Gold eating becomes a health fad

Food safety in city, a myth

It’s a precarious position with only three food inspectors for 30 circles

When Bobbili Kiran Goud, a customer to a high profile restaurant complained about finding an insect in the food to the GHMC Food Safety wing, the answer he received was bemusing. The official concerned replied that he was busy at the moment, and could inspect the food joint only after two days.

In fact, the corporation officials who are to monitor food standards have their hands too busy and overflowing with work to take prompt action as soon as the complaint is received.

For the 30 circles in five zones of the corporation, there are only three food inspectors, and one among them is burdened with multiple responsibilities. This leaves food safety in numerous joints, hotels, restaurants and hospitals in a precarious position. “I have to handle cases pertaining to three zones and within 47 police station areas. Is it humanly possible to conduct field inspections in such wide geographical range ?” an official questions. Apart from ensuring food safety, the officials are also laden with additional responsibilities of attending court cases and RTI queries.

A deputy food controller has been appointed on deputation from Institute of Preventive Medicine to handle two more zones. Nevertheless, the official admits that food served by many restaurants and food joints does not match up to the standards, and at quite a few places, the conditions are “appalling”. It has been more than three months since the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has sanctioned 26 posts of Food Inspectors, among the total 226 posts which received the nod.

However, the notification for filling up the posts has not been issued so far by the Telangana State Public Service Commission which is the recruiting authority. “After the notification is issued, it will take a minimum of eight to nine months for the recruitment process to be completed. After that, training of the candidates will take a few more months,” says the official.

The file pertaining to recruitments has reportedly been already sent to the TSPSC by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department.

Adulterated ghee floods market

Vijayawada: Ghee, an essential commodity in every household, is now available with imitation brands in adulterated form in the market. The consumers will find it adulated only when aroma of original ghee lacked when the pack is opened.According to an official of Task Force police, the adulteration was going on everywhere, especially in the capital city. Recently, they seized a unit in Nuzvid while raided another outlet in Satyanarayanapuram. 

Highlights:

According to an official of Task Force police, the adulteration is going on everywhere, especially in the capital city. 

Recently, they seized a unit in Nuzvid while raided another outlet at Satyanarayanapuram in the city 

Makers of adulterated ghee use palmolein and vanaspati to prepare it. The mix also contains about 15 per cent original ghee to impress the customerThe makers of adulterated ghee use palmolein and vanaspati to prepare it. The mix also contains about 15 per cent original ghee to impress the customer.Many outlets in the city also sell the adulterated ghee, along with popular brands. The makers have their own packing units and the packets resemble original popular brands. The minor changes in its name are visible only when consumer carefully examines it. 

The font of the brand name and appearance of the adulterated ghee is difficult to separate it from original ghee packets. Such was the imitation that is yielding easy money for the adulterators.

Food Safety officials seized lables of about 20 reputed ghee brands during a raid on ghee-making unit at Purnanandampet. They seized 10 kgs of adulterated ghee, five tins of palmolein and one tin of vanaspati.

Three days ago, Ibrahimpatnam police seized 5,000 kg of palmolein to be used for preparation of adulterated ghee while being transported from Vijayawada to Hyderabad. A Srikakulam-based firm purchased the raw material for ghee-making from a Vijayawada firm.

These were only a few examples to know how the adulterated ghee-makers mushrooming everywhere by operating from the capital. Though the police and food officials have been seizing suspicious stocks of adulterated ghee, the ghee-makers have been successfully flooding the market with fake brands.

“The adulterated ghee makers have been supplying the fake brands to kirana shops run in slum localities and other towns to avoid problem from the consumers. As the labels have wrong address, the consumers, who observed the adulteration, are not able to do anything about the product except arguing with the supplier, who also gets a huge margin on the sales,” said an official.

‘Expired’ milk products seized in raid

In a joint raid by Vigilance and Enforcement Department, Food Safety wing of GVMC and Civil Supplies, the officials seized milk products that had crossed the expiry dates, here on Wednesday.

The officials, raided the premises of P. Suryakumari Agencies located in VUDA Colony at Madhavadhara and seized the products and took its owner Ganesh Kumar into custody.

According to DSP of Vigilance and Enforcement Department CM Naidu, the accused was running the store and two godowns without a valid licence. It was an unauthorised store and the expiry dates of some of the products especially milk products such as ghee, milk biscuits, milk chocolates and skimmed milk had lapsed, said Mr. Naidu.

The raid was led by Superintendent of Police of Vigilance and Enforcement Department D. Koteswara Rao.

Do not allow illegal slaughter of cattle on Bakrid, state governments told

THRISSUR: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a directive to all state governments asking the latter not to allow illegal slaughter of cattle in their respective states on Bakrid.

AWBI secretary M Ravikumarhas issued the directive to chief secretaries, director generals of police and directors of animal husbandary departments of all states.

The directive also says that camels cannot be slaughtered for food. "Also, slaughtering of cows should not be allowed in states where the Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act is in force," the directive added.

When contacted Ravikumar, said there is no ban on slaughtering of animals whose meats are commonly used as food. But the slaughtering must be undertaken in approved slaughterhouses, and not in public places as is being done in several places.

Also, animals can be slaughtered only for food and not for religious sacrifices. Only approved meth ods could be used for slaughtering, Ravikumar clarified.

He said as per the rules a pregnant animal or an animal with an offspring which is less than threemonthsold cannot be slaughtered.

This directive is issued to prompt the state authorities to take proactive actions to avert animal cruelty,'' said Ravikumar.

