Jun 4, 2017
Unsafe practices: fine imposed on erring hoteliers
The Collector has called for serving food in hotels and roadside eateries on banana leaves and plates made of arecanut leaves.
The Food Safety Department has registered as many as 288 cases of adopting unsafe practices while marketing food products in the district in the last five years and a fine of Rs. 36 lakh was collected from the erring hoteliers, said V. Samapth, District Collector.
The Food Safety Department has issued licence to 28,000 people for running hotels and eateries.
The people involved in this industry who have not registered their concerns with the department and not got proper licence should do the same with immediate effect, the Collector said while speaking at a meeting to create awareness on the food safety norms and the consumer rights held at the Collectorate on Friday.
The department booked 288 cases of practising unsafe food production/distribution methods. In 48 cases, a total fine of Rs. 36 lakh was slapped on the erring concerns and the penalty collected.
The Collector called upon the hoteliers, roadside eateries, tea stalls and the bakeries to shun using plastic bags, newspapers and other materials for packing food articles, as they proved harmful to the health of the consumers.
The use of newspapers for wrapping and packing food items, a common practice by street vendors, posed a health hazard.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has restricted the use of newspapers as packaging material stating that the consumption of food wrapped newspapers was injurious to health. The chemicals in newspaper ink contained harmful colours, pigments, additives and preservatives.
They should take steps for serving the food on the banana leaves and the plates made of arecanut leaves. The food items should also be packed only using the banana, arecanut and teak leaves, he said.
He warned the hoteliers with stringent action, if found violating government norms.
T. Anuradha, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, and other officials participated in the meeting.
Petition submitted
The members of the Salem Ilaignar Kuzhu has urged the district administration to direct the owners of hotels and eateries to supply food in banana leaves instead of serving the same in plastic and butter papers.
The members, holding banana leaves, presented a petition in this regard to the District Collector V. Sampath during the public grievances redressal day meeting recently. They also displayed banners with the slogans “Let us use banana leaves and eradicate plastic materials”.
They said, of late, in many vegetarian hotels and roadside eateries food is served in plastic materials, instead of banana leaves. Using plastic materials will prove harmful to health.
Food is served even in ‘Amma Unavagams’ in plastic materials.
They urged the Collector to slap a ban on using plastic materials for serving food in the hotels and eateries and direct them to serve the food only in banana leaves.
Mr. Sampath forwarded the petition to T. Anuradha, Designated Officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, to initiate appropriate action.
The milk you drink may be laced with detergents
Glass full Adulterated milk is linked to a range of health hazards, according to the study.
Gap between milk production and demand is what incentivises adulteration
India may be the largest producer of milk in the world but is the milk really safe? A study which analysed samples in Delhi found that it contained “harmful adulterants”, the most common among them being starch, chlorine, hydrated lime, sodium carbonate, formalin and ammonium sulphate. Milk producers are known to use these substances to scrimp on milk portions and prepare “synthetic milk” by mixing urea, caustic soda, refined oil and common detergents.
Adulterated milk is linked to a range of health hazards which include gastrointestinal disorders, renal and skin diseases, eye and heart problems, and cancer, according to the study which will be published later this month in the peer-reviewed Current Science.
Results of study
For their study, the researchers, led by Brototi Roy and colleagues at Maitreyi College in Delhi, randomly collected 75 milk samples (packaged and unpackaged) from different regions of Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad. These were tested for adulterants such as neutralisers, skimmed milk powder, urea, detergents and ammonium sulphate.
The study found that all the milk samples were adulterated with neutralisers. These are substances added to prevent curdling and increase the shelf life of milk. They could be added in the form of caustic soda, sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate. Packaged milk, that now forms a significant chunk of the milk delivered to homes, was found to contain a higher amount of neutralisers, solid milk products and urea. A higher proportion of unpackaged milk samples contained detergents and ammonium sulphate.
