Maggi ban: Nestle India violated laws, FSSAI tells HC

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday alleged in the Bombay high court that Nestle India had violated laws in the country by producing Maggi with lead content more than permissible limits.

"The company had acted in an untrustworthy manner...they had the capacity to produce a safe product but had not done so," Mahmood Pracha, counsel for FSSAI's CEO, argued before a bench of justice VM Kanade and justice BP Colabawalla.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting their sale.

Even in foreign countries where Maggi was found to be of sub-standard quality, the product had been banned, said Pracha who cited an instance of the Philippines where it was withdrawn.

The lawyer clarified that Indian government had not banned Maggi but asked the company to stop production and sale of the product as it contained lead above permissible levels. After FSSAI issued a notice to Nestle, the company could have given a reply within a day but it chose not to do so, he said.

The notice had been issued to the company, keeping in mind the health hazards Maggie could have caused to the people due to alleged high lead presence in the product, he said.

Senior counsel Darius Khambata, who represents Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra government, said he would argue on July 27, justifying the state's action against Maggie for containing lead more than the permissible limits.

The hearing was adjourned until then by the bench.

Nestle has argued that a certain batch of Maggi may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but the decision to impose a blanket ban was "unfair and illegal."

The company has claimed that it had tested the product in 2,700 laboratories in India and also abroad and the tests indicated that the lead content was less than the permissible limit of 0.5%

Food regulator FSSAI within law in ordering Maggi recall: Counsel

In the Nestle-food regulator dispute over the Maggi recall order, the counsel for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said the regulator was within the framework of law in issuing the directive.

In the Nestle-food regulator dispute over the Maggi recall order, the counsel for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said the regulator was within the framework of law in issuing the directive. 

Nestle India has challenged FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of the popular instant food snack in the Bombay High Court. A bench comprising Justice VM Kanade and Justice BP Colabawalla is hearing arguments on whether the FSSAI order is within the law or not. 

Advocate Mehmood Pracha, who is representing FSSAI, said, "The regulator is the facilitator to the companies who are manufacturing the products, but it has to also protect the interest of consumers who are not well informed." 

Pracha argued that at the time of granting product approval to the company, the regulator puts trust into the product manufacturer that it will abide by the laws, but when they are found breaching the trust, the regulator has to take the action. 

"We are asking them to show us how much product they have recalled and what are they doing with it, but they are not giving us any response," said Pracha. "We also sought information on who are the company's retailers and distributors and they have not given us any details regarding that too." 

The bench has also directed the counsel to compile all the arguments and submit it to the court.

Nestle India violated laws, FSSAI tells HC

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday alleged in the Bombay High Court that Nestle India had violated laws in the country by producing Maggi with lead content more than permissible limits. 

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday alleged in the Bombay High Court that Nestle India had violated laws in the country by producing Maggi with lead content more than permissible limits.

"The company had acted in an untrustworthy manner...they had the capacity to produce a safe product but had not done so," Mahmood Pracha, Counsel for FSSAI's CEO, argued before a bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting their sale. 

Even in foreign countries where Maggi was found to be of sub-standard quality, the product had been banned, said Pracha who cited an instance of the Philippines where it was withdrawn. 

The lawyer clarified that Indian government had not banned Maggi but asked the company to stop production and sale of the product as it contained lead above permissible levels. 

After FSSAI issued a notice to Nestle, the company could have given a reply within a day but it chose not to do so, he said. 

The notice had been issued to the company, keeping in mind the health hazards Maggie could have caused to the people due to alleged high lead presence in the product, he said. Senior counsel Darius Khambata, who represents Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra government, said he would argue on July 27, justifying the state's action against Maggie for containing lead more than the permissible limits. 

The hearing was adjourned until then by the bench. Nestle has argued that a certain batch of Maggi may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but the decision to impose a blanket ban was "unfair and illegal."

The company has claimed that it had tested the product in 2,700 laboratories in India and also abroad and the tests indicated that the lead content was less than the permissible limit of 0.5 on Friday.

கலப்பட தேயிலை, தரமற்ற பண்டங்கள் பறிமுதல்:மேட்டூரில் 35 மளிகை, டீக்கடைகளுக்கு நோட்டீஸ்

மேட்டூர்:மேட்டூரில் நேற்று ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர்கள், கலப்பட தேயிலை, தரமற்ற உணவு பண்டங்கள் விற்பனை செய்த, 35 கடைகளுக்கு நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத்தனர்.மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையில், அலுவலர்கள் மாரியப்பன், இளங்கோவன், அன்புபழனி குழுவினர் நேற்று மேட்டூர் பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், ராமன்நகர், சாம்பள்ளி கடைகளில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது மேட்டூர் பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட் கடைகளில் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் திறந்தவெளியில் வைத்து விற்பனை செய்த போண்டா, பஜ்ஜி உள்ளிட்ட உணவு பண்டங்களை அலுவலர்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

மேலும், காலாவதி தேதி இல்லாத குளிர்பானம், பிஸ்கட், கேக் உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. ராமன்நகர், சாம்பள்ளி பகுதியில், டீக்கடைகளில் நடத்திய ஆய்வில், கலப்பட தேயிலை உபயோகிப்பது தெரியவந்தது.

கடைகளில் வைத்திருந்த, 5 கிலோ கலப்பட்ட தேயிலை, மளிகை கடைகளில் சட்டவிரோதமாக விற்பனை செய்த, 5,000 ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள, ஹான்ஸ், புகையில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

ஆய்வுக்கு பின் காலாவதி பொருட்கள், தரமற்ற, கலப்பட உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்த, மளிகை கடை, ஹோட்டல், டீக்கடை உள்ளிட்ட, 35 கடைகளுக்கு மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத்து, வருங்காலத்தில் இதே நிலை நீடித்தால், சட்டரீதியான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தார்.

Bombay HC questions ban on all Maggi variants

The Bombay High Court on Thursday questioned the ban on all nine variants of Maggi noodles when only three were tested.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that three variants of the product were tested and found to have lead in excess of the permissible limits.

“Correct, so ban those three. You banned all nine,” a Division Bench of Justices V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawalla remarked. When the food regulator defended the ban saying the authorities did not want to take a risk, the Bench said: “If that is the argument, why ban only Nestle? Ban all the noodles.”

The court also asked FSSAI why a show-cause notice on the ban was not issued to Nestle India. “Your show-cause notice is about the revocation of product approval. Out of 72 samples which were tested 30 had excess lead. That means 42 samples were clear. So was it not necessary to issue show-cause before passing an order of ban? If one batch is bad, you will ban the entire product?” the court asked.

Adverse results

The FSSAI maintained that the decision to ban the whole product was based on adverse results from many States. Furthermore, since Maggi was eaten by children, unlike other products such as alcohol or ‘gutka’, the authorities decided to ban the product to avoid any risk.

Serious consequences

“Lead can cause serious damage to the brain and kidney. Serious consequences were considered before passing the order. Ultimately we could not have taken any risk to allow them to sell or manufacture the product,” Additional Solicitor-General Anil Singh, representing the FSSAI, said.

He pointed out that Nestle had started withdrawing its products from the market a day before FSSAI passed its order of June 5, 2015, terming Maggi noodles “unsafe and hazardous for human consumption.”

Maggi ban: We did not act in haste, FSSAI tells Bombay HC

The country's apex food regulator, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Thursday said it did not act in haste when passing the ban and recall order pertaining toMaggi on June 5.

Arguing the matter at the high court here, Maharashtra's advocate general Anil Singh, who is representing FSSAI, said Nestle India had begun withdrawing Maggi on June 4 in anticipation of a recall order by the regulator. "There was no need for the FSSAI to showcause Nestle as far as the recall order went since the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, empowers the chief executive of FSSAI to act as food safety commissioner in the event a food product shows high presence of a heavy metal. In this case, it was lead. We showcaused Nestle India pertaining to product approval of Maggi asking them why we should grant them approval to manufacture and sell the product when it contained high levels of lead. They could have satisfied us on the matter. They, however, chose to go to court," Singh said.

