Check tiffin box for junk food, CBSE tells schools

NEW DELHI, Jan 08, 2016, DHNS

  

Open the tiffin box of students to check consumption of unhealthy food, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directed its affiliate schools on Thursday.
It also asked every school to constitute a canteen management committee and include parents and students as its members to ensure that only healthy food items are cooked and sold to children on the campus.
“They (committee members) may decide the type of food to be prepared in the school kitchen/canteen and, as and when possible, check the quality of raw materials and ingredients to ensure that food available in schools meets safety, hygiene and sanitation standards,” it added. The board issued a detailed set of guidelines to replace junk foods with healthy snacks and food varieties, as its previous advisories in this regard had been cold shouldered by a large number of private schools.
It also asked the schools to make parents and children aware of the ill effects of junk food.
“Schools are required to ensure that there are no high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) foods like chips, fried foods, carbonated beverages, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, potato fries and confectionery items, chocolates, candies, samosas and bread pakoras in the school canteens,” the CBSE said in a circular.
It also advised the schools to conduct “inspection” of lunch boxes of their students to rule out consumption of unhealthy foods, saying consumption of HFSS food has been found to be associated with many diseases, including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation and hyperinsulinemia with a risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life.
“These diseases and childhood obesity have been reportedly found to affect the cognitive and physical development of children adversely, causing an irreparable loss to the society,” it added, highlighting significance of promoting healthy food eating habits among children.
In its circular, the board gave the web link of a recent report of a working group, set up by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and asked the schools to refer the recommendations for implementation.
“The recommendations made by the panel comprehensively covers the issue and provides invaluable insights on how to control the endemic problem of consumption of junk food available in and around schools,” it added
The board’s directive comes months after the Delhi High Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) in March last year, accepted the draft guidelines formulated by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, to restrict sale of HFSS food items in and around schools.

Checking against food adulteration to be intensified

Several wayside eateries had faced legal action for the sale of unhygienic food in the recent checking conducted by the Health Department and the Food Safety Authority.
The District-level Food Advisory-cum-Vigilance Committee has directed the Food Safety Department here to intensify their checking to prevent food adulteration.
An official direction in this regard was issued at a district-level meeting of the committee chaired by Additional District Magistrate T. Janilkumar at the Collectorate conference hall, here, on Thursday.
As per the new move, the functioning of wayside eateries will be brought under close monitoring. Surprise checking will be conducted in cool bars and juice parlours to ensure that they follow the quality and hygiene parameters prescribed by the Food Safety Authority.
Food Safety Department officials who attended the meeting said their squads imposed a total fine of Rs.14 lakh from the beginning of this fiscal on noticing adulteration attempts on the parts of various traders.
In addition to this, the Legal Metrology Department slapped a fine of Rs. 25 lakh on traders who were found violating the terms and conditions related to the use of weighs and measures.
The meeting, which was also attended by the Civil Supplies Department officials, took a decision to approach the State government for sanctioning modern laboratory equipment to test the presence of harmful pesticides in vegetables brought for sale. Health Department officials said the city was in need of a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry- based testing facility to strengthen checking.

Week on, Punjab rolls back plan to lift tobacco ban

On May 31, 2015, on World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organisation had honoured the Punjab government for its campaign to curb tobacco use.
BARELY A week after the Punjab government issued a notification for lifting the ban on manufacture of tobacco products in the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday rolled back the decision.
On January 1, Punjab food safety commissioner, Hussan Lal, had issued a notification “lifting” the ban on manufacture of gutkha, paan masala, processed/flavoured/ scented chewing tobacco and other products containing tobacco and nicotine. The decision was being seen as taken keeping in mind the interests of tobacco manufacturers.
A study published in the medical journal The Lancet, in 2012, reported that India accounts for 206 million smokeless tobacco users.
The notification read, “There will be no ban on manufacture of the above mentioned tobacco products in the state if the manufacturers give an undertaking that the products will not be sold/made available in Punjab or other state where there is a ban on these tobacco products.” However, the notification had prohibited storage, sale and distribution across the state for one year.
Badal directed the health department to take immediate steps to ensure a blanket ban on manufacture of gutkha, paan
masala and other processed/flavoured/ scented chewing tobacco and any other food products containing tobacco.
The government spokesperson mentioned that the ban had been issued as the sale is in violation of Section 7 of the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products, Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003). Section 7 prohibits any trade or commerce in cigarettes or any other tobacco product unless every pack of cigarettes or any other tobacco product sold, supplied or distributed carries specified warning including pictorial warning.
It was on August 27, 2012, that the Punjab government extended the ban on manufacture, storage and sale of tobacco products to the entire state after initially banning sale and consumption of Pan Masala and Gutkha in four districts. On May 31, 2015, on World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organisation had honoured the Punjab government for its campaign to curb tobacco use.
After the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011 framed rules making it clear that tobacco and nicotine will not be used as ingredients in food products, a number of states had put ban on manufacture, storage and sale of tobacco products.

Punjab bows, lifts gutkha manufacture ban

Only sales prohibited; move comes seven months after WHO feted state for anti-tobacco programme
Disturbing reality

• Smokeless tobacco is largely associated with oral cancers; India sees around 80,000 oral cancer cases annually
• India has 275 million tobacco users; 206 million of them use smokeless tobacco

New Delhi, January 6
The Punjab government today took a major step backward in its journey towards tobacco control by lifting the ban on manufacture of gutkha, pan masala and other processed, flavoured and scented food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. Manufacture of chewable tobacco products will now be allowed and only their storage, sale and distribution will be prohibited within Punjab.
The state’s diluted stand is revealed in its latest anti tobacco notification, issued by Punjab Food Safety Commissioner Hussan Lal. Punjab was among the first states to ban production and sale of harmful smokeless chewing tobacco forms after the Union Health Ministry in August 2011 framed new prevention of food adulteration rules.
These rules, issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, clarified that “tobacco and nicotine will not be used as ingredients in food products”. This meant that since gutkha, khaini, masher, zarda, toothpastes, etc, were all food products, consumed for flavour or use, they could not contain injurious substances like nicotine or tobacco, proven carcinogens. After FSSAI regulations, 12 states banned the production and sale of gutkha and pan masalas containing tobacco; Punjab being one. Asked why the state succumbed to tobacco lobby pressure to permit production of harmful chewing tobacco, Hussan Lal told The Tribune,
“A blanket ban was hurting our tobacco industry. At present, there are 20 states without blanket bans on production and even sale of chewing and scented tobacco. Punjab imposed an initial full ban on Centre’s directions but later we realised that our tobacco industry was suffering.
Only a nationwide ban on production and sale of chewing and flavoured tobacco can work. We have taken the decision to allow manufacture of chewing tobacco forms in all fairness.
Sales within Punjab remain prohibited.” Punjab’s retrograde step comes seven months after the World Health Organisation feted it for its anti-tobacco programme. Also, public health experts today said Punjab was violating central FSSAI rules by choosing to allow manufacture of gutkha, pan masala, khaini, zarda, etc.
“Union regulations ban production and sale of harmful tobacco. Punjab can’t pick and choose. Also, Punjab’s differential standards on public health are shocking. How can it assume what’s unhealthy for Punjab is not unhealthy for other states?” asks Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, cancer specialist at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Chaturvedi, active on India’s anti-tobacco policy, says production of gutkha and pan masala is banned across India under FSSAI rules.
“Flavoured tobacco has been banned only in 13 states. Gujarat recently exempted gutkha units exporting the product and was found to be in violation of central rules. Punjab has done worse by allowing production and sale in all states except itself,” Chaturvedi said.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Rs 2.18 cr worth fines for flouting food safety norms in Noida

Noida, Jan 6 (PTI) District authorities have imposed fines to the tune of over Rs two crore this fiscal on sellers, manufacturers and suppliers of food products here for violating safety norms and selling substandard products.
"Fine of Rs 26 lakh has been levied in eight cases of substandard food or violation of regulations recently. So far Rs 2.18 crore fine has been imposed in the current financial year 2015-16," additional district magistrate Chandra Shekar said today.
Items that have come under the scanner of food safety officials included paneer, chilli sauce, gulab jamun among others.
A case was registered following complaint of sale of substandard paneer in the district. Also samples of chilli sauce and paneer taken from a restaurant in sector 26 were also found to be substandard. Rs 4.25 lakh each has been imposed in these two cases, the ADM said.
Rs 3.25 lakh was imposed on pan masala vendor, supplier and manufacturer for violations of the regulations. Rs 4.25 lakh was fined on peanut butter company for violation of regulations. In other cases Rs 2.25 lakh was imposed for substandard gulab jamun and Rs 1.25 lakh for substandard paneer

