உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தை உறுதிப்படுத்த வேண்டும்: சீன கலப்பட அரிசிக்கு எதிராக வழக்கு தொடர்ந்த டெல்லி வழக்கறிஞர் பேட்டி

நம் நாட்டின் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டம் திருத்தப்பட்டு, உறுதியாக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்று, சீன கலப்பட அரிசிக்கு எதிராக டெல்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்த மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர் சுக்ரீவா துபே கூறியுள்ளார்.

குடிநீர், உணவுப் பொருட்கள், தாவரங்கள் போன்றவற்றின் பாது காப்பு தொடர்பாக கடந்த 25 ஆண்டு களாக 500-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பொது நல வழக்குகளை இவர் தொடர்ந் துள்ளார். 74 வயதான சுக்ரீவா துபே, இந்திய கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் அரசியல் குழு உறுப்பினர். உணவுப் பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் குறித்து ‘தி இந்து’வின் கேள்விகளுக்கு விளக்கமாக பதில் அளித்தார்.

சீனாவில் இருந்து இறக்குமதி செய் யப்படும் அரிசியில் பிளாஸ்டிக் கலந்திருப்பதாக நீங்கள் கண்டு பிடித்தது எப்படி?

ஆந்திராவில் இருந்து என்னை சந்திக்க வந்த எங்கள் கட்சியை சேர்ந்த ஏழை விவசாயி ஒருவர் பேச்சுவாக்கில் இதை என்னிடம் கூறினார். இதைக்கேட்டு அதிர்ச்சி யடைந்த நான் மேலும் விசாரித் தேன். இதில் உருளை, சர்க்கரை வள்ளிக் கிழங்கு 60 சதவீதமும் பிளாஸ்டிக் (கண்களுக்கு அழகாக தெரியும் வகையில் உருவம் கொடுக்க) 40 சதவீதமும் கலந்து போலி அரிசி தயாரிக்கப்படுவது தெரியவந்தது. தைவானுக்கு அருகிலுள்ள சோன்ஜி மாவட்டத் தில் இந்த போலி அரிசி தயாரிக்கப் படுவதாகவும், இங்கு சீனர்கள் தவிர வெளிநாட்டினர் எவரும் அனுமதிக்கப்படுவதில்லை எனவும் தெரியவந்துள்ளது.

நீங்கள் கூறுவதை பார்த்தால் அது அரிசியே இல்லை என்று தெரிகிறது. இதை மக்கள் கண்டுபிடிக்க முடியாதா?

உணவுப் பரிசோதனைக் கூடங் களால் மட்டுமே இதை கண்டு பிடிக்க முடியும். ஏனெனில், தனி யாக இறக்குமதி செய்யப்படுவதை அப்படியே விற்பனை செய்யாமல், அதிக விலை கொண்ட உயர்ரக அரிசியில் கலந்து விற்கப்படுகிறது. இது, குறிப்பாக தென்னிந்திய மாநிலங்களில் அதிலும் தமிழகம் மற்றும் ஆந்திராவில் அதிகமாக கலப்படம் செய்து விற்கப்படுகிறது.

பொதுமக்களுக்கு தரமான உணவு கிடைக்கச் செய்வது அரசின் கடமை. இதை உண்பவர் கள் மெல்ல, மெல்ல புற்றுநோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு உயிரிழக்கும் ஆபத்து உள்ளது.

பருப்பு வகைகளிலும் கலப்படம் இருப்பதாக கூறுகிறீர்களே?

இது பல ஆண்டுகளாக நடந்து வருகிறது. இதன் மீது நான் கடந்த 2009 ஏப்ரலில் டெல்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல் செய் திருந்தேன். இதைத் தொடர்ந்து டெல்லியின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் சோதனை நடத்தி கலப்பட பருப்பு வகைகள் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன. ஆனால், அதன் மீது முறையான நடவடிக்கை இல்லாததால் மீண்டும் தொடர்கிறது. இவற்றை கண்களை கவரும் வகையில் பாலிஷ் செய்து விற்பதன் ரகசியமே கலப்படம் தான். இத்துடன் கால் நடைகள் உணவுக்காக பயிர் செய் யப்படும் ஒருவகை பருப்பு வகை களை இத்துடன் கலந்து விடுகிறார் கள். இது சீனாவில் இருந்தும் இறக்குமதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. ஆனால் சீனாவில் மட்டும் இவ்வாறு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதில்லை. பிற நாட்டினரை இவர்கள் மனிதர்களாக நினைப்பதில்லை.

இந்த பட்டியலில் பழங்களையும் சேர்த்துள்ளீர்களே?

காய்கள் தானாகப் பழுக்கும் வரை நமது வியாபாரிகளுக்கு பொறுமை இல்லை. டெல்லியின் ஆசாத்பூர் மண்டி அருகே உள்ள கிராமத்தில் ஓர் ஆபத்தான ரசா யனத்தை நீரில் கலக்கிறார்கள். இதில் வாழையை மூழ்கி எடுத்தால் ஒரே இரவில் பழுத்து விடும். அதன் முனைகளில் உள்ள லேசான கருப்பு காயம் இதற்கு சாட்சி. ஒரே வண்டியில் ஏற்றப்படும் மாம்பழங் கள் அனைத்தும் ஒரேவித நிறத்தில் பழுத்துக் காணப்படுவதும் ரசாயனத்தின் தாக்கமே.

வேறு எந்த உணவுப் பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் உள்ளது என எண்ணுகிறீர்கள்?

மிளகில், பப்பாளியின் விதை களை கலர் செய்து கலக்கின்றனர். சுத்தமான கடுகு எண்ணெய் 10 சதவீதம் கூட கிடையாது.

மிளகாய், மஞ்சள், தனியா தூள் களில் செங்கற்களை நைசாக அரைத்து நிறம் மாற்றி கலக்கப் படுகிறது. கோவா மற்றும் பன்னீரி லும் கலப்படம் தான். சாதாரண நாட்களில் ஒரு 5 டன் சப்ளையாகும் இவை விழாக் காலங்களில் மட்டும் 50 டன் அளவுக்கு கிடைப்பது எப்படி?

உபயோகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட டீ தூளை டெல்லியின் குப்பைகளில் காண முடியாது. காரணம் அது மீண்டும் நிறம் ஏற்றப்பட்டு சந்தைக்கு வந்து விடுகிறது. இதற் காக, பழைய டீ தூள் காசு கொடுத்து வாங்கப்படுகிறது. காபியில் இது முடியாது என்பதால் இதை அதிகமாகப் பயன்படுத்தும் தென்னிந்தியர்கள் தப்பியுள்ளனர். தங்கத்தை கூட கலப்படக்காரர்கள் விட்டு வைக்கவில்லை. இவற்றின் தரம் 22 காரட் தான் என எளிதாக அளவிடும் கருவிகள் குறைந்த விலையில் சந்தையில் கிடைக்கத் தொடங்கினால் உண்மை வெளி யாகி பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் பிடி படுவார்கள். இந்த அத்தனை பிரச்சினைகள் மீதும் தேசிய அள வில் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க கோரி உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் பொதுநல வழக்கு தொடர உள்ளேன்.

நம் நாட்டில் கலப்படங்கள் மீதான சோதனை எந்த அளவில் உள்ளது?

டெல்லியில் சோதனை நடத்த என் போன்றவர்கள் உயர் நீதி மன்றத்தில் மனு செய்யவேண்டிய நிலைதான் உள்ளது. இதன்மூலம் மக்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வு கிடைக் கிறதே தவிர தீர்வு இல்லை. கலப் படப் பொருட்கள் பிடிபட்ட பிறகும் அவை உடனடியாக பரி சோதனைக் கூடங்களுக்கு அனுப் பப்படுவதில்லை.அதற்குள் கைப் பற்றப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் மாற்றப் பட்டு விடுகின்றன. இதற்கு சாதக மான வகையில் நம் நாட்டில் மிக, மிக குறைந்த எண்ணிக்கையில்தான் பரிசோதனைக் கூடங்கள் உள்ளன.

இதற்காக நீங்கள் அரசுக்கு கூறும் ஆலோசனை என்ன?

நாட்டின் ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்திலும் மத்திய பரிசோதனைக் கூடங்கள் குறைந்தது மூன்று அமைக்க வேண்டும். கலப்படத்தில் பிடிபடும் பொருட்கள் அதே இடத்தில் சோதனை செய்யப்பட வேண்டும். உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் அதிகபட்ச தண்டனை தற்போது 6 மாதங்கள் தான். இதை 7 ஆண்டுகளாக்குவது உட்பட பல்வேறு மாற்றங்களுடன் அச்சட்டம் உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டும்.

கலப்பட ஆபத்தில் இருந்து பொதுமக்கள் உடனடியாக தப்பிக்க என்ன வழி?

பளபளக்கும் அரிசி, பருப்பு வகைகளை உண்பதை நிறுத்த வேண்டும். பாலீஷ் செய்யப்படாத பொருட்களை கேட்டு வாங்கவேண்டும். காய்கறிகளை சுடுநீரில் கொதிக்க வைத்த பின் சமைக்க வேண்டும். இதனால் இதில் கலந்திருக்கும் ரசாயனங்கள் ஓரளவு விலகிவிடும். கலப்படம் குறித்து தெரிந்தால் புகார் செய்ய தைரியமாக முன்வர வேண்டும். நான் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு செய்ததால் தான் இன்று தமிழகம் போன்ற சில மாநிலங்களில் மழைநீர் சேமிப்பு ஓரளவு கடைப்பிடிக்கப்படுகிறது.

மேகி நூடுல்ஸ் தடை செய்யப்பட்டிருப்பது குறித்து உங்கள் கருத்து?

