Jul 31, 2018
Give test reports within 8 days: Gadkari tells FDA
Nagpur: Union transported minister Nitin Gadkari told the officials of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to provide test reports of food samples submitted by consumers within 8 days. He also asked the agency to provide online services of consumers. He was addressing the bhoomi puja function of new FDA laboratory in Civil Lines on Sunday.
The minister said that the demand for a FDA laboratory in Nagpur was an old one and thanked the state government for sanctioning it. He exhorted the food officials to provide quality service to consumers and the government. If a person is found guilty of supplying adulterated products then his name and photograph should be released to media so that it acts as a deterrent. “I appeal to big food products industries to provide best quality products to consumers,” he added.
The building will be six-storied and will have parking for outside vehicles, special parking for electric vehicles and the premises will have landscaping. It will be green building and will generate power through solar panels installed on its roof.
Madan Yerawar, minister of state for FDA, said that the Nagpur laboratory would be the third in the state. “It will be ready in two years. It will have the capacity to test 5,000 types of food products and 2,000 types of drugs,” he added.
FDA minister Girish Bapat said that the agency was cracking down hard on illegal sale of pan masala and gutkha. “We have seized gutkha worth Rs150 crore last year and operation is going on,” he added.
Bapat further said that a law to increase the punishment for adulterators was being considered by the government. “The minimum punishment will be three years imprisonment,” he added.
An information booklet published by food safety and standards department of central government was released by the ministers.
FDA secretary Sanjay Deshmukh, FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade and several other senior officials were present in the function.
Stale food seized in FSSAI crackdown on eateries
Madurai: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned of serious consequences if eateries do not take corrective measures in maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. Officials from the FSSAI have embarked on a crackdown against eateries in the city for the past few days and say that there are several violations by the eateries.
The team, led by designed officer for food safety, Madurai district Dr M Somasundaram have been checking the eateries for the last three days. “The hotels, which are not maintaining cleanliness are being given stringent warning. Those with serious deviations will face the consequence,” Somasundaram warned.
The officials are checking areas, one after the other. Checks have already been conducted at Arappalayam and Mattuthavani bus terminals, which witness large crowds. Most of the customers in these places are floating population.
“The hotels we checked had cleanliness issues. Some of the hotels had stored stale meat and left-over cooked food items. While the samples have been lifted, action would follow soon,” Somasundaram said.
Other disturbing issue found with the hotels in the city is the generous use of banned additives. While the hotels and eateries are allowed to use only certain colours and additives permitted by FSSAI, some of the roadside eateries and restaurants at Mattuthavani had violated the rule.
Many might have developed health complications after having food in hotels in the city, but the complaints they receive is only a fraction. The problem is people do not know their rights and the complaint mechanism. Serious action would be taken if there are complaints against eateries, Somasundaram added.
A source from the department said that many people are carried away by the brand name of an eatery. When they conducted an inspection few months ago, they found leftover rice refrigerated at a prominent eatery at Mattuthavani which was to be used for fast food the next day.
Only recently, a team of food safety officials unearthed expired food items and stale meat stored in a prominent resort in Kodaikanal. The inspection was conducted based on a complaint from a Kerala family, which fell ill after consuming food in the resort.
Canteen sealed at GB Pant Hospital for selling ‘unhygienic food’
Acting on complaint, authorities on Monday sealed canteen at GB Pant Hospital here for selling sub-standard food.
“On basis of complaint that sub-standard food is being served to patients and attendants at the canteen namely Jehlum Food Court at G.B Pant Hospital, a team of food safety officers headed by assistant commissioner Food Safety Srinagar inspected the said canteen and found it in unhygienic condition,” said an official statement.
It said rooms where food was being served to patients, attendants and hospital employees were without requisite ventilation, thus creating “unfavorable atmosphere for consumers and prepared food”.
“Flies in large number were found inside the canteen. The furniture was broken and food was not properly stored in deep freezers/refrigerators thus violating provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act,” said the statement.
It said the canteen was being run without obtaining licence under Food Safety Act. “Samples were lifted and in the interest of public health the canteen has been sealed,” it said.
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