போதை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை வாழப்பாடியில் அதிரடி ஆய்வு

வாழப்பாடி: வாழப்பாடி பகுதியில், போதை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்தது தொடர்பாக, 26 பேர் மீது, போலீஸார் வழக்குபதிவு செய்தனர். வாழப்பாடி, காரிப்பட்டி, ஏத்தாப்பூர், கருமந்துறை மற்றும் கரியகோவில் பகுதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட போதை பொருட்களான, பான்பராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் ஆகியவை விற்பனை செய்வதாக வந்த தகவலையடுத்து, போலீஸார் அதிரடி ஆய்வில் ஈடுபட்டனர். வாழப்பாடியில், போதை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்த இளையராஜா, 31, மேட்டுடையார் பாளையம் திருமுருகன், 32, பேளூர் பிரிவுரோடு சரவணன், 32, குமார், 30, ராமச்சந்திரன், 47, பெரியசாமி, 70, சரவணன், 36, எழில்நகர் சவுந்திரராஜன், 50, கிருஷ்ணராஜ், 33, முத்துகவுண்டர், 64, சரவணன், 29, ஆகிய ஒன்பது பேர் மீது, வாழப்பாடி போலீஸார் வழக்குபதிவு செய்தனர். காரிப்பட்டி பகுதியில், போதை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்ததாக, சுந்தர்சிங், 50, வேதம்மாள், 48, மல்லிகா, 47, ராஜம்மாள், 68, தங்கவேல், 63, ஆகிய ஐந்து பேர் மீதும், ஏத்தாப்பூர் பகுதியில் சீனிவாசன், 33, தியாகராஜன், 30, ஜெயராமன், 58, பழனிமுத்து, 40, சசிகுமார், 26, ஆகிய ஐந்து பேர் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டது. கருமந்துறை பகுதியில், தீர்த்தன், 40, ஜெயபிரபு, 54, ரத்தினம், 27, பாஸ்கரன், 24. சின்னையன், 40, ஆகிய ஐந்து பேர் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டது.

மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் அதிரடி புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை 178 கடைகள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு 

சேலம், மே 23:

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் தடையை மீறி புகை யிலை பொருட்களை விற்ற 175 கடைகள் மீது போலீசார் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழகத்தில் புகையிலை, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட பொருட் கள் விற்பனைக்கு அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. இந்நிலையில் சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் பள்ளி, கல்லூரிகளின் அருகில் உள்ள கடைகளில் தடையை மீறி புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக தொடர்ந்து புகார்கள் வந்தன. ஆனால் இதனை போலீசார் கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் இருந்து வந்தனர்.

இந்நிலையில் கடைகளில் ஆய்வு செய்ய போலீசாருக்கு எஸ்பி சக்திவேல் அதிரடியாக உத்தரவிட்டார். அவரது உத்தரவின் பேரில் சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் பள்ளி, கல்லூரிகளின் அருகில் உள்ள கடைகளில் போலீசார் ஒரே நேரத்தில் நேற்று அதிரடியாக சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

சோதனையின் போது தடையை மீறி புகை யிலை பொருட்களை விற் பனை செய்தது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டு 175 கடைகள் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டன.

சேலத்தில் 31 கடைகளிலும், சங்ககிரியில் 24 கடைகளிலும், ஆத்தூரில் 34 கடைகளிலும், மேட்டூரில் 29 கடைகளிலும், வாழப்பாடியில் 22 கடைகளிலும், ஓமலூரில் 32 கடைகளிலும் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்தது கண்டறியப்பட்டது. இந்த கடை உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யப் பட்டது. தொடர்ந்து போலீசார் கடை களில் சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர்.

ஆத்தூரில் குட்கா, போதை பொருட்கள் விற்ற 10 பேர் மீது வழக்கு

ஆத்தூர், மே 23:

ஆத்தூரில் தடைசெய்த புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இது தொடர்பாக 10பேர் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டது.

சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஆத்தூர் பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், கடை வீதி, ராணிப்பேட்டை, முள்ளுவாடி உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் உள்ள பீடாக்கடைகளில் தமிழக அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள பான் பராக், சாந்தி உள்ளிட்ட குட்கா பாக்குகள் அதிக அளவில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக ஆத்துர் போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது.

இதனையடுத்து நேற்று ஆத்தூர் எஸ்ஐ பழனியம்மாள் தலைமையிலான போலீசார் ஆத்தூர் நகரில் உள்ள பீடாக்கடைகளில் அதிரடி சோதனை மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது தடை செய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா பாக்குகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்பட்டன. இது தொடர்பாக 10 கடைகாரர்கள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பான்பராக், குட்கா விற்ற 7 பேர் மீது வழக்குபதிவு

பனமரத்துப்பட்டி: பனமரத்துப்பட்டி மற்றும் மல்லூரில், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட போதை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்த ஏழு பேர் மீது போலீஸார் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்தனர். தமிழகத்தில், பான்பராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் போன்ற போதை தரும் பொருட்கள், புகையிலை பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்ய தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால், மளிகைக் கடைகள், பீடா கடைகள், டீக்கடைகளில், இவைகள் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. பனமரத்துப்பட்டி பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், திருவள்ளுவர் சாலை, இச்சமரம், காந்தி நகர் உள்பட பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் உள்ள மளிகைக் கடைகள், பீடா கடைகள், டீக்கடைகளில், பனமரத்துப்பட்டி போலீஸார், அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினர். அப்போது, விற்பனை செய்ய, பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த பான்பராக், குட்கா போன்ற போதை பொருட்களை, போலீஸார் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

* மல்லூர் பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், வீரபாண்டி ரோடு, மேட்டூர் ரோடு, மாரியம்மன் கோவில் தெரு ஆகிய இடங்களில் உள்ள மளிகைக் கடைகள், டீக்கடைகள், பீடா ஸ்டால்களில், போலீஸார் நடத்திய அதிரடி சோதனையில், போதை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. இது தொடர்பாக, ஏழு பேர் மீது, போலீஸார் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர்.

Artificial ripening of mangoes continues in district despite ill-effects

TRICHY: Despite strict measures taken by officials of the food safetywing and the Trichy Corporation to bring down the flooding of artificially-ripened mangoes into the markets, traders continue to deal with the practice to make a quick buck unmindful of the fines they have to pay, if caught.

During the two raids conducted this year, officials seized 21.15 tonnes of mangoes comprising many varieties. The team of food safety wing officials raided 50 shops in Gandhi Market areas on April 30 and found 2.25 tonnes of artificially-ripened mangoes in eight shops. The mangoes kept in 110 cases were valued at Rs 1.47 lakh. On May 20, a team led by district collector Jayashree Muralidharan seized about 18.9 tonnes of mangoes at six godowns in Mambalasalai in Srirangam.
Last year, officials had seized carbide stones which were used for ripening the mangoes. However, this time the traders, who are unwilling to abandon the practice were found using carbide powders instead of stones without any concern for the people's health.
Dr A Ramakrishnan, designated officer (DO), food safety wing, Trichy said that they are planning to conduct a meeting with the traders to advise them. "We have already advised the traders about the consequences of indulging in ripening the mangoes artificially. This year too, we would conduct a meeting with them. It is found that some seasonal traders are only indulging in this practice," said Ramakrishnan.
Though the officials have been advising and seizing the mangoes, they cannot be controlled. M Sekaran, president of federation of consumer and service organisation said, "There should be ajoint effort by the food safety wing, CHO and district supply officer to put an end to the menace. The district administration should crack the whip."
The government allowed using ethlin spray to ripen the mangoes. But they do not prefer to use it because they mangoes ripened by this can easily rotten leading to loss to the traders. However, the mangoes ripened using carbide stone will quickly ripen and last long.
Dr S Mariappan, city health officer (CHO) of Trichy Corporation advised the people to be careful in differentiating between natural and artificially-ripened mangoes.
"The artificially-ripened mangoes have no greenish patches. The black patches and wrinkles can be spotted. By confirming they are good mangoes, people can buy it. Otherwise, it would cause diahorrea, indigestion, gastric irritation," he said.

