US charges egg company, 2 execs in 2010 outbreak

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa company and two executives are expected to plead guilty to selling tainted eggs that were responsible for a 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands and led to an unprecedented recall of 550 million eggs, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

Disgraced egg industry titan Austin "Jack" DeCoster and son Peter DeCoster are charged with introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. A charging document filed by federal prosecutors alleges that their company, Quality Egg LLC, sold eggs tainted with salmonella from early 2010 until the August 2010 recall and that the DeCosters were the responsible corporate officers.

The DeCosters are scheduled to plead guilty June 3 as part of plea agreements expected to resolve the four-year investigation, though it's unclear whether prosecutors will recommend jail. The punishment will be handed down in the same federal courthouse where Jack DeCoster received probation in 2003 for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

Two felonies also were filed against Quality Egg, which includes the DeCosters' former network of chicken farms and egg production sites in northern Iowa. Corporations can face criminal charges under the theory that they are responsible for employees' actions, with felony convictions carrying fines of $500,000 apiece, or more, depending on the amount of loss.

The company is charged with introducing misbranded food into interstate commerce by selling products with labels that "made the eggs appear to be not as old as they actually were" from 2006 to 2010. It also is charged with paying bribes to influence a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector on at least two occasions, including in April 2010, to approve eggs that had been retained for failing to meet federal standards.

The company also is expected to plead guilty. Frank Volpe, an attorney representing Jack DeCoster and Quality Egg, declined comment on Wednesday.

Seattle attorney Bill Marler, who represented 100 of the poisoning victims, said he believed the deal would allow prosecutors to seek a hefty fine from Quality Egg.

Marler said the case signals a new stance from prosecutors who have been reluctant to charge executives with selling tainted food because of the difficulty of proving intent. The charges do not allege the DeCosters knew their eggs were tainted. That was also the case with Colorado cantaloupe farmers who were sentenced to home detention in January for selling products tied to a deadly listeria outbreak.

"They are sending a pretty strong message to food manufacturers that if they ship — knowingly or not — contaminated food across state boundaries, they can be held criminally liable," Marler said. "That's a big deal."

Health officials in 2010 noticed a spike in reports of salmonella, which causes fever, cramps and diarrhea and can require hospitalization. They traced those illnesses back to shell eggs that came from Quality Egg and another Iowa company, Hillandale Farms, which received feed and hens from Quality Egg. The tainted eggs were served in restaurants and sold in grocery stores under several brand names.

Federal investigators found salmonella at both locations along with filthy conditions including dead chickens, insects, rodents and towers of manure. The companies issued recalls that eventually covered 550 million eggs.

The Centers for Disease Control says 1,900 reported illnesses were linked to the outbreak, the largest of that strain of salmonella since the start of the agency's surveillance of outbreaks in the 1970s. The CDC estimates that it caused as many as 60,000 unreported illnesses.

Jack DeCoster, 79, racked up food safety, labor and environmental violations over four decades as he built one of the nation's largest egg production companies.

In congressional testimony, DeCoster said he was horrified to learn that his products sickened consumers and apologized. Peter DeCoster, 50, who managed the farms' daily operations, promised sweeping food safety changes. But the DeCosters announced in 2011 that they were getting out of the industry, selling operations in Maine, Ohio and Iowa.

A former egg farm manager, Tony Wasmund, was the only other person charged before Wednesday. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiring to pay a $300 bribe to a USDA inspector, the same allegation contained in Wednesday's filing. Wasmund's attorney, Rick Kerger, confirmed that he's cooperating with prosecutors under a plea agreement that could allow him to receive a reduced sentence in September.

திருச்சி மாம்பழச்சாலையில் வியாபாரிகள் மீது வழக்கு கலெக்டர் அதிரடி உத்தரவு 3,000 கிலோ கார்பைட் மாம்பழம் பறிமுதல்

திருச்சி,மே.21: 

கலெக்டர் தலைமையிலான அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று நடத்திய அதிரடி சோதனையில், திருச்சி மாம்பழச்சாலையில் கீற்று கொட்டகை அமைத்து கார்பைட் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட 3,000 கிலோ மாம்பழங்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டதோடு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டன. 

மாம்பழ சீசன் தொடங்கியதையொட்டி திருச்சி காந்தி மார்க்கெட்டுக்கு சேலம், கிருஷ்ணகிரி, சேந்த மங்கலம், நத்தம், துவரங்குறிச்சி, மேலுர், கள்ளிப்பட்டி ஆகிய ஊர்களில் இருந்து மாம்பழம் ரகங்களான கல்லாமணி, மல்கோவா, அல்போன்சா, செந்துரம், பங்கனபள்ளி, இமாம்வசுந்து உள்ளிட்ட மாம் பழங்கள் வரத்து அதிகரித்துள்ளது. 

திருச்சி காந்தி மார்க்கெட்டில் இருந்து தஞ்சை, கும்பகோணம், மயிலாடுதுறை உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளுக்கு இறக்குமதியும் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. திருச்சி காந்தி மார்க்கெட்டுக்கு லாரிகளில் வரும் மாம்பழங்களை திருச்சி மற்றும் சுற்று வட்டாரங்களை சேர்ந்த சிறு வியாபாரிகள் வந்து ஏலம் எடுத்து செல்கின்றனர். இந்த வருடம் விளைச்சல் மற்றும் வரத்து குறைவால் மாங்காய்களை இயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்க காலதாமதம் ஆவதால் செயற்கை முறையில் பழுக்க வைக்க சில வியாபாரிகள் குறுக்கு வழியை கையாண்டு வருகின்றனர். ஸ்ரீரங்கம் மாம்பழச்சாலை காவிரிக்கரையோரத்தில் 6 இடங்களில் பெரிய அளவில் கீற்று கொட்டகை அமைத்ததோடு கார்பைட் மூலம் மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைத்து விற்பனைக்காக தயார் நிலையில் இருப்பதாக மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் ஜெயஸ்ரீக்கு நேற்று ரகசிய தகவல் வந்தது. 

இதையடுத்து கலெக்டர் ஜெயஸ்ரீ தலைமையில் மாநகராட்சி ஆணையர் தண்டபாணி, ஸ்ரீரங்கம் உதவி ஆணையர் ரெங்கராஜன்,தாசில்தார் பவானி, மாநகராட்சி நிர்வாக பொறியாளர்கள் அருணாசலம்,நா கேஷ், உதவி செயற்பொறியாளர் லட்சுமணமூர்த்தி ஆகியோர் நேற்று காவிரிக் கரையோரத்தில் அதிரடி ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். 

இந்த ஆய்வில், அனைத்து குடோன்களிலும் இருப்பு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த மாம்பழங்களில் கார்பைடு துள் பொட்டலங்களாக வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டது. இதில் கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்ட அனைத்து மாம்பழங்களை யும் பறிமுதல் செய்து அரியமங்கலம் குப்பைக் கிடங்கில் குழிபறித்து கொட்டி அழித்திட மாநகராட்சி ஆணையர் தண்டபாணிக்கு, கலெக்டர் அறிவுறுத்தினார். 

மேலும் மாம் பழக் குடோன் உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து மாநகராட்சி உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர்களுக்கு கலெக்டர் உத்தரவிட்டார். இதையடுத்து பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட 3,000 கிலோ கார்பைடு மாம்பழங்கள் அரியமங்கலம் குப்பை கிடங்கிற்கு மாநகராட்சி லாரியில் எடுத்து செல்லப்பட்டு குழிதோண்டி புதைக்கப்பட்டது. இதில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்களின் மொத்த மதிப்பு ரூ.2 லட்சம் மதிப்பு இருக்கும். கலெக்டர் நடத் திய அதிரடி சோதனையால் ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தில் பெரும் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

 அதிரடி தொடரும் 

இது குறித்து கலெக்டர் ஜெயஸ்ரீ கூறுகையில், விளைச்சல் மற்றும் வரத்து குறைவால் மாம்பழங்களை விரைவில் பழுக்க வைக்க வியாபாரிகள் இந்த மாதிரி செயல்களில் ஈடுபடுகிறார்கள். இந்த மாம்பழத்தை சாப்பிடுவதால் வயிற்றுவலி, வாந்தி ஏற்பட்டு உடல் நலமும் பாதிக்கப்படுகிறது. தொடர்ந்து இந்த சோதனை நடத்தப்பட உள்ளதால் வியாபாரிகள் கார்பைட் பயன்படுத்தக்கூடாது. மீறி பயன்படுத்தினால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடுக்கப்படுகிறது என்றார்.

