Chennai civic body raids food stalls on beaches

Officials said the raids were a preventive measure ahead of the holidays, when over 10 lakh people are expected to flock to beaches across the city.

Samples taken from 536 outlets on Marina, Elliot’s, Palavakkam to test for toxins 

Ahead of Pongal on Monday, the Chennai Corporation began raids on outlets selling food on beaches across the city. This is part of a larger initiative to ensure safety on the beaches during the festive season, when many residents are expected to flock there.

Ten teams have been formed by the Corporation’s public health department to prevent sales of unhygienic food on Marina, Elliot’s and Palavakkam beaches. 

All the food stalls on the beaches are illegal, but the civic body has been unable to regulate them, even after a directive from the Madras High Court. 

A number of samples were collected from 536 food stalls on Monday, for informal testing of shelf life, rusted covers on soft drinks, ‘carcinogenic’ cooking oil, use of colouring agents, and quality. The growth of micro-organisms such as coliform, clostridium, yeast, E. Coli, salmonella and mould will also be tested.

The results of the tests will be used to assess the impact of the sales of such products on beaches. 

“This is a preventive measure. More than 10 lakh people will gather on the beaches during the festival holidays. We also educated people on health and the safety of street food. Traders selling spurious food products were also warned,” said city health officer, P. Kuganantham.

“The dark oil repeatedly used for frying food items is highly carcinogenic. Water collected from the shallow pits of the Marina which is sold, is a health hazard. Visitors to the beach should avoid such products,” he added.

“Earlier, some vendors used to sell spurious products on the beaches. Now, members of the vendors’ association have decided to prevent such practices,” said Meen Umayaal, a vendor on Marina beach.

“Some officials created awareness about food safety recently. We now get regular customers only because we use good quality oil for cooking,” said Velu Mani, a vendor.

The food safety department is also planning to screen stalls selling unhygienic food products and will issue improvement notices to shops that function in unsanitary conditions. 

“We found that a number of packed food products sold by stalls did not have a date of manufacturing. We intend to create awareness about this also,” said a Corporation official.

“People should be careful when they buy food on beaches. They can cause infections, diarrhoea or fever,” said a food analyst.

Emergency medical teams will also be stationed at various points to help visitors at beaches this week.

Ban on gutkha extended

The Commissioner of Food Safety, Andhra Pradesh, has announced that the prohibition of manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutkha and other chewable tobacco products in the State has been further extended for a period of one year from January 10, 2014.

Previous order expired

The Hindu had carried a report “Gutkha is now ‘legal’ in State”, which appeared in these columns on Monday, about the purported delay in extending the ban, the previous order of which expired on January 9, 2014.

Sections

The ban on the tobacco products has been imposed under Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and in the interest of public health, according to the press release from the Commissioner of Food Safety on Monday.

Adulterated AAloo, Nadru Munji Be cautious while taking Kashmiri snacks: SMC

Srinagar, Jan 13 (KNS): The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Monday cautioned people who take Nadru, Aaloo Munji (Kashmiri snacks) because the corporation has registered cases against a few vendors allegedly using industrial dye and other coloring agents in their preparations. 

Talking to KNS, Dr Shafqat Khan, health officer SMC, said that during a routine inspection of food items in Srinagar City at three places--Hazratbal Naqashband Sahib and Dastigeer Sahib industrial dye (not fit for human use) was found to be used in preparation of Nudru and Alloo Munji local Kashmiri snacks.

According to Dr Khan, the Food items were destroyed on spot and challans was framed against the offenders.

In another case, he told KNS that a trader in Fethakadal Narparisthan was found to selling substandard food colours alongside industrial colours and dyes who has been warned to immediately stop sale within one week of these food colours or face legal action under Food Safety Standard Act 2006.

“General public are cautioned not to use these food products as same are harmful for health and can cause irreversible damage to health,” Dr Khan cautioned. 

Adulterated ‘Aaloo, Nadru Munji’!

Srinagar, Jan 13: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Monday cautioned people against taking ‘Nadru and Aaloo Munji’ (Kashmiri snacks) saying that the corporation has registered cases against a few vendors for allegedly using industrial dyes and other coloring agents in their preparations. 

Dr Shafqat Khan, Health Officer SMC, said that during a routine inspection of food items in Srinagar City at three places—Hazratbal, Naqashband Sahib and Dastigeer Sahib areas, industrial dye (not fit for human use) was found to be used in preparation of Nudru and Alloo Munji.

According to Dr Khan, the food items were destroyed on spot and ‘challans’ were framed against the offenders.

In another case, he said that a trader in Fethakadal Narparisthan was found selling substandard food colours alongside industrial dyes, who has been warned to immediately stop sale or face legal action under Food Safety Standard Act 2006.

“General public are cautioned not to use these food products as same are harmful for health and can cause irreversible damage to health,” Dr Khan cautioned.

Govt support eludes Gaya tilkut makers

GAYA: Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Tuesday and Wednesday when tilkut will accompany the main course of dahi-chuda (curd and flattened rice) of a vast section of people across the state. However, this Sankranti too has failed to bring much cheer to the nearly 400 families engaged in tilkut making in different localities of Gaya as their long-pending demand for the grant of cottage industry status is yet to be conceded.

If granted the cottage industry status, the makers of famous Gaya tilkut will be entitled to cheap power, subsidized fuel, low-interest bank finance, better marketing options and inclusion in the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana list.

Incidentally, tilkut, besides Vishnupad temple and Renaissance Cultural centre are regarded Gaya's icons, giving the place a distinct identity.

According to Lalji Prasad, leader of tilkut makers, despite several petitions to the government and assurances given by former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, little has been done to provide state support to tilkut making, gradually making it a less remunerative occupation.

If non-award of cottage industry status was not enough, the nearly 200-year-old tilkut industry of Gaya has been visited by a host of other problems caused by rising input cost and migration of skilled workers. Poaching by confectionary manufacturers of Kolkata, Patna etc, according to insiders, has of late been engineering large-scale migration of skilled workers, thereby putting a question mark over the business's survival at its birthplace. Whether it be Kolkata, Patna or any other part of the country, locally-made tilkut is given the Gaya tag to make it acceptable to tilkut lovers.

A mix of lintel, sugar/gur etc in the right proportions, heated at an optimum temperature in cold but dry weather, skillfully hammered and then moulded into biscuit-like form, the tilkut protocol is extremely sensitive.

The Gaya tilkut makers have to borrow money at market rate, thereby diminishing the profit. Moreover, by bringing tilkut under the ambit of Food Safety Act, the government has made things more difficult for the tilkut makers as it now requires licence and inspection by health officials.

As tilkut comes in the category of 'no milk food item', its export potential is said to be very high. But for export promotion too, the Gaya tilkut makers look to the government for help. Gaya tilkut stands at the New Delhi trade fairs have been doing good business over the years and all that is required is to market it properly both at the national and international levels.

Due to lack of finance, tilkut makers cannot engage in bulk and advance purchase of items like lintel, sugar/jaggery. The wholesalers of these items charge arbitrary prices when the tilkut demand peaks around Makar Sankranti.

Indore: Food grain traders to launch statewide protest tomorrow

Indore: Opposing their inclusion in the Food Safety and Security Act, the food grain traders have announced to launch a series of statewide protest from January 14.

The MP Anaj Evam Dalhan Vyapari Sangh convened a meeting of around 500 food grain traders on Sunday.

Association president Gopaldas Agrawal told said that the act will come into effect in February and under the provisions, the farmers are exempted from penal provisions in case food grains carry impurities but the traders are liable for the same in case of raids or surprise inspections.

Agrawal said that food grain traders simply buy the food grain and mostly the products carry soil, insects etc in raw form. 

We don’t sell it to the consumers, we only sell the product to processors, so how come we should be penalised under the act.

In the meeting it was decided to meet MLAs across the state on January 14 for briefing them about the issue. 

Besides, the district heads would hold press conferences on January 16 in their respective districts. 

The traders would submit memorandums to their district collectors on January 18 while effigies of the act would be set ablaze across the state on January 20, Agrawal affirmed. 

He demanded that the Centre should keep the food grain traders out of the ambit of this act. 

The food grain supplies might be affected if the traders persist with their stir and start buying food grain by assessing the quality of the product, which could fulfill the criteria set by the act.

With no checks in place, this surely is a beefy biz

Kochi: After the state government lifted the ban on the sale of beef imposed after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, hotels in the district have resumed serving beef dishes.