Rail Neer: HC for commuters’ right to choice

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said there should be no compromise on the quality of drinking water sold at railway stations and commuters should be able to buy brands of their choice.
A Division Bench of Justices Naresh Patil and M.S. Sonak was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by Lopesh Vohra.
Freedom curtailed
The plea petition said commuters could not exercise freedom of choice owing to a circular issued by railway authorities directing contractors and caterers to put up stalls selling Rail Neer — the packaged drinking water manufactured and supplied by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
The PIL also questioned Rail Neer’s quality and stated that the water, available only in 750 ml and one litre bottles, was substandard and contaminated and did not follow safety norms laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authorities of India. Advocate Rui Rodrigues, appearing for the petitioner, said non-availability of other drinking water brands posed a problem to commuters. Mr Rodrigues said at Mumbai Central railway station only Rail Neer was being sold.
Advocate Usha Srivastava, representing IRCTC, said, “This practice is seen only in places where there are water plants. The Railways is facing gross loss as Rail Neer bottles are lying unused at godowns.”
She said measures were in place to ensure quality control and commuters always had the option of buying water from outlets outside the station.
However, the Bench said, “If food of different brands and varieties are available at railway stations then why not water? If the Railways’ contention is that IRCTC is facing loss, then a complimentary bottle of Rail Neer should be offered with each ticket to encourage people to buy it.”
The Bench also observed that water was a basic necessity and quality control inspectors had to get their act together.
The court suggested the authority to manufacture 500 ml bottles, which would be handy for commuters. The matter has been adjourned for four weeks.

If you can allow outside food, why not water? HC asks railways

Jan 6, 2016, MUMBAI: Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation to reply to a public interest litigation challenging the sale of only Rail Neer packaged drinking water at stations and on trains.
A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice M S Sonak heard the PIL filed by Lopesh Vora, a regular commuter, urging direction to the Railways and its subsidiary , IRCTC, to provide packaged drinking water of other brands also.
Vora's advocates Rui Rodrigues and Abhishek Tripathi argued that it is "a consumer's right of choice to drinking water" under Article 21 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution. They pointed out that there is an issue of quantity as well as quality. They explained that only 1 litre bottles are being sold instead of 500 ml. Also, tests done by an independent laboratory in Gujarat:showed the water is "sub-standard " and did not conform to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India norms.
IRCTC's advocate Usha Srivastava said the decision to keep only keep one brand of packaged water was because Rail Neer " was not being lifted " and it resulted in a huge loss. She said currently it is available in four zones having bottling plants and not at all places. " We are not preventing people from carrying their own water as done on planes," she added.

Additives are OK, excess is harmful

Hyderabad: About 12,000 food additives are allowed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India as they are in accordance with the acceptable daily intake. However, they have to be used within certain limits and consumers should read labels carefully before consuming these products.
This process has been scientifically carried out over the last year, as Indian consumers are now opting for ready-to-eat, preserved foods and also foods with additional nutrient values for health benefits. Biscuits with fiber, oats with added multigrain, gluten free, steel cut oats and food with less sugar for diabetics require added ingredients to preserve them during packaging and transportation till it reaches the consumer.
The growing food industry needed streamlining of these additives, state experts. A senior scientist with the National Institute of Nutrition said, “An additive like the flavour enhancer MSG is added to give food the ‘lip smacking’ taste. But it has to be regulated and used in controlled levels. To ensure that the proper standards are set, FSSAI took up this massive exercise and brought the levels at par with global standards.” In doing so, they have ensured that food processors preserve the nutritional quality of the food and do not reduce it with additives.
Nutritionist Sujatha Stephen with Maxcure Hospitals said, “An additive is also used to add an item in the normal diet which may not be a part of it. But is it really required for the consumer is a point that they must be aware of. At the same time, a healthy adult has to opt for natural foods. Ready-to-eat foods can be opted for once in a while. But if it is a regular affair than they are adding more synthetic food to diet which is not good.”
The literate too ignore food labels
People hardly read the labels while buying off-the-shelves food. In a recent workshop carried out by a city nutritionist, it was revealed that hardly anyone followed the habit. Most people believe what their friends, colleagues or neighbours certify about a product rather than evaluate it themselves.
Nutritionist Sunitha Premlatha with Yashoda Hospitals said, “Reading the labels helps one to scientifically understand what is in the product and whether one actually needs it. It takes time and a bit of self-learning but in the long run people benefit by understanding their food better. “Presently, it is not being followed and people only choose based on their experience with the product.
The major nutrient which many young healthy adults and teenagers are missing out on is fiber whose requirements are not being met due to eating these processed foods on a daily basis.” An adult requires 40 gm of fiber per day but that is not adequately met. Similarly intake of sugar has to be 25 gm, or 6 teaspoons per day, but many people exceed the limit.”

GREENS SAFE AMID RESIDUAL FEAR

Pesticide residue found in condiments

Nothing like a dash of masala or spice to lend that extra flavour to your favourite dish. But if the latest report of the Pesticide Residue Analysis Laboratory under Kerala Agricultural Laboratory is anything to go by, spicing up a curry may not be a good idea for the health conscious.
While two of the five samples of cardamom collected from the open market between July and September had pesticide residue above the maximum residue level (MRL) prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), oregano, dry chilli, chilly powder, crushed chilly, cumin powder, cumin, cumin powder, curry masala, fennel, fennel powder, Kashmiri chilly powder, rasam powder and tea were found to contain pesticide below MRL or pesticides without prescribed limits.
Of the 31 spices, condiments and processed foods tested, 18 were found to be of safe-to-eat quality.
Traces of ethion
While the two samples of cardamom had residue of quinalphos, an organothiophosphate chemical, tea was found to contain traces of ethion. The other contaminated condiments had residues of pesticides including profenofos, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, bifenthrin and cyfluthrin.
Vegetables
Of the 48 types of vegetables tested, only curry leaf had pesticide residue above the prescribed limit while samples of green chilly and mint leaf had traces below MRL or pesticides without prescribed MRL.
The samples were collected from outlets in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Kasaragod districts.
Samples of all the 16 types of fruits collected from across the state tested negative for pesticide residue.
Of the four dry fruits tested, only two samples of raisins contained pesticides below MRL.
None of the six processed foods tested positive for pesticide residue.
Experts however point out that the report masks the real picture of pesticide safety because of the failure to prescribe MRL for most pesticides that are abundantly used by farmers, especially on vegetables imported from neighbouring states.
Codex standards
In the absence of MRL approved by FSSAI, scientists under the pesticide residue monitoring project had relied on EU and Codex standards to evaluate samples, a practice that was later dropped on directions from ICAR.
Most vegetables safe to eat

Pesticide safety hit by lack of standards

FSSAI yet to prescribe maximum residue level for various vegetables
The failure to prescribe safety standards for the use of pesticides on various crops has made a mockery of the government-sponsored scheme for periodic monitoring of vegetables, fruits and food products for pesticide residue.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not prescribed the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of various pesticides for chilli, curry leaf, amaranthus, coriander leaf, mint and capsicum, items for which Kerala largely relies on neighbouring States.
Evaluation
The MRL is fixed on the basis of a rigorous evaluation test of each pesticide approved by the Central Insecticide Board.
It is an indicator of the correct use of pesticides and ensures compliance with legal requirements for low residues on unprocessed food.
According to Thomas Biju Mathew, Head, Pesticide Residue Laboratory, the delay in fixing MRL had led to the continued use of unapproved pesticides by farmers for over two decades, impacting on public health.
To understand the health hazards caused by pesticide residue, it is absolutely essential to have MRL values for various pesticide-commodity combinations.
Database
The European Union has a comprehensive database of pesticide-commodity combinations covering even the dietary habits of immigrant communities.
It has MRL standards for pesticides used on amaranthus, largely used by Malayali immigrants.

