Imported pulses to be tested for glyphosate contamination

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23

In order to address a lacunae in food-safety regulations, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed its imports division to test glyphosate levels in imported pulses in line with global standards.

Noting that the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for glyphosate in pulses has not been specified in regulations in India, it has said that MRL specified in Codex standards should be taken into consideration while giving import clearances.

The recent FSSAI order assumed significance as a US court on Monday upheld that glyphosate was a potential carcinogen. Refusing to entertain a fresh trial sought by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer), a superior San Francisco court upheld a jury trial awarding compensation to a former school groundskeeper, who claimed that spraying of glyphosate caused him cancer. The court, however, reduced the punitive award to him substantially.

Codex Alimentarius is the joint food standards programme of FAO and WHO and is a collection of internationally recognised standards and practices for food products. Glyphosate is prevalently used as a herbicide.

Speaking to BusinessLine, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said: “Since we haven’t specified standards for maximum residue levels for glyphosate for pulses, the impression was that any amount of residue levels is allowed in pulses. Hence, we have decided to follow the Codex standards.” Different crops have different glyphosate MRL standards, he added.

FSSAI has also directed its regional offices to collect data on the glyphosate levels in imported pulses and submit the data to its headquarters on a fortnightly basis. Kavitha Kuruganthi, a farm activist, welcomed the move, but said the weed-killer is used indiscriminately in many crops, including some for which its application is not approved.

Codex standards specify glophosate MRL for beans, lentil, peas and soyabean on a per kg basis. The maximum residue levels range from 2 mg/kg in beans to 20 mg/kg in soyabean.

Over 10 quintal sweets prepared in unhygienic conditions destroyed

JAMMU, Oct 23: Over ten quintal sweets manufactured in unhygienic conditions were destroyed and nine wholesale manufacturers/sellers were challaned under Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006 by the Food Safety wing, Jammu of Drug and Food Control Organization, in city and its outskirts.

To check the manufacturing/selling of adulterated sweets, a Food Safety team headed by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu checked various whole sale outlets of Khoya, manufacturers of sweets and sellers of dry fruits in the municipal limits of Jammu and challaned nine food business operators under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Among those challaned were two wholesale sweet manufacturers at Om Nagar, near Revenue Complex Jammu. They were challaned for manufacturing sweets under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions. The team lifted samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Patisa from the two manufacturers for lab analysis and destroyed 200 kg of Rasgulla, 100 kg of Gulab Jamun and 90 kg of Patisa processed in unfavourable conditions.

Moreover, the production of both manufacturers were stopped as the infrastructures of both premises were not upto the standards as per the FSS Act 2006. Sample of Katlamas were also lifted from manufacturer Rakesh Kumar at Gole Gujral and he was also challaned under FSS Act.

Doulat Ram & Sons and Vishawinder Kumar Gupta & Sons—the two main wholesale outlets of Khoya in Hari market Jammu were also inspected from where four samples of Khoya were lifted and 260 kg of suspected sub-standard Khoya was seized. The samples were sent to the laboratory for detection of adulteration. Vishawinder Kumar and Sons was also challaned for storing the Khoya under unsanitary and unhygenic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Samples of dry fruits were lifted from Sharma Enterprises and Chet Ram & Sons at Raghunath Bazaar, Jammu and both the Food Business Operators were challaned under section 58 of FSS Act 2006.

During the drive, samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Ladoo and Paneer were also lifted from wholesale sweet manufacturers—Brijander Sweet Shop and Foran Singh Sweet Shop at Muthi and Balkrishan Sweet Shop at Paloura. The team also destroyed 510 kg of Rasgullas and 124 kg of Gulab Jamun, which were prepared under insanitary and unhygienic conditions. The activities of the all the three wholesale sweet manufacturers were stopped till further orders and they were challaned under FSSA 2006.

The drive was conducted on the directions of Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K. The inspecting team was comprised of Food Safety officers, Ajay Khajuria, Daleep Singh and Hans Raj Andotra.

Over 10 quintal sweets prepared in unhygienic conditions destroyed

JAMMU, Oct 23: Over ten quintal sweets manufactured in unhygienic conditions were destroyed and nine wholesale manufacturers/sellers were challaned under Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006 by the Food Safety wing, Jammu of Drug and Food Control Organization, in city and its outskirts.

To check the manufacturing/selling of adulterated sweets, a Food Safety team headed by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu checked various whole sale outlets of Khoya, manufacturers of sweets and sellers of dry fruits in the municipal limits of Jammu and challaned nine food business operators under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Among those challaned were two wholesale sweet manufacturers at Om Nagar, near Revenue Complex Jammu. They were challaned for manufacturing sweets under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions. The team lifted samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Patisa from the two manufacturers for lab analysis and destroyed 200 kg of Rasgulla, 100 kg of Gulab Jamun and 90 kg of Patisa processed in unfavourable conditions.

Moreover, the production of both manufacturers were stopped as the infrastructures of both premises were not upto the standards as per the FSS Act 2006. Sample of Katlamas were also lifted from manufacturer Rakesh Kumar at Gole Gujral and he was also challaned under FSS Act.

Doulat Ram & Sons and Vishawinder Kumar Gupta & Sons—the two main wholesale outlets of Khoya in Hari market Jammu were also inspected from where four samples of Khoya were lifted and 260 kg of suspected sub-standard Khoya was seized. The samples were sent to the laboratory for detection of adulteration. Vishawinder Kumar and Sons was also challaned for storing the Khoya under unsanitary and unhygenic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Samples of dry fruits were lifted from Sharma Enterprises and Chet Ram & Sons at Raghunath Bazaar, Jammu and both the Food Business Operators were challaned under section 58 of FSS Act 2006.

During the drive, samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Ladoo and Paneer were also lifted from wholesale sweet manufacturers—Brijander Sweet Shop and Foran Singh Sweet Shop at Muthi and Balkrishan Sweet Shop at Paloura. The team also destroyed 510 kg of Rasgullas and 124 kg of Gulab Jamun, which were prepared under insanitary and unhygienic conditions. The activities of the all the three wholesale sweet manufacturers were stopped till further orders and they were challaned under FSSA 2006.

The drive was conducted on the directions of Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K. The inspecting team was comprised of Food Safety officers, Ajay Khajuria, Daleep Singh and Hans Raj Andotra.

Delhi plans to keep a check on adulterated sweets during festive season

The Delhi government has launched a special drive to keep a check on adulterated sweets across the city in the ongoing festival season.

The Food Safety Department of the Delhi government recently issued an order directing Food and Civil Supplies Officers (FSOs) to carry out the drive against adulterated food items in their respective jurisdictions.

"All designated officers are directed to issue an order to FSOs concerned to carry out a special drive in the jurisdictional area of their districts for the lifting of samples of khoya, sweets made from khoya, other milk products..." the order stated.

The move is aimed at keeping a close watch on the sweets being supplied in the national capital. It also aims to tighten the noose around people who are involved in food adulteration, an official said.

He said strict action would be taken against those involved in food adulteration.

"The department teams will randomly lift samples at sweet shops and send them for examination," the official said.

"The government will not spare anybody found playing with the health of Delhiites," he added.

Microplastics have found their way into your gut

DINAMANI NEWS