ஓமலூர் அருகே வெல்லம் தயாரிப்பில் ரசாயன கலப்படம்; 3 கரும்பு ஆலைகளுக்கு “சீல்” வைப்பு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி நடவடிக்கை

ஓமலூர்,அக்.17-ஓமலூர் அருகே வெல்லம் தயாரிப்பில் ரசாயன கலப்படம் செய்த 3 கரும்பு ஆலைகளுக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்தனர்.

ரசாயன கலப்படம்

சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஓமலூர் அருகே உள்ள காமலாபுரம் சர்க்கரை செட்டிப்பட்டி உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் 100-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட கரும்பு ஆலைகள் இயங்கி வருகின்றன. அந்த பகுதியில் உள்ள சில கரும்பு ஆலைகளில் வெல்லம் தயாரிப்பில் அதிக அளவில் ரசாயன பொருட்களை கலப்படம் செய்வதாகவும், தரம் குறைந்த பொருட்களை வெல்லம் தயாரிக்க பயன்படுத்துவதாகவும் புகார் எழுந்தது. 

இதனையடுத்து மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையில், சிங்காரவேலு, அன்புமணி, இளங்கோவன், மாரியப்பன் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகள் குழுவினர் ஓமலூர் பகுதியில் உள்ள கரும்பாலைகளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினார்கள். அப்போது கோபிநாதபுரத்தை சேர்ந்த இடும்பன், காமலாபுரம் பகுதியை சேர்ந்த ராஜேந்திரன், வெங்கடேசன் ஆகியோரின் கரும்பு ஆலைகளில் இருந்து 1¼ மூட்டை ரசாயன பொருட்கள் மற்றும் 10 ½ மூட்டை சர்க்கரை பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. 

3 கரும்பு ஆலைகளுக்கு சீல்

இதுதொடர்பாக சம்பந்தப்பட்ட கரும்பு ஆலைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் தீவிர விசாரணை நடத்தினார்கள். ஏற்கனவே பலமுறை அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்ட நிலையில், ரசாயன பொருட்களை கலப்படம் செய்த 3 கரும்பு ஆலைகளில் வெல்லம் உற்பத்தி செய்ய அதிகாரிகள் தடை விதித்தனர். சம்பந்தப்பட்ட 3 ஆலைகளும் சீல் வைக்கப்பட்டன. 

வெல்லம் தயாரிப்பில் கலப்படத்தில் ஈடுபடும் ஆலைகள் மீது உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரித்தனர். தீபாவளி நெருங்கும் நிலையில் வெல்லம் தயாரிப்பில் ரசாயன பொருட்கள் கலப்படம் தொடர்பாக 3 ஆலைகளுக்கு சீல் வைக்கப்பட்ட சம்பவம் அந்த பகுதியில் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Jyani orders to intensify raids to check adulterated sweets

Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani has directed all the civil surgeons to tighten the noose against not only the wholesale sweet sellers but also the small and medium shopkeepers selling unhygienic and impure eatables in the state.
In a statement here today, Mr Jyani reiterated the state government's resolve to ensure the supply of hygienic and safe food products during the ensuing festival season.
He directed Civil Surgeons and Health Officers at district levels to intensity the checking drive so that supply of adulterated sweets could be prevented. He asked to collect samples of food products right from the top wholesale sweet sellers to the street vendors including "Kulche Channe' to check adulteration.
He also asked the health authorities to adopt zero tolerance against preparation and supply of adulterated sweets, cheese and milk based sweets and other eatables.
Mr Jayani directed the food safety officers to keep proper surveillance in the markets to check supply of adulterated sweets and no shopkeeper should be allowed to store sweets in the store houses in abundance. He also asked the officers to raid all possible store houses such as cold stores etc and collect samples of collect samples on regular basis.
The Minister also made public his contact no 9915708000 for the facilitation of general public to register their plaints, if the local health officers were not accessible.
Giving clear instructions to the surveillance teams, Mr Jyani directed them to destroy the seized suspicious and adulterated eatables immediately after seizure in presence of the shop owners. He said requisite penalties should also be imposed on the erring shopkeepers, who were found playing with the lives of people.
He also warned officials that state level teams would also conduct surprise checks across the state to check adulteration and if field officials found not performing their duty properly then the department would take strong action against them also.

State fails to clamp down on chewing tobacco

KOLKATA: Manufacture, storage, and sale of chewing tobacco is banned in the state. But, this might surprise many as gutka, zarda, khaini and tobacco-laced pan masala are available everywhere in West Bengal.
As there was no visible enforcement on the ban for such product that was first notified in May 2013, the state health department has recently put up another notification. But with no steps being taken to implement the prohibition, health rights activists are questioning the government's seriousness.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued a regulation in August 2011 banning chewing tobacco under the Food Safety and Regulation Act, 2011. Even before the Act came into existence, Sikkim had implemented a ban on these products. This Act provided teeth to Maharashtra government to ban gutka and other chewing tobacco products effectively. Other states followed suit though not necessarily as effectively as Maharashtra.
After drawing criticism from anti-tobacco organizations, the West Bengal government woke up in May last year to impose the ban for a year. But the prohibition remained only on paper. The second notification signed by state food safety commissioner Godhuli Mukjerjee on the health department website, which was posted on Sepetmeber 29 this year, is actually a continuation of the previous one.
"What ban? No one has ever cautioned us that selling zarda, gutka or pan masala is illegal," said a pan shopkeeper in Esplanade when TOI asked him about the ban.
Most of the people in the state, including the pan shopkeepers, are not even aware that such a ban exists. Apart from uploading the notification of the ban on the health department website, there has not been any visible action on the ground so far. .
"About 90% of oral cancer is caused by consumption of chewing tobacco. The ban in the state has to be implemented effectively. Along with stringent enforcement, the government needs to increase cancer awareness if it wants to make the ban successful," said oncologist Goutam Mukhopadhyay.
The Food Safety and Regulation Act, 2011, arms state governments to ban chewing tobacco products for a year. The ban can be renewed every year and is to be enforced by the state health department, the state food and drug administration and the local police.
Health department officials admitted the poor enforcement and blamed lack of manpower and co-ordination between the enforcing agencies for the failure of implementation of the ban.
"The effort has to be continuous and co-ordination has to be more effective to make the ban successful. We are sensitizing certain departments. Lack of manpower has been a major problem. Recently, the government created around 170 posts for food safety department. Once people are employed in these posts, we hope the implementation of the ban will become more visible," said state health secretary Malay Dey.

Diwali festivities begin on unsafe note

Near Diwali, this eating capital of the country is abuzz with activity of the gastronomic kind, with adulteration changing the flavor of traditional sweets.
The city of foodies, which loves to gorge on and share the sweet stuff around the festival, will have to look at the ingredients with caution. Cashing in on the penchant of Amritsar for savory delights, a few unscrupulous elements have carried on with the malicious trend of putting spurious 'khoya' (dried whole milk) and adulterated or synthetic milk in most sweet preparations, earning the city the dubious distinction of recording maximum cases of food adulteration in Punjab.
A raiding team from the district health department seized more than 100 quintal spurious-khoya sweets from a shop at Preet Vihar, Mustafabad, in the outskirts of Amritsar. A few days ago, it had seized five-quintal spurious 'khoya' from another sweetshop along the city's boundary. The health department is shaken into action only around the festival season, while it should be checking food round the year. "Raids are conducted round the year indeed," said district health officer (DHO) Dr Shiv Karan Singh Kahlon, adding: "Four food safety officers and a few class-4 employees are all I have on my team. We need more class-4 workers at least."
He said the team conducted four to five regular raids a month and also special crackdowns based on input. The sweet samples collected were sent to Chandigarh for analysis, and the makers whose samples failed were penalised, the DHO added.
However, he said he had no data on the number of adulteration cases in court, though he added that the department had sanction for legal proceeding in 70 cases. Dr Kahlon said that of the 730 food samples taken since 2010, 245 had failed the purity test.
The samples were collected and tested under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act until Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, came into force in 2011. "After that, 664 samples were collected, 446 under the PFA Act and 198 under new law. Of these, 133 failed the test," said Dr Kahlon.
In 2012, of the 521 samples collected, 95 turned out to be impure. It was the case with 291 samples out of 713 in 2013; and 227 of 512 in 2014, so far.
Distasteful trend
Year Samples collected Samples failed
2010    730      245
2011     664     133
2012     521       95
2013     713      291
2014     512     227
Preparedness
Raiding team strength: One district health officer, four food safety officers, and a few Class-4 employees
Required: More drivers and Class-4 employees
Laboratories available: 1 (only in Chandigarh)
Court cases: Sanction for 70

No check on adulteration of milk in City Beautiful Only 25 of 3,000 vendors registered with food safety cell