Collector raids mango godowns

Collector Jayashree Muralidharan inspecting mango godown in Srirangam on Tuesday 

Over three tonnes of mangoes, which were being ripened using calcium carbide stones in at least five godowns at Mambazhasalai in the city, were seized and destroyed under the orders of the District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan here on Tuesday.

The Collector, who was on an inspection to the Cauvery River on Tuesday evening, made a surprise inspection at the mango godowns at Mambazhasalai.

Much to her shock, calcium carbide stones were found under huge quantities of mangoes that were found at the godowns. She ordered the officials to break open the locks of one of the godowns which was found locked at the time of inspection.

Ms.Muralidharan directed Corporation Commissioner V.P.Thandapani, who was accompanying her, to seize the mangoes. Corporation lorries were brought in to transport the mangoes to the Corporation garbage dump to be for being destroyed. The Collector also directed the officers to book cases against the owners of the godowns.

நெல்லை புதிய பஸ்நிலைய கடைகளில் சோதனை காலாவதி உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

நெல்லை, மே 21: 

நெல்லை புதிய பஸ்நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய்து காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட் களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். 

நெல்லை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் கருணாகரன் தலைமையில் மேலப்பாளையம் மண்டல உணவு அலுவலர் இப்ராகிம், நெல்லை மண்டல அலுவலர் காளிமுத்து, தச்சை மண்டல அலுவலர் சங்கரலிங்கம், மானூர் பகுதி ரஞ்சித்குமார், பாளை. புறநகர் கணேசன், கலியனாண்டி ஆகியோர் கொண்ட குழுவினர் நெல்லை புதிய பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள ஓட்டல் மற்றும் கடைகளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். 

டெங்கு, காலரா போன்ற நோய்கள் பரவு வதை தடுக்கும் வகையிலும், உணவு பொருட்களை சுகாதாரமான முறையில் வைக்க வேண்டும் என்ற கலெக்டரின் உத்தரவின் பேரிலும் இந்த ஆய்வு நடந்தது. 

அங்குள்ள கடைகளில் ஈ மொய்க்கும் வகையில் திறந்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த வடை, பஜ்ஜி உள்ளிட்ட உணவுபொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். மேலும் காலாவதியான உணவுப் பொருட்களும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. கார்பைடு கற்கள் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழம், மெழுகு தடவிய ஆப்பிள் போன்றவையும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. 

உணவுப்பொருட்களை சுகாதாரமான முறையில் விற்பனை செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரித்தனர்.

Raid on snacks and fruits stalls

No action taken against any trader 

An official from the Food Safety Department destroying a beverage at thenew bus stand in Palayamkottai on Tuesday 

Food Safety Department officials, led by Designated Officer M. Karunakaran, raided a few shops in the new bus stand here on Tuesday.

But their conduct seemed to be a mockery of the exercise. For example, though the quality of cooking oil used by most of the traders in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai for preparing snacks such as ‘vada,’ ‘samosa’ and ‘bhajji’ was poor, no action was taken either to seize the snacks or register a case against the traders who sell these snacks. Even if the oil turns unfit for consumption due to repeated use, the traders add a small quantity of fresh oil and use it.

But only a few of them faced the wrath of the official machinery on Tuesday.

When the drive was on, the team seized a beverage bottle made by a domestic company on May 15, 2014 and destroyed it on the spot saying that the beverage had crossed the date of expiry. When reporters pointed out that the beverage had not crossed the expiry date, the team left the place immediately saying an abrupt “sorry.” The trader had no other option but to accept it.

When one of the officials checked a couple of apples in a fruit stall, he found that chemical coating had been applied to an apple to increase its shelf-life.

But the wax-coated apples were returned to the trader on the spot and were told not to sell these apples any more.

All these contradictory actions were taken during the inspection to strengthen the hotelier’s charge that the raids were conducted with an ulterior motive. Though several truck loads of mangoes were allegedly ripened with calcium carbide stones, no action was taken so far.

The team that conducted “surprise check” in the shops on the first and the second platform of the bus-stand, did not go near the shops on the third and the fourth platforms or restaurants in the terminus.

Owners of 16 sweet stalls in the bus-stand alleged that they were yet to get ‘food licence’ renewed though they had applied for the same long back.

Admitting that the officials had wrongly destroyed the beverage, Dr. Karunakaran said he would soon raid the godowns to seize mangoes ripened by calcium carbide. On the “delay” in giving food safety licence to sweet stalls, he said the owners were yet to furnish hardcopy of application forms.

Court jails Mother Dairy manager

Summary

According to the prosecution, a raid was conducted by a food inspector at the hotel here on June 3, 2006. Samples were collected for analysis.

A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced the deputy manager of Mother Dairy to six months in jail for supplying adulterated low fat cream to a hotel in 2006. 

In addition, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Rao also imposed a fine on him and the Gujarat Corporation Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, which had further supplied the adulterated product to other enterprises through which it reached the hotel. 

In its order, the court said, “…it shall meet the end of justice if convict Dr Kallol Kumar Pramanik is sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months as well as pay fine of Rs 10,000 and Gujarat Cooperation Milk Marketing Federation Ltd is sentenced to pay fine of Rs 1 lakh for the offence punishable under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.” 

According to the prosecution, a raid was conducted by a food inspector at the hotel here on June 3, 2006. Samples were collected for analysis. 

An analysis found that the sample was adulterated because the milk fat was found to be less than the minimum prescribed standard of 25 per cent, the food inspector said. 

The Department of Prevention of Food Adulteration had said that Pramanik was also looking after day-to-day business of Mother Dairy, which had supplied the food item to Gujarat Cooperation Milk Marketing Federation. 

The federation had further supplied the food item to one Anand Enterprises which had sent that product to the hotel, it said.

Mother Dairy's Deputy Manager jailed in food adulteration case

New Delhi: A deputy manager of a dairy major has been awarded six months in jail by a Delhi court for supllying adulterated low fat cream to a hotel in 2006. 

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Rao also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Mother Dairy's deputy manager Dr Kallol Kumar Pramanik.

The court also convicted and imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on Gujarat Corporation Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, which had further supplied the adulterated product to other enterprises through which it reached the hotel. 

"...It shall meet the end of justice if convict Dr Kallol Kumar Pramanik is sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months as well as pay fine of Rs 10,000 and M/s Gujarat Cooperation Milk Marketing Federation Ltd is sentenced to pay fine of Rs 1 lakh for the offence punishable under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act," the court said.

According to the Department of Prevention of Food Adulteration, Pramanik was also looking after day-to-day business of Mother Dairy, which had supplied the food item to Gujarat Cooperation Milk Marketing Federation. 

The federation had further supplied the food item to one Anand Enterprises which had sent that product to the hotel, it said. 

According to the prosecution, a raid was conducted by the food inspector at the hotel here on June 3, 2006 during which it was found that its manager was conducting the business of various food items including low fat cream. The inspector collected the sample of the food item. 

"Public analyst found that the sample was adulterated because the milk fat was found to be less than the minimum prescribed standard of 25 per cent," the food inspector said. 

