Government to launch nationwide campaign to create mass consumer awareness says Paswan

New Delhi, December 23: Addressing the consumer day celebrations on Tuesday on the theme “Safe & Healthy Food: Combating Food Adulteration, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food And Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Government will launch a countrywide campaign along with voluntary consumer organizations to create mass consumer awareness which will also include capacity building training for safe and hygienic food.

Paswan stated that the initiative of his ministry will be taken to rural pockets which need more awareness about consumer rights. He expressed hope that the campaign will be successful in building a culture of food safety in the country with nationwide sensitization sessions on cleaning, hygiene & sanitation for safe food. 

Paswan said that with opening up of the economy various consumer goods and services have entered into the Indian market. To meet the changed situation, we have introduced new Consumer Protection Bill and new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Bill to prevent unfair trade practices, to effectively deal with adulteration of food, misleading advertisements and speed up the disposal, which will have far reaching implications.

Proposed amendments will also enable swift executive intervention in the nature of class action both to prevent consumer detriment and to provide redressal to a class of consumers. More products concerning health, environment and safety will be brought under compulsory certification besides compulsory Hallmarking of Gold and Silver jewelry and recall of non-conforming Standard Marked goods from the market, the Minister added.

Paswan said that to supplement the Government efforts to create effective consumer awareness, the industrial organization should come forward. He said self regulatory code should be evolved and implemented in sector like street food. Paswan said his department is ready to be a partner in this venture. He asked BIS and FSSAI to review together existing food and safety regulations and to see how they can be made more effective in the interest of consumers.

Delivering the key note address on the occasion, Justice, D.K. Jain, President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) expressed concern over increasing reports of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. He said strict regulations are required to check these. He also suggested review of Packaged Commodity rules to safe guard the interests of consumers.

On the occasion Ashish Bahuguna, Chairman, Food Safety Standards Authority of India delivered the theme address “Safe & Healthy Food: Combating Food Adulteration”. He said that consumer awareness is key to ensure effective implementation of Food and Safety standards, wherever necessary these standards will be reviewed and made more stringent, he added.

The Department had organized a poster making competition among school children on the theme consumer awareness. On the occasion cash prizes were given to the prize winning six school children. In addition, some publications useful to the consumers were released. The National Consumer Rights Day is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the national consumer movement and is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers.

Punjab to assess effect of tobacco control steps

The Punjab government on Tuesday said that it would assess the effect of various tobacco control measures in the State, with the help of School of Public Health, PGI Chandigarh.

“The state health department in collaboration with PGI Chandigarh will conduct three types of surveys in different districts to assess the effect of various tobacco control activities in the state in last few years,” an official spokesperson said.

A review meeting of National Tobacco Control Programme and training of officials of district Tobacco Control Cell was held under the Chairmanship of Bhag Mal, Director Health and Family Welfare, Punjab in collaboration with NGO Generation Saviour Association.

In the first phase, a house to house survey will be conducted in Hoshiarpur, Bathinda and Amritsar districts following the Global Adult Tobacco Survey protocol, the spokesperson said. It would assess the prevalence of tobacco use and impact of ban of loose cigarettes and flavoured chewable tobacco on the tobacco users as well as the vendors, he said.

In the second phase a comprehensive compliance study in 10 districts (Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Gurdaspur, Roopnagar and Patiala) would be carried out, the spokesperson said.

Rakesh Gupta, State Programme Officer, Tobacco Control Cell said, all districts of Punjab have earlier been declared ‘Tobacco Smoke Free’ on the basis of compliance studies by PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani has directed officials to implement the Tobacco Control Act, Food Safety Act and Drug & Cosmetics Act proactively and effectively in the State. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare have issued necessary instructions in this regard.

FSDA to keep an eye on goodies for Christmas

MEERUT: With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) officials are on their toes to ensure that residents don't fall prey to adulterated sweets, cakes and other food items consumed during the festive season.

For this, a five-member team has been constituted which will conduct surprise checks at shops in both rural and urban areas to check adulteration and sale of expired items in the market. The anti-adulteration drive will continue till the first week of January.

Giving information, JP Singh, chief food safety officer, said, "A five-member team of the food department is conducting regular checks by sending suspicious food items to the laboratory for testing. If any sub-standard or unsafe food item is found, the person will be dealt with as per rules."

Samples of the suspicious food items will be sent to the food testing lab in Lucknow to avert any manipulation at the city-based lab. However, if the food items look way too suspicious, they will be sent to the lab and an immediate report will be sought. "The sample reports from the city-based lab can be procured in 48 hours and action will be taken soon after," said Singh.

The FSDA officials are keeping a watchful eye on the production of milk, milk products, cakes, Christmas sweets.

"The food items are preserved and have been sent to Lucknow through courier. The results will reach us after 20 days. We are focusing mainly on sweets, milk products and cooking oils to check adulteration," said the chief food safety inspector.

The FSDA authorities claimed that customers can file food-related complaints with the department on the condition of anonymity.

If a resident is apprehensive about a certain food item that he or she has already bought, then it can be sent for testing to the food department. If the food item is found to be adulterated, a complaint can be filed on the condition of anonymity. The sample may be submitted by depositing Rs 1,000 and if found adulterated, a complaint can be filed with the FSDA officials, who will initiate further action.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal appointed CEO, FSSAI

Senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal was today appointed as Chief Executive Officer of food regulator FSSAI, as part of senior level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the government today.
As many as 12 Additional Secretaries, including Agarwal, have been appointed in various central government departments.
Agrawal, a 1985 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, is presently Joint Secretary in Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He has been appointed as CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.
Malik, who is believed to be the man behind the ban on global giant Nestle's popular noodle brand Maggi (which has now been removed), was shifted as Additional Secretary in Niti Aayog in September this year.
FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna was holding the additional charge of FSSAI CEO.
Agrawal's batchmate Bhupendra Yadav has been appointed as Chairman, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) under Department of Pharmaceuticals. Yadav is presently working in his cadre state--Uttar Pradesh.
Senior bureaucrat Binoy Kumar has been shifted from Ministry of External Affairs as Director General, Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals. Sumeet Jerath has been made Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in place of Kumar. Jerath is presently Additional Director General of Foreign Trade.
Asha Ram Sihag has been appointed as Secretary, Union Public Service Commission. Sihag has been working as Director General (Acquisition) in Defence Ministry.
Smita Nagraj, who is presently working in her cadre state Jharkhand, has been appointed in Sihag's place.
Kalpana Mittal Baruah and R Rajagopal have been appointed as Additional Secretaries in Cabinet Secretariat, and Adviser in Inter State Council Secretariat under Home Ministry, respectively, it said.
Chhabilendra Roul, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in Department of Agricultural Research and Education in place of Rajagopal.
His batchmate from Madhya Pradesh M Gopal Reddy has been appointed as Additional Secretary in Home Ministry by upgrading the post of Joint Secretary being held by him.
Similarly, Saraswati Prasad has been made AS in Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation by upgrading the post of JS held by him.
Udai Pratap Singh, presently working in Jharkhand, has been appointed as AS in Tourism Ministry, the order said.

FSSAI says labelling norms need to be changed

"Even educated consumers do not read label while purchasing food items. We get influenced by dazzling media advertisements and buy products without seeing the label. There is no awareness to check contents of the label," FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna said on Tuesday. 

New Delhi, 

Favouring an overhaul of norms for labelling of food products, regulator FSSAI today said consumers are getting influenced by 'dazzling' advertisements and are buying products without seeing the labels.

“Even educated consumers do not read label while purchasing food items. We get influenced by dazzling media advertisements and buy products without seeing the label.

There is no awareness to check contents of the label,” FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna said today.

Speaking on the occasion of the National Consumer Day here, Bahuguna said, “To promote healthy food, we need to focus on label. We need to change norms of labelling. Unless consumers know what is the content in the product, how would he know it is healthy for him."

