Indira Canteen food safe, says BBMP

Bengaluru: Food cooked and served at Indira Canteens in Bengaluru is fit for human consumption, quality tests conducted by the Public Health Institute (PHI) at the instance of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have revealed.

Samples of lemon rice, veg sambar, white rice, tomato rice and a sweet dish prepared with rava taken from five Indira Canteens in Bommanahalli, Gottigere, Hanumanthanagar–Basavanagudi, Nayandahalli, Kammanahalli and three kitchens at Malleswaram, Yelahanka and Bagalgunte were found to be satisfactory.

Thet tests were commissioned by commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad after BJP corporator Umesh Shetty released a few lab reports, claiming Indira Canteen food wasn’t fit for consumption.

There are 173 canteens and 18 mobile canteens functioning in BBMP limits. On May 28, Indira Canteen cell head S Venkatesh submitted a consolidated report to the Palike chief stating the food served at all the canteens is safe.

Samples pertaining to various dishes submitted before the PHI had to pass the prescribed standards as per Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011. According to PHI test findings, the food had no extraneous matter and no added colour was found in the samples. Physical appearance and microbiological examination conducted on the samples too were satisfactory, the report stated.

However, Shetty too had got the tests conducted from the same government-run PHI and Ramaiah Advanced Testing Laboratory, which had confirmed the presence of bacteria and fungus in the food samples.

The allegations were turned down by Prasad and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, who claimed food served in Indira Canteens at subsidised rates is edible. Parameshwara, along with mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun, had also inspected the canteens to get a first-hand report.

The administration had raised questions about the samples collected by Shetty, wondering if he had submitted them to the PHI on the same day. It had also raised objections over its officials and other relevant staff not being taken into confidence before conducting the tests.

Erring traders fined in Baramulla

In order to keep a check on prices and ensure the quality of essential commodities during Eid-ul-Fitr, a market checking team headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Mohammad Ahsan Mir inspected various markets of Baramulla town today.

The team, during inspection, imposed a fine of Rs 5100 on erring shopkeepers under various provisions of Weights and Measures and Food Safety Standards Act 2006. The squad also destroyed 48 kg of rotten vegetables and seized 23 kg of polythene from erring shopkeepers.

The ADC on the occasion warned the erring shopkeepers to abide by provisions of Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and sought cooperation from the general public to curb such violations by the shopkeepers.

Junk food to go off shelf from Maharashtra educational institutes, FDA promotes 'Eating Right' scheme

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration introduced a new scheme in which over one lakh education institutes will be asked to ban foods available with high, sugar, salt and fat content in their canteens.

A Moderate amount of consumption of fats, meat, fish and eggs. She added, that the convenience food is promoted in menus due to its cost-effectiveness and aggressive branding. 

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration introduced a new scheme in which over one lakh education institutes will be asked to ban foods available with high, sugar, salt and fat content in their canteens. These institutes will also be asked to replace the banned products with high carbohydrates, proteins items. 

The main cause behind the initiative is to promote 'Eating Right' scheme, to change eating habits and further reduce chances of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity among youngsters and adolescents. It will be affiliated to the Food Safety Standards Association Authority of India (FSSAI).

According to a report in the Hindustan Times (HT), food items with a high content of salt and sugar are known to lead to various health problems among adolescents. These food items include pizzas, burgers, chips, cold drinks that can lead to an increase of blood sugar, diabetes, hypertension obesity and diabetes. 

Dr. Pallavi Darade commissioner of the FDA told HT as per the dietary pyramid of Nutrition Institute, youth are supposed to have adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, milk and cereals. A Moderate amount of consumption of fats, meat, fish and eggs.

She added, that the convenience food is promoted in menus due to its cost-effectiveness and aggressive branding. 

Through various campaigns, the FDA will change the eating pattern of students. The education institutes have time till September to implement the newly formed rules and regulations. Reportedly, during October and November, commissioner from the FDA will begin surveying these colleges and schools. 

A similar plan was implemented in May 2017, a government resolution banned junk food from school canteens, however, the plan remained on paper as authorities failed to put a monitoring system in place.