Food safety department collects Rs 2.18 crore fine from violators

NOIDA: The district food safety department has collected a total of Rs 2.18 crore as fines from different manufactures of food and beverage products for selling adulterated items to consumers in 2015. The department also fined Rs 3.25 lakh to the manufacturer and seller of a smokeless tobacco product in Sector 58.
S N Singh, district food safety officer, said that the officials had collected a tobacco product from Rinku Store. "The lab tests revealed harmful elements in the tobacco products which is violation of the food safety rule. The manufacturer of the product was fined Rs 3 lakh while the seller has been asked to pay Rs 25 thousand," he said.
In the last financial year the department conducted checking at different stalls, manufacturing outlets, hotels and restaurants and took 369 samples of suspicious food items for lab test. "We sent these samples for checking in a government lab in Lucknow. The lab report revealed that 156 products had failed in quality tests. We filed cases against the manufacturers and sellers of these products. The court ordered the violators to pay fine for selling adulterated food items," Singh said.

Paper box chemicals are no longer considered safe for food contact: FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has announced it plans to publish a final ruling banning three chemicals used in pizza boxes and other food packaging.
In response to a petition filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center for Food Safety, the Breast Cancer Fund, the Center for Environmental Health, Clean Water Action, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Children’s Environmental Health Network, Environmental Working Group, and Improving Kids’ Environment, the FDA said it has planned to ban three specific perfluoroalkyl ethyl types.
Perfluoroalkyl ethyl is a chemical used in food contact substances, that acts as an oil and water repellent for paper and paper boards, which comes in contact with oily and fatty foods. New data is available that shows the toxicity of chemicals similar to these compounds that demonstrate there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the food-contact use of these FCSs, as per sources.
Erik Olsen, director of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) health program, had praised the FDA action on this issue stating, “The FDA’s ban is an important first step but just a first step towards improving the safety of our food supply. Now it should act on our petition to ban the seven other chemicals we believe and government agencies such as the toxicology program at the National Institutes of Health have found to cause cancer,”.
The USFDA says the the final rule will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, while the process also involves filing of objections and demands for a public hearing.

'Carcinogens now even in samples considered safest': Maneka Gandhi advises against drinking milk

By Maneka Sanjay Gandhi
How many of us know what is being fed to animals that give us milk? It is time we did because lack on control over what they are fed is turning milk toxic in India.
In September, scientists at the government Central Food Toxicology Research detected cancer-causing fungal toxins exceeding safety limits in samples of ultra-high-temperature (UHT) processed milk- milk considered to be extremely sterile and pure. UHT milk is usually sold in tetrapacks as a shelf-stable product that needs no refrigeration until opened.
The poisonous compound called aflatoxin M1 was found in 20 per cent of the samples of UHT (Ultra High Temperature processed) milk they examined. Samples were collected from all over India. They found aflatoxin M1 levels exceeding limits imposed by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) also 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 milk suppliers across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Their findings have appeared in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.
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 (IITR), Lucknow had detected very high aflatoxin levels in samples of infant milk food, milk-based weaning cereals and liquid milk in 2004.
More than forty years later, the dairy industry in India – that relies on milk supplies from livestock – does not test samples for aflatoxin before they pool the milk for industry-level processing.

There are no pastures left in this country and cows/buffalos graze on the roadsides and on dirty human trodden grass. All green fodder grown for animals is grown with pesticides. Nobody knows what they eat.
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 north-west India in 1974, thousands of cattle died after eating mouldy maize with extremely high aflatoxin levels (ranging from 6250 to 15,600 mg/kg).
Aflatoxin-producing members of Aspergillus — a family of harmful fungi — are common and widespread in nature. They can colonize 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.” 90 per cent of our milk is higher than this.
In 2006 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 (ICRISAT) 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% 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. 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 the Mitigating Aflatoxin Consumption for Improving Child Growth, researchers established a relationship between aflatoxin exposure and linear child growth.
Animals suffering from chronic aflatoxin poisoning exhibit various symptoms. But in our country where vets are like hair on a near balding head, who is interpreting these symptoms?
Remember that if UHT milk, which means milk that has been pasteurized 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

நோய் பாதித்த ஆடுகள் இறைச்சியாக விற்பனை கண்டுகொள்ளாத அதிகாரிகள்

திரு வள் ளூர், ஜன.6:
திரு வள் ளூர் மாவட் டத் தில் ஆட் டி றைச் சி யில் கலப் ப டம், நோய் பாதித்த ஆடு களை வெட் டிக் இறைச் சி யாக விற் பனை செய் வ தால் நோய் க ளுக்கு பெரும் வாய்ப்பு உள் ளது.
பொது வாக வார விடு முறை, பண் டிகை நாட் க ளில் ஆட் டி றைச்சி விற் பனை அதி க மாக இருக் கும். சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் வெட் டு தல், கலப் ப டம் இல் லா தது போன் ற வற் றிற் காக அசைவ பிரி யர் கள், பல மணி நேரம் காத் தி ருந்து கறி வாங்கி செல் வர். சுகா தா ரம், கலப் ப டம் தவிர்ப்பு என் பது அந் தந்த உள் ளாட்சி அமைப் பு க ளின் கட் டுப் பாட் டில் வரு கி றது.
இறைச் சிக் காக வெட்ட உள்ள ஆடு களை பரி சோ தித்து சுகா தார அதி கா ரி கள் சீல் வைக்க வேண் டும். அதற் கென ஆடு வெட் டும் கூடம் அமைத்து அங்கு வெட் டப் பட்ட ஆட் டுக் க றி களை தான் விற் பனை செய் ய வேண் டும் என் பது தான் முறை. முதல் நாள் விற் ப னை யில் மீத முள் ள வற்றை மறு நாள் விற் கக் கூ டாது. ஆனால் இதை பலர் பின் பற் று வ தில்லை. உள் ளாட்சி அமைப் பு க ளும் கண் டு கொள் வ தில்லை.
இறைச் சி யில் கலப் ப டத்தை தவிர்க்க உண வு பொ ருள் கலப் பட தடுப்பு பிரிவு உள் ளது. மாவட்ட அள வி லான அதி கா ரி கள் நட வ டிக்கை எடுப் பது அரி தான விஷ ய மாக உள் ளது. ஆடு வெட் டும் கூடம் செயல் ப டா த தால் மெயின் ரோடு, குப்பை நிறைந்த பகுதி, நீர் பி டிப்பு பகுதி அருகே ஆடு களை வெட்டி இறைச்சி விற் பனை நடக் கி றது.
இத னால் இங்கு சுகா தா ரம் கேள் விக் கு றி யாக உள் ளது. மேலும் கழி வு களை அங் கேயே கொட் டி விட்டு செல் கின் ற னர். இதை நாய், கோழி, பன் றி கள் கிள றும் போது துர் நாற்ற பிரச்னை ஏற் ப டு கி றது.
மேலும், நோய் வாய்ப் பட்ட ஆடு க ளின் இறைச் சியை கலந்து, குறைந்த விலை யில் விற்க வாய்ப்பு உள் ளது. சிறு வர் கள் இறைச் சி யை யும், முதி ய வர் கள் சூப் போன் ற வற் றை யும் விரும்பி சாப் பி டு வ தால் பல் வேறு நோய் பிரச் னை களை சந் திக்க நேரி டு கி றது என மக் கள் கூறு கின் ற னர்.
இது கு றித்து மக் கள் கூறு கை யில், ‘நீல நாக்கு நோய், கோமாரி நோய் போன் ற வை க ளால் ஆடு கள் பாதிக் கின் றன.
கிரா மங் க ளில் விழிப் பு ணர்வு இல் லா த தால் நோய் பாதித்த ஆடு களை வெட்டி சாப் பி டும் நிலை உள் ளது. நக ரங் க ளில் மெயின் ரோடு அருகே ஆடு களை வெட்டி உறுப் பு களை தொங்க விடு கின் ற னர்.
சாலை யில் வாக னங் கள் செல் லும் போது ஏற் ப டும் தூசி, மணல் ஆகி யவை தொங் க வி டப் பட் டுள்ள இறைச் சி யில் படி கி றது. இதை நன் றாக சுத் தம் செய் யா மல் சாப் பிட் டால் நோய் ஏற் ப டும் நிலை உள் ளது. ஆடு வதை கூடங் களை நவீ னப் ப டுத்தி ஆடு கள் சுகா தார முறைப் படி வெட் டப் பட்டு விற் ப னைக்கு செல் கி ற தா? என் பதை சுகா தார அதி கா ரி கள் கண் கா ணிக் க வேண் டும். அதி கா ரி கள் அலட் சி யம் செய் தால் மக் க ளின் சுகா தா ரம் கேள் விக் குறி தான்’ என் ற னர்.
எனவே, ஆடு வதை கூடங் களை முறைப் படி செயல் ப டுத்த சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் க வேண் டும். மேலும், மாவட்ட உணவு பொருள் கலப் பட தடுப்பு பிரி வி ன ரும் இதை கண் கா ணிக்க வேண் டும் என மக் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

