Kochi Corporation’s move challenged

The Kochi Corporation could find itself on shaky ground should the Hotels and Restaurants Association decide to challenge the raids it has been conducting on several food outlets in the city.
Legally speaking it is not authorised to prosecute hotels and restaurants under the new Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, says the food safety commissionerate .
“Local bodies have no authority to prosecute hotels under the Act,” says Food Safety Commissioner, Biju Prabhakas, who is, however unsure whether panchayats, which are the licensing authorities for such establishments, can act against them under the Panchayathi Raj Act.
But an officer with the Food Safety Commissionerate contends the provisions related to food safety in the Panchayati Raj Act have lost relevance with the enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act on August 5, 2011.
“Eight laws relating to food safety including the essential commodities Act stand repealed. This applies to relevant provisions in the areas of food safety and hygience in laws like the Panchayati Raj Act too. Local bodies are no longer the licensing authorities in the case of hotels and so cannot take action like cancelling them,” he says.
“The corporation issued two licences in the past for establishments like hotels, which included one for food. Under the new Act it cannot seize food,” says former additional advocate general, Ranjith Thamban.

AOAC inaugural meet looks at analytical challenges, solutions, food safety

The India Section of the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) International held its inaugural seminar - a platform for technical people to discuss analytical test methods and find a solution to common analytical problems - in Mumbai on Thursday.

At the seminar, Dr S S Ghonkrokta, director, enforcement, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), was the first speaker, and his topic was 'Food Safety and Analytical Challenges in India.'

He emphasised that FSSAI and AOAC should join hands to make sure everyone consumes safe food and establish a national food safety system in India.

"We have already issued about 5 lakh new licences, and are proud that Maharashtra is one of the states that is leading the way on the front," Dr Ghonkrokta said.

He spoke about how we have moved over the years from food adulteration to food safety.

"In fact, India needs to have a food control system, encompassing comprehensive food laws, inspection services and laboratory services in place. Currently, on an average, each state has just about 200 personnel handling the inspection function, and by the end of the Twelfth Five Year Plan, we hope each state would have hired about 10,000 qualified, trained, honest and efficient people to handle inspection," Dr Ghonkrokta observed.

There are a number of analytical requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, which came into effect from August 5 last year. These include issuing about 1.5 million licences and over 50 million registrations and conducting over two million annual audits; testing for compliance and quality; setting new targets for exports and measuring the actual exports against the set standards; handling claims about nutraceuticals and functional foods; research and development; surveillance and risk assessment.

"We will focus on the recognition and accreditation of laboratories, and setting up research institutions and referral food labs. Currently, there are just four referral food labs which, by virtue of their size, are not equipped to handle a large volume of samples. The target is 10 labs," said Dr Ghonkrokta, whose presentation also included a reference to Section 43 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The Food Safety and Standards (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) Rules, 2011, stress on the need for notified labs for imports and referral labs.

"We plan to tackle these issues with a two-pronged strategy: a defensive strategy, which will focus on regulations and risk-based conformity to assessment process; and an offensive strategy, which will focus on a target market for exports and claims in the domestic market," Dr Ghonkrokta said.

Referral labs will be set up at the national and state levels. They will not only be microbiological, physical and chemical labs, but also radioactive labs and encompass organic genetically-modified food; pesticides; antibiotics; heavy metals; nutrient analysis; allergen testing; enzymes and hormones, mycotoxins, etc. In addition, labs will be set up at the state levels, and cluster levels at the district level.

The FSSAI also mandates lab approval schemes for food safety testing. These have to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and satisfy a set of tests and parameters.

It is also necessary to share data about samples with FSSAI and more importantly, make sure there is no conflict of interest with food business operators.

FSSAI has nominated 32 NABL-accredited labs on an ad-hoc basis; the target is about 80.

"AOAC and FSSAI could co-operate on a number of key areas, including validation of methods (especially with respect to novel foods); validation of the sample collection system; reducing the cost of analysis; reduction in test result variations; fixing the accuracy range; lab upgradation; achieving proficiency in quality assurance, and of course, human resource development," Dr Ghonkrokta concluded.

Mahesh Zagade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, spoke on the need to upgrade Indian laboratories to gear up for FSSA.

"We should not merely comply with FSSAI, but also question it. There should be a synergy of analytical chemistry and other fields like mathematics, software and engineering," he said.

Dr Sumit Sen is the United States advisor to the India Section of AOAC International. He is also a chemist technology-based expert; a member of the United States Food and Drug Administration's (USFDA) foreign inspection cadre, and the ex-president of AOAC's Southern California Section.

During his presentation, titled Introducing India Section of AOAC International, he spoke about the need for an AOAC consensus.

"It will help identify and assemble advisory panels and well-balanced stakeholders' panels, working groups and expert review panels; identify and gain consensus on method priorities, and achieve consensus of standard method performance requirements," Dr Sen said.

He enumerated the services, the India Section of the AOAC will render.

"We will provide the industry and academia networking opportunities; set standards that will, over a period of time, become known as perfect tested methods and official methods of analysis (OMA); publish journals containing topics of interest to the analytical community, and offer lab services with a specific focus on auditing and proficiency testing," he said.