Mango season: Some farmers abide by natural process

TRICHY: While some people are indulging in ripening mangoes usingharmful chemicals, there are some farmers in the district who are engaging in the natural process. However, the drought due to no rain has hit them badly.

Mango cultivation has been on in around 1,000 acres in areas like Lalgudi, Pullambadi, Kollidam, Anbil, Srirangam and Melur, which supply the produce to the locals market and also other places. However, added to the drought indiscriminate sand mining in the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers have depleted the ground water level resulting in water scarcity for the mango trees.
K V Ganesan, a farmer in Koohoor village attributed the drought to thepoor yield of mangoes. "The mango yield is not favourable for thefarmers because the ground water level has depleted. Those who have wells and electric motors are able to save the trees. Rest of them are helpless. Besides the lack of rains, indiscriminate sand mining has also played spoilsport. It is a bad sign for mango cultivation which may gradually disappear from the area due to water scarcity," said Ganesan.
The poor yield resulted in the increase of the mango price manifold and delayed the season. This year, the size of mangoes is small. Nevertheless, some of the farmers still use natural method to ripen them. The paddy straws are utilized for the process. Normally, most of the mango fruittraders prefer to ripen the mangoes quickly using 'carbide stones' because they have no time to wait up to six days.
P Balasubramanian, a farm owner at Vadaseri in Karur who ripens the mango through naturalmethod said the health of the people is paramount than the income. "Farmers and traders must be concerned about the health of the people. Though there is a loss in natural method, the health of the people should not be put at risk," Balasubramanian said.
A Ramakrishnan, designated officer of the food safety wing in Trichy said that law does not permit them to certify the naturally-ripened mangoes. "There is no provision to certify the naturally-ripened mangoes. We are not sure whether we will be empowered to do so in future. If it is so, it would give a boost to the followers of the natural methods," Ramakrishan said.

FDA destroys 450kg of artificially ripened mangoes

KOLHAPUR: The Kolhapur unit of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) destroyed 450 kg of mangoes worth Rs 42,000 ripened with carbide at the city-based Market Yard.
The action, according to FDA officials, was taken on May 5.
Assistant commissioner of the FDA's Kolhapur unit U S Vanjari told TOI, "The action was taken after we received complaints of carbide use in the alphonso mangoes at the city-based market yard. During the raid, we found small packets of carbide in the mango baskets."
The raid was conducted at Karadkar and Sons, from where the mangoes were seized and later destroyed.
According to Vanjari, carbide, which is a carcinogen, has been banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011.
He added, "Last year too, we had collected five samples of which one had carbide. Stock worth Rs 29,000 had been destroyed then."
The official said more of such drives have been planned in the coming days and raids would be conducted soon.
Assistant secretary of fruit and vegetables of Kolhapur Market Yard, Kolhapur Vishwas Chaugule said "Some traders or even farmers put packets containing calcium carbide for maximum amount of artificial heat to quickly ripen the fruits."
Meanwhile, city-based doctors have warned residents against consuming such fruits.
A general physician said, "Not just mangoes, any fruit ripened using artificial methods causes health problems. Residents should refrain from eating such fruits. Carbide is a carcinogenic substance that has toxic effects on the body. Its long-term effects are not yet proved, but it is potentially very harmful."
Former president of the Kolhapur Medical Association Dr Jayan Watave told TOI, "The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow or even saffron. However, the inner portion remains unripe. The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Calcium carbide kills the sugary content as well as every other nutrient in the fruit before it is consumed."
Carbide menace
*Calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which are harmful to the body
*Even a small quantity consumed by humans may lead to the skin, kidneys, heart, liver and causes ulcer and gastric problems
*The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow and even makes it saffron. But, the inner portion of the fruit remains unripe.
*The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Carbide kills the sugary content and every other nutrient before the fruit goes into the human body

