Sep 16, 2017
This Delhi Man Found Insects & Bugs In Domino’s Oregano Sachets
We all like to have days when we can kick back and relax with a chilled beverage and a pizza. Cooking seems like such a task these days and we’d rather spend that time watching TV or having a conversation. The pizza arrives and our gut instinct is to reach out for the packets that contain chilli flakes and oregano, and many of us sprinkle them all over our pizza without a second thought. They’re only condiments, right? Well, you may want to look closely from now on, for this man found insects in Dominos pizza oregano packets and he’s uploaded a revolting video on social media as proof.
Insects In Dominos Pizza Packets
Delhi’s Rahul Arora had ordered a pizza like any other person on Friday evening and fell ill the morning after. He happened to notice tiny insects moving around in the oregano sachets and even uploaded a video where he opens a completely sealed packet pours out the contents into a small steel bowl. You can immediately see the tiny brown insects scurrying away.
Domino’s has replied to Arora’s tweet saying that they follow strict procedures and that they’d want to investigate the matter with him over a private conversation. The sachets even have the FSSAI accreditation on them. In which case, we wonder whether brands really adhere to the rules and regulations that FSSAI has put into place when they package anything.
Rahul Arora later got a call from Domino’s offering to replace his order. But, he told them off by saying that the issue is not a home delivery complaint and that the illness was caused due to the consumption of contaminated food. It’s wrong to trivialise such a thing.
He has also registered a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs and is waiting for a response. As quoted to NDTV, he said that “I wonder what would have happened if this happened in the US,” and that “The chalta hai attitude towards Indian consumers should end.”
Now, we understand that Domino’s probably doesn’t package its own oregano, and it probably has outsourced this to another company that prints and packages the herbs under the name of the brand. This does lead us to think whether the source goes through quality check from time to time.
Update
Since the video and Arora’s story went viral over the internet, Domino’s has released a statement that says, “This is with respect to a Consumer Complaint received on 11th September 2017 regarding oregano sachets, supplied by one of our vendors, in an outlet in Gurugram. The Company has since carried out a comprehensive inspection across vendors & stores and would like to reassure that all our food ingredients are safe for consumption and we have not received any other complaint of this nature.”
“Jubilant FoodWorks maintains stringent hygiene and quality standards for its products. All the vendors and manufacturing units are FSMS (food safety management systems) certified. We also have Hazard & Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified (globally accepted standard for quality certification) commissaries where we follow strict quality standards and have a regular Audit process of all ingredients used.”
“Jubilant FoodWorks values its consumer’s experience and would like to reassure all its Consumers about best quality products, service and a great Domino’s experience at all times.”
Fungal Infection on imported wheat: Food safety nod must for distribution, Says Kerala HC
KOCHI: Imported wheat that was found to have fungal infection should not be distributed without the approval of food safety commissioner, the Kerala high court has ordered.
While issuing the directive, a division bench led by the chief justice said it is not possible to compromise in the matter of food safety and health. The court was considering an appeal filed by the state government regarding release of wheat imported by a private firm that was seized upon finding that it is not fit for use.
Kozhikode-based PK Roller Flour Mills had imported 20,000 tonnes of wheat from Ukraine through Kochi port in December last year. Food safety department had seized the wheat alleging that the wheat had fungal infection and is old.
Challenging the food safety department's action at the high court, the company had alleged that the wheat can be used after washing and drying it. A single bench had allowed for inspecting 20 tonnes of the wheat stored at a warehouse of the port after washing it. The company then sought a directive to shift the wheat to Kozhikode for washing. The court allowed such action to be carried out in the presence of an advocate commissioner.
During the hearing on the appeal filed by the food safety commissioner, state government contended that the wheat is not fit for human consumption and distribution of the wheat would create health problems.
India likely to ban cheap Pepper imports siting quality concerns
For the past few months Cheap Pepper imports from Vietnam has been causing problems in India, as decline in domestic prices being the main problem. Now the Spices board has recommended a ban on imports of Pepper siting quality concerns.
Pepper prices in India has declined to about Rs 400 per kg from Rs 650 per kg about a year ago, on the back of cheap imports from Vietnam through Sri lanka. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put the Vietnamese Pepper under the scanner for suspected contamination.
Three months ago, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), expecting to bring some stability in prices launched trading in Malabar Garbled Black Pepper futures contract, but due to the cheap import it did not get the desired result.