Dr Deepa Bhajekar, MD, MicroChem Silliker, and president, India Section, AOAC International, introduced the board members of the body.

They include Dr Kaushik Banerjee, national fellow, National Research Centre for Grapes and president-elect, India Section, AOAC; Dr Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian, head, technical, MicroChem Silliker and secretary, India Section, AOAC, and Sunil Kulkarni, manager, marketing, India Food Section, Agilent Technologies India.

Dr Banerjee spoke about the objectives of the India Chapter of AOAC.

"We aim to bring AOAC closer to the Indian analytical community. This will establish regular communication between the two and help them understand each other's expectations; recognise the current analytical problems, and identify the analytical issues pertinent to India," he said.

Dr Banerjee's presentation touched upon a number of key questions.

"What methods are in practice; are the methodologies used in India equivalent to the internationally-practiced methods; is there an official method available, and if yes, is it fit for the purpose; answering these questions will be the AOAC India Section's endeavour," he said.

"Actually, there is no official method available. The implications of this are as follows: the methodology is questioned whenever there is a variation in the results of tests conducted in labs in India and those in the European Union (EU). The importers, who dictate terms, are the ones who invariably raise doubts. Then there is a lack of analytical methods for typical Indian matrices, such as okra, green chillies, drumsticks, curry leaves, etc. The AOAC method based on the QuECHers Technique is not adopted when controlling the export of fruit and vegetables from India," Dr Banerjee explained.

He added, "India has tried to adopt a method which is cheaper and fit for the purpose, but typical Indian food safety issues, such as monitoring the plant growth regulators, continue to exist."

"The Indian method has to be user-friendly (acceptable to lab technicians); financially viable; environmentally safe; simple (with respect to the use of instruments) and its performance should be known," Dr Banerjee said.

"Collaborative studies are a necessity. They impart confidence about test results; improve the international acceptability of test results, and improve analytical confidence in Indian tea, spices, egg and egg products, seafood and meat and meat products," he explained.

As far as proficiency testing is concerned, he said, "India lacks adequate proficiency testing programmes for a number of commodity-analyte combinations, and they are not upto the mark as far as international standards are concerned."

"There is often a conflict in the results of tests on export consignments from India in labs in EU member nations, and they raise doubts on the analytical techniques. Many a times, the consignments that arrive for testing in Indian labs contained semi-spoiled products, and their performance in the tests obviously gets affected," Dr Banerjee explained.

AOAC India, he explained, would act as an independent proficiency testing service provider to Indian labs, and organise need-based training programmes and workshops to bring Indian labs on par with international regulatory issues, guidelines, technology transfer, etc.

"The workshops could be on lab management; accreditation issues, and method verification," Dr Banerjee suggested.

He added, "India also needs need-based expert review panels for candidate methods to choose the best method. Only after a number of follow-up activities will it become an AOAC-approved method."

"AOAC must bring industry and academia together and promote knowledge sharing. In fact, it should act as a networking platform for the private and public sectors. Food safety and quality assurance are shared responsibilities, and the government, food industries, consumers and organisations should get involved," Dr Banerjee said.

Dr Balasubramanian spoke about the practical analytical issues faced by Indian labs.

"According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) estimates, if food products are rejected due to food safety issues, the resulting loss is worth over $100 million," he said.

The test methods and methods of analysis differ from country to country, he said, adding, "Harmonised international methods like AOAC are the need of the hour. Specific regulatory issues also need to be addressed."

He concluded his presentation saying that no official methods are available for food allergens, mycotoxins, etc.

Dr Dipankar Ghosh, director, environmental and food safety team, Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Jose, California, USA, spoke on targeted and non-targeted screening and quantitation of food contaminants using high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry.

It is a new approach to unknown analysis in food samples, which Zagade had also spoken about during his presentation.

"There are two methods of sample analysis: target analysis (which is a traditional method) and non-targeted analysis," Dr Ghosh said.

Kulkarni's topic was 'Mycotoxin Analysis: Challenges in Food Matrix and Best Approaches.'

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolic products from molds.

"Challenging food matrices include peanuts, coffee, cereals, dried fruit, milk, spices, fruit juices, wine, etc.," he said.

The seminar concluded with a discussion on high-throughput multi-component quantification of food residues using LC-MS/MS by Dr Manoj G Pillai, national manager, application support, ABSciex; and a summary of the day's presentations, titled 'A Bridge Between Public and Private Collaboration-AOAC' by Wayne Wargo of Abbott, USA.

Salem Collector warns against food adulteration - The Hindu

K. Maharabushanam

Action would be taken against manufacturers and traders who fail to ensure safety in foods supplied to the consumers.

Action would also be taken against misleading claims in advertisements given by companies involved in food business. This was decided at a food safety review meeting held at district Collectorate here recently.

