Jun 27, 2018
FSSAI proposes life imprisonment, Rs 10 lakh fine for food adulteration
Among other amendments, FSSAI has proposed setting of state food safety authorities so that this law can be enforced in letter and spirit.
The regulatory body has recommended imprisonment of not less than 6 months and up to two years, besides penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh. At present, the imprisonment is up to three months and fine is up to Rs 1 lakh.
Those adulterating food products could face life imprisonment and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh as per the amendments proposed by the regulator FSSAI in its 2006 food safety and standards law.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended stringent punishment to curb food adulteration following the Supreme Court order.
The FSSAI has issued the draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, which was passed in 2006 but the regulations were notified only in 2011.
The regulator has proposed total 100 amendments to the Act and has sought public comments by July 2.
Among key amendments, FSSAI has proposed to include a new section to crack down on food adulteration.
“Any person…adds an adulterant to food so as to render it injurious for human consumption with an inherent potential to cause his death or is likely to cause grievous hurt, irrespective of the fact whether it causes actual injury or not, shall be punishable for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also fine which shall not be less than Rs 10 lakh,” the FSSAI said.
Giving rationale behind the proposed amendment, the regulator said this has been done to provide stringent punishment in cases where an adulterant is added to food with an intent to render it unsafe for human consumption.
“It is also in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court,” it added.
The new Consumer Protection Bill, which is pending in Parliament, also proposes similar quantum of stringent punishment for adulteration.
Among other amendments, FSSAI has proposed setting of state food safety authorities so that this law can be enforced in letter and spirit.
It has also proposed increase in the punishment for obstructing, impersonating, intimidating and threatening and assaulting a food safety officer.
The regulatory body has recommended imprisonment of not less than 6 months and up to two years, besides penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh. At present, the imprisonment is up to three months and fine is up to Rs 1 lakh.
The FSSAI has further proposed that a person convicted under this law will have to pay fees and other expenses incidental to the analysis of any food or food contact article in respect of which the conviction is obtained and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the prosecution.
This has been proposed in line with provision of Singapore’s Sale of Food Act.
The other amendments include regulation of exported food products under the FSS Act. Presently, it covers only sale of food items in domestic market and also imported ones.
FSSAI proposes life imprisonment, Rs 10 lakh fine for food adulteration
New Delhi, Jun 26 () Those adulterating food products could face life imprisonment and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh as per the amendments proposed by the regulator FSSAI in its 2006 food safety and standards law.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended stringent punishment to curb food adulteration following the Supreme Court order.
The FSSAI has issued the draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, which was passed in 2006 but the regulations were notified only in 2011.
The regulator has proposed total 100 amendments to the Act and has sought public comments by July 2.
Among key amendments, FSSAI has proposed to include a new section to crack down on food adulteration.
"Any person...adds an adulterant to food so as to render it injurious for human consumption with an inherent potential to cause his death or is likely to cause grievous hurt, irrespective of the fact whether it causes actual injury or not, shall be punishable for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also fine which shall not be less than Rs 10 lakh," the FSSAI said.
Giving rationale behind the proposed amendment, the regulator said this has been done to provide stringent punishment in cases where an adulterant is added to food with an intent to render it unsafe for human consumption.
"It is also in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court," it added.
The new Consumer Protection Bill, which is pending in Parliament, also proposes similar quantum of stringent punishment for adulteration.
Among other amendments, FSSAI has proposed setting of state food safety authorities so that this law can be enforced in letter and spirit.
It has also proposed increase in the punishment for obstructing, impersonating, intimidating and threatening and assaulting a food safety officer.
The regulatory body has recommended imprisonment of not less than 6 months and up to two years, besides penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh. At present, the imprisonment is up to three months and fine is up to Rs 1 lakh.
The FSSAI has further proposed that a person convicted under this law will have to pay fees and other expenses incidental to the analysis of any food or food contact article in respect of which the conviction is obtained and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the prosecution.
This has been proposed in line with provision of Singapore's Sale of Food Act.The other amendments include regulation of exported food products under the FSS Act. Presently, it covers only sale of food items in domestic market and also imported ones.
FSSAI Cracks Down on Adulteration, Proposes Life Imprisonment & ₹10 Lakh Fine!
A total of 100 draft amendments to the existing Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act has been proposed by the national regulator to clampdown adulteration.
