Sep 24, 2017
Milk adulteration: 37 per cent of samples collected in one year fail FDA test
In cases where the milk was found to be substandard, FDA officials have filed cases before the adjudication officers, and in some cases compounding fees of Rs 10,000 has been levied.
BACK in 2007, Maharashtra had emerged as a major centre for milk adulteration, and 10 years later, the situation doesn’t seem to have changed much. An RTI application filed by The Indian Express with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) revealed that milk adulteration continues unabated in Pune, with more than 37 per cent of milk samples failing the FDA’s quality test in the last one year.
Last year, the FDA had collected 142 milk samples for testing, of which 53 failed the test, revealed the reply to the RTI query. The samples were collected from both dairies and shops, and results of 17 samples are yet to be received by the office.
The standard parameters for testing milk — checking for fat content, urea content, presence of foreign objects and more — is listed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The local unit of the FDA collects samples to test them regularly. FSSAI has also laid down certain norms regarding the hygiene of the collection centres as well as the temperature at which milk has to be pasteurised and stored. Flavoured milk, paneer and milk powder are also tested and if some of the samples are found substandard, action is initiated against the dairies they came from.
In cases where the milk was found to be substandard, FDA officials have filed cases before the adjudication officers, and in some cases compounding fees of Rs 10,000 has been levied.
Samples from popular dairies such as Gokul and Katraj were taken for testing and found to be consistent with the set standards. Several samples collected from smaller dairies, which procure milk from unorganised players, failed the quality test. Of the 2.50 crore litres of milk collected daily in Maharashtra, around 1.25 crore litres is by the organised sector while the rest is from unorganised players.
The FSSAI has mandated licensing norms for dairies and most of the organised dairies, both cooperative and private, have to renew them on an annual basis. Reports about adulteration in smaller dairies is a matter of concern for Pune residents as many of them depend on such dairies for their milk supply, and these dairies also procure milk for larger dairies.
However, Rajiv Mitra, managing director of the Phaltan-based Govind Milk and Milk Products, assured that established players have multiple levels of checking, which help them weed out adulterated milk right at the source. “Other than fats, solid-not-fat and proteins, we also check for antibiotics and alcohol in milk. In case the milk is found to contain alcohol or antibiotics, we reject them at the procurement centre itself,” he said. Mitra claimed that chances of adulteration at the processing plants of major milk producers were non-existent due to the quality standards maintained by them.
Consumer rights activist Sudhakar Velankar, on the other hand, pointed out that most of the adulteration takes place while the milk is being sold door-to-door and the samples should be checked “at the sale point rather than at dairies”. Meanwhile, concerned citizens have called for widening the testing net to include both organised and unorganised players in the market.
Pune-based activist Vijay Kumbhar demanded that the names of dairies and milk producers, which fail the quality test, should be posted online to raise awareness about the issue. “This was a standard practice earlier, but it has been stopped now,” he said.
Expired food items worth Rs 40,000 seized, destroyed
Erode: In a surprise raid on Saturday, district food safety officials seized expired food products worth Rs 40,000 from food and beverage outlets in the city bus stand and its surrounding areas.
The seized products were later destroyed.
Officials attached to the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administrative Department (TNFSDAD) led by the district designated officer Dr T Kalaivani carried out the raid in eatery shops, including bakeries and hotels, and found expired soft drinks bottles, biscuit packets and packet juices.
Kalaivani issued show-cause notices to the shop owners who were found selling expired food products. "We also have advised the shop owners not to sell expired food items to customers as it will affect their health," Kalaivani said.
Adding that the department will conduct many such raids across the district in the coming days, Kalaivani appealed the people to lodge complaints against the shop owners who were selling expired food items through WhatsApp number 9444042322 or her office number 0424-2223545. "People can also come to TNFSDAD office in person to lodge complaints and information about complainants will be kept secret," she said.
Adulterated ghee unit raided
Officials of Food Safety Department raided an adulterated ghee manufacturing unit at Kedareswarapeta here and seized a huge quantity of spurious ghee and raw material on Sunday.
On a tip-off, the officials conducted checks and found that one Subramanyam and his partner were preparing fake products.
The Eggs You Eat Might Be Contaminated And Can Lead To Many Deadly Diseases
The Eggs You Eat Might Be Contaminated And Can Lead To Many Deadly Diseases
Egg contamination often goes unnoticed since egg is often considered as a food product that cannot get infected. A lot of people think that proper cooking methods can eliminate any risk of contamination of eggs. But often these get contaminated at poultry farms since hens are warm blooded animals and are hence more prone to infections. Food contamination is a major health issue that is being faced by the world at the moment.