தரமில்லா உணவு பொருட்களால் பாதயாத்திரை பக்தர்கள் பாதிப்பு: இட்லி ஒன்று ரூ.10

பழநி,:தைப்பூச விழாவை முன்னிட்டு, பழநியில் பாதயாத்திரை பக்தர்களுக்கு தரமில்லாத உணவு பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர்.தைப்பூச விழாவை முன்னிட்டு, பழநி கோயிலுக்கு மதுரை, காரைக்குடி, ராமநாதபுரம், விருதுநகர், திருச்சி, கரூர், தாராபுரம்,கோவை உட்பட வெளியூர்களில் இருந்து பக்தர்கள் பாதயாத்திரையாக வந்த வண்ணம் உள்ளனர். இதன்
காரணமாக ரோட்டோரங்களில் திடீர் ஓட்டல், டீ மற்றும் ஜூஸ் கடைகள் துவக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.பல கடைகள் ஒருமுறை பயன்படுத்திய எண்ணெயை மீண்டும், மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்தி பலகாரங்கள் தயார் செய்கின்றன. விற்காத முதல்நாள் உணவு பொருட்களை சுட வைத்து பக்தர்களிடம் விற்கின்றனர். மலைக்கோயில் கிரிவீதிகள், இடும்பன் கோயில் ரோடு, பூங்கா ரோடு, அய்யம்புள்ளி ரோடு
களிலும் தற்காலிக உணப்பொருள் விற்பனை கடைகள் அதிகரித்துஉள்ளன.விலை உயர்வுபாதயாத்திரை பக்தர்கள் வருகை அதிகரிப்பால், உணவு பொருட்களின் விலையும் கணிசமாக
உயர்ந்துள்ளது. டீ ரூ.10, இட்லி ரூ.10, தோசை ரூ.30, சாப்பாடு ரூ.50 முதல் ரூ.110 வரை ஓட்டல்களின் ஆடம்பரத்திற்கு ஏற்ப விற்கின்றனர். இதன்காரணமாக குடும்பத்துடன் வரும் நடுத்தர, ஏழைமக்கள் தள்ளுவண்டி, தரைக்கடைகளில் தரமில்லாத
உணவு பொருட்களை உண்ணும் நிர்ப்பந்தம் ஏற்படுகிறது.பழநியில் உணவு பொருட்களை சோதனை செய்து, முறைகேடான விற்பனையாளர் மீது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.

Raids show K’taka units processing ginger with sulphur, calcium hypochlorite

Ginger, an aromatic spice with wide-ranging culinary use, is reportedly being processed using chemicals like calcium hypochlorite and sulphur in some parts of the country.
Raids conducted recently on ginger processing units in Ayanur and Ripponpet areas of Shimoga district of Karnataka were found using chemicals in order to give the spice a yellowish tint and erase the dark spots on it. This is done to make the ginger rootstock attractive and command good prices.
With regard to the raids, C R Srinivasa Gowda, joint director, State Public Health Institute, Bangalore, explained, “We had received consumer complaints earlier. Some of our officers were suspecting bleaching agents being used in ginger processing units. Later, our district food safety officers (designated officers) went on to inspect ginger processing units in Ayanur and Ripponpet in Shimoga district. The whole vegetable, ginger was whitened using bleaching agents like calcium hypochlorite and sulphur.”
Gowda added, “We have seized sulphur and bleaching agents from the units. Our designated officers are on a search of processing units to ensure safe processing of ginger.” The quantity of seized sulphur was 100 kg.
He pointed out, “Three samples of the processed ginger from the processing units are sent to Bengaluru-based laboratory for tests. The results are expected to arrive in a month.”
Further, Gowda stated, “If the results are positive and usage of aforementioned chemicals in ginger processing is proved then an all-state inspection regime will be conducted to wipe out the usage of chemicals to attain appealing colour to the processed ginger.”
The designated officers have been asked to conduct regular checks at the units to unearth such malpractices since ginger cultivation doubled in the area in the past seven years.
It may be noted that many consumers in Shimoga district are facing issues regarding breathing and some have reportedly developed allergies. The usage of sulphur in processing is said to have contaminated the nearby water bodies making the situation worse. Following this, people in the vicinity lodged a complaint with the department of health and family welfare. Based on the complaint, designated officers conducted raids.
A source close to department of health and family welfare, stated, “One of the possible reasons for using chemicals is discoloured ginger in the market fetches low prices. Harmful chemicals like calcium hypochlorite are used in the processing to cease discolouring, ripening and rotting of ginger.”

Rajkot civic body collects samples of Patanjali ghee, noodles, biscuits

The food department of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has collected samples of some Patanjali products and sent them to laboratory for testing.
“We have collected random samples from the market in the RMC area. Samples of Patanjali's products like ghee, atta noodles and biscuits were collected on December 29, 2015, and those of chilli powder, son papdi and besan on December 30, 2015. These samples were sent to the Food and Drugs Laboratory, Nizampura, Vadodara,” informed A N Panchal, food safety officer, food department, Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
“The inspection results should arrive in 40 days as per the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act in practice. As and when the inspections will occur, the products will be sent to the Vadodara lab in this winter season,” stated Panchal, explaining the winter inspection drive.
The food department will be on an inspection regime of ghee and edible oils in the coming days.
“We have taken similar product samples of noodles, ghee, edible oils and sweets under our regular inspection regime,” informed Panchal.
“We conduct such inspection regimes every year. Last year, Patanjali samples met the standards,” added Panchal.
Panchal pointed out that some local sweet manufacturers will also be raided soon.

Hindustan Coca-Cola among food companies fined for selling sub standard items

Srinagar: Tightening noose on food companies selling sub standard and misbranded item, the Food Safety officials in Baramulla have imposed heavy fine on Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Divine Crops and allied products.
Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Baramulla told a local news gathering agency, KNS, that under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, a total fine of Rs 990000 was imposed on M/S Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd industrial estates Gangyal, Jammu, M/S Divine Crops and allied products Pvt Ltd and other companies for selling sub standard and misbranded items to people.
“The food operators were fined as they were involved in the sale, distribution and manufacturing of sub-standard and misbranded products in their stores, which is the violation of section 26 (2) of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006,” Iqbal said.
He said, “21 complaints were registered under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 by the Food Safety administration district Baramulla and Drug and Food control organization Jammu and Kashmir.”
The officer has warned the Food Business operators of strict action for violating food safety laws.

Easier norms for import of food items soon

NEW DELHI: The new year heralds good news for food lovers. For faster clearance of imported food products, including supplements and nutraceuticals, the government has decided to waive off sampling from consignments of general food products at ports, airports and other points of entry. Instead, only risk-based sampling will be done to ascertain compliance.
The move is in line with international standards aimed at easing trade between countries by awarding speedier clearances to products that do not involve serious health concerns, while focusing on specific items which are identified on the basis of "pre-defined risk parameters", as specified by food and drug regulatory agencies. The customs department could then introduce these parameters into its own system to draw random samples at ports, while immediately clearing those that do not raise an alarm.
"...after detailed consultations, it has been decided that amongst others, it is possible to reduce the time taken for clearance of imported consignments by adopting a risk-based criteria for clearance of such consignments in place of samples being drawn from each consignment," said a recent order of the health ministry.
However, the order will come into effect from March 1 as the customs department will put in place a specific software to identify products with potential risk.
According to a senior official in the ministry, products which are imported regularly by importers of established reputation with a credible record are likely to get faster clearances under the new system.
The move is in line with the government's resolve to launch single-window clearance for all imports by March. The customs department has already started clearing textiles from countries like the US and EU, with prohibited use of harmful azo dyes, without testing at ports. It is planning risk based testing for imports from nations that are known to use azo dyes.
The health ministry's rule will be applicable for both export and import of food products and drugs that require clearance from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Drugs Controller General of India.
Food importers and pharmaceutical companies, particularly those selling supplements and nutraceuticals, have been pushing for faster clearances for a long time. Premium chocolates, dairy products such as cheese and various fruits and dry fruits were often held back at ports by customs for days for sampling and checking. Companies allege that such delays in clearances lead to huge loses as shelf life of the products get exhausted and sometimes they are even spoiled.
The latest move also assumes significance because consumption of imported premium products including chocolates and gourmet based products is increasing tremendously.

