Paswan warning on Delhi water

Drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board is not safe for consumption as prescribed quality standards are not being met, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday.
The Minister also urged consumers to complain if packaged drinking water is sold above maximum retail price at places like five star hotels, cinemas and airport so that the government can take strict action against such sellers.
"The issue of safe drinking water was discussed in the meeting today. Nobody can drink tap water in Delhi. Delhi's water is not safe for drinking, though there are quality standards in place," Paswan told reporters after the meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council(CCPC).
Food safety regulator FSSAI informed in the meeting that Delhi's municipal corporation is responsible for setting the quality standards of drinking water, he said.
"The Council was of the view that safe drinking water is the constitutional right of the people and the quality standards should be followed strictly," he said.
The Minister said regulation of quality of piped water should come under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), while also regulates packaged drinking water.
At present, it is mandatory for companies to comply with quality standards of packaged drinking water unlike piped water. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Consumer Affairs Ministry is working on upgrading the quality standards for piped water and make it compulsory.
To protect consumers from overpricing of packaged drinking water at select places, the Minister said both the Delhi High Court and consumer courts have given several rulings that packaged drinking water should be sold at MRP at all places.
"There is lack of awareness among consumers on such issues. Be it cricket stadium or five star hotel or airport, if consumers see they are being charged more than MRP for packaged drinking water they should file complaint. We will take strict action," Paswan added.
Paswan also said the government will set up additional 50 consumer helpline counters in the next 15 days, taking the total number of helpline counters to 62.
He also reviewed the performance of Grahak Suvidha Kendras being run on a pilot basis at five places.

Drinking water not safe in Delhi: Ram Vilas Paswan

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) Drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board is not safe for consumption as prescribed quality standards are not being met, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

The Minister also urged consumers to complain if packaged drinking water is sold above maximum retail price at places like five star hotels, cinemas and airport so that the government can take strict action against such sellers.

"The issue of safe drinking water was discussed in the meeting today. Nobody can drink tap water in Delhi. Delhi's water is not safe for drinking, though there are quality standards in place," Paswan told reporters after the meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC).

Food safety regulator FSSAI informed in the meeting that Delhi's municipal corporation is responsible for setting the quality standards of drinking water, he said.

"The Council was of the view that safe drinking water is the constitutional right of the people and the quality standards should be followed strictly," he said.

The Minister said regulation of quality of piped water should come under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), while also regulates packaged drinking water.

At present, it is mandatory for companies to comply with quality standards of packaged drinking water unlike piped water. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Consumer Affairs Ministry is working on upgrading the quality standards for piped water and make it compulsory.

To protect consumers from overpricing of packaged drinking water at select places, the Minister said both the Delhi High Court and consumer courts have given several rulings that packaged drinking water should be sold at MRP at all places.

"There is lack of awareness among consumers on such issues. Be it cricket stadium or five star hotel or airport, if consumers see they are being charged more than MRP for packaged drinking water they should file complaint. We will take strict action," Paswan added.

Paswan also said the government will set up additional 50 consumer helpline counters in the next 15 days, taking the total number of helpline counters to 62.

He also reviewed the performance of Grahak Suvidha Kendras being run on a pilot basis at five places.

Need to monitor drinking water standards: Consumer forum

The Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) has suggested that the union government monitor the standard of drinking water irrespective of its source.

CCPC is an apex body to advise the government in consumer related issues.

"Central Consumer Protection Council has expressed concern over quality of drinking water being supplied through pipeline and has recommended mandatory standards for drinking water irrespective of its source," the Council said in a statement released here.

At the moment, government through its agency Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) is keeping close watch only on standardized bottled water.

CCPC also said that FSSAI should formulate standards for water supplied to housing localities in urban areas through pipelines.

The CCPC members met the union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday to express their concerns in this regard.

The minister reportedly assured the CCPC delegation that their issues will be taken up with the concerned ministries.

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தமிழகம் முழுவதும் மே 4ம் தேதிக்குள் உணவு பண்டங்கள் விற்கும் கடைகளுக்கு உரிமம் பெற வேண்டும் அதிகாரிகள் தகவல்

வேலூர், ஏப்.19:

தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் உணவு பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யும் கடை கள் அனைத் தும் மே 4ம் தேதிக் குள் அதற் கான உரி மத்தை பெற வேண் டும் என்று உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் துள் ள னர்.

தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் பிர தான சாலை க ளில் திரும் பிய பக் க மெல் லாம் ஓட் டல் க ளும், சிற் றுண்டி கடை க ளும், பழச் சாறு கடை க ளும் உள் ளன. குறிப் பாக பஸ், ரயில் நிலை யங் க ளின் அருகே ஏரா ள மான தள் ளு வண்டி கடை கள் முளைத்து விடு கின் றன. இதில் பெரும் பா லான சிக் கன் பக் கோடா மற் றும் ஓட் டல் க ளில் ஏற் க னவே பயன் ப டுத் திய சமை யல் எண் ணெய் மற் றும் பொருட் க ளால் சமைக் கப் பட்ட உண வு கள் விற் கப் ப டு கி றது.

இந்த வகை தவ று களை களைய உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை செய் வ தும் தொடர்ந்து நடக் கி றது. ஆனால் அடுத்த நாளே வழக் கம் போல வியா பா ரத்தை தொட ரு கின் ற னர்.

எனவே, ஆரோக் கி ய மான உணவு மற் றும் பழங் கள் விற் கப் ப டு வதை உறுதி செய் யும் வகை யில் மத் திய அரசு உண வு பா து காப் புத் தர நிர் ண யச் சட் டத்தை கொண்டு வந் துள் ளது. அதன் படி வரு கிற மே 4ம் தேதிக் குள் அனைத்து உண வுத் தொ டர் பான கடை கள் உணவு பாது காப் பு துறை அலு வ ல கத் தில் லைசென்ஸ் பெற்று இயங்க வேண் டும் என்று உத் த ர வி டப் பட் டுள் ளது.

இது கு றித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் கூறி ய தா வது:

தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய சட் டத் தின் படி வரும் மே 4ம் தேதிக் குள் ஓட் டல் கள், வாட் டர் கம் பெ னி கள், மளிகை கடை கள், சுவீட் ஸ்டால் கள், சாலை யோ ரக் க டை கள், சிக் கன், மட் டன் கடை கள், காய் கறி கடை கள், டீக் க டை கள் என உண வுத் தொ டர் பான அனைத்து கடை க ளும் லைசென்ஸ் பெற்று இயங்க உத் த ர வி டப் பட் டுள் ளது.

