli.

"I have ordered the Chief Secretary that all senior officers, including secretaries and principal secretaries will inspect kitchens based on my parameters and give me report within one week, similarly all kitchens in Delhi will regularly be inspected," Sisodia told reporters.

"In the morning today, I had sent my officers to this kitchen at 4.30 AM to take stock of the situation there," he added.

Nine students at the government school were yesterday rushed to Madan Mohan Malviya hospital after they were taken ill after consuming the rat-contaminated food.

Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, had visited the students at the hospital yesterday.

According to police officials, an FIR has been registered against operators of Jan Chetna Jagriti Evam Shaikshik Vikas Manch, K P Singh and Sanjay Malik, under Sections 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) on the complaint of school principal Girirraj Singh Sharma.

"We have sent the food samples for test and are awaiting medical reports of the affected children to move forward. Further sections could be added and more people may be booked if needed. No one has been arrested so far," a senior police official said.

"The school principal also alleged that Malik and his associates who were present at the school ran away carrying the remaining food," he added.

Asked about the allegation of kitchens being operated by a relative of an MLA, Sisodia said, "We will not spare anyone who plays with the lives of students, even if he or she is the relative of MLA, minister and even PM".

"We will ensure strict action against the vendor. We will not tolerate those who play with the lives of students. We will teach them such a lesson that no one in future can do it again," he added.

Indore: Admin launches drive against packaged drinking water, destroys 209 packets

Indore: In a move to save people from consuming contaminated water, especially those which are labeled as mineral water, the district administration and food and drug administration department have launched a drive against packaged drinking water on Thursday.

On the first day of drive, officials raided two units of packaged drinking water – Kanha Beverages and Malhar Beverages – at Palda and destroyed 80 and 123 packets of water respectively.

“We have destroyed water pouch packets without manufacturing details and brand name. No date of manufacturing and expiry were mentioned on these pouches but they were loaded in vehicles to be sold. Along with water pouches, we have also destroyed 48 crates of water bottles,” senior food safety officer Manish Swami said.

He said that more than 15 companies are registered in city for supplying drinking water and samples will be collected from all the units to prepare a report.

Informing about the ongoing ‘Milk Survey’ by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), Swami said that they had collected 45 samples of milk, including packed milk, from various places in which 10 samples were failed.

“After serving notices to them, we have again collected samples from their shops and will take action if they failed the test again,” he added.

FSSAI to focus on beverages in summer

In view of forthcoming summer, FSSAI has directed the food safety officials to concentrate on quality of beverages and collect at least 40 samples every month.

“We are collecting more than 40 samples in a month and submitting our report to the apex regulatory body. FDA has collected samples of butter milk, cold drinks, fruit juices and other drinks,” he added.

Now, relish tender coconut water from sachets, carry packs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB 17: 

Nutrient-rich tender coconut water is now available in powder form in delightful packs, thanks to pioneering work by a Kerala-based startu-p.

NaturUp Consumer Products of Chalakudy in Thrissur uses modern spray drying technology to remove the water/moisture from the nut to generate the powder.

Spray drying

Spray drying is used to heat liquids and emulsions to remove moisture to generate a stable powder, says Antony S Pathadan, NaturUp promoter, and a former IT entrepreneur.

The powder retains the natural attributes of rich nutrients, essential electrolytes, vitamins and minerals associated with tender coconuts.

The powder packs are ideal for gym, camping sites, kid’s events, at work places, and pack neatly into one’s travel bag, Pathadan said.

No preservatives

“We capture the authentic taste of tender coconut water and add no preservative, artificial flavour, or colour. Our product is 100 per cent gluten-free.”

The manufacturing unit is licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Association of India. It also has FDA approval for export to various countries.

The manufacturing plant is based at Puducherry. It uses only coconut water, while the pulp is given to ice-cream manufacturers. Thus, it saves on costs of of storing, processing of whole coconut shells and managing waste.

NatureUP collects coconuts of South Indian origin (said to be the most tasty and nutritious) for sourcing water.

Convenient packs

After a refining process, the water and moisture are removed. This leaves behind the powder rich in nutrients and carbohydrates, which is packed into convenient packs.

It has a shelf-life of a year but once the pack is opened, it lasts for not more than six hours. This is in stark contrast to preservative-laden products which last for days together after opening, Pathadan said.