Milk adulterated with detergents is known to cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal complications. In addition, some detergents contained dioxane, a carcinogenic agent. The concentration of urea in natural milk ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 g/l whereas adulterated milk contains almost 20 times its natural concentration and stresses the kidney to the point of renal failure.
It is also reported to weaken the eyesight and trigger headaches and diarrhoea in children. In excessive quantities, ammonium sulphate can lead to coronary disease, gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Demand is the catalyst
Even though a majority of Indians are lactose intolerant — i.e. they lack the gene that allows milk to be digested beyond childhood — the consumption of milk and dairy products in India outstrips milk production.
At roughly 160 million tonnes annually, India accounts for a fifth of world production. This is primarily due to the overwhelming popularity of milk in north and north-west India. North-eastern States such as Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have reduced milk consumption, according to the National Sample Survey Office. The discrepancy between production and demand incentivises adulteration.
Earlier investigations, similar to the Delhi study, have also found several instances of adulteration in other parts of the country. A 2012 report by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said that 68.4% of samples from across the country were found contaminated with various adulterants and fell below required milk quality standards. The study tested samples from States and Union Territories and found that barring Goa and Puducherry, all States had a significant fraction of their milk adulterated. At the other end, all the samples tested in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Mizoram were completely adulterated. Of these, 33.4% of packaged milk and 66.6% of unpackaged milk sold by milkmen were adulterated.
THAT WATER POUCH MIGHT GIVE YOU A STOMACH ACHE
Can cause gastro problems: docs
According to AMC Food Inspector Rakesh Ghame the samples were collected from packaged drinking water units and the water at some of these units was substandard, though not unsafe. “Substandard quality water is relatively safe to drink; however, hygiene is not maintained while packaging the water. Around 98 per cent substandard water samples show aerobic microbial activity whereas around 2 per cent per cent show E. Coli.” AMC Lab Technician Atul Soni said, “The packaging units do not take care of hygiene and as a result, aerobic microbial activity is seen in the water which can later cause gastrointestinal problems. E. Coli on the other hand results in food poisoning.” Director of Indian Institute of Public Health, Dr Dilip Mavalankar, said, “The bacteria and the virus if ingested, can cause digestive problems, nausea and other health problems. Both pathogens are dangerous as it can cause cholera, jaundice and other waterborne diseases and can cause an outbreak.”
How do we identify unsafe water: Amdavadis
Substandard packaged water remains a matter of concern for Amdavadis. “The water looks clean, tastes clean. How can we know if the water is contaminated,” asks city-based engineer Nirav Raval who was shocked to hear the results of the test. Entrepreneur Jaimin Gondaliya who has to travel extensively for work and prefers to buy water pouches instead of bottles added, “I buy pouches to avoid wastage. With packaged water, we assume it is hygienic and safe. But now that I know of the test results, it seems I should stick to carrying boiled water from home with me.” He further added that the units that do not follow strict code of hygiene should be penalized.
‘Strong immune system’
However, there are also people who feel that these results are no big deal. Shagun Bhat, student of Calorx Teachers’ University told Mirror, “Despite being a health enthusiast, I regularly drink water from pouches. I have never fallen ill. Yes, once a water pouch I bought tasted strange. I just threw it away and bought a new one. I guess I have a strong immune system” Theatre actor Kailash Shahdadpuri who is a frequent traveller depends on the water pouches, irrespective of where he is. “I often drink water outside, be it from packaged bottles or pouches as they are convenient. I have never faced any health issues.” NIFT student Trishla Lakhani meanwhile, nips the issue in the bud. “I make it a point to carry a water bottle from home and only in rare cases do I buy packaged bottled water. I never go for water pouches as I don’t trust the quality.”
Fine ranges from Rs 5K to Rs 2 L, say AMC officials
According to Ghame, the packaging units packaging substandard water are fined and action taken against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Depending on the quality of water, AMC levies fines in the range of Rs 2,000 to Rs 5 lakh. “However, in the last three years none of the water bottling plants has been fined as the case against them is pending in the district collectorate office,” said Ghame.