நகர மக்களின் உணவு என்பதால் இதில் உடனடியான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கிராமப்புற ஏழைகளின் உணவு என்றால் அக்கறை செலுத்தப்பட்டிருக்காது. நம் நாட்டில் உண்மையான கறுப்பு பணம் இந்த கலப்படக்காரர்களிடம் தான் உள்ளது. இவற்றில் ஒரு பங்கு அரசியல் கட்சிகளுக்கு நன்கொடையாகி விடுவதால் அவற்றில் ஆட்சிக்கு வரும் எந்த அரசும் இப்பிரச்சினையில் தீவிர கவனம் செலுத்துவதில்லை.

FSSAI urges Bombay High Cout to recall its order allowing exports of Maggi

A bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla deferred the hearing to July 17 after asking Nestle India to file an affidavit on an application by FSSAI seeking recall of the June 30 High Court order allowing export of Maggi.

MUMBAI: The Food Saftey and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which had issued notice banning Maggi noodles manufactured by Nestle India, today urged the Bombay High Court to recall its "order" allowing the company to export this instant food snack instead of destroying it.

A bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla deferred the hearing to July 17 after asking Nestle India to file an affidavit on an application by FSSAI seeking recall of the June 30 High Court order allowing export of Maggi. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India challenging the order of June 5 passed by FSSAI banning nine variants of the popular instant food snack. It had also questioned a similar order by Maharashtra government prohibiting the sale of the same products on the ground that they were unsafe and harmful for the health of people. 

FSSAI Counsel Mahmood Pracha said the food regulatory body had suggested at the last hearing that instead of Nestle destroying the product, the High Court may allow the export of Maggi if the company felt that it was safe for consumption. 

However, Nestle was still destroying the product as perhaps it felt that it was not safe (for consumption), he said. The company was manufacturing a fresh batch of product and exporting that, he added. 

Elaborating further, he said Nestle was not exporting Maggi which was to be destroyed but it was manfucturing fresh batch of food snack for exports. Certainly, the High Court had not allowed this, he said. 

They are burning Maggi and thereby destroying evidence, alleged Pracha. "Why is Nestle not exporting the product instead of destroying them?", he said. "We had not asked them to burn Maggi product and instead had suggested that they may export it," FSSAI counsel said. 

Senior Counsel, Darius Khambata, appearing for Maharashtra government, said "if they (Nestle) want to manfacture Maggi and sell the product in India then they have to comply with our (Indian) standards. 

Pracha also said that FSSAI had sent several e-mails to Nestle seeking details about recalling the product from the market but the company had not given any response. 

He also complained that the company on its website had written under the caption "Maggi is safe" that the Bombay High Court had allowed exports of the product. 

Iqbal Chhagla, Nestle's Counsel, however, denied FSSAI's allegation that the company had declared on website that Maggi was safe and the High Court had allowed exports. 

Pracha said Nestle was "burning" the banned Maggi product because the company knew that no one will buy the snack either in India or outside. "We have issued notice to the company to show cause why Maggi should not be banned." 

Iqbal Chhagla said that the food regulator was not concerned about the health of people outside India. 

The HC had earlier refused to grant relief to Nestle by rejecting its plea for stay of the orders of the food regulator banning nine variants of Maggi noodles. 

The court was of the view that Maggi products had already been withdrawn by the company from the shops and hence, there was no need to grant a stay on the ban. 

The HC had also held that the authorities were entitled to prosecute the company in case of procedural lapses and if they were not satisfied with the reply of Nestle to the food authorities. However, if Nestle was to be prosecuted, the Judges asked the authorities to give 72 hours notice to the company which had filed an appeal against the orders. 

In its affidavit, FSSAI justified its June 5 ban on Nestle India's '2-minute Maggi noodles' and questioned the company's safety claims. 

FSSAI contended that the "present situation has arisen only because the company has failed to adhere to its own declared policy and principles". 

Barring the fact that Nestle has been manufacturing and selling Maggi for the last 30 years, its other claims of having in place "strict food safety and quality control at all Maggi factories..." is "incorrect", the FSSAI affidavit said. 

"If for the sake of argument it is presumed that all the safety claims regarding its manufacturing activities and processes are true, then the widespread presence of lead, a known poison, in its products can only be presumed to be intentional. It is impossible that such high levels of lead can escape the scrutiny of a reasonably well-equipped laboratory," FSSAI argued. 

Nestle submitted that the ban was "unauthorised, arbitrary, unconstitutional" and had violated principles of natural justice since it was not allowed a proper hearing. 

FSSAI denied all the contentions and said the company was given a hearing and a notice was issued to Nestle to show cause why its products, which are non-standardised and require government approvals in law, should be approved in future. 

"The fact that the petitioners have refrained from filing chart summary test reports and results conducted on Maggi since October 2014 can only create suspicion," it said.

HC posts Nestle plea against Maggi ban on July 17

MUMBAI: On Tuesday, the Bombay high court adjourned Nestle India's challenge to ban on Maggi noodles for hearing and final disposal to July 17. 

The court had earlier fixed July 20 as the next date but changed it to July 17 as Maharashtra state's new special counsel Darius Khambata would be available too that day. The court continued its interim orders of no stay on the ban and the 72-hour notice before taking any coercive steps. 

The company had hit back at FSSAI for its June 5 ban on the popular 2-minute Maggi noodles by stating that the laboratories where noodle samples tested positive for excessive Lead content, "lacked accreditation, and are thus inconsistent and unreliable.'' It also questioned the grounds of "emergency'' for a pan-India ban. 

On Tuesday, it was pointed out in court before a bench headed by Justice V M Kanade that the FSSAI CEO had moved for recall of the HC's order permitting export and export activities by Nestle for its noodles. Mahmood Pracha counsel for FSSAI CEO said that the recall plea is because he was not heard before the order was passed. He said that at the last hearing he had only said that the existing stock of Maggi noodles which Nestle said it was destroying by incineration could be exported and not newly produced ones. He said since the existing stock was unfit and no one would buy it anyway. Senior counsel Iqbal Chagla who appeared for Nestle said he did "not understand'' where this came from. "On the one hand he is saying the stock is unfit and on the other he is saying export it.'' He denied that even the existing stock was bad and said tests conducted in India and abroad proved that they were safe. 

Pracha said that the company was using the HC export permission order to claim its product is safe on its website. Chagla said it was doing "no such thing''. But Pracha read from a website that said. "Is maggi safe'' followed by "The HC as permitted export''. Pracha said this only shows their "culpability'' and how they were producing new product for export even when there was a show cause notice on product approval. He said it is a proprietary product under the law which requires prior government approval for production and sale in India. 

Khambata also took Nestle on and said that "its bad enough they are laying down the law..they cannot brandish reports from around the world to show that tests prove Maggi is safe when they have to rely on tests done in India.'' Chagla attacked FSSAI's tests as he said they were done in labs which are not notified. 

The bench asked Nestle to file a "short affidavit in reply'' and posted the matter to Friday for further detailed hearing.

Nestle vs FSSAI: Bombay HC to take up final hearing on July 17

Matter inconclusive as Nestle and FSSAi argued on the legitimacy of the ban on Maggi noodles

The dispute over the recall and ban of Maggi noodles will come up for final hearing on July 17, the Bombay High Court said today. 

The third hearing which took place today was inconclusive as advocates for Nestle and FSSAI argued whether the ban and recall was legitimate or not. Specifically, the counsel representing FSSAI said that the order of June 12, which said that Nestle should be given 72 hours before their products tested, should be modified. 

FSSAI argued that giving such advance notice was not possible as it would alert the Nestle team t dispose off sub standard products. 

"In the last hearing, they were asked to export rather than burn the Maggi packets. Why are they not doing it?," the FSSAI counsel said

Nestle asks Bombay HC for time to reply to Maharashtra FDA affidavit

The two-judge bench of V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawala will hear the matter on 17 July

Nestle India on 11 June had filed a case in the court seeking review of orders passed by Maharashtra FDA and the FSSAI banning sale, distribution and production of Maggi. 

Mumbai: Nestle India Ltd on Tuesday asked the Bombay high court for more time to reply to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affidavit in the ongoing Maggi noodles case.

The two-judge bench of V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawala will hear the matter on 17 July. This will be the final hearing, said the bench.

Nestle India on 11 June had filed a case in the court seeking review of orders passed by Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning sale, distribution and production of Maggi.

This was the third hearing in the case, which was first heard on 12 June. At the second hearing on 30 June, the bench had passed an order to allow Nestle to sell the product abroad even as it stood by the decision to ban nine variants of the snack in India.

However, FSSAI counsel Mahmood Pracha, who had suggested that the Indian arm of the Swiss food and beverage company should be allowed to export Maggi instead of incinerating the noodles, objected to the company manufacturing fresh products for exports. He said export should be allowed only to the stock, which was to be destroyed.

According to him, the company is burning Maggi noodles and destroying all evidence as the recalled stock of Maggi is unsafe for consumption. The recall order by FSSAI did not state that Maggi should be destroyed, said Pracha.

However, the bench did not give any new direction on the matter and said that all the arguments will be heard on Friday.

Maggi ban: Classic example of tough laws & weak regulation

The core issue is wayward implementation of the law enabled by a weak state that is unable to regulate firmly but fairly. This action, which has caused losses running into several hundred crores to business, is a classic example of the damage that can be done by a combination of tough laws and weak regulation. The weak state has struck again.

The recent state action against Nestle's Maggi noodles, where the chance discovery of packs that possibly contained a slight overdose of lead in Uttar Pradesh, has led to the product's recall and the emptying of almost all retail shelves of all brands of instant noodles. This action, which has caused losses running into several hundred crores to business, is a classic example of the damage that can be done by a combination of tough laws and weak regulation. The weak state has struck again.

That the UP food inspector, whose actions resulted in this massive recall is now being hailed as a minor hero who took on the might of the MNCs, tells us precisely what is wrong with the system. Almost farcically, both the inspector and his boss, Sanjay Singh and VK Pandey respectively, are now claiming credit for the damage done (read here). This is not to say they did wrong or that everything was all right with the Maggi samples that tested negative for existing food standards, but are they heroes just for doing their jobs? Especially when food regulators in the UK and Singapore have declared Maggi safe?