Chairing the meeting, Collector K. Maharabushanam said that all food sellers, manufacturers, rice mills, sago factories, food sellers, hoteliers, tea stall owners, road side eateries, bakeries, meat sellers, fruit vendors, milk sellers, persons who run canteen in schools and colleges should register themselves with food safety officers and continue their business. Violators will be prosecuted under The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. A fine ranging from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10 lakh would be levied and imprisonment ranging from three months to seven years for violators.

The Collector said that hygiene and food safety should be ensured by everyone involved in food trade and officials should monitor and assess them regularly. There are 36 food safety officers in the district.

He also warned against misleading claims in advertisements.

Officials from health department participated in the meeting.

LICENSING / REGISTRATION SYSTEM

GUIDELINES RELATED TO FOOD IMPORT CLEARANCE PROCESS BY FSSAI AUTHORIZED OFFICERS

GOOGLE GLASS - A NEW VENTURE

Food free from fear - THE HINDU

AP FREE LUNCH: The Act promises international standards for food quality..Photo: AP 

Food Safety Standards Authority asks States to set up an implementation mechanism to ensure distribution of safe and wholesome food

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked the States to put in place an adequate and effective structure to administer the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into effect from August 5 last year.

The Act essentially involves putting in place an effective enforcement machinery to ensure safety in foods that are consumed. It was drafted as a consolidated Act bringing under its jurisdiction various individual Acts including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

In a letter to the States, K. Chandramouli, chairperson of the Authority has asked them to direct all concerned to initiate, set up and strengthen the implementing agencies so that “we could improve and put in place an adequate and effective structure to administer the Act.”

“You would agree that this is a very stupendous task and would need a very well coordinated effort involving local bodies like the municipalities, town areas and panchayats. A very strong information, education and communication (IEC) effort with local training and capacity building for government staff would also need to be put in place,” Mr Chandramouli said while adding that FSSAI would be supporting the States in terms of providing on-line software and material, training modules, training of trainers and resource persons. We have also sought budgetary support to strengthen the regulatory system in the 12th Plan, he said.

Under the Act, it is essential that enforcement structure includes the posting of the designated officers at the district level and at Food Safety Offices in the sub-district level who would enforce the Act. At the State level, the Food Safety Commissioner is the head of this machinery. Some States have already appointed a Food Safety Commissioner and also have in place the structure for the enforcement of the Act. The new Act is more holistic and science based and is less regulatory with graded penalties.

The Act has also defined a Central Advisory Committee with representation of all States to meet regularly to monitor, review and assess the implementation of this law. In the last meeting held in January, some of the issues which were common and relevant to all States were taken up and discussed, including training of manpower at the district and sub-district level in the areas of sampling, licensing and registration.

“There is a need to supplement the manpower and strengthening of the system. The licenses are to be issued to all Food Business Operators (FBO) through conversion of their earlier licenses issued under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and in cases where FBOs have come into being, issuance of new licenses. Similarly, a large number of small time FBOs would need to be registered,'' Mr Chandramouli has said in his letter.

The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 is at par with international standards, ensuring improved quality of food for consumers and censure of misleading claims and advertisements by those in the food business.

FSSAI, established under the overarching legislation, lays down science based standards for food items and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Medical stores in TN under pressure to take fresh licence from FSSA to sell food supplements

With the implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006, the medical stores in Tamil Nadu have got into a quandary as the act mandates every trader who sells packed food items to obtain food licence from the State Food Commissionerate. Food items come under dietary supplements such as Bournvita, Farex, Amul, Complan, Boost etc are being sold through medical shops, and from now on, separate licence is required to sell these items. All the vitamin and mineral products come under dietary supplements are sold in packaged forms. In Tamil Nadu the FSSA 2006 came into force on August 8, 2011. Perturbed over the stringent norms, the state chemists and druggists association (TNCDA) has approached the Commissioner of FDA requesting him to exempt the drug traders from taking separate licence for selling dietary supplements. As per the act, every trader who has an annual turnover of Rs.12 lakh has to obtain food licence and those whose turnover is less than Rs.12 lakh has to register with the Commissionerate, said G Selvaraju, the drugs control director. The traders complain that they have to produce another set of documents to get the licence for the sale of food items. They have already submitted the documents with the drugs control directorate for getting their drug licence. In their meeting with the commissioner, the traders urged him to issue separate food licence based on the documents already submitted by drug traders. But the government has not accepted their demands as FSSA demands separate set of documents to issue licence. M Arul Kumar, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association and V P Elango, president of Tamil Nadu Pharmaceutical Distributors Association told Pharmabiz that they would submit separate memorandums to the Commissioner and to the health secretary seeking exemption from submitting additional documents for availing food licence. According to M S Rajendran, former director of Tamil Nadu drugs control administration, a pharmacy shop which gets drug licence should have minimum 110 squire feet work space. For getting an additional licence for sale of packed food, the medical shops have to mark additional work space.

