May 22, 2018
Nipah: govt steps up disease surveillance
The government has stepped up surveillance and containment measures following the Statewide alert issued by the Health Department in the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak.
The Animal Husbandry Department has strengthened its disease surveillance mechanism and opened a 24x7 helpline to assist farmers. Arrangements have been made to collect samples from animals suspected to have contracted the virus and send them to the High Security Laboratory at Bhopal for confirmation. Monitoring committees have also been set up at the State and district level.
Farmers are directed to dial 0471-2732151 for helpline assistance. Seeking to dispel fears over the spread of the Nipah virus, a pressnote quoting the Director of Animal Husbandry discounted the possibility of its transmission from livestock to humans.
The Commissionerate of Food Safety has constituted special squads in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts to carry out inspections on eateries and outlets selling food. It has directed the general public to be alert against contaminated food and drinking water. A press note issued by the commissionerate cautioned against using fruits and vegetables likely to have been nibbled by bats or other creatures.
The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has taken the initiative for an awareness campaign on the Nipah virus and its transmission. The campaign will focus on the precautions to be taken by doctors, health workers and others coming into contact with infected persons.
State leaders of KGMOA visited the epicentre of the virus outbreak at Perambra and pledged its support to the government in its efforts to keep the situation under control. The association also organised an expert medical team from the neighbouring districts to assist the doctors in Kozhikode.
Restaurant meals behind food-borne illnesses in kids: Survey
Food-borne illnesses are most often caused by toxins, parasites, viruses and bacteria -- such as salmonella and E. coli. It can occur when germs, either certain bacteria or viruses, contaminate food or drinks, according to the report.
Contaminated food can make both kids and adults sick. For young children, whose immune systems are not fully developed, this kind of illness can present a greater risk of serious complications.
One among every 10 parents blame “contaminated” meals from restaurants as the leading cause behind food-borne illnesses in their children, a survey has revealed.
While just one third of parents said their children got sick from spoiled or contaminated food eaten at home, a whopping 68 per cent named restaurants as the most common source, according to the “National Poll on Children’s Health” led by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
The poll also reported that only 25 per cent of people check health inspection ratings before dining out.
“Contaminated food can make both kids and adults sick. For young children, whose immune systems are not fully developed, this kind of illness can present a greater risk of serious complications,” said Gary L. Freed from University of Michigan.
He explained that virus Hepatitis A is being increasingly passed on through unwashed hands, causing food contamination and, thus, recommends vaccination for one-year-old children.
Other places where eating made children sick included school (21 per cent), friend’s house (14 per cent) or at a potluck (11 per cent), the report stated.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in every 10 people around the world falls ill due to food-borne disease each year. Of those 600 million people, almost 420,000 die as a result.
Food-borne illnesses are most often caused by toxins, parasites, viruses and bacteria — such as salmonella and E. coli. It can occur when germs, either certain bacteria or viruses, contaminate food or drinks, according to the report.
Once contaminated food enters the body, some germs release toxins that can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and sometimes fever or muscle aches.
“Simple precautions, like checking restaurant inspections and following food safety rules when cooking and storing food, can help keep your family safe,” Freed said.
Are you eating food packed in newspaper? Beware!
Newspapers used for packaged foods are may be contaminated with harmful chemicals like diisobutyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate.
due to a lack of awareness, people accept such packets from roadside vendors, especially those who sell samosas and pakodas, says an expert.
Hyderabad: A recent Facebook post that went viral has shocked many, as it stated that eating food wrapped in newspapers is dangerous to consume.
Many people shared the post along with their own experience of wrapping food items in newspapers and then opening it only to see that a certain portion of the print was wiped clean.
The post which contains the advertisement of the Pune Cantonment Board cautioning the residents reads “General public should stop purchasing eatables (especially fried) packed in newspapers from any vendor.”
Dr Indra Mohan, a senior general physician, said, “Eating food which is packed in newspaper is not good. Newspapers use chemicals which contain a high percentage of lead, the primary component of paint. Consumption of lead in any manner is dangerous for health.”
He said that it was important to make people aware that they must not consume food packed in newspapers. Dr Mohan said that due to a lack of awareness, people accept such packets from roadside vendors, especially those who sell samosas and pakodas.
Nutritionist Sujatha Stephen said, “We should start using butter packing for foods. The ink with which the newspaper is printed affects the stomach, and could cause food poisoning.”
Shaheen Ibrahim, a student, said, “Whenever I am tired of mess food, we go and eat out. The vendors usually pack food in newspapers. We don’t have much choice.”