It is estimated that Vietnam has exported about 3000 tons of Pepper to Sri Lanka during July and another 2000 tons in August and from that a majority share has arrived in India. Import from Sri Lanka carries a duty of 8 percent under the SAARC agreement, compared with 70 percent from other countries.
Appellate Tribunal upholds penalty on Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder
SRINAGAR, Sept 15: The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar has upheld the order by Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag, imposing a penalty of Rs 4.00 lakh on the manufacturer of the food product Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder for manufacturing and selling substandard skimmed milk powder.
Dismissing the appeal, filed by the manufacturer in the High Court, the Appellate Tribunal observed that it did not find any merit in the appeal. “The amount of penalty recovered from the appellant company which stands deposited in FDR with J&K Bank, Branch Old Secretariat, Srinagar be deposited in the Government Treasury along with the interest accrued thereon under rules after the period of appeal is over,” the court said.
A complaint under Section 26(2)(ii) of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 punishable under Section 51 of FSS Act, 2006, was filed by the enforcement authorities of Drug and Food Control Organization before the court of Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag against . Kuldeep Saluja, Laxmi Narian, Managing Partners of M/S Sterling Agro Industries Limited, Ghironji Industries Area Malanpur District Blind (MP) (Manufacturer of Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder), among others, for manufacturing and selling substandard skimmed milk powder.
After completion of enquiry, the Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag imposed a penalty of Rs 4.00 lakh on the manufacturer of the food product (Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder). The order impugned imposing penalty on the manufacturer was challenged before the High Court of J&K, at Srinagar. As soon as the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Kashmir became functional in the, month of January, 2017, the High Court at Srinagar directed the Registry to send the petition along with complete paper book to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar.
The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar observed that the skimmed milk powder was meant for distribution among different Anganwari Centers of district Anantnag. The company cannot escape its liability as because it is the manufacturer of this skimmed milk powder (Nova Brand) that was meant for human consumption, more so by children who are prone to be affected even by a slightest adulteration in a food product.
Sale of adulterated, unhygienic foodstuff goes unchecked in Srinagar
Srinagar, Sept 15: The authorities here have failed to launch an effective campaign to check sale of adulterated and unhygienic foodstuff that is posing serious health threats to public.
Experts believe that the sale of substandard and highly adulterated foodstuff including cooked and uncooked items is going on unnoticed in almost all markets of the valley.
"Though the consumers are complaining of the phenomenon, the concerned authorities have not planned a comprehensive crackdown against those involved in the devilry," one of the doctors who have served in the SMC Srinagar said.
He said that the sale of highly adulterated daily use commodities is a major cause behind a number of ailments particularly involving stomach and kidney.
Sources said that majority of local restaurants, shopkeepers, bakers, fast food centres and vendors in the city have been selling unhygienic foodstuff in extremely unhygienic conditions mainly because none of the concerned government authorities is giving due attention to provision of hygienic and clean foodstuff to consumers.
The concerned authorities have been doing almost nothing to safeguard poor public from food and water-borne diseases including viral hepatitis (A&E), gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and dysentery, said a social activist.
Pleading anonymity, one of the officials said that it is strange that the high-ups in the government have been elaborating a lot to improve healthcare services for public but doing almost nothing to eliminate causes behind ailments. It is ironical to take action on effects instead of removing causes, he said.
The authorities have not planned any crackdown against local hotels, shopkeepers and vendors selling unhygienic foodstuff while there is also no regular check on sale of food adulteration. However the divisional administration said that they are working hard to check sale of substandard and adulterated foodstuff in the markets.
They added that the concerned staff is collecting samples of food items regularly in routine from markets and send those to laboratory for quality checking.
FCS&CA Minister Chowdary Zulfikar said that the government is committed to curb the food adulteration in the state. "I have directed the field officials to regularly collect samples of various items and get these checked. We have intensified surveillance across the state and initiated a cross-verification of surveillance work by sending food safety officials outside their jurisdictions for inspection," the minister maintained.
It is to also pertinent to mention here that the State High Court has recently directed government to make food testing laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu functional by providing required manpower under Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006.
"Respondent State has to forthwith initiate action in setting up testing laboratories, as directed by the court, one at Srinagar and one at Jammu. We hope and trust that, two laboratories would be made functional," a division bench of the court comparing Justice M H Attar and Justice A M Magrey had said while hearing a suo-moto PIL.
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