Chandigarh, October 16
Even as a major chunk of the city's population is dependent on loose milk supplied by over 3,000 milkmen every day, the Administration seems least concerned about the health of residents. Of the over 3,000 vendors, who supply nearly 30,00,000 litres of milk in the city daily, only 25 are registered with the UT food safety cell while the others have been conveniently giving all regulations the go-by.
Consider this: In the past five years, only 17 samples of milk were collected from local vendors, two of which were found substandard. While officers in the UT food safety cell admitted that mixing water in milk was the most common form of adulteration, records of only two such violations exist in the cell.
According to sources, massive protests held by milkmen in the past during milk sampling has been a deterrent for food safety officers in acting tough with them. “Four years ago, after one of the milk vendors was challaned, the association of vendors held a massive protest. They also stopped the supply of milk to the city,” said a senior official in the UT Health Department.
The supply of packaged milk, largely Verka milk, is close to 3,50,000 litres per day in city.
The local vendors supply milk in aluminum and plastic containers on bicycles, motorbikes and vans.
Food safety cell working under adverse conditions
Of the eight posts of food safety officer, five are lying vacant for the past over five years.
The food safety cell does not have its own dedicated vehicle.
Even for carrying out raids on sweets shops, it has to depend on taxis. The department did not have a qualified and regular designated officer (DO) until January this year. While one designated officer was appointed in January, another one was appointed two months ago.
Milk containers not sent for safe food handling test
In reply to a query posed under the RTI Act, the food safety cell said no containers of milk being used by local vendors were sent for the safe food handling test.
Several milkmen challaned: SSP
Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Maneesh Chaudhary said, “We have issued a significant number of challans to those who carry multiple drums on motorcycles under the Motor Vehicles Act. Apart from overloading, these vendors often end up covering number plates with drums."
Plan to conduct survey on milk vendors: Officer
"We are planning to carry out a survey on milk vendors in the city to find out how many of them move around in the city and the quantity supplied by them."—Dr KS Rana, designated officer of the food safety cell
We charge as per quality, say milkmen
"We provide milk by categorising it on the basis of thickness (fat content). There is no question on quality variation as we charge money as per the quality."—Ajmer Singh Landran, chairman, association of milk vendors

HC interference has increased conviction rates of food adulterators

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed all district courts in the state to submit a copy of the order under which conviction of a person, found guilty of selling and distributing adulterated food items, was carried out. This order has increased the conviction rate of food adulterators in the district.A source in the district health department said that nearly 20% cases, pertaining to food adulteration, have been dealt with successfully in district courts. Earlier, the rate of conviction was slow and the cases used to drag on for a long time, but the recent stricture by the High Court has speeded up the trial process.
The source added that in the 20% cases, the conviction rate was nearly 85% and, if this situation continues, the incidence of food adulteration may come down in the state. However, many cases get delayed because the samples, collected by the health department, are sent to the testing facility in Chandigarh and it takes nearly 2 to 3 months to receive the status of the samples.
District health officials have come down heavily on food adulterators in the city and special drives are being conducted to control the supply of adulterated food items in the district in view of the festive season, said Dr RL Bassan, civil surgeon, Jalandhar.
He added, “I have held meetings with prominent sweet shop and bakery owners in the district and have guided them to maintain proper hygiene and supply quality food to the customers. It was also made clear to them that anyone found violating the food safety Act will be dealt with strictly, according to the law.”
The food safety and standards Act 2006 was implemented in the district in November 2010. Since then, the health officials have kept a constant vigil on the supply of food in the district. Frequent raids are carried out to keep the adulterators at bay in the district.
According to the Act, any person, who is engaged in the business of supplying food items in the district, found violating rules, is issued a notice after a sample collected from his shop fails to pass the test.
After that, a period of 90 days is given to him to clarify his position and then action is taken against the person according to the law.
Minor cases invite a fine of a minimum of 25,000 with no fixed upper limit and major violation results in a prison term after conviction by courts.
The number of food adulteration cases increase during the festive season. During festivals, many sweet shop owners use bright colours to decorate their sweets which, at times, are in violation of the food safety Act. “Sweets, prepared specially from milk, have greater chances of adulteration, and we always keep an eye on sweets during the festival season,” said Balwinder Singh, district health officer.
“Even during the ongoing festive season, we have been carrying out frequent raids and, during the last two months, nearly 40 food samples have been taken from various outlets and we are waiting on their test results. Our teams are always on the alert and we are also spreading awareness among the public against food adulteration to curb this malpractice,” he added.

Manpower shortage against adulteration

JAIPUR :
Ahead of Diwali, waging a war against food adulteration has become difficult for the government with its limited resources. Due to fund crisis many of the mobile food laboratories have become defunct.
For thousands of shops and lakhs of customers, there are only 77 food inspectors, who can take samples of food products to ensure quality of products being sold ahead of Diwali. Moreover, the mobile laboratories are lying inoperational, which is a big setback for the officials taking on food adulteration. A health department official said, “We do not have funds for mobile laboratories for testing of samples. Mobile laboratories help us testing food on the spot. Now, in the absence of funds, we have to send samples to stationed government laboratories.”
The mobile laboratories can be used for testing of any kind of food products, including spices, dry fruits and milk products. In the entire state, the officials involved in food safety drive, ahead of Diwali, face the same problem, said the official.
The officials who are taking samples are in limited numbers. Health department’s joint director Aditya Atreya said, “We have 77 food inspectors. In Jaipur, there are 11 food inspectors taking samples of food items.”
The population of the state is close to seven crore, but there are only 77 food inspectors in the state.
Moreover, there are seven food laboratories in the state which were closed down due to lack of food analysts, over the past few years. However, the health department continued its drive against food adulteration on its second day and collected samples of chatni (sauce) from a shop in Raja Park and also collected samples of oil from Shyam Doongri area. Chief medical health officer, Jaipur, Dr O P Thankan said, “The owner of the shop was found selling oil in packets with a brand name. He has no license for selling the oil in packets with brand name as he cannot do marketing of it without license. We have served him notice.”

Awareness campaign on food safety, nutrition

NEW DELHI, OCT 16:
Food processing and packaging solutions provider Tetra Pak today launched ‘Right to Keep Food Safe’ awareness campaign on food safety, nutrition and packaging.
The company also released findings of food safety survey it commissioned, which highlighted low awareness among mothers towards ailments due to consumption of unsafe food and beverages and loss of nutritional content in food due to boiling.
Commenting on the survey findings, Tetra Pak (South Asia Markets) Marketing Director Sumit Khatter said, “The survey shows that while mothers are quite concerned about the food and beverages they consume, there is a clear need for them to have easy access to better information and consequently exercising right choices.”
Along with its awareness campaign, Tetra Pak has also launched an online course called Nutrition Quotient.
“Tetra Pak’s vision is to make food safe and available everywhere for everyone through our aseptic processing and packaging technology which keeps food safe, right up to consumption,” he added.
The food safety survey was conducted by Singapore-based Research Pacific on a sample size of 845 mothers in 8 cities in the country.

One in three mothers unsure about food quality: study

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) One in every three mothers is unsure about the safety and quality of food that she gives to her family, a report said Thursday.
The survey "Conversations With Mothers" food safety survey, commissioned by Tetra Pak - the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions provider - said that mothers are most concerned about the freshness and purity of the food they consume as well as the risk of its adulteration.
Tetra Pak also launched the "Right to Keep Food Safe" - an awareness programme that will empower mothers with knowledge and facts on food safety and nutrition and motivate them to spread the word to many more mothers.
"Food safety is a continuing concern with frequent outbreaks of food-borne diseases due to adulteration, contamination and lack of awareness on how to keep food safe," said Aditi Gowitrikar, doctor, actor and mother of two, who was present at the release of the report.
She said that it was surprising to learn from the survey that over 70 percent mothers do not immediately connect serious diseases such as jaundice, cholera and typhoid with food safety.
"I am glad to lend my support to the Right to Keep Food Safe awareness campaign and I encourage all mothers to take up the NQ course to improve their knowledge and make more informed choices on food safety and nutrition," she added.