Two questions arise: if Maggi has been putting out sub-standard noodles targeted at children, why did it take the food inspection system 32 years to find out? Secondly, what is the point of having tough food safety standards if the system has no capacity to enforce them, and the first inspector who does so claims public accolades for the same? A system which needs individual heroics to implement the law will essentially be a corrupt one.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur thus needs applause for telling it like it is. In an interview to The Economic Times, she made it very clear that India may have cried wolf too soon with Maggi when it does not even have the basic infrastructure and manpower to test food samples at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FS&SAI), which prompted the Maggi recall. Rather, she seemed to suggest that inspector raj was on the comeback trail. If this continues, we can forget Narendra Modi’s Make in India. We can’t expect anyone to make in India if those who are already doing so are going to be treated as suspects.

She said: “In the name of food safety, you cannot bring back inspector raj, where inspectors are now beginning to harass the industry saying that they are getting tests done with some content found in their products.”

As Harsimrat Kaur tells it, FS&SAI has all of six scientists doing the testing, and given the thousands of food product innovations that come for testing every year, it is clearly not upto the job on the scale required.

The real problem of food safety lies not in our laws, but in our inability to create enough testing systems with adequate manpower to do the job consistently and fairly. We do not have a regulator who can regulate effectively. As a result, it is the oddball result – as in the case of Maggi – that is seen as a great achievement.

Indian food is largely unsafe for human consumption. Toxic food is sold everywhere, from contaminated milk to fruits and vegetables that bear an overdose of pesticides, to bhujias that are simply unhealthy for all people, leave alone kids.

Nowhere is the problem worse than in the case of milk – a product fundamental to Indian children’s health, especially those born in vegetarian families. Many producers and distributors adulterate milk to increase profits and to make the product look thick. In Maharashtra, the Food and Drug Administration found that 24 percent of the samples tested in Pune division were either unsafe or did not conform to the standards set by FS&SAI. But we continue to drink this poison in the name of health.

Some diaries inject hormones or insulin into buffaloes because this helps make the milk thicker. But insulin also gets into the milk, which makes it unsafe for women and children. In Andhra Pradesh, milk samples tested by a private laboratory found traces of urea, coliform, e-coli and salmonella (many of them harmful bacteria), but the milk diaries faced no action. Unlike Maggi, which is being withdrawn at huge cost, how many milk producers have been ordered to throw their milk away because it is sub-standard?

And it isn’t about milk alone. The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment found that junk food – like burgers and bhujias – contains high levels of trans-fats (very harmful), salt and sugar, which could lead to problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Most ordinary hotel kitchens are unhygienic, and street food is often sold next to gutters and garbage in big cities. Branded Kurkure may be made in hygienic factories, but potato chips and namkeen are often made inside slums or dirty factories, often with low-quality ingredients and oil, in order to sell them cheap. We pay a price in terms of health for buying and consuming "cheap" food.

The short point is this: food and health safety, despite the existence of standards and regulations, is badly in need of strong supervision and enforcement of the law. It is easy to attack Maggi because it is produced by a multinational company, but the real health hazards can be found in food produced by the small sector, in hotels and in street food. It is here that our food regulators must start to look for violations of the law.

The states are the real culprits, as food safety has to be enforced by them. The Maggi problem was discovered by a food inspector in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, but the chances are this discovery was an accident or an exception. The reason why bad and unhygienic food goes unchecked is corruption. It is simply too easy for food manufacturers to bribe inspectors and continue doing what they are doing: selling poison for profit. For small food sellers, the cost of complying with the law is simply too high compared with the ease of paying a bribe.

There are only three ways to combat food adulteration. First, the public must be educated on this. Second, packaged food makers and hotels must be sensitised to improve hygiene standards by the use of better technology and safer ingredients. And third, we simply need many thousands of food inspectors all over the country and effective food regulators.

Maggi is not the problem. The core issue is wayward implementation of the law enabled by a weak state that is unable to regulate firmly but fairly.

Without holding any brief for Nestle or Maggi, is it anyone’s case that multinational corporations are less responsible than Indian food makers or the thousands of food vendors in the unorganised or retail sector? The answer should be obvious.

The writer is editor-in-chief, digital and publishing, Network18 Group.

Food processing has not been attracting much FDI—with or without Maggi ban

Food processing minister says regulatory steps are hitting overseas investments, but data show the sector has never been hot property for foreign investors

According to DIPP data, FDI in food processing sector started declining even before FSSAI asked Swiss food major Nestle to withdraw its popular Maggi noodles on 5 June.

New Delhi: Regulatory overreach has scared foreign investors, threatened ‘Make in India’ and killed innovation in food processing, says India’s food processing minister, a month after Maggi instant noodles were banned in the country over alleged presence of undesirable ingredients.

The fears may be misplaced: India’s food processing sector has never been hot property for foreign investors, show data.

In an interview published in The Economic Times on 13 July, minister of food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal expressed concerns over the recent regulatory steps taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), saying it was affecting overseas investments. Badal said “inspector raj” has created fear among foreign investors in the food processing sector.

However, according to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the sector never attracted much foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past 15 years. One exception was the fiscal year that ended in March 2014, when American food and beverages giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo announced ambitious investment plans till 2020 in India.

According to DIPP data, FDI in food processing sector started declining even before FSSAI asked Swiss food major Nestle to withdraw its popular Maggi noodles on 5 June. In the first four months of 2015, FDI in food processing was as follows—January: `215.89 crore, February:`272.71 crore, March: `320.05 crore and April: `155.06 crore.

The entire food processing sector received `3,164.72 crore FDI in 2014-15, the second largest since April 2000. However, it was the highest in the previous fiscal year (April 2013-March 2014) at a whopping `25,106.78 crore, while FDI during April 2012-March 2013 was `2,193.65 crore, the third largest since April 2000.

Between April 2000 and March 2015, Indian food processing sector received a total of `36,952.87 crore. Barring fiscal years 2001-02, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, FDI in food processing was always under `1,000 crore in all fiscal years since 2000-01.

Since April 2000, the food processing sector has received just 2.51% of all FDI that India has received, according to the DIPP data. However, as a sector, food processing is the 13th largest in terms of FDI inflow, while the services sector tops the list with a 17.03% contribution, followed by construction development at 9.54% and telecommunications at 6.77%.

During the past two fiscal years (2013-14 and 2014-15) and April 2015, food processing sector was not among the top 10 sectors in terms of total FDI inflow, according to DIPP statistics.

FDI inflow was higher in 2013-14, thanks to two big-ticket investments by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, announced in October and November 2013, respectively. Coca-Cola in October 2013 said it would invest $5 billion in India by 2020, while its rival PepsiCo announced its plans to spend $5.5 billion in India by 2020 the next month, part of which might have been accounted in the FDI inflow data for the year.

Just want food companies to follow law, FSSAI says

NEW DELHI: Even as the Maggi episode has led to a sense of scare among consumers as well as companies selling packaged food products, regulatory officials say the stringent measures adopted by it are only to ensure that food companies comply with the law. 

"There is no reason to worry. The exercise is merely to ensure that every food item that is sold in the country is of good quality and is complying with the law of the land," said a senior official of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 

Asked about the increase the frequency of sampling and surveillance, especially in the case of macaroni, instant noodles etc, the official said the exercise was undertaken to reiterate that Nestle has not been singled out and to ensure that all products sold in the market are in compliance. 

Following the Maggi recall, FSSAI had directed all state food regulators to collect samples of all instant noodles, macaroni and pasta and do extensive testing. While FSSAI is yet to receive the test reports, the official said sampling is a routine process and only those products which are not complying with the prescribed standards will face the consequences as per the norms. 

This assumes significance in the wake of recent comments by food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal who slammed the FSSAI last week saying the regulator has created an environment of fear. "The action taken by FSSAI is discouraging innovation in the food processing sector, which is vital for the country's food security. A lot needs to be done as the FSSAI has created an environment of fear in the industry. It needs to streamline its regulations as its steps are stopping innovation in the processing sector," Badal had said while addressing an industry conference. 

However, the regulator says that is "not the intention". "To create fear is not the intention. We work in favour of the consumers. We have acted based on the reports we received from states. Most states reported problem with Maggi noodles. So, we had to act in public interest. In fact, Nestle recalled the product before we issued orders," the official said. 

He said Nestle can take corrective actions to address the concerns and meet the requirements under the law to bring Maggi back into the market. 

"As long as approval for Maggi is not withdrawn, it can make a come back," he said. 

Maggi instant noodles, Nestle's popular 2-minute snack, was recalled from the Indian market after regulatory agencies found the product containing excess of lead and added monosodium glutamate (MSG).

After Maggi, 16 samples of other brands fail quality test

LUDHIANA: If after ban on Maggi in Punjab, you have been enjoying noodles of other brands, it is time you removed them from your diet too as 16 samples of other brands from Ludhiana have failed quality test. They have been declared unsafe for consumption and packaging termed as misleading and misbranded by the State Food and Drug Laboratory.

After direction from FSSAI (Food Safety Standard Authority of India), the health department took samples of noodles from other brands, including Yippee, Knorr, Ching's and Top Ramen on June 8. "It was important to check the different varieties as some brands claimed to give flavour like that of manchurian, schezwan, Singapore curry, which are supposed to have ajinomoto or MSG. We took action following complaints," said Dr Kumar.

All the 16 samples failed the test and have higher content of monosodium glutamate (MSG). Also, their packets mentioned. No MSG added', which turned out to be misleading and misbranded. However, lead has not been reported in either of the reports. Pasta samples were also taken from different places, but their reports are awaited.

Earlier, on June 24, test reports had declared four samples of Maggi and its variants for containing high MSG content.

Dr Kumar said action will be initiated under Food Safety Act against the operators of these brands in city and the manufacturing unit.

