Nov 2, 2018
Glyphosate in pulses: Maharashtra FDA starts collecting samples
MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 1
In view of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advisory on the possible presence of herbicide glyphosate in pulses, sold in the country, the Maharashtra FDA has started collecting samples and the laboratory reports to be collated by early December.
Glyphosate is a herbicide used for control of weeds in farms. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organisation, had said there was limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a type of cancer) due to glyphosate usage. Last week the Punjab Government had banned the sale of glyphosate in the State.
Joint Commissioner of Maharashtra FDA, CB Pawar said that all the seven divisions of FDA in the State have been asked to collect samples. If the chemical presence is found, which is injurious to human health then the criminal action would be taken against the concerned persons. The law has provisions for such an action. If non-chemical contaminants are found then fine could be levied, he said.
10 challaned under FSSA, 520 kg sweets destroyed
Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu, Dr Parvesh Kumar, inspecting sweets at a reputed shop in Jammu.
Drive against food adulteration
JAMMU, Nov 1: Intensifying the drive against food adulteration, Food Safety wing of Drug and Food Control Organization inspected premises of various food business operators in Janipur, Gandhi Nagar and adjoining areas and challaned 10 food business operators under FSS Act 2006.
A team of Food Safety officers headed by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Jammu, on the directions of Commissioner, Food Safety, conducted random inspection of various food outlets including sweet shops, bakery shops and confectionery outlets in areas of High Court Road (Janipur), main stop Janipur, Naibasti, Gandhi Nagar, Digiana and Nanak Nagar.
During the drive, Gokul Sweet Shop, Parkash Di Hatti, A V Sweet Shop, Bikaner Sweet Shop, Agarwal Sweets manufacturer, Sain ji Di Hatti, Rattan Tea Stall and Vaishno Dhaba at Janipur, High Court Road, Janipur and Lakkad Mandi, Bansi Di Hatti and Premier Bakes at Industrial area, Digiana were challaned under Section 56 of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 as sweets/food items in these establishments were being manufactured under insanitary and unhygienic conditions.
Moreover, samples of suspicious food items such as Rasgullas, Channa Murgi, Dahi, Patisa, Chocolate, Ladoo, Burfi, Toda Burfi and Malai Burfi were also lifted from Nav Durga Sweets at Digiana, Shri Anand Bhog at Nai Basti, Chib Sweets at Nanak Nagar and Ganpati Sweets (Nathus) at Gandhi Nagar and sent to the food testing laboratory for detecting adulteration.
During the inspections, the food business activities of Gokul Sweets, Parkash Di Hatti, Bikaner Sweets, Sain ji Di Hatti at Janipur and Bansi Di Hatti at Nai Basti were stopped as the infrastructures of their work shops were not satisfactory and found in insanitary conditions. Moreover, 520 kg of sweets was destroyed on spot as the same was manufactured and stored under insanitary conditions.
The team comprising Food Safety Officers, Daleep Singh, Hans Raj Andorra, Ajay Khajuria and Pervaiz Ahmed, also asked all the shopkeepers to maintain the personal hygiene, dress code and use good quality of raw material for making food items.
Bengaluru family finds ‘plastic grains’ in sugar bought from grocer
BENGALURU: A senior citizen’s family in west Bengaluru was busy preparing sweets for his US-bound daughter when they realised they couldn’t even bite into the besan ladoos, let alone relish them.
The family from Upkar Layout in Ullala immediately dumped the besan ladoos in water, only to find plastic grains settling down as sediment. A closer examination revealed that the sugar they had bought from the neighbourhood grocer to prepare the sweets was in fact teeming with plastic grains. On Tuesday, prof Ashok R Patil, a neighbour of the aggrieved family, complained to the food safety commissioner and health commissioner about the suspected plastic grains found in the sugar.
The head of the family, SV Karki, had bought 5kg of sugar from Krishna Provision Store on Sunday. “My wife made besan ladoos and some other sweets for my daughter who was set to leave for the US. We used up all the sugar. While tasting the ladoos, we realised it was impossible to bite into them. When we dissolved them in water, we could see transparent crystals settling down. I complained to the shopkeeper,” said Karki.
Complaint lodged
Prof Patil, chair professor of consumer law and practice, National Law School of India University, learnt about the matter and lodged the complaint — TOI has a copy — alleging that the sugar was adulterated with plastic grains.
“We informed the food safety officer to take action against the manufacturers and sellers involved. We have kept a sample of the sweet for lab test. The matter needs to be investigated further,” said Patil. With the family having used all the sugar purchased from the store, there’s no way to verify the extent of adulteration.
Maneesh Singh, proprietor of Krishna Provision Store, said he did not receive a complaint from any other customer. “I buy a gunny bag of 50kg of sugar from the wholesale market,” he said.
However, Patil claimed the shopkeeper had admitted to some problem in the sugar when Karki questioned him.
Dr Harshavardhan B, joint commissioner, Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), Karnataka, said he has received a complaint and his officers would inspect the store.
‘Will test sample’
“If it is settling at the bottom of the vessel, it might not be plastic grains. They would float. We have received over 90 samples of rice and sugar in the past one month and in none of the cases was the presence of plastic grains proven. Testing samples for the presence of plastic grains costs Rs 6,000. The complainant has sent us an email. We will collect the sample and test it further,” he said, adding that it could be a case of adulteration.
Food safety concerns at farmers markets
A new study shows vendors at farmers markets may be taking risks when it comes to food safety.
Researchers at Penn State observed 42 vendors in 8 farmers markets in Pennsylvania.
They found vendors tended to have poor hand-washing habits and there was potential for cross-contamination.
Less than a quarter had disposable gloves present at stands, even though many sold raw food.
The researchers also found the presence of food borne diseases, including Ecoli and listeria.
According to the USDA, there are nearly 9-thousand farmers markets in the country.
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