Antibiotics sold without labels, no checks on poultry farms

Poultry farmers can now afford to count their profits before their chickens hatch -and they are big, weighing on average twice as much as they did 50 years ago.The broiler chicken of today ,a product of controlled breeding, weighs around 2.2kg as compared to 1.2kg before 1960, say veterinarians and chicken farm owners.
Contract farming started in India in the early 1960s, taking over from multi-breed coops with birds of various ages. It involves the industrialized breeding of chickens of the same age and variety .
This method employs im proved feed formulations and vaccination, says R Prabhakaran, former vice-chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. “Selective breeding has increased livability of the birds,“ he said. “Since the 1960s, mortality rate of chickens has reduced from 10% to 2% due to improved nutrition and hygiene in farms.“ The downside of scientific poultry farming is that medication administered to the birds may find their way to the table. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in July showed that one in two chickens in the country had antibiotic contamination. Farms give chickens feed mixed with antibiotics that act as growth promoters. Most stop the antibiotics a few days before slaughter. This allows the birds to flush out the remnants of the antibiotics.
“Farms should ideally not feed birds antibiotics at least 10 days before slaughter,“ Prabhakaran said. Because farms seldom follow this, antibiotic residue in meat passes on to humans. Scientists have shown that large-scale use of antibiotics by the poultry industry has caused antibiotic resistance in people, leaving them vulnerable to a range of bacterial infections.
Chickens also pass on residue of antibiotics through their faeces, which may spread through water and soil and eventually end up in crops.
“Antibiotics are sold without labels across the country .There is no monitoring agency to keep them in check,“ said Amit Khurana of CSE's food safety and toxins department.
Farms earlier prepared chicken feed so that the levels of crude fibre, protein and fat determined the weight and quality of the meat. Contract farming has introduced methods of assessing amino acid levels to produce birds with leaner meat and pinkish pigmentation and more succulent breasts.
Poultry farm owners deny that they use chemicals to produce larger chickens. R Goudhaman, who owns a poultry farm in Erode, says he gives his birds only optimum levels of antibiotics. But he admits that farmhands administer the chickens probiotics and synbiotics to prevent growth of pathogenic microorganisms.
A recent study by University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada revealed that chickens raised in the US poultry farms are four times larger than 50 years ago. A 2007 ban imposed by the Indian government has kept US poultry products out of Indian markets. But the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Tuesday ruled that India's ban, based on fears of bird flu, was discriminatory and gave the government 60 days to appeal the ruling.
India exports chicken and chicken products mainly to the Gulf and African nations.

Soon, grapes with ‘residue-free’ logo for domestic buyers

SUMMARY 

 The National Research Centre for Grapes (NRC) plans to begin a huge branding...

The National Research Centre for Grapes (NRC) plans to begin a huge branding effort this season onwards, telling domestic consumers that the grapes purchased by them are 'residue free' . This means that grapes which have been certified by the laboratories approved by Apeda will henceforth bear a logo on the box which says the product is residue-free, said SD Sawant, director, NRC. Until now, this effort was restricted to grapes meant for export. Indian grapes have to undergo around seven laboratory tests before being considered eligible for European markets.
"Several consumers are not happy eating grapes since they fear that a lot of pesticides have gone into production of the crop. We want to remove this stigma," Sawant explained. Farmers are also realising that a certificate of this nature will help them get better returns, he said. NRC has written to Maharashtra State Grape Growers Association (MSGGA) seeking a tie-up on this effort and the association has responded positively.
According to Ashok Gaikwad, president of the association, the ‘residue-free’ logo will build up the image of farmers and enable them to make more money. The association has written to the Centre seeking subsidy on the certification process for a certain period, As of now, only farmers who export grapes get 50% subsidy on the certification process. While this is not mandatory, work can begin on a small percentage of the grape produce which can increase awareness among farmers. Gaikwad said work on the design of the logo has begun and the effort is likely to begin this harvest season, which starts from January.
Both NRC and the association have begun awareness programmes in Nashik, Satara, Sangli and Solapur, the main grape growing regions of Maharashtra, for farmers and will also tie up with Food Safety Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI). " I want to tell people that grape is the first crop in the country for which residue monitoring is done. Apeda has put in place a process to help Indian exporters on this issue. However, the farmers selling grapes in the domestic market also need to tell consumers that the quality of their product is good," Sawant said.

This World Food Day: Hope is Brewing in your cuppa!

Let me take you to the peace and quiet of the tea gardens of Assam, Nilgiris, Darjeeling and Meghalaya, where every tea leaf is brimming with life of its own. Here reside some of the people who care and nurture for your tea leaf before it gets processed, packaged and finally brewed to perfection
A Woman picking tea leaves in Munnar, Kerala. By Neha Saigal

Ever wondered what the person looks like behind your perfect cup of tea?
I don’t think many people do, as chai is all about making one’s own physical and mental state better. But what if I tell you that the person behind your tea is thinking about you, would you be surprised. I bet you would be!
But here is how I know this for a fact as I was fortunate enough to be part of a Greenpeace campaign that was all about making the future of Indian tea better. It started with a report release in Mumbai called Trouble Brewing, in August, which revealed the extent of pesticide residues in tea of our favourite brands globally and nationally. This was of course shocking to us as it was for the thousands of consumers who became aware about the issue. Nobody expects a beverage that you consume like water, daily, to be contaminated with pesticides like DDT, Endosulphan and Monoscrotophos.
But here we had 46 samples across major tea brands testing positive for a toxic cocktail of pesticides!
We took the results of the study along with the voices of thousands of Indians who came along with us on this journey of clean chai, to these tea companies. We were not surprised when most of them did the right thing and committed their support and investment in phasing out pesticides in tea cultivation, starting from next year. This was not only a huge boost to people power but a reassurance that tea companies had a commitment to keep their tea drinkers safe and happy everywhere.
The fact that a tea brand would go the extra mile to satisfy its consumer wouldn’t surprise most of us urban folk. But that’s not the end of the story. The best part is coming up!


Tea is well-known for the broad spectrum of medicinal benefits it provides to its daily drinkers. However, this hot cup of delicacy can become a part of your first aid kit owing to its many other .If for a few seconds I could take you away from your noisy and busy spaces to the peace and quiet of the tea gardens of Assam, Nilgiris, Darjeeling and Meghalaya, where every tea leaf is brimming with life of its own. Here reside some of the people who care and nurture for your tea leaf before it gets processed, packaged and finally brewed to perfection.
I am referring to the tea growers, the chances are that you will never get to know these people. But I am going to introduce you to a few that Greenpeace had come across in our quest to find ecologically grown, sustainable tea.
First there is Tenzing Bodosa who is from the Kachibari village of Assam, small tea grower who stopped using chemical pesticides to grow his tea, as he witnessed the impacts of these pesticides in the surrounding environment. He then decided that he didn’t want to poison people who finally drink his tea and stopped using chemicals in his tea cultivation. Then there is Ramesh Babu another small tea grower from the jewel like hills of Nilgiris. Everyone including his wife thought he was crazy when he decided to grow tea without chemicals. But determination and a love for his surrounding environment kept him going and today he advocates that ecological tea cultivation is not only environment friendly but also economically viable.
There are many tea growers large and small who are using a variety of practices and alternative pest control methods from neem leaves to cow urine to grow their tea in tune with the ecosystem without any chemicals to ensure they serve us good and clean tea. And if there is one thing we have learnt from these growers is that, like there is no single way to make your favourite cup of tea, there is no one way of growing safe and sustainable tea, there are a variety of them, some of which have been documented by Greenpeace in our report “Hope Brewing: Kotagiri to Kachibary: Case Studies on Ecological tea cultivation.”
The tea companies and tea growers who are thinking about the people who consume their tea symbolise that hope is truly brewing and there is a way out of this pesticide treadmill for the tea sector in India.
From this World Food Day (Oct 16th), the theme of which is about farmers this, I do hope your cuppa is not only about you but all those faces behind your tea, that are striving to make the future of Indian tea pesticide free.
Neha Saigal is a Senior Campaigner with Greenpeace India. Tweet your feedback to@NehaSaigal24

Rally to mark World Food Day on Oct 16

As much as 18 per cent of cooked food gets wasted in the city, a research by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, revealed. The figure could be higher now considering the study was undertaken two years ago, according to Karnataka Lekakiyara Sangha president Vasundhara Bhupathi.
Highlighting the research findings at a press conference here on Tuesday, she spoke about the programmes lined up for World Food Day which is observed on October 16. The day would be used to underscore the significance of not wasting food, she said, adding that the programme is being organised by the Food Conservation Campaign Committee, Madikeri, in association with the Karnataka State Science Council and the Karnataka Lekakiyara Sangha.
A public rally on the theme ‘Right to eat, not to waste’ will be organised. The rally, led by freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, includes people from all walks of life such as writers G. Ramakrishna, M.R. Nagaraj, S.D. Siddaramaiah, Marulasiddappa, environmentalist Suresh Heblikar, former Minister B.T. Lalitha Nayak, women’s organisations, college and school students and art troupes. It will commence from Malleswaram Grounds at 10 a.m. and will reach Freedom Park on Seshadri Road, where a public programme would be held after 12 p.m., Ms. Bhupathi added.
Elaborating on the study findings, Ms. Bhupathi said that 75 marriage halls in Bangalore were part of the research. Out of the 17.48 per cent food that goes wasted a year, 8 per cent is not even served. The value of the total wasted food could be a staggering Rs. 140.15 crore.
Former Minister Lalitha Nayak said that the awareness programme on food wastage may help curb wastage. “When large number of people are starving for food, each grain of rice is of utmost importance,” she said.