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) president DK Jain also said the consumers get confused about labels printed on food items and the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) should look into labelling issues related to 'expiry date' and 'best before'.

Stating that consumers normally do not distinguish between safe and healthy food, Bahuguna said, “The food which is safe is not necessarily be healthy. It is important for consumers to check how and from where they get safe food. We should ourselves think about safe food.”

Emphasising on creating awareness about 'safe and healthy food', Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said at the same event that the new Consumer Protection Bill and BIS Bill, once passed in Parliament, would provide greater consumer protection.

"There is lack of awareness about 'safe and healthy food' in the country. All organisations should take responsibility in creating consumer awareness," Paswan said.

More awareness needs to be created among women, since they take care of food needs of family members, he said, adding the passage of the BIS and Consumer Protection Bills would provide greater protection to consumers.

Paswan further said the government makes standards to ensure the quality of products and services and at the same time it does not want to impose 'inspector raj'.

On the labelling issue, Jain said, "Safe and healthy food is a constitutional mandate. There has to be stringent provisions in place to combat food adulteration." Amid globalisation and foreign trade, consumers are confused with variety of products that are available in the market. "Consumers get attracted with labels and buy without seeing the contents of label," he said.

"FSSAI has to see this aspect. There is 'Best before" in label is there. What does it mean? Is it fit for human consumption after six months? We don't know. Consumers are confused. What is sacrosanct about 'Best before'. Why not have only 'expiry date' on label?" he added.

He also asked both the FSSAI and Consumer Affairs Ministry to address misleading advertisements.

FSSAI sets up nine panels to strengthen food regulatory mechanism

New Delhi: Regulator FSSAI has set up nine new panels for expediting work relating to strengthen the food regulatory mechanism in the country, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also notified 12 referral laboratories and 82 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited private laboratories, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Shripad Yesso Naik said.
In addition, there are 72 State and Public food laboratories to test food samples.
"We are also planning the increase the number of laboratories. There should be at least laboratory in each district," he said while replying to questions.
Observing that the FSSAI makes standards while their implementation is the responsibility of the state governments, Naik said in a written reply, citing information from states and UTs, that as many as 74,010 food samples were analysed in 2014-15 and 14,599 samples were found adulterated or misbranded.
On action taken against erring 'food business operators', it said 10,536 cases were launched in 2014-15 and there were 1,402 convictions. Also there were 2,795 cases involving penalties and about Rs 10.93 crore were raised.
Replying to a question on minority education, Minister of Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla said her ministry provides financial assistance through scholarship schemes for educational empowerment of minority students.
In addition, the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, an autonomous body under the ministry, also provides financial assistance through a scholarship for meritorious girl students studying in Class XI and XII from the minority communities.

Three labs cleared 90 Maggi samples: Company

Three laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court have found lead content in 90 samples of Maggi instant noodles much below the permissible limits, a company statement said on Tuesday.
"We have received the test results from all three laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court to test Maggi noodles samples. All 90 samples, covering six variants, tested by these laboratories are clear, with lead much below the permissible limits," Nestle India said in the statement.
"In compliance with the high court orders, we will now commence manufacture and will begin selling only after the newly manufactured products are also cleared by the three designated laboratories," it added.
The company is hopeful about reintroducing Maggi noodles in the market at the earliest.
It said it had got conducted over 3,500 tests on samples, representing over 200 million packs, in both nationally as well as internationally accredited laboratories and all reports are clear.
Nestle India also reiterated its resolve to collaborate with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the apex food regulator in the country, and other stakeholders on the matter.
After a five-month ban on the two-minute noodles for alleged high lead and Monosodium Glutamate levels, the Indian arm of the Swiss giant Nestle announced in November a pact with Snapdeal for the online sale of the instant noodles and its re-introduction in 100 cities in the country.

We are working to reduce our dependence on Maggi noodles: Nestle’s Suresh Narayanan

The company is trying to come out of its biggest crisis ever, says Suresh Narayanan
New Delhi: Nestle India is working on a three-to-five-year plan to ensure it no longer has to depend on any single product or brand for revenues, new chairman and managing director Suresh Narayanan said, unveiling revival plans for the company following the crisis involving its Maggi instant noodles.
The company will add coffee and chocolates to diversify its line of food and drinks, drawing a lesson from the health and safety scare surrounding Maggi noodles, which accounted for 30% of Nestle India’s revenue in 2014.
Narayanan was sent to India in July amid a ballooning controversy after the regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned Maggi on 5 June, citing the presence of monosodium glutamate and excess lead.
He spoke in an interview on the sidelines of the second graduation ceremony of the Bridge School of Management. Edited excerpts:.
You managed to relaunch Maggi noodles much before planned. How soon do you think you will be able to bring down the dependence on Maggi noodles?
The company is trying to come out of its biggest crisis ever and that Maggi noodles has come back to the shelves is a huge achievement for the team, for all the partners and for all the stakeholders. When I came, my mandate was not just to get Maggi noodles back on the shelves by the end of the year, but also to really revive the other parts of company fully, which also suffered because of what happened.
We are now working on a three-to-five-year plan. Reducing dependence on Maggi noodles, or any single brand or product, is part of that. Over the next three to five years, things will be different.
What could the areas of focus be for the new Nestle in the making?
The focus would be coffee and beverages. Chocolates and confectionery is another clear area of focus for us. So, these two are certain, in addition to a greater acceleration of our portfolio in milk, nutrition and all of it.
These are great areas of opportunity for us. I am really trying to sort of click all the buttons to get us back into the double-digit growth that would be led by volume. I am a great believer of volume-led growth as being the stimulant for accelerating brands, consumption and presence in the market.
Maggi noodles was out of the market for six months. It did impact your profits. How much will you be able to recover in the current quarter?
We reported loss only in the second quarter of 2015. Even in the last quarter, we posted profit. Profitability always remains. We are a profitable company, and we will continue to be profitable. We will still be of interest to the people who are looking at medium-to-long term growth.
Nestle India is a respectable brand and has a respectable position in the society. In India, I think that would be the promise that Nestle, I hope, is capable of giving under my leadership.
What changes you had to make within the organization to ensure a better future?
One, I have tried to change the commercial structure. It has become a lot more focused and hopefully quicker to respond. We have also improved our consumer engagement services and practices. And I am very proud to say that we have 24x7 consumer engagement mechanism across different vectors, both digital and non-digital.

Drive launched to check safety standards of food products sold in Mandya

Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India checking the safety standards of food products at a bakery in Mandya on Friday.
Officials seize food products, the expiry dates of which had passed, from many bakeries
In a welcome move by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a drive was launched on Friday to check the safety standards of food products being sold in shops here.
A nine-year-old boy had died in the taluk, after allegedly drinking a soft drink the expiry date of had passed.
Seized
The issue had been carried in these columns on Friday.
Subsequently, led by Food Safety Officer Nagaraju, the FSSAI officials raided several bakeries and shops on V.V. Road here.
“We have seized soft drink bottles the expiry dates of which had passed from several shops. We will initiate action against the guilty,” Mr. Nagaraju told The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the Mandya district administration has decided to conduct such raids throughout the district.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan told this correspondent that sellers of fake, spurious, outdated, substandard and adulterated food products should be prosecuted.
“I will write to all gram panchayats, Mandya City Municipal Council and other urban local bodies asking them to deal sternly with sellers of such food products,” he said.
The sale of products that could adversely affect the health of consumers was an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The officials should randomly collect samples of all food products, including Nandini milk packets, at regular intervals to ascertain adherence to safety standards, he said.
The samples could be sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) at Mysuru or food testing laboratory at Hubballi as there were no facilities to check the safety standards of food products at Mandya, he said.
In the case of the death of a boy after consuming a soft drink, appropriate action would be initiated against persons found guilty, based on the post-mortem report, he said.
The number of hotels, bakeries and shops selling food products in the district is around 10,000.
Of them, 1,300 are in Mandya. However, the mandatory practice of collecting food samples had stopped long back, a senior official of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies told The Hindu.
Posts of food inspectors throughout the district were lying vacant, he added.
No mechanism in place to check safety standards of food products in Mandya
Deputy Commissioner to order for stern action against sellers of products which have passed expiry date