IGNOU programme on food safety

A two-day training programme on ‘Food safety: hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP),’ organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) regional centre here, concluded on Thursday.

The first programme of the series was inaugurated by G. Madhavan Nair, former ISRO chairman. Around 100 students and professionals working in the field of biosciences attended the programme.

The next phase of the programme will be organised on February 19 and 20 by the IGNOU regional centre in association with the Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC) and the International Institute for Certification and Training (ICCT).

FSSAI constitutes panel to identify nutritional gaps

In news:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has constituted a panel to identify critical nutritional gaps in the Indian diet in general and also in specific specific target groups.

What will panel do:

The Panel will identify critical nutritional gaps in the Indian diet in general as well as in specific target groups based on diet surveys and credible scientific evidence, define strategies to address nutritional needs of the general population and vulnerable groups, and review the standards for all suitable food fortifying vehicles,in addition to the healthy dietary intake of Fat, Sugar & Salt. It will also address regulatory and related technological issues, review proposals from industry using modern risk assessment methods, and prescribe standard sampling and test methods for effective monitoring, surveillance and enforcement of the relevant regulations.

Malnutrition in India

• Micronutrient Malnutrition Disorders are ubiquitously prevalent in all age groups of the population. According to National Family Health Survey (2006-07) and the World Bank (2006), about 70% preschool children suffer from iron deficiency anaemia and 57% preschool children have sub-clinical Vitamin A deficiency respectively. 
• As per the World Bank (2006), Iodine deficiency is endemic in 85 per cent of districts. Moreover, folate deficiency which leads to Neural Tube Defects (NTDS)are the most common congenital malformation in Indian context with an incidence that varies between 0.5-8/1000 births. It is estimated that 50-70% of these birth defects are preventable.

FSSAI being the standard setting and regulatory body has taken a step in public health domain to address these and other vitamin deficiency-related Malnutrition Disorders through fortification of food. 

What is food fortification:

Food fortification - also known as food enrichment - is when nutrients are added to food at higher levels than what the original food provides. This is done to address micronutrient deficiencies across populations, countries and regions.

• Food fortification can happen at the household level, the community level or, most commonly, at the industrial level:
• Mass fortification is when micronutrients are added to foods commonly consumed by the mass population – such as cereals and condiments.
• Universal fortification is when micronutrients are added to food consumed by animals as well as people, such as with iodization of salt.
• Targeted fortification exists in such areas as school food programs, when, for example, a cracker is specifically fortified for a targeted age group.

Fortification world over:

Discarded newspapers continue to be a health hazard

Srinagar: Violating the advisory from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), street vendors are continuing the usage of newspapers for wrapping the food items in the Valley.

On December 10, FSSAI had issued an advisory in which they have stated to ban the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, which is practiced by small corner shops and street vendors. They have asked commissioners of food safety of all states and Union territories to take necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items as the newspaper ink can contaminate food items leading to serious health concerns.

After the advisory from FSSAI, Assistant Food Commissioner Srinagar, Hilal Mir issued a statement, in which it was said that strict action will be taken against those violating the directions of FSSAI.

But the violations are still taking place in civil lines, downtown as well as in uptown areas of Srinagar, not to talk of far-off villages and towns of the Valley. The newspapers continue to be the preferred choice of vendors to wrap the food articles.

The roadside vendors were seen selling snacks to the customers wrapped with the newspapers at many places in and around the Srinagar city. Even fried fish were also sold to the customers wrapped in used newspapers.

As per FSSAI advisory, newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover and serve food or to absorb excess oil from fried food. Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications, if they are exposed to food packed in such materials. Suitable steps need to be taken to restrict and control the use of newspapers for packing food material.

“Since the ink used in newspapers has multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects can easily leach into foods wrapped or served in them, it poses a potential risk to human health when consumed. Also, the solvent used to dissolve ink on the paper can be potentially carcinogenic,” FSSAI said in an advisory.

“We have filed 58 challans in the month of January this year for the insanitary condition in which majority of the cases were about the usage of newspaper,” Hilal added.

Deputy drug controller, Kashmir Division Irfana said, “We are launching an awareness campaign through radio, television and newspapers to discourage use of newspapers for wrapping food items,” she said.