Singh also said that Nestle's contention that it was only Section 34 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, that empowered the regulator to issue emergency prohibition orders was incorrect.

"Sections 16(1) gives the FSSAI the power to regulate and monitor the manufacture, processing and distribution of a food business operator to ensure that food produced by it was safe and wholesome. Section 29 also empowers FSSAI and state food authority to enforce the Act, which involves monitoring and verifying that relevant requirements of the law are fulfilled by the food business operator," Singh said, adding that the role of FSSAI was to be proactive when ensuring that food was safe and wholesome.

Singh also said that the regulator's actions were fully justified in the wake of the test results from various states showing that lead was beyond the permissible limit.

"If FSSAI has granted approval to a product from a food business operator, it has the right to withdraw it as well in the event it sees the food business operator committing violations. In this case, there were violations, which prompted action," he said.

The AG also came down heavily on Nestle pertaining to its 'No added MSG' label, asking what was the need to confuse consumers with this label.

"Buyers of Maggi would be under the impression there is no MSG, when the company is actually saying that it does not add MSG. There is a difference between the two and Nestle has admitted MSG can be found naturally in the product. This label was intended to gain commercial advantage," Singh said, adding that Nestle had decided to correct this after it was brought to its attention by the regulator.

Maggi ban would have been lifted if Nestle acted on time: FSSAI

Nestle India says the authorities failed to do a number of things before declaring its product unsafe

Mumbai: Regulator Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the Bombay high court on Thursday that if Nestle India Ltd had come to it and satisfied its requirements for product approval within 15 days as sought in its 5 June order, the ban on the sale of Maggi noodles could have been lifted.

According to Nestle India, however, the authorities failed to do a number of things before declaring its product unsafe, including issuing the company a show-cause notice before announcing the ban and conducting tests on the food as it is meant to be consumed.

The food regulator’s order to stop sales, distribution and manufacture of Maggi noodles came a day after Nestle India’s announcement recalling all Maggi packets from the market. Hence there was no need for a show-cause notice, said Anil Singh, Maharashtra additional solicitor general and counsel for FSSAI. He added that the company’s decision to recall the product was also ground for suspicion.

On Wednesday, the food regulator said that it had wide powers and could act against products even if there was “mere suspicion” that the food presented a risk to human health.

The 5 June order alleged three major violations by Nestle India: the presence of lead in excess of the maximum permissible levels of 2.5 parts per million (ppm), misleading labelling on Maggi noodles packets reading ‘No added MSG’ (monosodium glutamate), and release of a non-standardized food product in the market—Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker—without risk assessment and grant of product approval.

The company has agreed to change its packaging to rectify the mislabelling. It is also recalling the products, said Singh.

“Now it is to be seen if the product application is proper. I don’t understand why they have petitioned this court,” he said.

“This is not a permanent ban. We ultimately want safety of consumers,” Singh said, adding, “Everyone likes Maggi, we are not against them.”

Nestle senior counsel Iqbal Chagla also questioned the validity of the tests, saying government labs are not equipped to conduct them as they do not accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories to test either for lead or cereals and spices.

FSSAI proposes banning health supplements sale as 'medicines'

Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also proposed the maximum usage levels for cow's milk, buffalo's milk, camel's milk, ghee, curd, butter, honey, gold, gold foil, silver, pearl in ayurveda, siddha and unani ingredients based products.

Clamping down on mis-labelling of 'health supplements', food safety regulator FSSAIon Thursday proposed banning sale of these products as 'medicines' and announced new norms for products based on ayurveda, sidhha, unani and other traditional health systems.

Under the new draft regulations announced late tonight, the companies can't claim that their nutraceuticals and health supplement products are for therapeutic and curative purposes.

"Every package of food or health supplements shall carry the words FOOD or HEALTH SUPPLEMENT... the term 'NOT FOR MEDICINAL USE' shall be prominently written on the label," as per a draft order issued by FSSAI, which recently created a flutter by banning the popular Maggi noodles.

Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also proposed the maximum usage levels for cow's milk, buffalo's milk, camel's milk, ghee, curd, butter, honey, gold, gold foil, silver, pearl in ayurveda, siddha and unani ingredients based products.

The limit has been fixed as maximum usage levels per day for use as a health or food supplements which are based on ayurveda, siddha and unani.

The regulator will finalise the safety norms after receiving comments from all stakeholders on the draft note.

FSSAI said that the benefits of specialty foods containing ingredients based on ayurveda, unani and siddha and other traditional health systems of India, should be shown by science based evidence.

Yesterday, industry body Assocham had released a knowledge paper suggesting that FSSAI should come up with safety norms for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

In the paper, the industry body said about 60-70% supplements in the nutraceuticals market, which has potential to grow to US $12.2 billion in the next five years, are fake and such unregistered and unapproved products should be recalled.

India accounts for 1.5% of the global nutraceuticals market.

Heinz, Kellogg's, Nestle, Hormel, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKlinePharmaceuticals are key players in this segment.

FSSAI proposes norms for health supplements

NEW DELHI: Soon health supplements imported and manufactured India would clearly mention that these are "not for medicinal use". Country's food safety regulator has for the first time proposed standards for nutraceuticals, health supplements and products containing ingredients based on ayurveda, unani, sidhha and other traditional health systems. 

Notifying the draft norms, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Thursday that every package of food or health supplements shall carry the words "Food or Health Supplement" and also "Not for Medicinal Use" on the label. The description should also indicate the true nature of the food supplement including the common names of the categories of nutrients or substances that characterize the product. 

The draft norm said no person shall manufacture, pack, sell, offer for sale, market or distribute or import any package or container containing any food supplement, if the package or container does not bear a label containing all the particulars and requirements specifically laid down in the regulations. 

"The labelling, presentation and advertising shall not attribute to food or health supplements the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease, or refer to such properties," the draft regulations said. According to the draft norms, the quantity of nutrients shall be expressed in terms of percentages of the relevant "recommended daily allowances" as prescribed in India by the Indian Council of Medical Research and shall bear a warning "not to exceed the recommended daily dose". It must also mention the warning or any other precautions to be taken while consuming, known side effects if any. 

It further said that the formulation of the foods shall be based on sound medical or nutritional principles and supported by validated scientific data. Moreover, no hormones or steroids or psychotropic ingredients shall be added in these foods. The labels shall clearly mention the purpose, the target consumer group and the physiological or disease conditions which they address, apart from the specific labelling requirements as mentioned against each type of food.

Food safety: special drive at check-posts

The food safety wing will conduct a special drive at check-posts from August 1 to 25 in view of Onam season to ensure that pesticide-laden vegetables, fruits, and adulterated milk and edible oils do not reach the State, a press note issued by Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said on Thursday.

Officials are inspecting vehicles transporting vegetables to check for the FSSA licence /registration of the trader sending the consignment and the one receiving it. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has given time till August 4 for traders to secure the FSSA licence/registration.

In the past two months, over 8,000 registrations and over 3,000 licences have been issued in the State.

The Health Secretary has been asked to inform the neighbouring States about the steps being taken by Kerala Government as part of Operation Ruchi.

A bitter aftertaste

Consumer inaction after suspecting foul play with their food, can lead to dangerous consequences in the long run.

A banker friend of Rajam Ganesan found worms inside a packet of baby food he had bought for his 3-year-old child . When he tried to return it to the retailer and filed a written complaint against the brand, seeking clarification, the retailer simply put back the letter in the same box the food was packed in.

“The packet didn’t reach the brand owners and was just kept aside like any other item in the shop. A theatre-owner was the unlucky next customer of that packet for his twin daughters. The mother who found the letter, was however illiterate, and she thought the complaint was just a paper of the product’s specifications. In the next few days, one of her children died. The issue went unreported as the parents didn’t want to take up the issue; the damage was already done, they felt,” Rajam said at a panel discussion on ‘Food Safety – Consumer Rights’ earlier this week.

In the advent of concerns surrounding food safety, talk about bans on specific food products and rising instances of biryani and pizza joints providing inedible food, the need for the consumer to be extra cautious has become inevitable.