Mysuru scientists develop anti-obesity oil

In what is described as a major innovation, CFTRI has developed an anti-obesity edible oil (diacylglycerol oil).
CFTRI has claimed that it was a healthy vegetable oil prepared from sunflower oil.
In addition to maintaining healthy bodyweight, the oil provides energy and does not store as fat, according to the institute. CFTRI Director Ram Rajashekaran claimed that it was “one of its kind in the world” as a similar product developed in the past by a foreign country had to be withdrawn over the issue of “food safety”.

Patanjali noodles case: FSSAI studying reply to show-cause notice

"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna was quoted as saying.
Food regulator FSSAI reportedly said it will take a final call on Patanjali noodles case after studying the company's reply to its notice.
"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna was quoted as saying.
FSSAI reported that the case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali.
In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products.

FIR against Snapdeal for selling Maggi noodles during ban period

A case was registered on Sunday against CEO of Snapdeal Kunal Bahl and its founder Rohit Bansal for online sale of Nestle's instant noodles in five states.
An FIR has been registered against the CEO and founder of an e-commerce major for allegedly selling popular Maggi noodles online during the ban period, in five Indian states.
A case was registered on Sunday against CEO of Snapdeal Kunal Bahl and its founder Rohit Bansal for online sale of Nestle's instant noodles in five states including Rajasthan during the period of ban between June 7 and October 30 last year, police said on Monday.
A complaint was on Sunday lodged by Lalit Sharma, a Jaipur-based lawyer following which police registered an FIR under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) of the IPC and sections 59 and 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
When contacted, the company spokesperson said they have not received any information on the same.
Last June, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had placed a ban on sale of Maggi after they found high levels of lead in it.
The Bombay High Court, however, had revoked the ban on Maggi on October 19 paving the way for it to be back on shelves.

Products with ‘safe’ ingredients may not need food regulator’s approval

TheFSSAI is preparing new rules for product approvals after an earlier advisory, which put it at loggerheads with the food processing industry.
NEW DELHI: India's food regulator may do away with product approvals if the ingredients used have already been cleared or are deemed safe, bringing relief to the food processing industry by introducing a globally accepted norm.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is preparing new rules for product approvals after an earlier advisory, which put it at loggerheads with the industry, was quashed by the Supreme Court for not having legal standing.
"We are in the process of formulating regulations for product approval process. We thought we could take this opportunity to review the procedure rather than just convert the advisory into regulation," said a senior officer of the authority who is aware of the development.
The food processing industry had alleged that the product approval system had paved the way for an "inspector raj" and it also drew flak from food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who criticised the effects of regulatory overreach after the FSSAI imposed a nationwide ban on Nestle's popular instant noodle brand, Maggi, in June.
The FSSAI's proposed regulation may require product approval only if a new ingredient or additive is introduced, a practice followed in several developed nations. The regulator has uploaded a list of permitted food additives and food items in which they can be used and the recommended maximum level.
The product approval process was brought in through a May 2013 advisory, which had been challenged by the Maharashtra-based Vital Nutraceuticals and the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association and deemed illegal by the Bombay High Court. The authority appealed in the Supreme Court, which questioned the legal standing of the process as it was an advisory rather than a regulation.
While the FSSAI discontinued the process after the court's ruling, it uploaded a circular on its website on August 26, which said the product approval process will be brought back as regulation. "Every endeavour will be made to expedite the regulations governing section 22 products," the circular said. The food processing industry feared the procedure outlined in the May 2013 advisory would be enacted as regulations.
The government recently appointed senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal as the chief executive officer of the FSSAI in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, who was behind the ban on Maggi.

Crackdown on unlicensed sale of junk food

Sale of crushed ice delicacies to be prevented in Kozhikode Corporation limits
Sale of crushed ice delicacies and drinks on the wayside and at beach tourism destinations in the city will be curbed as part of the strengthened vigil to ward off food-borne illnesses and communicable diseases.
Health Department squads within the City Corporation limit, municipalities and grama panchayats have been asked to keep a tab on unlicensed sale of junk food, especially cool drinks prepared with crushed ice. Sale of marinated fruits too will be monitored as part of the improved vigil.
The department has prepared the strict action plan after noticing the unhealthy practice on the part of a few vendors who use impure ice bars for the preparation of cool drinks, juices and marinated items. In flash searches conducted recently, the squads had also seized such unhealthy food items from the city and its suburbs.
Also, the sale of ice creams in unhygienic carts by unlicensed vendors too would be prevented taking into account concerns about children’s health.
Already, some schools and parents- teachers organisations have alerted their students against consumption of such food items citing health reasons.
The Health Department officials have also made it clear that the hygiene rules would be applicable to soft-drink and juice shops in the city and rural areas. “Surprise inspections would be carried out in all parts of the city to check the strict implementation of the quality parameters prescribed under Section 30 (d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006,” they said.
As per rules, fruits and other additives used to prepare juice or any other drinks should be bought only from traders with FSSA licence and the purchase bills should be kept for future verification purposes. The guidelines also stipulate that water used for preparation of juice, etc., should be from a properly tested source of impeccable quality.
However, officials attest that wayside juice sellers have been found to be violating many of these provisions for quick profit with minimal investment.
“Taking into account public safety, we will initiate stringent action against such unhygienic sales in the sector,” they said.

Patanjali noodles case neither delayed nor expedited: FSSAI

"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson told reporters.
Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company’s reply to its notice.
“We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process,” FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna told reporters.
“The case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali,” he said. In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products for allegedly violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and manufacturing, re-labeling and marketing Patanjali atta noodles without valid approval.
Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, has launched 70-gram pack atta noodles priced at Rs 15, claiming it to be cheaper than other competitors, with an eye to take on market leader Nestle’s Maggi, which is back in shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.
Patanjali had earlier strongly denied FSSAI’s claims and insisted that it had licence for pasta, under which noodles fall as per the regulator’s classification. The company further said FSSAI has already admitted that it’s no longer possible for the regulator to continue with the process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013.
This followed a Supreme Court order in August this year that upheld an order of the Bombay High Court on the issue. In June last year, FSSAI had banned Nestle’s instant noodles Maggi. This was later lifted by the high court, which ruled that the product needs to be tested at three government-approved laboratories. A clean chit from these labs led to the relaunch of the noodles in November.

No nonsense, no compromise

There are papers to read, meetings to attend. On a typical day at the office, T.V. Anupama’s door opens and shuts scores of times. The office, tucked into a corner of Thycaud, in Thiruvananthapuram, could do a lot of rework. But then that’s just one of the offices she goes to — the Food Safety Commissioner’s which Anupama joined one-and-a-half years ago.
She has also been made the Additional Director (General), Tourism and Managing Director, Inframed. But since she joined the service in 2010, no year has brought her the kind of attention this last one did. The year 2015 in one word has been ‘eventful’ for the young IAS officer who fell from one controversy to another — from restricting pesticide-infected vegetables from Tamil Nadu to the ban of certain packaged products. She speaks of the year that went by.
“The Food Safety Department came into existence only in 2011. So, the initial two years went into setting up the department. Even when I came in, the situation was that. For established departments, there is precedence for everything and you just have to follow it. If there is a specific issue, you need special intervention. In the case of food safety, there was a total lack of resources. No proper office, no sufficient human resources, no enough vehicles. So there was the setting up of the department going hand in hand with the work enforcement and analysis,” she says.
“Many things happen on a day-to-day basis but there’s no ready solution because we haven’t done it before. We know harmful pesticides and all are used. But how do we go about it? People have vegetables on a daily basis. You can’t just ban it. We needed another kind of solution. Everyone was aware of the situation. We were only a part of it. We spoke about it, presented in the meetings about it but rest was done by the government or public. People started becoming so aware, we continued lifting samples (from check-posts and markets),” she explains.
“Then there was the banning of certain products. Only some got highlighted. There are certain kind of food items that under the act or by various medical reports we know is unsafe. You should treat them in one way. Then there are certain habitual offenders you treat a different way,” Anupama says. However, she is not pleased with the publicity she got. “I haven’t been comfortable with the kind of attention all this brought. I don’t use my personal FB page much. No Twitter and no verified official page. But at some point, you have to open up. It is mandatory that we put all orders on public platform. Whenever some adulteration comes we put on the website. I didn’t expect this kind of response. The worst situation is when your privacy is encroached. Family was dragged into it. Luckily they were very supportive. Most of the staff were too, and there was public support,” Anupama says.