உருளைக்கிழங்கு சிப்ஸில் துர்நாற்றம் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டுக்கு நோட்டீஸ்

சேலம்:சேலம் தனியார் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டில் வாங்கப்பட்ட ஃப்ரஞ்ச் ஃப்ரை உருளைக்கிழங்கு சிப்ஸில், துர்நாற்றம் ஏற்பட்டதாக எழுந்த புகாரை அடுத்து, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நிறுவனத்திற்கு விளக்கம் கேட்டு, மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பி உள்ளார்.சேலம், அஸ்தம்பட்டியை சேர்ந்தவர் ரவிபிரகாஷ். இவர், சென்னையில் இருந்து விடுமுறைக்காக சேலம் வந்தார். அவர், நேற்று காலை, 11.15 மணி அளவில், அப்பகுதியில் உள்ள ரிலையன்ஸ் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டில், ஃப்ரஞ்ச் ஃப்ரை உருளைக்கிழங்கு சிப்ஸ் வாங்கி உள்ளார்.மதியம் சிப்ஸ் பாக்கெட்டுக்களை திறந்து பார்த்த போது, அதிலிருந்து துர்நாற்றம் வீசியுள்ளது. அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த ரவிபிரகாஷ், சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதாவிடம் புகார் அளித்தார்.

ரிலையன்ஸ் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டில் ஆய்வு நடத்திய அனுராதா, ஃப்ரஞ்ச் ஃப்ரை உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களை சோதனைக்காக எடுத்துச் சென்றார். மேலும், புகார் குறித்து விளக்கம் அளிக்கும்படி, அந்த நிறுவனத்துக்கு நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கி உள்ளார்.இதுகுறித்து, டாக்டர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:தனியார் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டில் வாங்கப்பட்ட ஃப்ரஞ்ச் ஃப்ரையில், துர்நாற்றம் வீசுவதாக புகார் வந்தது. காலையில் பொருள் வாங்கப்பட்ட நிலையில், மதியம் தான் புகார் வந்தது. இருப்பினும், புகார் குறித்து விசாரணை நடக்கிறது. 

சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நிறுவத்தினர் விளக்கம் அளிக்க, நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.இவ்வாறு, அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

DINAMANI ARTICLE

Change the food labelling rules

The Maggi controversy has brought to light concerns regarding food safety systems in India

Last week, a patient lamented: “Oh, how I wish the Maggi controversy had happened several years ago. Not only would I not have felt left out on numerous occasions, people would have also understood the plight of those with severe food restrictions.”

My patient has celiac disease, a permanent autoimmune disease where gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats, damages the intestines and results in many diseases and complications, including anaemia, osteoporosis, other autoimmune conditions, and intestinal cancer.

About 1% of the Indian population is suspected to be affected by celiac disease. The diagnosis rates have gone up in recent years due to increased awareness and also increasing incidence of this disease.

The only acceptable treatment today is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet—a diet without wheat, barley, rye and oats—for life. Safe limits of gluten for a celiac population have been defined to be less than 20 parts per million, which translates to less than one-thousandth of a slice of bread.

In a country where the focus has always been on infectious diseases, the added concern of non-infectious diseases like celiac disease and food allergies is daunting. Imagine the concern of parents if an almost ubiquitous item—gluten—itself is a toxin. They are clueless about which food items contain gluten and probably end up giving this “toxin” in some small amounts to their child in some form, possibly in every meal.

It is a challenging scenario in India, where gluten-free substitute items are either not available, or are very expensive, or are not validated owing to the absence of legislation. Whether inadvertently or by choice, the possibility of getting “glutened” is extremely high in our present food safety system, for gluten has so far not been recognized in food laws.

In the last few weeks, the controversy surrounding the instant noodles brand has brought to light concerns regarding food safety systems in India. The discussion is centred around tighter norms for labelling, packaging and testing of all food products, but gluten and other allergens, like milk, egg, soy and nuts, should be debated too.

Early this year, a draft notification issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare on gluten-free food items sets out the label declaration requirements for gluten and non-gluten foods. A welcome move, but, unfortunately, a gluten-free claim alone will not help. In addition, changes in the way we list ingredients on food items are needed to include gluten and other allergens. Also needed are precautionary statements on food packaging to indicate presence of any allergens, including gluten, due to cross-contamination.

The manufacturing practices, testing protocols and audit procedures for claims on packages should also be specified and implemented stringently. There are successful international examples to draw from, most recently the mandatory changes in labelling regulation in the European Union.

Food growers and manufacturers of processed and unprocessed items have to be sensitized to the needs of those suffering from celiac to help ensure safe products for them.

The celiac children of India were probably not stirred by the Maggi debate because they couldn’t eat it anyway. But they may have reason to be thankful to the Maggi controversy for igniting a debate and giving them hope of a revamped food system which could someday improve their lives.

Pankaj Vohra is a senior consultant, paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology, Max Healthcare, New Delhi, and founder director, Celiac India & Beyond Foundation.

It's not inspection raj but no inspection that is hurting India's food quality

Perhaps, now is a good time for Harsimrat Kaur Badal to do a bit of homework on the portfolio she holds

This morning, the very lovely and articulate food processing minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was reported to have said something deeply ill-informed. In an interview with the Economic Times, she said,"Inspector raj has engendered so much fear among packaged food companies that it's stalling overseas investment.."

I would like to point out a few facts that have plagued the food safety processes, making it much easier for companies, including global giants to enter the food processing industry in India. When I spoke with food processing companies as part of India Today's cover story on food safety, no one mentioned of having a food inspector even visit them in years or even decades. If anything, food regulations in India are the most elementary to comply with and considering the fact that India's food safety regulator is barely three to four years old, it's been a "free for all" run until now.

PM Narendra Modi with food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal at the inauguration of the India Food Park, in Tumkur, Karnataka in 2014.

While now there is a Food Safety and Standards Act which lays down specifications for nearly 90 per cent of the products on Indian shelves, these products don't need to be tested before they are introduced in the market. Moreover, state infrastructure is grossly inadequate in terms of capacity and talent to even carry out the tests. Remember the conflicting reports from different labs in the case of Maggi? Take a look at this list to give you a perspective on the number of food safety officers for every state. Numbers vary from one for Puducherry to 519 for Tamil Nadu - the state with the most food safety officers. Uttar Pradesh, for instance, has 287; Maharashtra has 300; Madhya Pradesh, about 184. And these are the better performing states in terms of numbers! Delhi has only 15 food safety officers and just two food analysts. See this.

It's definitely not so much "inspector raj" but lack of a proper mechanism to regulate the food processing sector with clear regulations and accountability that is hurting the consumers more than the industry. Perhaps, now might be a good time for the minister to do a bit of homework on the portfolio she holds. What India needs is stricter processes and regulation more than chest-beating rhetoric on inspector raj.portfolio she holds.

சேலத்தில் கொடி கட்டி பறக்குது கெட்டுப்போன ஆட்டுக்கறி வியாபாரம் - உஷாராக இல்லாவிட்டால் உடலுக்கு கேடு

சேலம், ஜூலை 13:

அசைவ பிரி யர் களின் தேவையை பயன் ப டுத் திக் கொண்டு, பெங் க ளூ ரில் இருந்து கெட்டுப் போன ஆடு, கோழி இறைச்சி லோடு லோடாக தரு விக் கப் பட்டு விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. வியா பா ரி களுக்கு வரு மா னம் கொட்டு வ தால், இவ் வாறு விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டும் கெட்டுப் போன இறைச் சியை சாப் பி டு ப வர் களுக்கு, பல் வேறு நோய் கள் ஏற் ப டும் அபா யம் ஏற் பட்டுள் ளது.

வார விடு முறை நாளான ஞாயிற் றுக் கி ழமை வந் தாலே குட்டீஸ் முதல் பெரி ய வர் கள் வரை பெரும் பா லா னோர் ஆடு, கோழி வகை களை அதி க ள வில் விரும்பி சாப் பி டு கின் ற னர். இதற்கு அடுத் த ப டி யாக மீன் களை அதி க ள வில் விரும்பி சாப் பி டு கின் ற னர். தமி ழ கத் தில் ஒரு லட் சத் திற் கும் மேற் பட்ட ஆடு, கோழி இறைச்சி கடை களும், மீன் கடை களும் உள் ளன. இறைச் சிக் க டை களுக்கு விருத் தா ச லம், ஆத் தூர், ஜெயங் கொண் டம், திரு நெல் வேலி, விழுப் பு ரம், திண் டி வ னம், கள் ளக் கு றிச்சி, திரு வண் ணா மலை உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி களில் இருந்து ஆடு கள் விற் ப னைக்கு செல் கின் றன.

நாமக் கல், திருப் பூர், பல் ல டம், திண் டுக் கல், பழனி உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி களில் கறிக் கோழி விற் ப னைக்கு அனுப் பப் ப டு கின் றன. இந்த கடை களில் ஞாயிற் றுக் கி ழமை மட்டும் 2 லட் சத் திற் கும் மேற் பட்ட ஆடு களும், 10 லட் சத் திற் கும் மேற் பட்ட கோழி களும் இறைச்சி விற் ப னைக் காக வெட்டப் ப டு கின் றன. இதை தவிர தமி ழ கத் தில் தற் போது மாடு, பன்றி இறைச் சிக் க டை கள் பெருகி வரு கின் றன.

தமி ழ கத்தை பொறுத் த வரை நாட்டு ஆடு கள் அதி க ள வில் விற் கப் ப டு கி றது. கர் நா டகா, கேரளா, ஆந் திரா உள் ளிட்ட மாநி லங் கள் மற் றும் தமி ழ கத் தில் மலை பிர தே சங் களில் செம் மறி ஆடு இறைச்சி அதி க ள வில் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. பொது வாக நாட்டு ஆடு இறைச்சி சாப் பி டு வர் களுக்கு பெரிய அள வில் தொந் த ரவு ஏற் ப டாது. அதே நேரத் தில் செம் மறி ஆட்டின் இறைச்சி சாப் பி டு வர் களுக்கு பல் வேறு தொந் த ர வு கள் ஏற் ப டும்.