இவ் வாறு அவர் கள் கூறி னர்.

கார்பைடு கற்களால் பழுக்கவைத்த மாம்பழங்களை தடுக்க 14 உணவு பாதுகாப்பு குழுக்கள் அமைப்பு வேலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் நடவடிக்கை

வேலூர், ஏப்.19:

வேலூர் மாவட் டத் தில் கார் பைடு கற் க ளால் பழுக் க வைத்த மாம் ப ழங் களை தடுக்க 14 உணவு பாது காப்பு குழுக் கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.

கோடை காலம் தொடங் கி னாலே வழக் க மாக ஏப் ரல் முதல் வாரத் தி லேயே வேலூர் மார்க் கெட் டில் மாங் காய் வரத்து அதி க ரிக் கும். அவை சீக் கி ரம் பழுப் ப தற் காக சில வியா பா ரி கள் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட கார் பைடு கற் களை பயன் ப டுத் து கின் ற னர். அவ் வாறு பழுக்க வைக் கப் பட்ட மாம் ப ழங் களை சாப் பி டு வ தால் புற் று நோய் மற் றும் வயிற் றுக் கோ ளா று கள் ஏற் ப டு கி றது. இதனை தவிர்க் க வேண் டும் என டாக் டர் கள் எச் ச ரித் துள் ள னர்.

இதற் கி டை யில் தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டும் மாம் ப ழங் கள் கார் பைடு கற் க ளால் பழுக்க வைக் கப் பட் டதா என் பதை ஆய்வு செய்து நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என்று அதி கா ரி க ளுக்கு உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை உத் த ர விட் டது.

அதன் படி, வேலூர் மாவட் டம் முழு வ தும் தலா 4 பேர் கொண்ட 14 குழுக் கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளன. கார் பைடு கற் க ளால் பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டு வது குறித்து கண் ட றி யப் பட் டால் சட் ட ரீ தி யான நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என்று உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் எச் ச ரித் துள் ள னர்.

Health department officials raid mangoes traders to check use of chemicals

Visakhapatnam: Are you buying a basket of mangoes? Beware of the quality. The department of Food Safety, Health and Family Welfare carried out surprise checks at various fruit shops in the city on Monday to check the use of artificially ripening chemicals such as calcium carbide in mangoes.

Confirming this to TOI, food safety assistant controller B Hanumantha Rao said they collected samples of mangoes from various sellers in the city on Monday. The samples were sent to the laboratory at Nacharam in Hyderabad to scientifically check the presence of artificial ripening chemicals, Rao said.

"Consumption of mangoes with Calcium Carbide is dangerous as it can lead to health problems like cancer, damage to the nervous system and indigestion. We have started keeping a vigil on the mango selling outlets in the city and will do so till the end of the mango season. If anyone finds artificially ripen mangoes they can bring it to our notice for further action," Hanumantha Rao said.

On Monday, the Food Safety officials collected samples from TTD Kalyanamandapam in MVP Colony and Poorna Market. According to the mango sellers, most of the artificially ripened mangoes are from Duvvada. "If our laboratory tests prove that the mangoes are being ripened with calcium carbide, we will take action against the seller as well as the supplier. We allow artificially ripening of fruits with ethane, but not calcium carbide," Hanumantha Rao said.

Meanwhile, horticulture department assistant director G Prabhakara Rao said naturally ripened mangoes will hit the market by the end of April or first week of May. "Because of high demand and price of mangoes in the beginning of summer, some mango traders use chemicals to ripen the fruit," Prabhakara Rao said.

The horticulture officer said the department conducts a special mango mela every summer, in April-end or first week of May.

"Mango seeds take 100 to 105 days to ripen after its flower stage. If any mango is harvested before that, they are not fully matured. Both mango growing farmers as well as the consumers should know this," said a horticulture professor from Dr YSR Horticulture University, Venkataramannagudem, in West Godavari district.

Horticulture officials said good varieties of mangoes like Banginapalli, Suvarna Rekha and Cheruku Rasaalu will come to the city in May. Moreover, artificially ripened mangoes have yellowish skin and white pulp whereas naturally ripened mangoes are yellow both in and out.

Failed food samples: McDonald’s, KFC, Easyday to face the music

Officials said the samples were sent to the state food laboratory in Chandigarh and reports had arrived within a month. 

The district health department is set to initiate legal action against popular food business operators McDonald’s, KFC and Easyday store among others after several of their food samples were tested “unsafe”.

As per information, a team of officials had collected samples of oil from two of McDonald’s food joints at BMC Chowk and Lajpat Nagar near Guru Nanak Mission Chowk on January 20. Both were tested unsafe.

The team had also collected samples of cooked chicken and marinated chicken from KFC at Model Town market on August 4 last year. Both the samples were tested unsafe.

Officials said the samples were sent to the state food laboratory in Chandigarh and reports had arrived within a month. It takes few months to start legal proceedings against violators as several formalities such as getting approval are involved in the process, they said.

Three of the samples of marinated chicken, fish meat and raw chicken collected from Easyday store at Manbro Chowk in Model Town in November 2015 have been found unsafe for consumption also.

Water samples collected from Om Dhara Sweet Water at New Hardayal Nagar were also reported unsafe.

Om Dhara Sweet Water was the same firm to which the civil surgeon’s office had issued a registration certificate (22114361006141) on November 9, 2014, and the certificate had manual alterations on it despite the fact that the entire process is carried online.

Details further reveal that samples of jaggery (gur) from a manufacturing unit at Khiala village near Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, fruit beer from the university canteen, red chili powder from Aggarwal Karyana Store in Shahkot, chum-chum (sweet) from Baba Sweet Shop in Garha and others were also reported unfit for consumption.

The food and safety wing team comprising district health officer (DHO) Dr Jasbir Singh, food safety officers Rashu Mahajan, Divya Bhagat and Sukhrao Singh were involved in the collection of samples.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dr Jasbir Singh said the cases against KFC, Om Dhara Sweet Water have been filed in the court and files regarding McDonald’s have been sent to the high-ups for approval to initiate court proceedings against them.

