After rat in mid-day meal, Delhi food safety department to inspect 33 kitchens

Delhi’s food safety department will conduct emergency inspections of all 33 mid-day meal kitchens and transportation facilities for the food.

Three days after nine children fell ill at a Delhi government school after consuming a mid-day meal that had a dead rat in it, Delhi’s food safety department will conduct emergency inspections of all 33 mid-day meal kitchens and transportation facilities for the food.

“We will finish inspection of all 33 mid-day meal kitchens tomorrow (Tuesday), after which we will move on to MCD and NDMC-run schools and then private schools as a part of the drive,” said Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Delhi’s food commissioner. Twenty-seven samples were picked up from 11 of the 15 schools inspected on Monday.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, issued the order on Sunday, saying all inspections must be completed by February 24.

“After inspection, if required, improvement notices can be issued and if hygiene is found to be too lacking, the kitchen may be ordered to be shut down,” the order signed by Darswal read.

During the current drive, “surveillance samples” will be picked up during this drive and if need be the food safety officers can later collect legal samples. “There is a specific process that needs to be followed when picking up legal samples that can be presented in the court of law. However, it is time-consuming. Since, this is an emergency inspection drive, we will be collecting surveillance samples. We can pick up legal samples from places that fail the preliminary tests,” said Darswal.

The food safety department has also roped in 18 NABL accredited labs to conduct the inspections. “All NABL accredited empanelled private labs may be directed to pick up surveillance samples from kitchens allotted... Also, water meant for cooking be lifted and tested. All kitchens to be sampled for full testing including microbiological test,” the order read.

Govt orders inspection of midday meal kitchens

New Delhi: The Delhi government has directed its officers to visit all midday meal kitchens in their respective districts to check hygiene level there. “If hygiene is found to be lacking, shut down notices will be served,” a government directive said. The move comes in the backdrop of a dead rat being found in the midday meal served in a school due to which nine children were taken ill.

As per the order, issued by the Food Safety Commissioner, all designated officers along with their Food Safety Officers have been directed to visit all midday meal kitchens and transportation facilities falling under their district to check hygiene and cleanliness as per the standards laid down under FSS, 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011.

“After inspection, they are directed to fill up an inspection format completely and if required improvement notices be issued, if hygiene is found to be lacking, kitchen may be ordered to be shut down,” read the directive.

Besides, NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited empanelled private labs have been directed to pick surveillance samples from the kitchen allotted and take them straight to their labs for testing.

“Also water meant for cooking be lifted and tested. All kitches to be sampled for full testing including microbiological test,” the directive said.

Nine students of a government school in the city were taken ill on February 16 after consuming midday meal which allegedly had a dead rat in it.

The meal was served at Government Boys’ Senior Secondary School in Deoli area, and students were rushed to Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital.

Nine packaged drinking water units to be sealed

After launching a crackdown on erring packaged drinking water units in Thoothukudi district, nine were found functioning without any licenses. Hence, the authorities have been directed to seal these units, said Collector M. Ravikumar.

A total of 53 packaged drinking water units were functioning in the district and of these only eight were found to have all the licenses required, he told the media here on Monday.

To start such units, licenses have to be obtained from the Public Works Department (Groundwater), Pollution Control Board and under the Food Safety and Standards Act they have to obtain licenses from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety Department.

As nine units did not possess any of these licenses, orders were issued to seal them.

Group of secretaries recommend additional tax on saturated food items

A group of secretaries have recommended putting an additional tax on saturated food items, a top Health Ministry official today said.

A group of secretaries have recommended putting an additional tax on saturated food items, a top Health Ministry official today said. Health secretary C K Mishra today said his ministry too has been making such recommendations from time to time while some amount of work on the issue is also being done by the country’s food regulator. “We have been making these recommendations. There is some amount of work also going on in Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). “A group of secretaries also made a recommendation to tax all saturated food. These things are going on,” Mishra said.

He was asked whether the government, as a serious policy measure, contemplating to put tax on some food items and drinks. According to reports, the group of secretaries had earlier recommended imposition of additional taxes on foods with added sugar and saturated fats.

Higher taxes on junk food and sugary beverages were suggested because consumption of such products is growing fast and fuelling several lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disorders.

Taxing sugary drinks can lower consumption and reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, a new World Health Organisation report had earlier said.

Govt to come out with policy soon to keep the young away from junk food

Considering the young generation the future of economic prosperity of the nation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today said it would soon bring out a legislation or an ordinance or a policy to keep the youths healthy and away from junk food. Ministry of health and family welfare, secretary C K Mishra launching a "Saathiya app' and "Saathiya kit" to address the problems related to physical, mental and overall development of the adolescents said,'' The young constitute 26 crore of the population of the country and they are the future of the nation. If India has to be strong and wealthy, it is imperative that the health of the youngsters is good, therefore junk food has to be bid goodbye and they have to say yes to nutritious and clean food.''

He said,'' the growing years are that phase of the growing up when the youths are on the theshold of becoming 'adults'. Their mind is filled with unanswered questions about their physical and mental development and are puzzled about them. There should be someone to answer their queries in a friendly way and settle them down and therefore this "Saathiya kit". The young can know anything regarding their health using this kit. They can even ask queries and can take suggestions. Children have also been advised to lay off from junk food which is harmful for health.''In reply to a query, Mr Mishra said,'' No concrete policy has been formed as yet to ban junk food available in the market but suggestions have been forthcoming from secretaries of various ministries to stop junk food in all forms easily available in the market. The health ministry in coordination with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is deliberating upon a strategy because the authority to ban junk food lies with the latter only.