He appealed to the state authorities to take punitive actions against the violators by invoking the animal welfare laws like the Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animals Act, rules regarding transportation of animal and slaughter houses, municipal rules and the directions of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Food Safety officials seizes huge quantity of Contraband tobacco products

Port Blair, Aug 30: Continuing the strict action against illegal sale of contraband tobacco products, on 30/08/2017 a team of Food Safety Officials lead by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman conducted surprise raids in connection with storage and distribution of contraband tobacco products at Nayagoan, Chakargoan, Burmanalla, Chidiyatapu, Calicut, Ferrargunj, Wimberlygunj, Bambooflat, wherein large quantities of contraband tobacco products were seized from five (05)Food Business Operators (FBOs). The details of the FBOs who premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Smti. Amuda, R/o Bambooflat, Shri. T. Rama Rao, R/o Bambooflat, Shri. M. Abdul Aziz, R/o Wimberly Gunj, Shri. M. Shamshad Ali, R/o Wimberly Gunj and Shri. Kalaiselvam R/o New Bimblitan. All the contraband tobacco items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 35 premises have been sealed for the violation.

Apart from this, today all the seized contraband tobacco products have been properly destroyed by burning at Brookshabad dumping yard by the Food Safety Officials.

The Commissioner Food Safety have warned the travelers who are travelling from mainland to Port Blair by Air or by Ship should not carry the contraband tobacco products with them and also warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband tobacco products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection if found any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses.

All the general public is hereby requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety to the Commissioner of Food Safety, A&N Islands at No. 03192-231024/9434280018 or on District Control Room No. 1070 for strict actions against violators.

Choose your health supplement with care

Fitness today is a far more integral part of daily life than ever before.

We all want toned bodies, firm muscles, right weight and an appealing appearance. For that we do extensive workouts. Working out burns up calories and we need supplements to make up for the energy loss and to avoid exhaustion. A good supplement ensures that you get adequate and measurable essential nutrients. Sportspersons and athletes, especially, need supplements for stamina and post-workout recovery.

There are a number of supplements in the market. But you need to read the label carefully.

Here's what, according to Manpreet Kaur, nutritionist at Proquest Nutrition, one should look out for and what you should guard against, while picking up nutritional supplements.

Look out for:

1) Nutritional supplements help athletes meet their increased protein requirement. Intensive training endurance athletes, athletes trying to gain muscle mass and strength athletes all need high-protein supplements in the initial stages of training. Even though the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends that it is best for athletes to get their protein requirements from their diet, it is not always possible, so supplements are a practical and convenient way to meet the demand. Supplements with whey and casein protein, because of their "high protein digestibility, corrected amino acid score and ability to increase muscle protein mass, meet athletes' post-workout needs.

2) Creatine, in the supplement, aids muscle performance Protein supplements usually contain creatine. Creatine is said to improve strength, increase lean muscle mass, and help the muscles recover quickly after exercise. The European Food Safety Authority reports that, for high intensity workout, athletes who consume 3g of creatine everyday achieve "an increase in physical performance during short-term, high intensity and repeated exercise bouts".

3) Branched chain amino acids promote muscle protein synthesis. Studies have shown that branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in nutritional supplements improve recovery and exercise performance during intense workout. BCAAs are three amino acids -- leucine, isoleucine and valine -- with similar structures that beneficially influence the muscles. They help to promote muscle protein synthesis and minimise muscle protein breakdown without putting any substantial calorie load.

# Guard against:

1) Health risks: Consuming too much protein in nutritional supplements over a period of time can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, cause kidney stones and worsen existing kidney problems. Other side-effects includes: dehydration, constipation, increased bowel movements, nausea, cramps, bloating, reduced appetite, fatigue and interaction with medication.

2) Not always nutritionally balanced: Protein shakes are often marketed as meal replacements. However, not all of these are nutritionally balanced; excess intake of protein could also lead to nutritional imbalance and harm your digestive system.

3) May contain harmful substances: Many of us take supplements not just to make up for what's lacking in our diet, but also to give ourselves an extra health boost. But, some supplements may contain harmful ingredients which can be detrimental to health. Steroids, stimulants and hormones, sometimes included in some supplements, can result in kidney failure, seizure or heart problems.

Read the label carefully. Pick a reputed brand - one that's safe and provides optimum nutrients for maximum performance!

Market checking squad realizes Rs 15,500 fine

POONCH: A joint team of different law enforcing agencies headed by ADDC, Abdul Hamied with members including Tehsildar Haveli, Jahngeer Khan, AD FSC&CA, Ranjeet Singh and Executive Officer of Municipal Committee, Irshad Ahamad Sofi , SHO Poonch city, Mohammad Ameen, Food Safety Officer, Javid Choudhary, AC Legal Metrology, Pushker Raj conducted market checking of various business establishments & places & punished the violators under relevant laws.

The basic purpose of the drive was to remove encroachments, keep a check on prices and quality of essential commodities including vegetables, fruits, meat and chicken during Eidul-Azha days.

The team of officers conducted comprehensive checking in various localities of Poonch against violators of law. The erring shopkeepers were booked for different violations like non display of rate lists, use of unauthorized weighing scales, non display Legal Metrology Certificates, sale of packaged goods without declaration, overcharging, use of domestic cylinders for commercial purposes, unstamped meat and unverified weighing scale.

A total of Rs 15500 fine was realized from the defaulters under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Essential Commodities Act. Moreover rotten vegetables and fruits were also destroyed on the spot.