No special consideration given to Patanjali noodles case: FSSAI

Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company's reply to its notice.
Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company's reply to its notice.
"We have received a reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna told PTI.
"The case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali," he said.
In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products for allegedly violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and manufacturing, re-labeling and marketing Patanjali atta noodles without valid approval.
Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, has launched 70-gram pack atta noodles priced at Rs 15, claiming it to be cheaper than other competitors, with an eye to take on market leader Nestle's Maggi, which is back in shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.
Patanjali had earlier strongly denied FSSAI's claims and insisted that it had licence for pasta, under which noodles fall as per the regulator's classification.
The company further said FSSAI has already admitted that it's no longer possible for the regulator to continue with the process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013.
This followed a Supreme Court order in August this year that upheld an order of the Bombay High Court on the issue.
In June last year, FSSAI had banned Nestle's instant noodles Maggi. This was later lifted by the high court, which ruled that the product needs to be tested at three government-approved laboratories. A clean chit from these labs led to the relaunch of the noodles in November.

State bans Calcium Carbide used to ripen fruits

Waking up to the reality of widespread use of Calcium Carbide (CaC2) to ripen fruits in Hyderabad and elsewhere, the State government has now made it mandatory for fruit vendors to give an undertaking that they won’t sell fruits ripened with the chemical.
The government has also given orders to malls, departmental stores, kiosks, fruit stalls to clearly display posters declaring ‘Use of Calcium Carbide for ripening of fruits in injurious to health’ on their premises.
The State government has urged municipal bodies and officials from Commissioner of Food Safety to engage traders and other stake holders on effectively prohibiting the sale and use of Calcium Carbide.
The Food Safety (Prohibition and Restriction in Sale) Regulations 2011 bans persons from selling fruits ripened by acetylene gas or Calcium Carbide.
From now on, vendors have to provide assurance to regulatory authorities that the fruits sold from their stalls are not ripened artificially by using CaC2.
‘Conduct frequent checks’
The State government has directed the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Commissioner of Food Safety to conduct frequent and surprise inspections of commercial establishments selling fruits to ensure implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, which bans use of Calcium Carbide.

After insects in Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Atta noodles, fungus found in Patanjali’s Desi Ghee

Samples were collected from Haridwar and have been sent for testing.
2015 has not been a good year for Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurveda. Locals in Haridwar have reported about a the presence of fungus in the bottle of Patanjali’s Cow Milk’s Desi Ghee. Food Safety officials collected the sample on Monday and have sent them to a lab in Rudrapur for further testing.
According to the reports, samples were collected from Bhadrabad Phase II after many people reported the presence of impurities and fungus in the samples and test reports are expected in a fortnight.
It has also been reported that Baba Ramdev’s aide, Balakrishna has completely rejected the allegations stating that the ghee is heated to an optimum temperature and hence the allegation of fungus in a sealed bottle is baseless.
A few months ago, questions were raised about the quality and safety of Patanjali Atta Noodles as the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) declared that Patanjali had not received an approval from them before launching their atta noodles. Samples have been sent for testing but the reports are still awaited.
After that, a man in Haryana complained that he had found insects in a packet of Patanjali’s Atta noodles. The packet was purchased from some swadeshi store in Narwana and the shopkeeper too had admitted that the packet was purchased from his outlet. The man had then decided to file a litigation against Patanjali. But, like most other news, there’s no information on whether the litigation was actually filed and what Patanjali had to say in this case.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

 

 

 

New Year parties under FDA’s check

All the big parties that will happen on the New Year’s Eve across the city can expect the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department check their platters. The FDA will collect food samples served at restaurants and inspect its quality to see if it is in line with the standards set by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
Last year, the FDA inspected about 174 food samples of which only 2% served eatables that didn’t comply with the FSSAI standards.
The department also urges party goers to be aware of the quality of foods they are being served.

Food safety checks to be stepped up

Food safety inspections will be stepped up across the State for New Year celebrations following directivess issued by the government.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has instructed Food Safety Commissioner T.V. Anupama to organise surprise raids on bakeries, hotels, restaurants, and outdoor eateries.
Night-time inspections will be carried out at tourist centres.
Fruit stalls will also be checked to verify reports about the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of oranges. Ms. Anupama informed the Minister that inspections so far had failed to establish the use of calcium carbide.
A pressnote issued by the Minister’s office said an amount of Rs.5.95 lakh had been levied from bakeries and other food outlets for violation of food safety regulations during the Christmas season. One unit in Kollam manufacturing bakery items was closed down.
The pressnote said the new laboratories set up by the Food Safety department at Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam had stepped up analytical tests of samples to detect pesticide residue in vegetables.

Raids planned on illegal meds makers before New Year’s Eve

Meerut: With the city residents gearing up for their annual New Year's Eve parties, the Meerut drug administration (a wing of the Food Safety and Drug Administration) has planned a series of raids across the city to unearth illegal medicine manufacturing units. This follows fears by the administration that makers of illegal drugs will take advantage of police and other officials being stuck in managing festivities, giving the manufacturers the chance to transport their products with impunity.
The move comes nearly three weeks after a television channel conducted a sting operation unearthing an illegal medicine making racket in Meerut. There were no arrests made in the case due to lack of evidence.
"The city is gearing up for celebrating New Year's Day. The administration would be busy with various issues that come up with it like traffic jams and other emergencies. There are chances that local illegal medicine manufacturers would take advantage and try to move or sell their products," said Sandeep Kumar, illegal drugs inspector, Meerut.
A two-member team has been formed to conduct raids, while extra manpower and police officials would be called upon whenever necessary, Kumar added.
The Meerut drugs administration along with police officials and drugs inspectors of Bulandshahr, Noida and Ghaziabad raided the Lisari gate area after a sting operation showed two men - Nikhil and Shaanu - to be fake medicine suppliers. But as the sting operation was aired on TV, the evidence was destroyed or moved to a different location by the two accused, due to which the police returned empty-handed.
"We have already arrested two people in the last three weeks who were on our radar and other raids are on to check that no such illegal drugs-making factory is active in the city. We target a few more arrests before the end of the year," said Kumar.
Talking to TOI, deputy inspector general (DIG), Meerut range, Ashutosh Kumar, said, "I think it was too premature of the TV channel to air the video. Had they got the drugs from these alleged manufacturers, we would have had evidence in our hands to be able to conduct arrests. But now raids are on and hopefully some suspects will be behind bars soon."

In Bhopal, gyms, wellness centres wink at FSSAI norms

BHOPAL: A horde of macho men associated with gyms and wellness centres in Bhopal go all out extolling power of protein powder energy drinks and supplements. And many do not bother registeration with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
District health officials are yet to wake up to side-effects of youngsters aspiring to bulk up like a pro. The risk is real and potent, said district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Veena Sinha. "There can be unwanted side-effects from using unregulated power supplements. There are certain physical conditions that require advice from medical practitioners," she said. "We will pursue with these centres to register as per norms in keeping with public safety," she said.
On Friday, senior IPS officer S K Pandey died of heart attack during a workout in a posh gymnasium. The incident has once again brough into focus an urgent need to regulate and monitor wellness and health centres.
As per information from FDA, none of the body building or wellness centres in the state capital are registered as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules. District health office, however, claimed one centre was registered in nearly two years since the directive was issued.
As per government circular, health centres should register with the office of CMHO under the Nursing Home Act. As per new directives, fitness centres will have to obtain licence from CMHO. Health officials will conduct surprise inspections and test supplements being supplied by these centres.
As per directives, owners of gyms, spas and other fitness centres should submit a list of documents, including health status of their employees to get a licence. Physiotherapy centres will also be covered under the new rules.
Experts said there are chances of bacterial infections and spread of diseases like hepatitis in a gym. The centres would also have to provide clean drinking water and toilet facility.
"In past, FDA collected samples of nutraceuticals. However, registration of these centres is mandatory as per law," said MP-FDA joint controller Pramod Shukla.