There’s a considerable leverage that we give to an organisation or a product as a one-off occasion. Even if there’s a revolt or a ranting, most of such cases end with momentary settlements and the issue sparingly comes out in the open. Karuna, a food connoisseur and a regular traveller points out, “The response when it comes to the majors is quite immediate. However, when you eat in a regional joint providing stale food, only wide campaigns, say, on the social media come to the rescue.”

Confessing to not using processed food for her son when he was younger, Karuna adds, “Generally, these things end whenever it doesn’t affect you immediately. You only hit the labs when you think of food contamination and food testing. Such practices and the awareness barely exist in the country. When a product is being banned after nearly two decades of consistent usage, the way you perceive food changes drastically.”

The ban on certain foods somehow hasn’t done enough to make people believe in the dangers lurking in adulterated dals, flours and oils all around even though one does think of minimising reliance on food prepared outside the home.

“For long, Kesari dal has been sold as masoor dal as its cheaper, but awareness of kits that can detect this is low among the public,” says Santhana Rajan, who heads a consumer help centre. The list of contaminants and inherent dangers is long, including the well-known unseasonal and early ripening of mangoes using calcium carbide.

Suspicions about food standards in the manufacturing sector, more than the raw materials, makes this issue take another turn. There’s an interesting case wherein farmers use a different set of produce for their family and a different one is sent for factories. The use of uncertified fertilizers and pesticides is one of the significant reasons.

Things can change for the better, when a consumer is sure of what they are about to buy. “The transparency about ingredients in a buyer-friendly language is missing, we need to surpass this. For packeted foods especially, it’s about labelling. There are other set of problems that arise when the food is bought loose. Even as we have tests to prove whether the food is consumable or not, most people rely on Government agencies,” says Kinnera Murthy, a strategy consultant.

PIL seeks Censor Board-like body to check misleading advertisements By

Gujarat High Court issued notices to the Centre and the state government over a PIL demanding formation of a Censor Board-like body for approval of advertisements.

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to the Centre and the state government over a PIL demanding formation of a Censor Board-like body for approval of advertisements. 

A bench of acting Chief Justice V M Sahai and Justice R P Dholaria issued notice to the Home Departments of the Union and the state governments, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Consumer and Civil Supply Department in connection with the petition. 

The High Court also sought a response from Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and Press Council of India over misleading advertisements being published and broadcast in various print and electronic media. 

The court acted on the PIL filed by Mehsana resident Ganpat Parmar who has sought a Censor Board-like central body without whose approval no advertisement should be allowed to be published or broadcast. 

There is only one non-governmental body, Advertising Standard Council of India ( ASCI), which monitors the issues of misleading advertisement but it cannot take punitive action against those who have been found cheating consumers, advocate Jugal Dave, appearing for the petitioner, told the court. 

According to Cigarettes and other Tobacco Product Act, 2003, one cannot advertise these products, but in the guise of club soda, music CDs or bravery awards, producers of tobacco, cigarette or alcohol press their advertisements through various media these days, he said. 

These are surrogate type advertisements on which the producers of tobacco or alcohol products spend 15 to 20 per cent of their profit, which should be cut short to ten per cent and such advertisements should be banned during TV shows for children, Dave said. 

The petitioner said cigarettes manufacturers use words like light or mild, which gives an impression that it is less harmful to the smoker. 

In USA, cigarette manufacturers cannot use such words and this should also be implemented in India, the petitioner demanded. 

The petitioner also raised the issues of various health drinks, which make tall claims of increasing height or weight. 

There is a model in European Union, which suggests that manufacturers of health drinks should provide minute details of level of protein and high fibre in such drinks and there should be a check on whether those supplements can help the consumers gain weight or height. 

The petitioner further said beauty products' advertisements use modern techniques to show that one gets a glow after using it for certain period of time. This practice should also be banned. 

The High Court has posted the PIL for further hearing on August 27. 

This Domino's Outlet's License Has Been Suspended. Here's Why

The license of a Domino's Pizza outlet at Gajraula area on NH-24 here has been revoked by the authorities after its sauce was found to be "below standard" in lab test. The District Food Safety authority suspended the license after the samples of tomato ketchup collected from the outlet failed to pass the lab tests.

"The decision came after samples taken from the outlet failed lab test," Amrohha Chief Food Safety Officer Anil Singh told PTI. However, the Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, which operates Domino's Pizza brand in India and Sri Lanka, contested the findings and described the test as "invalid."

"We are raising this case with the relevant respected authorities to check the validity of the suspension order, given this background," Jubilant FoodWorks spokesperson said. According to the company spokesperson, the tomato ketchup snack dressing product was procured by Domino's from a third party, which goes through regular testing for food safety from government accredited labs.

"The particular sample under question, was manufactured in September 2014 and collected for testing in October 2014. It failed test on ground of "package label non-compliance", as the label was detaching from the package but "passed "on all other parameters of food safety.

"The retest was carried out in March 2015 from the same sample, which in the meantime had gone past it's 'Best before Date', which was 6 months. Thus, it was an invalid test," the spokesperson said. According to Food Officer Singh, he had sent the samples for testing at the state food laboratory and the report came yesterday.

On the basis of the report the license of the outlet has been suspended till further decision, he said. Singh said that the report has been sent to Amroha District Magistrate Ved Prakash. "Domino's Pizza may go and appeal to the Food Safety Commissioner Lucknow. They can not supply till the decision (on the appeal)," he said. The development has come close on the heels of ban on sale of Maggi instant noodles after it failed to pass the lab test

Carcinogens, banned dye found in mid-day meal

MEERUT: Five months after the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) took samples of spices and condiments used in preparing mid-day meals from a primary school in Khanpur, results from the food testing laboratory in Lucknow are shocking. While 'Sudan', a colouring dye whose use is prohibited by law, was found in chilli powder, lead chromate was found in turmeric powder. A known carcinogen, lead chromate is used in printing inks and paints. It primarily affects the lungs but can also hit the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and immune system. 

FSDA has now referred the matter to the Basic Shiksha Adhikari for further action. "A surprise inspection of the mid-day meal at a primary school in Khanpur village, Meerut, was done by our department on February 21 this year. The laboratory report has arrived and it shows these two substances in the food," JP Singh, chief food safety officer, Meerut district, told TOI on Wednesday. 

To know the impact of the chemicals found in the spices and condiments, which could affect thousands of unsuspecting children who take mid-day meals provided by the government, TOI spoke to city-based doctors who said they were "alarmed". Dr Harish Mohan Rastogi said, "The intake of lead chromate on a regular basis leads to chronic poisoning and if consumed for a long duration can cause cancer. It can also cause damage to the kidney and liver. These children were consuming this food for an unknown duration. The people involved in adulteration of the food with such substances should be given stringent punishment." 

Though Singh said he had sent the report to basic shiksha adhikari Mohd Iqbal, the latter maintained he hadn't received the document. "I have not received any such report from the FSDA yet. Once the reports reach me, I will be able to take a decision in the matter. It is sad that such substances have been found in the mid-day meal," Iqbal said. 

Untested food chokes state

Guwahati: Even though it is mandatory to test samples of edible oil and gram that enter the state from outside, reports of food poisoning following consumption of adulterated gram continue to plague Assam.

According to a government order, it is compulsory for the food safety department to take 'informal samples' of edible oil and gram that come from outside the state for standard testing.

If the samples are found unfit for consumption, the authorities have to take legal steps to initiate punitive measures against the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of the product.

On Sunday, 17 people, including children, were hospitalized after they consumed adulterated gram and moong beans as prasad at a temple in the Amiya Nagar locality of the city.

"We are following the order and taking necessary steps. We have taken action against the firm from where the gram and moong beans were bought. It has been closed. The administration has asked the designated officers of the food safety department to take action," said M Angamuthu, deputy commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) district.

A few hours after consuming the prasad, the devotees began to complain of nausea, abdominal pain, vomitting and diarrhoea. Locals said the affected devotees took medicine but the symptoms persisted even four days after the ceremony.