FOR THE LOVE OF MANGOES

The king of fruits has taken the city by storm and thepeople are going gung-ho about this seasoned fruit. Despite priced a little high than last year; people are showing no qualms in enjoying the tasty, healthy and exotic mangoes.
Maavinhann bandidya? (Have the mangoes arrived?), is the most common question one asks or hears during the early days of April. The answer is yes! Theking of all fruits seems ubiquitous, so much so that it’s difficult to elude its sight over a stroll through the lanes of the city. And the sense of hoopla that it brings to life in an exquisitely subtle manner is a pleasant paradox. Alphonso, Rajpuri, Badami, Sakkargutti and many more varieties have already entered the market and the prices are expected to go down quickly in coming days. It is going to be maavinhannin kaala! (Season of mangoes)
Rajajinagar is distinguished for its rich cultural background, with several communities famous for their food, frolic and festivities, and with the mangoes added to the already extravagant platter, the fun can only get better. Pickles are already prepared in big jars in many of the households and the ripened fruits have been eagerly awaited. During April and May, the months known for auspicious dates according to the Hindu calendar, there will be a lot of festivals and marriages, and the king of fruits will undoubtedly be a major ingredient for the menu.
“The list of eateries that can be dished out of mango is ample. There is Amras, mangorice bath, mango chutney, seekarane (squashed mango), lassi, burfi, salads and so on. Now we also have mousses, biscuits, pastries, smoothie and other non traditional dishes as well,” says Madhuchandra, a caterer. He also stated that the customers prefer these dishes over the others for one, they are non perennial and two and they are special yet cheap.
“Mangoes taste so good that people forget they are also healthy!” says Bhattacharjee, a botanist. They prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, improve skin and eye sight, help in diabetes, improve digestion and sex, and also boost immune system”, he said. He also said that mangoes act as a remedy for heat stroke, a vital point considering the present scorching weather.
Amidst the buzz, one has to be careful not to buy artificially ripened fruits. Harmful chemicals like calcium carbide might be used for artificial ripening; about sixty percent of mangoes harvested early in the season are expected to be ripened by calcium carbide, an act liable for punishment under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Artificially ripened mangoes, unlike natural ones will not have a good aroma. Though they have a yellow outer skin, the tissue inside will not be ripe and will be dry and less juicy than the ripened ones. Fruits that have a uniform color are likely to have been artificially ripened. So it is important to wash the fruits before consuming by keeping them underrunning water so that the chemicals get washed away. It is also advisable to remove the peel before cutting the fruits into pieces. The best way to avoid artificially ripened mangoes is not to buy mangoes till the end April, which is when the actual mango season, kicks off. The entire world is nature’s catharsis and we are eagerly awaiting one of its masterstrokes.

Drive against adulteration made effective by JMC

Jammu, May 21
In the ongoing drive against the menace of adulteration in the commonly used food items, the team of Food Safety Officers along with other field staff under the supervision of Dr. Mohd. Saleem Khan Health Officer had lifted 07 samples of different food articles viz two samples of Suji, one of Mustard Oil, One of Refined Soyabean Oil, one of Turmeric Powder, one of Biscuits, & one of sugar lifted from ICDS Projects Roop Nagar & Gandhi Nagar Jammu and from Centers at Gandhi Nagar & Karan Nagar area and sent to the food analyst Jammu for detecting their standards of purity. Till date reports of five samples have been received from Food Analyst Jammu which shows that four samples i.e. Suji, Turmeric Powder, & Mustard Oil conforms to the standards and one sample of Refined Soyabean Oil (Golden Brand) bearing batch no.06 lifted from ICDS Project Gandhi Nagar Jammu has been reported as Substandard as per the report of Food Analyst Jammu. Reports of two samples i.e. Biscuits & Sugar are still awaited. Besides, 81(Eighty One) Tins of Refined Soyabean Oil (Golden Brand) bearing batch no. 06 have also been seized. The I/c Store of C.D.P.O. Office Gandhi Nagar Jammu, and the Manufacturer M/s Chenab Agro Chemical Ltd. Works, SICOP Industrial Estate Kathua were also intimated regarding the report of Food Analyst under rule. Further course of action will be initiated under FSS Act, 2006.Moreover the premises of M/s Jhelum Enterprises Amphalla Jammu who is the Supplier of Refined Soyabean Oil ( Golden Brand) was also inspected. The Municipal Veterinary Officer along with field staff on the directions of Commissioner, JMC conducted a drive as per the demand of residents of Barnai, Bantalab, Subash Nagar, Roop Nagar area. While checking meat shops, 10 KG of substandard/unstamped meat has been discarded on spot and fine to the tune of Rs. 3000/- has been realized from the defaulters. The drive will remain continue in near future against all the meat shopkeepers running in the market are strictly warned and directed to ensure the supply of good quality of meat to the Citizens of Jammu City.
JMC appeals to all the Shopkeepers/vendors especially those dealing with meat shops to maintain hygienic environment and make available quality products to the consumers.

