Nov 27, 2019
Food Safety officials seize 41 tonnes of jaggery in Salem
Officials of the Food Safety Department conducted a surprise check and seized jaggery in Shevapet,
The raids were conducted based on complaints received about possible adulteration
Officials of the Food Safety Department conducted surprise raids at a jaggery auction market on Tuesday morning and seized approximately 41.7 tonnes of jaggery.
A team led by R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Food Safety, conducted the sudden inspections at a jaggery auction centre near Shevapet. Dr. Kathiravan, along with seven Food Safety officials checked jaggery balls brought in 42 trucks to the centre. A total of 41.7 tonnes of jaggery was seized, and 23 samples lifted. The jaggery had been brought in from various parts of Salem.
Dr. Kathiravan said the raids were conducted based on adulteration complaints sent to both the Food Safety Department and the Chief Minister Special Cell. “About 80 tonnes were brought for auction here and about 41 tonnes have been seized. We have lifted 23 samples to check for adulteration. These samples will be sent to the Food Samples Laboratory, Guindy in Chennai, for a detailed analysis."
Dr. Kathiravan said a combination of substances could have been added to the jaggery, one of them being a substance called sodium hydrosulfite. This is a permitted bleaching agent but its residual value should be only 50 ppm. The seized goods could have residual values of this agent beyond permissible limits, officials said. Officials also said that super phosphate, a fertiliser is also being used as a binding agent.
Dr. Kathiravan said that further action would be taken based on test results.
FSSAI to launch Verified Milk Vendor Scheme to register unorganised suppliers
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to write to the GST Council to reduce the tax rate on packaged milk products to zero. The move is part of its efforts to address the issues of safety and hygiene in the unorganised milk products sector.
The food safety authority will also launch the Verified Milk Vendors Scheme to address the issues of quality and safety in raw milk that is supplied directly to consumers by unorganised milk vendors.
Unveiling an action plan for safe and good quality milk and milk products, FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said on Tuesday, “We have noticed that many unorganised players who were earlier selling packed milk products have now begun selling them as open products to avoid GST.
“So we plan to write to the GST Council to bring down the rate on packed milk products from 5 per cent to 0 per cent to address hygiene and safety issues.”
The FSSAI plans to take several key measures for increased and targeted testing and surveillance, preventive and corrective actions, and to increase consumers’ engagement as part of the action plan.
Online registration
While all milk vendors are required to register per the Food Safety and Standards Act, only 5 per cent are currently registered. Under the Verified Milk Vendors Scheme, unorganised milk vendors will be able to voluntarily register through an online portal.
They will be provided with a photo identity card, properly calibrated lactometer and training.
“Addressing the issues of quality and safety in the unorganised milk sector is challenging. We also hope to make consumers aware of this scheme so that they ask their milk vendors whether they are verified. We hope to initially get as many as one lakh milk vendors verified under this scheme. Then the scheme will be reviewed,” Agarwal said.
As far as the organised dairies sector is concerned, the FSSAI has already notified a Scheme of Testing and Inspection, under which the players will need to test products throughout the production chain and maintain records of safety and quality parameters.
“This scheme will get enforced from January 1, 2020. And we will use third-party audit agencies to conduct audit on dairy players next year,” Agarwal added.
Precision testing
Meanwhile, the FSSAI is providing State food laboratories with key testing equipment to conduct high-end precision testing as well as rapid testing to check for contaminants such as aflatoxin M1, antibiotics and pesticides, besides determining the quality of milk and milk products.
It has also asked NABL-accredited private food laboratories to complement the testing by State food labs. Additionally, it will work with consumer organisations, specially in smaller cities and towns, for carrying out surveillance activities on milk and milk products.
“Milk and milk products safety and quality is one of the key priorities for the FSSAI and we will be making efforts to address issues impacting the quality and safety of products in this industry,” Agarwal said.
The FSSAI will be closely working with the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries along with the National Dairy Development Board to enhance awareness among small dairy farmers regarding improved animal husbandry and farm practices, he added.
Fast food joints issued show-cause
Under these regulations, advertisements are required not to undermine the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Aligned with WHO advice, the FSSAI recently finalised the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2018.
Mumbai: The designated officer of the central licencing authority and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Mumbai has taken cognisance of faulty food advertisements and issued show-cause notices to various fast food outlets for contravening the Food Safety and Stand-ards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI said that food companies must desist from issuing advertisements/publicity materials that are in violation of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and rules/regulations made thereunder.
“The FSSAI is committed to ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for all citizens of the country through various means like education, awareness building and regulatory enforcement and to achieve these goals, the ‘Eat Right Campaign’ is underway on across the country,” he said. Aligned with WHO advice, the FSSAI recently finalised the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2018. Under these regulations, advertisements are required not to undermine the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and not to promote or portray their food and beverages as a meal replacement unless otherwise specifically permitted by the FSSAI.
FSA dept collaborates with 2,600 schools in Agra to create awareness on food safety
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department of Agra (FDSA) has collaborated with 2,600 schools of the district to create awareness among the community about food safety measures.
Already, 2,200 schools across the district have responded to the awareness efforts.
Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, District Designated Officer, FDSA Department, Agra, Manoj Verma, said, The FDSA has planned to spread awareness about how health gets affected if bad or adulterated food is consumed."
"School children have been involved because it is seen that children have the willingness to learn and absorb. Whatever message is given to children, it will have a manifold multiple effect on the community, he said.
Verma added the aim was to make the consumer aware about the adulteration problem that existed in all kinds of food
From November 4-18, the department had organized an 'Eat Right Moment' programme in 113 schools in Agra. Around 64,540 children had participated. The department will initiate the same programme with more schools from December first week.
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