"We collected over 10 samples of the prasad, five water samples and five samples of gram and moong beans. We are conducting tests and awaiting the results," said Samiran Baruah, food safety officer, Kamrup (Metro) district.

In March, over 500 people, including women and children, fell sick after consuming adulterated prasad at a religious programme in Barpeta district. Three persons, including a 10-year-old girl, died.

"Analysis of the Barpeta samples revealed the presence of fungal growth in the gram and moong beans used. After investigation, we found that the items had been bought from multiple sources from the neighbouring districts," said Bhavesh Bhuyan, designated officer, Barpeta district.

The ceremony was held at Nasattra village in the district. Following the incident, the shops from where the gram, moong beans and other items had been purchased were raided and the remaining supplies seized by the district administration.

Food destroyed

Officials on Wednesday seized food items that were kept in the open, and prepared under unhygienic conditions in roadside eateries near Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, and dumped them in a dustbin here. A team led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, inspected the eateries. The food items were exposed to dust, sun, and was unfit for consumption.

FSSAI justifies Maggi noodles ban before Bombay HC; says would give hearing to Nestle

MUMBAI: Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) today justified the ban on Maggi noodles before the Bombay High Court, saying that the popular instant snack contained lead beyond permissible limit. 

FSSAI lawyer and Maharashtra Advocate General Anil Singh argued that the food regulator had studied the representation of Nestle India (Maggi manufacturer) and was ready to give the company a hearing. 

"We have still not revoked our approval to the product....we are ready to hear them and if they are prepared to abide by conditions laid down in law, then they would be allowed to manufacture and sell it in the market," he said. 

The division bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting their sale. 

Singh argued that FSSAI had collected samples of various batches of Magge in different states. In all, 72 samples were tested and 30 of them were found to contain lead beyond the permissible limit, he said. 

To a question by Justice B P Colabawalla, Singh said FSSAI had tested three variants of Maggi. 

"If three variants were tested, then why should you ban all the nine variants? Also, why only Maggi was selected for the test and why not other noodle manufacturing companies?" the judge said. 

"From what you say, the quality of 30 samples of Maggi was found to be sub-standard, but 42 other samples were found to be in order," the judge noted. 

The FSSAI counsel argued that after the lab tests found that Maggi contained lead beyond permissible limit, the food regulator immediately issued order asking Nestle to stop manufacture and sale. 

However, it also issued Nestle a notice asking why the approval granted to Maggie should not be cancelled in the wake of such tests, said advocate Singh. 

"We have not asked Nestle to withdraw the product...we have only asked them to stop production and sale of Maggi," the counsel said. 

FSSAI was entitled to ban the production because under FSSAI Act it has powers to do so, he submitted. 

"We found lead content in 30 samples of Maggi to be beyond the permissible limit and this is dangerous to public health. In such a situation, there was no need to give the company a show-cause notice and hear it. Hence, the impugned order to stop production and sale of Maggi was passed. 

"FSSAI was not against Nestle India or on inimical terms with it. We are ready to give it a hearing. If it complies with the conditions in law, we have no objection to the company producing and selling Maggi in Indian market," Singh said. 

The arguments would continue tomorrow. 

Nestle has argued that a certain batch of Maggi may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but the decision to impose a blanket ban was "unfair and illegal." 

The company has claimed that it had tested the product in 2,700 laboratories in India and also abroad and the tests indicated that the lead content was less than the permissible limit of 0.5 per cent.

Bombay HC on Maggi ban: Why no showcause notice issued?

In a boost to Nestle India, the Bombay High on Thursday questioned the blanket ban on Maggi 2-minute noodles.

In a boost to Nestle India , the Bombay High on Thursday questioned the blanket ban on Maggi 2-minute noodles. 

The Court asked the government why the entire product was banned if just one batch was found to be bad. The Bombay HC further questioned why a showcause notice was not issued before imposing the ban. 

"If 32 out of 73 samples were found to have lead above permissible limits, didn't it warrant a showcause notice?" said the High Court. 

The observations by the court came a day after the Food Safety Standards Association of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday argued in the Bombay High Court that a mere suspicion about a food snack being sub-standard in quality would be a reasonable ground to take appropriate steps to stop the sale of the product. 

This was stated by FSSAI Counsel Anil Singh after a bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabwala raised a query whether the food requlator should ban a particular batch of a food item whose quality was found sub-standard or stop the sale of the entire product line. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting the sale of Maggi.

Maggi ban: Alcohol should be banned first as it is injurious to health, says High Court

Nestle India’s senior counsel Iqbal Chagla, who concurred with the court’s view, said that no alcohol in the country has received product approval from the food safety regulator.

A Bombay High Court bench, which is hearing Nestle India’s plea against ban on Maggi noodles, observed on Wednesday that alcohol should be “banned first” as it is harmful and schoolchildren are nowadays consuming liquor.

“The first thing that you should ban is alcohol. Nowadays, even schoolchildren have started consuming alcohol. It is injurious to health and is a food product. Cigarette is not because it does not fall in the category of food products,” said Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla after the counsel of food safety regulator — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) — defended the ban on Maggi noodles saying it was injurious to health.

Nestle India’s senior counsel Iqbal Chagla, who concurred with the court’s view, said that no alcohol in the country has received product approval from the food safety regulator.

Defending the ban on behalf of the FSSAI, Advocate General Anil Singh said that mere suspicion about a food product being sub-standard was sufficient ground for the authorities to take action or test samples.

The court, however, said the judiciary would test whether any action taken by the government was arbitrary or justified. “We are here to test whether your action was arbitrary or justified. We can test executive action whether you (state) like it or not,” the bench told the FSSAI counsel. The court also said that it was time to put section 22 of the Food Safety Act to test.

The said section deals with all such food items that are banned unless the food regulator approves it.

Section 22 of the Act states: “Save as otherwise provided under this Act and regulations made thereunder, no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import any novel food, genetically modified articles of food, irradiated food, organic foods, foods for special dietary uses, functional foods, neutraceuticals, health supplements, proprietary foods and such other articles of food which the central government may notify in this behalf.”

To Nestle India’s contention that the FSSAI had conducted the initial tests on Maggi noodles in a laboratory which was non-accredited and non-notified by the authority, the advocate general said that although accreditation was necessary, a notification was not required.

He also said that Nestle India was giving an “erroneous impression” by putting a “no MSG (monosodium glutamate)” label on its products. A high content of MSG became the bone of contention over which Maggi noodles was banned on June 5.

While the arguments will continue on Thursday, the FSSAI has been told to present the 42 test reports from across the country where a high percentage of lead was not found.

Mere suspicion about sub-standard food item enough for action: FSSAI

Mumbai: Food Safety Standards Association of India (FSSAI) Wednesday argued in the Bombay High Court that a mere suspicion about a food snack being sub-standard in quality would be a reasonable ground to take appropriate steps to stop the sale of the product.

This was stated by FSSAI Counsel Anil Singh after a bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabwala raised a query whether the food requlator should ban a particular batch of a food item whose quality was found sub-standard or stop the sale of the entire product line.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nestle India against FSSAI's June 5 order banning nine variants of Maggi and Maharashtra government's order prohibiting the sale of Maggi.

When the matter was called out for hearing today, the government lawyers, representing FSSAI and FDA, were not present, prompting the bench to reprimand the authorities for not taking this matter seriously.

"We (India) have been going around from country to country seeking business but commercial matters (litigations) remain pending for years. These matters are important and that is why Parliament is considering to set up 'Commercial benches' (in courts). People (MNCs) prefer to go to Singapore and London because of this, instead of India for arbitration," Justice Kanade observed.

Anil Singh, senior counsel and acting Advocate General of Maharashtra, said that in the case of Maggi there have been violations of law. Their (Maggi's) label was misleading as it said "No MSG" in contents. Also, the presence of lead in the product was beyond permissible limits, he added.