Singh said in case the samples are found sub-standard, cases are being filed in the court of the additional deputy commissioner while those of unsafe cases are being listed in the court of the chief judicial magistrate.

The DHO said the drive would continue without any political pressure and interference.

State Food safety commissioner Hussan Lal said, “We give a time of 30 days to violators for retest of food samples from the referral lab in Ghaziabad and if the food business operators do not opt for the same, cases are initiated against them in court.”

Health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani was not available for comments.

“As a responsible brand, KFC is committed to providing the highest level of food safety to customers. We are not aware of this matter, as we are no longer associated with the franchisee that operated the store at the time of sample collection. Our new franchisee, SFIPL, is gathering information on the issue,” a representative from the KFC communications department said.

This milk of human unkindness

When it comes to milk, we have both a good and a really bad track record in our country. India ranks number One in the world for milk production. It contributes about 18 per cent of the world’s milk production. Milk production is to the tune of about 146 million tonnes in the country. Of course, this is a huge quantity.
But there is also something to ponder about. It is feared that over 60 per cent of the milk is contaminated due to malpractices in the milk supply chain which includes dilution with unsafe water and mixing of hazardous chemicals. Milk is adulterated with contaminants such as urea, various kinds of salt, detergent, liquid soap, boric acid, caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide which have hazardous health effects. These are the claims and candid admissions of the government of India.
India being one of the largest milk producers in the world, this is a matter of serious concern. It has to be tackled sooner rather than later, as it is causing serious health problems to the people of the country. The immediate effect of drinking adulterated milk containing urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis, but the long-term effects are far more serious and include liver and kidney failure and cancer.
Let’s understand what is adulteration. As per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), milk adulteration is the “act of deliberately reducing the quality of milk offered for sale to the consumers for profit.” And yes, adulteration can take place during the harvest, growth, storage, transport and finally at the distribution stage.
FSSAI recently conducted a survey in 33 states and union territories and found that 68.4 per cent of 1,791 milk samples were contaminated. In urban India, nearly 70 per cent of samples were found to be contaminated, compared with 31 per cent in rural areas. The survey said that only two states - Goa and Puducherry - sold unadulterated milk or at least samples taken from these two states were not contaminated.
At the other end were West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Mizoram, where not a single sample that was tested met FSSAI norms. Other prominent states fared just a shade better. Around 89 per cent of the samples tested from Gujarat, 83 per cent from Jammu & Kashmir, 81 per cent from Punjab, 76 per cent from Rajasthan, 70 per cent from Delhi and Haryana and 65 per cent from Maharashtra failed the test.
Around half the samples from Madhya Pradesh (48 per cent) met a similar fate. States with comparatively better results included Kerala where 28 per cent of samples did not conform to FSSAI standards, Karnataka (22 per cent), Tamil Nadu (12 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (6.7 per cent).
Keeping these grim facts in mind, what is the big deal if we are the world’s largest producer of milk, thanks to the white revolution. For a layman to differentiate between contaminated and pure milk is a tall order and only specific chemical tests can reveal the truth. As mentioned earlier, water is the most common adulterant in milk. It reduces the nutritional value of milk but if the water used for adulteration is not safe, it is going to make our citizen permanently ill.
This only confirms that food adulteration is common in India. Even milk, consumed primarily by children, isn’t spared. It is shocking to say the least. What’s particularly worrying is the kind of substances used to adulterate, including toxic chemicals. This shows that the tradeoff between the risk of getting caught and the reward of huge profits is skewed heavily in favour of the latter. The government must focus on raising the risks to the adulterator. One way of doing this is by hiking the penalty, including making it analogous to attempt to murder in extreme cases. It’s equally important to regularly check foodstuff for adulteration and ensure speedy trials.
When people die due to tainted milk, counterfeit products or negligently compounded drugs, we need to recognize this as cold blooded murder or at least abetment to murder. In recent years, China has gained worldwide appreciation for its particularly strong stance against individuals who intentionally and willfully violated its food and drug laws for personal profits. China executes those who are found to be involved in tainting milk. While we may not be able to follow China, those involved in adulterating milk surely merit long jail sentences.
As the situation is rather serious, the government in power seems to be working overtime to address the issue. In this backdrop, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences has recently dedicated Systems for Detection of Adulteration and Analysis of Milk. It is developed by Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani. This technology is expected to tackle a national level health hazard due to adulteration in milk.
Dr Harsh Vardhan said that he will soon be reaching out to the Union Health Minister and the Health Ministers of all state governments to adopt and deploy this technology platform to address the problem of milk adulteration in the country. FSSAI will also be asked to bring in the required regulatory intervention so as to ensure the delivery of quality milk.
I feel that CSIR has done yeoman service in developing a technology solution, in the form of a milk analysis machine ‘Ksheer-Scanner’, which instantaneously detects adulterants in milk. It is a low-cost portable system with user-friendly features. It enables detection of contaminants in just 40-45 seconds at a per sample cost of less than 50 paise. A top official of CSIR was recently telling me that among the many benefits of ‘Ksheer Scanner is that the system offers automated scanning of raw milk samples at milk collection points. It is safe to use and ideal for installation at milk collection centers at village and tehsil levels. The system can also be useful for on-the-spot milk testing by food inspectors and by users and packers of the milk. The system has been successfully tested at various dairies located in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
One only hopes that that this technology would go a long way towards breaking the back of all those who are playing with the lives of people. Additionally GPS-based technology can be used to track the exact location in the supply chain where the milk was tampered with.
At the end of the day, one thing is clear. India needs to wake up to the seriousness of tainted milk. Otherwise, our daily glass of good health could actually be doing us more harm than good.
The writer is a BJP Member of the Rajya Sabha.