Certifications required for organic products
With multiple research studies recommending the use of organic products, people are increasingly becoming aware towards its benefits and harmful effects of non-organic contenders.
However, while buying an organic product from a store, you must ensure that the label of the product carries the certifications required for organic products. As an end consumer, the certification carries a great deal of significance in informing you about the credibility of the product you invest in.
Just labelling the product as ‘organic’ or ‘100% organic doesn’t verify the genius of the products contained therein. Besides, the farmers engaged in cultivation of organic products are benefitted by these mandatory certifications for organic products.
Becoming a certified organic farmer helps him in accessing the local and international markets easily. He receives his due share in the revenue generated from organic farming and thus supports the local economy.
Though every country has its own process of certification, the following certifications are mandatory for organic products:
USDA Organic
The USDA organic certification verifies that the organic products adhere to the regulations, requirement and specifications recommended by United states Department of Agriculture.
Being the most comprehensive and demanding system of certification, it covers a wide range of detailed monitoring and control measures.
SGS GMP certification
SGS GMP (Good manufacturing practices) certification verifies that all measures are being taken to ensure an effective food safety program. It addresses the issues of hygiene at every level of the manufacturing process, including the premises and equipment, primary production, packaging, warehousing, distribution, pest control and waste management, as well as routine personal hygiene of the staff involved.
SGS HACCP certification
Hazard analysis and critical points (HACCP) certification ensures that the standards of WHO (World Health Organization) are met during management of food safety and hygiene.
It is an accredited registration scheme for assessing the operational status and performance of the organizations regarding safety of foodstuffs. Organizations that successfully complete this assessment process are given HACCP certificate and registration, ensuring the consumers, retailers, and government authorities to have justified confidence in the way that organization controls food safety and food hygiene.
SGS ISO 9001: 2008
ISO Certification is the most essential and pre- requisite for organic products worldwide. There is no better guarantee than ISO Certification in earning the buyer’s confidence and recognition for the product, internationally.
ISO standards ensure features like quality, ecology, safety, economy, reliability, compatibility, inter-operability, efficiency and effectiveness of the product.
It is responsible for spreading awareness about the product, share technical advances in its manufacture, and the management practices; thus facilitating business.
ISO standards provide practical solutions to achieve benefits in every sector of business, industry and technology, and for all three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, environmental and social.
EU Organic Certification
The EU organic certification is a guarantee for the product in compliance with the common European organic food standards. The certification can ensure the consumers that at least 95% of the product’s ingredients have been organically produced.
Moreover, the product complies with the rules of the official inspection scheme, is directly delivered from the producer or the vendor bearing his name and the name or code of the inspection body.
NPOP (National Program for Organic Production) India Organic
The standards for organic production in India and the organic logo are governed by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development authority), which provides national standards for organic products through a National Accreditation Policy and Programme.
NPOP aims to provide the means for evaluation of certification programmes for organic products according to the international standards. Further, it strives to encourage organic farming in India.
An organic website may not carry all these certifications at once, however, any of these is the hallmark of purity of organic products.
Only 9 employees on job to test food items J&K consumes
90 of sanctioned 200 posts in JK Food Control Organisation vacant; it took department 3 months to warn public about bad quality of pulses in market recently
Only a fraction of food items in the markets of the Valley is tested for quality and adulteration currently because the Drug and Food Control Organisation is working at nearly half its staff strength.
Documents accessed by Greater Kashmir reveal the food wing of the Organisation has a sanctioned strength of 202 posts. But 90 of these are vacant, including the important posts of food analysts (FAs) and food safety officers (FSOs).
Three of the four posts of FAs and all six positions of assistant food analysts are vacant. A food analyst supervises food quality tests and also decides on what tests to be carried out and also their timing.
There is a single laboratory technician for the entire state against the sanctioned eight posts.