Indian state charges Red Bull over caffeine content; court battle looms

Austrian energy drink leader Red Bull Gmbh has run into rough weather in India with a state level food regulator, which claims to have confiscated 1.6 million cans of the drink over caffeine content.
A spokesperson of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (MFDA), said it had seized the product because caffeine content in the energy drink was between 250ppm (parts per million) and 300ppm. According to the laws framed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the maximum permissible caffeine content in carbonated beverages is 145ppm, but it also exempts energy drinks as they are classed as food items, not carbonated beverages.
As per court documents accessed by FoodNavigator-Asia, the Madras High Court previously ruled that as the FSSAI has not formulated new standards for energy drinks, Red Bull, which is a proprietary food, did not need to conform to the standards for carbonated drinks. Local regulators acting 'rogue' “Unfortunately for Red Bull, the local regulators are not heeding to the line of the court or following the hierarchical order. The ball is in the FSSAI’s court now. Once it issues standards, energy drink makers would have a line to toe,” an industry observer said.
He said he expects Red Bull to take on the MFDA legally, citing the Madras High Court Order, that in its interpretation forbids regulators treating energy drinks as carbonated drinks. However, it does not look as if MFDA is ready to buy that argument. Talking to local media, MFDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade said: “Manufacturers claim it’s an energy drink and not a carbonated drink. But when you open a Red Bull can, there's fizz and it contains carbon dioxide. We are preparing for legal battle.”
Red Bull baulks at seizure
Red Bull issued a statement to FoodNavigator-Asia, saying it fully complies with the local laws and regulations of more than 164 countries, including India. “A 250ml can of Red Bull contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee [80 mg or 320ppm]. The Indian health authorities have repeatedly confirmed that Red Bull Energy Drink conforms to Indian laws and regulations,” it
said.
“We are surprised by the recent approach of FDA Maharashtra, as it appears to be in conflict with that of the Indian national authorities,” the statement said.
Gap analysis
Two years ago, the state of Tamil Nadu also seized cans of Red Bull, as it was violating the caffeine content standards for carbonated beverages.
Red Bull went to court at that time. In its original form, the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006 had stated that all drinks containing caffeine should follow the rules applicable to carbonated beverages.

FOOD ADDITIVES ADVT & APPLICATION FORMAT

விழித்துக் கொள்வோம்...

