FDA asks Camp eateries to shut shop for operating sans licence

Famous joints like Bagwan, Akhtar Caterers and JJ Garden Vada Pav were found to be unhygienic

Food business operators running without licences have come under the scanner of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune, for doing business without Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences and have been asked to stop doing business.

The FDA officials during the inspection in Camp found famous establishments like Bagwan, Akhtar Caterers and JJ Garden Vada Pav operating without the licence. FDA has issued stop-business notices to these food operators.

The action was initiated after FDA officials during the inspection not only found they were operating without licences but also found them violating health and hygiene norms of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011.

Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune region, said, “They were doing business without licences and operating in filthy conditions. Due to this they have been issued notices asking them to stop doing business immediately. JJ Garden Vada Pav was found operating in unhealthy conditions with the staff working were found to be not following the basic hygiene. The water used to prepare was stored in a dirty condition with no details about it been safe for consumption. Even the potato that was used to make the vada was spoiled but still used.”

Deshmukh, said, “There were no details about the quality check of the bread that was sold with the vada. We have issued them orders to stop doing the business in a view to safe guard the public health.”

Sanjay Shinde, assistant commissioner of the FDA’s Pune region office, said, “Akhtar Caterers is famous in the Camp area but was found functioning in unhygienic conditions with cockroaches running all around the place. The workers preparing the food were not following the mandatory hygiene conditions and were in a shabby condition. Employees at both Bagwan and Akhtar Caterers were using water stored in unhygienic conditions to prepare the food items.”

Label ‘maida’ as ‘refined wheat flour’, food cos told

With many companies making tall claims about their products, the new norm is expected to help in taking an informed decision 

FSSAI also directs firms to label ‘atta’ as whole wheat flour within three months

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed packaged- food companies to ensure that they label ‘atta’ as whole wheat flour and ‘maida’ as refined wheat flour.

This direction came after the regulator observed that food business operators were using wheat flour as a general English nomenclature for both atta and maida on food product labels.

With many companies — especially in the packaged atta, bread and biscuits sectors — now making health claims regarding their products, this directive on labelling will help consumers make informed choices.

The food safety regulator noted that, “using the term wheat flour for maida on the label of the food products does not convey the exact nature of the ingredient used for manufacturing various food items to the consumers as well as enforcement officials.” The regulator had also received representations earlier from the food processing industry seeking clarity on whether the common name for “maida” in English for labelling purposes should be wheat flour or refined wheat flour.

In its order, the regulator said it has taken this decision after examining in detail the usage of the terms wheat flour/whole wheat flour and refined flour.

“Atta should be labelled as whole wheat flour wherever it is used singly or as an ingredient in a food item,” the regulator said, adding that maida should be labelled as refined wheat flour wherever the same is used singly or as an ingredient in a product.

Time frame

The regulator has given the food processing companies three months to ensure that the labels of their products are in line with this directive.

“Food business operators are directed to comply with these requirements by April 30,” the regulator said in its order.

The FSSAI has also directed the food safety commissioners to ensure that companies are in compliance with this order.

Food Safety dept. to hold camp for FSSAI clearance

Distribution of food at religious places to come under scanner

The Food Safety Department will hold its first registration camp in Kozhikode district for representatives of religious places, at Muthalakkulam on Tuesday. The initiative is aimed to bring food distribution in places of worships under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules.

The one-day camp will consider applications for FSSAI licence for supplying food to devotees during religious celebrations.

Registration

The department also plans to ascertain the number of places of worships where food is distributed. Registration procedures will be done through the online Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS). In case of technical glitches during data entry, the information gathered will be handed over to the Akshaya team after verification for further processing. Also, the participants can approach Akshaya centres directly to apply for registration.

“We have no plan to conduct any forceful field enforcement drive to check food distribution in places of worship taking the sentiments of believers into account. This is an attempt to help them complete all formalities and secure licence,” said Food Safety Assistant Commissioner P.K. Aleyamma. She pointed out that registration had been recently made mandatory under the Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (BHOG) project.

For the record, the Food Safety Department made licence mandatory for food distribution in religious places in the wake of a recent incident in which several persons who consumed food at a temple in Karnataka died of food poisoning. Soon after the incident, the authorities had called for intensifying vigil in the sector where no mechanism is in place to check food distribution.

Violators will now have to face stronger legal actions and even imprisonment with the strict implementation of the rule.

They may have to remit fine up to ₹5 lakh, besides undergoing imprisoned for up to six months. The regulations will be equally applicable for all types of food distribution taken up by residents forums, associations, and event management teams.

Though the rule on distribution of food at places of worship has been in place for years, very few centres of worship have cooperated with the protocol. As distribution of food to devotees is only an annual affair for most places of worship, no one has shown interest in securing FSSAI registration for the purpose.

Nine food samples sent for testing

Panchkula: The Panchkula health department took 9 samples from various sweet-meat shops and supermarkets to check the quantity of monosodium glutamate (MSG) mixed in food items. The team said the products caused serious health issues and the department was going to take serious action against those found using it.

Yogesh Sharma, chief medical officer (CMO), Civil Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, said along with food safety officer Shubhash Chandra, they had formed a team and were conducting special checks at various places in Panchkula district.

The team collected samples from Six Ten Super Market, MDC Sector 5; Orryo Sweet, Sector 5; Amar Roller Floor Mills, Industrial Area Phase-1; and Future Retail Limited, Sector 20.

Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the samples collected from different places have been sent to a laboratory located in Karnal, while the products which were unfit for human consumption were destroyed on the spot by the team.

The officials further stated that the food and sweet makers used MSG to make their eatables delicious.

The CMO said: “Mixing of the MSG salt in food products is strictly banned. Strict action will be taken on the basis of the report.”

Students would soon conduct test for adulteration in food, beverages

Indore: School students would soon be able to conduct test for adulteration in food and beverages on their own. Food and drug administration(FDA) department will provide test kits to schools so that students can test eatables on campus. The department would train students on how to conduct the test. 

The training session and test kit distribution will conducted under Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) campaign started by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

According to FDA inspector Manish Swami, the test kit worth Rs 3,000 will be provided to school management. Number of test kits given will depend upon number of students. Minimum three and maximum five kits will be provided to each school.

“Under the campaign, FDA team will create health and wellness coordinators in each school, who will be trained for the test and will be called ‘master sehat’. Later a session will be conducted in each school in which students will be informed and trained about how test will be conducted and its importance,” said Swami.

He added students of Class 11 and 12 will be allowed to use the kits. The students can bring food products and check them in school using the kit. If a student finds something impure or adulterated, they can inform us and we will take legal action.

A monthly report will be sought from school on number of test conducted by students to ensure that students are using the kit. 

There are more than 3500 schools in city and nearby areas including 1700 government schools. The private school students will be able to test food quality made in school canteen while government school students will be able to check quality of mid-day meal.

“Sehat Club will be created in schools comprising senior students & administration staff. A special schedule will be created for every school according to which Sehat Club will organize activities for building awareness through theatre, assembly addresses, workshops and parent teacher meetings,” said Swami. The campaign will be started in the city within 15 days.

GFX

Test kits will have

Pipettes, Lactometers & Cylinders, Litmus papers, Iodine solution, Milk Testing Chemicals & Alcohol,Tilt Measures,Thermometers,Sampling Dippers,Plastic Sample Bottles,Jerry Cans, Funnels & Acid Pumps,Cleaning Brushes

What can be tested 

Khoa,Milk,Spices,Sugar,Oil,Ghee