Maggi headed to Mysore for new lead test

The Supreme Court ordered that Maggi noodles will now be tested in an accredited laboratory in Mysore and not in Chennai as directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Wednesday that Maggi noodles will now be tested in an accredited laboratory in Mysore and not in Chennai as directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
The SC's order came on a plea filed by Nestle India against the NCDRC's order. The apex court also stayed the proceedings in the case pending in the apex consumer body. "It is directed that the local commissioner appointed by the NCDRC shall send samples earlier collected by him to the Mysore laboratory for tests. Test reports shall be produced before this court," a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant said.
In the meantime, the NCDRC shall not proceed, the SC added. The court passed the order when senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Nestle India, and attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Centre, agreed that the samples be sent for testing to the Mysore lab instead of Chennai.
The NCDRC on December 10 had said that the local commissioner would send 16 more samples of Maggi noodles for testing in Chennai to ascertain the quantity of lead and mono sodium glutamate in them in connection with the government's Rs 640-crore law suit against the company on account of alleged unfair trade practices.
"During course of the hearing, they (Centre and Nestle) agreed that the primary concern is health and the test has to be carried out to meet the parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. ... the consent was arrived at that Mysore is well equipped to carry all such tests and being a referral notified laboratory, samples should be sent there," the apex court said. Posting the matter for January, the Bench said that the plea be listed along with the appeal filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on January 13 against the Bombay High Court (HC) verdict. The HC had on August 13 lifted the ban on nine variants of the fast food and asked the company to go for fresh tests.
After the NCDRC's order, Nestle India had said, "We are disappointed that the honourable Commission has given order directing further testing of 16 samples at Export Inspection Laboratory, Mysuru.

'Ramdev's Patanjali noodles, pasta are being sold without FSSAI approval'

New Delhi: A demand for action against yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali pharma company for allegedly selling products like noodles and pasta without the food regulator's approval was made in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, K C Tyagi (JD-U) also wondered why no appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order lifting restrictions on sale of popular noodles Maggi.
Describing the two as the new "Dabangs", he said no action has been taken despite FSSAI finding faults with their products.
He alleged that Patanjali noodles and pasta are being sold without the approval of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Uttrakhand government, he said, had found an Ayurvedic 'son-bearing' medicine sold by Baba Ramdev's pharma company fake but no action was taken.
"He (Baba Ramdev) poses as if he is very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He openly claims that he has helped with 'tan, man and dhan' (physically, mentally and monetarily) in formation of the BJP government," Tyagi alleged.
Similarly, the verdict of Bombay High Court in the Maggi case was accepted. "Why was no appeal made to the Supreme Court," the JD(U) leader said and remarked "daal mein kuchh kala hai" (there is something fishy).

Black Label caught in red tape, no takers at liquor auctions

 

Liquor distributors said Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) red tape and unclear Customs norms on liquor auctions are the main reasons why they are staying away.
Over the last 18 months, the Customs department has tried to auction over two lakh bottles of imported liquor worth about Rs 100 crore, abandoned at its bonded warehouses across the country. But it has found no takers.
On December 7, cases of Talisker, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Moet & Chandon and other imported liquor brands once again failed to find bidders at an e-auction organised by the Mumbai Customs, said officials.
“This was the fourth unsuccessful auction by Customs in the last one year,” said a Customs official who did not want to be named. Similar auctions in other parts of the country in the last two years have also been unsuccessful.
Liquor distributors said Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) red tape and unclear Customs norms on liquor auctions are the main reasons why they are staying away. According to sources, imported liquor put up for auction is not cleared by FSSAI, and hence requires its no objection certificate (NOC).
“The major bone of contention between the Customs and distributors is who should get the NOC from FSSAI for the imported liquor that is being auctioned. Should it be the Customs, which is the custodian of the liquor stock, or the bidding company which will eventually distribute it. Customs has to clear the air on this,” said another official involved in the auction process.
Under existing norms, FSSAI gives an NOC when an imported food item conforms to its labelling requirements and passes its lab test. According to an FSSAI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the labels of the liquor bottles should have details of the ingredients. But in most countries, liquor is exempted from ingredient-labelling requirements.
While the labelling requirement existed since 2011, it was only in 2013 that the FSSAI started enforcing it. Since then, the Customs has impounded huge stocks of liquor which were not labelled correctly.
The liquor cases at the warehouses were imported by distributors in 2013-14 or earlier. Under Customs rules, duty is collected at the time of clearance from the warehouse. Imported goods are allowed to remain in the warehouse for up to a year, without incurring any interest liability. If the importer does not clear the duty within a year, it becomes the property of Customs and the department can auction the goods to recover duty.
One reason why the liquor stocks were abandoned at the bonded warehouses could be because they weren’t meeting labelling norms, said the FSSAI official. That’s perhaps why distributors aren’t even picking up the bottles, even if they are available at a cheaper rate. “Getting FSSAI NOC is a big task. There is no guarantee that the FSSAI will approve a particular imported food product even if it is used widely in other parts of the world which have stricter regulations. Our past experiences with the FSSAI have been bad. It has created a trust deficit. So nobody wants to participate in an uncleared liquor auction,” said a distributor.
According to the FSSAI official, the Customs should seek its clearance before an auction. “No unsafe food should enter the country,” he said. But the department has not sought clearance so far, he added.

SC stays proceedings against Maggi at consumer panel

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed proceedings against Nestle India, maker of the Maggi brand of instant noodles, in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
The order followed a plea by the company this week that NCDRC did not have jurisdiction to hear the government's Rs 640-crore class action suit against it after the Bombay High Court had already pronounced a verdict in the matter. Nestle contended that this amounted to judicial indiscipline.
In its August 13 order, the Bombay High Court had lifted the ban on Maggi noodles, directing Nestle to prove within six weeks that the product was safe. It had said re-testing would be undertaken at three independent laboratories in Mohali, Hyderabad and Jaipur. The three laboratories, the court had said, were accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
In its appeal filed in the Supreme Court, Nestle also said the 16 additional samples of Maggi that were to be tested at a food inspection lab in Chennai should instead be undertaken at the NABL-accredited CFTRI in Mysuru.
On December 10, NCDRC had directed the government to undertake the tests at the Chennai lab, which Nestle had vehemently contested, saying it was not equipped to conduct tests that determined the amount of lead in the product.
A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant on Wednesday accepted Nestle's plea and directed reports of the test in addition to an earlier one ordered on October 15 be placed before it.
The next hearing on the matter has been posted for January 13, which is also when the Supreme Court will hear an appeal filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) against the August 13 order of the Bombay High Court.
Last week, the apex court had sought a response from Nestle to FSSAI's plea that the purpose of testing any product was vitiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, if the manufacturer was allowed to choose samples of the product to be given for testing.
A Nestle India spokesperson had said last week that it would comply with the Supreme Court's notice. With regard to Wednesday's developments, the company said it was awaiting the formal order on the matter.
The company said it had conducted 3,500 tests representing over 200 million packs in both national and international accredited laboratories and all reports were clear.
In addition to these, various countries, including the US, the UK, Singapore, Australia and others found Maggi noodles exported from India to be safe for consumption.
The company also reiterated reports from the three accredited laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court to test the samples had also validated that lead present was below the permissible limit.

Activists Raise Concern Over Illegal Import of Cassia Herb Through the Cochin Port

KOCHI: The All-Kerala Anti-corruption and Human Rights Protection Council has raised concerns over the illegal import of cassia, a banned herb used to adulterate food items, through the Cochin Port.