A case was filed by the prosecution against both Pramanik and the federation and also against hotel Shangri-La's manager Girish Sharma, hotel's parent group Hotel Excelsior and Anjali Anand and Harsh Anand of Anand Enterprises for allegedly being involved in the business of producing and selling the said adulterated item. 

The court, however, acquitted Girish, Hotel Excelsior, Anjali and Harsh in the case. The court while convicting the others said that the offence was "serious in nature" and "adulteration of food is a menace" to public health. 

"The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act has been enacted with an aim of eradicating that social evil and for ensuring purity in the article of food. 

"The aim of the Act is to protect the citizens from those in the guise of respectable trades jeopardise the health and the well being of innocent customers. The adulterators are serious risk to the society," the court said.

Food Safety officials continue to shut hotels, dish out notices

Food Safety officials on Tuesday closed down a hotel in Thoppumpady, removed 12 street food vendors at various places and collected a fine of Rs. 2.37 lakh as part of its crackdown on hotels and restaurants that flout food safety norms in the district .

Notices were served to all nine eateries inspected in Fort Kochi and Thoppumpady area and a fine of Rs. 33,500 was collected besides closing down Vasanth Hotel.

In Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam area, four street food vendors were removed and notices were served to nine units of the 16 inspected. A total of Rs. 35,000 was collected by the team.

In Kalamassery area 13 inspections were held, notices were served to seven and a fine of Rs. 30,000 collected. In Piravom area, 8 hotels were served notices, and collected a fine of Rs. 95,000. At Angamaly, four street food vendors were removed, 13 inspections were held, notices were given to 12 and a fine of Rs. 44,000 collected.

The inspections were held by five squads led by five Food Safety Assistant Commissioners. Each team had three Food Safety Officers too.

Food safety raid in district

Six hotels were ordered shut, 23, issued “improvement notices” and 31 hotels fined a total of Rs.1.41 lakh as five squads of the Food Safety Commissioner conducted raids and inspections across the district.

In the raids at hotels in Nandavanam, East Fort, Overbridge, and Bakery Junction, one hotel was closed and six, issued notices. Five hotels were fined a total of Rs.40,000. At the raids conducted at Medical College, Ulloor, Pongamoodu, and Nalanchira, seven hotels were fined Rs.16,000. At Mangalapuram, Thonnakkal and Attingal, two hotels were ordered closed, notices issued to two hotels and a fine of Rs.35,500 was levied on seven hotels. In raids at Nedumangad, improvement notices were issued to eight hotels and a fine of Rs.20,000 was levied on seven hotels. At Neyyattinkara, two hotels were closed, notices issued to seven hotels, and Rs.30,000 fine was levied on five hotels.

Food safety raids: four eateries shut down in Kochi

An official inspects food at a hotel in Kochi on Monday.

Rs. 1.64 lakh collected as fine by Food Safety officials during raids

Four eateries were shut down and a total fine of Rs. 1.64 lakh was collected by Food Safety officials in raids conducted on Monday in five to six areas in the district.

In the city, three restaurants were closed down, two in Kaloor and one near the North Railway Station, while one eatery in Paravur was also asked to down shutters for grave violations of food safety standards.

The establishments that were closed down include Hotel Sweekar, Hotel Zaya, Hotel Saradha Bhavan in the city and Saravana Bhavan in Paravur.

Restaurants were found flouting basic hygiene standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Act, said an official of the Food Safety Commissioner. All the hotel owners were made aware of the norms eight months ago in a raid-cum-campaign run by the Food Safety Commissioner in the State. All establishments were provided a list of 30 parameters in Malayalam to be followed in their units to cook and keep food in a safe and hygienic manner.

Assistant Food Safety Commissioners Joseph Shaji George, V. K. Beena, P. Sivadas, Sugunan and T. K. Radhakrishnan led five squads in the city, Tripunithura, Aluva, Paravur/Vypeen and Muvattupuzha. Orders to close down were issued to hotels that were violating norms which said that no foul smell or waterlogging or dish-washing and toilet facilities should be found near where food was being prepared and kept. The place should also have a clean environment that kept away flies and other insects.

There are also other norms like keeping food closed, keeping non-vegetarian and vegetarian food separate, displaying licence, maintaining a register of all ingredients bought for cooking and so on. Violation of these norms invited fines.

Fines were imposed depending upon the gravity of the violation. In the city the food safetyofficials collected Rs. 42, 000 from 11 inspections, in Tripunithura, Rs. 52,000 was collected from nine inspections, in Aluva, nine inspections brought in Rs. 34,000, in Paravur/Vypeen Rs. 13,000 came from 13 inspections and Rs. 25,000 was collected from 12 inspections in Muvattupuzha.

Areca growers expect Modi to clear air on ban proposal

Campco expects the new government, led by Narendra Modi, to withdraw an affidavit seeking ban on areca nut before apex court.

Areca nut growers here have high expectations from the new government at the Centre in view of an uncertainty hanging over the future of the crop following a proposal to ban it.

The proposed ban on areca nut snowballed into a controversy after an official of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wrote (on September 6, 2013) to the Director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India “to examine the scientific evidences on the harmful effects of areca nut with a view to initiating necessary action to classify areca nut as an injurious substance and accordingly prohibit its use as an ingredient in any food product”.

Manchi Srinivasa Achar, president, All India Areca Growers’ Association, Puttur, told The Hindu that the growers expect that the new government not to pursue the proposal. The government should withdraw an affidavit which Mr. Achar said was filed before the apex court to this effect in the case Ankur Gutka vs Indian Asthama Care Society and Others.

Mr. Achar said that the NDA government should streamline taxes being imposed on areca nut transport at different levels, such as by the agriculture produce marketing committees, commercial tax department and the like, for enabling “fair trade”.

President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd. Konkodi Padmanabha said that thousands of areca growers had supported the BJP in this Lok Sabhaelection. It was especially so in prominent areca growing districts of Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Uttara Kannada, parts of Kodagu and Davangere. He said the new government could not let down them. Campco would soon urge the new government to be headed by Narendra Modi to “ban import of areca nut” and withdraw the affidavit before the apex court.

A farmer and a member of G.V. Joshi committee which revised production cost of areca nut, Ramesh Kainthaje, said that the growers were confused whether to increase the area under cultivation or not because of the controversy over banning areca nut. Till now, the Union government had not stated clearly that it would not ban areca nut. The new government should make its stand clear.

Campco Managing Director M. Suresh Bhandary said that when a delegation of Campco met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad in last July he had ruled out banning areca nut in Gujarat. The delegation had met him after Maharashtra government banned gutka in which areca nut is an ingredient.

He said that Gujarat was the main market for white areca nut (chali) grown in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts. Almost every house in Gujarat consumed chali variety and it had become part of their life.

Food commercialism harming school children

Schools are desirable marketing areas for food and beverage companies, although many of the products marketed to students are nutritionally poor, says a study. 

New York, Are you alarmed at the increasing presence of junk food and carbonated drinks in school canteens? Blame it on food commercialism.

Schools are desirable marketing areas for food and beverage companies, although many of the products marketed to students are nutritionally poor, says a study.

“Most students in elementary, middle and high schools are exposed to food commercialism - including exclusive beverage contracts and the associated incentives, profits and advertising - at school,” said Yvonne Terry-McElrath of University of Michigan.

Using a survey of school administrators, researchers estimated exposure to school-based commercialism for elementary, middle and high school studentsin the US from 2007 to 2012.

"The continuing high prevalence of school-based food commercialism calls for enforceable standards on the nutritional content of all foods and beverages available in school canteens,” said the study.

In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is putting in place final guidelines to determine what counts as healthy food in educational institutions.

The guidelines, to be released soon, would categorise food items commonly sold and consumed in schools under segments such as junk food, street food, nutritional food and unhealthy food.

According to food safety activists, the step is important since packaged food and beverage companies have been aggressively targeting kids.

