Kolkata woman claims she found ‘fried lizard’ in McDonald’s food

Kolkata: A six-month pregnant homemaker filed a complaint with the police against fast food chain McDonald’s, alleging that the restaurant served a “fried lizard” at its outlet in the city this week.

Priyanka Mitra visited the outlet at Mani Square, off EM Bypass, on February 28 morning for breakfast. She was accompanied by her four-year-old daughter and mother.

Ms Mitra said Friday she had ordered French fries and a burger. She told the police that she found the fried lizard in the French fries when she started eating with her family members.

“I started vomiting suddenly. Later, when I showed them if this was the standard of hygiene, they told me it was a mistake and tried to hush it up,” the homemaker said.

She also took photos of the fried reptile. “The area sales manager was so audacious that he called up me saying that I would not be able to do much against them although they were at fault,” Ms Mitra said.

“He also tried to settle the matter by offering me a free meal first and then a free birthday party there. But I made it clear to them that I will move the consumer court to sue them, besides lodging complaints with the police and the company in the US,” she said.

The resident of Bangur Avenue later visited a gynaecologist for treatment. “I have recovered from my illness a bit. My daughter developed phobia of lizards. I have lodged an FIR with Phoolbagan police station against McDonald’s,” she said. “The police has asked if I have any photograph of the fried lizard. I will submit it to them.”

A McDonald’s India spokesperson (north and east), said, “We are taking the matter seriously. Immediately upon being made aware of the complaint, we launched a thorough investigation in an effort to gather the facts of the matter… it is ongoing.”

The company said the officials from the food safety authority fully inspected its restaurant, including the kitchen, and gave permission to reopen the restaurant.

Spice vendors in Mapusa get notices from Food and Drugs Administration

MAPUSA: Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Friday inspected Mapusa market and served notices to 33 vendors and seven shop owners for selling spices without valid permission.

Acting on a complaint, a team of FDA inspectors, under the supervision of Rajiv Korde, conducted the inspection of the spices vendors. Sources said that six inspectors went around the market area in a crackdown on the illegal selling of spices. The officers issued notices to 33 daily vendors who were selling species without proper permission and seven shop owners for violating the Food Safety Act.

The vendors were asked to close down their businesses immediately and were also warned against beginning operations until they had obtain proper permissions from the department.

Sources said that most of the vendors shut shop, except for one.

Later in the day a team of Mapusa municipal council staffers, led by municipal inspector Tayo Gadekar, inspected the market to ensure that the FDA's directives were being implemented.

The goods of the vendor who continued to do the business despite FDA notice were confiscated.

Blanket ban on chewable tobacco products in compliance to Apex Court diktat

Port Blair

The ban imposed on chewable tobacco products in these Islands is in the larger interest of public health and in compliance to Supreme Court order. The repeated directions given to the A&N Administration by the Govt. of India to ban chewable tobacco products in A &N Islands have been implemented in letter and spirit and the ban came into effect in A&N Islands from October 2, 2016. It is worth mentioning that so far 26 States and 5 UTs have already imposed ban on tobacco products across the country.

The former Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, vide his letter dated 06th August, 2014 has conveyed about the Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on Sales) Regulations 2011 under which tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as an ingredient in any food product.

A request was also made by Mr Jonah Paul, Chairman of Tribal Council, Teressa Island, Nicobar District vide his letter dated 22/11/2014 to make Teressa island- a tobacco free Island.

In the light of increase in percentage of oral cancer in A&N Islands i.e 50 cases in 2015 and 84 cases in 2016, the A&N Administration has decided to impose total ban on the manufacture, storage distribution and sale of all forms of processed/ flavoured/ scented chewing tobacco products like gutka, packed/unpacked zarda etc. in A&N Islands from October 2, 2016. It is also to be mentioned that non compliance to Apex Court Order to ban tobacco products would have resulted in contempt of Apex Court Order and the States/UTs which have not banned chewable tobacco products so far will have to comply before the next date of hearing in the Supreme Court.

The Court ordered: “Learned Amicus Curiae has also pointed out that this Court has not granted any stay of regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011 and the concerned authorities are duty bound to enforce the said Regulations framed under section 92 read with section 26 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.

In view of the above, the concerned statutory authorities are directed to comply with the above mandate of Law. We also direct the Secretaries, Health Department of all States and Union territories to file their affidavits before next date of hearing on the issue of total compliance of the ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of Gutkha and Pan Masala with tobacco and/or nicotine.”

So far 26 States and 5 UTs have already prohibited tobacco products across the country. From the above facts, it is amply clear that it is not a choice for the States not to ban the chewing tobacco products. The ban imposed on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of chewing tobacco products was in compliance of orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, repeated directions of Govt. of India and in cognizance of evidence of spread of Oral Cancer in A&N Islands.

