Jul 24, 2018
A healthy measure
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed leading food aggregators such as Zomato, Swiggy and UberEats to delist all restaurants and eateries that do not have an FSSAI licence or registration. It has also asked them to submit a report on the action taken to delist such eateries or food vendors from their platforms by July 31.
The move came after the food safety regulator received a series of complaints about sub-standard food being supplied by restaurants and vendors listed on these delivery platforms. The regulator has ordered 10 such online food deliver firms to 'debar' non-licensed or unregistered restaurants or eateries from their platforms immediately and to ensure compliance with the food safety rules and regulations. These firms are Zomato, Swiggy, UberEats, Foodpanda, Fassos, FoodCloud, Foodmingo, JusFood, BoxB and LimeTray.
This is also significant as the food safety authority had operationalised guidelines for e-commerce food service platforms in February. Under the guidelines, it is mandatory for them to display the FSSAI licence number of the restaurants and eateries listed on their platforms. In addition they also need to have an agreement with these listed eateries regarding compliance with the FSS Act and Rules.
The regulator has come to know that most of these or all of these have been not following the guidelines. Unhygienic eateries are a common sight all over the country and majority of the people street food. Tie up with such unhealthy joints gives them a brand placement. These apps also attract customers by providing huge discounts. The Indian Consumer Complaints Forum has received as many as 257 complaints against Swiggy, a food delivery app, of which the company has resolved only 14. Swiggy's customer satisfaction stood at only five per cent.
As contacting personnel of the apps is an unfriendly exercise, customers have taken to twitter and other online platforms to complain. The food delivery sector written off not too long ago in the country, has seen a revival over the past six months. Everyone is rushing into to invest in the delivery system. The food technology sector is expected to touch at least $2.5 billion by 2021 from its current size of about $700 million. The online food deliver market is growing at a steady 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter in terms of daily food orders.
Top cities for food tech firms include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkota and Chennai (the latest entrant). Here is where the regulator's role becomes key. One cannot afford to be a dirty nation in this modern age. Profiteering is being frowned upon everywhere. Quality is the key word of food industry.
World is progressing towards biodegradable packing systems. The Regulator is now proposing to punish those obstructing the work of a food safety officer or threatening someone from discharging his duties. It is recommended that imprisonment of not less than six months and up to two years besides a penalty of Rs 5 lakh be imposed.
Several other amendments are also being brought in to the existing law to impose quality controls strictly. It is time for us to take quality seriously.
New regulations to certify organic food likely to favour big brands
Worse, the government's latest move to regulate the domestic organic market can also push tens of thousands of organic farmers out of business
For 20 years, R Selvam has been painstackingly growing paddy, groundnut, coco nut and sesame seeds organically in his 2.8-hectare farmland in Tamil Nadu’s Arachalur village. But July 1 onwards, Selvam can no longer sell the produce to organic retail stores due to a new regulation that bans the retail sale of food labelled as organic unless it has been certified by the government. The regulation, he says, will reduce his farm income by over 70 per cent, which is worth Rs 25 lakh a year. “I sell only 30 per cent of the produce directly to customers, which the regulation says can be done without a certification,” says Selvam. He fears that if the government does not come up with a cheap certification process for individuals, farmers like him might “disappear” altogether.
As per the new regulation by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), farmers can obtain certification through two processes, both of which, Selvam says, are difficult and time-consuming. The first option is to get a certificate, valid for one year, from one of the 28 third-party certification agencies accredited by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). This process can cost a farmer anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 per year and an existing organic farmer like Selvam will have to wait for one whole year to get the certificate (see ‘Certified problem’). The other option is the Participatory Guarantee System-India (PGS), under which a group of farmers come together and vouch for each others’ produce. While PGS certification can be obtained for free, getting the certificate takes three long years, even if the farmer is already practising organic.
Before the new regulation kicked in, only farmers and food processors exporting their products needed mandatory certification and domestic players could operate without a certification. “The certification is a mark for the genuine farmers, processors and manufacturers, as currently, anyone can claim they are organic,” says Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI.
Drafted to hit small players?
While there is no doubt that the regulation is desirable, most industry players say it may slow down the country’s organic movement.
“The regulation needs to be revised to make it more realistic,” says Narayana Upadhaya, director, Aditi Organic Certification Pvt Ltd, one of the 28 NPOP-accredited private agencies responsible for verification of the organic farmers, processors, manufacturers and traders, and issuing them certificates. “The certification requires farmers to use organic seeds, but we know they are not easily available in the market,” he says. An analysis by Down To Earth shows that most organic farmers soak the conventional seeds in beejamrutam, a mixture of cow urine, cow dung and neem oil, for two-three days and then follow the organic farming methods. The procedure is also recognised by the guidelines of the Centre’s ambitious Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015 to promote organic farming (see ‘Seedless future’, Down To Earth, 1-15 March, 2018).