தமி ழ கத் தில் ஒரு ஆட்டுக்கு ரூ.4 ஆயி ரம் முதல் ரூ.6 ஆயி ரம் வரை விலை கொடுத்து விவ சா யி களி டம் இருந்து வியா பா ரி கள் வாங் கு கின் ற னர். ஆனால் அண்டை மாநி ல மான கர் நா ட கா விற்கு, குறைந்த விலைக்கு ஆடு கள் விற் ப னைக்கு வரு கின் றன. இவ் வாறு வரும் ஆடு கள், பெங் க ளூர் இறைச்சி மார்க் கெட்டில் வெட்டப் பட்டு கி றது. மீத மா னவை குளிர் சா தன பெட்டி களில் அடைத்து வைக் கப் பட்டு சேலம், தர் ம புரி, கிருஷ் ண கிரி, நாமக் கல், ஈரோடு, கோவை உள் பட தமி ழ கத் தின் பல பகு தி களுக்கு இரண் டாம் கட்ட விற் ப னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் ப டு கி றது. பெங் க ளூ ரில் இருந்து குறைந்த விலைக்கு, இது போன்ற இறைச் சியை வாங்கி, வியா பா ரி கள் அதிக லாபம் சம் பா தித்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

இந்த வியா பா ரம் பல ஆண் டு க ளாக கன ஜோ ராக நடந்து வரு கி றது. ஒரு சில வியா பா ரி கள் இது போன்ற கெட்டுப் போன இறைச் சியை ஓட்ட லுக்கு சப்ளை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். பெரும் பா லான கோழிப் பண் ணை களில் நோய் வாய்ப் பட்ட கோழி கள், இறந்த கோழி களை மிகக் கு றைந்த விலைக்கு விற் ப னைக்கு அனுப் பு கின் ற னர். இதை வாங் கிச் செல் லும் வியா பா ரி கள் டாஸ் மாக், சாலை யோர தள் ளு வண்டி கடைக் கா ரர் களுக்கு விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இது போன்ற கெட்டுப் போன இறைச்சி, அழு கிய முட்டை, மீன் களை சாப் பி டு ப வர் களுக்கு உடல் உபா தை கள் ஏற் பட்டு பலர் பாதிப் ப டைந்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

சுவைக்கு அடி மை யாகி கெட்டுப் போன இறைச் சியை சாப் பிட்டு பல் வேறு உபா தை களை வலிய வர வ ழைத் துக் கொள் ளும் நிலை பர வ லாக காணப் ப டு கி றது. இதை தடுக்க, உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அடிக் கடி தீவிர ஆய்வு மேற் கொண்டு, கெட்டுப் போன இறைச்சி விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வது கண் ட றி யப் பட்டால் கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என கோரிக்கை எழுந் துள் ளது.

இந் நி லை யில், கடந்த 8ம் தேதி சேலம் வஉசி., மார்க் கெட்டில் உள்ள மீன் கடை களில் அழு கிய மீன் கள் விற் ப தாக சேலம் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரிக்கு புகார் சென் றது. அதன் அ டிப் ப டை யில் சேலம் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நடத் திய சோத னை யில் 25 கிலோ அழு கிய மீன் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.

இது குறித்து அதி கா ரி களின் விசா ர ணை யில் பல் வேறு தகி டு தத் தங் கள் நடப் பது வெளிச் சத் துக்கு வந் தன.

இது குறித்து சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறு கை யில், ஆடு, கோழி இறைச் சியை வெட்டிய அன்றே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். கெட்டுப் போன இறைச் சியை சாப் பி டும் போது முத லில் ஒவ் வாமை ஏற் ப டும். வயிற் றில் பாக் டீ ரியா, வைரஸ் சேர்ந்து, உடல் உறுப் பு களை தாக்க ஆரம் பிக் கும். பிறகு ஒட்டுக் கு டல் நோய் ஏற் ப டும். உட லில் தேவை யற்ற கொழுப்பு சேர்ந்து பெரும் பிரச் னையை ஏற் ப டுத் தும். கெட்டுப் போன இறைச் சியை வாங்கி சாப் பிட்டு, பாதிப்பு ஏற் பட்ட தாக யாரா வது புகார் கொடுத் தால்,

அதன் அடிப் ப டை யில் அந்த கடை உரி மை யா ளரை தண் டிப் ப தோடு, அப ரா தம் விதிக் கப் ப டும். இதே போல் அழு கிய முட்டைைய விற் பனை செய் தால், அந்த வியா பாரி மீது கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என் றார்.

இறைச்சி கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை

சேலம், ஜூலை 13:

சேலம் மாந கர பகு தி யில் 300க்கும் மேற் பட்ட இறைச்சி கடை கள் உள் ளன. ஞாயிற் றுக் கி ழ மை யன்று சாலை யோ ரங் களில் வைக் கப் ப டும் தற் கா லிக இறைச்சி கடை களில் சுகா த ர மற்ற முறை யில் ஆடு, கோழி, மீன் இறைச்சி விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக மாந க ராட்சி நகர் நல அலு வ ல ருக்கு புகார் கள் வந் தது. இதன் பேரில் நேற்று, மாந கர் நல அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் செல் வக் கு மார் தலை மை யில், சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் கள் அதி ரடி சோத னை யில் ஈடு பட்ட னர். குகை, கருங் கல் பட்டி, தாத காப் பட்டி கேட் ஆகிய பகு தி களில் உள்ள 50க்கும் மேற் பட்ட இறைச்சி கடை களில் சோத னை யி டப் பட்டது. இதில், ஆடு, கோழி இறைச் சி கள் மூடி வைக் கப் ப டா மல், சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் விற் பனை செய் வது கண் ட றி யப் பட்டது. அந்த கடை களின் உரி மை யா ளர் களி டம், துணி மற் றும் பிளாஸ் டிக் கவ ரால், இறைச் சியை மூடி வைத்து சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும் என அறி வு றுத் தப் பட்டது. இனி இது போன்று நடந் தால், இறைச்சி பறி மு தல் செய் யப் ப டு வ தோடு, கடையை நடத்த தடை விதிக் கப் ப டும் என என அதி கா ரி கள் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் த னர். சோத னை யின் போது, சாலை யோ ர மாக சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் செயல் பட்ட 2 கோழி கடை மற் றும் 3 மீன் கடை களை அதி கா ரி கள் அப் பு றப் ப டுத் தி னர்.

What the mindless Maggi ban shows: The weak state strikes again

The recent state action against Nestle's Maggi noodles, where the chance discovery of packs that possibly contained a slight overdose of lead in Uttar Pradesh, has led to the product's recall and the emptying of almost all retail shelves of all brands of instant noodles. This action, which has caused losses running into several hundred crores to business, is a classic example of the damage that can be done by a combination of tough laws and weak regulation. The weak state has struck again.

That the UP food inspector, whose actions resulted in this massive recall is now being hailed as a minor hero who took on the might of the MNCs, tells us precisely what is wrong with the system. Almost farcically, both the inspector and his boss, Sanjay Singh and VK Pandey respectively, are now claiming credit for the damage done (read here). This is not to say they did wrong or that everything was all right with the Maggi samples that tested negative for existing food standards, but are they heroes just for doing their jobs? Especially when food regulators in the UK and Singapore have declared Maggi safe?

Two questions arise: if Maggi has been putting out sub-standard noodles targeted at children, why did it take the food inspection system 32 years to find out? Secondly, what is the point of having tough food safety standards if the system has no capacity to enforce them, and the first inspector who does so claims public accolades for the same? A system which needs individual heroics to implement the law will essentially be a corrupt one.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur thus needs applause for telling it like it is. In an interview to The Economic Times, she made it very clear that India may have cried wolf too soon with Maggi when it does not even have the basic infrastructure and manpower to test food samples at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FS&SAI), which prompted the Maggi recall. Rather, she seemed to suggest that inspector raj was on the comeback trail. If this continues, we can forget Narendra Modi’s Make in India. We can’t expect anyone to make in India if those who are already doing so are going to be treated as suspects.

She said: “In the name of food safety, you cannot bring back inspector raj, where inspectors are now beginning to harass the industry saying that they are getting tests done with some content found in their products.”

As Harsimrat Kaur tells it, FS&SAI has all of six scientists doing the testing, and given the thousands of food product innovations that come for testing every year, it is clearly not upto the job on the scale required.

The real problem of food safety lies not in our laws, but in our inability to create enough testing systems with adequate manpower to do the job consistently and fairly. We do not have a regulator who can regulate effectively. As a result, it is the oddball result – as in the case of Maggi – that is seen as a great achievement.

Indian food is largely unsafe for human consumption. Toxic food is sold everywhere, from contaminated milk to fruits and vegetables that bear an overdose of pesticides, to bhujias that are simply unhealthy for all people, leave alone kids.

Nowhere is the problem worse than in the case of milk – a product fundamental to Indian children’s health, especially those born in vegetarian families. Many producers and distributors adulterate milk to increase profits and to make the product look thick. In Maharashtra, the Food and Drug Administration found that 24 percent of the samples tested in Pune division were either unsafe or did not conform to the standards set by FS&SAI. But we continue to drink this poison in the name of health.

Some diaries inject hormones or insulin into buffaloes because this helps make the milk thicker. But insulin also gets into the milk, which makes it unsafe for women and children. In Andhra Pradesh, milk samples tested by a private laboratory found traces of urea, coliform, e-coli and salmonella (many of them harmful bacteria), but the milk diaries faced no action. Unlike Maggi, which is being withdrawn at huge cost, how many milk producers have been ordered to throw their milk away because it is sub-standard?

And it isn’t about milk alone. The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment found that junk food – like burgers and bhujias – contains high levels of trans-fats (very harmful), salt and sugar, which could lead to problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Most ordinary hotel kitchens are unhygienic, and street food is often sold next to gutters and garbage in big cities. Branded Kurkure may be made in hygienic factories, but potato chips and namkeen are often made inside slums or dirty factories, often with low-quality ingredients and oil, in order to sell them cheap. We pay a price in terms of health for buying and consuming “cheap” food.