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) says in an advisory: “Wrapping food in newspapers is an unhealthy practice and the consumption of such food is injurious to health, even if the food has been cooked hygienically.”
FDA Conducts Food Safety Awareness Programme At Kodiveri Dam In Tamil Nadu
To make the citizens alert about adulterated food and promotion of healthy eating, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (FDA) had conducted a food safety awareness programme on Saturday at Kodiveri Dam in Tamil Nadu reports The Hindu. A string of food safety programmes have been happening across the state within the month of May itself.
FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH
The report further says that a ‘Food Safety Awareness Hub’ was inaugurated by K.A. Sengottaiyan, Minister for School Education. S. Kavitha, District Revenue Officer and T. Kalaivani, Designated Officer were also present on the occasion. Sengottaiyan encouraged the people present to healthy eating practices thus leading a healthy life.
The minister further added that higher population leading to increase in food production has led to the use of fertilizers. “Change in food habits led to drop in stamina and hence, healthy food items should be consumed”, he said on the occasion according to The Hindu. During the programme, hotel owners were given safe and healthy food slogans; a list was also handed out to people present showing adulterated food items that can be identified by them as well as junk food to be avoided.
According to The Hindu, a demonstration was also held for the aid of the people who were shown how to identify adulteration in various common food items like milk, salt, honey and tea dust. There were six kinds of pamphlets regarding food safety distributed during the event. There also going to be such camps in Bhavani and Bannari throughout the month. A WhatsApp number, 94440-42322 was given to the people to complain about adulterated food with a promise of immediate action.
Hottest question this summer - are you eating ice-cream or frozen dessert?
The heated ice-cream battle. But what is the real deal?
Ice-cream or frozen dessert? Take a call
Who cares? Yes, that's what most people would say but FSSAI does care. In 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) came with a directive for food companies that made it mandatory for them to tell the consumers what exactly they were eating. The authority decided that only products made with milk fat could be called ice cream; the rest, made with edible vegetable oil or palm oil, along with milk solids, had to be sold as 'frozen desserts'.
Now, this led to an ugly war between two of the country’s biggest packaged food companies, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Amul, battling it out in court. HUL sells the Kwality Wall’s brand, and like most ice-cream manufacturers, they also use hydrogenated vegetable oil as a smoothening agent for their products, along with other milk solids.
Vegetable oil helps reduce production costs because it is cheaper than dairy fat. But the FSSAI said that products made with pure milk fat were richer and healthier than their oil-based counterparts. Amul, played smart and came out with an advertisement calling its products - real milk, real ice-cream. This has obviously upset the other brands like Kwality, Vadilal, etc. They are crying foul over the ad and they have taken Amul to court over it.
In this battle, HUL won and the court asked Amul to stop airing 'disparaging advertisement'. HUL's argument was that Amul advertisement made factually incorrect statements creating apprehensions among consumers of frozen desserts. The company clarified that Kwality Wall's range of 'frozen desserts' do not contain Vanaspati. In fact, Kwality Wall's range of frozen desserts contain milk/milk solids like ice creams. The only difference is that frozen desserts use vegetable fat instead of dairy fat, which actually makes them healthier as they have lower saturated fat and do not have cholesterol.
While Amul is 'educating' consumers on the pros of having milk-based ice-cream, on the other hand, HUL has put up on its website the benefits of vegetable fat as opposed to milk fat. Now with Kwality Walls winning the case, you, as a consumer have a problem of plenty! But who's compalining anyway?
Awareness programme held on hygiene
JAMMU: An awareness programme on good hygiene and good manufacturing practices under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 was organised here today.
The awareness programme was conducted by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, FSSA, Food Safety and Standards Authority of Jammu division for the hoteliers of Jammu city.
Sumit Singh (Food Analyst), Dalip Singh (FSO), Ajay Khajuria (FSO), Hansraj (FSO), Parvez Ahmad and Executive Chef Anup Kumar were the key speakers. The main focus was on adulteration and on holistic approach of ensuring safe and wholesome food for the hotel guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Parvesh briefed on safe food practices, personnel hygiene of food handlers and sanitation standards. He emphasized that food is a critical component of growth and FSSA Jammu is at the frontiers of using new technologies in order to ensure the safety of the same.
The speakers covered topics right from procuring raw food products, proper processing, proper storing, temperature control, safe cooking and there on serving to the guests. Avoid usage of taste additives and enhancers like MSG, mono sodium glutamate which are harmful to health.