The regulation comes at a time when PKVY is yet to gain a foothold in most states. In Punjab and Haryana, which along with Uttar Pradesh is referred to as the food bowl of India, just 131 and 488 farmers have been covered under the scheme; Uttar Pradesh has 38,781 farmers under the scheme. The scheme so far has issued 95,688 certificates to farmers, of which 18 per cent have not opted for renewal.
Worse, the regulation will now push tens of thousands of organic farmers out of business. Joy Daniel, executive director, Institute of Integrated Rural Development, a non-profit in Maharashtra, says, “In the northeastern states, excluding Assam, 10 million hectares are organic by default as farmers do not have access to chemical fertilisers. They will no longer be able to sell their produce as organic. The same is true for farmers in most remote tribal regions.”
Then there are those growing and processing organic crops with the help of certificates issued by non-profits. For instance, the Participatory Guarantee Systems-Organic Council (PGSOC), a network of 21 civil society organisations, has so far issued certificates to over 10,000 farmers in 14 states. All these farmers will have go through expensive and time-consuming processes to obtain organic certification from NPOP or PGS-India. Deccan Development Society, a member of PGSOC, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on June 30 against the notification and urged that non-profits already working with organic farmers be allowed to issue certificates. “We have urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the power to give certification should not be given to one single government body,” says P V Sateesh, founder, Deccan Development Society.
Time to shift focus
“We need an accountable mechanism where any farmer desirous to shift to organic farming can do it without joining a collective or enrolling under a government scheme,” says Kavitha Kuruganti, member of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture. The certification should be free of cost, time-bound and simple. This is missing right now. The current regulation, she fears, would keep only big organic brands in the business.
Devinder Sharma, a food and trade policy analyst, goes a step further when he says that FSSAI should introduce certification for non-organic farmers, who are responsible for environmental pollution and a myriad of illnesses.
Certified problem
Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS)
Farmers will have to form a group of at least five and then apply for PGS, introduced in 2015 under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
Registration of a new farmer takes three years
A farmer has to peer-review the fields thrice every season—during sowing, harvest and once in between. This inspection takes around 12 days every seasonNational Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
Farmers and processors can get a certificate from agencies accredited by NPOP, which has been in place since 2001
Farmers growing perennial crops need to wait for three years to get a new certificate. For annual crops, the waiting time is two years
Farmers already practising organic can get a certificate after a year
Cost may vary from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the size of the holding and the fee of the inspecting third-party
(This article was first published in the 16-31 July issue of Down To Earth under the headline 'Organic glitch').
Officials justify release of contaminated fish stock
Hit hard: The scare created by formalin-laced fish has impacted fish trade in the city. A view from the Nadakkvu market where a trader readies his stock.
Consignment not meant for retail in Kerala, they say
Officials of the Food Safety Department on Monday clarified that a truckload of squid they had intercepted at Vadakara on Saturday after confirming the presence of formalin in it, was released, as the stock was not meant for retail in Kerala.
The vehicle was heading to an exporting unit at Mangaluru from Kanyakumari, and food safety officials in Kerala are not authorised to act against inter-State shipping of products between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, they said, adding that the allegation of “inaction” on the part of the squad was baseless.
Defending the decision, an officer in charge of the squads said that the team had ensured that the stock was not unloaded in any part of Kerala en route to Mangaluru.
Authorities alerted
There was a mild presence of formalin in the stock, and the details were communicated to the authorities concerned in Mangaluru for action, the officer added.
Noticing the vehicle near the Mooradu bridge, some locals had alerted the police and food safety squads. Though the driver and the cleaner had claimed that the stock was not meant for delivery in Kerala, the protesters were unwilling to relent and demanded that the authorities destroy the stock.
The squad members said that the vehicle had been released after consulting senior officials at the Commissionerate of Food Safety. The only instruction was to ensure that the stock was delivered at the mentioned spot, they claimed.
Better surveillance
A senior Food Safety Department official said that the checking squads in Kerala had limitations in seizing stocks during transit between two States. “We will be able to prevent such practices effectively only by strengthening the surveillance mechanism and the mobile squads on the State’s borders,” he added.
Meanwhile, he confirmed that contaminated stocks meant for resale in local markets would be instantly seized and buried. “We had impounded nearly 5,000 kg of such stock at Vadakara and buried it at once, taking public safety into account,” he said.
The squads in Kozhikode circle said that no large-scale trade in formalin-laced fish had been confirmed in any local market in Kozhikode city. Only a small quantity was recently seized from the Central market, and samples were sent to laboratories for final inspection, officials said.
VMC carries out checks on edible oil across Baroda
Vadodara: Food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) checked the quality of edible oil used for frying food items in the city. It is for the first time that the civic body conducted such a drive to check the total polar compound (TPC) in oil used for frying.
Sources said that the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued directives earlier this month for ensuring the quality of edible oil used for frying food items.
Officials were also instructed to use the total power count machine for analysing oil samples when they were hot.