The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), Ernakulam district committee has announced that hotel owners will ensure the quality and safety of meat they serve. However, in the absence of a strict monitoring system to check abattoirs, meat shops and illegal wayside vendors, the quality of meat can't be ensured and the public has to be careful, warn veterinary and health experts.

Though the state government has partially lifted the restriction on transporting of animals from other places, the corporation has not yet restarted its abattoir at Kaloor. “We are yet to get any instruction from the government on resuming slaughtering of cattle,” said corporation health committee chairman T.K. Ashraf.

Normally, around 150 cattle are slaughtered at the Kaloor abattoir every day. This is the only abattoir in the city with a licence from the corporation. The number will go up to nearly 600 during the festival season.

As unauthorised slaughtering is rampant in many parts of the city, especially in Mattancherry and Cheranalloor, restaurant owners won't be able to ensure the quality of the meat they serve.

But KHRA district president M.P. Shiju said that hotel owners will buy meat from shops licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. “If the earlier system of sealing the meat after a veterinarian's certification is made mandatory, people will be able to ensure quality of meat.

Though several illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops are operating without any inspection and medical examination of animals, hotel owners have been strictly warned not to buy meat from them," said the KHRA district president.

Meanwhile, Ashraf of the corporation's health committee said that no case of foot-and-mouth disease affected cattle has been reported in the slaughterhouses functioning in the city. 

அன்னதானம் வழங்க உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலரிடம் தகுதிச் சான்று பெற வேண்டும் கலெக்டர் தகவல்

கடலூர், ஜன.13-

வடலூரில் வரும் 17-ந் தேதி தைப்பூச விழா நடைபெறுகிறது.  இதுகுறித்து கடலூர் மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் கிர்லோஷ்குமார் வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்திக்குறிப்பில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:

தைப்பூச விழா அன்னதானம்

அன்னதானம் கொடுக்க விரும்பும் பக்தர்கள் அதற்கான உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலரிடம் உணவுக்கான தகுதிச் சான்று பெற்று, அன்னதானம் வழங்க காவல் துறையில் பதிவு செய்து, அதற்காக அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட இடத்தில் மட்டுமே அன்னதானம் வழங்க வேண்டும். அனுமதிக்கப்படாத இடத்திலோ அல்லது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரியால் தகுதிச் சான்று பெறாத உணவுப்பொருளையோ அன்னதானம் செய்தால் அவர்கள் மீது கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். மேலும் அன்னதானம் வழங்க தொடர்பு கொள்ள வேண்டிய தொலைபேசி எண் 94434 34024. மேலும் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட இடங்களில் மட்டுமே நடைபாதை கடைகள் மற்றும் தள்ளுவண்டி கடைகள் வைக்க வேண்டும். மீறுபவர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். இவ்வாறு மேற்கண்ட செய்திக் குறிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Gutkha is now ‘legal’ in Andhra Pradesh

Little interest shown on implementing/extending its ban 

Consumption of gutkha is now legal in State. Not just that, even manufacturing and distribution of this chewable tobacco product does not amount to any kind of violation, thanks to the State government’s reluctance in extending a ban on these products.

As per a Government Order issued by the Chief Secretary, the usage or distribution of gutkha was prohibited in the State with effect from January 10, 2013 till a period of one year under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. However, there seems to be no move to extend it. 

“This is a grave issue concerning public health as gutkha and its related products are known to cause cancer and other serious ailments. Gutkha is banned in 23 States in the country, but our State government is taking its own time to extend the ban or implement it,” said former I.F.S. officer and secretary of Forum for Good Governance, M. Padmanabha Reddy. He has written to the Chief Secretary demanding that the ban be extended. Mr. Reddy, who procured information under RTI relating to the implementation of the ban, criticised the administration for being indifferent to the issue.

State issues guidelines for food safety in govt hostels

City has over 20 such hostels, run by Social Justice Department 

The State government has issued an order regarding food safety standards while preparing and serving the food in all hostels and residential schools across the state, run by the State’s Social Justice department. Pune has over 20 such hostels.

The directive was issued by the Social Justice and Special Aide Department on January 7 under the Central Government’s Food Safety Rule.

The Government Resolution (GR) mentions, “All hostel head should check safety standards as mentioned in the order and submit a report to their respective department heads. Department heads should conduct frequent meetings and review the situation.”

The GR also mentions certain sanitary and hygienic requirements to which food business operators should conform. ‘Premises on which food is prepared should have an overall hygienic environment. All new units should be set up well away from environmentally polluted areas. 

There should be adequate space for manufacturing and storage, enough lighting and ventilation, with no flaking paint or plaster,’ the GR says.

‘Floors, ceilings and walls must be maintained — they should be smooth and clean,’ the GR adds.

Besides this, the government also has guidelines on the food preparation area, hand-washing facilities, toilets, personal hygiene, transportation and handling of food, raw materials, cross contamination, stock rotation, thawing of frozen products and others.

Rakesh Vitkar, in-charge of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run Dr Babasheb Ambedkar student hostel claimed, “We have a capacity of 400 students. 

We are already maintaining hygiene while preparing and serving food. However, we will go through the government order and see if anything is lacking. We welcome this move by the government. It will help to guide hostels on maintaining better hygiene.”

►►► We have a capacity of 400 students. We are already maintaining hygiene while preparing and serving food

- Rakesh Vitkar, in-charge at PMC-run Dr Baba Ambedkar hostel

DINAMALAR NEWS

Food Safety Act

The last date for getting license/ registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act is February 4. All food business operators should legalize their food business before February 4, informed Food Standards Enforcement officials.

FDA launches spot registration drive for food stalls, eateries

NASHIK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nashik division, has started conducting spot registrations of hotels and eateries. Any business found unregistered or without a license after January 16, Thursday, will face punitive action, said officials. The spot registration drive started on Saturday. 

Joint commissioner (food) of the FDA's Nashik division told TOI, "Our goal is to get all food related businesses across the division registered and licenced. Some of the paan and tea stalls, and food caterers have not responded to our call. We have formed special teams in each district that will visit spots to register business. There will also be units at our district offices in the division where the registration and licencing can be done. After Thursday, the owners of unregistered businesses or those without will face six months in jail and will be fined Rs 5 lakh." 

As per the new Food Safety and Standards Act which came into effect from August 5, 2011, a licence is compulsory for business with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh. Business with a turnover less than Rs 12 lakh are required to get a yearly registration for Rs 100 a year, while the annual licence fee is Rs 2,000. 

Food business like paan stalls, fruit or vegetable vendors, handcarts with food items being sold, grocery shops, bakeries, food packaging units, caterers, inns, dhabas, tea stalls, onion-potato traders, meat shops have been included under the act from August 5, 2011. Many of these stalls were not registered in the last registration drive. 

The FDA's Nashik division oversees five districts - Nashik, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Nandurbar and Jalgaon. Till date, around 35,561 businesses have been registered in Nashik division, including 8,346 in Nashik district, 5,193 in Dhule district (which also Nandurbar district), 7,425 in Jalgaon and 14,597 in Ahmednagar districts. Licenses have been issued to 16,137 businesses, including 7,331 units in Nashik, 2,866 in Dhule, 2,409 in Jalgaon and 3,531 in Ahmednagar districts.

High Court Ban on Plastic Packaging Traders seek legal recourse in SC

Una, January 12

Traders of the state, under the banner of Himachal Pradesh Beopar Mandal, yesterday decided to move the apex court against the Himachal Pradesh High Court's decision to ban 25 junk food items sold in plastic packaging in the state from January 26 this year. 

The High Court has also directed the government to ensure that from March 31, foodstuff, including primary and essential food manufactured, transported, sold, packaged and distributed in the state, conforms to the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation of 2011.

The traders have been perturbed as most of the fast-moving packaged edible products of branded and unbranded types come in plastic packing. In view of the orders, such material will not be allowed to enter the state for sale.

The Beopar Mandal today authorised its working-president Sumesh Sharma to lead a delegation of traders to Delhi to meet legal experts. The other members include Inderjit Singh, president of the Shimla unit, Surinder Kumar, general secretary of Manali unit, and Rajinder Sood, member of the Wholesalers' Alliance from Una.

Speaking over telephone, president of the state Beopar Mandal, Madan Lal Khurana said the delegation had left for Delhi today and would take legal advice on January 12. He said the manufacturers were not willing to change the packaging for a small percentage of the clientele in the state, which meant these items would not be on the shelves for sale after January 26.

