Apr 30, 2019
Clean street food hub in capital unpalatable
An official of the food safety said that Alappuzha beach is more feasible for the project.
The rehabilitation block constructed by DTPC for foods vendors at Shangumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety (KCFS) has landed in a fix as the initiative of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to launch 'Clean Street Food Hub', which aims at raising hygiene standards and preserve the culinary heritage of each state, at Shangumugham beach, hits a roadblock.
Shangumugham was one of the three destinations identified by the food safety authorities for the project. A team from the FSSAI has recently visited these spots to carry out an audit to check the feasibility of the initiative.
An official of the food safety said that Alappuzha beach is more feasible for the project. "The audit team visited all three spots but as per their condition, we should implement the project within six months. We would be able to pilot the project at Alappuzha as everything is going smooth and we will be able to meet all the pre-requisite mooted by FSSAI," said the official. While at Shangumugham, the authorities are yet to submit the beneficiary list. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has constructed rehabilitation block for street vendors at the beach area. "A well-coordinated effort is required to execute the project. Because of the election, we were unable to have a discussion with various departments. A collector-level meeting should be called to finalise the beneficiary list," said the official.
It is learnt that there are around 164 vendors at Shangumugham beach area and the rehabilitation block would be able to accommodate only 14 vendors. An official of the DTPC said that the beneficiary list is yet to be finalised. "There are issues as the vendors have backing from trade unions. The local body is responsible for finalising the list as they are the authority for implementing the street vendor policy," said the official.
Subramanian N, who is running a thattukada at Shangumugham for the past 30 years, said that the DTPC is yet to handover the shops to the vendors. "We are hopefully waiting. They said the handing over would happen after the election," said Mr Shanmugan. According to the authorities only eligible vendors with seniority would be given rehabilitation.
The first Clean Street Food Hub was set up around the Kankaria Lake at Ahmedabad and FSSAI awarded a certificate recognizing it as India's first Hub.
FDA Pune shuts down Modern Dairy over violating FSSAI standards
The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) Pune seized adulterated paneer (cottage cheese), curd and cream from Modern Dairy shop located in Camp area in a surprise raid.
FDA Pune shuts down Modern Dairy over violating FSSAI standards
During the FDA officials found out that the products were being manufactured in unhygienic conditions and unfit for consumption. The FDA administrative officials have seized a total of 561 kilogrammes of spurious curd, malai, paneer, and fresh cream collectively worth Rs 1,23,691.
This raid was performed as the FDA department has received a tip-off regarding adulterated food items being dispatched into the market from Modern Dairy. Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune, mentioned this when he commented on the reason to have this raid on Mordern dairy.
The products that were found not fit for the consumption were destroyed and the process to shut down the dairy was underway.
FDA had conducted several surprise checks at 100 eateries, earlier this month at creameries, milk establishments across the city. Most of the cases were attributed to unhygienic preparations, usage of acids and other colouring methods. The FDA officials said that all these things were violating the norms prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The products prepared like this are a serious threat to the public.
Restaurants found violating food safety norms in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: In yet another raid carried out by the Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Department and Food Safety Department, about eight restaurants in urban and rural areas of the district were found violating food safety norms.
During surprise checks made by the officials, they found out that stale and leftover cooked chicken joints, mutton pieces, prawns and fish, among other stuff were stored in refrigerators and freezers waiting to be served to customers on Monday.
In another restaurant, the officials found worms in cauliflower curry and noticed that the restaurateurs continue to use domestic gas cylinders for commercial purpose. In a take-away counter at Alluri Seetharama Raju statue, Seethammadhara, non-permitted food colours were used to prepare items and chicken legs were stuck inside the freezers at the centralised kitchen for a long time.
In Narsipatnam, officials noticed eggs with stamp meant for Anganwadi centres. ICDS officials were roped in to investigate the violation further. In some restaurants, food safety licences were expired and notices were issued in this regard to the respective restaurant owners. About eight food samples were collected and sent for analysis. Cases were booked by the Food Safety Department under appropriate sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Deputy Superintendent of Police and In-Charge Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer K Sravani, Vigilance Department officials, including Inspectors of Police R Mallikarjuna Rao and N Srinivasa Rao, among others were part of the team that conducted surprise checks at various restaurants.
Coimbatore shopkeepers asked not to sell spoilt fruits, vegetables
COIMBATORE: Days after the food safety department found a shop on Karuppa Gounder Street here selling more than 300 kg of overripened and spoilt fruits, officials have again warned shopkeepers to store their stocks at the right temperature and not have spoilt fruits in the shop for any reason.
The food safety department has formed teams to inspect and instruct fruit and vegetable sellers to ensure that their produce is fit for consumption and not artificially ripened.
“We had actually called many fruit and vegetable dealers for a meeting and issued notices to all firms on March 16 to ensure that they stock their goods at the right temperature and sell it only during its shelf life. We also instructed them not to artificially ripen their products using carbide stones or other chemicals,” said designated food safety officer A Vijayalalithambigai.
“However, since we are finding shops selling spoilt and damaged fruits, we have formed teams to inspect and instruct sellers again over the next few days,” she added.
Sellers and shopkeepers have been instructed to not have spoilt or damaged goods anywhere on their premises. “Last week, shopkeepers gave us excuses that the damaged and spoilt fruits were being kept behind the shops for them to be returned to the wholesaler or picked up for disposal. They also claimed that the fruits came damaged and were not spoilt,” said Vijayalalithambigai.
“But we can’t know and keep checking if the shopkeeper actually returns it or just mixes it with new stock and keeps it again for sale,” she added. “We have instructed them to not spoilt goods even in their godowns for more than a day,” she added.
This move comes after food safety officials, who were on a raid in Big Bazaar Street and Karuppa Gounder Street to check for fruits artificially ripened with carbide stones, ended up coming across 300 kg of spoilt fruits on shelves meant for sale. It included mangoes, oranges, sweet lime and pomegranate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)