தமிழ்நாட்டில் பன்றிக் காய்ச்சலால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளோர் குறித்துத் தகவல்கள் வரத் தொடங்கியுள்ளன. காங்கேயம் பகுதியில் 70 வயது விவசாயி இந்த நோய்க்கு பலியான செய்தியும், சென்னையில் மேலும் 2 பேர் இந்த நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதும் உறுதி செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. இந்நோயால் மேலும் 12 பேர் (சென்னையில் 5 பேரும் கோவையில் 7 பேரும்) பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதும் உறுதி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.மக்களிடையே பீதியை ஏற்படுத்தும் அளவுக்கு ஏதும் நடந்துவிடவில்லை என்றாலும், இந்த நோய் மெல்ல மெல்லப் பரவிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்பதை உணர்ந்த தமிழக அரசு, தமிழ்நாட்டில் உள்ள அரசு தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் தனி வார்டுகளை அமைத்துள்ளது. "டாமிபுளு' மாத்திரைகளை அனைத்து மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கும் கொண்டுசேர்க்கும் நடவடிக்கைகளிலும் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளது.தமிழக சுகாதாரத் துறை அமைச்சர் மற்றும் அரசு செயலர்கள் தலைமையிலான ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டம், இந்த நோய் பரவாமல் தடுக்கும் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்ள முடியுமே தவிர, களத்தில் இறங்கி இதைச் செயலாக்கும் பொறுப்பு அரசு மருத்துவமனை மருத்துவர்களைச் சேர்ந்தது. தனி வார்டுகளை அமைப்பதும், டாமிபுளு மாத்திரைகளைக் கையிருப்பில் வைத்திருப்பதும் அரசின் நடவடிக்கையாக இருந்தாலும், இந்த நோய் கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வந்துவிட்டது என்பது உறுதியாகும்வரை, ஒரு மருத்துவர் 24 மணி நேரமும் இத்தகைய தனி வார்டுகளில் இருக்கும்படி செய்வது அவசியம்.இன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில், காய்ச்சல் என்றவுடன் தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்குச் செல்வோர் எண்ணிக்கைதான் அதிகமாக இருக்கிறது. காய்ச்சல் தீவிரமடையும் முன்பாக அது பன்றிக்காய்ச்சல்தான் என்பதை உறுதி செய்து, அரசுத் தலைமை மருத்துவமனைக்குப் பரிந்துரைக்கும் நிலையில் தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் உள்ளன. ÷தமிழகத்தில் சென்றமுறை இதே சூழ்நிலை உருவான நேரத்தில், பன்றிக் காய்ச்சலுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கவென தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் சிலவற்றுக்கு அங்கீகாரம் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. கோவையில் அவ்வாறு அங்கீகாரம் பெற்ற தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளின் பிரதிநிதிகள் ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டமும் நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதேபோன்று மாவட்ட அளவில் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளையும் அழைத்துப் பேசி, தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கையில் ஈடுபடச் செய்யவேண்டும்.ஒரு நோயாளி தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்றாலும் பன்றிக் காய்ச்சலை உறுதிப்படுத்தும் சோதனைகள் கிங் இன்ஸ்டிடியூட்டில் செய்யப்படும் நிலைதான் இன்றளவும் உள்ளது. இச்சோதனை முடிவுகள் உடனுக்குடன், போர்க்கால அடிப்படையில் தொடர்புடைய மருத்துவமனைக்குத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுவதை அரசு உறுதி செய்வதும் அவசியம்.நோய் பரவுவது கட்டுப்படவில்லை என்றால், அடுத்த கட்டமாகத் தடுப்பு ஊசி போடுவதற்கு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று சுகாதாரத் துறை இயக்குநர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். நோய் பரவத் தொடங்கியதும் அதைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கைகளைத் தீவிரப்படுத்துவது மட்டும் சுகாதாரத் துறையின் வேலை அல்ல; நோய் ஏற்படாமல் தடுக்கும் நடவடிக்கைகளும் அந்தத் துறையைச் சார்ந்ததுதான்.பன்றிக் காய்ச்சல், பறவைக் காய்ச்சல், மஞ்சள் காமாலை, டெங்கு காய்ச்சல், சிக்குன்குன்யா என எல்லா நோய்களும் பொதுஇடங்களில் நிலவும் சுகாதாரக் கேட்டினால்தான் அதிகம் பரவுகின்றன. இதில் குடிநீர், சுகாதாரமற்ற உணவுகள் முக்கிய காரணிகளாக இருக்கின்றன. இவற்றைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தாமல், நோய் பரவுதலை மட்டுமே கட்டுப்படுத்தவும் சிகிச்சைக்கான ஏற்பாடுகளைச் செய்வதும் எந்தவித பயனையும் தராது.÷பிளாஸ்டிக் உறைகளிலும், பாட்டில்களிலும் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீர் ஒரு மிகப்பெரிய வணிகமாகி விட்டிருக்கும் நிலைமை. மக்கள் தங்கள் வசதிக்கு ஏற்ப, குறைந்தபட்சம் ரூ.2 விலை கொடுத்து தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட் வாங்கிக் குடிக்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் அது தரமாக இருக்கின்றதா என்பதை அடிக்கடி சோதனையிட்டு உறுதிப்படுத்த வேண்டியது சுகாதாரத் துறையின் கடமை. சுகாதாரம் குறித்து மக்களுக்குத்தான் விழிப்புணர்வு வேண்டும் என்று பிரச்னையை திசை திருப்பிவிட முடியாது. ரயிலில் பயணம் செய்யும் பயணிகள் எல்லாரும் குடிப்பதற்குப் பணம் கொடுத்து குடிநீர் பாட்டில் வாங்குகிறார்கள். கையைக் கழுவ மட்டும்தான் ரயில்பெட்டிக் குழாயில் வரும் நீரைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள். ஆனால், எத்தனைப் பயணிகளுக்குத் தெரியும், அதே குழாய் தண்ணீரைத்தான் கெட்டிச் சட்னியைக் கரைக்கவும் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள் என்பதும், தயிர்வடைக்காக வடைகளை ஊறப்போடும் தண்ணீர், ரயில்பெட்டியின் மேற்கூரையில் உள்ள அதே தண்ணீர்தான் என்பதும்! ரயில் பான்டிரி நிலைமையே இதுவென்றால், தெருவோர தள்ளுவண்டிக் கடைகளைப் பற்றி என்ன சொல்வது?மாநகராட்சிகளிலும் நகராட்சிகளிலும் சுகாதாரத் துறை என்று ஒன்று இயங்குகிறதே தவிர, அதற்கு எந்தவித அதிகாரமும் இல்லாமல் பல் பிடுங்கப்பட்ட பாம்பாக மாற்றப்பட்டுவிட்ட நிலைமை ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது. சுகாதாரத் துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு உணவகங்களைச் சோதனையிட முடியுமே தவிர, முறையாக செயல்படாவிட்டால் அபராதம் விதிக்கவோ, உரிமத்தை ரத்து செய்யவோ அதிகாரம் இல்லை என்கிற அவலநிலை. உணவக அதிபர்களின் நன்மைக்காக செயல்படும் உள்ளாட்சி நிர்வாக அதிகாரிகளும் அரசியல்வாதிகளுமாக சுகாதாரத் துறையை ஒப்புக்குச் சப்பாணியாக்கி வைத்திருப்பதைப் பற்றி யாருமே கவலைப்படுவதாக இல்லை.தெருவோரக் கடைகள் காளான்களாக பெரிய, சிறிய நகரங்களில் நாளும் பொழுதும் அதிகரித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. தரமற்ற, எந்தவித சுகாதார முறைகளையும் பின்பற்றாத இந்தத் தெருவோரக் கடைகள் மாமிச உணவுகளையும் தயாரிப்பதால் தொற்று நோய்கள் பரவுவதற்கான ஊற்றுக் கண்களாக செயல்படுகின்றன என்பது எல்லோருக்குமே தெரியும். ஆனால், இவற்றைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தவோ, முறைப்படுத்தவோ எந்தவித முயற்சிகளும் எடுப்பதில்லை என்கிற அவலம். காரணம், காவல் துறையினருக்கும் ஆளும் கட்சியினருக்கும் நிரந்தர "மாமூல்' வருமானத்துக்கு அவை உதவுகின்றன என்பதுதான்.நோய் தீவிரமாகப் பரவும்போது அதைத் தடுப்பதில் தீவிரம் காட்டும் சுகாதாரத் துறை, நோய் தோன்றக் காரணமாக இருக்கும் விவகாரத்தில் கண்மூடி இருக்கக் கூடாது. நோய் வந்தபின் சிகிச்சை அளிப்பதைக் காட்டிலும் நோய் வராமலே தடுப்பதுதான் செலவையும் வலியையும் பதற்றத்தையும் தவிர்க்கும்.