Currently, all quality tests for both Kashmir and Jammu divisions is carried out by nine employees—1 food analyst, 1 senior lab technician, 1 lab technician, 2 lab assistants and 4 lab attendants—at the two food testing laboratories, Patoli (Jammu) and Dalgate (Srinagar).
The situation in the field is no better. As many as 36 posts of Food Safety Officers, who are tasked with market checks and lifting food samples for testing besides other activities, have also been lying vacant. Hence, markets largely go unchecked.
At the higher level, the post of Commissioner Food Safety and two posts of Assistant Commissioner Food Safety (ACFS) too haven’t been filled for more than a year now, though the ACFS posts were advertised by the Public Service Commission in April last year.
The charge of Commissioner Food Safety has been given as an additional task to Commissioner Health and Medical Education.
In March last year, Greater Kashmir had carried a series of reports about the status of food safety in Kashmir, which prompted the High Court to take Suo-Moto cognizance of the issue concerning public health. Hearing the case, on May 24 this year, the Court directed the government to fully equip food testing laboratories and provide manpower to mobile testing vans in the state.
The division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also directed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to depute a qualified person to these laboratories to find out whether they fulfill the requirements under Food Safety and Standards Act.
Although, following the High Court intervention, the government allotted funds to the department and ordered procurement of advanced equipments for food testing and quality control, the shortage of the manpower has defeated the purpose.
The official said orders for procurement of machines worth Rs 6.75 crores have already been placed through J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited.
“But the shortage of manpower is defeating the entire initiative,” said the official.
During the financial year 2016-17, about 1485 samples of food items were lifted in Kashmir division (including Ladakh) and reports of 1311 samples were furnished. Of these, 254 samples were found sub-standard.
Last week, the organization issued advisory regarding “unsafe” pulses available in market. These samples, as per officials, had been lifted in March 2017 when 4970 kilograms of pulses were seized from Srinagar markets.
Although, the Food Safety and Standards Act mandates that the test report be furnished within 15 days of the sample’s receipt at the lab, it took the department three months to prepare the report and issue the advisory because of the shortage of staff.
Controller Food and Drugs Lotika Khajuria said all vacant posts have been referred to recruiting agencies.
“The matter (of recruitment) is not in my jurisdiction,” she said.
Chairperson JK Service Selection Board Sarita Chauhan said her department “is ready” to carry out the recruitment.
“We are trying to find a suitable date for conducting the exams for these posts. As soon as we find a date that does not clash with any other exam we will notify it,” she said.
No licence coming, 600 meat shops back in business
LUCKNOW: They don't have the licence to operate but close to 600 meat shops in the city have started functioning illegally.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the licensing authority, no shop is even eligible for a licence; a major reason being that there is no slaughterhouse or source of raw meat in the city.
"Butchering of animals inside shops is prohibited so meat shop owners have to show their source. Since there is no slaughterhouse, they have no source to show. As a result, they are not eligible to even apply," said DR Mishra, designated officer of FSSAI. President of butchers' association Shafeen Qureshi said the online system was complicated and queries are not handled properly at the FSSAI office. "We have visited the FSSAI office half-a-dozen times. Sometimes, the officials say they don't have the format and sometimes they say they don't have the orders to accept applications. So we have stopped making the effort," he said.
The high court, on May 12, directed the government to commission new licences and renew old ones. It also observed it was the responsibility of the municipal corporation to construct a modern slaughterhouse.
However, LMC is neither streamlining the procedure to construct the proposed slaughterhouse nor is it planning a crackdown on meat shops functioning without licences. "A month ago, we carried out drives to shut down illegal meat shops. It is the duty of LMC to check shops operating without licences," said acting mayor Suresh Chandra Awasthi.
As to why there was no progress in the construction of a modern slaughterhouse, he said, "The pollution department has not provided an NOC." UP Pollution Control Board officials said the NOC had been rejected because of incomplete information. "LMC's application was rejected because it did not have requisite information. We even sent them a query asking for details but got no revert," said Kuldeep Mishra, regional head of the pollution control board.
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