Water unit sealed

The district administration has sealed Aqua Pure Plus packed water unit of Siddheshwari Foods and Beverages on the charge that it “manufactured” and marketed packed drinking water without obtaining licence from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India and the Bureau of Indian Standards. A release said that this water was not suitable for consumption.

Dough kneading with feet video triggers hygiene test on Delhi eateries

The video of an employee of New Delhi's famous eatery, 'Kake Da Dhaba', kneading dough with his feet has triggered a crackdown by the Food and Safety Department of Delhi on restaurants.
The department has collected samples from from four restaurants in Connaught Place -- KFC, Ardor, Hotel Marina and Flying Saucer QBA (formerly known as Qba) – and sent them for tests on March 1. Samples of chicken strips, aloo sabji, paneer tikka and methi malai tikka have been taken.
"We are taking food samples from all districts. On Friday, food safety officers visited central, south-east and north districts. We want to ensure that the food is safe and all standards are maintained," said Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Commissioner, Department of Food Safety, Delhi government.
According to officials, a complaint was filed by a consumer on February 1 against KFC, alleging that a worm was found inside a chicken piece. "We have collected samples of chicken wings from the outlet. The report will come in 15 days," said Pawan Kamra, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Food Safety.
Suveet Kalra, Head of Operations, Ardor, said: "The officials visited our restaurant on Wednesday. They have collected samples and food items. They were quite satisfied with our food and we are sure we will pass the test." The Delhi High Court on Thursday had directed the authorities not to pick and choose restaurants on the pretext of hygiene and safety standards. The court was hearing a case related to 'Kake Da Hotel'. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva's remarks came while ordering the withdrawal of a notice against the hotel, a popular joint in Connaught Place.
"It is a routine check done every year. But this time they took samples of cooked food while previously, on all occasions, they have taken raw materials like spices, oil, paneer etc. We are confident that we will pass the test," said Karuna Kanta Debnath, Operations Manager, QBA.
KFC and Hotel Marina were not available for comments.
On February 22, the Food Safety Department raided 'Kake Da Dhaba', the 86-year-old eatery, and collected food samples after an unverified video showed a cook kneading dough with his feet.
While the restaurant denied the charge, out of the food samples collected from Kake Da Hotel, a sample of chutney failed the quality test. The capital has 5,00,000 food vendors. The department has only six food inspectors against a vacancy of 32. The situation has been the same for the last three years.
"We are going to have a written examination in the coming week for safety officers. Hopefully, 20 more will be hired soon," said Dr Darswal. Food inspectors either randomly visit restaurants and collect samples or take action on complaints. The inspector first collects food samples, investigate the case, launch prosecution (if required) and then take the cases to special courts.

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16 டன் கலப்பட ஜவ்வரிசி லாரியுடன் பறிமுதல்

சேலம்: சேலத்தில், 16 டன் கலப்பட ஜவ்வரிசி, லாரியுடன் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம், ராசிபுரத்தில் இருந்து, கலப்பட ஜவ்வரிசி ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு லாரி ஒன்று, சேலம் வருவதாக தகவல் கிடைத்தது. அதையடுத்து, சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையிலான அலுவலர்கள், நேற்று மதியம், 3:00 மணியளவில், கொண்டலாம்பட்டி ரவுண்டானாவில் வாகன தணிக்கை மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது, புகாரில் தெரிவித்த எஸ்.ஆர்.எஸ்., என்ற லாரியை மடக்கினர். அதன் டிரைவர் லாரியை நிறுத்திவிட்டு சென்றுவிட்டார். உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள், லாரியில் இருந்த முகவரி, மொபைல் எண்ணுக்கு தொடர்புகொண்டனர். ராசிபுரம் அருகே, காகாவாரி யில் உள்ள வெங்கட்ராயர் சேகோ தொழிற்சாலையில் இருந்து, 16 டன் ஜவ்வரிசி லோடு ஏற்றிவந்தது தெரிந்தது. ஜவ்வரிசி லோடுடன், லாரி பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. ஜவ்வரிசி மதிப்பு, 10 லட்ச ரூபாய்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது: வெங்கட்ராயர், டிரைவர் உதவியுடன், லாரி, என் அலுவலகம் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டது. பின், ஜவ்வரிசியை பரிசோதிக்க மாதிரி எடுத்தோம். மரவள்ளி கிழங்கில், மக்காச்சோள மாவு கலந்து, கலப்பட ஜவ்வரிசி தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது தெரிந்தது. அதை உறுதிப்படுத்த ஆய்வுக்கூடத்துக்கு அனுப்பி உள்ளோம். வக்கீலுடன் வந்து, நடவடிக்கை கூடாது என நெருக்கடி கொடுத்தும், அதற்கு இணங்கவில்லை. முறைப்படி, நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத்து, பத்திரத்தில் எழுதிக் பெற்று கொண்டு, பாதுகாப்புக்காக, ஜவ்வரிசி லோடுடன், லாரியை ஒப்படைத்து விட்டோம். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.