According to the standards, the oil is considered to be safe if TPC is within 25. Food safety officers of the civic body checked samples in Akota, Gotri, Mujmahuda, O P Road, Gotri, Nizampura, Chhani, Karelibaug and other areas of the city. At an outlet in Akota, the TPC was found at 27 which is above the prescribed limit.
The outlet was issued a notice by the VMC officials and the oil as well as food items cooked in it were disposed of. Sources said that the drive would continue in the coming days in different parts of the city.
Restaurant ordered to pay up for worms in bottle
Vadodara: An Ahmedabad-based bottled water company and a restaurant in the city had come under the lens when a resident of Nagarwada, Feroz Vohra, approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum after he found worms in a bottle of packaged water.
The forum ordered the bottling company to deposit Rs 10,000 in the consumer welfare fund, while the restaurant has been told to pay the complainant Rs 6,000 as compensation for harassment and legal costs.
In April 2016, Vohra and his family went for dinner to a restaurant called Kareem’s on Old Padra Road, where he was served a bottle of packaged water of the brand ‘Clear’. According to Vohra’s complaint, he found worms in the water and raised the issue with the restaurant manager. While the manager assured him he would take up the matter the Ahmedabad-based Gaggar Enterprises and Energy Beverages, which manufactures and markets the water, Vohra decided to leave the restaurant without having the meal. He offered to pay for the bottle, but the manager refused to take his money.
Vohra later wrote to the Food and Drugs Laboratory and the health department of Vadodara Municipal Corporation. When no action was taken by the authorities, he moved court. On being issued notices, the manufacturer informed the court that Vohra made up the complaint to extract money from them. It also told the court that they follow food safety rules and regulations and had even got the product inspected by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
However, the consumer forum rejected their arguments and upheld the documents produced by Vohra. The court observed that the manufacturer’s responsibility does not end by having licenses and getting the product inspected. “It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to maintain the quality of the water and when worms are visible in the water, it shows that it has failed in its responsibility,” the court said in its judgement.
The forum asked the manufacturer and the restaurant to deposit the money within two months.
CM orders IG-level inquiry into food poisoning incidents at GV Raja Sports School
Thiruvananthapuram: In order to resolve the mystery around recurrent food poisoning incidents at GV Raja Sports School, Mylam, the state government has ordered for a police investigation into the issue.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed DGP Loknath Behera to initiative an IG-level inquiry into the issue.
Earlier, food safety commissioner M G Rajamanickam recommended sports department to ask for a police investigation into the food poisoning cases, but the decision was pending. Sports minister A C Moideen forwarded the file to CM, who directed DGP to constitute a team for inquiry, said government sources.
There were allegations that recurrent food poisoning incidents were taking place with the support of higher officials in GV Raja Sports School and the sports department.
Following the controversy, the higher education department transferred the then principal of the school C S Pradeep to sports division, Kannur. The DPI had transferred headmaster Jain Raj and the kitchen staff.
On June 18, around 40 students of the school sought treatment for stomach upset and vomiting at Government hospital, Peroorkada.
Food safety department was informed about the incident only two days later and so it was unable to collect samples. However, food safety department noticed foul play as food poisoning incidents have happened around four times since 2013.
One of the major allegations is that there was foul play in giving contract to run the mess. The sports department is spending around Rs 18 lakh per month for the mess.
A section of parents and students have come in support of the principal, who was facing allegations. They too demanded a police investigation to solve the mystery.
DGP was unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts.
Draft Notice Issued By The FSSAI Seeking Suggestions On Display Of Menu
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has seeked out suggestions from stakeholders of food service establishments regarding the display of information on menu labels. A draft notice has been issued urging them to give out their suggestions.
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, in Regulation 2.4 related to Specific Requirements/ Restrictions, on the manner of labeling, a new clause, namely Display of information in food service establishments, should be added according to the draft that has been issued, reports the publication.
REQUIRED INFORMATION
“Food service establishments having a Central license or outlets at 20 or more locations shall display the calorific value of each food item sold by them on their menu cards or boards. Additionally, reference information on the requirements of 2,000Kcal energy for an average adult per day shall also be displayed clearly and prominently,” is what is stated in the clause.
The food service establishment should display information, including any warning or statutory declarations required under the regulations, information relating to allergens in the food, logo for vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, information relating to gluten-free and low gluten status in food and information relating to organic food or ingredients, at the point of sale or service of the food.
Apart from food service establishments, the draft also covers e-commerce food business operators (FBOs) who have been instructed to provide all the information on their menu links with every food service establishment that are a part of their platform.
THE EXCLUSIONS
These provisions, however, will not be applicable to self-serve condiments that are free of charge and not listed on the menu, event caterers and food service premises that operate for less than 60 days in a calendar year, either consecutively or non-consecutively; and specially-ordered items or modified meals and menu items that are given according to the customers’ requests.
The clause also directs food service establishments to keep in handwritten nutritional information on the food items they sell, either as booklets, handouts or on their website. This shall be provided to consumers upon request.
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