Khurana said these orders would not only bring financial setback to the traders, but would also affect the consumers.

Expressing hope that the Supreme Court would give relief to the traders of the hill state, he said if need be, their cadre would not hesitate to take to the streets against the orders. He said while the party in power should clarify its stand, even those in the Opposition should speak their minds on the issue.

Traders want food grain out of APMC Act ambit

PUNE: Traders' unions on Sunday demanded exclusion of food grain like wheat, rice, jowar and cereals from the ambit of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act. Traders also sought the adoption of a single-point mechanism to charge cess on commodities in place of the current multiple cess system.

The demands were raised at a state-level meeting of traders conducted at the Poona Merchants' Chamber called to discuss various issues faced by traders. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Walchand Sancheti, president of the Poona Merchants' Chamber, said, "Prices of commodities go up owing to multiple cess system. When other states have already adopted a single-point cess system to restrict double taxation, the state government is persisting with the old system. The government has continued with multiple cess mechanism which is neither beneficial to the farmer nor to the consumer."

Sancheti said the government has already initiated steps to decontrol fruits and vegetables. "We want the government to exclude food grain from the APMC Act. Processed commodities such as rice, edible oil, powders, sugar, tea, flour, besan and dry fruits should be excluded," he said. He added that the traders will soon discuss the memorandum of demands with the government.

Vice-president of the Poona Merchants' Chamber, Praveen Chorbele, said that more than 125 traders from the state had participated in the meeting. He said, "Besides exclusion of food grain from the APMC Act, we will urge the government to introduce some changes in the Food Safety and Standards Act. We want the government to impose a reasonable fine under various provisions."

Meanwhile, traders have demanded abolition of the Local Body Tax (LBT). Chorbele said there has been considerable increase in the VAT. There is no need to impose LBT on commodities if the government has registered significant growth in VAT collection.

We will also urge the government to introduce some changes in the Food Safety and Standards Act. We want the government to impose a reasonable fine under various provisions

IIT-Roorkee gets notice after mess food sample fails quality check

The state food safety department has issued a notice to the Indian Institute of Technology here after food sample taken from the hostel mess on the campus failed in quality check. The notice said the department would initiate penal action.

However, the IIT has a period of 30 days to appeal against the department’s verdict on the sample and get it tested in an accredited laboratory. 

If the sample fails the test there as well, the matter will be tried in the additional district magistrate’s court in Haridwar. 

But the food safety officer Dilip Jain said the action would be quicker as the IIT had admitted in a statement at the time of the raid that its kitchen was unhygienic.

“It is enough for us to take action against the IIT administration or its director,” Jain said. 

Around 200 students staying at the Rajendra Bhawan hostel of the IIT were reported ill after having food from the mess on September 9 last year. They had complained of severe stomach ache and vomiting. 

Many students were diagnosed with food poisoning and were admitted in a hospital. Following this, the food safety department raided the hostel mess and collected certain food samples. While one of these samples failed in the quality test, the result of the others is awaited. 

“In a test conducted at the Rudrapur-based state food and drug testing laboratory, a sample of red chilli power taken from the Rajendra Bhawan hostel mess has not been found to be of the prescribed food standards,” the food safety officer said.

இட்லி, தோசை மாவு பாக்கெட் மாவு ஒரு உயிர்கொல்லி

    இட்லி, தோசை மாவு பாக்கெட் மாவு ஒரு உயிர்கொல்லி       

கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் இட்லி, தோசை மாவை விலைக்கு விற்கும் பழக்கம் விரிவடைந்துக் கொண்டே போகிறது. இட்லி, தோசை மாவு விற்கப்படுவதால் ஒரு புறம் பெண்களின் வேலைச்சுமை குறைகிறது. மறுபுறம் வீட்டில் இருந்தபடியே பணம் ஈட்டும் தொழிலாக மாவு விற்பனை நடைபெறுகிறது.மேலும் சிறிய மளிகைக்கடை முதல் பெரிய ஷாப்பிங் மால் வரை இட்லி, தோசை மாவு பாக்கெட்டுகளில் கிடைக்கிறது.

இந்த மாவு ஒரு உயிர்கொல்லி – ஸ்லோ பாய்ஸன் என்பது ஏனோ பலருக்கும் தெரிவதில்லை.இதன் பின் விளைவுகளை சற்று அலசிப் பார்த்தால் நம் உதிரமும் உறைந்து போகும் அளவிற்கு அதிபயங்கரமான விளைவுகள் தெரிய வருகின்றது!

1. 6 நாட்கள் வரை புளிப்பு வாசனை வராமல் இருக்க,நம் உடலில் ஏற்படும் காயத்திற்கும்,புண்ணிற்கும், கேரம் போர்ட் விளையாட பயன்படுத்தும் Boric Acid, ஆரோட் மாவு போன்றவற்றைக் கலந்து விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கின்றனர்.

2. அதாவது ஒரு நாளைக்கு 3 – 6 மணி நேரம் அரைக்க வேண்டிய கிரைண்டர்கள், 12- 18 மணி நேரம் தொடர்ந்து ஓட்டுவதால் அந்த கல் கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக தேய்மானம் ஏற்பட்டு மாவுடன் கலந்து விடுகின்றது. இதனால் சிறு நீரகத்தில் கல் உண்டாகும் அபாயம் இருக்கின்றது.

3. என்னதான் நல்ல அரிசி உளுந்து போட்டாலும் நல்ல தண்ணீரை ஊற்றி தான் மாவு அரைக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால் பெரும்பாலும் உவர்தன்மையைக் கொண்ட கிணத்தடி தண்ணீர் மற்றும் உப்பு தண்ணிரே பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றது.

4. நம் முன்னோர்கள் இட்லிக்கு மாவு அரைக்கும்போது ஒரு கை வெந்தயத்தை போட்டு அரைப்பார்கள். வெந்தயம் ஒரு இயற்கையான நோய் நிவாரணி( ஆண்டி பயாடிக்) இது, உடம்பு உஷ்னம், வாய் நாற்றம், குடல் புண்(அல்சர்) போன்ற நோய்களைத் தடுக்கும் ஆற்றல் உள்ளது.கடை மாவில் யாரும் வெந்தயத்தை சேர்ப்பதில்லை!

மேலும், பால், தயிறு, முட்டை, காய்கறி, மாட்டிறைச்சிகளில் கானப்படும் ஈகோலி (E-COLI) எனப்படும் ஒருவகை பாக்டீரியாவானது,( – 24 )மைனஸ் 24 டிகிரிக்கு கீழே இருந்தால் தான் கொஞ்சமாவது கட்டுபடும் அவ்வகை பாக்ட்டீரியாக்கள் மாவுகளில் உருவாகி சிலருக்கு சாப்பிட்டவுடன் ஃபுட் பாயிஸன் என்றும், சிலருக்கு ஸ்லோ பாய்ஸனாக உடலில் கலந்து உயிரையேக் கொல்லும் அபாயமும் உள்ளது.

எனவே தாம் சென்னை மாநகராட்சி கடைகள்,மற்றும் மாவுஅரைக்கும் இடங்களில் பரவலாக சோதனை (ரெய்டு) நடத்தி தரம் குன்றிய மாவுகளைக் கைப்பற்றி,அபராதமும் விதித்து வருகின்றது.

எனவே,நமக்கு நன்கு தெரிந்த கலப்படம் செய்யாத நேர்மையானவர்கள் அரைத்து விற்பனை செய்யும் இட்லி,தோசை மாவுகளை மட்டும் வாங்குவதோடு,முன்,பின் தெரியாதவர்கள் தயாரித்து கடைகளில் விற்கும் மாவுகளை முற்றிலுமாகத் தவிர்ப்பது நலம்!

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு, தர நிர்ணய சட்டம் உரிமம் பெற கால அவகாசம் ஓராண்டு நீட்டிக்க வேண்டும் மத்திய அமைச்சரிடம், வணிகர் சங்கம் மனு

சென்னை, ஜன. 12: 

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரநிர்ணய சட்டத்தில் உரிமம் பெற கால அவகாசத்தை ஓராண்டு நீட்டிக்க வேண்டும் என்று மத்திய அமைச்சரை சந்தித்து, வணிகர் சங்க பேரமைப்பு நிர்வாகிகள் மனு அளித்தனர். 