Only 'expiry date' for food items, not 'best before': Paswan

Hyderabad: The Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday said labels printed on food items should carry only "expiry date", and not "best before", which has no meaning."We want that only there is 'expiry date'. There is no meaning in 'best before'", Paswan, the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, told PTI here. 

Paswan said he would convene a meeting of his department to "work out" and implement this measure.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) President D K Jain said last week 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'.
Jain had wondered if 'best before' label means it is fit for human consumption after six months.
Paswan also said the Centre is in discussion with National Association of Street Vendors of India vis-a-vis earmarking certain areas in cities for selling of such good.
"We want a system for (selling of) street food. We want this activity to take place in particular place", he said.
Paswan noted the people enjoy food in "dhabas". Similarly, street food can also be safe and cheap and can be sold in an enjoyable atmosphere.
Noting that the Association had held a "mela" in "Dilli Haat", Paswan said such an initiative, whereby certain areas are earmarked for street food, should be implemented in other places in the country.

Govt orders testing of edible oils over cancer link

Manzoor-ul-HassanSrinagar, Dec 26:
The government has ordered state-wide testing of edible oils as reports suggest that top brands sell “substandard and adulterated” cooking oil in J&K containing cancer-causing agents.
The State Drug and Food Control Organization has raided all major outlets of edible oils with the aim to identify and punish distributers and manufacturers producing adulterated cooking oil refined from low quality and discarded rapeseeds.
"We have taken open samples for lab testing from nearly 10 top brands. If any of the brands are found adulterated with harmful and substandard oil, their outlets and industrial units will be immediately sealed,” Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir told Rising Kashmir.
He said most of the top oil brands available in the market are under scrutiny including Jammu and Punjab based like P-Mark, Jumbo, Zamindar, V-brand and Noori.
“As of now we have send it to the local Food Analyst for testing. Let’s see how many parameters he can check. We can send the samples to referral laboratories in Kolkata and Ghaziabad for precise testing,” Mir said.
Earlier, edible oils were found containing recycled oils and oils extracted from discarded rapeseeds, which contain highly toxic carcinogenic substance including ‘dropsin’ and ‘aflatoxin.’
Sources said the Food Analyst Lab in Srinagar was unequipped for checking the actual adulterants like Dropsin, accumulation of fluids and mixture of inferior oils.
“The food analyst in Kashmir can only test oil for simple things like color, ash value, turbidity, concentration, iodine value and water,” said an official in the DFCO.

Taking Food Safety Seriously

India needs to treat food-borne diseases with much more seriousness than it does at present.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in its first global estimates of preventable food-borne diseases has reported that 600 million people (one in 10) fall ill and 420,000 die every year from contaminated food. According to the report, “WHO Estimates of the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases,” the highest number of cases occurs in Africa and South-east Asia which includes India. Children under five bear the brunt, accounting for 40% of the population that falls ill and 30% (125,000) who die from food-borne diseases mostly due to diarrhoeal diseases. The report affirms and quantifies the magnitude of what is familiar knowledge. What is disturbing is that these deaths are preventable to a large extent and the illnesses which rob so many of their productivity and well-being can be avoided if all stakeholders are serious about taking preventive measures. The suffering and deaths target the poor and marginalised sections the most.
Nutritionists point to emerging economies—India included—constituting the “hotspots” of food safety concerns. As the Inter­national Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) says in its “2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report,” these economies witness a rapidly growing demand for foods but a weak food governance system. The report also notes that in the poorest countries food-borne diseases cannot be separated from other diseases that are waterborne, vector-borne or due to sheer poverty. IFPRI observes that the widely publicised findings about food inspections, even negative ones (in China), “may be more positive than the situation in India, where no reports on food safety inspection or results are publicly available.”
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an independent statutory authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA), Act 1954), has been in the limelight in the past few months thanks to the controversy over Maggi noodles. But the ongoing episode has been more confusing than enlightening. Different states have come out with different test results and there is confusion about the permissible levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) that the food can contain. Overall, food safety laws and regulations need much better streamlining, better qualified staff followed by stringent implementation.
Starting from agricultural practices (use of unsafe agrochemicals and contaminated groundwater), poor hygiene in storage and handling to food cooked and distributed in unhygienic surroundings and with unsafe water there are myriad factors that need regulation and monitoring. Studies show that the diarrhoeal deaths among Indian children below five are mostly due to food and water contamination. One study of mothers with children below five in Hyderabad titled “Perceptions of Women on Food Safety” by the National Institute of Nutrition found that while the mothers had good food safety awareness and practices, what was needed was “an enabling environment” with better access to potable water, sanitation and cooking fuel along with awareness of adulteration and ways of complaining to the relevant authorities. Where the risk factors for persistent diarrhoea such as hygiene were concerned, other studies have found that caregivers need to be given health education, but keeping in mind sociocultural and socio-economic factors that come into play. Another area that needs special attention is surveillance of food-borne diseases without which there cannot be a good monitoring system. This will entail in-depth training of inspection staff and the involvement of a number of government agencies. A recent research study in the journal Epidemiology Research International finds that food-borne diseases are not categorised separately in the Health Information of India, an annual statistical publication by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (GoI).
The WHO report says governments and industry must “improve inspections and control of the food chain from the fields and farmyards to the factory and plate.” It points out that instead of trying to penalise street vendors it is better to invest in their training and education. Considering the proportion of the urban population in India that depends on street food for its daily meals, this recommendation is of great significance. Once again, like the monitoring of food safety regulations, the ball comes back to the authorities’ court. Consumer awareness is an important factor but basic amenities, responsiveness of the authorities and well-thought-out policy decisions form the basis for better food safety. It is obvious that food safety is a complex issue that calls for a multipronged solution. Success on this front will be directly proportional to the commitment of all stakeholders to saving the lives of future generations and the productivity of millions.

How food became a talking point in 2015

Food debates of varying kind dominated the year – from middle classes shedding tears over recall of instant noodles to villagers in Bundelkhand eating grass rotis – exposing vast inequities in the Indian society, notes the writer Dinesh C Sharma
If we were to shortlist subjects that dominated public discourse in the country during 2015, food will be a surprise pick along with usual suspects like corruption, intolerance, pollution and so on. The noodles controversy, food safety regulation, beef bans, launch of ‘yogic’ noodles, ban on junk food products in schools, skyrocketing prices of pulses and reports of hunger in Bundelkhand dominated news headlines and public discourse at various points during the year. If the middle class was saddened over recall of contaminated Maggi noodles and then rejoiced over its return as if it was their life savior, images of poor villagers in drought-hit Bundelkhand eating rotis made of grass made shocking television though the administration remained in denial.
While every move related to the Maggi ban and its eventual return to superstore shelves was covered in detail along with live discussions, Bundelkhand horror did not get the attention it deserved. The shooting prices of pulses, a major source of protein for the poor, garnered much attention and led to import of dals and their distribution through government outlets. The beef ban in some states took violent turn and led to a brutal murder in Dadri near the national capital, on the suspicion of presence of beef in a household refrigerator. The beef issue also caused avoidable tension in the Osmania University and other campuses across the country.
The recall of Maggi noodle packets from markets in Uttar Pradesh triggered discussion on food safety regulation in the country. This was the first time, a major food company, Nestle, was booked for misbranding its products and for contamination with excess amounts of excess toxic heavy metals. Though the two-minute noodle brand is back in food stores after necessary action, we are yet to hear the last word on this controversy as the matter is still subjudice. The stand taken by the Minister for Food Processing Industries in this matter was shocking.
Instead of sharing concerns of consumers, the minister chose to side with the junk food industry and said that the controversy would affect investment in food processing sector. The minister even took the matter to the Prime Minister. Such pressure from inside the government, coupled with high intensity lobbying by the industry, led to sacking of the chief executive officer of food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), who had gone after violations by Nestle. Instead of weakening the food regulator like this, the government should amend the law to make it completely independent and autonomous much like stock market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The noodle debate took a curious turn when yoga exponent and promoter of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Ramdev, launched a new brand of noodles. The move was extremely ironic because someone who claims to be a proponent of Ayurveda – which propagates principles of slow food – becomes a champion of very fast food which he has been criticizing all along. Like Nestle, Ramdev too ran into regulatory roadblocks when FSSAI found that his noodle brand had not been approved for food safety. Ramdev responded by saying that his company had a manufacturing license to make pasta, which entitled it to manufacture noodles too.
This means the yoga expert is now making both noodles and pasta. This thoroughly exposed his public stand that fast foods are bad for health of children. On March 15, 2014, Ramdev had famously tweeted asking his supports “let’s junk junk food for a healthy nation.” He had also denounced sports icons who advertised junk food products. The launch of Patanjali noodles exposes that his ‘boycott junk food’ call was a mere posturing of a businessmen just to denounce competing products and had nothing to do with the health of children. Factory processed and mass marketed noodles will come with a tag of junk food, whether they are sold by Nestle or Patanjali.
On the positive side, the food regulator published ‘Draft guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in India’. The guidelines are a result of an ongoing litigation in the Delhi High Court and have been developed by experts based on scientific evidence regarding link between consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar and non-communicable diseases. Among other things, guideline suggests restricting sale of junk food in schools and areas up to 50 meters nearby. The year 2016 will crucial to see how these guidelines are implemented.
-The writer is Fellow, Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal.