ILLEGAL FACTORY 100 quintals of unhygienic sweets seized

Dr Shivcharan Kahlon, district health officer, along with other members of his team inspects the sweets during the raid in Amritsar on Wednesday.

Amritsar, October 15
While the festive season is underway, the Health Department has seized around 100 quintals of sweets that were being prepared in unhygienic conditions in an illegal factory in the Mustafabad area on the Batala road during a raid last evening.
According to information, the owner of the factory did not have the requisite license under the Food Safety and Standard Act for storing and preparing such huge quantities of sweets. Health officials revealed that the sweets were being prepared and stored in highly unhygienic conditions where rats were roaming freely and the sweets were not even covered to prevent dust and dirt from falling on these.
The sweets were to be distributed in Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and other adjoining areas of Amritsar, including the Jalandhar and the Tarn Taran areas. The department took samples of the sweets, which were sent to Chandigarh for examination.
Dr Shivcharan Kahlon, district health officer, said the factory was owned by Naresh Kumar of the Jawahar Nagar area, who also reached the site later on. Kahlon said the department had sealed the factory and 100 quintals of sweets stored there. Further action would be initiated after getting the report.
“It would have taken more than a day to prepare such a huge quantity of sweets. That means it was several days old and hence could be dangerous for the health of the people,” Kahlon pointed out.
He further said that according to the Food Safety and Standard Act, it was mandatory to have medical examination of all persons, be it owners or employees involved in preparing food items, done. But no one in the factory here had the documents regarding their medical examination. He reinforced the fact that sweets were being prepared in a filthy environment.

FDA to food biz operators: Ensure quality

Stating that food business operators are food ambassadors, health secretary Dr Sharat Chavan urged them to ensure safety standards are maintained while preparing sweets.
“Prepare the sweets the same way that you would prepare for your family,” he added.
Chavan was speaking at a workshop conducted on Wednesday by the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on good sanitation and hygienic practices to be adopted by food business operators. The workshop was held at the FDA premises at Bambolim.
Speaking further, Chavan said consumers buy sweets from the vendors as they have trust and faith that it would be safe for their health.
“To retain this trust and faith, it is important that vendors ensure that quality and safety along with taste and nutrition are maintained,” he opined.
Speaking on the occasion, FDA Director Salim Veljee said the aim of the workshop is to impart knowledge on how to run business of sweet mart and Farsan in a safe manner. “Put into practice whatever knowledge you gain at the workshop,” he appealed to the vendors.
Drive to check adulterated food
OLD GOA: Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration will begin a drive, from Friday, to keep a check on adulterated food in view of the forthcoming Diwali festival.
FDA Director Salim Veljee informed that the department will form special squads for inspection.
“The consumer should ensure that they buy food products which have proper label, identification of product, packed date, best before use date, etc,” he informed.
He informed that from January 1, 2015, it is mandatory for every food product to contain the food safety license number of the manufacturer.
Veljee said if the consumers have any doubt they should lodge a complaint with the FDA on 2459226 or 2459230.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அதிரடி மேட்டூரில் பலகாரம் தயாரிப்பு கூடங்களில் சோதனை

மேட்டூர், அக்.16:
சேலம் மாவட்டம், மேட்டூரில் ஸ்வீட் கடைகள் மற்றும் பலகாரங்கள் தயாரிக்கப்படும் திருமண மண்டபங்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர் அனுராதா நேற்று அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினார்.
தீபாவளி பண்டிகையையொட்டி, ஸ்வீட் கடைகளில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் இனிப்புகளின் தரம், பேக்கிங் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் தயாரிப்பு தேதி ஆகியவற்றை ஆய்வு செய்தார். இதையடுத்து, திருமண மண்டபங்களில் தயார் செய்யப்படும் பலகாரங்களின் தரம், பயன்படுத்தப்படும் எண்ணெய் ஆகியவற்றை ஆய்வு செய்து, இனிப்புகளை தயாரித்து பேப்பர்களில் வைக்க கூடாது என எச்சரித்தார்.
பலகாரங்களின் நிறம் கூடுவதற்காக, வண்ணப்பொடிகள் சேர்க்க கூடாது எனவும் அறிவுறுத்தினார். ஆய்வின்போது சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் பண்டங்கள் தயாரித்தவர்களுக்கு நோட்டீஸ் கொடுக்கப்பட்டது. அப்போது, மேட்டூர் நகராட்சி உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர்கள் மாரியப்பன், இளங்கோவன், சிவானந்தம் உள்ளிட்டோர் உடனிருந்தனர்.

Food safety officials conduct raids across city

Danaraju, Food Safety Officer, inspects a sweet stall on Bharathi Street in Puducherry on Wednesday.
Food safety officials conducted raids across the city on Wednesday to check purity of sweets during the festive season.
The team, led by I. Danaraju, Food Safety Officer, took over 20 samples of sweets from various outlets in Bharathi Street in Puducherry, Mudaliarpet, Ariyankuppam and Villianur to check the quality of raw materials. Owners were instructed to maintain hygiene and quality as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Mr. Danaraju said that some made use of used palm oil with refined oil and offered discounts to meet the high demand. Sweets are also prepared in advance and sold in bulk. The samples would be tested at the Food and Drugs Testing Laboratory here. If any adulteration was found, stringent action would be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Public can send messages to 94435 36146 on adulteration in sweets, he added.

18 tonnes of adulterated pepper seized in Chennai

The food safety department on Wednesday seized 18 tonnes of adulterated pepper coated with cancer-causing mineral oils.
CHENNAI: The food safety department on Wednesday seized 18 tonnes of adulterated pepper coated with cancer-causing mineral oils such as liquid paraffin and burnt diesel oil in Broadway.
A team of officials raided the godown of a wholesaler on Varadha Muthaiappan Street and seized adulterated pepper worth 1.50 crore and 400 litres of mineral oil. "We sealed the godown of Venkateswara Traders and took samples for checks. The adulterated pepper will be destroyed with the consent of Spices of India," said an official.
The department received a tip about the illegal trade from a retailer in Old Washermenpet. "We seized adulterated pepper from him and traced the origin of the illegal trade after enquires," the official said adding that more raids would be initiated in the next few days.
"The mineral oil was used as a fungicide and polishing agent. We had seized it for the first time even though the practice had been in place for long. The use of any mineral oil in pepper is prohibited according to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act," the official said.
Sources say mineral oils are used to give more weight and dark black colour to pepper. "It is one of the methods to preserve the spice. But black pepper coated with mineral oil gives out a kerosene like smell," said a trader.
Experts say pepper coated with mineral oil is considered carcinogenic.
Santhana Rajan of the Consumer Association of India said few customers checked spices. "Adulterated pepper will have a shiny look due to addition of mineral oils but it can easily be identified by the colour."
He said traders engaged in the malpractices were not aware of the health risks. "No awareness campaigns are conducted to sensitise them."

DAILY THANTHI NEWS

பாலமலையில் புகையிலை பாக்கெட் பறிமுதல்

மேட்டூர்: உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர், மேட்டூரில் நேற்று நடத்திய ஆய்வின்போது, புகையிலை பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. தீபாவளி ஸ்வீட்கள் மாதிரி எடுத்து ஆய்வுக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டது.சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் மேட்டூர் தாலுகாவில், நேற்று மேச்சேரி, மேட்டூர், கொளத்தூரில் தீபாவளிக்காக திருமண மண்டபங்களில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் ஸ்வீட்களை ஆய்வு செய்தனர்.

ஆய்வின்போது, ஸ்வீட்களை, வெண்ணெய் காகிதத்தில் மட்டுமே அடுக்கி வைக்க வேண்டும், சாதாரண காகிதங்களில் வைக்க கூடாது. ஸ்வீட் மற்றும் கார வகைகளில் நிர்ணயித்த அளவு கலர் மட்டுமே சேர்க்க வேண்டும் என, அறிவுரை வழங்கினார். மேச்சேரி, மேட்டூர் மண்டபங்களில் கலர்பொடி அதிகம் கலந்து தயாரித்த ஸ்வீட் வகைகளை ஆய்வுக்காக எடுத்து கொண்டனர்.
மேட்டூரில் விற்பனைக்காக ஆட்டோவில் எடுத்து சென்ற, "சீல்' மற்றும், "பில்' இல்லாத தண்ணீர் கேன்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். பின்பு கொளத்தூர் அடுத்த பாலமலை பஞ்., ராமன்பட்டியில் இரு பெட்டிகடைகளில் சட்டவிரோதமாக விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்ட, புகையிலை பாக்கெட்டுகளும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

கலப்பட எண்ணெயில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டதா புதுவை ஸ்வீட்ஸ் கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சோதனை