Things you should know about Expiry Date and Best Before Date

Many times when we buy any food items , we end up buying those which have crossed their expiry date. These dates are important since they indicate how long food can be kept before it begins to deteriorate or may become unsafe to eat. However, there is often a confusion between best before date, expiry date and use by date that appear in the label. So what is the difference?
Best Before and Expiry Date are two labels, which are used for the shelf life of a product, mostly a food product. Consumers should look for the shelf life of that product as these indicate the time till which the product can be eaten safely. Checking the expiry date or the best before date is a must when buying food products.
However, manufacturing dates help us in choosing a freshly manufactured product – which implies that the manufactured date should be a date closer to the date you are shopping. Expiry date and best before dates should always be in the future by the time you shop if you want to consume a good food product.
What does Best Before mean?
The best before date indicates the date till which the food will be at its best quality in terms of its taste and the nutrients it provides, and the food may still be eaten after the date has passed, but it’s quality may have begun to degrade. The foods mostly sold in the tinned or packed form usually bear this date. For example, in US for eggs have a best before date of maximum 45 days after the eggs are packed. This is because eggs may contain salmonella (salmonella is a type of bacteria). The best before date usually appears on the label of a product. Sometimes, we see a text that say ‘best before see lid’ or ‘best before see bottom’. It is always advisable to check the dates and take decision.
What does Expiry Date mean?
Expiry date means the date till which the food or some product sold in peripheral package is completely safe to eat but unlike Best Before date, the product is not safe to eat after the expiry date. Once the expiry date is reached, the food becomes unhealthy for consumption and could instead result in health problems such as food poisoning. It is strictly advised to avoid eating products which are nearing their expiry date and especially products that have reached the expiry date.
In short, Best Before Date is an indication of quality, while Expiry Date indicates the safety of the food item to be consumed.

Recent regulatory and policy decisions by FSSAI in focus at PFNDAI seminar

FSSAI’s recent announcements and policy decisions regarding regulations were discussed and debated in detail at a regulatory compliance meet - Seminar on Regulatory Practices: Difficulties in Compliance - organised by PFNDAI (Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India) here on Monday.
The pre-lunch session of the seminar kicked off with the inaugural address by Sailesh Venkatesan, VC, PFNDAI. He briefed on significance of regulatory practices and explained how last year, the food processing industry experienced a setback.
He was followed by Dr B Sesikeran, former director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. He opined, "The regulatory errors by the regulator while conducting tests and also while framing laws should be formulated and rectified and connected with the nutrition that is derived from the food or beverage that is tested. There is also need for more literature and studies which can help regulator to frame policies."
A presentation on 'Rule Making Process’ by Dr Joseph Lewis, consultant, FSSAI, and Dr V Sudershan Rao from National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, highlighted the need to emphasise on good regulatory practices. Lewis said, "Today, we have good manufacturing practices (GMP) but no one speaks about good regulatory practices (GRP). To ensure smooth working, every FBO should comply with the laws."
He added, "Besides, we also need to take into consideration that there are certain confusing laws with regards to FBOs, particularly those in labelling. As per our existing Act, laws regarding what a label should mention when an FBO is dealing with consumers is given clearly. While on the other side, in the B2B space when an FBO is dealing with another FBO on a wholesale front -- to reach its labelling requirements that a B2B activity requires, there are exemptions given in the 'FBO to consumer chapter' that has to be followed."
Lewis suggested, "There have to be two separate chapters which clearly state FBO to FBO and FBO to consumers labelling requirements which can avoid confusion."
Later, while speaking on risk assessment and its use in framing laws, especially for framing and determining limits, Dr Rao pointed out, "Risk assessment will be helpful to determine tolerance levels or permissible limits to the contaminants, micro and macro nutrients, residues and others. Studies in this regard will be helpful to determine permissible limits."
Speaking on nutrients and total diet studies for nutrients, he said, "If you consider diet which we have today, we see that cereals are vanishing from our meals and also millets are almost out of our diets. Fat in the meals can be seen growing."
He added, "A total diet study which will be helpful for the industry is stalled due to the unavailability of funds. It needs Rs 80 crore."
At the end, Dr Lewis said, "In the earlier law when PFA was in practice, before every meeting they held they came up with an agenda and circulated to its members and made the details of the meeting public making it more transparent."
He further stated, "The regulator should involve the industry stakeholder in the law making process before it is drafted and prepared. It is very difficult once a draft of law is framed to change it."
The next slot was dedicated to a discussion on 'Analysis and reports: failure and risk.' Dr Nilesh Amritkar, MD, Envirocare Labs, said, "There are several grey areas in the law, like which tests should be conducted, through which method is not clearly specified. Sometimes it happens to be like due to lack of communication from the regulator, several FBOs insist on tests which actually aren't prescribed by the FSSAI."
While ending the session, Sunil Adsule from Coca Cola gave a small presentation on 'Role of processed foods and beverages in national food nutrition and security.' He shared, "We are a processed food manufacturer, we are not manufacturing to put anyone into a problem. Last year, was a bad year for processed food industry as it incurred more than Rs 2,000 crore loss. We are also concerned about our consumers to provide safe food."
The post-lunch session focussed on issues and interpretations that the industry faced, especially, in the last year. This session opened with V Mohan, advisor, corporate lawyer and consultant. He said, "Several judgements by courts have relieved the industry like those of Nestle's Maggi which is all clear now. The major confusion in the law written is 'may' and 'shall.' Then there are certain documents which give space to create tension and friction between the laws which are in place. They should not clash with each other."
Later Dr Shatadru Sengupta, senior director, legal, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd, said, "With regards to FSSAI laws, which are in place, there is a need to create a definite law structure. The points which are prescribed in the FSS Act on misbranding and misleading have to be revised and are subject to be studied again. Some claims like a product not containing trans fat should be allowed."
Sengupta was followed by Dr Jasvir Singh, associate VP, head, scientific affairs, regulatory affairs, Mondelez International, who stressed on proprietary foods and recent advances. He said, "We have proprietary foods and the primary concern is that if at any level, a proprietary food is detected with impurities or adulterants then all the responsibility will have to be taken by the manufacturer. This clause will reflect badly on the FBO as it may be that the FBO has no hand in such an activity."
Singh added, "There is a need to develop a framework which will be applicable to all products like labelling or manufacturing. Vertical standards are moving away from standards being framed globally. Yes, vertical standards have importance but to a defined set of laws only."
In the end, Sandhya Shrivastav, associate professor, department of microbiology, University of Mumbai, gave a presentation on bacterial identification and standardisation to help in regulating smoothly. "Studies can help up to generate data on the bacterias which are of concern. Nobody has studied bacterias like salmonella which has reflected on the fate of processed foods today. Such bacterias have to be studied and hazard levels regarding the same will help to regulate easy."
Overall, the seminar stressed on regulatory issues at the regulator’s as well as FBO’s level. It discussed the awareness among FBOs, and focussed on labelling requirements for export and import.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMANI ARTICLE

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Consider these Hygiene aspects to handle food in your business

You have a bright new idea of a swanky restaurant or eatery, and you decide to take the plunge into business. Raw materials check. Staff – Check. Location – Check. Advertisements – check. Hygiene precautions… missed?