சென்னை வந்த மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சர் குலாம்நபி ஆசாத்தை விமான நிலையத்தில் தமிழ்நாடு வணிகர் சங்கங்களின் பேரமைப்பு மாநில தலைவர் விக்கிரமராஜா, பொது செயலாளர் மோகன், மண்டல தலைவர் சதக்கத்துல்லா, கூடுதல் செயலாளர் வி.பி.மணி, இணை செயலாளர் எட்வர்ட், மாவட்ட தலைவர்கள் என்.டி.மோகன், மாரித்தங்கம், இளைஞர் அணி பால்ராஜ் மற்றும் நிர்வாகிகள் சந்தித்து கோரிக்கை மனு அளித்தனர். அதில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது: 

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரநிர்ணய சட்டத்தால் தமிழகத்தில் உணவு தொழிலில் ஈடுபட்டிருக்கும் 15 லட்சம் வணிகர்களும், இந்தியா முழுவதும் ஏறத்தாழ 6 கோடி வணிகர்களும் பாதிக்கப்படுவர். குறிப்பாக சிறிய, நடுத்தர வணிகர்கள் மிகப்பெரிய பாதிப்பை அடைவர். இச்சட்டத்தை பயன்படுத்தி தமிழகத்தில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் பெறவில்லை என்றால் ரூ.5 லட்சம் அபராதம், 6 மாத சிறை தண்டனை என்று மிரட்டி வருகின்றனர். எனவே, வணிகர்களை பாதிக்கும் இச்சட்டத்தில் பல்வேறு சட்டத்திருத்தங்களை கொண்டுவரவேண்டும். தற்போது சட்டத்தின்கீழ் பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் பெற கால அவகாசம் பிப்ரவரி 4 என்பதை மேலும் ஒரு வருடம் நீட்டித்து தர வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது. 

இதைதொடர்ந்து மத்திய அமைச்சர் குலாம்நபி ஆசாத் கூறுகையில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரநிர்ணய சட்டத்தால் சிறு வணிகர்களும், விவசாயிகளும் பாதிக்கப்படுவதாக அறிகிறோம். தேவையெனில் உரிமம் பெற கால அவகாசம் 1 வருடம் நீட்டிப்பு வழங்கப்படும். டெல்லியில் வணிகர் சங்க நிர்வாகிகளை அழைத்து பேசி தீர்வு காணப்படும் என்றார்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அறிவிப்பு கடைகளை பிப்.4க்குள் பதிவு செய்வது கட்டாயம்

சிவகங்கை, ஜன. 12: 

சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள கடைகள் அனைத்தையும்வரும் பிப். 4க்குள் கட்டாயம் பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அறிவுறுத்தி உள்ளது. 

அதன்படி மளிகை கடை, பெட்டிக்கடை, டீக்கடை, சிற்றுண்டி நிலையம், தெருவோர கடைகள், தள்ளுவண்டி, ஓட்டல்கள், உணவு பொருள் சேமித்து வைப்பவர்கள், மொத்த வியாபாரிகள் பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். மேலும் சமையல் செட் வைத்திருப்பவர்கள், கோவில் மற்றும் பொது இடங்களில் அன்னதானம் வழங்குபவர்கள், ரேஷன் கடைகள், சத்துணவு கூடங்கள், அங்கன் வாடி, பழம் மற்றும் காய்கறி வியாபாரிகள் உட்பட அனைவரும் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டம் 2006ன்படி தங்களது வணிகத்தை பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் பெருவது கட்டாயமாகும். 

பதிவு, உரிமம் பெறுபவர்கள் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையின் www.fssai.gov.in என்ற இணையதள முகவரியில் விண்ணப்பங்களை பதிவிறக்கம் செய்து ரேசன் கார்டு, வங்கியில் ரூ.100 செலுத்தியதற்கான உண்மை நகல், பாஸ்போர்ட்சைஸ் போட்டோ, புகைப்படத்துடன் கூடிய அடையாள அட்டை, தொழில் உள்ளிட்ட விரங்களுடன் விண்ணப்பத்தை மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் அல்லது வட்டார உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்களிடம் வழங்க வேண்டும். ஏற்கனவே பதிவு, உரிமம் பெற்றவர்கள் மீண்டும் புதுப்பிக்க வேண்டும். இதற்கான காலக்கெடு பிப்.4 ஆகும். 

காலக்கெடு நீட்டிப்பு இல்லை எனவும் தவறுபவர்கள் அபராத தொகையுடன் விண்ணப்பிக்க நேரிடும் எனவும் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும் 04575&243725 என்ற தொபேசி எண்ணில் தொடர்பு கொண்டு கூடுதல் தகவல்களை தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

கம்பம், கூடலூர் பகுதியில் போதை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

கம்பம், ஜன. 12: 

கம்பம், கூடலூர் பகுதியில் அனுமதியின்றி விற்பனை செய்த ரூபாய் 40 ஆயிரம் பெறுமானமுள்ள புகையிலை பொருட்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். 

தேனி மாவட்டம் கம்பம், கூடலூர் பகுதியில் அனுமதியின்றி வெளிமாநில புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்வதாக வந்த தகவலின் அடிப்படையில் தேனி மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி மீனாட்சிசுந்தரம் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் ஜனகர் ஜோதி நாதன், மதன் கம்பம் மற்றும் கூடலூர் பகுதிகளில் உள்ள கடைகளில் சோதனையை மேற்கொண்டனர். 

அப்போது தமிழக அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட வெளிமாநில போதை பாக்குகள் மற்றும் புகையிலைகள் இருப்பு வைத்து விற்பனை செய்தது தெரியவந்தது. ரூ.40 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள பாக்குகள் மற்றும் புகையிலைகளை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். 

பின்னர் கடை வியாபாரிகளிடம் இனிமேல் விற் பனை செய்தால் வழக்கு தொடரப்படும் என்று எச்சரிக்கை செய்தனர்.

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சிதம்பரத்தில் ஐஸ் கிரீம் கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை

சிதம்பரம், ஜன. 12: 

சுற்றுலா தலமான சிதம்பரம் நகரில் ஐஸ்கிரீம் கடைகள், பேக்கரி மற்றும் உணவகங்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினார்கள். 

கடலூர் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜா, சிதம்பரம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர் பத்மநாபன் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் சுற்றுலா பயணிகள் அதிகளவில் வருகை தரும் சிதம்பரம் கீழவீதியில் உள்ள உணவகம், பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஐஸ்கிரீம் கடைகளில் அதிரடி சோதனை செய்தனர். பேக்கரி மற்றும் ஜஸ்கிரீம் கடைகளில் காலாவதியான பொருட்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறதா என்றும் ஐஸ்கிரீம் கடைகளில் ஐஸ்கிரீம் பொருட்கள் சரியான அளவில் கூலிங் வைக்கப்படுகிறதா? என்றும் ஆய்வு செய்தனர். மேலும் காலாவதி பொருட்கள் இருந்தால் அதனை தனியாக ஒரு பெட்டியில் வைத்து அதனை அப்புறப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என கடைக்காரர்களுக்கு அறிவுரை வழங்கினர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

‘Cheated’ by chilli exporter, Chinese trader turns to cops

GUNTUR: In what could be another jolt to the India's trade relations with China, a chilli importer from the neighbouring country has lodged a cheating complaint against a local trader with the Guntur police. The importer alleged that the merchant based in Guntur had caused him massive loss to his business and reputation. 

According to information, Gi Yung Tai Yongkim came all the way from China and approached the Guntur police on Saturday. He is reported to have come to India after having failed to broker a compensation deal with the management of the firm which allegedly sent inferior quality stocks. Sources said an exporting firm owned by one Polineni Madhubabu of Pranya Condiments from Guntur had shipped about 30 tonnes of chilli to Yongkim following approaval of his samples in China. 

However, the chillies imported by the firm of Kim did not match the samples and were rejected by the food safety authorities in his country. Shocked by the rejection of the stock, the Chinese trader demanded compensation from the Guntur merchant. He claimed that he had suffered a loss of Rs 4 crore through the transaction. In addition, he would be liable to face criminal charges in his country for getting such stocks imported from India. Kim alleged that the stocks sent by Madhubabu were not of the same quality as were the samples. However, the exporter refused the claims of the Chinese trader. 