 “As many as 38 consignments of cassia, weighing a total of 6 kg, were imported illegally through the port, in violation of the Kerala High Court’s order prohibiting its sale,” said All-Kerala Anti-corruption and Human Rights Protection Council state committee member Leonard John at a press conference here the other day.
“Cassia costs only one ­fifth of cinnamon, and hence is illegally imported and sold in the local market at huge margins. One teaspoon of cassia contains five per cent caumarin, which can cause jaundice, purging, kidney/liver damage and even cancer.
“It is widely used to adulterate ‘masala’ powders, spices and ayurveda medicines, instead of cinnamon. Cassia has an intense aroma and dark colour, and therefore is used in masala/spice mixes, instead of expensive spices such as cardamom,” he said.
Leonard John further stated that a letter he had sent to various port authorities, including the Cochin Port, seeking details of the importer did not evoke any response.
He also asked the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Spices Board to furnish information regarding the illegal sale of cassia.

Food regulator FSSAI proposes tougher regulations for food importers

The draft norms require importers to indemnify consumers through third-party insurance cover for injuries or damages caused by imported food items.
NEW DELHI: India's food regulator is proposing tougher regulations for food importers, as it seeks to address concerns about the entry of sub-standard food products into the country. However, the move might once again pit the regulator which has faced criticism for its ban on Maggi noodles and for blocking imports of items such as chocolates against the food industry. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to clamp down on import of food products through its latest draft regulations.
The draft norms require importers to indemnify consumers through third-party insurance cover for injuries or damages caused by imported food items. FSSAI will soon put the proposed regulation on its website seeking public comments. A person with direct knowledge of the development said the new regulation was designed to prevent India from becoming a "dumping ground" for sub-standard food imports. An email sent to FSSAI did not elicit a response till the time of going to press. When asked about the proposed regulations, the body's director of imports said, "This is not in my knowledge."

 

The food regulator and the industry have often been at odds with each other and importers who have been chaffing at issues such as excessive taxation, ambiguity in food safety laws and labelling regulations are likely to oppose the additional rules. While FSSAI shot into prominence because of its stringent actions against Maggi noodles, it had earlier blocked consignments of Starbucks and some chocolate brands such as Mars, Godiva, Guylian and Lindt, on the ground that they did not contain India-specific labelling.
"At present, clearance of just one shipment containing food items could take 8-20 days, which is a very long time," said Amit Lohani, convener of the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI). "Indian laws are not up-to-date, which leads to huge losses," he added.
HISTORY OF SAFE USAGE
According to the draft regulations, importers will also be required to submit a certificate showing a history of safe consumption of the food product in the country of origin. If importers can furnish the safety track record, the Indian regulator will fasttrack approvals for those products.
Earlier, importers were required to only produce a certificate of origin issued by an authorised person or agency at the place of manufacturing of the food consignment. "Certificate of origin issued by authorised person or agency at the place of manufacturing or processing, etc, of the food consignment. Certificate of origin shall contain information on country of origin, etc, if the consignor is from a different country," said the standard operating procedure issued by FSSAI in May this year.
The draft regulations also require videography of the process of taking samples for testing in order to document the procedure. The draft also requires all containers in which food items are imported to adhere to international standards with respect to temperature and the material of the container. India's labelling norms will apply to both imported items and food products manufactured in India.

Supreme Court Orders Testing Of Maggi In Mysore

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in Mysore laboratory after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that it be done in Chennai.
The top consumer commission had on December 10 sent 16 more samples of Maggi noodles for testing at Chennai to ascertain the quantity of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in them, in connection with the government's Rs. 640 crore suit against the company for alleged unfair trade practices.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant said, "During course of the hearing they (Centre and Nestle) agreed that the primary concern is health and the test has to be carried out to meet the parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006."
"...the consent was arrived that Mysore is well equipped with all tests and being a referral notified laboratory, sample should be sent there," it said.
The bench, meanwhile, stayed the proceedings before the NCDRC and directed that the test report, including the earlier one, be placed before it.
"In view of the aforesaid, it is directed that Local Commissioner appointed by the NCDRC shall send samples earlier collected by him to Mysore for tests.
"The test report including earlier ones, shall be produced before this court. In the meantime, NCDRC shall not proceed," the bench said.
During the arguments, Nestle India Ltd, through senior advocate Harish Salve, opposed NCDRC's direction for test at Chennai saying it is not accredited for salt and lead test.
This was vehemently opposed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who said that on their request the sample has been sent to Chennai.
However, later Nestle India and the Centre agreed for testing samples at Mysore.
The court's order came on a plea filed by Nestle India Ltd against the order of top consumer commission.
While posting the matter for January, the bench said that the plea be listed along with the appeal filed by food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on January 13, against the Bombay High Court verdict.
The Bombay High Court had on August 13 lifted the ban on nine variants of the fast food and asked the company to go for fresh tests.

SC to hear Nestlé’s plea seeking stay on NCDRC order on Maggi on 16 Dec

SC is also hearing FSSAI plea against the Bombay high court order which lifted the ban on the manufacturing and sale of Maggi in India
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a plea by Nestlé India Ltd seeking a stay on the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) order for testing of samples of its popular snack Maggi noodles on Wednesday.
NCDRC, on 10 December, directed 16 samples of Maggi to be tested.
A two-judge bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and P.C. Pant on Tuesday issued notice to the central government in Nestlé India’s plea.
Mint had reported on 11 December that Nestlé India was planning to move the apex court against NCDRC’s order.
The centre has filed a class-action suit against Nestlé before NCDRC alleging unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements by the firm. It has sought Rs.640 crore as compensation. The court is also hearing food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plea against the Bombay high court order which lifted the ban on the manufacturing and sale of Maggi in India.

SC notice on Nestle's plea against retest order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the central government's response on Nestle India's plea challenging the "legality and correctness" of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) order directing testing of 16 samples of Maggi noodles to ascertain their safety for consumption.

 A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C. Pant, while issuing notice to the government, which is also on caveat in the matter, said that it would hear the matter on Wednesday as senior counsel L.Nageshwara Rao sought the interim stay of the NCDRC's December 9 order directing the testing of 16 samples.
Nestle, in its plea, said that "the commission had directed that out of withdrawn stocks of Maggi noodles in the custody of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (of which 100 batch numbers were randomly noted by the local commissioner), 16 samples be sent for testing for presence of lead in any form and monosodium glutamate (MSG), including their quantity in the samples at the Export Inspection Council of India, Chennai".
The NCDRC had ordered the testing of the Maggi noodles in the course of the hearing of the central government's class action suit against Nestle India, the manufacturer of the noodles, seeking about Rs.640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements.
Nestle India has assailed the NCDRC order holding that if a laboratory in terms of section 2(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is recognised by the central or the state government or has been established under the law and maintained, financed or aided by either of the governments, then it need not necessarily be accredited by the NABL or notified by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India.
However, the Bombay High Court by its August 13, 2015, order had held that since the labs which tested Nestle's Maggi noodles were not accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), their findings could not be relied upon.
Initially, Nageshwara Rao said that Nestle India plea challenging the NCDRC order could be taken up on January 13 when the court will hear the central government's challenge to the Bombay High Court order.
However, when he sought the interim stay of the NCDRC order, the court said that the matter would to be taken up on Wednesday as it sought the central government's response on Nestle's plea.
Contending that the NCDRC had gravely erred while ordering further testing of the samples, Nestle India has said that the samples from the withdrawn Maggi noodles have already been tested in FSSAI notified and accredited laboratories.
It further said that in the past few months it had voluntary, in the consumer interest, "undertaken testing of 3,566 samples of its instant noodles at nine different labs in India and abroad including samples tested at FSSAI notified and NABL accredited labs in India and all test results have shown Maggi noodles compliant".