புதுச்சேரி, அக். 16:
கலப்பட எண்ணெயில் இனிப்புகள் தயாரித்து விற்கப்படுகிறதா? என புதுவை ஸ்வீட்ஸ் கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
தீபாவளியை முன் னிட்டு ஸ்வீட்ஸ் கடை களில் இனிப்பு வகைகள் அதிகளவில் விற்பனை யாகும். இந்த வாய்ப்பை பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டு சில கடைகளில் உடல்நலத்திற்கு கேடு விளைவிக்கும் காலாவதியான பொருட் கள், கலப்பட மற்றும் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட எண்ணெய் மூலம் இனிப்பு வகைகள் செய்து விற்கப்படுவதை தடுக்க உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதி காரி தனராஜ் தலைமையில் ஊழியர்கள் நேற்று அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
பாரதி வீதி, முதலியார்பேட்டை, ரெட்டியார்பாளையம் பகுதிகளில் 50க்கும் மேற்பட்ட ஸ்வீட்ஸ் கடைகளில் இச்சோதனையை மேற்கொண்டனர். பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட சமையல் எண்ணைகளை மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்தி இனிப்பு வகைகளையோ, தின்பண்டங்களையோ தயாரித்து விற்கக் கூடாது, எந்த எண்ணெய் பயன்படுத்தி இனிப்புகள், தின்பண்டங்கள் தயாரிக்கப்படுகின்றன என்ற விவரத்தை வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் அறியுமாறு எழுதி வைக்க வும் அறிவுறுத்தினர்.
மேலும், ஸ்வீட்ஸ் கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் இனிப்பு வகைகளை ஆய்வக சோதனைக்காக எடுத்துச் சென்றனர்.
பெட்ரோலியம் ஈதர் இயந்திரம் மூலம் பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டு, அது எந்த எண்ணெயில் செய்யப்பட்டது, கலப்படமா போன்றவற்றை அறிய முடியும். இதுபற்றி அதி காரி தனராஜ் கூறும்போது, இனிப்பு வகைகள் பாமா யில், சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்ட சூரியகாந்தி எண்ணெய், நெய் ஆகியவனவற்றில் எதில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது என தெளிவாக வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் அறியும் வகை யில் எழுதி வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும். இதன் மூலம் அதிக விலை கொடுத்து வாங்குவது தவிர்க்கப்படும். சூரியகாந்தி எண்ணை யில் செய்யப்பட்டதை நெய்யில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது என கூறி விற்பது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி குற்றமாகும். பொதுமக்கள் குறைந்த விலையில் விற்கப்படும் இனிப்பு பண்டங்களின் தரம் அறிந்து கவனமாக வாங்க வேண்டும். தாங்கள் வாங்கும் இனிப்பு பண்டங்கள் தொடர்பாக ஏதேனும் புகார் இருந்தால் 94435&36146 என்ற எண் ணில் தொடர்பு கொள்ள லாம், அல்லது எஸ்எம்எஸ் அனுப்பலாம் என்றார்.

பாலில் கலப்படம் பால் வியாபாரிக்கு 3 மாதம் சிறை

சாத்தூர், அக். 16:
பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்து விற்ப னை செய்த வழக்கில் பால் வியாபாரிக்கு 3 மாதம் சிறை தண்டனை விதித்து சாத்தூர் கோர்ட் தீர்ப்பளித்தது.
சாத்தூர் நகராட்சி பகுதிகளில் நகராட்சி உணவு ஆய்வாளர் நாராயணன் கடந்த 2010ம் ஆண்டு ரோ ந்து பணியில் ஈடுபட்டார். அப்போது பொதுமக்களு க்கு விநியோகிக்கப்படும் பால் தரத்தை ஆய்வு செய்துள்ளார். இதில் சின்னகொல்லபட்டியை சேர்ந்த பால் வியாபாரி சோலை ராஜ் கொண்டு வந்த பசும்பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது தெரிய வந்தது.
உணவு கலப்பட தடைச்சட்ட இணை இயக்குநர் மற்றும் விருதுநகர் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் கவிக்குமார் ஆலோசனையின் பேரில் பால் வியாபாரி சோலை ராஜ் மீது சாத்தூர் கோர் டில் வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது.
வழக்கை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி மாரியப்பன், பால் வியாபாரிக்கு 3 மாதம் சிறை தண்டனையும், ஆயி ரம் ரூபாய் அபராதமும் விதித்து தீர்ப்பளித்தார்.

Vendor jailed for selling adulterated milk

A 40-year-old milk vendor of Kollapatti village near here was convicted for selling adulterated milk.
Magistrate K. Mariappan of Judicial Magistrate (II) Court, Sattur sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for three months and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000.
According to prosecution, during a surprise inspection carried out in 2010, the accused identified as Solairaj (40) was found guilty of selling adulterated milk deemed unfit for consumption.
S. Narayanan, the Food Safety Officer, Sattur Municipality conducted a raid on November 05, 2010 and seized the milk, which was sent for analysis at a laboratory in Madurai.
Later, tests revealed that the SNF (Solid Not Fat) content was below eight per cent and it was adulterated.
A case was registered against the milk vendor under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
Tests revealed that SNF (Solid Not Fat) content was below eight per cent and it was adulterated

Food safety, testing standards for midday meal from Jan 1

A protocol for standards in food safety and testing to ensure quality of the meals and appropriate nutrition standards under the Mid Day Meal Scheme will be rolled out in the coming New Year.
This was decided at a meeting of the empowered committee for the Mid Day Meal Scheme under the chairpersonship of Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani here today, an official release here said.
The committee reviewed the implementation of the Mid Day Meal Scheme and decided to strengthen the monitoring system as also ensure community participation in its execution.
Another decision taken was regarding introduction of the practice of 'Tithi Bhojan' across the country, based on its success in Gujarat where community members contribute to improve quality of the school mid day meals on a happy occasion/event in the family be it a birthday or festival.
Representatives of state governments, food and nutrition experts and senior officers of the Central Government took part in the meeting.

Midday meals: Food safety measures, testing standards to be introduced

NEW DELHI: After several postponements, the empowered committee on midday meal headed by HRD minister Smriti Irani met on Wednesday.
Though several decisions were taken, HRD ministry did not say anything about increasing the remuneration of cook-cum-helpers who get paltry Rs 1000 per month. Cabinet note proposing monthly salary of Rs 2000 was rejected by the new government and since then has been gathering dust in the ministry. Considered crucial to the MDM operation, poor state of cook-cum-helpers has been pointed out by several independent studies. After last year's tragedy in Bihar that led to the death of more than 20 children, poor working condition of cook-cum-helpers was highlighted. Increasing the salary could have led to additional expenditure of Rs 2000 crore per annum.
Irani asked state governments to resolve the issue of payment to Food Corporation of India which supplies foodgrains for MDM throughout the country. Since HRD ministry releases fund for food grains in advance, state governments were asked not to keep arrears. Bihar government that owes over Rs 100 crore to FCI was told to clear the arrears.
Bihar education minister Brishen Patel told the meeting that centralized kitchen be made at the block level so that teachers do not get involved in the task of cooking. It is unlikely that Patel's suggestion will be accepted.
Meeting stressed on increasing safety measures in cooking and regular testing of cooked food. In order to ensure quality of the meals and appropriate nutrition standards under MDM, it was decided to introduce a protocol for standards in food safety and testing. It will be rolled out from next year.

But it is Tithi Bhojan scheme on which a lot of time was spent in the meeting. Initially started in Gujarat , the scheme envisages contribution from community members to mid-day meal on occasions like festivals, birthdays or any happy occasion. Even those whose children do not go to school can contribute by getting something special to eat for children. Variants of Tithi scheme is found in other states. Now it will be expanded at the national stage.

HC bans import of food additive Allura Red

The Delhi High Court today banned import of food additive Allura Red AC, also a colouring agent, after the country's food safety authority admitted it was a prohibited chemical.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul, however, questioned how the additive was being permitted to be imported according to guidelines issued by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) Chairman.
"If it is prohibited, it is prohibited. How is he (FSSAI Chairman) permitting it," the court asked the lawyer appearing for the authority.
While the FSSAI Chairman had allegedly allowed import of food items having chemicals permitted in the Codex Alimentarius - a collection of internationally recognised standards relating to foods, food production and food safety - which has not banned Allura Red, the authority in its affidavit had admitted that the additive was prohibited.
The court questioned how FSSAI is authorising labs for testing food items in general as well as imported eatables and how the jurisdiction of the laboratories is being determined.
It also expressed its dissatisfaction with the affidavit of FSSAI with respect to authorising of labs for testing food items in general and imported food articles according to FSSAI regulations.
"Proper affidavit be filed indicating compliance of the regulations and also specifying the manner of notification and area of jurisdiction of each lab," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on December 3.
FSSAI in its affidavit had said there are around 68 private accredited labs which have been tasked with testing safety of food items.
However, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner - NGO Lok Jagriti - questioned the accreditation of the labs as well as their authorisation to test food items, especially those that are imported, saying no notification to that effect has been issued by FSSAI.

