May 26, 2017
Vendors caught selling water from unlabelled, soiled cans in Chennai
CHENNAI: In the second time in less than a month, food safety officers on Thursday caught vendors selling water unlabelled and soiled cans at two government hospitals in Egmore here.
Based on a tip-off, food safety officers landed at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and found a vendor selling water on the campus at Rs 8 a bottle. Another man was caught selling water on the pavement just outside the Institute of Child Health from a container that had multiple labels. Around 40 cans were seized.
Food safety officer A Chandrasekaran, who inspected the hospitals along with two other officers, said four samples were collected and sent for testing. "Last time, the vendors were just let off with a warning. This time, if the samples are found to be non-potable, the department can take action," he said.
During questioning, the vendors said they had bought the water cans from a dealer nearby for Rs 40. The water was then sold to patients and their attendants.
On May 11, food safety officers caught the same two vendors selling water from soiled cans in the hospitals.
Quality of water sold by tanker lorry operators remains unchecked
There is no mechanism to check the quality of potable water supplied in private water tankers.
Water shortage during the harsh summer has forced many to depend on private water suppliers. However, the quality of potable water sold by tanker lorry operators remains unchecked as there is no mechanism in place for the same.
While quality of packaged drinking water is often checked by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), potable water supplied by private operators in tankers is not checked by the government agency.
‘Not a packaged product’
According to FSSAI officials, potable water supplied in private tankers does not come under their ambit. “Examining the quality of water supplied in tanker lorries does not come under FSSAI as it is not a packaged product. FSSAI examines only packaged drinking water,” said O.L.S. Vijay, designated officer, FSSAI, Coimbatore.
As of now, private water tanker operators do not require any licence or permit to supply potable water or water for other purposes. They either draw water from their own water sources like bore wells and open wells or buy water from those who have the sources.
“The water supplied can be potable or for other purposes. Even if we check water in a tanker, the operator may not admit that it is for drinking purposes. It is difficult for us to prove the same,” said a food safety official.
The corporation has no role in checking the quality, according to officials as the local body is responsible to ensure quality of water supplied by it at times when distribution through pipelines is disrupted.
Meanwhile, most of the hotels in the city which buy potable water from private suppliers, are providing filtered drinking water to customers. According to K. Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, it is advisable for the seller to get the sample of water from the collection centre to be tested once in a while.
“This will help them to ensure their credibility and safety of water supplied to the customers,” said Mr. Kathirmathiyon.
“We spent around Rs 5,000 to purchase potable water a day. While reverse osmosis water is served in the pipeline for hand wash, purified water is given for consumption,” said an owner of one of the restaurants in the city.
According to representatives of Private Water Suppliers’ Association, there are about 5,000 tankers operate in Coimbatore.
These tankers supply water to apartments, hospitals, hotels, schools, private enterprises and houses. After regulations were brought in on drawing water from water bodies, private suppliers mainly depend on bore wells in the rural parts of the district.
Nagaland Health department cautions food business operators
May 26, 2017
DIMAPUR, MAY 25 (MExN): The Nagaland State Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) issued a notice today prohibiting the sale of all forms of packed food items, beyond their ‘best before’ and ‘expiry date’ timeframe. The prohibition is in effect across the state.
The notification stated that sale of food beyond ‘best before’ and after ‘expiry date’ may be considered as unsafe food and is prohibited under sub-clause (I) and (2) of the Section 26 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and sub-clause (a) clause (2) of Section 27 of the said Act.
Offenders are liable to a penalty not exceeding Rs 25,000 under Section 50 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months to seven years with fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000 under clause (I) (II) (Ill) and (IV) of Section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The department directed all food business operators in the state to comply with this notification, and cautioned that action shall be taken against defaulters under the appropriate provisions of the said Act.
All designated officers (CMOs) and Food Safety Officers (FSOs) have also been asked to carry out inspection/checking and sampling of food establishments under their jurisdiction and take necessary action against the defaulters.
Further, the department also asked the public to inform the Chief Medical Officers/Food Safety Officers of the districts or Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (Food Safety Cell) if anyone is found selling such food items.
Newspaper for packaging food, banned:regulations
Mangaluru, May 25, 2017: Food retailers can legally no longer pack food in newspapers as it poses serious health hazards, stated a Food Safety Officer, in Mangaluru city.
Under the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the authorities have now agreed to implement the Food and Safety and Standards Act effectively in the district, the official said. He said that use of newspapers for packing cooked food poses a risk to health and thus the ban is essential.
A press release from the Food Safety Officer said that public should not purchase any food items especially fried eatables wrapped in newspapers. Even mineral water comes under food category. The release stated that can/bottle/containers of water should have BIS standard and ISI mark. It should mandatorily have the date of manufacture and the expiry date on the bottle.
"If the public come across packaged drinking water units that fail to have ISI mark and are being sold in the market, they can bring the same to the notice of the food safety officer," he said.
"The use of calcium carbide for artificially ripening fruits like banana, chikoo, mango, mosambi is also banned. Artificial ripening of fruits is not good for health," food safety and quality officer Dr Rajesh said.
Consumers should verify details on standard mark, nutrition values, importers details, weight of the produce, expiry date and manufacturing date while purchasing food products.
In case of any complaints of food safety and standards, public can contact:
Dr Rajesh B V, Designated officer, Food Safety and Quality officer, Mangaluru (9449843255, 0824-2420466);
H P Raju, senior food safety officer, MCC limits (7019181523/ 8453441763),
Dr Naveen Chandra Kulal, taluk medical officer/food safety officer (9845228689),
Dr K Kala Madhu Taluk medical officer/food safety officer, Belthangady (9845967576),
Dr Subramanya M R, taluk medical officer/food safety officer, Sullia (9449662224),
Dr Deepa Prabhu, taluk medical officer/food safety officer, Bantwal (9845838677),
Sumanth, food safety officer, Puttur (9449505104).
5 RO plants seized
Lucknow: Five reverse osmosis (RO) plants have been seized by the food safety and drug administration (FSDA) in this month till now for anomalies in documentation.
The fifth, in Aurangabad, was seized late Wednesday evening.
According to FSDA district officer PR Mishra, there are eight RO plants in Lucknow approved by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The seized plants were not registered with either.
The seized RO plants supply around 5,000 litres of water to Lucknow daily. According to FSDA, the manufacturers used to supply bottles to offices and student hostels.
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