The perils of pesticides - Maneka Gandhi

Last month a municipal gaushala in Patiala fed its cows the normal green fodder and 39 died within a few hours. A mob gathered and the gaushala workers, who had no hand in getting the feed that was supplied by a commissioned contractor, fled. The issue was taken up by communal elements and they took over the gaushala on the excuse that they could look after the cows better. Two days later, 27 more died. Only then did the local administration start looking at the source of the contractor’s feed. Till today neither he nor his suppliers have been arrested.

In September, scientists at the Central Food Toxicology Research Institute detected cancer-causing fungal toxins exceeding safety limits in samples of ultra-high temperature processed milk — milk considered to be extremely sterile and pure. This is a problem that has been highlighted by scientists for the last 10 years without having any action taken.

The poisonous compound is called aflatoxin M1 and it was found in 20 per cent of the samples of Ultra High Temperature-processed milk they examined. Earlier, studies in India over the past decade have identified aflatoxins in raw and pasteurised milk but this is the first report of aflatoxins in UHT milk, which is usually sold in tetrapacks as a shelf-stable product that needs no refrigeration until opened.

Scientists at the CFTRI selected 45 samples of UHT milk from brands sold across the country and found that aflatoxin M1 levels exceeding limits imposed by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority in 10 out of the 45 samples of UHT milk, in six out of 45 samples of raw milk and in three out of seven samples of pasteurised milk. The raw and pasteurised milk was collected from suppliers across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the findings have appeared in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.

High levels of aflatoxins in livestock feed such as maize residue and peanut cake seem to be the reason for the toxins in milk. This is not the first time that warnings have been given to the livestock sector. In northwest India in 1974, thousands of cattle died after eating mouldy maize with extremely high aflatoxin levels (ranging from 6,250 to 15,600 mg/kg). More than 40 years later, the dairy industry in India, which relies on milk supplies from livestock, does not test samples for aflatoxin before they pool the milk for industry-level processing. Since the late 1990s, reports of aflatoxins in milk have emerged from Thrissur in Kerala and Anand in Gujarat. Biochemists at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, had detected very high aflatoxin levels in samples of infant milk food, milk-based weaning cereals and liquid milk in 2004.

Aflatoxin-producing members of Aspergillus are common and widespread in nature. They can colonise and contaminate grain before harvest or during storage. Host crops, which include maize, sorghum and groundnuts, are particularly susceptible to infection by Aspergillus following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment or damage from stressful conditions such as drought. Humidity, moisture and poor storage conditions contribute to the growth of fungi and aflatoxins in livestock feed.

Researchers have reported high values “up to 3,300 micrograms per kg” of the fungal toxin aflatoxin B1 in livestock feed. Aflatoxin B1 is metabolised by animals and converted into aflatoxin M1, which is secreted in milk. Aflatoxins are also sometimes found in eggs and meat when animals are fed contaminated grains.

Since studies show that these aflatoxins are resistant to heat treatment, the object should be to reduce their intake. But while most developed countries have set maximum permissible limits for aflatoxin levels in livestock feed, no such mandatory limits exist for livestock fodder in India. The limit for aflatoxins in milk set by the European Commission is “0.05 microgram per kg”. Ninety per cent of our milk is higher than this. In 2006, the FSSAI imposed 0.5 microgram per kg limit on milk in India — 10 times higher than the EC limit. Even that is lower than what is currently found.

Recent studies conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in South India revealed that aflatoxin levels were as high as 40 times the permissible limit. In a study published in the journal Food Control, researchers found that over 90 per cent of the milk samples used in the study contained aflatoxin M1 levels. In these studies, contamination of milk was found to be high in both rural and urban areas, across a cross section of the population. Children were found to be most susceptible to the adverse health effects of these toxins.

At least 14 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature. Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic and is produced by fungi called Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These are among the most potent of carcinogens that cause more than 90,000 cases of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer each year. Consumption of aflatoxins can also lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, liver damage, convulsions, kidney, liver and heart disease and, in extreme cases, coma and death. Long-term aflatoxin poisoning in cattle leads to decrease in growth rate, lowered milk production and immune suppression. Some experiments have also shown high incidence of hepatitis B infection where dietary exposure to aflatoxins was prevalent.

Aflatoxins are strongly associated with stunting and immune suppression in children. In a 2015 study published by Mitigating Aflatoxin Consumption for Improving Child Growth, researchers established a relationship between aflatoxin exposure and linear child growth. The study focused on children in the last trimester of gestation to age two (the primary period of growth faltering), and studied 1,829 pregnant women who were enrolled from 2013 to 2014. Initial data collection found aflatoxin in the blood of all participants. The researchers reduced aflatoxin exposure by 50 per cent in all participants and found that the reduction led to improved growth in the children tested.

Feed refusal, reduced growth rate and decreased feed efficiency are the predominant signs of chronic aflatoxin poisoning in animals. In addition, listlessness, weight loss, rough hair coat and mild diarrhoea may be seen. Anaemia along with bruises and subcutaneous haemorrhages are also frequent symptoms of aflatoxicosis. Increased susceptibility to other diseases, increased abortions and rectal prolapse are also signs. But in our country, where vets are like hair on a near balding head, who is interpreting these symptoms?

How many of you know what food is being fed to the animals that give you milk? There are no pastures left in this country and cows/buffalos graze on the roadsides and on dirty human-rodden grass. All green fodder grown for animals is done so with pesticides. Remember that if UHT milk, which means milk that has been pasteurisd at very high temperatures, cannot remove the fungus, it is better not to drink the stuff at all.

To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in, www.peopleforanimalsindia.org 

Bugs and Approvals, another controversy brewing with Baba Ramdev’s Noodles?

While many dismiss these initial reports, there is no denying that incidents like these could snowball into a bigger controversy.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev planned to take on the instant noodles market with his 'healthy alternative' you could have instead - Patanjali Atta (wheat) noodles. Few weeks into the launch, and the noodles is already getting into trouble, just like the man himself.

According to Zee News reports, bugs were found in a packet of Patanjali's Atta noodles in Jind, Haryana. These bugs were spotted inside a sealed pack and the customer is reportedly gearing up to sue the company.

Also, India's food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said that Ramdev's company Patanjali Ayurved didn't have approvals for instant noodles before it's launch. Patanjali officials however said it is not required to get a product specific approval to launch instant noodles. They argue noodles falls under the 'pasta' category, and they had a license for the same.

While many dismiss these initial reports, there is no denying that incidents like these could snowball into a bigger controversy. Patanjali noodles has huge potential in a market where people are increasingly looking for quick and easy meal. While a sizeable chunk of the pie is hooked onto Maggi, Patanjali's low prices give it the edge in an increasingly crowded market. Most of it's products sell at 30-50% cheaper rates than it's peers from multinational brands.

Did not order Maggi ban, FSSAI tells SC

"The High Court erred in coming to the conclusion that the show-cause notice was a ban order," the FSSAI argued in its appeal against a Bombay High Court lifting the ‘ban’ on the Maggi noodles.

In a twist to the Maggi noodles ban case, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Friday told the Supreme Court that it had never, in the first place, banned Nestle India’s popular household two-minute snack.

Instead, the FSSAI said it only issued a show-cause notice to the company, seeking an explanation about the “excess” lead levels in its products and, secondly, why it had made a “false declaration of no added MSG (Monosodium glutamate) when its products contained MSG.”

“The High Court erred in coming to the conclusion that the show-cause notice was a ban order,” the FSSAI argued in its appeal against a Bombay High Court lifting the ‘ban’ on the Maggi noodles.

Seeking a stay of the High Court judgment, that has paved the way for Maggi's return, the top food regulator said “harm may be caused to consumers of the products, which will have an adverse effect on human health and life in the country.”Apprehensions raised by the FSSAI prompted a Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra to direct the Nestle and the Maharashtra government to respond by Jan. 13.

The FSSAI, represented by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, explained that it had only asked the company to stop further manufacture, production, import distribution and sale of its noodle variants in public interest during the period of consideration of the notice. This, it contended, would hardly have the effect of a “ban order,” especially when Nestle had already issued a press release declaring that it was recalling its products under the scanner for excessive lead content. Nestle went on to destroy over 25,000 tonnes of Maggi products.