Or, you want to start your own business of pickles. You don’t take into account the need for following hygiene practices like gloves, headgear etc….and it becomes difficult to implement when your business grows.

People heading eatery businesses often miss out on this very basic aspect of food handling – personal hygiene of the staff. By the time they realize the need for training employees for hygiene, it’s quite late. Instances – like a stray hair sticking out of the food, to some unwell cook spreading his illness to his customers as well – come up and threaten the credibility and image of your business.

So how can this be controlled?

The answer is, train the food handlers to maintain hygiene. Be it a restaurant or food processing companies, people often groan about wearing a head cap, or face mask. But, it is extremely important to implement, else the business would end up being a carrier for diseases!

Here we bring to you important aspects that need to be kept in mind for hygienic food handling in your businesses

‘Hairy’ Issues

Human hair is a physical and a bacterial contaminant that can get into food (e.g., hair in soup). Thus, headgear(like Hats and hairnets) and beard nets keep the hair off of your forehead and your face – the new haircut should not be visible to anyone inside the kitchen!)

Aprons and clean clothing

Imagine you need to wipe you wet hands, and you absentmindedly wipe it on your dress that has sort of become a hand towel for you. Not only is it gross, it compromises the hygiene. Dirty clothing should be changed immediately. Contrary to popular belief, light colored clothing while cooking or handling food is beneficial since it is easier to see the dirt.

Hands and Nails

Ladies! It is known that you’re tempted to keep your fingernails long and have them painted with nice colors. While men like to flaunt their fancy watches while at work.

Sorry, but it’s an absolute no-no in food business! Nail polishes contain substances that may get mixed with the food or make the nails chip and fall on the food. On the other hand, rings, bracelets and wrist watches can become a home to a variety of germs.

Sick leaves need to be used, not saved

Sick employees can be a major threat to the food they’re handling , even though they could be considering themselves brave enough to come for work despite their illness.

Before you enter food business – be it food processing or eatery – ensure that you have all these checks in place so that all your customers remain happy and safe.

Chew on this: the risks of smokeless tobacco

In a much-needed measure to keep the consumption of chewing tobacco under check, the Delhi government has extended by a year the ban on the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco — scented, flavoured and mixed — sold in forms such as gutka, pan masala, khaini and zarda. The extension of the ban has come after the previous notification expired recently. In 2012, a few States, beginning with Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, banned gutka just months after the notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 came into effect. The FSS Act clearly states that “tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products”. By the end of 2012, all of 14 States had banned gutka, and in 2013, following the Supreme Court’s direction, gutka was banned in all the States. Besides gutka, 11 States including Delhi have over a period of time banned flavoured chewing tobacco, and three States — Maharashtra, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh — have banned flavoured areca nut too. There is a strong case for all States to ban pan masala as manufacturers have effectively sidestepped the FSS Act by selling chewing tobacco and pan masala in separate sachets. Also, the rampant surrogate advertisement of pan masala products has made a mockery of the ban on gutka. The biggest blow for tobacco control in India, which has banned the advertisement of all tobacco products, came through the amendment of the Cable Television Networks Amendment Rules 2009; in contravention of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the amended Rules allow for the use of the brand name or logo of tobacco products for marketing non-tobacco products.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, functioning under the WHO, had stated in a 2008 monograph that “areca nut is carcinogenic to humans (Group I).” In India, areca nut is the “second most consumed” carcinogen after tobacco. Also, many of the flavouring agents used in pan masala, a cunning mix of natural products and chemicals, are dangerous substances. So what is preventing the Central government from extending the scope of the amended FSS Act to include areca nut and thereby ban the sale of pan masala in India? After all, the number of smokeless tobacco users in India is alarmingly high at 206 million, as estimated in an August 2012 paper in The Lancet. Unlike in the case of smokers — where less than 10 per cent of cigarette-users are women and a little over the same percentage consumed bidis — about 50 per cent of consumers of smokeless tobacco are women, according to the 2009-2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. The number of oral cancer deaths caused by chewing tobacco is alarmingly high. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, about 100,000 new oral cancer cases are diagnosed every year and nearly 50 per cent of these lead to death within one year of diagnosis. It’s time the government came down heavily on chewing tobacco.

Checking quality of food is also important

While serving food free of cost is for a good cause, the organisers also check the quality of food. B. Murugan of Nizhal Maiyam said that he stopped distributing leftover food to orphanages and homes as he came to know that some of them stored and served it to children the next day.
“At times the food was spoilt and it posed a threat to the health of the children,” he said.
When he gets a call on leftover food, he shares contact details of orphanages and homes with the donors. Padmanaban Gopalan of No Food Waste said that they collect food and bring it to their two centralised collection points in the city where it is tested and tasted before it is distributed to the deserving.
“We maintain temperature of food above 60 degrees and ensure that it is consumed in less than four hours,” he said. According to him, less than two per cent of food they get is not good for consumption.
Food safety officials said that they have not checked the quality of food served free of cost.
“We believe that people only give food that they can eat, to others. We have not received any complaints of ailments suffered by homes or orphanages by eating food served to them by sponsors,” the officer said.
Stating that they have to check quality of food even if it is distributed free of cost, the officer added that they will check it, if there is a need.
While checking food quality at the source point is not possible as food is collected from various places, the authorities could consider checking it at the end point before the deserving people eat it.

DINAMALAR NEWS

As TS Intensifies Raids, Fruit Dealers Shift Base to Bidar

HYDERABAD: With State government stepping up vigil against artificial ripening of fruits and police intensifying raids, it seems the fruit dealers in Hyderabad have shifted their base to Bidar district in Karnataka.

Officials at the Telangana Food Safety department said they have received information about agents transporting fruits from Bidar to markets in Hyderabad and other parts of the state. It is suspected that the fruit dealers have shifted their base to ensure hassle-free ripening of fruits using carbide and ethephon.