25% food items unsafe, says FDA report

PUNE: Unsafe and below standard food products continue to being sold and purchased in Pune. According to a latest report of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), about 25% of the food items are either unsafe or as per the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Between April 2013 and March 2014, the officials drew 1,996 food samples to check whether they are fit for consumption and meet all the parameters of standards. Of all the samples, 131 were found to be unsafe and 380 failed to meet the standard criteria.

"As part of our routine inspection, we drew 1,996 samples, including edible oil, milk, jaggery, sugar boiled confectionery, chilly powder and other grocery items for testing . Of them, 511 samples failed on safety and standard tests," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food) of FDA, Pune. The FDA officials have also filed criminal cases against 210 food manufacturers for selling unsafe food items.

FDA has started allocating licences and registrations to food business operators to bring them under its monitoring radar. Food business operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 lakh must possess a licence and those who earn less than Rs 12 lakh a year must get a registration certificate, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

"So far, we have covered 59% of the operators doing food businesses in Pune. We have given licences to 34,942 operators and registration to 1,51,058 of them," Kekare said.

Will there be any food stalls, khau-gallies after 4th August?

FSSAI's dictate on mandatory licence for road side food vendors, suppliers and transporters, like Mumbai's famous Dabbawala, would force them to down shutters forever as majority of them will not pass the stringent norms

Hot-steaming tea at your favourite chai stall, delicious-spicy street Chinese, garma garamvada pav, refreshing sugar cane juice, khatti-mithi pani puri, thandi lassi and chaas, fried kanda-bhujiya, cheesy Indian franky, hand-made chocolates by your neighbourhood auntie, or the all time favourite bread pakoda. WAIT. These mouth-watering items, a part of long-struggling India's Unincorporated may not exist anymore. It may even be time to bid farewell to the khau gallis and dabbawalas present in every corner of India with the new law set to slaughter them. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a central regulator, has extended the deadline for food business operators (FBO) to obtain a license and registration to 4 August 2014. But it is still unclear as to how many of these food stall owners would survive the proposed license-raj. According to a report by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), “…the enforcement of this Act in the present form, it will lead to the closure of over 17 lakh Indian food industries and will force unemployment on over 20 million people.” 

The idea of licensing and registration for FBOs mooted by FSSAI under the Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare, is aimed at preventing food adulteration. However, implementation of this regulation would require extensive administration and bureaucracy which is time-consuming and costly. This too is only likely to breed more corrupt practices due to the massive discretionary powers of the officials than prevent food adulteration. 

FSSAI license/ registration has been made mandatory for every hawker, kiosk or stall—whether your neighbouring mithaiwala or a multinational McDonalds'. Post 4th August, all of them are required to obtain a FBO license. 

FBOs are defined as “Any undertaking private or public, for profit or not” carrying out anyof the activities related to any stage of manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, imports and including food services, sale of food or food ingredients”. 

The license under the FSSAI Rules and Regulations 2011 was to be obtained with effect from 5 August 2011, but the deadline was postponed to August 2012 and now again to 4 August 2014. 

Under this regulation, already licensed FBOs operating under now repealed Acts and Rules such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) need to convert their licenseor registration to the new rules under Section 31 of the act. The license fee is Rs2,000 and it will be issued only after a Food Safety Officer visits the manufacturing, processing and transporting units and certifies that it meets FSSAI standards. The penalty for non-compliance is 100 times more than that under the PFA act and could go up to Rs5 lakh or imprisonment of up to six months under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. 

Given the stringent provisions and the fact that the government provides no amenities to road side food sellers (many operate only in the evening or night after shops have closed), they are unlikely to meet FSSAI standards and will probably, have to shut down and become victims of endless harassment and extortion by government officials. 

Aamchi Mumbai cha vada-pav, road-side chai, street-corner bakery, pani puri, traveller's favourite roti-rolls etc are all likely to get out of the market if this law comes into force unless the the new government elected at the Centre furiously takes a reverse. One wonders if the most efficient enterprise in India, the dabbawala, which has been awarded the six sigma for service would also need a license, since he would fall under the definition of FBO for transporting food. Will the dabbawala’s rough-and-ready travel in the luggage van of suburban trains meet FSSAI’s hygienic standards? Or will the rule see selective application and exemptions?

With rising inflation and high costs and taxes at regular eateries, most of India’s working as well as middle class, at least in Mumbai, depends on road-side food that is served up by tiny entrepreneurs, who put up temporary stalls at breakfast, lunch and dinner time. This is especially true of large cities like Mumbai. Licensing and registration will kill thesebusinesses, merely with the additional cost and compliance burden. What is worse, the government will contribute nothing to their lives or business other than harassment. Will a FSSAI license make them eligible for bank loans at the rates available to organised industry? Of course not. By forcing the industry to go underground, the government will not only harass hawkers but also their vast population of customers. It is probably this realisation that ensures that the deadline gets pushed back so often.

Food safety raids conducted in Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram hotels

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In hotel raids conducted by Food Safety Squads in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam 11 hotels found to be keeping low hygiene were closed down, 54 hotels were served notice to maintain hygiene and 57 hotels were fined Rs 323200. 

In the Thiruvananthapuram district, two hotels in Mangalapuram and Thonnackal was closed after raids. Two hotels were given notice, from seven hotels Rs 35, 500 fine was collected. In Nedumangad municipality eight hotels were given notice and seven were fined Rs 20,000. Action was also taken against hotels in Nandavanam, East Fort, Overbridge, Medical College, Pongammodu, Nalanchira and Ulloor. 

Raids were also conducted in hotels in Ernakulam, Aluva, Kollam, Paravoor, Moovattupizha, Tripunnithura and Neyyattinkara areas.

Food Safety commissioner K Anil Kumar has said that complaints regarding the hotel can be registered through the toll free phone number 1800 425 1125 .

Edible oil sold loose in city found to be adulterated

The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) plans to take the State Government to task for permitting the sale of loose edible oils till December this year, despite the food authority banning the same.

Since January this year, CGSI has been collecting samples of loose oil being sold in various parts of the city, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Subsequently, on testing 22 samples, it was found that 20 of them were adulterated.

The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) had announced the ban on sale of loose edible oil in 2012. But, in October 2013, the Maharashtra Government passed a notification permitting the sale till this year end, stating that it would affect small traders who lacked adequate infrastructure and back-up.

CGSI Chairperson Sitaram Dixit, who initiated the campaign, said, "FSSAI imposed the ban due to safety issues, but unfortunately the Maharashtra Government's notification allows traders to sell edible oil in loose form." CGSI now plans to get the remaining samples tested soon.

Now, piping hot lunch near your office

The Kudumbasree’s ‘Food on Wheels’ wagon in Kozhikode city. 

Within a fortnight, office goers in Kozhikode willhave food courts coming to them during lunch hours.

‘Food on Wheels’, a prestigious project of the Gender Park, taken up by Kudumbasree CDS of Kozhikode Municipal Corporation as a pilot project, will hit the streets by the end of the month.

“Unlike in Kochi, or even Thiruvananthapuram to some extend, there aren’t any eateries around major offices in Kozhikode. ‘Food on Wheels’ will have home-made food delivered at major points in the city”, said V. Ramsy Ismail, Kudumbasree Project Officer of the Corporation.

The recent micro entrepreneurship expo of Kudumbasree had proven that there were quite a few units that provided food and catering services.

The ‘Food on Wheels’ was designed especially forthem. The food is taken around in an autorickshaw specially designed for the project. It has a covered van openable on three sides, with counters and cabins inside for each category of food.

The units will have four members each.

They will serve food items such as rice, biryani, kappa-meenkari, snacks, tea,coffee and other traditional food items. A highlight of the system is that the food is cooked following stringent safety standards.

The project is also part of the ‘Eat street’ project envisaged by Minister for Social Justice and Panchayats M.K. Muneer.

A unit costs from Rs.6 to 7 lakh, half of which will be subsidised and the rest will be built on loans. At present, around 30 units have applied to be part of the project. But only one will be launched in the beginning.