FSA launches its Olympic Games ‘food safety squad’

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recruited an elite ‘food safety squad’ – 10 top food safety inspectors from around the country – who will be based in Olympic venue cities and lead extra inspections and training ahead of the Games.

The move is part of the FSA's Play It Safe campaign to ensure all food sold, cooked and eaten during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 is safe and raise awareness of food safety among businesses and visitors.

Representing hundreds of environmental health officers across the UK who will also be carrying out additional hygiene and safety inspections on food businesses in preparation for the Games, the 'food safety squad' will be working in towns and cities that are hosting Olympic or Paralympic events, or Live sites (venues with big screens where events will be shown live).

The focus of the campaign is on areas that are likely to experience a big influx of visitors, and on the expected increased number of outlets selling food during the Games period.

Food businesses that do not make the grade on inspections will be given one-to-one training to ensure they are aware of, and follow, food hygiene regulations. Tough enforcement action will follow where public health is put at risk.

Sarah Appleby, head of enforcement and local authority delivery at the Food Standards Agency said: "London 2012 is about celebrating everything that the UK has to offer and food is an important part of this.

"We have so much fantastic food to showcase to Games visitors, and we want food business owners to ensure that everything they sell is the best it can be. It will be an exceptionally busy time for a lot of these businesses, and the FSA is providing extra support and advice to make sure they are well prepared to meet the challenge."

Ben Milligan, an environmental health officer from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, said: "From my regular conversations with food businesses around East London I know the Games are seen as a real opportunity in terms of business and profits.

"At the same time, having to serve more people than normal can create situations that don't arise under normal circumstances, such as the need to produce and store lots of food in advance.

"I'm pleased to be part of the Food Safety Squad and am looking forward to working with my colleagues to provide the support these businesses need during the Olympic Games."

MP becomes 1st state to ban Gutka products containing tobacco

With increasing number of mouth cancer cases in the country, Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to ban all Gutka products which contain tobacco or nicotine under a new law governing food safety standards.

The Madhya Pradesh food secretary has issued instructions to all District Collectors and Food Safety officials to ensure that the sale and manufacture of all Ghutka products in their areas is not allowed and all such material containing tobacco and nicotine be confiscated. The ban came into effect from April 1.
The state food secretary has also called for initiating action under the rules against all those indulging in sale and manufacture of Gutka products containing Tobacco and Nicotine.
Madhya Pradesh is the first state to ban Gutka under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulation 2011 notified by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Goa was the first state to ban Gutka under Public Health Act earlier.
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notification effective August 5, 2011, called as Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulation 2011, wherein Rules 2.3.4 states that no food article shall contain tobacco or nicotine in the products.
Under the Food Security and Standard Assessment Act, the food and drug administration can impose a penalty of Rs 25,000 on any person found selling Gutka.
India has the highest prevalence of oral cancer globally, with 75,000 to 80,000 new cases of a year. Gutka sold in small pouches across the country has become a very serious health hazard and its easy availability and low prices make it popular among youth and women.
Its flavoured taste, easy availability and low price as well as the attractive marketing ploy by companies also attracts children.

KUNGUMAM 2.4.2012

India Attacks US Fast-Food Brands in New Study

On top of more bad press this week, fast-food and junk food brands are taking new heat, this time from healthy eating avocates in India.
A new report from Indian NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment, claims in its newest study that U.S. brands of fast food mislead the public by not printing the "real information" on ingredient and nutrition labels. After testing 16 brands of popular foods, the group claimed that Indian-packaged foods are missing key ingredients found on U.S. food labels. Among the brands tested: Maggi and Top Ramen noodles, McDonald's, KFC, and Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia.
While the report found fault with the brands' nutritional value — i.e., one packet of ramen contained nearly 60 percent of the recommended daily intake for sodium — the study's biggest claims were the mislabeling. While Top Ramen and Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia claim zero trans fats on the label, the CSE study found 0.7 grams and 2.5 grams of of trans fats per 100 grams.
Now, as the latest survey says nearly one in eight Indians are obese, the CSE is recommending governmental action to reduce the "junk" in junk food — salt, trans fats, and sugars — and force companies to provide nutritional information. However, said deputy program manager at the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) Savvy Soumya Mishra to the Times of India, a governmental slap on the wrist may not be enough to change Indians' dietary habits and recommended a ban in schools.
The accused offenders, Pepsi, KFC, Nestlé and McDonald's, have denied they are misleading the public with labels, Forbes reported.