Singh said that even tobacco was banned in some states because it is harmful for adults. But Maggi was basically consumed by many children in the age group of 1 to 5 years. If lead is found in Maggi beyond the permissible limits, the health of children would be seriously hit, he submitted.

A food article cannot contain contaminated material or heavy metal toxic substance, the FSSAI counsel said. 

The judges further observed "we are here to test whether your (FSSAI's) action was reasonable and proper or arbitrary. You (FSSAI) may like it or not...Fortunately under article 226 of the Constitution (which empowers the court to interfere in such matters), we can examine the executive action and legislative competence."

The court asked FSSAI to formulate issues and continue its argument tomorrow.

During last hearing, Nestle India had told the Bombay High Court that a certain batch of its instant food product may have contained lead beyond permissible limit but government's decision to impose a blanket ban was unfair and illegal.

If a particular batch was substandard, it could have been banned but stopping the entire production was not justified, Nestle's lawyer, Iqbal Chhagla had argued.

"Without receiving any complaint, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned our product, due to which we lost goodwill, reputation and suffered huge losses running into crores of rupees," Nestle had submitted.

The company claimed that it had tested its product in 2700 laboratories in India and also abroad and the tests have indicated that the lead content was less than the permissible limit of 0.5 percent.

Would Samosa, bhel need prior approval for sale too, Bombay HC asks FSSAI

MUMBAI: A bench of the Bombay high court comprising justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla asked Food regulator FSSAI to make a table for justification of action taken in banning the 2-minute Maggi noodles. 

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh who represented FSSAI said, "The regulator has power to ban a product on grounds of reasonable doubts." 

Singh said Sec 22 of the Food Safety Act prohibits sale of proprietary food without prior approval of the regulator. He said approval granted to Nestle for Maggi variants was on their application and information given. 

The bench sought clarity on the interpretation of section 22. It asked, "Would traditional food like Samosa and Bhel need prior approval for sale. These can also be categorised as proprietary food as standards are not set for them also." 

Justice Kanade also said, "alcohol should be banned immediately, going by the argument of proprietary and non-standardised food." 

Unrattled, Singh replied, "Maggi is consumed by more people across age groups. Alcohol cannot be legally consumed by those under 21 years." 

Defending its stance on the ban, Singh said, "if an officer have suspicion that any food has health hazard elements for human consumption, then appropriate action can be taken even in the absence of evidence ... we have collected samples from many states and we found the excessive Lead content," said Singh on Wednesday. He said it was the government's primary responsibility to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption. 

Nestle had earlier argued that laboratories where Maggi was tested were not accredited and hence the test results unrealiable. However, the counsel said under the act the regulator can send to accredited laboratory only upon request of product manufacturer.

Justify ban on Maggi noodles, HC tells food safety authority

The court will decide if banning Maggi noodles was reasonable, arbitrary or just, the Bombay high court (HC) told the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday, asking the latter to justify the validity of the ban on the product on Thursday.

A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice BP Colabawalla was hearing a petition filed by Nestlé India, objecting to the FSSAI ban on all nine variants of Maggi.

The FSSAI has banned Maggi stating it has noted three violations — the presence of lead in excess of the maximum permissible level; misleading label reading ‘No added MSG’, and the release of a non-standardised food product, Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker, in the market, without risk assessment and product approval.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, counsel for FSSAI, told the court that mere suspicion is enough for them to take action, and suspicion does not require evidence. He also said the lead content in Maggi noodles was beyond the permissible limit.

Responding to the contention raised by Nestle India that the laboratories that tested Maggi were not notified by the nodal body, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Singh said it is important for the laboratory to be recognised and authorised, even if it is not notified.

The court asked Singh to clarify his stand on calling Maggi a proprietary product. The HC asked if food categories can’t be manufactured or sold unless they are approved by the FSSAI and if only those items that are notified by the Centre can be banned.

Singh said the risk involved was high as Maggi noodles had a misleading label and was of substandard quality. He said the action was taken based on the available scientific information and the legal provisions.

The court has asked Singh to formulate answers and state the sections under which the decision to ban the noodles was taken. The court went on to say that they could test the executive and legislative actions under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.

Bombay HC asks FSSAI to justify actions against Maggi

Court also asks for clarifications on terms such as accreditation, notification and recognition used in connection with labs

Mumbai: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) began its arguments in the ongoing Maggi ban case before the Bombay high court on Wednesday by saying it can act against products even if there is “mere suspicion” that the food may present a risk to human health.

The food regulator is empowered to issue directions for sale and distribution of safe and wholesome food, and can act on the basis of available information and pending scientific assessment, Anil Singh, additional solicitor general representing FSSAI, told the two-judge bench, citing various sections of the FSSAI Act 2006.

According to Singh, laboratories can even conduct the tests without being accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) if they are recognized by the regulator.

However, the bench comprising justices V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawalla was not satisfied. It asked Singh to formulate the actions of the food regulator by validating and justifying them. It also asked for clarifications on terms such as accreditation, notification and recognition used in connection with labs.

“We are here to test the actions of the regulator as to whether they are reasonable, arbitrary, proper or wrong. Under Section 226, we have the authority to test executive action and also to test legislative action,” said justice Kanade, while noting that the food regulator has the authority to override legislative acts.

In its argument, Nestle India Ltd had called the ban on Maggi noodles illegal and arbitrary. “The authorities did not have any such power, nor does the state,” Nestle India’s lawyer Iqbal Chagla had told the court earlier.

Chagla had also questioned the validity of the tests as the government labs are not equipped to conduct the tests as they were not accredited by NABL to test either for lead or cereals and spices used in the product.

FSSAI banned Maggi noodles on 5 June following reports from various states about high levels of lead and the presence of taste enhancer monosodium glutamate. The food regulator termed the noodles “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.

Maharashtra, which had also imposed a ban on 6 June following its own tests, is also a respondent in the case along with the FSSAI. It will present its arguments later in the week.

Nestle misled authorities, FSSAI tells HC

Said the product approval given to Nestle, with respect to Maggi, was on the basis of the information provided by the company

Rebutting Nestle India's claim that the Maggi ban order of June 5 was arbitrary, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Wednesday that the company had misled authorities about the contents of the product.

Appearing on behalf of FSSAI, Maharashtra's Advocate General Anil Singh said the product approval given to Nestle, with respect to Maggi, was on the basis of the information provided by the company. "But there were violations pertaining to labelling of food products by Nestle," Singh argued before a division bench headed by judges J M Kanade and B P Colabawala.

"The samples tested showed high lead content. Section 20 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, prohibits heavy metals. Lead is a heavy metal, which can have a grave effect on children," he said.

Singh also contended that FSSAI had first sent a showcause notice to Nestle India informing the company on why it sought to ban all nine variants of Maggi.

This came after test results from various states showed that lead content in Maggi was beyond the permissible limit. He also said that while Nestle India opted to withdraw Maggi stock from the marketplace including those of Maggi Oats, for which it had no product approval at all, the company chose not to respond to FSSAI's showcause notice. Therefore, Nestle's claim that the ban violated the principle of natural justice doesn't hold, Singh said.

The Advocate General also said that the chief executive of FSSAI had the powers of the Commissioner of Food Safety under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. "The Food Authority (that is, FSSAI) can take action against any food product even on reasonable ground of suspicion of health hazard to consumers. Section 16 (g) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, says the entire product range can be banned. It is the duty of the authorities to ensure not only good, but also wholesome food is sold in the market," he said.

In response to Nestle's claim that the tests were not reliable, Singh said that laboratories could be authorised to carry out tests without being notified under Section 43 of the Act.

"Section 43 (1) is an enabling provision. Food authorities may notify laboratories and research institutions accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to conduct tests, but it is not mandatory.

Also, samples need not be sent to an accredited laboratory unless request is made by a food business operator. In this case, Nestle did not make any such request. Hence, they were not sent to an accredited laboratory for testing."

The AG will continue his arguments on Thursday.

FSSAI can act on mere suspicion: ASG

Indian food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that authorities can take action against manufacturers on the basis of mere suspicion about the quality of their food products.