சேலத்தில் பரபரப்பு பழக்கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ஆய்வு

சேலம்.மே 22

சேலம் மாநகரில் உள்ள பழக்கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் இன்று காலை திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.

சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா தலைமையில் சின்னக்கடை வீதி, பெரியகடைவீதி, தேர்நிலையம் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் உள்ள பழ குடோன்களை திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினார். அப்போது குடோன் உரிமையாளர்களிடம் மாம்பழங்களை எந்த முறையில் பழுக்க வைக்கப்படுகிறது என்று கேட்டறிந்தார். கடந்த ஆண்டு நடத்திய சோதனையில் கடைவீதியில் உள்ள மாம்பழ குடோன்களில் கார்பைட் கல்மூலம் பழங்கள் பழுக்கவைக்கப்பட்டிருந்ததை கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டு அவைகள் அழிக்கப்பட்டன. இந்த ஆண்டு கார்பைடு கல் மூலம் யாரும் பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்கவில்லை.

இதையடுத்து குடோன் உரிமையாளர்களிடத்தில் கார்பைடு கல் மூலம் பழங்களை பழுக்க வைப்பதற்கு பதிலாக எத்தரால் என்ற கெமிக்கலை பழங்கள்மீது ஸ்பிரே செய்தால் ஒரேமாதிரியாக பழுக்கும் என்றார். இந்த முறைக்கு அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது. இதனால் பழங்கள் கெடாமலும், யாருக்கும் பாதிப்பு ஏற்படாது என்று குடோன் உரிமையாளர்களிடம் ஆலோசனை வழங்கினார். ஆய்வின் போது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர்கள் உடன் சென்றிருந்தனர்.சேலத்தில் மாம்பழ குடோன்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி இன்று திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தியதால் வியாபாரிகளிடத்தில் பரபரப்பு காணப்பட்டது.

DINAMALAR NEWS

குடிநீர் பேக்கிங் நிறுவனங்களில் ஆய்வு செய்ய வலியுறுத்தல்

தர்மபுரி, 

நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள உணவகங்கள், மளிகை கடைகள் ,காய்கறி கடைகள், கையேந்தி பவன்கள் உள்பட அனைத்து உணவு உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், விற்பனையாளர்கள் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு லைசென்ஸ் பெற வேண்டும் என பிப்ரவரி 14ம் தேதியில் இருந்து ஆகஸ்டு 4ம் தேதி வரை கூடுதலாக நாட்கள் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டு மத்திய அரசு கெடு விதித்திருந்தது.

இந்த சட்டத்தை அமல்படுத்தக்கூடாது என பல்வேறு சங்கங்கள், அமைப்புகள் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து வருகின்றன. இந்நிலையில் தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் ஓட்டல்கள், உணவகங்கள், சாலையோர கையேந்தி பவன்கள் ஆகியவற்றில் அவ்வப்போது திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர். தற்போது கோடை காலம் என்பதால் குடிநீர் தேவை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.

