Sep 24, 2019
FSSAI offers resources for food safety
Panaji: Countries need to pool their resources and provide support to the least developed countries in the region, said experts at the 21st session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinating Committee for Asia, organised here by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday.
“On behalf of India, FSSAI is happy to offer the capacity we have built at the international training centre for food safety and nutrition at Mumbai, for such capacity-building programmes,” said FSSAI chairperson Rita Teaotia.
“Countries trade extensively with each other. Almost 60% of food trade is within the region. This alone is enough reason for us to develop a common ground for cooperation,” she added.
Teaotia stressed on creating a network of scientific and research institutions for the collection and assimilation of data, for regional and worldwide purposes. This would help to create an IT-enabled platform.
FSSAI regulations head Sunil Bakshi emphasised on the need to promote mutual communication and resource-sharing to develop regional standards and regulations for food products.
FSSAI seizes 462 kg tea dust for suspected adulteration
Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday seized 462 kg of tea dust for suspected adulteration in the form of mixing artificial colouring agents.
Designated Officer of FSSAI K. Tamilselvan said that the food regulatory body was closely monitoring the sale of adulterated tea dust in the district.
Based on a specific information, food safety officer V. Kamaraj found 12 kg of suspected adulterated tea dust with K. Bhuvaneswaran, a resident of Balaji layout near Ganapathy, at Podanur on Monday. He was selling the tea dust in tea stalls and bakeries in the area. A spot test done on the tea dust found that they could be adulterated.
Following this, food safety officer M.S. Murugesan inspected Bhuvaneswaran’s house and found 440 kg of tea dust. Spot test done on the the stock found signs of adulteration in the tea dust.
Dr. Tamilselvan said that samples were lifted from the seized tea dust which will be sent to the Government food laboratory for examination. The total quantity of the seized tea dust is valued around ₹ 90,000.
The WhatsApp helpline of FSSAI can be reached at 94440-42322.
Health department to form district-level teams to check adulteration
Chandigarh: Punjab health department will be forming district-level teams to check food processing units and ensure availability of unadulterated milk products, sweets and bakery items during the festive season.
The decision was taken by health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu during a review meeting of district health officers, assistant food commissioners, designated officers and lab analysts.
The health minister said the state government is committed to provide hygienic and unadulterated food products to the people and if any retailer or manufacturer is found to be indulging in unethical practices, strict action will be taken against them. He urged people not to compromise with the quality of the food products.
Giving details of the activities of the food safety teams across the state, food and drug administration (FDA) commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said 853 samples have been collected from different parts of the state in August. While 690 samples have been found safe, 159 samples were found substandard. A total of 340 cases have been filed before additional deputy commissioners (ADC) whereas eight cases filed before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM). He further said fines of Rs 24.50 lakh have been imposed on the offenders. Pannu said apart from inspections, the food safety teams have been carrying out awareness activities — 75 sensitization camps have been organized to impart special training.
He added that these training sessions were intended to provide relevant and practical insights about food safety hazards, food safety, standards, food safety management systems and related legal provisions under the act.
Test of purity: FDA collects samples of besan, pan masala
Bhopal: Teams of food and drug administration (FDA) department on Monday collected 32 samples of besan and besan laddoos from Kolar area and also collected samples of pan masala from Chuna Bhatti.
Senior food safety officer, Bhopal, D K Verma said that FDA has widened the range of goods that are being put to test for purity to cover all kind of edibles. “This action will ensure that purity of edible products is maintained and action is taken against adulterators,” he said.
Campaign against adulteration was launched on July 19 across the state and later christened as ‘Shudh ke Liye Yudh’ (battle for purity), was started after unearthing of fake milk and mawa plants in Morena and Bhind districts by teams of special task force (STF), where hazardous chemicals and detergents were being used for manufacturing of milk and mawa.
The previous day, the FDA team had collected samples of eggs from a wholesale poultry shops in New Market. The samples were taken after complaints that ‘fake eggs’ were being retailed in the city.
Food safety teams in Bhopal have collected 253 samples of edibles including fruits and vegetables. An FIR has been lodged against 10 traders while notices have been issued to 48 traders under the provisions of Food Safety Act and action under National Security Act (NSA) was taken against three.
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