Eateries, shops at RTC Complex found violating MRP norms

Vigilance officials inspecting a hotel at Dwarakanagar RTC Complex on Thursday. 

Vigilance officials conduct raids

Sleuths of Vigilance and Enforcement Department, along with food safety, legal metrology departments on Thursday conducted raids on several hotels and shops in the RTC Complexes at Dwarakanagar and Maddilapalem. The officials booked cases against several outlets on charges of several irregularities including violation of MRP norms.

Acting on the instructions issued by Vigilance SP D. Koteswara Rao, the officials raided hotels and shops . They found several outlets selling food items more than the MRPs and without manufacturing details. They collected four samples while the legal metrology officers registered seven cases against cool drink shops and other vendors.

Meanwhile, raids were conducted at Maddilapalem RTC complex. Shops were found using expired tomato sauce in preparing food and storing chicken in violation of norms. “Cases will be booked under Food Safety Act,” the officials said.

Vigilance DSP P.M. Naidu, Inspectors R. Mallikarjuna Rao, N. Srinivasa Rao and Food Safety Inspectors G.V. Apparao, Legal Metrology Inspector Radha Krishna and few others took part in the raids.

'No regulation for printing of nicotine content on cigarette packets'

INDORE: Food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) has submitted its reply before high court in a petition seeking printing of nicotine and tar content on cigarette packets, denying any regulation over smoking tobacco products or cigarettes. 

FSSAI submitted that they could only regulate food items and were taking steps towards exercising the ban on use of nicotine and tar in food products, including pan masala and gutka. FSSAI also submitted that while their primary duties lie in implementation of Food Safety and Security Act 2006, they could seize samples of cigarettes along with the state government under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.

“It had also been submitted by FSSAI earlier that a proposal is pending before the Centre for setting up a laboratory to test nicotine and tar content of cigarettes. The proposed laboratory will be the first in India and is likely to be set up in Gurgaon, Delhi,” advocate Shweta Mewada, counsel for petitioner said. PIL filed by Harsh Jhunjhunwala had alleged that tobacco companies were selling poor quality cigarettes in the market and that they were not mentioning the quantity of tar and nicotine on cigarette packets. `

Swasth Bharat Yatra to reach Pilibhit today, to spread awareness on healthy food

Pilibhit: Swasth Bharat Yatra (SYB), an outreach programme of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will reach Pilibhit on Friday.

Also known as ‘cyclothon,’ the programme has an ambitious objective of disseminating mass awareness about fortified food, techniques of detecting adulterated food materials and promotion of healthy eating habits.

As many as 70 students from different educational institutions of the district will take part in the programme and take it to Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagra district, the next destination of SBY. The cyclothon is scheduled to conclude in New Delhi on January 27.

The food safety department of Pilibhit has sought active coordination of members of Indian Medical Council (IMA) to spread awareness on the importance of healthy food.

According to Pilibhit food safety officer, VK Verma, SBY is a key element of ‘Eat Right India Movement’ and is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March and Salt Satyagraha of 1930.

Verma said, “As part of the initiative, special vans titled ‘eat right movement and food safety on wheels’ will cover all urban and rural areas of the district to spread awareness on fortified products and the benefits of their consumption.”

“Fortified foods are rich in vitamins and essential minerals, including iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc among others. We are trying to spread awareness on the same,” Dr Saurabh Agrawal, IMA district secretary, said.

District magistrate Akhilesh Mishra said that ASHA and ANMs would be assigned special duties to educate villagers on healthy eating habits.