FSSAI launches initiative to address Vitamin D deficiency

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday launched 'Project Dhoop', an initiative aimed at shifting the school assembly time to noon to ensure maximum absorption of Vitamin D in students through natural sunlight.

The project was launched at National Bal Bhavan here, and saw participation of around 600 students from NCERT, NDMC and North MCD Schools.

FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said the schools across the country have been sent two advisories aking them to hold daily assembly between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m..

"Project Dhoop's Noon Assembly is an innovative and effective concept to ensure that school students get adequate Vitamin D through sunlight, while also opting to choose food products like milk and edible oils that are fortified with Vitamins A and D," he said.

The concerns among parents about assembly at noon would be addressed properly, he added.

Agarwal also said that opting for fortified foods (with +F symbol) was a simple and inexpensive way to address micronutrient deficiencies "without any radical change in behaviour or eating patterns".

Both fortified milk and fortified edible oil are now readily available across the country, he added.

The initiative has been conceptualised by McCannHealth and supported by Kwality (Ltd).

Studies have shown that over 90 per cent of boys and girls across the country were deficient in Vitamin D while the number ranged between 90-97 per cent for school children in Delhi, said Kabir Basu Roy, Chief Marketing Officer of Kwality.

"It was this knowledge that led us to fortify many of our products with Vitamin D and other essential nutrients," a release quoted him as saying.

Unsafe Food Products of FMCG Brands Repacked and Sold in Kerala

Recently, parents of a play school going girl in Trivandrum, found to their horror that the Hide and Seek biscuits they purchased from a local super market had live worms in it. This was first detected by the play school staff when they opened the biscuit cover during snacks break. Hide and Seek is a brand owned by leading biscuit and confectionery company, Parle Products Ltd with an annual turnover of Rs 10,000 cr.

On Saturday in Ernakulam, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and local corporation officials were shocked to find fungus infested biscuits, chocolates and energy drinks of leading food brands beyond use by date repacked in a godown of a distribution agency near Maradu. Apart from old food products, soap and soap powders were also repacked in this manner.

New dates were stamped and distributed to supermarkets and hypermarkets for sale possibly on special discounts. The Food Safety Officers sealed the premises and is likely to cancel the license for functioning of the agency. The agency is a state-wide distributor of leading consumer brands in Kerala and the old food products were brought from Tamilnadu, according to investigating officials.

Among the major brands whose products were repacked by the distribution agency include of Nestle India, Elite Food Products, some brands of palmolein oil and Japanese brand Hello Panda biscuits. At the time of the raid, six packing staff and three office staff were only present in the premises while the promoter of the enterprise, Shiva, a native of Tamilnadu was not present.

Consumer organisations pointed out that sale of out of expiry products poses a great health risk to people and stringent action must be taken by the companies and food safety officials to ensure the culprits are brought to book. The officials said that it was not yet clear whether the repacking was done with the knowledge and approval of the leading brands.

Health dept asked to inspect milk products

Move follows claims of adulteration

Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday ordered his department to inspect milk products on a daily basis and submit reports after several MLAs raised the issue of adulteration in the Delhi Assembly.

‘Synthetic milk’

AAP MLA Rajesh Rishi from Jankapuri claimed that synthetic milk is being supplied in the city, which is allegedly “damaging kidneys and liver” of people.

Other AAP MLAs also raised the issue, seeking strict action against those involved in food adulteration.

“I am issuing an order today to my department to conduct inspections of milk products on daily basis and submit reports to my office,” Mr. Jain told the House.

Panel formed

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also formed a seven-member committee to suggest amendments in the existing laws to ensure stern action against the culprits.

MLAs Mandan Lal, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Nitin Tyagi, Alka Lamba, Anil Vaipayee, Adarsh Shastri and S.K. Bagga have been appointed as panel members.

Mr. Goel said that the government will incorporate suggestions made by the committee, which will work in coordination with the House panel on health.

The health minister said that the government will table a draft bill in the House and send the same to the Centre for its nod.