The short point is this: food and health safety, despite the existence of standards and regulations, is badly in need of strong supervision and enforcement of the law. It is easy to attack Maggi because it is produced by a multinational company, but the real health hazards can be found in food produced by the small sector, in hotels and in street food. It is here that our food regulators must start to look for violations of the law.

The states are the real culprits, as food safety has to be enforced by them. The Maggi problem was discovered by a food inspector in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, but the chances are this discovery was an accident or an exception. The reason why bad and unhygienic food goes unchecked is corruption. It is simply too easy for food manufacturers to bribe inspectors and continue doing what they are doing: selling poison for profit. For small food sellers, the cost of complying with the law is simply too high compared with the ease of paying a bribe.

There are only three ways to combat food adulteration. First, the public must be educated on this. Second, packaged food makers and hotels must be sensitised to improve hygiene standards by the use of better technology and safer ingredients. And third, we simply need many thousands of food inspectors all over the country and effective food regulators.

Maggi is not the problem. The core issue is wayward implementation of the law enabled by a weak state that is unable to regulate firmly but fairly.

Without holding any brief for Nestle or Maggi, is it anyone’s case that multinational corporations are less responsible than Indian food makers or the thousands of food vendors in the unorganised or retail sector? The answer should be obvious.

உணவுக்கு தடை!

 

பூச்சிக் கொல்லி உணவுகள்
நாம் உண்ணும் அனைத்து உணவுகளிலுமே உடலுக்கு கேடுதரும் ரசாயனங்கள், பூச்சிக் கொல்லிகள் கலந்திருப்பதாக உணவு ஆய்வுகள் தெரிவிக்கிறது. ஒரு ஆப்பிள் பழத்தின் மூலம் 45 பூச்சிக் கொல்லி மருந்துகளும், உருளைக்கிழங்கின் மூலம் 30 பூச்சிக் கொல்லி மருந்துகளும் நமது உடலுக்குள் செல்கிறது. 

 அரிசியில் கலப்படம்
அரிசியில் கலப்படம் என்றால் கல், உமி அல்லது மண் கூட இருக்கலாம். ஆனால் பிளாஸ்டிக் அரிசி கலப்பது என்பது அதிர்ச்சியோ அதிர்ச்சி. சீனாவிலிருந்து இறக்குமதி செய்யப்படும் அரிசிகளில் இப்படியான கலப்படம் இருப்பது இப்போதுதான் இந்தியாவில் தெரிய வந்துள்ளது. இந்தோனேசிய நாட்டில் இந்த பிளாஸ்டிக் அரிசிக்கு எதிராக வர்த்தக அமைச்சகம் களமிறங்கியுள்ளது.
40 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்களைத்தான் அதை திங்காதே இதை திங்காதே என்று எச்சரிப்பார்கள். ஆனால் இன்று எந்த உணவை எடுத்தாலும், அதை சாப்பிடலாமா வேண்டாமா என்கிற எச்சரிக்கை உணர்வு எல்லா வயதினருக்கும் வந்துவிட்டது. குழந்தைக்கு கொடுக்கும் பால் பவுடர் கூட பாதுகாப்பற்றதாக இருக்கிறது. இது போன்ற உடல்நலத்துக்கு கேடு விளைவிக்கும் உணவுகள் இந்தியாவில் மட்டுமல்ல உலகம் முழுவதும் உண்டு. அப்படி தடை செய்யபட்ட சில உணவுப் பொருட்கள்.
தக்காளி சாஸ்
பிட்சா, பர்க்கரில் தொட்டுக்கொள்ளும் இந்த தக்காளி சாஸை பிரான்ஸ் அரசு ஆரம்ப பள்ளிகளுக்கு கொண்டுவர தடை செய்துள்ளது. குழந்தைகள் அதிகப்படியான சர்க்கரை நோய்க்கு ஆளாவதால் இந்த தடை. பிரெஞ்சு மக்களது உணவில் கெட்சப் ஒரு அங்கம். பாரம்பரிய உணவாக இருந்தாலும் பள்ளி குழந்தைகளை பாதுகாக்க இந்த முடிவு எடுத்துள்ளது அரசாங்கம்.
அப்சிந்தி
வட ஆப்பிரிக்கா, கனடா மற்றும் அமெரிக்காவில் வளரும் ஒருவகை செடியின் பூ மற்றும் இலையிலிருந்து வடித்தெடுக்கப்படும் சாறு. மருத்துவ குணமுடையது என்றாலும், போதை தரக்கூடியது. மொராக்கோவில் இதைக் கொண்டு தேநீர் தயாரிக்கின்றனர். அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் ஐரோப்பிய நாடுகள் தடை செய்திருந்தன. இதை அளவுக்கதிகமாக பயன்படுத்தினால் மனநிலை பாதிக்கும் என்பதால் அமெரிக்க உணவு மற்றும் மருந்துகள் கட்டுப்பாட்டுத்துறை அனுமதி இருந்தால்தான் இப்போது தயாரிக்க முடியும்.
ஹக்கீஸ்
ஸ்காட்லாந்து நாட்டின் பாரம்பரிய திண்பண்டம். இதை அமெரிக்காவில் தடை செய்துள்ளனர். செம்மறி ஆட்டு நுரையீரலில் இருந்து தயார் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இங்கிலாந்தில் 15 மில்லியன் டாலர் சந்தை மதிப்பை கொண்டுள்ளது. அமெரிக்க அரசோடு பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்தியும் தடையை நீக்க முடியவில்லை.
ஜெல்லி மிட்டாய்
ஜெல்லி மிட்டாய் தீங்கில்லாத இனிப்புதான் என்றாலும் கிட்டத்தட்ட கருணைக் கிழக்கில் கிடைக்கும் இனிப்புக்கு ஈடாக இருக்கிறது என அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் நாடுகள் இறக்குமதிக்கு தடை செய்துள்ளன. 3 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு கொடுக்கக்கூடாது என எச்சரிக்கை செய்துள்ளன. ஜப்பான் மற்றும் கிழக்கு நாடுகளில் தாராளமாகக் கிடைக்கிறது.
மர்மைட்
ஆஸ்திரேலியா மற்றும் பசிபிக் நாடுகளில் விற்பனையாகிறது. முக்கியமாக நியூஸிலாந்தில் உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படுகிறது. யுனிலீவர் நிறுவனமும் இதை தயாரிக்கிறது. பியர் கழிவிலிருந்து கிடைக்கும் ஈஸ்ட்டிலிருந்து எடுக்கப்படுகிறது. பிரிட்டனில் இதன் மார்க்கெட்டிங் ஸ்லோகன் ’இதை விரும்பு அல்லது வெறுத்து விடு’ உணவுகளில் சுவை கூட்டவும், பிரெட்களில் தடவியும் சாப்பிடப்படுகிறது. போலிக் ஆசிட் அதிக அளவில் இருக்கிறது என்று டென்மார்க் அரசு தடை செய்தது. இதை தொடர்ந்து சாப்பிட்டதால் சிலர் இறந்தனர் என்றும் பேசப்பட்டது.
மாகி
இந்தியாவில் சமீபத்தில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட இரண்டு நிமிட உடனடி துரித உணவு. அனுமதிக்கபட்ட அளவைவிட அதிகமாக ரசாயனம் கலந்து இருப்பது கண்டுபிடிக்கபட்டதால் தடைசெய்யப்பட்டது. ஆண்டுக்கு ரூ.3,400 கோடி வர்த்தக மதிப்பு கொண்டது. தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பிறகு , கடைகளிலிருந்து திரும்ப பெற்று அழிப்பதற்கான செலவு ரூ.300 கோடிக்கு அதிகமாக ஆகும் என்று கூறியுள்ளது இதன் உற்பத்தி நிறுவனமான நெஸ்லே.
அக்கி புரூட்ஸ்
மேற்கு ஆப்பிரிக்க நாடுகளில் அதிக அளவில் விளையும் ஒரு வகை பழம். குறிப்பாக ஜமைக்காவில் அதிகம் விளைகிறது. அங்கு பாரம்பரிய உணவு வகைகளில் இந்த பழத்துக்கு முக்கிய இடம் உண்டு. ஏற்றுமதி மூலம் ஆண்டுக்கு ரூ. 2,500 கோடி வருமானத்தை கொடுக்கிறது. இந்த பழத்தை பறித்த உடன் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். அளவுக்கு அதிகமான குளுகோஸ், டாக்சின் காரணமாக அமெரிக்கா மற்றும் இங்கிலாந்து இந்த பழம் சேர்த்த உணவுகளுக்கு தடை விதித்துள்ளது.
சமோசா
உலகம் முழுவதும் விரும்பி உண்ணக்கூடிய சமோசாவுக்கு தடையா என ஆச்சரியப்படலாம். சோமாலியா நாட்டில் இதை தடை செய்துள்ளனர். இதற்கான காரணங்கள் எதுவும் சொல்லவில்லை. ஆனால் முக்கோண வடிவம் இஸ்லாமிய உணர்வுக்கு எதிராக இருப்பதால் இதை தடைசெய்ததாக சொல்கின்றனர் இங்கு ஆள்பவர்கள். இங்கு சமோசா சாப்பிடுவது சட்டவிரோதம்.