“Let us see how it works and then go for more numbers”, Mr. Ismail said.

In the beginning, the units themselves will prepare the food. But eventually, the plan is to construct a centralised kitchen that supplies food for the units who will then take it around the city and serve wherever needed.

Apart from serving lunch at offices, the ‘Food on Wheels’ will be parked near the beach.

Germany's TÜV SÜD offers certification for mango exports

This will help businesses improve the acceptability of their consignments globally

With the recent ban imposed by EU on export of Indian mangoes and vegetables, German certification major TÜV SÜD's Bangalore laboratory will now be able to help exportersobtain certificates as prescribed by importing countries as well as Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This will help businesses improve the acceptability of their consignments globally and reduce the risk of rejection. TÜV SÜD is also approved by APEDA for food safety management system certification. The government has mandated all fruits and vegetable shipments to be screened through APEDA recognised laboratories.

"The temporary ban on Indian mangoes has the potential to impact the growth of the agriculture export sector in India. The months of May and June witness the most number of mango consignments being exported out of the country and we intend to help Indian exporters in every possible way to improve the acceptability of their products globally. We extend the support to pack houses and exporters to comply with the food safety management system practices through our internationally accredited and APEDA approved certification services and state-of-the-art food testing laboratory network," said Pankaj Jaiminy, AVP, food testing services, TÜV SÜD South Asia.

Some of the tests that will be carried out at this lab include testing of chemical parameters, pesticides and its residues, antibiotics, heavy metals, aflatoxins and microbiological analysis. TÜV SÜD has two more laboratories approved by NABL and FSSAI for testing and performing chemical and microbiological analyses in Mumbai and Gurgaon.

Let consumers choose -Non-tariff barriers spreading from food to electronics

The Bureau of Indian Standards, or BIS, wants sellers of electronic items like laptops, tablets, video games, microwave ovens, printers, scanners and set-top boxes to emboss or screen-print a certificate on the product that says the quality meets the BIS standards. Its argument is that India has become a dumping ground for electronic waste, especially from East and Southeast Asia, and some restraint is required. The importers, in turn, have said that this could be a costly exercise. Most of them import such items in small batches from manufacturers spread across many countries, and say it is not financially viable for the manufacturer to emboss the BIS certificate on each product. Also, most of these products are made of parts sourced from various producers and, therefore, it is not easy to certify the quality. Instead, they are willing to affix labels to these imports and this, hopefully, will make them accountable for products that violate safety norms or are substandard.

The BIS, however, is not enthused with the idea. It feels stickers are no guarantee and can be fixed and removed by anyone. The controversy dates back to September 2012 when the department of electronics and information technology listed 15 products that couldn't be imported without a declaration that they met BIS standards. This happened because BIS was inundated with certification requests from importers. Since its laboratories were unable to cope with the deluge, it came up with the idea of self-certification. The deadline set by the department was six months. It has been extended time and again and is now fixed for the end of June.

Clearly, this looks like another case of bureaucratic overreach. One news report has said that someoverseas companies have already taken up the matter with the Union commerce ministry, alleging that it amounts to a non-tariff barrier. Others too have raised the issue with various arms of thegovernment. More than the government, it is for the consumer to buy or reject the product. If a product is substandard, it will clearly not find buyers. The bogey of dumped Chinese and Taiwanese products swamping the market has been heard in recent past more than once. The experience has been that though some consumers may be initially lured by the low price tags, they eventually end up buying only those products that provide value for money, come with service and part replacement guarantee, and have some resale value. Consumer rejection is the best solution.

This is reminiscent of the chocolate controversy that erupted a few months ago. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a regulatory body under the Union health ministry, had mandated that imported chocolate should have full information (the manufacturer's name and details of ingredients) printed on the pack. The importers were willing to put stickers on the packs, but the FSSAI insisted that the information should be printed on the packs. The argument given by the importers was the same: the quantities they imported were too small for the manufacturer to investin special packaging for India. As a result, imported chocolate vanished from the shelves during Christmas, the New Year and Valentine's Day. It is clear who gained from their absence in the market.

Gutka, pan masala banned

SHILLONG: Though The Deputy Commissioner of Foods Safety, State Food Safety and Standards Authority, Shillong has prohibited the manufacture, storage, transport, sale or distribution of Guthka and Pan Masala containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in Meghalaya, but the biggest question remains whether the items will be banned in real terms.

Few years ago, the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on smoking in public places but till date the directive has not been implemented as smokers continue to smoke openly in each and every public place in Shillong and no one including the law enforcing agencies is bothered to stop someone who smokes in public places.

It may be mentioned that the storage and sale of Guthka and Pan Masala has been prohibited under sub section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 for a period of one year in the interest of the public health.

The imposition of a ban on the use of polythene was also never implemented in Meghalaya as people somehow continue to use polythene.

The only Supreme Court directive which was implemented in letter and spirit in Shillong was the removing of tinted glasses from vehicles as Shillong Traffic police went all out and implemented the directive in a large scale.

When contacted, police as well as district Administration said that they have not received any order from the Deputy Commissioner of Foods Safety, State Food Safety and Standards Authority so far to prohibit the sale of Guthka products.

In India, tobacco causes 45% of all cancer deaths and 20% of all deaths. People find it impossible to quit because of the addictive nature of the chemical nicotine – so addictive that WHO considers tobacco addiction a disease which sadly afflicts one out of every three Indian.

Along with tobacco, gutka and pan masala contains other harmful metal content like – lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper and nickel. Areca nut or betel nut – one of the main ingredients of all these products is a confirmed carcinogen according to WHO and a cause of severe illnesses.

It is an appeal to policy makers to make available safe food to our citizens

Bhopal, India

The food and Drug are the two commodities which are vulnerable for quality deterioration and may have life threatening effect if not regulated properly. Hence Government of India has established special regulatory bodies to take care of safety and standardisation on their manufacturing process.

In case Drug store or Medical shop or Pharmacists/Chemists the first requirement is to be a Pharmacist and second is getting approval/Registration/Certification from the CMO's office of that district. Followed by one should have a furnished shop.

With Similar concern for food government has established the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption in India. FSSAI has been mandated with Registration of all Food Business Operators in India.

The authority 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. The FSSAI has been mandated for 1) Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified, 2) Provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition, 3) Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system, 4) Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards and 5) Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

In case of Drugs to implement all regulations to ensure safe drug manufacture and distribution has been possible mainly because they have a qualified person sitting each of their establishment small or big, however in case food that is not the case. The food production and distribution is being handled even at commercial level by non qualified staff though they may have experience is the field. The major bottleneck in making our food items competitive in international market as well as protect their quality for domestic consumer is not achieved just because we do not have trained food professionals working or managing this business.

Hence if quality of Indian food to be made as per standards and ensure its safety it should be made mandatory for Food Business Operators to employ based on their level of operation one or more for professionals either diploma or degree holders either in food science/food technology or food engineering who will guide the food business operator on the overall hygiene in the establishment, ensure proper check on quality of inputs used and proper packaging and storage of raw as well as finished products. These employees will also facilitate the FSSAI rules and regulations implementation in the food processing/manufacturing or distribution establishment more effectively.

Hence I appeal that to make FSSAI to be more effective we need to make mandatory for employment of trained food professional similar to drug store where pharmacist can only own and operate the drug store. In case of food we do not advocate that owner should be trained food technologist but in his establishment he should have one or more trained persons based on volume of the business.

Election Results: Gadkari election revives hopes

Local businessmen also plan to lobby for reversal of some decisions taken by UPA government to which they were opposed to. B C Bhartia of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) traders will lobby with Gadkari to have FDI in multi-brand retail reversed, Food Safety and Standards Act diluted and for implementation of goods and services tax (GST).

Adulterated Coconut Oil Floods Market as Prices Skyrocket in State

KASARGOD: With the price of coconut oil skyrocketing, adulterated coconut oil is invading the markets in the state.