After Madhubabu's vehement refusal to pay compensation , Kim rushed to Guntur and lodged a complaint with Arundelpet police on Saturday . With the issue involving international trade agreements , police said that they would register a case after taking legal opinion. The complaint of Chinese trader has created ripples in the trade circles as AP is considered to be the biggest exporter of chilli to China during the current year. Merchants fear that such a complaint might hit the reputation of Indian merchants across the globe and derail the entire trade relations with the neighbour. In fact, China barred imports from India for several decades following export of inferior quality tobacco about three decades ago. China is not allowing tobacco imports from India even now. However, it imports some other agriculture products including chilli that too after following stringent norms. Inspector Alahari Srinivasa Rao confirmed the receipt of the complaint from Chinese merchant.

Health Department holds camp for food vendors

Bathinda, January 11

Officials of the Health Department organised a camp at the Mal Godam Road, near Lajjawati Dharamshala, enabling the food business operators to submit forms for seeking registration and licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI) whose deadline expires on February 4. 

Headed by District Health Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa, a team registered around 60 to 70 karyana merchants. 

Dr Randhawa said owing to lohri season, the response had been lukewarm. The department will hold camp again after the festival season is over.

Meanwhile, similar camp will be held at Goniana on January 14.

Adulterated food: samples collected

In a bid to ensure supply of unadulterated food products in the markets, Jammu and Kashmir officials continued a drive against food manufacturing companies and collected different samples from markets on Saturday. 

A food safety department inspection team led by assistant commissioner, Khurshid Ahmed Wani and food safety officers Inderjit Singh and Khalid Hussain during the market checking collected various samples of ghee and spice from different shopkeepers in South Kashmir’s Pulwom town. 

Singh said the team collected the samples of ‘Gowardhan Ghee’ and ‘Rath Vanaspati’. “Earlier we had collected the samples of Mirchi Powder manufactured by Rehmat Spices and the report about this product is awaited,” Singh said, adding: they will continue to inspect and raid those shops selling products which are unsafe for consumption. 

Sources said the food safety officers from different districts are collecting samples of food products. Such samples are being referred to reputed labs across India. 

Days ago, during a meeting divisional commissioner Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar, had directed the food safety department to start a drive against those companies and shopkeepers selling adulterated food products. 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also instructed the department to be vigilant and active in curbing the menace. 

Customer Relations Officer of Kashmiri Brand Rehmat Spices saod apart from Pulwom the samples of their products were also collected from Anantnag, Ganderbal, Srinagar and other districts. “These are the instructions of Omar Abdullah and this is a routine matter. Every day food safety department’s designated official collect these samples and refer them to different labs to ascertain their purity and quality,” he said.

Registration for food business units

SRINAGAR: To tackle the issue of food safety and quality control in the valley, the vigorous licensing has been put in place by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) which has made it mandatory for all the food business units to follow the FSSAI (Food Safety & Standards Authority of India) regulations or face action.

The deadline for the new registration or renewal of all the small as well as big food business operators has been set as February 4. The SMC will take action against the food units which do not have a proper updated licence to provide any food items to the consumers and will serve show-cause notices to them and action will be taken accordingly.

Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation Dr Shafqat Khan said there will be penalties and prosecutions for the violators whether that is a manufacturer who sells any article of food himself or a petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or temporary stall holder who distributes foods, restaurant owner or an hotelier. “After Feb 4, things will become bad for those who don’t follow the guidelines. We want to make a database of all the food businesses so that they can function under proper licensing. So far we have issues 5000 licenses till the end of the December and we have collected 31, 44, 900 license registration fees for the current financial year,” he said.

The SMC health officer said that they are doing regular awareness programs to educate the people and food business operators. “Most of the food units already have licensing but they have not renewed that is why we have but the Feb 4 as cut-off date and the violators won’t be allowed to function. This system would streamline all the business units and people doing the food business would be held accountable so that they no food adulteration takes place,” Dr Khan said, adding that one of the prime purposes of these conditions is to ensure that the food business operator maintains sanitary and hygienic standards.

Moving toward a healthier and more sustainable food system, the campaign has been set up the FSSAI throughout the country to create an information network so that the consumers are well acquainted regarding the information of the food that they consume to ensure the food safety. “We are happy that the renewal of the licensing has started. But, the process should be transparent and no such unit shall be allowed to function that doesn’t ensure the hygienic and nutritional food supplies,” said, Ghulam Ahmed Kawa, a food operator. “Those who compromise on the quality of the food creates a bad name for others who work genuinely, so government should take every step to main the food standards,’ he added.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the food units are required to register themselves and seek licences from the concerned implementing agencies, which checks various factors such as hygiene, material used for cooking and quality before giving its consent. The Act also aims to establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, by moving from multi- level, multi- departmental control to a single line of command.

Faiz Bhakshi, Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) said that the proper licensing of all the food units is a healthy step wherein every food manufacturer or retailer would be held accountable. He, however, expressed his fear over the implementation of the food safety act in the valley keeping in view the available infrastructure and other supportive environment. “There are no second thoughts that every consumer should be saved from the contaminated food and the sale and production of substandard food products should be stopped. But, at the same time the authorities should take the care of the overall hygiene of the system, the environment without any selective approaches,” he said. “The regulations of the act can’t be made specific alone to the suppliers and manufacturers,” the KHAROF president added.

Karela Jamun contains ‘harmful’ chemicals

Srinagar, Jan 11: While the ‘negligent’ Food Analyst Kashmir and other officials of Drug and Food Organization continue to go scot-free in the food adulteration row, the worrying laboratory reports have found that ‘Karela and Jamun juice’ consumed by thousands in Kashmir contain too much of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)—potentially harmful substances when consumed on daily basis.

The reports prepared by the Referral Food Laboratory Kolkata also show presence of total plate count and

yeast and mold count higher than the prescribed limits.

Therefore, the samples have been declared unsafe for human consumption by the lab.

Ironically, the Food Analyst Kashmir had given clean chit to the product terming it safe for human consumption.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is an artificial taste enhancer considered as well-documented excitotoxin and neurotoxin by the neuroscientists because of its degenerative effects on the brain and nervous system Similarly, high yeast and mold count is Mycotoxin that can cause spoilage of the food and make it prone to high bacterial growth. It will be harmful for human consumption.

Official documents, in possession with Rising Kashmir, said that during routine inspection, samples of Karela and Jamun Juice, manufactured by Singh Food Haripur Hindua Derabassi Mohali, Punjab was lifted by Food Safety Officer.

It was sent to Public Analyst for analysis on August 27, 2013, who overlooked the harmful chemicals in the product and declared it misbranded only.

“The copy of the test report was sent to the Food Business under section 46 (4) of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006. The owner challenged the test and preferred to send second part to the referral lab Kolkata. The lab declared it unsafe for human consumption containing MSG, higher plate, yeast and mold counts on January 2, 2014,” they said.

The official reports have sought the prohibitory orders for imposing ban on sale/ distribution of the product. “Necessary sanction to prosecute the business unit under section (42) of FSSA 2006 may be granted.”

SC allows Kanwal Group to file SLP

Mischief mongers bring bad image to our brand: Kanwal

Srinagar, Jan 10, CNS: Blaming mischief mongers for discrediting their Kashmir Brand, Kanwal Group of Industries Friday said that recent order passed by High Court was misinterpreted and miscreants played a key role in creating panic amoung general public.

In a statement, Kanwal Group of Industries General Manager said that the High Court order was about a specific batch of Sounf powder manufactured by our company has been deemed unfit for consumption bearing lot number KA/SP/E/PKG. manufactured on 4th of June 2013 after looking into the reports of a lab based in Kolkotta.

“We honor the decision of the High Court of Kashmir but at the same time we do not subscribe to the report given by the referral laboratory of the FSSAI and thereof widely circulated in the media of Jammu and Kashmir as the whole procedure undertaken by the concerned Health Officer is found misleading and confusing. Besides we got the samples of the same batch tested in various registered and reputed laboratories across the country all of which stated that the samples were free of any kind of adulteration and thus fit for consumption,” the statement reads.

The General Manager KGI said that mischief mongers and rumor mills have been spreading word across State that the Honorable High Court has declared that “all the products manufactured and sold under the brand name ‘Kanwal’ are adulterated and unfit for consumption” which is totally untrue.

“People who are spreading such rumors are only meaning to damage the industry in Jammu and Kashmir which is providing employment to tens of thousands of people. These people, without bearing in mind the consequences of their malicious intentions are not only damaging our brand Kanwal but they are creating an atmosphere wherein Brand Kashmir stands “damaged”.