How Watchful has the Watchdog Been? Former Officials Speak Up On FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Association of India is a regulatory body entrusted with the responsibility of formulating rules and standards for food products that are processed, packaged and sold across the nation. It is vested with the power to crack its whip on any product that may jeopardize human health - with respect to food consumption. The aftermath of Maggi noodles controversy led to the national food security watchdog to tighten its grip and magnify its lens further on the processed food industry. As far as the consumer is concerned, you and I now look at those glossy packs of processed food items with increased scepticism.
Behind closed doors
A few former FSSAI officials recently broke their silence on the existing loopholes in the national food regulatory body. It brought to light the world that remains on the other side, hidden behind the closed chambers of FSSAI.
The Food Safety and Standards Act came into force close to a decade back in the year 2006. In his opinion piece published in a leading newspaper, Mr. P Survathan, the first chairperson of FSSAI noted that "the intent of this law was to bring all food related statuses together, introduce scientific risk assessment methodologies and transparency in the determination of food standards, and tackle the problem of food contamination before the contamination actually took place." But, how is any regulatory body supposed to function when it experiences the absence of a kingpin? Reportedly, FSSAI has had no full-time chairperson since almost half a year now. Mr. Survathan also highlighted the fact that the staff strength at FSSAI is facing a constant depletion with an acute shortage of people with risk assessment skills.
Mr. Survathan brought to light the fact that there are over "one lakh food safety related cases pending in courts." The regulating body is yet to make up its mind on some crucial regulations involving "food labeling, functional foods, school meals regulations, water quality," and others. The objective of any regulatory body is not just to punish the breach of law, but also to undertake measures and make sure the execution of these happen in such a way so as to avoid any breaching.
And why is it so?
"Even an advanced country like the US is able to inspect only 1% of the total food produced in the country," added Mr. Survathan. Determination of food standards and its regulation is not a simple task. A staff with little understanding of complex issues associated with food standards, regulation as well as security and "no risk assessments" leads to a lack of single "documentary basis for regulatory decisions." "No reasons are given for approvals, approvals are often contradictory, and there is no procedure for appeals or time limits for clearance," noted Mr. Survathan.
This takes us to what Mr. Pradeep Chakravarty - former director, Product Approval Committee, FSSAI - had to say about the practice of granting clearances and approvals by FSSAI. While Mr. Survathan stresses on the lack of an efficient staff at FSSAI, Mr. Chakravarty revealed an apparent reason behind this - alleged corporate lobbying.
And it all turns grim
Mr. Chakravarty has moved to the Delhi High Court with his PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the alleged rampant corporate lobbying existing within FSSAI. His petition states that multinationals are often benefitted from food security regulations and norms. Mr. Survathan's claims resonate with Mr. Chakravarty's when the latter noted the presence of non-technical personnel holding some of the key offices within the organisation. Chakravarty's petition also talks about his role in denying clearance to the marketing of a US manufactured energy drink. According to him, clearance was denied on grounds of the energy drink containing more caffeine than the Indian permissible limit.
In July 2013 Mr. Chakravarty was removed from his office and this February he was moved out of FSSAI. He is also facing a 'retaliatory probe' issued against him for the same. Not only this, he also admits his succeeding official allowing the imports of the same US manufactured energy drink in October, 2013 - without even having the scientific panel review the application.
What now?
FSSAI banned the sale of three energy drinks in May this year. These included Monster, Tzinga and Cloud9. Apart from these, a few products from Tata Starbucks were also rejected. FSSAI had issued a list of close to 500 rejected products as of 30 April 2015. According to a PTI report, the brands that made to the list included Kellogg India's 'special K Red berries', some of Venky's chicken products, Ranbaxy's Revital Capsule, Revital Senior tablets and Revital Women Tablets, McCain's 'Battered Pepper and Cheese Bites' and others. Past few weeks also saw Knorr and Top Ramen withdrawing their noodles from the market.
It seems as if the Centre, FSSAI and everyone else now has their eyes all fixed on the food space, with an aim to crack the whip on any mishaps in the food industry. Last week there were multiple reports on how FSSAI is looking at formulating new caffeine standards as well as fixing limits of melamine in milk and milk related products. According to a PTI report, "the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed imposing a permissible limit of 1 mg of melamine in every kg of powdered infant formula, 0.15 mg per kg in liquid infant formula and 2.5 mg per kg in other foods, " which is also the prescribed global limit by the World Health Organisation..
In the wake of safety concerns raised over processed food products, there is an outpour of PILs being filed and the central as well as the state food regulatory bodies taking much a aggressive stance on the issue of food safety. A Parliamentary panel was scheduled to discuss regulation of toxic contents in packaged food on July 10th.
This increased focus on adherence by food and beverage companies is good news for the consumer. In the words of Mr. Survathan, "The food safety regulator is in danger of drifting back to the obsolete and unscientific procedures have governed food safety regulation in the country. When decisions are not backed by science and due diligence, the regulator runs the risk of being rendered irrelevant to the needs of a fast changing economy and society."
And, as far as the alleged issue of corporate lobbying goes, nothing stirs there as for now. Mr. Chakravarty along with two former FSSAI directors has already written to the Union minister of Health and Family Welfare Mr. JP Nadda regarding the matter and further action is awaited.

State for lower fat content in milk

The State government’s move to seek a dilution of food product standards to suit the lower fat content of milk produced in the State has met with scepticism from a section of experts who feel that the milk fat issue should have been addressed by improving the quality of cattle feed. While dairy development experts feel that the lower fat content of milk is the result of the cattle breeding policy focussing on crossbreeds selected for their high yield, livestock scientists believe that the problem has more to do with the decline in the content of roughage in cattle feed.
The government is seeking an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to lower the prescribed fat content of cow’s milk in Kerala from 3.5 per cent to 3 per cent. While most States have a prescribed limit of 3.5, the food product standards mandate a content of four per cent for Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab and three per cent for Mizoram and Odisha.
Last week, the government circulated a note among Members of Parliament from Kerala, asking them to highlight the State’s demand to lower the food product standards for milk.
According to the latest estimates, more than 90 per cent of milch cows in Kerala are crossbred. Scientists point out that cows supplied with adequate high fibre roughage like hay and fodder, as those in the government farms in the State, produce milk with fat up to 4.2 per cent, unlike animals fed with concentrated feed.
The rumen (stomach chamber) of a cow on a high roughage diet produces acetic acid, a precursor for mammalian milk fat. Animals fed with concentrated feed release lactic acid instead, resulting in lower fat content.
The ideal ratio of roughage and concentrated feed is 60:40 but most dairy farmers in Kerala, especially those in urban areas, depend on compounded feed. “While the steady fall in paddy production has affected the availability of hay, the scarcity of land has led to a decline in the supply of fodder, with the result that farmers are increasingly forced to depend on concentrated feed. This has impacted on the fat content of milk produced in Kerala,” says a dairy management expert.
Farmers are deterred by the higher price tag for total mixed ration feed, a combination of high fibre roughage and concentrated feed is a deterrent for dairy farmers. Meanwhile, the government is understood to be drafting a Bill prescribing standards for cattle feed.

Some food for thought

Hazy laws, poor implementation cast a shadow on food safety regulations. Time for the regulator to get its act together
Much before the controversy around Maggi raised an alarm over food safety standards in India, the voluminous rejection list of Indian food and cosmetic items in the US served as a precursor to the need for better regulations of food safety laws in India.
India has always been one of the top three countries to face rejections in the monthly refusal list of food items by the Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS), of the US FDA(Food & Drug Administration). In June 2015, 170 Indian products, 185 in May and 143 in April, were rejected by the US FDA, marking the second highest number of refusals in all the three months.
Ironically, India has one of the best food laws in place on paper, which requires even a roadside peanut vendor to get a licence from the government. However, the problems lie in the poor implementation of laws. In 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established as an independent statutory authority for all food-related laws under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Act repealed a plethora of previous central Acts including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, which was the principal law governing the food sector in India so long. The new laws were aimed to address the issue of food safety, apart from food adulteration.
The FSSAI- broadly based on Codex Alementarius Commission, a benchmark for international food safety practices- became the central regulatory authority responsible for regulating manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food. The commission dates back to 1963, when the Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) along with its 185 member states formed the standards.
"The biggest problem with food law is that it was hurriedly copied from Codex but was not sufficient to address problems in the Indian food sector. Most importantly, at the ground level, the food inspectors have no competency and capacity for effective monitoring. The FSSAI has just made the inspector raj more pronounced," said a food consultant on the condition of anonymity.
Too many ifs & buts
Experts opine that even though the FSSAI brought about the much needed reforms in food laws, it left out several categories of food.
For example, The Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 provides a lists of food and additives allowed in nutritional products. However, "proprietary food" remains ill-defined. FSSAI defines proprietary food items as ones which have not been defined by the regulations, thus leaving gaps in food laws.
"There are only 377 products mentioned in the regulations. Other countries around the world have over 10,000 standards. Moreover, the list is not regularly reviewed," said Kunal Kishore, partner, Juggernaut Legal and Financial Solutions.
Most of the legal problems pertaining to food laws stem from the proprietary food category, said Kishore. For example, in 2013 Vital Neutraceuticals, a Mumbai-based company, moved the Bombay High Court against an advisory issued by FSSAI asking manufacturers to take approval for products, licensed and existing in the market. The court quashed the advisory, and the Supreme Court upheld the decision. "An environment of trust needs to be created between the regulator and the industry. Testing of products could be conducted in the presence of the manufacturer," said Gowree Gokhale, partner, Nishith Desai Associates,
Low standards, poor implementation
The controversy over the presence of unacceptable levels of lead and monosodium glutamate in Maggi - a popular instant noodle product manufactured by Nestle - showed the confusion over standards in different states. After testing samples, Maharashtra, Punjab and Kerala banned the product, while Karnataka, West Bengal, Goa and Chhattisgarh claimed the levels of lead were not unsafe. This raises doubts on the standard procedures followed by the laboratories certified by the regulator.
"Even if they (the laboratories) are proved wrong, no one is answerable, there is no legal recourse for the company to claim compensation as the government would claim that it was done in good faith," said a lawyer, who did not want to be named.
FSSAI officials were not available for comment, and an email sent to the regulator remained unanswered at the time of going to press.
Many in the industry feel that the regulator is grossly understaffed and underfunded to monitor the widening ambit of food laws. Also, there are no standard practices for food inspection, the process being mostly discretionary. "Ideally, the food inspectors should upload online reports, along with pictures of products," said Vijay Saranda, a food consultant and director, Achievers' Resources.
The Codex Alimentarius Comm-ission met last week in Geneva to review existing standards for food safety and quality. Representatives from 185 countries - including those from India- agreed that more stringent benchmark norms for various food categories be followed worldwide. This included setting the maximum levels of lead in fruit, juices and canned foods, new worldwide standard for ginseng products, nutrition labelling reference value for potassium, new standards for the safe use of food additives, and capping limits for pesticide residues in food. Clearly, FSSAI would have to spruce up its facilities to keep pace with the changes in global standards in food safety and quality.
Being just a few years old, FSSAI may still be finding its feet. But the Maggi episode may force it to get its act in place.

