Commissioner assures action: Food Safety Analyst demands ‘bribe’ from budding Kashmiri entrepreneur to clear his product even after the nod from FSSAI

Jammu, Mar 2, CNS: A young entrepreneur from Kashmir Valley has accused Jammu based Food Safety Laboratory of maligning his brand and image. The entrepreneur alleged that Food Safety Laboratory of Jammu demands bribe from to clear his brand though the Kolkatta and Kashmir based food safety laboratories have already cleared the name of his brand.

At a time when unemployment menace has engulfed the State, Faizan Muhammad from Hyderpora who has earned a Management Degree from AMITY University started his business venture of Iodized Salt by his own Brand namely (Samzan Salt) in 2017.

“I am completely disappointed the way a Food Analyst from Jammu Laboratory demanded bribe from me,” Faizan told news agency CNS.

While divulging information about his venture, Faizan Muhammad said that recently, he launched ‘Double Fortified Salt’ (Iron+Iodine) which was selected for a Government tender for supply to the ICDS Department Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Salt samples were tested in Food Safety Laboratory in Kashmir Province and also Jammu Province under same batch and lot. While Kashmir Province Laboratory conformed to the standards prescribed for iron and iodine under regulation of (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) FSSAI, however, to my shock, same was tested by the Food Safety Laboratory Jammu and did not pass the product and declared the sample report as substandard and mis-branded for the reasons better known to them,” he said.

“After the negative report from Jammu Laboratory, my product was forwarded to FSSAI referral Lab Kolkata, West Bengal and product was declared as a standard one after passing all tests. The positive report that I received from FSSAI Kolkatta exposed the the sinister motive of Jammu Laboratory. When I raised the issue with Jammu based Food Analyst, he was will to clear my product provided i grease his palm. He demanded Rs 5 lakh bribe.”

The budding entrepreneur added that it is a norm in Jammu based Food Safety Laboratory to harass entrepreneurs so that bribe can be extorted from them. “It is crystal clear that Food Safety Laboratory of Jammu Province deliberately provided negative report of the sample of my Salt vide Batch Number 10. It’s not only the question of rampant malpractices but Jammu Food Safety Laboratory is playing with the lives of common people. There are ample chances that this laboratory may pass adultered products as well for money,” he added.

Faizan said that he also filed an application under Right to Information Act seeking details from Jammu based Food Safety Laboratory about all tested products from couple of years.

I request Governor Administration, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Anti-Corruption Bureau to look into the matter so that corrupt elements can be taken to task.

Commissioner, Food Safety Department, Dr Kabir Dar confirmed that the entrepreneur has complained about corruption. Dar said he has already constituted an inquiry committee and waiting for the report. “We will initiate action once the report will be submitted,” Dar claimed. However, the entrepreneur has refuted the claim of the Commissioner Food Safety saying that report has already been submitted and no action is being initiated against the corrupt elements.

Formalin in fish: DC Dimapur calls committee meeting

March 2, 2019

Dimapur, March 2 (MExN): The Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson DLSC, Dimapur, Kevekha Kevin Zehol has informed that the District Level Steering Committee (DLSC) constituted under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 will have a meeting to discuss on the “menace of the use of formalin” in consumable items, at DC’s Conference Hall on March 4, 11:00 am. He has further informed that the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Pangnyu Phom will address the gathering, a DIPR report informed.

Therefore, the following members have been requested to attend the meeting: The Chief Medical officer and member Secretary DLSC, The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, The Administrator DMC, Dimapur, The Food Safety Officer, Dimapur, The SPO (FSSAI), FSO & Lab team Kohima, The District Agriculture Officer, Dimapur, The District Horticulture Officer, Dimapur, The Chief Veterinary Officer, Dimapur, The District Fishery Officer, Dimapur, The District Land Resources Officer, Dimapur, The Asst. Director Supply, Dimapur, The Project Director DRDA, Dimapur, The District Education Officer, Dimapur, The District Social Welfare Officer , Dimapur, The District Industry Officer, Dimapur, The Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Dimapur, and the DPRO, Dimapur. 

Campaign for clean street food hub begins in Jaipur

JAIPUR: The health department has launched ‘campaign for clean street food hub’ in the city. The health department is identifying areas which have developed as hubs for street food. Also, the number of food vans has risen significantly in the city. It has become a challenging task for the health authorities to ensure sale of hygienic food on the streets. 

The health department officials said that directions have been issued to conduct inspections at street food hubs in the city. The health teams will check if the street food vendors are following Food Safety and Standards Organisation of India (FSSAI) norms. Moreover, the officials will encourage street food vendors to procure health fitness certificate from doctors. Also, the vendors will be encouraged to wear aprons along with gloves to ensure cleanliness and hygiene to prevent spread of food-related illnesses.

Over the past few days, the health department has claimed seizing adulterated and sub-standard food items by conducting sudden inspections.

Clean street food hub campaign launched in Jaipur

JAIPUR: Health department has launched ‘campaign for clean street food hub’ in the city. The department is identifying areas which have been developed as hub for street food. Over the past few years, street food hubs have cropped up in the city in increased numbers.

Also, numbers of food vans have also rose significantly as it is a new trend in the city. It has become a challenging task for the health authorities to ensure sale of hygienic food from street food hubs.

Health department officials said that directions have been issued to conduct inspections at street food hubs in the city. The health department teams will check if the street food vendors are following Food Safety and Standards Organisation of India (FSSAI) norms. The officials will encourage street food vendors to procure health fitness certificate from doctors. Also, they will encourage them to wear aprons along with gloves and other items to ensure cleanliness and hygiene to prevent chances of spread of food-related illnesses.

Over the past few days, health department has claimed to seize adulterated and sub-standard food items by conducting sudden inspections. It has also taken action against three restaurants in the city and directed them to renovate their establishments for ensuring hygienic facilities for customers in past one month. They three restaurants in different parts of the city are undergoing renovation for re-opening them.

DINAKARAN NEWS