Coconut oil mixed with palm kernel oil, which is harmful for health, is being sold here widely under the pretext of pure coconut oil.

The palm kernel oil has the same characteristics and aroma of pure coconut oil, which makes it difficult to detect adulteration. One litre palm kernel oil costs only `20 to `40, whereas one litre coconut oil costs up to `180. So the merchants promote the sale of adulterated coconut oil eyeing huge profit. The Food Safety Officers are concerned about this and they have intensified raids at checkposts and shops.

Last month alone, over a hundred trucks carrying coconut oil were stopped in the checkposts to collect samples, of which, over 50 were found adulterated. It includes the one which was seized by the Food Safety Officers in Kollam on Thursday.

Even though developed nations have banned the import of palm kernel oil taking into account itsharmful effects on health, India has not done so. So Food Safety Officers cannot do anything until and unless the culprits are caught red-handed while selling adulterated oil or while mixing it. Malaysia is the major exporter of palm kernel oil and it is exported not for edible purposes but as a raw material for soap-making and other industries. “Importing palm kernel oil is not a crime and it is being used as a raw material in the soap-making industry. But everyday, hundreds of vehicles carrying palm kernel oil reach Kerala via checkposts and it poses a natural question, do we have that many soap industries in Kerala,” said a Food Safety Officer on condition of anonymity.

It is also alleged that politicians work hand in glove with those who supply palm kernel oil and many food safety officers have been transferred for intercepting vehicles carrying palm kernel oil.

Other than palm kernel oil, paraffin, petroleum byproducts and mineral oils etc. are also being widely used as coconut oil adulterants. Food Safety Commissioner-in-charge Anil Kumar, when contacted, said, “We have intensified raids and inspection in the wake of this. Strict instruction has also been given to Tamil Nadu Food Safety Commissionerate to monitor the outflow of oils to Kerala.”

He also said that there was nothing to worry as the palm kernel oil is as good as coconut oil.

EU banned Alphonso before testing new quality regime

An audit report by the Food and Vertinary Office, an agency of the European Union, has shown that India did take note of quality concerns raised in its export of plant and plant products, and had informed the intergovernmental body last August about the new quality control mechanism to be effective from April 1.

The EU has banned the export of Alphonso mangoes and four vegetables — eggplant, taro plant (colocasia), bitter gourd and snake gourd — from India on grounds that it did not adhere to repeated warnings on quality control.

In its reply to the Food and Vertinary Office (FVO) audit conducted in April, the Indian authorities had submitted an action plan on August 23, 2013, according to the report placed on the website of the EU.

In that reply, Indian authorities said, “The system of official checks has been reviewed and it has been decided to devise a new system of export inspection and certification at the pack house where adequate facilities for inspection, examination/testing, etc. will be available and the produce will be packed under the supervision of plant quarantine official. This system will be put in practice effective April 1, 2014.”

India had also told the EU that as an interim arrangement, an exclusive area for inspection and certification work “has been established at the Mumbai airport from where major export to EU countries takes place”.

The EU, in the last week of March, decided to ban imports citing “significant shortcomings in the phytosanitary certification system”, days before the new system was scheduled to roll out. The decision of the EU’s standing committee on plant health came after 207 consignments of fruits and vegetables from India were found to be contaminated by pests, including fruit flies.

An official told The Indian Express that the EU, despite being aware of the proposal, chose not to wait to see the effectiveness of the new quality control mechanism.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority in a notification on March 14, had asked all exporters to route shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables through APEDA-approved pack houses, where it would be monitored by plant quarantine personnel.

The National Plant Protection Organisation had assured the FVO mission during its visit to India in November 2011 and last April, of pest-free exports from April 1 this year.

Traces of cyanide found in packaged drinking water

PUNE: Traces of cyanide, a powerful poison and chemical contaminant, have been found in packaged drinking water during a routine exerciseof the Food and Drugs Administration to check samples. This is the first time cyanide has been found in packaged drinking water in the state.

The FDA had collected the samples from two plants located in Jalna and Parbhani districts. The samples were tested at FDA's referral laboratory that confirmed the presence of cyanide in unsafe proportion, following which the body filed an FIR against both the plant owners.

Officials said they will now move court against the plant owners for violating norms of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, there should be no trace of cyanide in packaged drinking water. Both the plants have been closed down after FDA issued temporary prohibitory orders.

The major source of cyanide in drinking water is discharge fromindustrial chemical factories. People who drink water containing cyanide for many years could experience nerve damage or problems with their thyroid.

FDA officials had picked up samples of bottled water from the packaged water plant located in Ner village in Jalna district as part of a routine check. They sent the samples to Pune-based State Public Health Laboratory for testing, which found it unsafe for human consumption as it had rod-shaped bacteria called coliform in high proportion.

When the plant owner was informed about the negative test results, he rejected it and asked the officials to reconfirm the results with the government's referral laboratory in Ghaziabad. Officials then sent another bottled water sample drawn from the same plant in the prescribed format to this laboratory. The referral laboratory cited the presence of cyanide about a month and a half ago.

"The referral laboratory found 0.007 milligram cyanide per litre of water and labelled the sample as unsafe for human consumption. There is no industrial chemical factory close to the plant or even in its 10 km radius. The plant is surrounded by agricultural land. The chemical fertilizers used in agriculture may have percolated into the ground water, which is being used by the plant to make packaged drinking water," said A G Deshpande, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Jalna.

FDA officials on March 14 filed an FIR against the plant owner with Ner police station. "We have now sought permission from the FDA headquarters in Mumbai to prosecute the plant owner under section 59 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The punishment is imprisonment up to six months," Deshpande said.

Similar case of packaged water containing cyanide surfaced in Parbhani two months ago. The FDA officials drew samples from the plant located in MIDC area. The samples failed on fitnessparameters, but the plant owner wanted to get the samples tested at referral laboratory and made an appeal for the same with the officials.

"We then sent the water samples to the referral laboratory which found 0.012 milligram cyanide per liter of water and labelled it unsafe for consumption. We then asked the Bureau of Indian Standards to cancel the licence of the plant, filed an FIR with the police and issued temporary prohibitory order to the factory to close down the plant till further orders. We have proposed to prosecute the plant owner and have sought permission in this regard," said R D Kokadwar, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.

When contacted, state FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade said, "This is the outcome of our intensified surveillance network. Stringent action is being taken against the packaged drinking water plant owners who are found at fault. I do not know about other states, but presence of cyanide has been found for the first time in packaged drinking water in Maharashtra."

Fact-sheet:

Cyanide

* Cyanides, which are powerful poisons, can both occur naturally - by certain bacteria and algae - or be man-made

* It is carbon-nitrogen chemical unit which combines with many organic and inorganic compounds

* Many of the cyanides in soil and water come from industrial processes like electroplating, metallurgy, 

production of organic chemicals and plastics, photographic developing, and mining

* The primary source of cyanide in the air is from car exhaust

* Smoking is another important source of cyanide

* Common toxic cyanide compounds include hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN), potassium cyanide, and sodium cyanide

* At pH less than 8, cyanide exists in water as HCN, which is more harmful to aquatic life than the free cyanide ion. HCN is also a chemical warfare weapon

* The cyanide toxic effect is due to its reaction with the trivalent iron in the cytochrome oxidase(cyt aa3) to inhibit electron transport and thus preventing the cells from consuming oxygen, leading to rapid impairment of the vital functions

* Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), hydroxocobalamin, dicobalt-EDTA, 4-Dimethylaminophenol (DMAP) are cyanide antidotes, which are effective in experimental and human cyanide poisoning

The standards

* In India, the presence of cyanide should be nil in drinking water. This norm is more stringently monitored for packaged drinking water

* According to Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (food products and food additives) Regulations, 2011, cyanide (CN) should be absent in packaged drinking water and mineral water

* The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for cyanide set by the United State Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is 0.2 milligram per liter. EPA has set this level of protection based on the best available science to prevent potential health problems

WHAT SHINES IS NOT HEALTHY

Neatly stacked, glossed up and vibrantly colourful – it might seem like the ideal place to pick your fruits and vegetablesfrom, but beware, for everything that shines is not gold. In this case, definitely not healthy either. 