According to sources, the shifting of base will help fruit dealers escape the scrutiny of Food Safety officials as the under-staffed department won’t be able to check each and every truck laden with fruits. Meanwhile, the steady flow of artificially ripened fruits from Bidar is causing concern among authorities. With temperatures soaring and the state reeling under scorching heat, the consumption of fruits has gone up. With artificially ripened fruits flooding the market, authorities are concerned about the health hazard involved.

“We received information that agents are ripening fruits in Bidar and bringing them to Telangana. We are regularly conducting checks to curb artificial ripening of fruits here. But we are not in a position to check each lorry-load of fruits, if they are transported from Bidar. We don’t have the manpower to keep an eye on trucks transporting artificially ripened fruits from Bidar border,” said an official from the Telangana Food Safety department.

Agents use chemicals to ripen green bananas. The same process is followed to ripen mangoes.

Food Safety officials have booked a total of 130 cases against fruit dealers during the last couple of months for selling artificially ripened fruits. They have also sent around 200 samples to Telangana State Food Laboratory for testing.

However, this did not deter agents and artificially ripened fruits are being sold at markets in Moghalpura, Mirchowk, Bahadurpura, Chandrayangutta and other places.

Cops to Test Fruit Juice Samples Also

Officials are also picking up samples of fruit juices, marketed by popular brands to check if any banned chemicals are used. Two samples each would be picked from each district of Telangana and sent to Telangana State Food Laboratory for tests. 

In a raid at Ramnagar, Musheerabad, a manufacturer who was preparing fake mango juice using mango essence, sugar and water was apprehended by Task Force sleuths in a check conducted along with Food Safety officials.

Samples collected to check adulteration

Imphal, April 16 2016 : Following news report about appre-hending a trader by members of JCILPS, IPSA and KSA for selling adulterated edible oils, tea, biscuit and other items, officials of Food Safety today collected samples from a factory to determine the adulteration level.

A team led by Food Safety Consultant, Medical Directorate Bimola Kumari and Food Safety Officers from Imphal East and Imphal West districts along with police personnel raided the factory at Khurai Ahongei Tellipati owned by trader Ajay Prasad (34) s/o Gobind Prasad.

The team confiscated a number of food items which have no manufacturing dates or expiry dates.

Further the team also came across machines used by Ajay Prasad to adulterate 'Kazi-ranga tea' with other low grade tea.

Bimola Kumari said that the samples collected will be sent to various laboratories to determine whether they were adulterated or not.

Further, she said that if the samples were found to be positive of adulteration then the factory and the godown will be sealed.

Earlier residents of the factory refused to open the factory for almost two hours even after Food Safety officials and police identified themselves.

Irate locals later tried to forcefully open the main entrance and the residents agreed to open the gate.

A local on anonymity expressed apprehension that Ajay Prasad might have bribed the police and food safety officials and the incident might again be closed with no punishment like other cases which had happened in the past.

The local also expressed that the trader Ajay has been selling food items at a lower rate compared to other traders which has attracted customers from different parts of the State.

"We were not aware that such heinous crime against humanity was going on right under our nose.

The food materials sold could have poisoned many people and it could lead to hazardous consequences," he added.

He further expressed that the State Government should take prompt steps to stop such illegal activities in Manipur.

Many such cases must have gone unreported and it needs to be stopped at any cost before it leads to worst consequences.

FDA notice to caterer for food poisoning at student meet

Mumbai: Even as the state FDA slapped an improvement notice to Poncho Hospitality Private Limited, the promoters of Box8, the firm released a statement on Saturday claiming that the organisers delayed the distribution of the packaged food at the venues of the conference. Around 20 students were hospitalised as hundreds fell victim to food poisoning after consuming 'stale' food at the conference. 

Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner (Konkan) of FDA, said that Box8's kitchen in Thane had violated some norms prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, and therefore have been given the improvement notice. "If they do not meet the standards within 15 days we will initiate action against them," said Deshmukh. The violations include hygiene issues near the cooking area and also the clothes worn by the cooks.

The promoters of Box8 claimed that their internal investigation did not reveal any deficiency in preparation, packing or delivery of the food to the venues where the Indian International Model United Nations conferences were held. 

"It appears that the organisers delayed distribution of the packaged food at the venue, which might have affected the quality of food," read their official statement.

Rishabh Shah, the founder of IIMUN, said that there was no storage place in the colleges where the events took place. "We distributed the food as soon as it was delivered. In fact one of the venues, the food was delivered late," said Shah. One of the other organisers mentioned that they had opted for Box8 only because they claimed that they had multiple kitchens in the city. 

Khyber served latest closure notice after pumping milk in market

‘Ban still in place: Com Secy HM&E Department

Khyber continues to flout court directive by supplying toned milk in the market.Srinagar: Despite Government order of recalling of milk and all milk products manufactured by Khyber Agro Farms and directions that these products should not be supplied in markets till further orders, the Company has been violating the law and is busy in pumping milk products in the market.

The government on Saturday issued fresh notice to the Khyber asking them to immediately halt the milk production.

A CNS reporter visited many places in Srinagar city after sources informed that Khyber Company is still supplying toned milk to traders for sale. “Yes, the company supplied these toned milk packets to us today. We procured only few packets though they were insisting the take more,” vendors from Kokar Bazar Srinagar told CNS while showing the Khyber milk packets lying in a box for sale.

The reporter clicked photographs of the milk packets that the shopkeepers had put on sale. Shopkeepers from Zakoora area in the outskirts of Srinagar city can only be seen selling toned Khyber milk.

Pertinently, in compliance with court directions the government has issued orders for implementing the judgment of Judicial Magistrate Budgam and ordered Controller, Drug and Food Control Organization to ‘remove milk and milk products manufactured by Khyber Agro Farms Private Limited from the markets. The Health and Medical Education Department, in its order No HD/Legal/Drug/MR-56/2016 dated 06-04-2016 ordered that no milk or milk product of the company be available for human consumption till these products are declared safe by a referral laboratory in Kolkata.

Ironically a top official from Food Safety Department who wished not to be named said that he is a small fish and can’t do anything on ground, however when CNS brought the issue into the notice of Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Department Dr M.K.Bhandari, he said how is it possible when the government has not issued an ‘withdrawal’ order.