KGI has appealed to the common masses not to believe rumors and understand that a certain batch of their Sounf powder has been put under scrutiny while rest of the products have never even been mentioned.

“The concerned Health Officers from different districts of Kashmir have analyzed hundreds of our product samples and have never found any adulterations. We further implore the concerned authorities to initiate strict action against mischief mongers and anyone found spreading ill-based and ill-intentioned rumors with respect to Kanwal Brand. Such people are only creating panic among the general public for their vested interests and they should be booked under appropriate provisions of law,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court of India has permitted KGI to file special leave petition. The Apex Court in its order has said that, “The learned council appearing for the petitioner has brought to our notice that the petitioner was not a party to the impugned proceedings before the High Court and no notice was given to the petitioner before passing the said order.On going through the impugned order of the High Court, we suspend the operation of the impugned order for a period of four weeks from today. The petitioner is permitted to file an application for impleading themselves as a party in the said proceedings on the re-opening date on 27th January, 2014. We request the High Court to go into the plea of the petitioner and pass appropriate order after affording opportunity to all the parties. We have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claim of the petitioner. With the above direction, the special leave petition is disposed off,” the order reads. (CNS)

Food ‘adulteration’ case After Khyber, Kanwal spices gets relief from SC

SRINAGAR, Jan 10: After doing it for Khyber milk, the Supreme Court today suspended for four weeks an order of Jammu and Kashmir High Court by virtue of which Kanwal spices was asked to deposit Rs 10 crore each with the Sher-e-Kahsmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura.

“Instead of going further into the matter, we suspend the operation of the impugned order for a period of four weeks from today,” a division bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh said after hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by Kanwal against the December 23 order of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

While deposing of the SLP, the court permitted the petitioner to file an application for impleading themselves as a party in the proceedings on the re-opening date on January 27.

“On such petition being filed, we request the High Court to go into the plea of the petitioner and pass appropriate order after affording opportunity to all the parties,” the court said.

On December 23, a division bench of Justices Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Tashi Rabstan passed the impugned order after perusal of documents submitted by Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir, revealing that based on laboratory tests, the toned Khyber Milk (lot no. MD E S P 17), turmeric powder (manufactured by AVON Agro Industries) and saunf powder by Kanwal Agro Food Industries (batch-P21/B6) were “unsafe.”

The court was hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

Observing that human life is the most precious creation on this planet, the bench had termed it unfortunate on part of some people “who are trading in human miseries without realizing as how many people suffered diseases after consuming these spices and toned milk.”

“Those people who must have been afflicted with the disease because of consumption of these spices and the milk, besides spending huge amount on their treatment must have undergone huge mental trauma,” the court had said, underling that treatment has to be meted out to the people who have suffered or who may suffer from various diseases because of the consumption of such products. 

“One day we have to pass on from this planet and bound to account for all our deeds. The empires build will be of no consequence when we pass on from this planet,” the court had observed.

அரியலூர் அருகே காலாவதி உணவு பொருள் பறிமுதல் அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சோதனை

அரியலூர், ஜன. 11: 

அரிய லூர் அருகே கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சோத னை நடத்தி காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். 

அரியலூர் மாவட்டம், கீழப்பழூர் பகுதியில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை நியமன அலுவலர் செல்வராஜ் அறிவுரையின்படி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலுவலர்கள் ரத்தி னம், ஸ்டாலின்பிரபு, நயி னார் முகமது மற்றும் சிவக்குமார் ஆகியோர் திருமா னூர் அடுத்த கீழப் பழுர் பகு தியில் டிக்கடை மற்றும் பெட்டிக்கடைகளி ல் அதி ரடி சோதனை நடத்தினர். 

அப்போது, கீழப்பழுர் பகுதியில் ரூ.3 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள தடை செய்யப்பட் ட பான் மசாலா, குட்கா பொருட்கள் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன. மேலும் 2 கிலோ காலாவதியான ரவா, ஆட்டா, மைதா கைப்பற்றப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்பட்டது. 

டீக்கடைகளில் கலப்பட டீத்தூள் உபயே கப் படுத்தப்படுகிறதா? என்பதை ஆய்வு செய்து 2 கிலோ கலப்பட டீத்தூள் அழிக்கப்பட்டது. பின்னர் வணிகர்களுக்கும், பொது மக்களுக்கும் எவ்வாறு கலப்பட டீத்தூளை கண்டறிவது என்ற எளிய செயல் முறை விளக்கம் செய்து காண்பித்து விழிப்புணர்வும் ஏற்படுத்தினர். 

வணிக நிறுவனர்களி டம் தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட பான் மசாலா, குட்கா ஆ கிய புகையிலை பொருட்கள் கடைகளில் விற்பனை செய் வதோ வியாபாரிகள் வீடுக ளி ல் பதுக்கி வைப்பதோ த ரி க்ஷ்யவந்தால் உடனடி ய கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க ப்படும் என்று எச்சரித்தனர்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தை நடைமுறை படுத்தக் கூடாது வணிகர் சங்கம் கோரிக்கை

திண்டுக்கல், ஜன. 11: 

மத் திய அரசின் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தர நிர்ணயச் சட்டத்தால் உணவுத் தொழில் பாதிக்கப்படும். அதனால், இந்த சட்டத்தை தமிழகத்தில் நடைமுறைப் படுத்த கூடாது என்று மாவட்ட தெழில் வர்த்தகர் சங்கத்தினர் தமிழக முதலமைச்சருக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர். 

இது குறித்து மாவட்டத் தலைவர் கிருபாகரன் தமிழக முதலமைச்சருக்கு அனுப்பி உள்ள கோரிக்கை மனுவில் கூறி இருப்பதாவது: “மத்திய அரசின் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணயச் சட்டம், விதிகள், ஒழுங்குமுறை களை உணவுத் தொழில் புரிவோர் கடைபிடிக்க முடியாது. உணவுத் தொழில் ஒட்டு மொத்தமாக அழியும் சூழ்நிலை உருவாகும். எனவே இந்த சட்டத்தை நடைமுறைப்படுத்தக் கூடாது. பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் எடுக்க 2015 பிப்.4ம் தேதி வரை கால நீட்டிப்பு அளிக்க வேண்டும். இந்த கோரிக்கை மத்திய சுகாதார அமைச்சர் குலாம்நபி ஆசாத்திடம் வழங்கப்பட்டு தற்போது பரிசீலனையில் இருக்கிறது. அதனால், மாநில அரசும் கட்டாயப் படுத்தக் கூடாது. 

மேலும், சில்லரை வணிகத்தில் அந்நிய நிறுவனங்களை இந்தியாவில் அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது என்று அனைத்து வணிகர்களும் போராடி வரும் நிலையில், இங்கிலாந்தைச் சேர்ந்த டெஸ்கோ நிறுவ னம் டாடா நிறுவனத்து டன் கூட்டு சேர்ந்து சில்ல ரை கடைகளை திறக்க மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழ ங்கி உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் டெஸ்கோ நிறுவன கடைகளைத்திறக்க தமிழக முதல் வர் அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது. இவ்வாறு அந்த மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டு உள்ளது. 

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் ஹோட்டல்களில் திடீர் சோதனை

கோபி, ஜன.11: 

கோபி பகுதியில் உள்ள உணவகங்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர். 

கோபி பகுதியில் உள்ள பல்வேறு உணவகங்களில் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் உணவு தயாரிக்கப்படுவதாக கோபி சப் கலெக்டர் சந்திரசேகர் சாகமுரிக்கு பல்வேறு புகார்கள் வந்தது. அதைத்தொடர்ந்து ஹோட்டல்களில் சோதனை நடத்த மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு சப்கலெக்டர் உத்தரவிட்டார். 

அதைத்தொடர்ந்து உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் கண்ணன் தலைமையில் அலுவலர்கள் முருகேசன், மனோகர், குழந்தைவேலு மற்றும் கோபி தொழிலாளர் உதவி ஆய்வாளர் ராஜசேகர், சப்கலெக்டர் அலுவலக ஆர்.ஐ. சண்முக சுந்தரம் ஆகியோர் கொண்ட குழுவினர் நாய்க்கன்காடு பகுதியில் உள்ள ஹோட்டல் ஒன்றில் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர். அப்போது பிளாஸ்டிக் கவர்களில் உணவு பொருட்கள் பாக்கெட் செய்திருப்பது கண்டு அவற்றை அப்புறப்படுத்த உத்தரவிட்டனர். 