Referring to the Food Safety and Standards Act, Additional Solicitor-General Anil Singh representing the FSSAI said: “The scheme of the Act is that authorities can take action on mere suspicion. Suspicion does not require evidence. The Act gives wide powers to the authorities. They can act even despite conformity if the safety of food is suspect.”Three major violations

Mr. Singh said Maggi products were deemed unfair due to three major violations, misleading labelling on msg (monosodium-glutamate), presence of lead in excess and launching of oats tastemaker without assessment.

‘Not a product for adults’

“Samples were collected in various States and were found to exceed the limits for lead. Maggi is not a product for adults. Consider the effect of lead on children. Lead is a heavy metal,” Mr. Singh said. He refuted Nestle’s contention that labs which tested Maggi were not accredited. Labs which were recognised by the FSSAI did not need accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

The court asked the regulator to furnish submissions about how to interpret Section 22 of the Act that deals with non-standard proprietary foods like Maggi.

“Does it mean that items notified by the Centre as proprietary foods cannot be sold and manufactured unless approved? For instance is ‘samosa’ or ‘bhel’ proprietary foods?” the Bench asked.

The FSSAI said that traditional foods like ‘samosa’ did not need approval.

The court pulled up the State and government authorities for delay in appearing before the court.

“We go around from country to country telling the world to do business but commercial matters remain pending. This is a sorry state of affairs. People prefer to go to Singapore and London because of this instead of coming to India,” a Division Bench of Justices V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawalla said.

Domino's outlet's license suspended for 'below standard' sauce

License of a Domino's Pizza outlet at NH-24 Gajraula in Amroha district was suspended today by the authorities for allegedly supplying "below standard" sauce, the District Food Safety authority said. 

"The decision came after samples taken from the outlet on failed a lab test," Amrohha Chief Food Safety Officer Anil Singh told PTI. 

Singh said he had sent the samples for testing at the state food laboratory and the report came yesterday. 

On the basis of the report the license of the outlet has been suspended till further decision, he said. 

Singh said that the report has been sent to Amroha District Magistrate Ved Prakash. "Domino's Pizza may go and appeal to the Food Safety Commissioner Lucknow. They can not supply till the decision (on the appeal)," he said. 

Domino's are yet to respond to the development.

Bar on Domino's Pizza UP Outlet After 'Below Standard' Sauce Detected

AMROHA: The licence of a Domino’s Pizza outlet at Gajraula area on NH-24 here has been revoked by the authorities after its sauce was found to be “below standard” in lab test.

The District Food Safety authority suspended the licence after the samples of tomato ketchup collected from the outlet failed to pass the lab tests.

“The decision came after samples taken from the outlet failed lab test,” Amrohha Chief Food Safety Officer Anil Singh told PTI.

However, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, which operates Domino’s Pizza brand in India and Sri Lanka, contested the findings and described the test as “invalid”.

“We are raising this case with the relevant respected authorities to check the validity of the suspension order, given this background,” Jubilant FoodWorks spokesperson said.

According to the company spokesperson, the tomato ketchup snack dressing product was procured by Domino's from a third party, which goes through regular testing for food safety from government accredited labs.

“The particular sample under question, was manufactured in September 2014 and collected for testing in October 2014. It failed test on ground of “package label non-compliance”, as the label was detaching from the package but “passed “on all other parameters of food safety.

Leave milk out of draft rules, panel tells FSSAI

‘It cannot be clubbed with other agri products given its perishable nature’

NEW DELHI, JULY 22: 

The fear of an ‘inspector raj’ created by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) clearly has the Centre worried.

After Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal articulated the concern earlier this month, an inter-ministerial committee met with FSSAI officials here on Monday seeking exemption for dairy products.

Sources in the Agriculture Ministry told BusinessLine that the committee has suggested that milk and other dairy items not be clubbed with other commodities in the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulation, 2015. It also suggested bringing back the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992, (MMPO) that had been repealed in 2011.

“The committee said there needs to be a different regulation for milk and it cannot be clubbed with other agricultural commodities like corn and wheat given its perishable nature. The process of procurement, collection and processing is completely different,” a senior official said. “It was also suggested that the MMPO be treated as a separate regulation under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA). The order had shown good results with respect to milk standards and safety before it was repealed,” he added.

Those in the know pointed out that the MMPO had created a network of Milk Commissioners who were present in each State and worked closely with milk federations. Between them, these officials had decades of experience regarding the sector and quality control, but were made redundant after the order was repealed.

The draft regulations, issued on June 5, introduce a stringent permissible limit of 0.02 ppm for lead in milk, secondary milk products and infant formula. Objections and suggestions are to be conveyed to the FSSAI by August 24. Currently, the regulator prescribes a limit of 0.1 ppm of arsenic in milk and imposes ceilings on a range of crop contaminants like insecticides. It also prescribes limits for lead, copper, tin, zinc and cadmium, for infant milk substitutes.

Arbitrary change

While the move has been welcomed by analysts in the aftermath of the Maggi fiasco, the unpredictable manner of introducing amendments in regulations and methods of testing has the food industry concerned.

“Take the Mother Dairy case: the agency’s way of testing it was completely incorrect, and an apology was issued in four days,” the official added.

Maharashtra govt extends ban on gutkha, pan masala, tobacco products for another year

States that these products are detrimental to health, causing cardiac arrest, oral cancer, stomach cancer, affect fertility and cause respiratory ailments among other diseases

The Maharashtra government has extended the ban on gutkha, pan masala and related products for the fourth year in a row. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Maharashtra State, issued a notification on Monday extending the ban for a period of one year effective from July 20, 2015.

The government has also included sale, purchase and storage of manufactured chewable tobacco in the ban.

“In the interest of public health, manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of tobacco and areca nut (betel nut) which is either flavoured, scented or mixed with any of the said additives and whether going by the name or form of gutkha, pan masala, flavoured scented tobacco, flavoured/scented supari, manufactured chewing tobacco with additives, kharra, mawa has been prohibited for a period of one year from July 20, 2015,” said Dr Harshadeep Kamble, Food Safety Commissioner, in the notification.

The ban notification states that gutkha, pan masala, supari, tobacco products etc are detrimental to health causing cardiac arrest, oral cancer, stomach cancer, affect fertility and cause respiratory ailments among other diseases.

Gutkha was first banned in the state in 2012 under the Food Standards and Safety Act, 2006. In the following year, the state expanded the embargo and banned khaini (flavoured tobacco), supari (processed betel nut) and mawa or kharra (a mix of processed tobacco, betel nut and lime).

In 2004, the World Health Organization had classified areca or betel nut as carcinogenic to humans even without the addition of tobacco to it.

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Maggi row: Counsel says FSSAI can act on mere suspicion

The government counsel reiterated the three aspects of its ban order in the Bombay HC, saying the violations found by FSSAI included excessive lead content, misleading labels and launch of the Maggi Oats noodles without prior approval.

In the ongoing tussle between Nestle and Food and Safety Standards Act of India (FSSAI), the government counsel on Wednesday argued in the Bombay High Court that the food regulator need not wait for a proper report from any accredited lab, before taking action on any company. 

The government counsel reiterated the three aspects of its ban order, saying the violations found by FSSAI included excessive lead content, misleading labels and launch of the Maggi Oats noodles without prior approval. 

It argued that mere suspicion was enough for FSSAI to take action against the brand as FSSAI had mandated to monitor manufacturing and distribution of safe, wholesome food. 

The next hearing for Nestle and FSSAI is slated for Thursday.

'FSSAI should form rules for nutraceuticals, diet supplements'

Food safety regulator FSSAI should at the earliest lay down rules for giving approval of dietary supplements and nutraceutical products manufactured and marketed in the country, an Assocham paper said today. 

Currently, there are no regulatory norms for the approval or monitoring of nutraceuticals, herbals and functional food. However to regulate this segment, Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) had set up a taskforce in May 2013, which submitted its recommendations in April this year. 