In bad taste: No checks on food safety

HYDERABAD: Slack enforcement of laws and reluctance of the state government to crack down on food safety violators have reached an alarming level in the city, say experts, at a time when several popular food chains were found to be dishing out unsafe and unhygienic eatables across the city.
Last month, Swiss major Nestle was forced to pull out its flagship brand Maggi from the Indian market after a series of tests found high levels of lead and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) across the country. While authorities put their foot down, despite Nestle explaining that its hugely popular two-minute noodles was absolutely safe, the ban sparked a nationwide outrage.
Since then, several milk brands tested by the Telangana State Food Laboratory have revealed the presence of pathogens salmonella and E Coli bacteria, while tests conducted on food samples collected from a popular fast food chain revealed they were not advisable for human consumption, particularly for children.
While recent developments have raised fears among denizens on the quality of food dished out at restaurants and fast food outlets, many have asked why the government has gone quiet and is not taking any action?
"I am clueless and hoping the government will take some action. I have stopped taking milk from the vendor and instead am giving my children soya milk. My doctor tells me that even several child nutrition supplements are not safe for kids," said Priyanka Kalra, a techie who recently moved to Hi-Tec City with her family.
While people continue to ask why the government has not banned such unsafe products from the market -- when its own lab has raised questions about its safety levels — health activists blame it entirely on the lack of political will to take action against big businesses.
"Big companies, before entering the Indian market, obtain necessary permission from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). But the problem arises once they begin opening thousands of outlets across the country and slowly start compromising on standards and quality control," says Sujata Stephen, a leading health activist and nutritionist.
In several instances, according to Stephen, fast food chains have employed staff who compromise on hand hygiene, leading to contamination of food they serve to customers.
Activists also say inspections are hardly carried out and despite complaints, municipal authorities choose to ignore on more than one occasion. "Food inspectors are either bribed or restaurants get advance information about raids," she added.
Food inspectors, however, disagree, citing a number of reasons behind the delay in taking action. The two principal ones are: A serious shortage of food inspectors and inordinate delays in court cases.
GHMC has only four food inspectors who are not only tasked with checking food items in restaurants and conducting regular raids but are also drafted into other work, including property tax collection.
The scenario is no different in other metros. For instance, national capital New Delhi has only 12 inspectors, while the ideal number should be 32 in order to cover the length and breadth of the city. "We receive 50-60 serious complaints a month, which must be looked into immediately. But I don't have enough men to do the job and have been trying to convince the government that we need more," Delhi food commissioner KK Jindal told STOI.
Jindal also said that the laws are strong enough, but it was up to the authorities to ensure that cases are speeded up and punishment is served according to the nature of crime. "It ultimately does boil down to law-enforcement," he added.
According to the law, seized food items are categorized under three main groups after exhaustive testing is done in labs across the country. In case of misbranding and sub-standard items, a complaint is lodged with the revenue department, and the punishment can only be in the form of monetary penalty. But once a sample falls under 'unsafe' category, a case is filed in a court of law where the punishment is imprisonment. But legal experts and activists say cases drag on for years and justice gets delayed due to endless appeals and counter appeals -- making prompt delivery of punishment impossible.
"We need very strong enforcement and more proactiveness by the government. We are doing the government's job for the last five years and my experience, despite efforts, has been bitter," said Achyuta Rao, member of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

Food inspector raj threatening government’s Make-in-India initiative: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

The “inspector raj” needs to be abolished in favour of a “registration raj,” according to food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.NEW DELHI: An "inspector raj" has engendered so much fear among packaged food companies that it's stalling overseas investment, killing innovation and threatening the government's Make-in-India initiative, said food processing ministerHarsimrat Kaur Badal.

 That's robbing the country of the job and income-creating potential of an industry growing much more rapidly than manufacturing or agriculture, Badal told ET in an interview, while acknowledging that she's sympathetic to the severe constraints facing the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The regulator is at the centre of a controversy sparked by its ban on Nestle India's Maggi noodles in June.
Since then regulators elsewhere have deemed Maggi noodles made in India safe, casting doubt on the tests that led to the local ban. Badal declined to comment on the Maggi noodles controversy. Badal is the first minister in the Narendra Modi government to be openly critical of the effects of regulatory overreach.
India could attract overseas investment worth billions of dollars, helping both farmers and consumers if companies get the right environment and are allowed to self-certify compliance, she said. The "inspector raj" needs to be abolished in favour of a "registration raj," according to the minister.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Companies are opting for other countries to invest in because of negative feedback on India, she said, adding that the climate of fear was so pervasive that even industry lobby groups are reluctant to raise the matter fearing a regulatory backlash.
"In the current environment, no one can say how long it will take to get approval, so these projects were not coming to India," she said. "Now we see this inspector raj. Companies are petrified of their reputation. Further, industry associations also don't want to come to forefront as they feel they will be targeted." Manufacturers find it difficult to deal with the FSSAI because of the red tape involved, Badal said, calling for well-defined, transparent and rational norms that should be effectively implemented with exemplary punishment for defaulters.
BONDUELLE, AMY'S KITCHEN INTERESTED
The $2 billion, French processed vegetables company Bonduelle and US-based Amy's Kitchen, which specialises in organic, non-genetically modified food, are among those keen to invest in India and make it a hub for regional operations as they look beyond their saturated, ageing Western markets, Badal said.
"If we really want to make Make in India successful, then we have to adopt international standards which are not (based on) product approval but ingredient approval," Badal said. "We approve the ingredients and let the industry play along within the norms. The industry should voluntarily be responsible and we do the checking."
TRANSPARENCY NEEDED
Badal said she has raised the issue with the prime minister and the health minister and has received positive responses. She sought a balance between industry-friendly norms and food safety. "The main issue is ensuring safe healthy food for consumers... but in the name of assuring healthy food there should be no harassment and there should be clear-cut transparent systems which are mandatory and which are implemented to ensure that this is there," Badal said. "I think in all this we have missed something.
We don't have protocols for testing. Every lab has its own way of testing. Manufacturers don't know what is the way it needs to be tested." Innovation is being curbed because of a process that takes "forever," she said. The food processing industry can be a "game changer" for both farmers and consumers because it gives producers a better price and ensures that people get hygienic, safe food at affordable prices.
"I don't think this industry should be harassed. Yes, standards should be maintained. No one is going to be spared if they are providing non-hygienic or poisonous food to consumers. There will be no compromise on that," she said. "But in the name of food safety, you cannot bring back inspector raj, where inspectors are now beginning to harass the industry saying that they are getting tests done with some content found in their products. Both need to go hand in hand and both are equally important."
CHALLENGES FOR FSSAI
She said FSSAI had a "humoungous task" as it was dealing with thousands of applications but companies faced a tough time in getting approvals.
"There were plenty of complaints from across the country. With the kind of innovations, now there are hundreds of types of cakes, biscuits, bread, juices, lassi. Is it possible in a country like ours where every second new things are being innovated, to get product-to-product approval? It is not humanly possible," she said. "All of them come to FSSAI for approval and there are six scientists working on testing. It is not humanly possible."
India needs to take a cue from standards overseas that are based on approval for ingredients. Companies register themselves and pledge to follow the rules.
"It should be voluntary," she said. "And if they are not following norms, they should be penalised so strongly that no one should have the guts to do anything wro

Food safety website yet to be launched

Bengaluru: Are you concerned about the quality of the food you are consuming? Do you have any suspicion about the food products you are buying? Where we can get guidance to lodge complaints? A dedicated website developed to disseminate awareness in this regard is lying waste, thanks to the apathy of officials.

When the food safety act was first launched in the state, a dedicated website was developed under the URL foodsafety.kar.nic.in. But if you visit the website you will not get any essential info other than highlights of the central act.

Highlights of the negligence: As per the website, the plans for the state under the food safety act is not updated after the year 2012-13. There is no information on the initiatives launched by the state government over ensuring safe food.

Under the link the tested products page is under construction. If you want any information, you have to either apply under the Right to Information act or wait for the favor of the concerned officials! There is no information on banned products except for a few China-made items.

What are people looking forward to? According to health activists, the need of the hour is a fool-proof mechanism and an interactive website to ensure the speedy disposal of queries and complaints. “If key information like how to submit samples for testing, applicable fee if any, recent laboratory findings on food products, grievance redressal mechanism, etc are published on the website it will benefit all. Even the companies will fear such public activism,” said a prominent health activist. ‘Healthy food is everyone's right. So all the information should be made public,’ he said.

When contacted an officer informed that issue would be addressed at the earliest.

FSSAI sets 12K standards for food additives & ingredients

The move is expected to benefit food companies as they would not require to seek product approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) if they comply with these standards. At present, there are 375 FSSAI safety standards for food items but none for food additives and ingredients.

Food Safety regulator FSSAI has finalised 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients in line with global safety standards Codex, in order to do away with lengthy process of product approval.
The move is expected to benefit food companies as they would not require to seek product approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) if they comply with these standards. At present, there are 375 FSSAI safety standards for food items but none for food additives and ingredients.
"FSSAI has approved 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients. The Law Ministry is vetting the standards and a notification will be issued soon," a senior Health Ministry official told PTI. The new FSSAI standards are in harmony with the global food standards of Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation, the official said.
FSSAI, under the aegis of Health Ministry, has fixed maximum limit for use of food additives in various food groups to ensure that the intake of additives does not exceed the acceptable daily intake. Similarly, it has set norms for use of ingredients in preparation of processed food items. After the Maggi controversy, the FSSAI has stepped up measures to strengthen the quality standards for food products. It is reviewing the existing standards set for caffeine content, metal and toxic contaminants and other residues in the food products. The regulator is also in the process of setting standards for imported food items to ensure safe products are sold in the domestic market.