The FSSAI argued that the company, instead of replying to the show-cause notice, moved the Bombay HC.

‘HC order fallacious’

The High Court had interpreted the FSSAI notice as a ban order, and concluded that banning the company's products without even affording it an opportunity to be heard was against the basic principles of natural justice.

The FSSAI termed the High Court order as “fallacious.” It asked how a notice issued in public interest could be described “arbitrary, unreasonable, lacking transparency” by the High Court. That too when the High Court itself has recorded the fact that out of 82 samples, 30 had lead levels in excess of permissible limits.

The Food Authority said the High Court had erred in disregarding the reports of two notified and NABL-accredited labs (Kolkata and AVON) that levels of lead were over the limit. It said the HC has committed a mistake by asking the company itself to provide the fresh samples for testing instead of asking a neutral authority to do so.

SC seeks response from Nestle India, Maharashtra on FSSAI’s plea

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from Maggi noodles manufacturer Nestle India Ltd. and Maharashtra on a plea filed by food regulator FSSAI against the Bombay High Court verdict lifting ban on nine variants of the fast food and asking the company to go for fresh tests.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant fixed the plea of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for hearing on January 13 when it will consider its prayer for stay of the High Court verdict.

The present petition is being filed… seeking special leave to appeal against impugned judgement dated August 13/ modified on September 4, passed by the Bombay High Court... vide the judgement, the High Court had quashed the show cause notice (of FSSAI) on the ground that the same violated the principles of natural justice and also passed directions permitting the respondent company (Nestle India) to sell its products if its samples passed fresh tests...”

“Respondent company has been permitted to choose the samples of its products to be given for testing and the High Court has listed out the laboratories that were suggested by the respondent company to carry out the tests, thereby vitiating the very purpose of testing any product under the (Food Safety and Standards) Act,” FSSAI said in its plea.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for FSSAI, said that the laboratories, accredited under the statute, should be allowed to conduct tests on such food products.

The regulator, seeking a stay on “the operation of the impugned final judgement” of the High Court, raised the question of law saying “whether the main duty of the authority (FSSAI) is to regulate or monitor the food products at any stage of production and whose primary concern has to be the safety of the food products being consumed in the country?”

The plea further said whether a show cause notice can be set aside by the High Court in “writ jurisdiction” without first directing the FSSAI to respond to the allegations made in the notice.

The Bombay High Court had on August 13, lifted the ban slapped by food regulators on Nestle India’s nine variants of the fast food in the country while asking the company to go in for fresh tests.

The regulator, in its plea, objected to the observation of the High Court that its notice asking the company to stop manufacturing and sale of Maggi products was violation of the principle of natural justice when it is evident that the firm itself had stopped manufacturing and sale even before the issuance of the notice.

The High Court had allowed Nestle to go in for fresh test to ascertain whether lead content in the popular snack is below permissible limit.

This will be done by sending five samples of each variant of the instant noodles to three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which were accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), it had said.

Atta noodles: Ramdev's Patanjali among 2 firms served FSSAI

Two ayurvedic firms including yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Ltd have been served notice by the government for violating food safety norms in manufacturing atta noodles, Health Ministry J P Nadda said today. 

"The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) has issued a notice to M/s Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and M/s Akash Yog Health Products Pvt Ltd on November 19 asking them to show cause as to why action should not be taken against them for violating the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act...For manufacturing, relabelling and marketing Patanjali atta noodles without obtaining valid approvals," Nadda said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. 

Ramdev had launched the product with the aim to capture the noodle market by branding his product as healthier and more affordable than other instant noodles available to consumers. 

Instant noodle Maggi was banned earlier this year for five months after some samples were found to have dangerous levels of monosodium glutamate and lead. However, it returned to shops after a clean chit from labs.

Maggi row: Supreme Court issues notice to Nestle India on FSSAI’s appeal

After a favourable HC order, Swiss giant Nestle had relaunched its instant noodle on November 9.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from Nestle India on an appeal by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) against lifting the ban on popular instant Maggi noodles.

A bench led by Justice Dipak Misra waived off the formal notice as Nestle’s counsel Harish Salve accepted the notice and said he would file a reply to the petition by January 5.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the FSSAI, said he was not pressing for an immediate stay of the Bombay High Court order but, he wanted to draw the court’s attention towards the difficulties being faced by the good regulator in view of the HC order. The bench agreed to examine FSSAI’s contentions on January 13.

After a favourable HC order, Swiss giant Nestle had relaunched its instant noodle on November 9.

The FSSAI, in its petition, has questioned the “sanctity” of the samples provided to the government-approved labs for the re-test, contending that the High Court had asked Nestle to provide samples whereas it should have been picked up randomly from the market. As per the sources, seeking Maggi samples from Nestle vitiated the entire procedure of re-testing and that a neutral authority should have ideally lifted the samples.

Further, the petition has claimed that the Bombay High Court allowed substantial changes in its order when Nestle filed a plea for correction of the original order on the ground of there being certain typographical errors.

“This led to a substantial impact on the outcome of the proceeding before the High Court,” FSSAI officials said.

They added that stacking Maggi back on shelves without a fresh permission from the authorities also amounts to a breach of a pertinent provision in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In August, the High Court had quashed the orders of FSSAI and Maharashtra food regulator FDA, which had banned nine variants of Maggi noodles in the country. It had said that the principles of natural justice were not followed in executing the ban as the manufacturer was not given a hearing. The court had allowed Nestle to go in for fresh testing of five samples of each variant of the noodles at three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which were accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

It had clarified that these samples would be taken out of the 750 samples preserved by the company following the ban and if the lead content was found below permissible limits by the three labs, Nestle India will be allowed to manufacture Maggi noodles. Subsequently, Nestle had announced that tests done on fresh Maggi samples provided to government approved labs were found safe and retail sales would start shortly.

Excessive usage of chemicals found in ginger cultivation, processing

Officials seize 100 kg sulphur cubes, 10 kg calcium hypochlorite from processing units

Indiscriminate application of harmful chemicals to brighten the colour of ginger came to light during a raid by the officials of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on ginger processing units in the district on Saturday.

The officials raided four units in the district on Saturday, including three units at Ripponpet and one at Ayanur village. During the raid, the officials were shocked to see that sulphur and calcium hypochlorite, also known as bleaching powder, being extensively used in the processing of ginger.

The officials seized 100 kg sulphur cube and 10 kg calcium hypochlorite from the processing units. K. Krishnappa, District Food Safety Officer, told The Hindu that according to Food Safety Act, usage of sulphur and calcium hypochlorite for processing food is an offence.

Samples of ginger from the units had been sent to laboratory for tests. If the tests were to confirm the presence of traces of chemicals in the samples, then stern action would be initiated against the owners of the processing units.

The area of cultivation of ginger has expanded rapidly across the district. The total area under ginger cultivation stood at 2,000 acres in 2008 and it had increased to 16,000 acre,s now.

Under traditional methods of processing, ginger tubers are soaked in water and the rhizomes on it will be peeled off with the help of bamboo knives, coir or sea shells. As the ginger gets discoloured due to bacterial and fungal wilt infection, it used to fetch low prices in the market. To prevent discolouring, ripening and rotting in ginger, harmful chemicals like sulphur and calcium hypochlorite were being used during processing.

After washing the tubers with a solution mixed with calcium hypochlorite, they were placed in air-tight chambers by burning sulphur. The Sulphur dioxide gas released in the chamber removes the dark spots and gives bright color to the ginger.

The people residing in the vicinity of ginger processing units in Ayanur village had recently developed breathing problems and allergy. They had lodged a complaint with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, blaming the usage of sulphur in ginger processing unit as the reason for their health disorders. Based on the information provided by the officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the FSSAI officials raided the units.The usage of chemicals in the processing of ginger ha also caused pollution in water bodies that were in the vicinity of ginger processing units. Last year, toxic foam had frothed from Kerekatte tank on the outskirts of Shikaripur owing to the release of liquid waste from the ginger processing units.