அதே போன்று அங்கு தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட உணவு வகைகள் மற்றும் தயாரிக்கும் முறைகள் குறித்து விசாரணை செய்தனர். மேலும் அங்கு பணியில் இருந்த பணியாளர்கள் சீருடையுடன் இருக்கவும் அறிவுறுத்தினர். இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் கூறும் போது, �உணவகங்களில் சுவைக்காக போடப்படும் அஜினோமோட்டோ என்பது வேதிப்பொருளாகும். இதை ஒரு வயதுக்குட்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு சாப்பிட் கொடுக்கக்கூடாது. அதனால் உணவகங்களில் அஜினோமோட்டோ பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ள உணவுகள் குறித்து கட்டாயம் அறிவிப்பு பலகை சாப்பிடும் அறையில் வைக்கப்பட வேண்டும். 

அதே போன்று சமையலுக்கு பயன்படுத்தப்படும் எண்ணை வகைகள் குறித்தும் அறிவிப்பு பலகை வைக்க வேண்டும். பணியாளர்கள் கட்டாயமாக சீருடையுடன் தான் இருக்க வேண்டும். விதிகளை பின்பற்றாத உணவகங்கள் மீது கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.

உணவு பொருள் கலப்படம் குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம்

ஊட்டி, ஜன. 11: 

உணவு பொருள் கலப்படம் குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம் இன்று ஊட்டி அரசு கலைக் கல்லூரியில் நடக்கிறது. 

நீலகிரி மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு அலுவலர் டாக்டர் ரவி வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கையில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது: 

உணவுப் பொருள் கலப்படம் மற்றும் அதனை தடுப்பது குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம் ஊட்டியில் உள்ள அரசுக் கலைக்கல்லூரியில் 11ம தேதி (இன்று) நடக்கிறது. இதில், உணவு பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் எவ்வாறு செய்யப்படுகிறது. 

அதனை கண்டறியும் முறைகள் மற்றும் தடுக்கும் முறைகள் குறித்து பயிற்சி அளிக்கப்படும். தொடர்ந்து தேசிய நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்பு தின விழா போட்டிகளும் நடக்கும். பேச்சு, கட்டுரை, கவிதை, ஓவியப் போட்டிகள் நடத்தப்படவுள்ளன. 

இப்போட்டிகளில் வெற்றி பெறும் மாணவர்களுக்கு சான்றிதழ் மற்றும் பரிசுகள் வழங்கப்படும். இப்போட்டிகள் தொடர்பான விவரங்களை அறிந்து கொள்ள அரசு கலைக்கல்லூரி தாவரவியல் பேராசிரியர் டாக்டர் ரவியை தொடர்பு கொண்டு தெரிவித்துக் கொள்ளலாம். இவ்வாறு தரகட்டுப்பாட்டு அலுவலர் ரவி தெரிவித்துள்ளார். 

சாலையில் கிடந்த 3 லட்சம் குட்கா பொருட்கள்

சென்னை, ஜன. 11: 

எம்கேபி நகர் போலீசார் நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு ரோந்து பணியில் ஈடுபட்டனர். எம்கேபி நகர் வடக்கு அவன்யூவில் சென்றபோது, சாலையில் 10 மூட்டைகள் கேட்பாரற்று கிடந்தன. இதை பார்த்து சந்தேகமடைந்த போலீசார், அந்த மூட்டைகளை பிரித்து பார்த்தனர். அதில், ஹன்ஸ், குட்கா, பான்பராக் உள்ளிட்ட குட்கா பொருட்கள் இருந்தது தெரிந்தது. அவற்றின் மதிப்பு ரூ.3 லட்சம் இருக்கும் என கூறப்படுகிறது. இதையடுத்து 10 மூட்டைகளையும் போலீசார் கைப்பற்றி காவல் நிலையம் கொண்டு வந்தனர். 

பின்னர், உணவு பொருள் பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி லட்சுமி நாராயணாவிடம், கைப்பற்றப்பட்ட குட்கா பொருட்களை ஒப்படைத்தனர். நேற்று அவற்றை கொடுங்கையூர் குப்பை கொட்டும் வளாகத்தில் கொட்டி, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் அழித்தனர். குட்கா பொருட்களை கடத்தி வந்து, சாலையில் போட்டு சென்றது யார் என போலீசார் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.

DINAMANI NEWS

Sweet-making unit sealed

Corporation officials sealed an unauthorised sweet and snacks unit at Bethaniapuram on Friday.

A press release said M. Jayapandi had put up an illegal structure to carry out his business. Sanitation, pollution, smoke and public safety issues were raised by people of that area. After an inspection, the Corporation instructed the unit to obtain proper permission. But he continued to flout the rules and was running the unit. Therefore, it was sealed.

Substandard food items seized

Trichy: A raid carried out by the officials of food safety wing in Srirangam, on Thursday, ahead of the Vaikunta Ekadesi, brought to light the usage of substandard tea powders, expiry date-barred cool drinks, rotten fruits, and banned tobacco products in shops around the famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam. The seized products were taken by the food safety wing.

Even though surprise raids are not unusual, Thursday's raid had more significance because it was conducted ahead of Vaikunta Ekadesi festival that falls on January 11. All the food safety officers (FSOs) in the district were deployed in the raid. Each official headed a special team and raided the tea stalls, juice shops, hotels and Annadhanam preparation places.

During the raid, officials found the use of sub-standard tea powders at around 20 shops. Besides, they also found expiry date-barred beverages and rotten fruits, gutkha and pan masalas worth Rs 1 lakh. Though the officials verified the quality of the tea powder by tissue paper testing, final results will be out only after the receival of the laboratory confirmation. Talking to TOI about the raid, Dr A Ramakrishanan, the designated officer of the food safety wing, said, "We seized around 15 kg of sub-standard tea powders. But, we can confirm the adulteration level, only after testing them in the laboratory,"

Mixing methanol yellow with tea powder is the most common practice of adulterating tea powders. This will enrich the colour of the tea, which people usually prefer. "Once the shop owners are caught, they try to wash their hands off saying they were unaware of it. But, it is their duty to ensure the quality of the tea powder as it will directly affects the public," he said.

What's more surprising is the fact that even though food safety officials seize such products from shops, the original suppliers and manufacturers is never brought to book. Commenting on this, Dr Ramakrishnan said, "The suppliers change their target to other areas once a raid is conducted in a particular area. We have been seizing such tea powders at regular intervals. However, still we have a lot to do for total eradication."

Yet another truth that came to light during the raid was the exploitation of lakhs of devotees who throng the temple during the festival. "Customers were being given sub-standard food products," said the officials.

On whether the raid would continue during the festival, the food safety wing officials assured that their entire force will be deployed till Sunday to conduct surprise checks in Srirangam.

More stringent cooking, storage norms in hostels now

NAGPUR: Taking cognizance of complaints regarding bad quality food in government hostels, civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh has made extremely stringent norms for the provider, be it government or private. Schedule 4 of Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, has been made applicable to them. This rule was applicable to most places where food is cooked and served including eateries, restaurants, snack bars, canteens, food service at religious places, neighbourhood tiffin service, rail and airline catering and hospital catering.

"We observed that cereals were not stored properly in many hostels. Instead of being stored in rooms, they were kept in the open. This caused dysentery among the inmates and in some cases mild food poisoning. To stop such incidents we have made the norms stringent," the minister told TOI adding that as the government supplied cereals to the agencies at extremely subsidized rates, they should not cut costs.

The responsibility of implementing this new rule has been fixed on hostel wardens, superintendent of hostels, district social welfare officer of zilla parishad. In case a private agency is the supplier then chairperson of that agency. They have to submit a compliance report as soon as possible.

Deshmukh said the ministry would ensure the rule was implemented properly. "It has been mandatory for district level officers to check whether this rule is being followed when they visit hostels. Social welfare commissioner, handicapped welfare commissioner, director of VJNT directorate and regional commissioner of social welfare will review the implementation of rule when they hold meetings of their subordinates," he said.