Salmonella, E.coli and other pathogens often find their way in the food chain through poultry, contaminated water and dairy. Salmonella is one of the leading causes of food poisoning. Cattle rearing and poultry farms are often breeding grounds for the pathogen. If the udders of cows are infected, the milk also gets infected. In the same way, eggs may get infected when baby chicks and ducklings carry the bacteria. In fact, eggs are one of the most common carriers of the infection. The pathogen may also be found in animal faeces.
Another factor that contributes to the contamination of eggs is the lack of proper hygiene in the poultry and rearing farms. International sanitation standards are not met. Also, faulty rearing practices aid in the growth of bacteria and other pathogens. Developed countries ensure the sterilization of eggs to prevent the growth of bacteria on eggs. No such practices our prevalent in India. Indian eggs are often rejected for export since chemical residues are found on the shells.
Recently, a number of eggs from the local markets were tested and salmonella residues were found on them. Lack of food safety procedures and poor transport facilities are also responsible for the drop in egg quality. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has laid down parameters, stating that egg shells must be free of blood rings and must not be soiled or having faecal matter. Sometimes the way the egg is cooked might transfer the bacteria to other food items.
Egg storage at home
In most households, egg is directly stored in the refrigerator after it is brought from the market. However, this is not the case with other food items like vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. Sometimes pathogens from egg shells might spread to other food items that are kept in the fridge.
There are several ways that can be followed to prevent eggs from getting contaminated. Organic eggs should always be preferred and you must try knowing the source of the eggs. Eggs should always be placed in the fridge only after proper washing. Consume them within couple of weeks after buying.
Always wrap paper in a plastic before you store them in the fridge and avoid storing them without a cover. The ideal temperature for storing eggs is 35-40 degrees Celsius. If eggs are taken out from the refrigerator they should be consumed within few hours and should not be kept lying around naked. Always wash your hands after breaking eggs and never consume eggs raw.
If you experience symptoms of contamination like dehydration, nausea, stomach ache, cramps and diarrhoea even after taking these precautions, rush to the nearest doctor as soon as possible.
Delhi High Court stays order banning use of silver leaf made using animal material
Traditionally, intestines of certain animals are used to manufacture silver leaf that is commonly used on several Indian sweets and spices
Government had banned use of silver leaf, popularly known as chandi-ka-varq, made with any material of animal origin.
Delhi High Court stalls the government directive to ban use of silver leaf, popularly known as chandi-ka-varq, made with any material of animal origin.
Country’s top food regulator— Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), last year had notified that silver leaf couldn’t be manufactured using any animal material of animal origin at any stage.
The notification was effective from August 1, 2016, and action could have been taken against those manufacturers who still used animal parts to make chandi varq.
However, in a fresh directive issued recently, FSSAI said ‘the effect and operation of the said notification is stayed till next hearing’.
The order was stayed after some manufacturers went to court against the directive, citing loss of livelihood for several workers in the business as one of the reasons.
The petitioners challenged the animal part clause, saying the varq was produced by traditional process which is secret knowledge and passed through generations. And it does not contain any contaminants to the quality and characteristic of the silver leaf. Also a complete class of workmen (more than 1,50,000) who are engaged in the business will be rendered jobless.
Traditionally, intestines of animals such as cow, buffalo, bulls etc. are used to manufacture silver leaf that is commonly used on several Indian sweets, spices such as cardamom and paan etc.
The intestines are obtained from the slaughterhouses and silver is placed between layers of intestines and hammered thin for use.
The thought probably is appalling not just for vegetarians but even for many non-vegetarians.
As a respite, the apex food safety regulator had proposed a complete ban on use of animal parts to manufacture these leaves.
The preparation method is also considered unhygienic apart from being a big turn off.
Modern machinery is equipped of manufacturing fine silver leaves, which bypasses the traditional method.
“The stay is on till the next hearing, let’s wait for what the court directs next,” said an FSSAI official.
800 kg of unhygienic food seized in Chennai
Raids conducted at shops, hotels at Broadway bus stand
Following complaints of unwholesome food, a team of officials from the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department seized about 800 kg of unhygienic food items during raids conducted on shops and small hotels at the Broadway bus stand on Friday.
The department had recently launched a helpline number, 9444042322, to which city residents can register their complaints through Whatsapp. The officials also pasted posters displaying the Whatsapp number at shops to enable customers to register their complaints.
“We received about 500 complaints from across the State in the past two months through the helpline. In Chennai, nearly 85 complaints were received so far,” said R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Food Safety Department, Chennai.
On Saturday, a team of 10 officials inspected 37 shops and small hotels at the Broadway bus stand. The team checked for unhygienic food and products without proper labels.
“We found that 32 shops were selling unwholesome and unhygienic food. About 800 kg of food, including those with artificial synthetic food colour, were seized from the shops. Civil cases have been filed against the shops,” Mr. Kathiravan said.
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