“Our order that we issued on April 6 is intact and through that order the company can’t supply milk products to market. The ban on the sale and production will be lifted only after Referral Laboratory clears it. It is a serious issue and I will look into it,” he said.

Hours after CNS received phone calls from both Drug Controller Department and Food Safety informing that latest notice has been served on Saturday evening to proprietor Khyber Agro Farms wherein he has been asked to immediately halt the production of milk in his industrial unit.

An official from Drug Controller Department who identified herself as Lochika Khajuria said that in fact a team of Food Safety seized Khyber toned milk packets from different areas of Srinagar city including Sanatnagar and interiors of city centre Lal Chowk. “Immediately, the Designated Officer Pulwama was asked to serve closure notice to the company,” she said while forwarding the order copy to the news agency.

“Your have been served closure notice vide letter number DO/FSSA/PUL/569-72 dated 16/4/2016 by Designated Officer Pulwama in light of the orders passed by worthy Commissioner of Food Safety vide letter number HD/Legal/Drug/MR-56/2016 dated 06-04-2016. As such you are directed to recall all the milk and milk products from District Srinagar market immediately so that same are dealt as per the provision of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 Rules 2011,” reads the latest order served to the company.

An official form Food Safety wishing not to be named said that even after the ban, the company had pumped 5 to 6 thousand liters of milk in the market on trial basis. “The court had stayed the sentence and the fine imposed earlier on the company. We believe that the company proprietor has misinterpreted the court judgment and in a bid to sense the mood of the market and the Food Safety Department, it pumped dairy products in the market, that backfired,” he said.

Meanwhile, Designated Officer Food Safety Pulwama Sony Singh told CNS that a copy of the latest closure notice served to the Khyber has also been sent to SP Pulwama for keeping a strict vigil on the Kyber Unit.

Khyber violates Govt order, notice served

Srinagar, Apr 16: The Food Safety Department today served fresh notice to the Khyber Agro Farms Private Limited after they started their operations illegally.

Despite Government order on recalling of dairy products manufactured by Khyber Agro Farms, the company had started their operations in Pulwama and was distributing thousands of litres of toned milk in the market across Kashmir.

Sources said that the Khyber today distributed 27, 000 litres of milk in the market across Kashmir. However, 5000 litres were returned as large number of retailers refused to sell the Khyber Milk and its other dairy products due to Government ban.

The Health and Medical Education Department, in its order No HD/Legal/Drug/MR-56/2016 dated 06-04-2016 had ordered that no milk or milk product of the company be available for human consumption till these products are declared safe by a referral laboratory Kolkata.

The Food Safety today issued latest notice to proprietor Khyber Agro Farms wherein he has been asked to immediately halt the production of milk in his industrial unit. They had received reports that the company had started their operations illegally.

“You have been served closure notice vide letter number DO/FSSA/PUL/569-72 dated16/4/2016 by Designated Officer Pulwama in light of the orders passed by worthy Commissioner of Food Safety vide letter number HD/Legal/Drug/MR-56/2016 dated 06-04-2016. As such you are directed to recall all the milk and milk products from District Srinagar market immediately so that same are dealt as per the provision of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 Rules 2011,” reads the notice.

Fruit godowns raided, 1 Held

Gutka Sales contine unabated in Mahbubnagar, Despite Ban

Fish pollutants may prevent humans from expelling Toxins

தமிழகத்தில் போலி கூல்டிரிங்ஸ் விற்பனையை தடுக்க குழுக்கள் கொளுத்தும் ெவயில் எதிரொலி உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி தகவல்

சேலம், ஏப்.17:

தமி ழ கத் தில் போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் விற் ப னையை தடுக்க குழுக் கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ள தாக உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ெதரி வித் த னர்.

தமி ழ கத் தில் பிப் ர வரி 15ம் தேதிக்கு மேல் வெயி லின் தாக் கம் மெல்ல, மெல்ல அதி க ரித் தது. கடந்த ஒரு வார மாக அனைத்து மாவட் டங் க ளி லும் 105 பாரன் ஹீட் வெயில் பதி வாகி வரு கி றது. வெயி லின் தாக் கத் தில் இருந்து தப் பிக்க மக் கள் தர் பூ சணி, இள நீர், முலாம் ப ழம், நுங்கு உள் ளிட் ட வை களை சாப் பி டு கின் ற னர். இரவு நேரங் க ளில் அனல் காற்று வீசு வ தால், குழந் தை கள் முதல் முதி ய வர் கள் வரை தூங்க முடி யா மல் கடும் அவ திப் ப டு கின் ற னர். கோடை காலத் தில் எப் போ தும் கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் விற் பனை அதி க ரிக் கும். இதை பயன் ப டுத்தி சிலர் உரிய அனு மதி பெறா மல் போலி யாக கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரித்து சிறிய பெட்டி கடை கள், பீடா கடை க ளில் விற் ப னைக் காக அனுப் பு வார் கள். மக் க ளும் என்ன வகை கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் என்று பார்க் கா மல் அருந் து வது வழக் க மாக உள் ளது. இது போன்ற போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரித்து விற் பனை செய் யும் கம் பெ னி களை கண் கா ணிக்க உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை சார் பில் குழுக் கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இது குறித்து சேலம் மாவட்ட உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறி யது:

தமி ழ கத் தில் பெரும் பா லான மாவட் டங் க ளில் கோடை யை யொட்டி வீடு க ளில் கூல் டி ரிங்க்ஸ் தயா ரித்து, அதை பிளாஸ் டிக் பாக் கெட், பாட் டி லில் அடைத்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரிப் ப வர் கள் பெரும் பா லும் கிரா மப் பு றங் களை குறி வைத்து விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இதில் பெரும் பா லும் பீடாக் கடை, பள் ளிக் கூ டம் அரு கே யுள்ள கடை, சந்தை போன்ற இடங் க ளில் அதி க மாக விற் ப னைக்கு அனுப் பு கின் ற னர். போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் பரு கும் போது வாந்தி, பேதியை ஏற் ப டுத் தும்.