"Nutraceuticals are gaining popularity but its growth is restrained by lack of a solid regulatory framework which is crucial for medial credibility," Assocham National Council of Healthcare and Hospital and Ex-Chairman Sir Ganga Ram Hospital B K Rao said at an event here. 

The knowledge paper on this issue -- released by Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain -- noted that the FSSAI should come up with proper guidelines for manufacturing and marketing of neutraceuticals, herbal and functional foods. 

Presently, 'the draft regulation for nutraceuticals and foods for dietary supplements' is being vetted by the legal department. The early notification of these norms will help check counterfeit products, it added. 

Noting that the nutraceuticals and dietary supplements industry has potential to grow to USD 12.2 billion in the next five years, the paper said about 60-70 per cent supplements in the market are fake and such unregistered and unapproved products should be recalled. 

"Small committees should be built at block level to check counterfeit products in the market and immediately discard them," the paper added. 

Considering very low penetration of nutraceuticals in the country, the paper suggested that the government should provide special incentives and subsidies to emerging companies for the industry growth and create awareness about the health benefits of these products. 

The paper also suggested the government to introduce various functional foods and beverages in Midday Meal schemes to address child malnutrition. 

Nutraceuticals are the products that offer health as well as medicinal benefits, consisting of prevention and treatment of disease. Nutraceuticals are categorised into functional foods/beverages and dietary supplements. 

India accounts for 1.5 per cent of the global nutraceuticals market. 

Heinz, Kellogg's, Nestle, Hormel, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals are key players in this field.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சுகாதாரமற்ற உணவுபொருட்கள் குப்ைப தொட்டியில் வீச்சு

சேலம், ஜூலை 22-

சேலம் அரசு மருத் து வ மனை அருகே சாலை யோ ரம் 10க்கும் மேற் பட்ட டிபன் கடை கள் உள் ளன. இந்த கடை களில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் உணவு விற் பனை செய் வ தாக சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் அனு ரா தா வுக்கு புகார் வந் தது.

இதை ய டுத்து அனு ராதா தலை மை யில் அதி கா ரி கள் குழு வி னர், டிபன் கடை களில் இன்று அதி ர டி யாக ஆய்வு செய் த னர். அப் போது கடை களில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் உண வு களை மூடி வைக் கா மல் திறந்த வெளி யில் வைத் தி ருந்த, பூரி, பனி யா ரம், தோசை, வடை உள் ளிட்ட உண வு களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். மேலும் கடை களில் பிளாஸ் டிக் கவர் களில் கட்டி வைக் கப் பட்டு இருந்த சாம் பார், சட்னி பாக் கெட்டு க ளை யும் பறி மு தல் செய்து குப்பை தொட்டி யில் கொட்டி அழித் த னர். தொடர்ந்து அரு கில் உள்ள ஓட்ட லில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

இதை ய டுத்து அனு ராதா தலை மை யில் அதி கா ரி கள் குழு வி னர், டிபன் கடை களில் இன்று அதி ர டி யாக ஆய்வு செய் த னர். அப் போது கடை களில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் உண வு களை மூடி வைக் கா மல் திறந்த வெளி யில் வைத் தி ருந்த, பூரி, பனி யா ரம், தோசை, வடை உள் ளிட்ட உண வு களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். மேலும் கடை களில் பிளாஸ் டிக் கவர் களில் கட்டி வைக் கப் பட்டு இருந்த சாம் பார், சட்னி பாக் கெட்டு க ளை யும் பறி மு தல் செய்து குப்பை தொட்டி யில் கொட்டி அழித் த னர். தொடர்ந்து அரு கில் உள்ள ஓட்ட லில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

அப் போது சமை யல் அறை யில் சமை யல் மாஸ் டர் அழுக்கு உடை யு டன் சமை யல் செய்து கொண்டு இருந் ததை பார்த்து உட ன டி யாக வேறு உடையை மாற் றி விட்டு வரும் படி அதி கா ரி கள் அறி வு றுத் தி னர். மேலும் அந்த கடை யில் மூடப் ப டா மல் வைக் கப் பட்டு இருந்த உண வு களை மூடி வைக்க வேண் டும் என அறி வு றுத் தி னர். பின் னர் அரு கில் உள்ள டீ கடை கள் மற் றும் அங் குள்ள உணவு பொருட் க ளை யும் அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

மானா ம து ரை யில் சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீர் பாக்கெட்டுகள் விற்பனை

மானா ம துரை, ஜூலை 22:

மானா ம து ரை யில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற குடி நீர் பாக் கெட்டு கள் அதிக அள வில் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்டு வரு கின் றன.

சிவ கங்கை மாவட்டத் தில் கோடையை மிஞ் சும் அள வுக்கு கடந்த சில வாரங் க ளாக வெயி லின் தாக் கம் அதி க ரித்து காணப் ப டு கி றது. காற் றில் ஈரப் ப தம் குறைந் து ள் ள தால் உடல் உஷ் ண மாகி நாக்கு வறண்டு தண் ணீர் அதி க அ ள வில் குடிக் கும் நிலை ஏற் பட்டுள் ளது. குடி நீர் தேவை அதி க ரித் தி ருப் ப தால் சிலர் சாதா ரண பாக் கெட்டு களில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற தண் ணீரை அடைத்து பொது மக் களி டம் விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். கிரா மங் களை சேர்ந் த வர் கள் இந்த பாக் கெட்டு களை வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர். இத னால் தொண்டை வறட்சி மற் றும் நோய் தொற் றால் பாதிக் கப் ப டு கின் ற னர்.

மானா ம து ரை யில் புது பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், அண் ணா சிலை, காந் தி சிலை, குண் டு ரா யர் வீதி, பைபாஸ் ரோடு, பழைய பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், டாஸ் மாக் கடை அருகே உள்ள தனி யார் பார் கள் உள் ளிட்ட இடங் களில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற மறு சு ழற்சி செய் யப் பட்ட பிளாஸ் டிக் கவர் களில் குடி நீர் விற் பனை தாரா ள மாக நடந்து வரு கி றது. இந்த பாக் கெட்டு களில் தயா ரிப்பு தேதி, காலா வ தி யா கும் தேதி கள் இல்லை. புதுப் புது பெயர் களில் தயா ரிக் கப் ப டும் இவற் றில் நிறு வ னத் தின் முக வ ரியோ, தொலை பேசி எண் களோ இருப் ப தில்லை.

சாதா ரண தண் ணீர் அடைக் கப் பட்ட பாக் கெட்டு களை வாங்கி குடிப் ப வர் களுக்கு குடல் மற் றும் இரை பையில் பாக் டீ ரியா, வைரஸ் கிரு மி கள் எளி தில் பர வும் வாய்ப் புள் ள தாக டாக் டர் கள் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர். இவ் வாறு விற் கப் ப டும் குடி நீர் பாக் கெட்டு களை பறி மு தல் செய் வ தற் கான நட வ டிக் கை களை சுகா தா ரத் து றை யி னர் மேற் கொள் வ தில்லை.

இது குறித்து தனி யார் ரத்த பரி சோ தனை நிர் வாகி ஒரு வர் கூறு கை யில்,‘மானா ம து ரையை சுற்றி குடிசை தொழி லாக தயா ரிக் கப் ப டும் குடி நீர் பாக் கெட்டு களில் கிரு மி களை சுத் தம் செய் யும் யூவி முறை, மெம் ப ரேன் கள் தர மற் ற தாக இருக் கின் றன. குடி நீர் நிரப் பப் ப டும் பிளாஸ் டிக் கவர் களும் மோச மான நிலை யில் உள் ளன. மேலும் பெரிய கேன் களில் விற் கப் ப டும் தண் ணீ ரும் சுகா தா ர மா ன தாக இல்லை. ரூ. 30 க்கு விற் கப் ப டும் இந்த கேன் கள் மிக வும் அசுத் த மாக இருக் கி றது. தண் ணீர் நிரப் பப் ப டும் கேன் களை கிரு மி நா சி னி கள் கொண்டு சுத் தம் செய் வ தில்லை.