WHO raises red flag against energy drinks

The global health watch dogs have announced that energy drinks are all set to become a significant public health problem if their use among young people is not addressed.

LONDON: For the first time, the World Health Organization has raised the red flag against energy drinks.
The global health watch dogs have announced that energy drinks are all set to become a significant public health problem if their use among young people is not addressed.
They have called for a cap on caffeine levels and restrictions on their sale and marketing.
Energy drinks are known to contain high caffeine levels, which cause palpitations, hypertension, vomiting, convulsions and in extreme cases heart failure leading to death.
It said that in 2006, almost 500 new brands of energy drinks were released worldwide. The energy drink industry is booming, with sales of energy drinks estimated to be over $ 12.5 billion in 2012, an increase of 60% from 2008 to 2012.
Energy drinks are relatively new to the wider soft drinks market, with the first energy drink launched in Japan in 1960. Energy drinks first appeared in Europe in 1987 before quickly expanding throughout the rest of Europe and appearing in the US in 1997.



While no standard definition of an "energy drink" is used in the scientific literature, it is commonly understood to be a non-alcoholic drink that contains caffeine (usually its main ingredient), taurine and vitamins marketed for its perceived or actual benefits as a stimulant, for improving performance and for increasing energy.taurine and vitamins marketed for its perceived or actual benefits as a stimulant, for improving performance and for increasing energy.
A WHO study said "Although energy drinks are a relatively new class of beverage, they are quickly becoming as a central part of the partying subculture, particularly among young people who commonly mix energy drinks with alcohol. The aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted at young people combined with limited and varied regulation have created an environment where energy drinks could pose a significant threat to public health ".
In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) commissioned a study to gather consumption data for energy drinks in 16 countries of the European Union. They found that 68% of adolescents (aged 10-18 years old), 30% of adults, and 18% of children consumed energy drinks. Among adolescents, consumption varied from 48% in Greece to 82% in the Czech Republic. Among children, consumption varied from 6% in Hungary to 40% in the Czech Republic.EFSA) commissioned a study to gather consumption data for energy drinks in 16 countries of the European Union. They found that 68% of adolescents (aged 10-18 years old), 30% of adults, and 18% of children consumed energy drinks. Among adolescents, consumption varied from 48% in Greece to 82% in the Czech Republic. Among children, consumption varied from 6% in Hungary to 40% in the Czech Republic.
Joao Breda from WHO Europe said that over 70% of 18- to 29-year olds who drink energy drinks mix them with alcohol. The study authors said research has shown this is more risky than drinking alcohol alone, possibly because energy drinks make it harder for people to notice when they are getting drunk even though there is no reduction in intoxication.Breda from WHO Europe said that over 70% of 18- to 29-year olds who drink energy drinks mix them with alcohol. The study authors said research has shown this is more risky than drinking alcohol alone, possibly because energy drinks make it harder for people to notice when they are getting drunk even though there is no reduction in intoxication.


The WHO said "Consumption of energy drinks among adolescents is associated with other potentially negative health and behavioral outcomes such as sensation seeking, use of tobacco and other harmful substances, and binge drinking and is associated with a greater risk for depression and injuries that require medical treatment. Recent literature has also found an increasing number of problems with behavior modification and cognitive capabilities in adolescents who use energy drinks.

Further studies from the US found a positive association between energy drink consumption and high-risk behaviors including marijuana use, fighting, sexual risk taking, failure to use seatbelts, taking risks on a dare, smoking, drinking, problems stemming from alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use. Another study from the US military indicated that soldiers who consumed energy drinks had a higher prevalence of suicidality and soldiers who combined energy drinks with alcohol had an even higher prevalence.
The consumption of high amounts of caffeine contained within energy drinks reduces drowsiness without diminishing the effects of alcohol resulting in a state of "wide awake drunkenness," keeping the individual awake longer with the opportunity to continue drinking.
WHO adds that the review of the published literature on energy drinks identifies a number of policies that might be considered by policy makers as they move to minimize the potential for harmful effects from energy drink consumption.
"There should be an evidence-based, upper limit for the amount of caffeine allowed in a single serving of any drink. The restriction of sales to children and adolescents should be considered due to the potentially harmful adverse and developmental effects of caffeine on children. Energy drink manufacturers aggressively market their products to children, adolescents, and young adults. The absence of regulatory oversight in many countries has contributed to the aggressive marketing of energy drinks targeted primarily toward young males ". WHO added that even as little as 50mg of caffeine can induce tachycardia and agitation. In overdose, caffeine toxicity can mimic amphetamine poisoning and lead to seizures, psychosis, cardiac arrhythmias and potentially but rarely, death.

குழித்துறை, களியக்காவிளையில் ஓட்டல், பேக்கரிகளில் அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு-கெட்டுப்போன உணவு பொருட்கள் அழிப்பு

மார்த்தாண்டம், அக்.15:
குமரிமாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் சாலோடீசன் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் நேற்று குழித்துறையில் உள்ள ஒருசில ஓட்டல்கள், பேக்கரிகளில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அப்போது ஒரு ஓட்டலில் வீடுகளில் பயன்படுத்தும் கேஸ் சிலிண்டர் பயன்படுத்தியது தெரிய வந்தது. அங்கிருந்த 3 சிலிண்டர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.
மேலும் ஓட்டலில் விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த கெட்டுப்போன இறைச்சி, காலாவதியான எண்ணெய், பலநாட்களான தயிர் போன்றவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். அந்த ஓட்டல்களுக்கு அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். மேலும் அந்த பகுதிகளில் உள்ள கடைகள், பேக்கரிகளில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். இதில் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.
களியக்காவிளை:
இது போல் களியக்காவிளை பகுதியில் உள்ள மளிகை கடைகள், பேக்கரிகள், மளிகை அங்காடி போன்றவற்றில் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். இதில் காலாவதியான எண்ணைகள், மசாலா வகைகள், கேக் உள்ளிட்ட பேக்கரி பொருட்கள், அதிக நாட்களாக பதப்படுத்தி வைத்திருந்த மீன்கள் விற்பனை செய்வது தெரிய வந்தது.
அவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் கைப்பற்றி களியக்காவிளை சந்தைக்கு கொண்டு சென்று அழித்தனர். மேலும் காலாவதியான பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்தால் கடைகளுக்கு சீல் வைத்து, அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தனர்.
பெயரளவுக்கு சோதனை
மார்த்தாண்டத்தில் ஏராளமான ஓட்டல்கள், பேக்கரிகள், டீக்கடைகள் உள்ளன. பெரும்பாலான ஓட்டல்களில் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் தான் உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. மார்த்தாண்டம் பகுதியில் உள்ள ஓட்டல்கள் மற்றும் உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்களில் அதிகாரிகள் சரியாக சோதனை செய்வதில்லை. பெரிய ஓட்டல்கள், பேக்கரிகள் உள்ளிட்ட நிறுவனங்கள் அதிகாரிகளை சரிகட்டுவதாக கூறப்படுகிறது. இதனால் பெயரளவுக்கு மட்டுமே சோதனை நடத்தி விட்டு, பெரிய நிறுவனங்களை கண்டு கொள்ளாமல் செல்வதாக பொதுமக்கள் குற்றம் சாட்டி உள்ளனர்.

Reusing Cooking Oil? Not a Great Idea

Indian cooking is incomplete without the use of oil. Almost every recipe starts with a few spoons of oil. We use it for sautéing, for the quintessential tadka and not to forget for deep frying mouth-watering pakoras, bondas and vadas. Oil is an essential ingredient required to satiate Indian food palette.
Due to heavy usage of oil in restaurants and households oil is recycled for economic purposes. How safe is this practice of reusing cooking oil? The reused oil does not contain the nutritional benefits your body needs. “A study conducted by the students of Surgical Gastroenterology Department at the Madras Medical College (MMC) revealed that 90 percent of those suffering from food pipe cancer had been consuming food prepared with reheated or reused cooking oil.”
For all the street food lovers, here is an eye opener: The study mentioned above also stated that most street food is made with reused oil and contains food additives rich in saturated and trans fat that can be carcinogens or trigger cancer.
Reused oil can create free radicals, which can be carcinogenic. These free radicals attach themselves to healthy cells. This can result in an increase of bad cholesterol levels and block arteries as well. Spanish researchers found that people whose kitchens combined any type of oil that had been reused many times were more likely to have high blood pressure than people whose cooking oils were changed frequently.
Some other hazards of reusing cooking oil are: Acidity, heart diseases, alzheimers, parkinson’s disease and irritable throat. Nutritionists recommend using a fresh batch of oil each time to avoid diseases.
Also when you store used oil bacteria begins to feed on the food particles left in the oil. This can lead to fatal food poisoning. Very few people are aware of the dangerous effects of recycled cooking oil. It is now time to understand them and adapt ourselves to healthy cooking habits. Some bad cooking habits are difficult to break and most of the times we are also unaware of the hazardous effects of certain cooking practices.
Here are some bad cooking habits to get rid of:
Do not heat oil until it smokes: We often heat the oil in the pan until it becomes really hot. This is a bad practice- As heating oil until it smokes destroys the oil’s beneficial antioxidants and form harmful compounds.
Do not use non-stick pan on high heat: High temperatures cause the non stick lining to release PFCs (Perfluorocarbons) in the form of fumes. PFC’s can cause liver damage and also developmental problems.
Best oils to use: Extra virgin olive oil and Canola oil are considered as the best oils to use. Soybean oil and palm oil can be skipped due to their poor nutritional content.
Shop healthy: Healthy cooking starts with a healthy grocery list. Stock your refrigerator with fresh, organic foods. Try to include lean proteins and unrefined grains.
Watch your diet and protect your health. After all health is wealth!