FDA finds unhygenic canteens at GMC, Kala Academy

Panaji: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Monday ordered the canteens at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) to halt operations immediately after it was found to be hygienic. The Kala Academy canteen was also directed to suspend activities following an inspection.

After seeing no improvement in the conditions of the outpatient department (OPD), college and ground floor canteens at GMC, despite being served notices in the past, the food safety authority on Monday issued spot inspection reports. The FDA also issued a similar notice to the Kala Academy canteen.

At Kala Academy, the kitchen flooring was dirty, greasy and in a soiled condition. The exhaust fan was non-functional, while the gas stove and working platform were greasy. Loose wiring and broken switches in the kitchen were soiled, and utensils were broken. Water leakage was also observed during the inspection.

During the inspections at GMC, sources said the FDA discovered ants, lizards and cockroaches in the kitchen, while the refrigerator smelled foul with food items not covered. Non-permissible food colours were being used. Windows in the kitchen premises were not fitted with fly-proof netting. Food meant for preparing samosas were stored in garbage bags that were swarming with ants. Cut vegetables were stored in the open, while water filters were not in working condition. The exhaust fan was covered with dust, while flaking of paint was observed in the kitchen.

Raw materials, including cornflower and biryani masala were stored in the open, as well as iron knives and wooden boards used for chopping.

Similar unhygienic conditions and practices were observed in the past during FDA inspections and notices were served. The food and business operators were directed to improve conditions. While temporary improvement was noticed, the FDA noted that operators later reverted to their unhygienic practices and conditions.

Step by Step reopens after meal fiasco, apologises for ‘perception’ that it denied officials access

NOIDA: Step by Step school held classes for the first time on Monday since last Thursday’s ‘food poisoning’ episode, and wrote to the district magistrate to clear the air amid a standoff with police and administration officials who have accused the reputable institution of non-cooperation.

“We understand that certain officials have complained of being denied access to the school premises. In this regard, we wish to convey our regret of such perception. The school has not, and shall never, hinder any authority or public official in the discharge of his/her duties,” the school management said in a two-page letter to BN Singh.

After officials waited for hours for access to the school premises on the afternoon and evening of April 5 — the day students threw up, complained of stomach ache and loose motion — an FIR was filed against the school at the expressway police station in Noida under section 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), based on a complaint filed by city magistrate Mahendra Singh, who was among those who had to wait for access.

The school admitted that in the last 10 years of its operation, it had never faced an incident of such magnitude and misfortune. “The incident took everyone by surprise and required full attention to the students who were everyone’s concern and first priority. This may have caused inadvertent delay and led to the perception that the school denied access. The misunderstanding is unfortunate and the school profusely and unconditionally apologises for the same. We assure full cooperation with the administration and authorities in all respect,” it said.

In the letter, the school also outlined the sequence of events on April 5, saying some students were initially brought to the infirmary with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and stomach ache. “The school provided first-level treatment to such students. Soon, thereafter, the number of students with similar symptoms increased. The school promptly called Max Hospital for medical assistance. The hospital sent a team of doctors, paramedics, and nurses along with two ambulances to the school,” it wrote in the letter, adding parents of the affected students were also informed.

According to parents and health department officials, around 150 students were affected after eating meals, with the symptoms manifesting in several kids the next day. Around 90 children were treated at various private hospitals in Noida and Delhi. The school’s meals are prepared and served by Sodexo, whose services it suspended on Thursday itself.

The school’s letter to the DM did not specify how many students were affected or what they had eaten that might have led to them falling ill. The food department found only ajwain and edible oil in the school’s pantry during its inspection. It said it found none of the prepared food, not even in the dustbins. The school had said in an email to parents that it shared samples of food and water for tests. Asked about it on Monday, Noida’s food safety and drug administration officer Sanjay Sharmamaintained only ajwain and oil samples had been found at the school.

Police said they were talking to students and parents on the issue. They have also written to the school, asking it to state the exact number of students affected by the meals. District Magistrate Singh said the probe will continue.