இதனால் தர்மபுரி மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள 100க்கும் மேற்பட் குடிநீர் பேக்கிங் நிறுவனங்கள் முறையாக குடிநீரை பேக்கிங் செய்து அனுப்புகின்றனரா என உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும் என பொதுமக்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர். இது குறித்து பொதுமக்கள் கூறியதாவது:

தர்மபுரி மாவட்டத்தில் நகராட்சி வழங்கும் குடிநீர் உப்பு சுவை அதிகமாக இருப்பதால் இதன் மூலம் தாகம் தீர்வதில்லை. இதனால் 25 லிட்டர் வாட்டர் கொள்ளளவுள்ள சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்ட கேன் குடிநீரை அனைவரும் விரும்புகிறோம். ஆனால் இந்த சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்டதாக விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீரும் முழுமையாக சுத்திகரிக்கப்படுவதில்லை என நினைக்கும் அளவிற்கே குடிநீர் உள்ளது.

கேனில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் தண்ணீரும் உப்பு சுவையுடன் காணப்படுகிறது. ஒரு சில குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் போதிய அளவிற்கு சுத்திகரிப்பு செய்யாமல் குடிநீரை கேன் களில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்யக்கூடும் என நினைக்கிறோம். எனவே உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் கடைகளில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீர் கேன்களை சுத்திகரிப்பு செய்யப்பட்ட பின்னரே விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறதா என உரிய சோதனை கருவிகளுடன் சென்று ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண்டும். இதன்மூலம் பொதுமக்களிடையே அதிகாரிகள் மீதும், குடிநீர் விற்பனையாளர்கள் மீதும் நம்பிக்கை ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு பொதுமக்கள் கூறினர்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை காலாவதி பொருட்கள் விற்றால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை பாயும்

சேலம், மே 22:

சேலத்தில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர்கள், காலாவதியான பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்தால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

சேலம் பழைய பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட பகுதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் காலாவதியான மற்றும் சுகாதாரமற்ற உணவுப்பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதையடுத்து மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் சேலம் பழைய பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட் பகுதிகளில் நேற்று திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.

அங்குள்ள டீ கடைகள், பெட்டி கடைகள், ஜூஸ் கடைகள் மற்றும் பலகார கடைகள் உள்பட 35க்கும் மேற்பட்ட கடைகளில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது. இதில், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள், காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், தேதி குறிப்பிடப்படாத மோர், தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.

தொடர்ந்து அங்குள்ள ஜூஸ் கடைகளில் ஆய்வு செய்தபோது, சுவைக்காக கெமிக்கல் ஆசிட் கலக்கப்படுவதும், அழுகிய பழங்களை கொண்டு ஜூஸ் தயாரிக்கப்படுவதும் தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து அழுகிய நிலையில் உள்ள பழங்களும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. மேலும் ஜூஸ் தயாரிப்பிற்கு கெமிக்கல் ஆசிட் பயன்படுத்த கூடாது எனவும், சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்ட குடிநீர் மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் எனவும் எச்சரிக்கப்பட்டது.

இது குறித்து மாவட்ட உணவுப்பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா கூறுகையில், காலாவதியான மற்றும் சுகாதாரமற்ற உணவுப்பொருட்களை தொடர்ந்து விற்பனை செய்தால், அவற்றை விற்பனை செய்வோரின் உரிமம் ரத்து செய்யப்படும். இது போன்ற ஆய்வுகள் தொடர்ந்து மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு, மக்களுக்கு சுகாதாரமான பொருட்கள் கிடைக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்றார்.

இதில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் பாலு, இளங்கோவன், புஷ்பராஜ், அசோக்குமார், அன்புபழனி, ஜெகன்நாதன் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

சேலம் பழைய பஸ் நிலையத்தில் விற்பனை செய்த காலாவதியான 100 குளிர்பான பாட்டில்கள் பறிமுதல் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை

சேலம், மே.22-

சேலம் பழைய பஸ் நிலையத்தில் விற்பனை செய்த காலாவதியான 100 குளிர்பான பாட்டில்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தனர்.

அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு

சேலம் பழைய பஸ் நிலையம் மற்றும் அதை சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில் பழ ஜூஸ் கடை, டீக்கடை, பலக்கார கடை, பெட்டிக்கடை அதிகளவு உள்ளன. இந்த கடைகளில் காலாவதியான மற்றும் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் பெருமளவு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு புகார் வந்தது.

அதன்பேரில், நேற்று மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையில் அதிகாரிகள் பழைய பஸ் நிலையத்துக்கு சென்றனர். பின்னர் அவர்கள் அங்கிருந்து கடைகளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். இந்த ஆய்வின் போது, சில பழஜூஸ் கடைகளில் அழுகிய பழங்களை பயன்படுத்துவதும், சீக்கிரம் கெட்டுப்போகாமல் இருப்பதற்காக கெமிக்கல் பவுடர் கலப்பதும் தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து அவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் அகற்றினார் கள்.

காலாவதியான பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

இதேபோல், பல கடைகளில் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் அதிகளவு இருப்பது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து கடைகளில் இருந்து காலாவதியான 100 குளிர்பான பாட்டில்கள், தண்ணீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் ஆகியவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் பறி முதல் செய்தனர். மேலும் பெட்டிக்கடைகளில் விற்பனை செய்வதை தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான்மசாலா, குஸ்கா, புகையிலை போன்றவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். கடை உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு இதுபோன்ற செயல்களில் ஈடுபட கூடாது என்று அதிகாரிகள் அறிவுறுத்தினர். மேலும், தொடர்ந்து ஈடுபட்டால் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்றும் அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரித்தனர்.

Will educate people about pesticides in food: Govt to HC

SUMMARY

The Delhi government had claimed that it did not have adequate laboratories and could currently test for only 28 varieties of pesticides.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued draft regulations for food imports and may soon make it mandatory for importers of food and vegetables to produce test reports from authorised labs to ensure pesticide remains in fruits and vegetableswere within prescribed limits.

With the Delhi High Court monitoring the issue of pesticides in food in a PIL, the Central government has filed a status report on the measures recommended by an expert committee created on court orders to suggest methods to contain the problem.

On Wednesday, during a hearing before the court of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw, the Ministry of Agriculture filed two affidavits before the court regarding the steps taken by the government on the report filed by amicus curiae Sanjay Jain, as well as the expert committee.

“Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has decided to conduct, through its various divisions, an extensive campaign through the media to educate the public (farmers, traders and consumers) at the national level regarding the safe use of pesticides and also to conduct campaigns for safe ripening and storage of perishable fruits and vegetables,” the government affidavit said.

The affidavit further stated that the Ministry of Agriculture had “decided to extend all assistance to the state government of NCT of Delhi in setting up requisite infrastructure for enhancing its capacity to carry out sample testing of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.”

During an earlier hearing, the Delhi government had claimed that it did not have adequate laboratories and could currently test for only 28 varieties of pesticides.

The ministry has also started broadcasting programmes on agriculture including “safe use of pesticides” on Doordarshan/All India Radio under Krishi Darshan to spread awareness among farmers and consumers.

REUSED OIL MAIN CAUSE FOR FOOD PIPE CANCER

Raids on hotels continue

The raids by Food Safety officials on hotels and restaurants in the city continued for the third day on Wednesday, with many star hotels also coming under the scanner.

All six units inspected by officials led by Assistant Commissioner for Food Safety Joseph Shaji George on Wednesday were served notices and a fine of Rs. 55,000 was collected.

In Thiruvankulam-Chottanikkara area, Hotel Chilanka was ordered to shut down while three units were served notices out of the 11 inspected by N. Haleel, Assistant Commissioner for Food Safety. A fine of Rs. 30,000 was collected.

In Vypeen, Assistant Commissioner K. Sugunan inspected 11 units, served seven notices and collected fine of Rs. 15,000.

In Angamaly-Athani area, Assistant Commissioner Sivadas inspected 13 units, served notices to seven and collected Rs. 25,000 fine. In Kothamangalam/Neriyamanlam, Assistant Commissioner P. Radhakrishnan led inspections at nine units, served notices to two and collected Rs. 47,500 as fine.

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.