Scotch shipment held up over non-compliance

1% of the shipments has been rejected so far this year, compared to under 2% last year.
NEW DELHI: For all the noise by foreign chocolate manufacturers and scotch and wine makers over the food safety regulator holding up consignments, it turns out that around 1% of the shipments has been rejected so far this year, compared to under 2% last year.
What's more, the maximum number of rejections was due to the absence of the date of manufacturing and the manufacturer's name — issues seen as critical from safety point of view — followed by labeling-related issues and the lack of ingredients list, official data accessed by TOI has revealed. There are several cases where goods with unpermitted ingredients were being imported into the country but were stopped at ports.
Over the past few months, chocolate, food and alcohol importers had created a lot of noise over shipments being rejected on various grounds, with some going to the extent of suggesting that several important ingredients used by specialty restaurants were not available due to Food Safety Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) crackdown. There have also been suggestions that it would be tough to find imported chocolates this Diwali. But data tells a different story. Between April and August this year, of the 304 consignments that were not issued the 'non-compliance certificate,' 26, which is the maximum number, related to flavours, which are added to various food products. This was followed by alcohol (17), beverages (16), chocolates (14) and confectionary (13). In case of chocolates, several consignments of global giants were rejected as they contained vegetable fat, which was as high as 70% in some cases and were being brought into the country as dark, white or milk compounds, said sources familiar with the development.

Is it really all doom and gloom for wine lovers in India?

 

"I cling to the belief that there are good times ahead for wine enthusiasts, but from what I hear these are sad days indeed for our young wine culture," writes Reva K. Singh in her Editor's Note. "Illogical, contradictory and vague government regulations have sent the industry into a tailspin."
The hospitality industry is facing a severe shortage of wine and other premium alcohol beverages. Speciality restaurants are finding it difficult to maintain a good wine list or offer their patrons authentic gourmet fare due to the paucity of imported ingredients.
I'm told containers of wine and luxury foods worth millions of rupees have been turned back or are languishing in our ports waiting for clearance. The root of the problem apparently is the heavy-handed strictures of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Wine importers say that the FSSAI's insistence on minutiae such as the format of manufacturing and expiry dates printed on labels even when they are in step with Codex - the global standard for such imports - has affected the supplies of premium alcoholic brands as well as luxury foods such as artisanal cheeses, foie gras, Swiss chocolates and so on.
But it's not all doom and gloom for us wine drinkers. After all, wine shops haven't downed their shutters and it's still possible to plan wine dinners and enjoy a meal with a glass of good wine at a restaurant. The Sommelier India Wine Circle is doing well and organised a spate of high-end wine dinners recently.
Many prominent international producers are staying the course and continue to export to India. I read an encouraging report the other day in the international wine press expressing confidence in the Indian consumer and Bordeaux-based American négociant, Jeffrey Davies who runs Signature Selections is actively looking to expand in India.
"We're sifting through the current wine & spirit importers and distributors to figure out who'd be the best fit for our range of wines," Davies asserts in the article, "Fine Wine Trade Eyes Up India" in The Drinks Business.
He believes that as Indian consumers learn more about wine, starting with drinking our own wines, the Indian wine market will continue to grow. What's more, he thinks others in Bordeaux feel the same way.
"With the tremendous slowdown in China, and a certain slowdown in America, they're looking to other markets within the BRICs. Russia's having embargo troubles, so India and Brazil are becoming areas of interest.
Let's hope our monumental import restrictions and complex procedures don't dampen his spirits (pardon the pun), even though Davies knows what he's up against.
"The current duty situation is a limiting factor, and I don't think it's going to change any time soon," he acknowledges. "We ran some cost analysis and found that a wine that left Bordeaux at say €5 ended up on a retail shelf in India at €25."

Check Milk & Milk Products for Adulterants with simple tests at Home

Milk & Milk Products
Festivals are always celebrated with sweets and various food products. However, since food adulteration is at its peak during the festive season, we have come up with a list of doable tests to detect some common adulterants in Milk & Milk Products which may help you keep safe. Merely inspecting milk or food visually may not be helpful enough to detect an adulterant as they are concealed very skillfully. Adulterants in food can pose a serious health risk. Carry out these simple tests at home to ensure that you are consuming safe and adulterant free food during the festive season. The following information is being shared with you as per the guidelines from FSSAI.
Home tests for adulteration in milk and milk products
Water in milk is easy to detect with this simple test. Place a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. If water is mixed in the milk it will glide down swiftly. If the milk is pure it will glide down slowly and will leave a white trail behind.
Starch: Add a few drops of tincture of iodine or iodine solution to a little milk. If the milk turns blue it means it contains starch. Iodine solution is easily available in medical stores.
Starch like mashed potatoes in khoya and khoya products, chenna and paneer: Boil a small quantity of sample food product in water. When the heated mixture becomes cool, add a few drops of iodine solution. If the colour of the mixture turns blue it means there is starch in the food product.
Urea: Place a teaspoon of milk in a test tube or glass container. Add a teaspoonful of soya bean or arhar dal powder to it. Mix up the contents thoroughly. After five minutes, dip a strip of red litmus paper into the mixture. Wait for half a minute. If the red litmus paper has changed colour from red to blue it means there is urea in the milk.
Detergent: Take 5 to 10ml of milk and an equal amount of water in a container. Shake it up well. Lather formation indicates detergent in the milk.
Test for Glucose/Invert Sugar: This kind of sugar syrup is added to milk to increase the consistency and enhance the taste. Take a diabetic test strip and dip it in the milk for 30 seconds to 1 minute. If the test strip changes colour, then it shows that the sample of milk contains glucose. If there is no change in the colour of the strip it proves there is no glucose in the milk.
Synthetic milk: Synthetic milk contains white coloured water, paint, oils, alkali, urea and detergent. Synthetic milk tastes bitter, has a soapy texture when you rub it between your fingers and it turns yellowish on heating.
Synthetic milk-test for protein: Milk can easily be tested by Urease Strips. Urease Strip is a biostrip based on enzymatic assay and is available in medical stores. The colour chart of the Urease Strip test given below will show the quantity of urea present in milk.

No.	Urea in Milk (g/L)	Colour of the Strip
1	0-0.2	Yellow
2	0.2-0.7	Peach
3	0.7-1.20	Reddish Brown
4	1.20-1.70	Pink
5	1.7-14.00	Magenta