Corporate world saw both ups and downs

FSSAI banning Maggi noodles was the highlight of 2015 From bans to recalls to mergers and acquisitions, it was a year filled with events, negative as well as positive for corporates. It all started with the famous two minute snack — Maggi noodles. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on June 5, 2015, ordered Nestle India to withdraw and recall the nine approved variants of its Maggi instant noodles from the market for having been found unsafe and hazardous for human consumption.
Nestle was instructed to stop further production, processing, import, distribution and sale of the product with immediate effect. FSSAI had also asked Nestle to withdraw and recall its Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker, for which risk/safety assessment has not been undertaken and product approval has not been granted.
Legal battle
While Nestle India sought legal recourse, retailers including Kishore Biyani-owned Big Bazaar and Reliance Retail decided to take the product off their shelfs in the interest of the consumers.
HUL also decided to withdraw Knorr, its Chinese range of instant noodles, from the market following the problems surrounding Maggi.
However, after fresh testing of the newly manufactured samples, the product was brought back on the shelf early last month, nearly five months after the product was banned by the FSSAI.

1,076 உணவு பொருட்களில் கலப்படம்

பெங்களூரு: “கர்நாடகாவில், 10 ஆயிரத்து, 750 உணவு பொருட்கள், பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இதில், 1,076 உணவு பொருட்கள் தரம் குறைந்தவை அல்லது கலப்படமானவை என்பது தெரிய வந்தது,” என, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு அதிகாரி சிவகுமார் தெரிவித்தார்.
பெங்களூரு ஆசிரியர் பவனில் நடந்த, தேசிய பாதுகாப்பு தின விழா நிகழ்ச்சியில், அவர் பேசியதாவது:அண்மை நாட்களில், கலப்படமான உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பது அதிகரிக்கிறது. மாநிலத்தில் பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்ட, 10 ஆயிரத்து, 750 உணவு பொருட்களில், 1,076 உணவு பொருட்கள் கலப்படமானவை அல்லது தரமில்லாதவை என்பது தெரிய வந்தது; இது குறித்து மக்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும்.உத்தர கன்னட மாவட்டம், சிர்சியில் உள்ள கடையொன்றில், கலப்படமான துவரம் பருப்பு விற்கப்படுவதாக, பொதுமக்களிடமிருந்து புகார் வந்தது.இதன் அடிப்படையில், அங்கு சென்று சோதனை நடத்தி, விற்பனை செய்தவருக்கு, மூன்று மாதம் சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டது.கலப்படமான, தரமில்லாத உணவு பொருட்களை விற்பவருக்கு, 10 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரையிலும், துாய்மையற்ற உணவு பொருட்களை விற்பவருக்கு, ஐந்து லட்சம் ரூபாய் அபராதம், ஆறு மாத சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்க சட்டத்தில் இடமுள்ளது.
தெரு ஓரத்தில் உணவு விற்பவர் முதல், பெரிய நிறுவனங்களில், உணவு பொருள் விற்பவர் வரை அனைவருக்கும் இச்சட்டம் பொருந்தும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal is new CEO, FSSAI; to take over reins from Bahuguna

New Delhi
Union government has appointed Pawan Kumar Agarwal as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the apex food regulatory body FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
Government, in its order dated December 22, has given the nod to Agarwal’s appointment. He would takeover reins from Ashish Bahuguna chairman FSSAI who was holding additional charge of the CEO ever since Y S Malik was shifted to NITI Aayog in September.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by prime minister Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of Agarwal as CEO of FSSAI.
Agrawal, a 1985 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was joint secretary in ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship. He has been appointed as CEO, FSSAI, in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, according to an order issued by department of personnel and training.
In September, in a surprising move, Malik was transferred to NITI Aayog by the Union government. Malik, was seen as the man behind the ban on global giant Nestle's Maggi noodles. However, FSSAI is still contesting the Bombay High Court order on Nestle Maggi in the Supreme Court.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

ரசாயணத் திரவம் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைத்த 20 வாழைத்தார் பறிமுதல் பவானி நகராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சோதனை

பவானி,டிச.25:
பவானி தின சரி மார்க் கெட் டில் ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து வாழைக் காய் தாரை பழுக்க வைத்து விற் பனை செய்து வரு வ தாக நக ராட்சி நிர் வா கத் துக்கு புகார் வந் தது.
இதை ய டுத்து வாழைத் தார் விற் பனை செய் யும் கடை க ளில் ரக சி ய மாக கண் கா ணித்து வந் த தில் ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைப் பது உறுதி செய் யப் பட் டது. இது கு றித்து நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க ஆணை யர் சிவக் கு மார் உத் த ர வின் பேரில் துப் பு ரவு ஆய் வா ளர் சிவக் கு மார் மற் றும் நக ராட்சி ஊழி யர் கள் திடீர் சோதனை நடத் தி னர். தங் க வேலு என் ப வ ரின் கடைக்கு வாக னத் தில் வந் தி றங் கிய வாழைத் தார் களை பழுக்க வைப் ப தற் காக அவற் றின் மீது ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் ஸ்பிரே செய்து கொண் டி ருந் தார். விசா ர ணை யில், ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளிப் ப தால் 2 மணி நேரத் தில் பச் சைக் காய் கள் பழுப்பு நிறத்தை அடை கின் றன. வழக் க மாக இயற் கை யா கப் பழுக் கும் வாழைக் காய் கள் நன்கு கனிந்து, விரை வில் அழு கும் நிலைக் குச் சென்று விடும். ஆனால், ரசா ய னத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித் துப் பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டும் பழங் கள் 10 நாள் வரை யில் கல் போன்று கடி ன மா க வும், அழு கா ம லும் இருக் கும் எனக் கூறப் ப டு கி றது.அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த நக ராட்சி அதி கா ரி கள், அக் க டை யில் இருந்த ரூ.4 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் புள்ள 20 பச்சை வாழைத் தார் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.
மேலும், ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைத்த வாழைப் பழ வியா பாரி தங் க வே லுக்கு, ரூ.1,000 அப ரா தம் விதிக் கப் பட் டது.

13 business operators fined Rs 2.74 lakh for violating Food Safety Act in Srinagar

As many as 13 business operators have been fined Rs 2.74 lakh for selling and manufacturing substandard and misbranded food articles in the summer capital, Srinagar. An official spokesperson here today said that the court of Adjudicating Officer (Additional Deputy Commissioner), Srinagar has imposed a fine of Rs 2.74 lakh on 13 food business operators.

He said 20 more cases have been instituted by the Food Safety wing of Drugs and Food Control Organisation against various food business operators in competent courts for violating different provisions of Food Safety and Substandard Act. Meanwhile, a team of Food Safety Officers headed by the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Srinagar visited Dargah Hazratbal, Soura and Kalashpora areas and seized newspapers in huge quantities which were being used to pack hot 'halwa', 'parathas' and snacks.On the occasion, the 'halwais' were also directed to refrain from using synthetic colours in their preparations or else stern action as per the provisions of Food Safety and Substandard Act shall be taken against them, he added.