சுகா தா ரத் து டன் பரா ம ரிக் கா மல் மீண் டும் மீண் டும் இவற் றில் நீர் நிரப் பி னால் அந்த கேன் களின் மூல மா கவே மனி தர் களுக்கு நோய் தொற்று கிரு மி கள் பர வும். பாக் டீ ரியா, வைரஸ் கிருமி பெரும் பா லும் காற்று மற் றும் குடி நீர் மூலம் எளி தில் பர வும். அத னால் சுகா தார அலு வ லர் கள், உண வு பா து காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் தர மில் லாத குடி நீர் பாக் கெட்டு களை பரி சோ திக்க வேண் டும்,’ என் றார்.

தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்து பயன்படுத்தவில்லை தமிழக காய்கறிகளுக்கு தர சான்று தேவையில்லை வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தர் தகவல்

கோவை, ஜூலை 22-

காய் க றி களில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பூச் சி கொல்லி மருந்து பயன் ப டுத்தி இருக் கி றதா என் பதை கண் ட றிய வரும் 24ம் தேதிக்கு மேல் தமி ழ கத் தில் இருந்து கேர ளா விற்கு செல் லும் அனைத்து காய் க றி க ளை யும் ஆய்வு செய்ய கேரள அரசு முடிவு செய் துள் ளது. மேலும், தகு தி சான் றி தழ் இருந் தால் தான் அனு ம திக் கப் ப டும் என கேரள அரசு தெரி வித் துள் ளது.

இது கு றித்து தமிழ் நாடு வேளாண் பல் கலை துணை வேந் தர் ராம சாமி கூறி ய தா வது:

அனைத்து காய் க றி களுக் கும் தரச் சான்று அளிப் பது என் பது முடி யாத காரி யம். மத் திய அரசு 9 பூச் சி கொல்லி மருந் து களை பயன் ப டுத்த தடை வி தித் துள் ளது. இந்த தடை வி திக் கப் பட்ட பூச்சி கொல்லி மருந்து தமி ழ கத் தில் பயி ரி டப் ப டும் காய் க றி களில் பயன் ப டுத் தப் பட்டுள் ளதா என் பது குறித்து ஆய்வு நடத் தப் பட்டது. மேலும், பூச் சி கொல்லி விற் பனை நிலை யங் களி லும் ஆய்வு நடத் தி னோம். இதில், தடை செய் யப் பட்ட 9 மருந் து களும் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப ட வில்லை என்று தெரி ய வந் துள் ளது.

தேசிய அள வில் 49 இடங் களில் அங் கீ கா ரம் பெற்ற பரி சோ தனை மையங் கள் செயல் பட்டு வரு கி றது. இந்த பரி சோ தனை மையத் தில் காய் க றி கள் தவிர சோம்பு, கிராம்பு, ஏலம் உள் ளிட்டவை பற் றி யும் தொடர்ந்து ஆய்வு நடத் தப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. தமி ழ கத் தி லும் காய் க றி களின் நிலைப் பாடு தொடர் பாக ஆய்வு நடத் தப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. எந்த மருந் து களை பயன் ப டுத் த லாம் என் பது குறித்து விவ சா யி களுக்கு அறி வு றுத் தி யுள் ளோம். அவர் கள், அதனை தான் பயன் ப டுத்தி வரு கி றார் கள். காய் க றி களின் தரம் நன் றாக உள் ளது. இதற்கு தரச் சான்று தேவை யில்லை. கேரள அர சின் இந்த செயல் ஏற் கக் கூ டி யது அல்ல.

இவ் வாறு ராம சாமி கூறி னார்.

பயிர் பாது காப்பு மைய இயக் கு னர் ராம ராஜூ (பொறுப்பு) கூறு கை யில், 11 மாவட்டங் களில் இருந்து காய் க றி களின் 117 மாதிரி பெறப் பட்டது. இதனை பரி சோ தனை செய் த தில் 96 சத வீத காய் கறி தர மா னது என முடிவு வந் துள் ளது. 4 சத வீ தம் காய் க றி களில் அங் கீ க ரிக் கப் பட்ட பூச் சி கொல்லி மருந் து களின் நச்சு தன்மை சற்று அதி க மாக இருந் தது.

மற் றப் படி, காய் க றி கள் பயன் பாட்டிற்கு உகந் த தாக உள் ளது. யார் எங் களி டம் காய் க றி களை அனுப் பி னா லும் ஆய்வு செய்ய தயார் நிலை யில் இருக் கி றோம் என் றார்.

Don't ban transport of wet sago starch: Food safety official

SALEM: The commissioner of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (TNFSDAD), Kumar Jayant, has ordered collectors and designated officers of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode, Trichy, Villupuram and Perambalur, not to impose the proposed ban on transportation of wet sago starch. The managing director of Sagoserve, V Santha, was also served the same order. According to TNFSDAD sources, the commissioner made it clear in the letter that the proposed ban does not apply to intermediate products.

On May 16 this year, the MD of Sagoserve had convened a meeting with various designated officers. of TNFSDAD, managing committee members, joint commissioner (enforcement) of Commercial Tax department, pollution control board engineer and sago manufacturers and traders.

The objective of the meeting was to come up with a plan to produce adulteration-free natural sago.

Five resolutions had been passed. Among them, sago should not be produced from dirty sago starch, maize starch should not be adulterated with sago starch, wet sago should not be transported, chemicals should not be used to make white sago and sales tax must be paid.

Subsequently, Sagoserve sent a recommendation letter to the state government to impose a ban on transport of wet sago. According to Sagoserve sources, the wet sago could easily be adulterated. Thus, they wanted a ban on its transport.

However, tapioca farmers and sago manufacturers submitted a petition to Namakkal collector V Dakshinamoorthy, condemning the proposed ban, on June 26. According to the petitioners, water is essential to extract sago starch from tapioca.

"Many s don't have sufficient water. On the other hand, sago producers have plenty of water. They would have no trouble extracting sago starch from tapioca and transporting the same to sago producing units. Thus, all sago makers would get sufficient business," said one sago producer on condition of anonymity. If the ban is imposed, only those units that have adequate water would be able to function, he added.

The collector received the petition and forwarded it to the commissioner of TNFSDAD for further action.

The food safety commissioner in turn ordered the collectors and Sagoserve not to impose the proposed ban.

In his letter, Kumar Jayant said that wet starch is an intermediate product and it can be used either as a food product or as an industrial product. He also directed the concerned officials to ensure that the sago is produced as per food safety and standards act norms.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Tapioca and Natural Sago Manufacturers Association (TNTNSMA) strongly condemned the commissioner's order. "TNTNSMA has been struggling to curb adulteration in the sago industry. The commissioner's recent order would only encourage adulteration," said R Muthulingam, president of the association. He also said that any chemicals can be mixed with wet sago starch if they transported from one place to another. He also alleged that, using this decision, the sago starch producers will sale their produce illegally and will evade from sales and commercial taxes.

Sago makers reel under adulteration menace

Like tapioca farmers, sago manufac turers have also been facing a lot of problems. Their main issue is adul teration. While some of them produce pure sago, there's a group of manufacturers who adulterate their products. Manufacturers, in favour of producing pure sago, demand that the state government form a monitoring committee to prevent adulteration of tapioca starch and save the industry “Tapioca and starch manufacturing industry is worth over Rs800 crore in Salem and Namakkal districts. But due to adulteration of tapioca starch with maize starch, the entire industry is in trouble,“ said K Rajamanikam, a sago manufacturer in Salem district.

He said about 99% of traders pre ferred to sell adulterated sago and so didn't support the ones who produced unadulterated ones. Traders do not give higher prices for unadulterated ones, manufacturers said. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, use of chemicals for whitening is poi sonous and banned. But some manufacturers mix maize starch along with chemi cal substances with sago.

“We have issued warnings to many sago manufactur ers for manufacturing adul terated sago. Many such cases are pending with the district revenue officer (DRO) of the Salem district. Even after that many unit owners continue to manufacture adulterated products,“ said T Anuradha, district designated officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administrative Department (TNFSDAD).