Laboratory Testing Procedures for Checking Adulterants in Milk and Milk Products

Laboratory Testing for Dairy Products

Milk is a product that is always in demand and when supplies cannot be met then adulterators indulge in dangerous techniques by using cheap alternatives to increase the volume of milk. Sometime back, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had released a document which described the procedures that laboratories can use to analyze adulterants in food products.
The below information would be useful while testing Milk & Milk Products:
Vanaspati in milk: Place 3ml of milk in a test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid and one teaspoonful of sugar to the milk and mix thoroughly. If the mixture turns red after 5 minutes it means vanaspati is present in the milk.
Vanaspati in sweet curd: Place one teaspoonful of sweet curd in the test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid. Gently shake the test tube to mix contents thoroughly. If curd changes colour and becomes red after five minutes it means vanaspati is present in the curd.
Vanaspati or margarine in ghee: Take a test tube with a stopper. Place one teaspoonful of melted ghee with an equal quantity of concentrated hydrochloric acid in the test tube and add a pinch of salt to this. Shake for one minute and let it stand for five minutes. The presence of vanaspati or margarine is indicated if the lower acid layer turns crimson.
Formalin in milk: Formalin is used by adulterators as a preservative. Test requires that you place 10ml of milk in test tube. Carefully add 5ml of concentrated sulphuric acid to the milk by pouring it along the side of the test tube. Ensure that the milk and sulphuric acid do not mix. The appearance of a blue or violet ring at the point where the two liquids meet indicates the presence of formalin in the milk.
Salt in milk:
Place 5ml of silver nitrate reagent in a test tube. Add 2-3 drops of potassium dichromate reagent to this. Further add 1ml of milk to this test tube and shake to mix thoroughly.
If the contents of the test tube turn yellow it means the milk contains salt.
If the colour of the mixture changes to chocolate or reddish brown it means there is no salt present in the milk.
Sugar is in milk: Place a 3ml sample of milk in a test tube. Add 2ml of the hydrochloric acid and after that 50mg of resorcinol. Sugar is present in the milk if the colour changes to red.
Ammonium sulphate in milk: Ammonium sulphate is used by adulterators to increase the lactometer reading of milk. Take 5ml of hot milk in a test tube. Add a suitable acid like citric acid. This will curdle the milk, now separate the whey by filtering it. Place the filtered whey in another test tube and add 0.5ml of 5% barium chloride. If there are precipitates, it indicates the presence of ammonium sulphate.
You can also check for ammonium sulphate through a second method. To 5ml milk in a test tube add
5 ml of 2% of sodium hydroxide
5 ml of 2% sodium hypochlorite
5 ml of 5% phenol solution
Heat this mixture for 20 seconds in a vessel of boiling water.
If the light blue mixture changes to a deep blue colour, it means ammonium sulphate is present in the milk.
However, if the colour changes to pink it means there is no ammonium sulphate in the milk.
Hydrogen peroxide in milk: Place 5ml milk in a test tube. Add 3 drops of paraphenylene diamine and shake well. Presence of hydrogen peroxide is confirmed if the colour of the milk changes to blue. In a second testing method place a 10ml milk sample in a test tube, add 10 -15 drops of vanadium pentoxide reagent and mix well. If the milk changes colour to pink or red it indicates the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
Sodium bi-carbonate/neutralize in milk: Place 3ml of milk in a test tube and add
5 ml of rectified spirit to it, now add 4 drops of rosolic acid solution. Sodium bicarbonate will be present if the colour of the milk changes to red/ rosy.
Boric acid in milk: Place 3ml of milk in a test tube. Add 20 drops of hydrochloric acid and shake the test tube to mix up the contents thoroughly. Dip a yellow paper-strip into this mixture and remove the same after one minute. If the colour of the strip changes from yellow to red, followed by a further change of colour from red to green it indicates the presence of boric acid in the milk. Yellow paper strips are prepared by dipping stripped pieces of filter paper in an aqueous solution of turmeric and then dried completely.
Blotting Paper in Rabri: Place a teaspoonful of rabri in a test tube. Add 3ml of hydrochloric acid and 3ml of distilled water. Stir the contents with a glass rod. Remove the rod and examine it. If fine fibres are seen on the glass rod it means there is blotting paper in the rabri.
Use of coal tar dyes in ghee, cottage cheese, condensed milk, khoya, milk powder: Add 5ml of dilute sulphuric acid or concentrated hydrochloric acid to one teaspoonful of food product sample in a test tube. Presence of coal tar dyes is indicated if the colour changes to
Pink in case diluted sulphuric acid is used for the test
Crimson in case concentrated hydrochloric acid is used. If using hydrochloric acid shows no change in colour then dilute it with water to see the colour result.
Fat removed from milk: If fat has been removed from milk then the lactometer will show a reading of above 26 but the milk will appear thick.

Food dept kicks off anti-adulteration drive ahead of Diwali

DEHRADUN: With the festival of lights barely a week away, the food safety and standards department has started keeping tabs on the quality of edibles being sold in the state, to keep adulteration of food products, especially sweetmeats, in check.
The department has started working earlier than usual this year, keeping in mind that they had collected over 95 adulterated food samples from all over Uttarakhand last year.
All the sweet manufacturing and processing units in the state have been identified and listed to make supervision easier. Initially, the hygiene standards of the units and their workers are being inspected.
"This time we have started the drive quite early. We have been issuing hygiene guidelines to sweet manufacturers as they are gearing up for the festive season," said Anoj Thapliyal, food security officer, Dehradun.
In the later stages, quality of food products and manufacturing techniques involved will also be reviewed. Manufacturing substandard products unfit for consumption will be considered quality violations, while irregularities in labels and packaging will be counted among technical violations.
The department plans to intensify field visits and sample testing from next week, prosecuting violators as per Food Safety and Standards Act (2006).

Beware of sweet adulteration, Diwali’s round the corner

With the onset of festive season, how can adulteration be far behind? Increased consumption of sweets means more demand for dairy products providing an opportunity to unscrupulous elements to make quick money by selling substandard stuff. Moreover, with a low conviction rate the repeated raids by the health authorities fail to act as a deterrent to check food adulteration.
Around Diwali every year at least 8-10 lakh sweet boxes (1 kg each) are sold in Chandigarh, but even after paying more customers are not sure of getting unadulterated food. The failure of health authorities to prove the allegations due to improper sampling have led to a high rate of acquittal. In the past four months, about 20 cases registered under prevention of food adulteration have been disposed of and only in one case allegations were proved and a person convicted. Around 250 cases are pending under the Prevention of Adulteration Act.
In June, a court held Anil Thakur hailing from Himachal Pradesh guilty and imposed rs15,000 fine on him. Thakur of AB foods situated in Sungal and Rampur Tea estates, Palampur, was convicted for misbranding. The health department had seized 20 bottles of orange squash from a shop in Manimajra. Setting the record straight, Dr KS Rana, designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, said, “The low conviction has been an area of concern but with the new act - Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 - which replaces the prevention of food adulteration act, the conviction rate has improved. Most of the cases are still pending in the courts.”
Food adulteration cases registered under the prevention of food adulteration have been pending for more than two decades. After being pending for so long, all a person, if convicted, gets minimum sentence of one day of sitting in court and a maximum of imprisonment of a few months. Most of the cases registered in the city are for misbranding. “The cases of misbranding are more in the city as compared to food adulteration,” said Dr KS Rana, designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
No awareness on new Act
The lack of awareness among small vendors selling edible items about the Food Safety and Standards Act that provides for mandatory registration of shopkeepers dealing with sale of edible items is another area of concern. As per the Act, those associated with the food business and having turnover of `12 lakh per annum and above have to procure licence. Outlets having annual turnover less than `12 lakh have to get registration done under the act. “The awareness among resident is low but we hope that all vendors will be registered by February. The process of licensing is on and once done will definitely help check food adulteration,” said Dr Rana.
DC directs health dept to be vigilant
SAS Nagar DC Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu directed the health officials to keep a close watch on defaulters and initiate action against them. Approximately one quintal cream, which was in unwanted condition, was destroyed on the spot.

Expired food products are sold in Puducherry, alleges BJP

The Puducherry unit of the BJP has alleged that expired food products are being sold in large quantities across Union Territory in the absence of periodic inspections by officials of the Department of Food and Drug Administration.
BJP general secretary R.V. Saminathan said, “In most of shops, expired food substances such as soft drinks and biscuits are being sold freely. As there are no sufficient numbers of inspectors to conduct inspections and prevent sale of expired foods, all walks of people, including schoolchildren, buy only these foods.”
In a memorandum, he alleged that Chinese milk chocolates and crackers banned by the Union government were sold in super markets and shops. Packed water bottles without ISI marks were supplied to people at functions.

Health officials order closure of engineering college hostels

Two hostels and a canteen of an engineering college in the district have been ordered to be shut down in a raid conducted by Health officials on Tuesday.
District Medical Officer Haseena Mohammed passed the orders after health officials found that the hostels and canteen of Jai Bharat College of Management and Engineering, Vengola, Perumbavur, were functioning in an unhygienic condition.
The team also conducted checks at the Sree Narayana Gurukulam College of Engineering at Kadayiruppu, where a few students had complained of nausea after consuming food from the hostel mess on Saturday evening, said a communication. Health officials will carry out inspection at hostels and canteens of educational institutions in the district.

Officials wary of action against retailers in run-up to Deepavali

Abuse of electricity, adulteration major concerns
Sources in the Food Safety Department say that several shops protested when food samples were taken to test for adulteration.
A Food Safety Officer said that some of the shopkeepers questioned the timing of the raids and inspections, stepped up ahead of Deepavali.
The reason for taking samples, the officer added, was to crack down on adulteration during the festive season. Many shops resort to adulteration to meet the demand which increased exponentially. The officials are apprehensive that shopkeepers can term the raids as an attempt to “extort” money during the run-up to Deepavali.
D. Nandakumar, president of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, says that the festive season is the time when retailers are busy and expect a huge crowd.
Officials should issue prior notice to the traders before an inspection so that designated persons are deputed by the business establishments to answer queries by the officials.
Fear of corruption charge or complaints of extortion should not deter the official machinery from enforcing rules. Officials should conduct checks in a transparent manner so that it does not lead to complaints of demand for money. Traders should also comply with the norms, says K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.

DINAMALAR NEWS