Specific requirements will have to be met for food preparation areas, hand washing facilities and toilets, raw materials including cereals, vegetables and fruits, non-vegetarian items, cooking, chilling, prevention of cross contamination and ensuring that older food is used first (stock rotation). There are specific requirements for high risk foods like cut fruits, salads, etc. confectionary foods, non-vegetarian products, water-based chutneys, etc.

The employees engaged in food preparation must maintain high standards of hygiene. The vehicle used for transportation of food should be clean. Ten conditions have to be met regarding storage. Other norms pertain to foods with gravy, fried foods, adding ingredients after cooking and thawing of frozen products.

Final notification issued to food business operators

KOHIMA, JANUARY 9 (MExN): The Department of Health and Family Welfare has issued a final notification to all food business operators in Nagaland state to obtain license or register their food businesses under the Food Safety and Standards Act and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules, 2011 from the office of the Designated Officer (Chief Medical Officer) of each district before February 4. Licensing and Registration forms and other details can be obtained from the office of the designated officer on all working days, informed the notification. It further cautioned that operating food business without a license or registration will attract a penalty of upto Rs 5 lakhs and imprisonment of upto six months. The food business operators addressed to in the notification include food manufacturers, millers, grinders, whole sellers, retailers, godowns, warehouses, cold storages, distributors, transporters, stockers, agencies, departmental suppliers, repackers or relabellers, pharmacies dealing with food items and food supplements, hotels, restaurants, canteens, caterers and all petty food business operators.

Stale food, putrid meat on sale in Valley

SRINAGAR, JAN 10:

Fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat are the keys to healthy living especially in urban areas. But Kashmir valley is running short of supply of essential commodities. People of valley allege that after snowfall business outlets have been engaged in selling the expired items.

People from various areas of Kashmir have alleged that their local grocery stores and supermarkets have stale food on their shelves with crossed expiry dates. The complaints received by Greater Jammu said that putrid meat and rotten edibles were being sold in the markets.

While talking to Greater Jammu, a local resident, Abdul Majeed from Kulgam said that he had gone to buy flour bags from a local market but to his utter surprise, he found that the bags were labeled with the expiry date of October 2012.

Another resident, Khalid Ahmad Shah from Baramulla said that the vegetables and fruits being sold after snowfall are rotten and very expensive. He said that there is no governance in our area, adding that on January 9, he bought some fruits and vegetables which were rotten, moldy and bruised.

Locals from Srinagar said that there are no fresh vegetables and fruits available in the market. People in Lal Chowk said that we don't have any option except taking home the expired provisions and foodstuff. 

"The people in valley are going through lot of problems in terms of expired and unhygienic products, not only expired food but recently surfaced scandal of food adulteration is also a serious concern", Kashmir Traders Federation, president, Mohd Yaseen told Greater Jammu.

On the other hand, Health Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Shafqat said that he alongwith his team kept vigil in the market to take action against those who are involved in selling outdated products. He said that four corn flake outlets were closed as they were using substandard oil. He also said that his team visited slaughter houses and butcher shops to check the quality of meat. 

Speaking exclusively to Greater Jammu about the post snowfall situation in valley, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan said that department will take strict action against the traders who are involved in such type of unscrupulous profiteering and black marketing. He said that a team would be constituted to check the food items across the valley. The Minister said, "Greater Jammu has brought this to our notice and we will take steps to nab the culprits". He further added that people need not to worry as government has kept enough stock available. He said that there is no dearth of ration, kerosene and LPG but some areas have got affected due to unprecedented snowfall.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Mir Jahangir alongwith his market checking squad paid a surprise visit in the markets on Thursday. During his visit four shops were sealed and R 25000 were realized as fine for not following the Food Safety Act and selling substandard food items. Market checking squad also destroyed stale food items.

Shopkeepers were also given warning to sell the products of high standard quality and to follow the provisions of Food Safety Act-2006.

SC suspends operation of High Court order Kanwal Agro gets major relief

FOOD ADULTERATION

Srinagar, Jan 10: In a major relief to Kashmir-based Kanwal Agro Food Industries, the Supreme Court Thursday stayed J&K High Court’s order imposing Rs 10 crore costs on it. Two days earlier the apex court had stayed the order in respect of Srinagar-based Khyber Agro Farms Limited.

A three judge bench led by Chief Justice, P Sathasivam stayed the order after the counsel representing Kanwal Agro Industries pleaded that the petitioner was not a party to the proceedings before the High Court and no notice was given to it before passing the order.

The bench observed that on going through the impugned order of the High Court, the contention of the petitioner’s counsel was found to be true. “Instead of going further into the matter, we suspend the operation of the impugned order for a period of four weeks from today,” the bench said. 

The apex court, however, permitted the petitioner “to file application for impleading themselves as a party in the proceedings of the High Court on January 27.”

“On such petition being filed, we request the High Court to go into the plea of the petitioner and pass appropriate order after affording opportunity to all the parties. We have not expressed any opinion,” the court said while disposing of the Special Leave Petition against the High Court order.

Pertinently, on December 23 while taking cognizance of a report on sale of “adulterated food” items, the High Court had imposed Rs 30 crore costs on three food-processing companies including two Kashmir-based companies namely Khyber and Kanwal. The third company was Delhi-based Avon Agro Industries Pvt Ltd.

The “impeached companies” were asked to deposit Rs 10 crore each with Director SKIMS immediately. 

The directions had been passed by a division bench after perusing the quality testing reports of the food items by Kolkata based Central Food Laboratory.

The reports presented before the court revealed that toned Khyber milk marketed under the brand name of Khyber Milk (Lot No. MD E S P 17 having manufacturing date July 2013) was found to be unsafe/misbranded/substandard (Ref. No.G.14-6/DO/2013 (pt-l)-725 dated 25th November, 2013).

As per the laboratory analytical reports, detergents were found in the samples of milk. Turmeric powder manufactured by the Avon Company was declared unsafe after the sample showed presence of Tartrazine, a coloring matter, which can cause fatal diseases including cancer. 

Similarly, the laboratory report had revealed that the Saunf powder processed and sold by Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag (Islamabad) was unsafe after results showed presence of Carmoisine and Tartrazine in the samples.

Subsequently, the court had directed Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety Kashmir to send copies of the results from Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata to Director SKIMS, Srinagar, who had been directed to file report about the nature of the diseases which could be caused due to the coloring matter “found in the spices and the toned milk.” 

“The Government shall also give wide publicity in the print, electronic media about these adulterated food items so as to create general awareness in the public for non-use of the aforesaid spices and toned milk,” the court had said.

The court had directed the authorities under the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, read with Rules of 2011, to take all necessary steps for seizing these spices and toned milk wherever available in the market and in the premises of manufacturers.

Food adulteration: Now, Kanwal gets SC relief

Srinagar: The Supreme Court has suspended for four weeks an order of J&K High Court asking Kashmir-based Kanwal Agro Food Industries to deposit Rs 10 crore with the SK Institute of Medical Sciences here for allegedly indulging in food adulteration.

“...Instead of going further into the matter, we suspend the operation of the impugned order for a period of four weeks from (January 9),” a division bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said after hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by the Kanwal Industries against the December 23 order of the High Court.

The bench of apex court also comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh passed the order after hearing senior advocate Firdouse Qutb Wani and others who brought to its notice that the petitioner was not a party to the impugned proceedings before the High Court and that no notice was given to it before passing the order.

While deposing of the SLP, the court permitted the petitioner to file an application for impleading themselves as a party in the proceedings on the re-opening date on January 27.

“On such petition being filed, we request the High Court to go into the plea of the petitioner and pass appropriate order after affording opportunity to all the parties,” the court said.

However, the bench said, it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claim of the petitioner.

“It is made clear that by virtue of this order the petitioner is not permitted to sell their products, which are the subject matter of the dispute, pending before the High Court.”

On Tuesday, the apex court had passed a similar order regarding Khyber Agro Farms Pvt. Ltd on the High Court order.

On December 23, a division bench of Justices Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Tashi Rabstan passed the impugned order after perusal of documents submitted by Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Kashmir, revealing that based on laboratory tests, the toned Khyber Milk (lot no. MD E S P 17), turmeric powder (manufactured by AVON Agro Industries) and saunf powder by Kanwal Agro Food Industries (batch-P21/B6) were “unsafe.”

Following the officer’s submissions, the court had also directed him to send the reports from CFL, Kolkata, to Director SKIMS.

“Director SKIMS to file report about the nature of disease which can be caused because of the colouring matter which has been found present in the spices and the material which has been found in the tonned milk,” the court had said.

The court was hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.