Following this incident, the Shikaripur Town Municipal Council had shutdown three ginger processing units0 that were responsible for polluting the tank.

Pesticides are used indiscriminately even during ginger cultivation. A study by the experts from the Centre for Ecological Sciences of Indian Institute of Science and Vrikshalaksha Andolan had revealed that the land in Malnad region was becoming barren and water bodies, including Tunga, Bhadra and Varada rivers, getting polluted owing to excessive usage of pesticides in the cultivation of ginger.

According to Food Safety Act, usage of sulphur and calcium hypochlorite in food processing process is an offence.

K. Krishnappa,, District Food Safety Officer

Now, Patanjali noodles also under food safety scanner

DEHRADUN: After state food authority gave clearance to Maggi noodles in Uttarakhand on Wednesday, Ramdev's Patanjali noodles has come under the scanner of the authorities due to controversies over an insect allegedly being found in the sealed packet of the noodles. As per Haridwar food commissioner's office, samples of Patanjali noodles will be sent for testing soon.

On the directions of the Uttarakhand health minister Surinder Singh Negi, the food safety department has come into action. Food safety department (Haridwar) designated officer Mahimanand Joshi said, "We have received verbal orders from the minister. Within two days, we shall get the samples collected for testing. We have not done sampling of Patanjali noodles till date, but it has become necessary after complaints have come from different parts of the state."

Acharya Bal Krishana of Patanjali, said, "These are all rumours. No one has come up with proper evidence till date. It's a strategy to malign our image. The maggi issue is not clear because at one point it was being reported that the packet was sealed and then it was said that bugs were identified in cooked Maggi."

Health minister Negi told TOI, "As the product is being manufactured in our state, it becomes our moral duty to check the product. Also, the news over bugs being found makes for a strong reason for us to ensure that whatever is being manufactured in Uttarakhand is free from controversies and is healthy. Sampling would only clear the doubts of people who have raised question on the atta noodles."

After Nestle's 2-minute noodles was banned in the country, yoga guru Ramdev tried to make the most out of the opportunity by launching his Patanjali Atta Noodles. But within a day of its launch, FSSAI officials said the atta noodles' manufacturers were not in possession of product licence.

Street food vendors undergo training in Delhi

More than 500 vendors from all over India participate in training programme

New Delhi: People, especially foreigners, visiting Delhi often complain of the Delhi Belly syndrome, even as most enjoy the gorgeously tempting street food sold at every nook and corner of the city.

To beat the negative tummy experiences, more than 500 street food vendors from all over India joined a mass training programme on food safety and hygiene, held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday.

Pledging to work towards ensuring food hygiene and safety ahead of the three-day (December 11-13) food festival, the vendors hoped to do good business all year round.

Dalchand Kashyap, a vendor selling chaat (spicy snacks) for the last 24 years said, “I have learnt a lot from such workshops. The authorities even arranged to send me to Singapore early this year to learn the basics of hygiene, upkeep of food and also how to neatly display it.”

A third generation street food vendor, Kashyap said, “It has added to my income as, seeing the hygiene level I maintain, people from far off places too come to me to savour the snacks and appreciate my food habits.”

Organised by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), the workshop was addressed by Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Food Safety Commissioner in the Delhi government.

Appreciating the work undertaken by NASVI, she pointed out that she had witnessed remarkable change in street vendors’ attitude. “The fact that they use caps to cover their heads, clip their nails and keep them clean and use gloves to serve food, has added to their professionalism.”

The event was also attended by S.S. Gill, special secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Bimal Dubey, Director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Dr Atreyi Ganguli, World Health Organisation officer, municipal executives, health officers, dietitians and nutritionists.

Speaking to Gulf News, Anurag Shankar, programme manager of NASVI, said, “Street food vendors add to the country’s economy in a substantial way. Serving all — from a cart puller to an office executive, even though they know to cook, due to lack of education, are not familiar with cooking and serving standards. Training them will keep the masses healthy.”

With a membership of over 750,000 vendors, NASVI has been aggressively working with roadside entrepreneurs to promote the depth and diversity of India’s street food for the last 20 years. But of late, it has also begun focusing on health and nutrition for all.

A spoonful of stevia

India is just waking up to the leaf that sweetens, but its slightly bitter aftertaste could put off potential users. Globally, consumption of stevia has been low

Next Diwali or Christmas, when you shop for fruit juices, drinks, yoghurt and lassi, a ‘Made with Stevia’ label on packaged beverages and dairy products may grab your attention.

Approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) last month has propelled companies to explore products made from stevia, a natural sweetener, derived from a plant that is both grown locally and imported from countries that have a tropical and sub-tropical climate. Companies plan to roll out a few options initially, growing the range depending on consumer interest.

Amul India, for instance, plans to unveil stevia products in a calibrated manner. The company has begun trials to see if it can roll out a stevia-based dairy product. “We would like to take our time to formulate the right product because our experience shows taste is of prime concern to consumers,” said MD, RS Sodhi.

Indeed, some consumers may find stevia’s mildly bitter aftertaste unappealing. Kishore Pasari, 62, a South Mumbai resident who has been suffering from acute diabetes for the past 25 years, said the taste is a downer for him. “I’ve tried putting the leaf in tea as a substitute for sugar but the taste puts me off and does not satisfy the sugar craving.”

Priya Shah, (22, name changed), an obesity patient, said she would rather not eat sweets than consume stevia-made desserts or beverages. “Either you indulge or you don’t,” she said.

Taste or health?

While taste is an issue with some consumers, the health benefits are immense. For one, it is healthier than aspartame, an artificial sweetener commonly known as ‘chemical poison’. “Excess consumption of aspartame can lead to deterioration of brain and nerve cells. Stevia on the other hand, is 100 per cent herbal, helps to lower blood pressure and does not aggravate blood sugar levels,” said Pooja Goel, a Bandra-based nutritionist.

In the past few years, health-conscious consumers have increased their preference for grains like ragi and bajra. Similarly, nutritionists and experts expect consumers to warm up to the benefits of stevia in the coming years. Hence, the success of stevia will depend on how consumers respond and whether a diabetic India makes the seemingly right choice.

Stevia is also a good flavour enhancer, said Leena Mittal of Herboveda India, wholesale suppliers of stevia and stevia-based products. “It’s a great substitute for aspartame. We’ve replaced cane sugar with stevia in lemon water and some desserts and you can’t tell the difference.”

Here’s the secret of how Herboveda India has managed to cut the bitter aftertaste. Stevia comes from a leafy green plant and its leaves contain compounds called steviol glycosides and rebaudioside. The former is 200 to 400 times sweeter than table sugar and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste, but reubaudioside apparently has no such flavour. Herboveda India imports this Korea and China.

Food and beverage companies in India are willing to spend on sourcing stevia and exploring this untapped market, provided they get a right product formulation. Delhi-based Mother Dairy is one such example, and is eager to explore a domestic health-conscious market. “The FSSAI move is a positive one and we will now hasten the process of formulation,” said S Nagarajan, CEO, Mother Dairy.

The company is into research and development and is hopeful that in 12 months, it will have innovated a beverage product in the beverage category using stevia. Currently, it offers more than 12-14 varieties of fruit juices and drinks under the brand name Safal.

Getting the formula right

A lot of factors will need to be considered while formulating the right product, though, said Dr TSR Murali, R&D head, Mother Dairy. On the one hand, it would have to be zero calories, nutritional and healthy and on the other, it has to be delicious and have a shelf life.

That can be quite a challenge, as globally too companies are struggling to hit the market with a perfect product.US companies, which began early in offering stevia products, have managed to create an industry size of just $200-300 million in seven years. Given the initial excitement, it was expected to be worth a a billion dollars but its bitter aftertaste has generated a slow response.