That perfect shiny brinjal or the plum red apple could actually be covered with a coating of artificial colour, dangerous for human body. No matter how loyal your local fruit vendor is to you, he himself may not be aware of the harmful effects of such colours used to gloss up these fruits. Cityplus digs deep to find out.

The colour code

Health experts complain that the Directorate of Prevention of Food Adulteration of the State Government hasn’t taken any action against those involved despite knowing that coloured vegetables and fruits contain

hazardous substancesand sold boldly in wholesale and retail markets and outlets. Usually by the time, fruits and vegetables come from the farmers, their shine and freshness is compromised upon due to the time lapse and transportation from one place to another. To give these a fresh look, it has been known that suppliers are applying artificial colours on them and chemicals are put on their skins to maintain the sheen. The most common artificially coloured and shining vegetables and fruits in the market are pumpkin, ladyfinger, cucumber, eggplant, wax gourd, apple, pear and guava.

A wholesale fruit seller Sajid Abbas tells CityPlus, “We get these fruits from the local mandis. The fruit changes several hands from the time it is sold by the farmer until it reaches the fruit seller. We sell the fruits as they come to us.” 

Vijay, a vegetable vendor at Ameerpet reveals, “In dry weather vegetables look stale and customers refrain from buying these. I apply light oil on brinjals and parwals (wax gourds). Anyway these are washed before cooking.” 

Harmless as his claims may be, what he does not know that usage of oils and other substances on vegetables and fruits are punishable by law and equally harmful forhuman health. 

The rules

As per rule 48-E of the PFA Rules, 1955, fresh fruits and vegetables shall not be rotten and also not coated in wax, mineral oils and colours. However, there is a provision for coating fresh fruits with food additive such as bee wax. But how many vendors actually use it? A vegetable seller at Begumpet’s Friday market says, “We are poor daily wage earners. We usually use some oil that we get at a cheap rate from factories.”

Nalini Jayathi, a home maker from Banjara Hills, also frequenting Himayat Nagar often says, “The other day I bought apples from a local vendor. After washing it, the moment I cut the apples, light pink colour stained my hands. The very next day I asked the vendor as to why he had coloured the apples to which he replied that he buys the stock from the wholesaler and isn’t aware of what’s going on.”

Regulation of Food Law

Cityplus decided to speak to the AP Commissionerate of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding this. K. N. Swarup, the Deputy Food Controller told, “Till date we have not come across the colouring of fruits and vegetables. Those who have faced such problems can send us a complaint and we will conduct a raid, test the sample and strict actions will be taken against those who are found guilty. Yes, we have dealt with cases where prohibited artificial colours are found in food items such as sauces, sweetmeats and fried stuff.” 

Other foods also not spared

Rahul Kakkar, a businessman and foodie says, “The other day I saw local eatery cooking sweet rice which is yellow in colour. I saw the cook using a yellow colour from a box that read ‘STRICTLY FOR INDUSTRIAL USE’. I asked him why he’s using it when it is forbidden to which he said that ‘a pinch will not harm anyone’. Now I am extremely careful about where I buy my food stuff from.”

Beware 

Buy fruits and vegetables from known dealers. 

Do not buy and consume cut fruits from open market. 

Always wash the fruits twice or thrice under running water. 

Avoid eating very brightly coloured food items.

"In dry weather, vegetables look stale and customers refrain from buying these. I apply light oil on brinjals and parwals (wax gourds).vijay, vegetable vendor "

Be careful while licking on popsicle, ice may have been sourced from morgue

RAIPUR: If you are eyeing that roadside popsicle or barf ka gola made in unhygienic ice and later dipped in scrumptious looking colorful sherbet, think again. This little piece of heaven in heat is enough to escort people to hospital beds, warn doctors. If that's not startling enough, take this — the ice comes from the bars used in mortuaries to keep dead bodies.

Even as jaundice soars high in capital and neighbouring cities, awareness and precaution is a far cry when it comes to consumption of hygienic food and liquid.

While civic body has already closed down few ice factories, quality of roadside popsicles is yet to be checked. Ice bars are stored at insanitary places and medical students

have informed about vendors stealing and purchasing ice bars already used in mortuaries. This highly infectedcrushed ice is sold as popsicle on the roadside.

While this is heights of negligence, officials at Raipur Municipal Corporation and food and adulteration department claim that regular checks are being conducted.

Talking to Times of India, food safety officer Dr Ashwini Dewanagan said, "Soon after the jaundice scare, we inspected 40-50 roadside vendors in parts of capital and Durg. It's true that they do not store ice bars at clean places. It is mostly kept in open above drains. But it's not possible to keep a check on daily basis as the vendors are large in number."

Dewangan said that many ice factories involved in irregularities have been shut down and samples of milk was also being checked at regular intervals. "It's people who need to beware at present situation. Avoiding sugarcane juice, water sold in pouches and not buying mineral water bottles without ISI marks are the solution," he said.

Dr Arif Memon, a physician, said that popsicles and sugarcane juice should be completely avoided because the quality of water used to prepare ice can't be checked at that moment. "Moreover, germs and viruses in frozen water remain active to harm human body. Even if people wish to eat outside food they should properly check the surroundings and cleanliness the vendor maintains," he said. He suggested that one should keep a check on ingredients in the food being consumed. "Better prepare popsicle or slush at home after boiling water and freezing it," he said.

Raipur has more than 2,000 popsicle vendors who collectively earn more than Rs 5 lakh every month. Residents often yield to their temptation during the day given the extreme temperatures. But with jaundice ghost riding high on people, they are being advised to carry water bottles and energy drinks.

Moreover, the coloured sherbets used in popsicles is also made of inedible colours which rot after being kept for long.

DINAMANI NEWS

900kg of artificially ripened mangoes seized during raids

CHENNAI: Food safety department officials seized around 900kg of artificially ripened mangoes from three markets in the city in a two-day drive that ended on Thursday. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, three teams ofofficials raided shops at the Koyambedu whosalefruit market, T Nagar and Kothawalchavadi and seized 300kg of calcium carbide, a carcinogen used to artificially ripen mangoes. Officials say most of the mangoes that were ripened using the chemical were of the 'Banganapalle' and 'Neelam' varieties. 

This is the third such raid by the department since the beginning of this year's mango season. In April, more than 50kg of calcium carbide and nearly two tonnes of artificially-ripened mangoes were seized from 200 shops. 

Food safety officials say the seizures are much higher than last year. "The practice is more rampant this year probably owing to the fact that the season got off to a slow start. We have stepped up vigil and will conduct surprise raids once in a week," said food safety officer S Lakshmi Narayanan. In addition to the raids, officials are also distributing pamphlets to wholesalers and retailers listing the harmful effects of artificial ripening in a bid to curb the practice. 

Calcium carbide is the most commonly used chemical to ripen the 'king' of fruits. Some vendorsalso resort to burning kerosene stove or incense sticks in closed rooms to quicken the ripening process. Experts say these methods make mangoes appear a bright yellow and enjoy a longer shelf life but are dangerous for consumption. 

Calcium carbide is banned under Section 44A of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, but continues to be widely used by fruit merchants. The chemical in solid form is kept wrapped in paper among the fruits. It reacts with water to form acetylene that catalyses the ripening process.

Medical experts say calcium carbide may contain traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which could damage the kidney and liver and cause ulcers and gastric problems.

Food Dept Seizes 3 Tonnes of Artificially Ripened Mangoes

Officials of Food Safety Department inspecting the artificially ripened mangoes at Grand Bazaar in Puducherry on Wednesday

Three tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes were destroyed by the Food Safety Department after confiscating them from two godowns in Grand Bazar market on Wednesday. ‘Banganapalli’ and ‘Neelam‘ mangoes were found to be artificially ripened using calcium carbide, which is carcinogenic, Food Safety Officer Dhanraj told Express. 