MP becomes 1st state to ban Gutka products containing tobacco

New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) With increasing number of mouth cancer cases in the country, Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to ban all Gutka products which contain tobacco or nicotine under a new law governing food safety standards. The Madhya Pradesh Food Secretary has issued instructions to all District Collectors and Food Safety officials to ensure that the sale and manufacture of all Ghutka products in their areas is not allowed and all such material containing tobacco and nicotine be confiscated. The ban came into effect from April 1.
The State Food Secretary has also called for initiating action under the rules against all those indulging in sale and manufacture of Gutka products containing Tobacco and Nicotine. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to ban Gutka under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulation 2011 notified by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Goa was the first state to ban Gutka under Public Health Act earlier. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notification effective August 5, 2011, called as Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on sales) Regulation 2011, wherein Rules 2.3.4 states that no food article shall contain tobacco or nicotine in the products.
Under the Food Security and Standard Assessment Act, the food and drug administration can impose a penalty of Rs 25,000 on any person found selling Gutka. India has the highest prevalence of oral cancer globally, with 75,000 to 80,000 new cases of a year. Gutka sold in small pouches across the country has become a very serious health hazard and its easy availability and low prices make it popular among youth and women. Its flavoured taste, easy availability and low price as well as the attractive marketing ploy by companies also attracts children.

Indians should stop excessive consumption of junk food, says diet experts

According to the diet experts, the habit of consuming junk food among Indian is increasing day by day and have warned that this could lead to severe health conditions.
Deputy Programme Manager at the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) Savvy Soumya Mishra said that just blaming the international chains of fast food to spoil the pattern of diet in India is not enough.
She said that fast food has penetrated to the rural markets also in different forms such as potato chips and soft-drinks and wished that some remedial measures should be taken regarding this.
"Potato chips and similar snacks are available even in remote villages, where you may not find a school or a ration shop. These things have more reach. There will be soft-drink bottles in places that may not have even clean drinking water. McDonald's and Pizza Hut may not have reached there, but chips and soft drinks have, what a pity!" Mishra said.
She also laid emphasis on the importance of reducing children's reach to such trans-fat-laden junk food and suggested that such eatable items should be banned in schools.
"Imposing a ban is the government's decision, but junk food must be banned in schools because it is difficult to restrain children. You can ban it in school and introduce fruits and fruit juices. There are also many things prepared at home. We grew up eating a lot of other things, traditional food. We did not grow on chips and packaged snacks like Kurkure," added Mishra.
The extent of junk food is now not only limited to food items like buggers and pizzas, said Dr. K K Aggarwal , a Delhi-based cardiologist.
He added that the conventional Indian snacks are also a big threat as they are prepared using vegetable fat.
"We shouldn't get carried away and just ban burgers. Everything that just tastes good is bad for health, because such things will either be made with 'ghee' (clarified butter), which is very unlikely, or with trans fats sourced from vegetables. So, whatever contains trans fats is unhealthy, regardless of whether it is commercial or not," said Dr. Aggarwal.
However, the reaction of the common people towards junk foods was seem to be mixed.
"Young people these days prefer fast food. But as the report has said, one should avoid that food. As far as traditional recipes are concerned, we should go for that," said Suresh, a resident of the city.
In contrast to that, another opinion regarding this suggested that junk food has now became a necessity to the changed nature of people's daily lives, and they come in different varieties of which some of them are healthier than the rest.
"These days, people need their food quick. Many families have both parents working, so burgers and chips are very good alternatives for those who are in a rush. But these things come in many varieties. Now we have potato chips, which are baked. One can eat well, it is also a little costly, but we can't say these things are useless," said Arpit, a Delhi based resident.
Moreover, the regulating body for food safety in India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proclaims the products free of trans fats if the content of trans fats is less than 0.2 grams per serving.
However, as per a recent report presented by the Centre for Science and Environment, many brands are claiming their products to be trans fat free even though the content is much higher.
Excessive and regular consumption of trans fat consumption enhances the possibility of coronary heart disease and hence recommended by the health experts to consume them only in traces.

TN Chamber intensifies protest agaist FSSA; wants the Act to be repealed

The food industry is perturbed over the licensing stipulation under the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011. This mandates all those engaged in food-related trade and industry, including grocery dealers and hotels and restaurants, with an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh, to obtain the state or central licences. Non-compliance of the rule calls for punishment up to six months and fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

According to the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce, no other Act entails such an "appalling and abnormal" punishment for pursuing business sans licence.

"Our delegates recently met Ghulam Nabi Azad, union minister for health and family welfare, and M Chandramouly, chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to discuss the need for abolishing the licensing procedure as it would only resurrect the dreaded Inspector Raj. Instead they asked for retaining the registration procedure alone," said a press statement of the Chamber.

The statement further noted that the union finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, during the post-Budget discussions in the Rajya Sabha, had categorically assured that under no circumstances the concept of Inpector Raj would be revived in any department.