The USFDA approved the use of stevia extracts in 2008. The global volume consumption of stevia products is just about 1,019 tonnes in 2014 as compared to 925 tonnes in 2013 (see chart), according to data provided by Euromonitor International. There is no data available for India as it’s a market that is just beginning to open itself to the stevia experiment. However, even globally, manufacturers haven’t designed any product that is 100 per cent stevia-based and offers great taste, said Mother Dairy’s Dr Murali.

Mother Dairy could roll out a beverage if initial research indicates a consumer acceptable product and medium complexity in development, he added.

It would need trials in adapting it to both categories of fruit juices and dairy products like lassi. “The acid types and levels in each product are different and we have to test it on both product categories to see the best mix, suitability and shelf life,” he said.

Even though companies are doing a toss-up between taste and health, consumers may be opening up to the idea. “The more the merrier! I have no diabetes and a zero-calorie dessert means I can keep them coming,” said Biju Gupta, a dessert lover.

The writer is a freelance business journalist

While taste is an issue with some consumers, health benefits are immense. For one, it is healthier than aspartame

Consumer tribunal allows tests on Maggi samples in FSSAI storage

The government’s request was opposed by Nestlé India, which has indicated that it wants to get on with business after the Bombay high court set aside the ban

New Delhi: India’s apex consumer tribunal has accepted the government’s plea for testing the Maggi Noodles samples kept by Nestlé India Ltd at the food regulator’s storage in Lucknow around the time the product was banned from the market in June.

The government’s request to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) was opposed by Nestlé India, which has indicated that it wants to get on with business after the Bombay high court set aside the ban, and its products were found safe by accredited laboratories.

“We are disappointed that the Hon’ble Commission has today given Order directing further testing of 16 samples..,” said a Nestle India spokesperson. in a statement. “In recent months alone, Nestlé India has conducted over 3,500 tests representing over 200 million packs in both national as well as international accredited laboratories for testing and all reports are clear.”

Maggi noodles were banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for allegedly containing a flavouring agent and lead in excess of prescribed norms.

The Bombay high court lifted the ban in August, conditional to fresh testing of the noodles that would be produced at the company’s plants. Those cleared the tests, and Nestlé has relaunched the noodles with much fanfare and to an overwhelming reception from the market. The food regulator has appealed that the Bombay high court’s order in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the government and the Indian arm of the Swiss MNC have continued to fight it out in the NCDRC, which on Wednesday allowed the fresh testing. The accredited lab for conducting the tests to determine levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) is likely to be decided on Thursday.

The samples were initially to be sent to an accredited lab in Mumbai, but this was opposed by Nestlé India, which told the court that the lab was not adequately equipped to test for levels of lead.

The process of sending samples is set to begin on 14 December and the report will be produced before court on 12 January, along with the test report of 13 samples sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore.

The government, which has initiated action against Nestlé India on behalf of consumers in the apex consumer court, on 23 November sought permission for further testing of 31 batches of Maggi at an accredited laboratory to settle the question of safety. These samples are from the stock that Nestlé India kept at an FSSAI godown in Lucknow.

A bench of the NCDRC comprising justices V.K. Jain and B.C. Gupta, which heard the case, reserved its decision on 1 December and asked the government to submit a list of accredited and recognized laboratories where the tests could be conducted.

On 15 October, the NCDRC ordered tests on 13 samples of the noodle at the Central Food Technological Research Institute. The results are awaited.

Nestlé India contested the government application, claiming it would amount to exceeding the scope of the case placed before the consumer forum.

“It is an adversarial litigation and must be restricted to the scope of pleadings,” Nestlé India said in its legal filings.

The government continued to press for testing, saying that it was the first case of its kind where the concern of consumers was being voiced in the interest of justice.

It claimed that testing was justified under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

The government, in a class action suit, has claimed a compensation of `640 crore from the company, alleging unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements.

HC questions disparity in sending samples to labs by FSSAI

NEW DELHI, DEC 9: 

The Delhi High Court today questioned the food safety and standards authority (FSSAI) why there was a disparity in the number of samples sent for testing to government labs vis-a-vis private labs.

A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva raised the query after it was told by an NGO that while lakhs of samples are sent to 68 private labs across the country, the four government-run labs only get a few thousand each.

“Why this disparity? Why not send more to government labs? Do the government labs not have the capacity? Why are you not then upscaling the capacity?” the court asked FSSAI.

NGO Lok Jagriti, represented by advocate Govind Jee, also claimed that the government-run labs were not well-equipped and even the staff there did not have the proper training.

He also sought that independent scientific panels be set up, as stipulated under the FSSA Act, for coming up with standards for food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with eatables, among others.

The authority responded that such panels are already in place. It, however, said it has no labs of its own and was dependant upon four Food Research and Standardisation Laboratories (FRSL) which were set up under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

It also said that all the labs it used for testing were accredited with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The court, thereafter, directed that anything that is prohibited under the FSSA Act and rules and regulations framed under it, but which is permitted under the Codex Alimentarius - a collection of internationally recognised standards relating to foods, food production and food safety - or any other global standard, would be prohibited as per Indian law.

On the disparity in number of samples sent for testing to private and government labs, the court noted that the concern raised was with regard to authenticity and reliability of the reports of private labs.

DINAMALAR NEWS & FLOOD RELIEF MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED AT CUDDALORE

Every Fifth Food Sample Found Adulterated and Misbranded: Report

One out of every five samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found "adulterated and misbranded", with maximum in Uttar Pradesh followed by Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases so far this year, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
As per the report compiled by the state governments, food safety labs received 83,265 samples, of which 74,010 were tested till November 24 of 2015.
Out of the tested samples, the labs found 14,599 samples were "adulterated and misbranded", the data showed.
A maximum 4,119 samples were found adulterated and misbranded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab (1,458), Madhya Pradesh (1,412), Gujarat (1,243), Maharashtra (1,162) and Tamil Nadu (1,047).
The penalty of Rs 10.93 crore has been imposed in 2,795 cases, and maximum fine of Rs 5.98 crore was imposed for cases reported in Uttar Pradesh.
As many as 2,676 criminal cases and 7,860 civil suits were registered, of which convictions were reported in 1,402 cases, the report added.
Issues related to quality of food and FSSAI came into the limelight after it imposed the ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.
In August this year, the Supreme Court junked the FSSAI's advisory that asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if the ingredients were already approved or deemed safe.
The government is also mulling Rs 1,750-crore proposal to strengthen central food regulator FSSAI as well as state bodies.

Every 5th food sample found adulterated and misbranded: Report

Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases so far this year, according to the testing report of public laboratories

New Delhi, Dec 6: One out of every five samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found “adulterated and misbranded”, with maximum in Uttar Pradesh followed by Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
Over Rs 10.93 crore penalty has been imposed in 2,795 cases, while culprits have been convicted in 1,402 cases so far this year, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).As per the report compiled by the state governments, food safety labs received 83,265 samples, of which 74,010 were tested till November 24 of 2015.
Out of the tested samples, the labs found 14,599 samples were “adulterated and misbranded”, the data showed.A maximum 4,119 samples were found adulteraed and misbranded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab (1,458), Madhya Pradesh (1,412), Gujarat (1,243), Maharashtra (1,162) and Tamil Nadu (1,047).The penalty of Rs 10.93 crore has been imposed in 2,795 cases, and maximum fine of Rs 5.98 crore was imposed for cases reported in Uttar Pradesh. 

As many as 2,676 criminal cases and 7,860 civil suits were registered, of which convictions were reported in 1,402 cases, the report added.Issues related to quality of food and FSSAI came into the limelight after it imposed the ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.In August this year, the Supreme Court junked the FSSAI’s advisory that asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if the ingredients were already approved or deemed safe. The government is also mulling Rs 1,750-crore proposal to strengthen central food regulator FSSAI as well as state bodies.