Based on a complaint from the Puducherry Municipality, a team of municipal and revenue officials checked the products and found them artificially ripened and in violation of Food Safety and Standard Regulation, 2011. 

Such artificially ripened fruits do not have a pleasant smell and are half yellow and half green, Dhanraj said. Other fruits like bananas are also artificially ripened using calcium carbide.

Vendors warned against selling artificially ripened mangoes

Even as mango season sets in, fruit vendors have been put on notice by authorities against selling artificially ripened varieties that are flooding markets across the city. 

Terming such acts illegal, the officials of Department of Food Safety and Revenue Department warned that it would crack down on vendors and traders in the city found to be selling artificially ripened fruits. 

The department’s diktat follows reports of mass arrivals of artificially ripened fruits from parts ofTamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 

Recently, on receiving a tip-off from the public, the sleuths of the food safety department launched raids at several shops and godowns owned by fruit vendors in the Big Market area right in the heart of the city. 

The tip-off proved to be authentic as officials stumbled upon a large quantity of mangoes ripened artificially using banned chemical calcium carbideas additive. These mangoes were sold in polythene packs or in cartons for bulk buyers. 

I. Danaraj, Food Safety Officer, told The Hindu : “The tip-off helped us organise raids on shops and godowns in the Big Market vicinity with the assistance of Revenue and Municipal authorities. We found small sachets of calcium carbide kept in several cartons which contained fruits. We seized those fruits weighing approximately three tonnes from vendors. Immediately after the seizure, we destroyed and disposed of the fruits.” 

Explaining that such artificially ripened mangoes would give serious health hazards to the general public, he said the officials had warned vendors against adopting artificial methods to ripen the fruits. Severe action was being contemplated against offenders after consultation with top officials in government, he said. 

The provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011, prohibits the use of carbide gas in ripening of fruits. The provision says, “No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description, fruits which have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas.

In the eyes of the law, the ‘Fresh Fruits and Vegetables shall be free from rotting and free from coating of waxes, mineral oil and colours.’

Need to change old rules on milk standards: NDRI head

Director of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Dr AK Srivastava, has said that there is no scientific study to establish the gravity of milk adulteration in the country. However, he told HT on Tuesday that there was a dire need to change dairy standard rules and to protect the interests of progressive dairy farmers. 

Srivastava said t he dairy industry in Punjab banks on the cross-bred animals, but quality standardisation laws of milk and otherdairy products had not been changed in the last six decades. “Milk is the only food item in which any kind of mixture is prohibited and media reports on fake milk do occur. Food and Standard Authority of India is raising the demand for provision of life imprisonment since long for milk adulteration,” he said. 

Srivastava said that while introducing strict punitive measures was welcome, standardisation exercise should also be carried out. “Milk samples are bound to fail tests on fat, protein etc on the cross-bred animals mainly on the technical points and scientific basis. 

Milk standardisation was fixed soon after Independence when India had only indigenous breeds,” said Srivastava while adding that it would be premature that the region was facing an acute problem of milk laced with chemicals or harmful components. 

Rotten food seized from hotels in Kasaragod

Unfit for consumption:Food safety officials seize stale food from an eatery in Kasaragod on Thursday.

Stale food items were seized from five hotels in the town during a day-long raid carried out by food safety authorities of the Kasaragod municipality on Thursday.

The team also found spoilt milk and bannedplastic bags from the five private eateries in various parts of the town, a senior food safety official said.

The authorities have registered cases against thehotel owners for preparing food items in unhygienic conditions.

The authorities were planning to issue notices to the erring hotels while the raids would continue in coming days, he said.

Lifting Ban On Iodised Salt

Common salt was banned in India in 2005 on the ground that it is injurious to health and can cause goiter. But a Govt. Study reveals that iodised salt has hardly helped in curing the disease. So was it banned to help the corporates to make money through high price iodised salt?

Common salt was banned in 2005 by theGovernment of India and also by most of the states on the ground that it is injurious to health and can cause goiter. However, there was no scientific evidence to that effect. On the other hand, iodised salt, if consumed in excess, is definitely harmful, if not fatal. Ban on common salt meant a regime of compulsory iodization of salt, which resulted to zero choice to consumers.

The common salt farmers were thrown out of employment as demand for their product suddenly dropped. The move also cost the economy dearly because of its import of iodine for salt iodiation. All this while the salt corporate lobby and the iodine import lobby thrived and regaled at the expense of the poor masses, including both salt consumers and producers. Being monopolists, the salt corporate sector could restrict the supply of iodised salt, creating artificial scarcity and consequently hiking its price beyond the reach of the ordinary man. A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court in 2006 by agro-scientists, doctors, healthcare experts and farmers in the name of "Academy of Nutrition Improvement & Others versus Union of India through Ministry of Health & Family Welfare" challenging the ban on common salt.

The PIL finally resulted into the apex court lifting the ban by its judgment dated 4th July, 2011. The ban was lifted not on merits as such but on the technical ground that the ban was effected under a Rule (44-I of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules) which prohibited sale of food or substances which were injurious to health whereas the Government never claimed that non-iodised salt when consumed by human beings was injurious or harmful to health.

However, at the same time, due to the sensitivity of the issue, the apex court allowed the ban to continue for six more months and directed the govt. to appoint a committee of experts to examine whether non-iodised salt was responsible for the spread of goiter and if so, to ban the consumption of common salt by legislation or appropriate measure.

Instead of following these directions, the Govt. of India proceeded to substitute Rule 44-I by a similar Regulation ( 2.3.12) under a different Act (Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction of Sales Act) and continues the ban on non-iodised salt thereby.

Terming these actions as an attempt to usurp the judicial power by the executive, the petitioners have now filed a contempt petition against the Health Secretary for violating the Court's directions in which it has issued notice on 20th Sep. 2013. All these facts have raised some serious questions about the motive of the state behind banning and prohibiting the use of non-iodised salt. For the colonialist, it was salt which forwarded them towards occupying the whole country. Eminent historian Roy Moxham reveals that there are historical remains of a fence of about 2500 miles in India (including Pakistan) built by the British.

Most worrisome thing in this matter is that salt is never included while discussing inflation. A question was asked in Rajya Sabha (RS) on 10 July 1998 that iodised salt is 10 times costlier than common salt. The govt. replied thatmarket price of common salt is Rs. 2 to 4 per kg. and iodised salt is Rs. 6 per Kg.

21st Oct. is celebrated as iodine Day and iodised salt is introduced as a cure-all. Companies involved in selling of iodised salt promote their advertisements in such a way that consumption of it actually helps speed up the brain.

Such more advertisements warn you that deficiency of iodine can cause goitre and dullness of mind. Contrary to it, when Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, an institute related to the Indian Defence Ministry, studied over use of iodised salt, it found that before 20 years, those diseases, which were challenged to be eradicated after using iodine, still persist. The study was conducted in 16 cities among 39,000 children.

Goitre was the main disease which has been presented as a promo in the crusade against common salt. Advertisements related to it were so ugly that they caused fear more than enlightenment. INMAS report clearly indicates that iodised salt is not necessary. This clearly indicates that how this matter of salt is being played according to the global politics and globalization.

There was a time when green revolution was purported as a very beneficial program and at that time people were bewildered talking about the long term side effects of it. But today, everybody is making emphasis on organic farming. It is high time that both iodised and non-iodised salt be allowed to co-exist as is the trend in the developed countries. Only then can there be effective competition between iodised and non-iodised salt producers leading to improvement of its quality, increase in supply of salt in the market and bringing its price at reasonable levels to provide the utmost relief to the masses. In such a situation no one can create an artificial scarcity of salt and hike its price by rumors or otherwise.