Following the Supreme Court’s order, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has moved ahead to take stringent measures against food adulteration with a series of amendments, under which severe punishments like life imprisonment and a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh will be slapped on defaulting parties.
As more and more consumers come forward with complaints about food products being contaminated with serious and even life-threatening adulterants, the national regulator’s decision comes in the right hour.
The measures include a total of 100 draft amendments to the existing Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, and the FSSAI has sought public comments by July 2, as per the Times of India.
“Any person who adds an adulterant to food so as to render it injurious for human consumption with an inherent potential to cause his death or is likely to cause grievous hurt, irrespective of the fact whether it causes actual injury or not, shall be punishable for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also fine which shall not be less than ₹10 lakh,” the FSSAI said.
According to the body, the justification behind the move is to identify cases where an adulterant is added to food with the intent of rendering it unsafe for human consumption and impose severe penalisations to the defaulting agencies. “It is also in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court,” it added.
In its amendments, FSSAI has also proposed instating food safety authorities at the state level to enforce the law in letter and spirit. Other recommendations include increasing the punishment for obstructing, impersonating, intimidating, threatening and assaulting a food safety officer.
Additionally, it has proposed that sentenced parties would have to pay the fees and other expenses incidental to the analysis of any food or food contact article for which the conviction is obtained and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the prosecution.
Imprisonment of not less than six months and up to two years, besides a penalty of up to ₹5 lakh has been put forward by FSSAI, which is definitely more severe than the current 3-month detention and ₹1 lakh fine. All the recommendations have been proposed in line with the provisions of Singapore’s Sale of Food Act.
Few months back, FSSAI had launched a mobile testing service in Chennai as part of its food adulteration tackling measures, under which a laboratory-equipped van has been circling the neighbourhoods in the city to teach people how to spot adulteration in food samples including dairy products, spices and condiments, edible oils, salt and food grains through 40 simple and quick tests collectively known as “Deduct Adulteration With Rapid Test” (DART).
FSSAI proposes life imprisonment, Rs 10 lakh fine for food adulteration
FSSAI has recommended stringent punishment to curb food adulteration following the Supreme Court order.
Those adulterating food products could face life imprisonment and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh as per the amendments proposed by the regulator FSSAI in its 2006 food safety and standards law.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended stringent punishment to curb food adulteration following the Supreme Court order.
The FSSAI has issued the draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, which was passed in 2006 but the regulations were notified only in 2011.
The regulator has proposed total 100 amendments to the Act and has sought public comments by July 2.
Among key amendments, FSSAI has proposed to include a new section to crack down on food adulteration.
"Any person...adds an adulterant to food so as to render it injurious for human consumption with an inherent potential to cause his death or is likely to cause grievous hurt, irrespective of the fact whether it causes actual injury or not, shall be punishable for a term which shall not be less than 7 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also fine which shall not be less than Rs 10 lakh," the FSSAI said.
Giving rationale behind the proposed amendment, the regulator said this has been done to provide stringent punishment in cases where an adulterant is added to food with an intent to render it unsafe for human consumption.
"It is also in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court," it added.
The new Consumer Protection Bill, which is pending in Parliament, also proposes similar quantum of stringent punishment for adulteration.
Among other amendments, FSSAI has proposed setting of state food safety authorities so that this law can be enforced in letter and spirit.
It has also proposed increase in the punishment for obstructing, impersonating, intimidating and threatening and assaulting a food safety officer.
The regulatory body has recommended imprisonment of not less than 6 months and up to two years, besides penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh. At present, the imprisonment is up to three months and fine is up to Rs 1 lakh.
The FSSAI has further proposed that a person convicted under this law will have to pay fees and other expenses incidental to the analysis of any food or food contact article in respect of which the conviction is obtained and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the prosecution.
This has been proposed in line with provision of Singapore's Sale of Food Act.
The other amendments include regulation of exported food products under the FSS Act. Presently, it covers only sale of food items in domestic market and also imported ones.
Is the fish on your plate safe to eat? Know the health effects of exposure to formalin
Authorities have seized fresh fish products treated with toxic chemical formalin in Nagaland and Kerala. Formalin is a solution of formaldehyde, a toxic chemical linked to cancer.
New Delhi: Recently, fresh fish products preserved in formalin have been seized in Kerala and Nagaland. Basically, formalin is a colourless solution (about 40 percent) of formaldehyde, a pungent gas highly toxic to human health. It is used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in mortuaries and medical laboratories. The chemical formaldehyde is also used to make many household products. According to National Cancer Institute (NIH), formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. Exposure to formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in animal studies.