To a question about edible food colours, Food Safety Officer briefed about the permissible range of approved food colour as per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Later, Dr Parvesh and FSO officials personally met all participants and thanked Executive Chef Anup Kumar, Operations Manager Deepak Singh Katoch and Team Ramada Jammu City Centre for organising, hosting and rendering excellent hospitality.
Now, traders use Chinese ethylene powder to ripen mangoes
Now, traders use Chinese ethylene powder to ripen mangoes
Nellore: Traders in city are now using China made ethylene powder sachets for ripening mangoes. Earlier, they used to ripen them using calcium carbide, and now they are preferring these packets that are available even on e-commerce sites like Alibaba. Recently, food safety officials collected samples from 3 traders in city in which two were found having the substance.
“Now, local traders are using Chinese Ethylene Powder sachets for ripening mangoes. They are not using calcium carbide for some time due to restrictions on its use. We also seize total stocks in case they use carbide,” said Srinivas, Gazetted Food Inspector.
Nellore is having mango crop in Gudur, Rapur, Naidupet, Venkatagiri, Sangam, Kaligiri, Vinjamur, AS Pet, and other upland mandals. According to the officials, mango gardens are spread in around 30,000 acres in the district. Out of normal yielding of around 2.40 lakh tonnes, now farmers are expecting 15,000-20,000 tonnes this year due to weather changes and also unfavourable conditions.
Due to scarcity of crop and availability of limited stocks from other districts, traders were in a hurry to cash the situation thus resorting to speedy ripening of mangoes. In fact, vendors were allowed to use ethylene gas chambers to ripen mangoes.
Ethylene liquid should be sprayed on mangoes and it would make mangoes ripen in a day or two making them suitable for human consumption as per norms of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
But, this is time taking and expensive process and now traders are using Ethylene powder importing from China for fast ripening. There are suspicions that whether it is real Ethylene or some other substance which affects people.
These sachets are available on e-commerce sites such as Alibaba at $ 10-15 per kilogram that costs around Rs. 700-1,000. But, this is powder form where traders should use liquid form to produce natural gas to ripen mangoes in favourable conditions. For every ten milli litres of ethylene liquid needs to be dissolved in 10 litres of water for spraying on the mangoes.
But, now traders allegedly were using ethylene powder directly sprinkling on the mangoes covering with tarpaulin or other plastic covers for one-two days and they get fruits with nice yellow colour though they are not fully ripen. This process is similar to Calcium Carbide which was being used earlier without natural sweetness.
“We have collected samples from Nellore, Kavali and Gudur very recently and sent them to Hyderabad for lab analysis. Normally, it takes 15 days to complete the process. After that we will be able to say whether local traders were using ethylene powder or carbide content,” said food safety official Srinivas.
200 kg of mangoes seized, destroyed
Officials inspecting mango wholesale trading centres in Thoothukudi on Monday.
Thoothukudi
As many as 200 kg of mangoes, which have been identified as artificially ripened, were seized and destroyed during raids in parts of Thoothukudi on Monday.
A team of officials led by District Designated Food Safety Officer, Food Safety and Standards Act, J. Thangavignesh conducted surprise raids to check whether mangoes were ripened with the aid of calcium carbide, a chemical substance.
But, this time, the seized mangoes in two godowns located in Thoothukudi town were decayed due to improper application of ethylene, Mr. Thangavignesh said.
The Department of Agriculture permitted the mango traders to ripen the fruit with ethylene. This method came into effect since 2014.
Ethylene, secreted from mango trees, could be used in liquid form to apply on mangoes. The ethylene liquid should be sprayed on mangoes and it would ripen mangoes in a day or two thus making them fit for consumption as per FSSA norms.
Ethylene produces natural gas initially but ripens mangoes, kept in a favourable atmosphere. Ten ml of ethylene liquid needs to be dissolved in ten litres of water for spraying it on considerable number of mangoes. But, now the mango vendors have been instructed to establish ethylene gas chamber to ripen the mangoes instead of spraying the ethylene liquid, he told The Hindu.
Mostly, decayed mangoes were used as an ingredient of mixed fruit juice. Hence, the team inspected 10 fruit juice shops in parts of Jeyaraj road and Balavinayagar Kovil road here.
The vendors were instructed not to use colouring agent, which is harmful to health, in the mixed fruit juice. Food safety officers in all 16 blocks would conduct surprise checks in juice shops to check any adulteration, he said.
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