"The FSSAI has extended the time limit for obtaining the licence for the year 2012-13 up to August 4 and we hope that before this deadline our demand will be considered and the requirement for securing a licence under the new Act will be withdrawn," the Chamber said.

The Chamber had already requested the health minister and the FSSAI chief to defer initiation of action against the industry members for three years in order to create an awareness among food business operators and the food safety officers about the requirements of the Act.

With four months left for the expiry of the time-span given for obtaining licences, complaints against a few food safety officers for harassing small food business establishments and indulging in corrupt practices have already started surfacing.

15 food cell officers to monitor quality

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:B.Maheswari, District Collector, addressing traders at an awareness meeting on food safety Act in Pudukottai on Saturday.

Collector convenes meeting with traders to explain provisions of ‘Food safety and standards Act 2006'

Fifteen food cell officers will monitor the quality of food and packed food products being sold in the district, said B.Maheswari, District Collector, on Saturday.

Addressing traders at a meeting to explain them the provisions of ‘Food safety and standards Act 2006,' she said that the new Act replaces eight food-related laws.

Retail traders

Under the Act which came into force on August 5 last year, she said every retail trader dealing with food and food products such as bakers, pavement vendors, mutton stalls should possess an identity card with photographs to be issued by the district administration shortly.

She clarified that the provisions of the Act aimed at ensuring quality in delivery and sought the cooperation of the traders in its implementation.

K.Nagarajan, District Revenue Officer and V.Arumugam, District Designated Officer for Food Safety, were present.

Separate department to handle food safety and drug administration

A separate department for Food Safety and Drug Administration for issuing licences and registering dealers in edible goods has been created under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Act that came into force on August 5, 2011.

According to an administration release, the State government had made a preliminary allocation of Rs.50 crore in the budget for the new department. Under the Act, the State government has appointed a Food Commissioner at the State level, and designated food safety officers at district and block level. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, consolidates all existing food laws and has repealed eight food-related laws. With the coming into force of Food Safety and Standards Act, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; The Fruit Products Order, 1955; The Meat Food Products Order, 1973; The Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988; The Solvent Extracted Oil, De-oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order,1967; The Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food along with the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939; stands repealed since August 5, 2011.

Under the earlier Act - petty shop owners, grocers, petty vendors, tea stalls, bakeries, butchers and those dealing in raw meat, eateries, dealers and retailers in milk and dairy products, road-side eateries and vendors, fish vendors, retailers, canteens in school, colleges, and movie halls, wedding halls, hostel mess, and private caterers among others were required to have their activities registered with the local bodies or other entities concerned. With the coming into force of the new Act, all registrations, licensing, and renewal shall be solely handled by the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration.

New provisions for packaged food labelling soon

HYDERABAD: Labelling of packaged food will be made more stringent as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to introduce more stringent laws in the country. The draft provisions of the new labelling are almost ready and will be circulated soon, said FSSAI officials.

Once the new labelling provisions are introduced, packed food manufacturers will not be able to get away with any claim they make on the products as they have to be substantiated by a research report. The research findings will either have to be published in a respected international journal or should be verifiable by the FSSAI.

"Every claim that is made will have to be backed by research acceptable to FSSAI," officials said. "A meeting was held to discuss the issue three weeks ago. It was decided that international practices be adopted with regard to labelling of packed food items," Dr B Sesikeran, chairman of the labelling and claims/advertisement panel of FSSAI told STOI. Sesikeran is also the director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad.

The FSSAI will set up a reviewing committee, which will verify the claims that are made by the food manufacturer. Only after the FSSAI is satisfied with the claim of the food manufacturer will an approval be given for printing the claim on the packaging of the food item

New act proves sweet for city's halwa makers

KOZHIKODE: Makers of famous 'Kozhikkodan halwa' or sweetmeat have reasons to cheer. With the implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, they are hoping a change in their fortunes.
The demand for sweetmeat had fallen drastically last year after the health authorities raided a few shops based on complaints of unhygienic conditions. But now with the new act that stipulates stringent hygiene measures set to be implemented from August, the sweetmeat makers believe that it will increase their sales.
"The implementation of the act would transform the image of the industry. Improving the hygienic conditions would benefit the industry in the long run," said V V Saleem, owner of the Viva Halwa Products. It will also help the firms stand up to competitions from major players.
According to Dinesh Babu of Sankaran Bakery, hygiene is key to sweetmeat making and the act if enforced well would improve quality.
D Sivakumar, designated officer, Food Safety, Kozhikode, said the act strictly stipulates that locations and surroundings of the manufacturing units should be clean. It also stipulates hygiene of equipment, air quality and ventilations in the units and use of portable water, and maintaining records on raw materials procured. The official said currently most halwa makers use low-quality packaging materials. But the new act directs makers to use food grade plastic for packaging.
"The act can be implemented only step by step and the conditions of manufacturing units will be improved," said Sivakumar. He said that some sweetmeat makers have already secured licence under the new act.
The sweetmeat makers are also planning to market their product through supermarkets with attractive packing across the state.