According to news reports, fresh fish products, including crustaceans, treated with formalin were found to be selling in these states. Following the incidents, and as a corrective measure, a notification was issued in Nagaland prohibiting the storage, distribution and sale of fresh fish products treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives for a period of three months or till corrective measures are taken in the sate. Food Safety Commissioner, Himato Zhimomi said that fish products treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives are considered ‘unsafe’ under Section 3(1)(zz)(v) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
How are people exposed to formalin? What are the health hazards of formalin?
The deadly solution is now being used widely in the preservation of fish, fruit and other food items, posing a great threat to public health. Formalin treatment prevents fish and other food items from rotting for many days. The chemical is highly toxic, irrespective of how it is consumed. It has been shown that consumption of as little as 30ml of a solution containing 37 percent of formaldehyde can kill an adult.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has concluded that formaldehyde is ‘carcinogenic to humans’ based on higher risks of nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia. Based on data from studies in people and from lab research, researchers from National Cancer Institute have concluded that exposure to formaldehyde may cause leukaemia, particularly myeloid leukaemia, in humans.
According to American Cancer Society, short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure include coughing, wheezing, nausea, skin irritation, watery eyes, burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat. When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 parts per million (ppm), some people who are very sensitive to formaldehyde may experience these symptoms. However, others have no reaction to the same level of exposure.
Also, formaldehyde in consumer products such as cosmetics and lotions can cause an allergic reaction in the skin - such as allergic contact dermatitis). This can lead to an itchy, red rash which may become raised or develop blisters.
Cigarette smoke and the use of unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters, are other potential indoor sources of formaldehyde. If you’re concerned about formaldehyde exposure from personal care products and cosmetics, try to avoid using the ones that contain or release this chemical. Yet, researchers aren’t clear whether this will provide any health benefit since the amount of formaldehyde released from these products is low.
6 tonnes of gutkha seized in Tiruvallur
Officers from the Food Safety Department in Tiruvallur seized 6 tonnes of gutkha worth over Rs. 10 lakh from a godown in Tiruvallur on Tuesday.
According to officers from the Food Safety Department, they received information that gutkha was stored in a godown near Thalakanchery in Tiruvallur district. “When we raided the godown we recovered 300 boxes from three rooms. Each one had three varieties of banned tobacco products. The boxes were kept amidst rice sacks,” said an officer.
The godown belongs to Lakharam from Rajasthan.
During investigation, it was found that the contraband was brought from Bengaluru.
Here's why adolescents need food safety education
According to a study, a majority of teenagers have a low level of awareness about safe food handling.
According to a study, a majority of teenagers have a low level of awareness about safe food handling. The University of Waterloo study measured 32 different food-handling behaviours among Ontario high school students in grades 10 to 12.
It found that fewer than 50 percent of the recommended practices were followed by students, including basic hand hygiene and procedures to prevent cross-contamination.
"High school students represent the next generation of food handlers, but they are not well studied," said Ken Diplock, who led the research while at Waterloo. "They are just starting to prepare food on their own and for others, and they're also beginning to work in the food industry.
"It's important to get to students before they develop bad habits."
The researchers observed the students in high school food and nutrition classes three times, once before the students took an Ontario standard food-handling training program, then two weeks and three months later.
The program helped them improve their skills significantly, but many students continued to engage in risky behaviours known to lead to food-borne diseases.
The most significant improvement after the training course occurred on thermometer use, which is the only way to determine doneness - how thoroughly cooked a cut of meat is.
Student use went from five percent at the first observation to 36 and 33 percent in two weeks and three months respectively.
"Even though training programs have important benefits, there are obviously still gaps between knowledge and how food handlers behave," said Diplock. "Food safety education improves knowledge and behaviour, but unless the values are reinforced in other areas such as home life and society, the behaviours will not always stick."
In this study, the behaviours remained consistent between the second and third observations, likely because the students were handling food regularly in the presence of teachers, who reinforced what they had learned, said co-author Shannon Majowicz.
"We put a lot of emphasis on general food safety education as a way to protect people from getting sick; it could also make a difference if we educate students about safe food handling in high school before they're young adults living and cooking on their own and for others," Majowicz said.
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