உரிய அனு மதி பெற்று விற் பனை செய் யும் கூல் டி ரிங்சை கூட, அது எப் போது தயா ரிக் கப் பட் டது என் பதை பார்த்து பருக வேண் டும். மேலும் தயா ரிப் பா ள ரின் முக வரி இருக் கி றதா என் பதை பார்க்க வேண் டும். போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரிப் பா ளர் கள் குறித்து தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் குழுக் கள் அமைத்து ஆய்வு செய் யப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. சேலம் மாவட் டத் தில் சமீ பத் தில் நடத் திய ஆய் வில் 15 பேர் மட் டுமே, உரிய அனு மதி பெற்று கூல் டி ரிங்க்ஸ் தயா ரித்து வரு வது தெரி ய வந் தது. நூற் றுக் கும் மேற் பட் ட வர் கள் உரிய அனு மதி இல் லா மல், ஏதோ ஒரு பெயரை வைத் துக் கொண்டு, போலி கூல் டி ரிங்க்ஸ் தயா ரித்து விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நேரி டை யாக ஆய்வு நடத் தி ய தில், 5 இடங் க ளில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற நிலை யில் கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரித்து விற் பனை செய் தது தெரி ய வந் தது. அதன் உரி மை யா ளர் க ளுக்கு நோட் டீஸ் வழங் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. மேலும் கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் மாதிரி சேக ரிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இவை உடை யாப் பட் டி யில் உள்ள உணவு பகுப் பாய்வு கூடத் திற்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் பட் டது. அந்த கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் போலி யா னது, சுகா தா ர மற் றது என்று அறிக்கை வந் தால், அந்த உரி மை யா ளர் கள் மீது சட் ட ரீ தி யாக நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும்.

இவ் வாறு டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறி னார்.

1200 பாட் டில் கள் அழிப்பு

டாக் டர் அனு ராதா கூறு கை யில், ‘கடந்த வாரம் ஆத் தூர், தலை வா சல் பகு தி யில் நடத் திய சோத னை யில் போலி மற் றும் கால வ தி யான 1200 கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் பாட் டிலை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் தோம். பொது வாக பிளாஸ் டிக் பாட் டில் கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் தயா ரிப்பு தேதி யில் இருந்து இரண் டரை அல் லது 3 மாதத் திற் குள் பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். கண் ணாடி பாட் டி லில் அடைக் கப் பட்ட கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் 6 மாதம் வரை பயன் ப டுத் த லாம். போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் கம் பெ னியை கண் கா ணிக்க சேலம் மாவட் டத் தில் மேட் டூர், ஆத் தூர், ஓம லூர், சங் க கிரி, சேலம் மாந க ராட்சி, சேலம் ரூரல் என 6 குழுக் கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளன. இவர் கள் அந் தந்த பகு தி க ளில் போலி கூல் டி ரிங்ஸ் கம் பெ னி களை கண் கா ணித்து அவர் கள் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுப் பார் கள் ’’ என் றார்.

திருச்சி ஜங்ஷன் ரயில் நிலையத்தில் காலாவதி குடிநீர் விற்பனை

திருச்சி, ஏப். 17:

திருச்சி ஜங் ஷன் ரயில் நிலை யத் தில் காலா வ தி யான குடி நீர் விற் பனை செய் ய தால் பய ணி கள் தக ராறு செய் த னர். இத னால் ஜன ச தாப்தி எக்ஸ் பி ரஸ் தாம த மாக புறப் பட்டு சென் றது.

இந் தி யா வில் உள்ள அனைத்து ரயில் நிலை யங் க ளி லும் பய ணி க ளின் பாது காப்பை உறுதி செய் யும் பொருட்டு உணவு, அடிப் படை வசதி, பாது காப்பு போன் ற வற்றை மேம் ப டுத்தி வரு கி றது. மேலும் ரயில் மற் றும் ரயில் நிலை யங் க ளில் விற் கப் ப டும் உணவு மற் றும் குடி நீர் பொருட் க ளின் தரம் குறித்து ஆய்வு மேற் கொள்ள சுகா தார அதி கா ரி கள் பணி யில் ஈடு ப டுத் தப் பட்டு வரு கின் றன. இருப் பி னும் சில ரயில் நிலை யங் க ளில் பய ணி க ளின் உட லுக்கு ஊறு வி ளை விக் கும் வித மாக உணவு பொட் ட லங் க ளில் குறை பாடு, கால வா தி யான குடி நீர் வழங் கப் ப டு வ தாக குற் ற சாட்டு எழுந் தது. இவற்றை போக் கும் வித மாக பல் வேறு அதி ரடி நட வ டிக் கை களை ரயில்வே நிர் வா கம் மேற் கொண் டது.

முதற் கட் ட மாக ரயில்வே நிர் வா கம் பய ணி க ளிக்கு தர மான குடி நீர் வழங் கும் வித மாக ரயில் நீர் திட் டத்தை கொண்டு வந் தது. ரயில் மற் றும் ரயில் நி லை யத் தின் பிளாட் பார்ம் க ளில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் ரயில் நீர் மட் டுமே விற்க வேண் டும் என கட் டு பாடு விதிக் கப் பட் டது. இத னால் இந் தி யா வில் அனைத்து ரயில் நிலை யங் க ளி லும் ரயில் நீர் மட் டுமே விற் கப் ப டு கி றது. வேறு வகை யான நீர் விற் றால் கடை கா ரர் கள் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் பட்டு வரு கி றது.

இந் நி லை யில் நேற்று காலை கோயம் புத் தூ ரில் இருந்து மயி லா டு துறை செல் லும் ஜன ச தாப்தி அதி வேக விரைவு ரயில் 11 மணிக்கு திருச்சி வந்து சேர்ந் தது. 10 நிமிட இடை வெ ளை யில் பய ணி கள் கீழே இறங்கி தங் க ளுக்கு தேவை யான உணவு பொருட் களை வாங் கி னர். இதே போல அதே ரயி லில் பய ணம் செய்த கோவையை சேர்ந்த பழ னி யப் பன் உள் ளிட்ட சில பய ணி கள் விஐபி அறை அருகே உள்ள சில கடை க ளில் ரயில் நீர் பாட் டிலை வாங் கி னர். இதில் ஒரு கடை யில் பழ னி யப் பன் வாங் கிய கடை யில் குடி நீர் பாட் டி லில் 12.04.2015 தேதி யிட்ட குடி நீர் பாட் டில் விற் கப் பட் டது. இதை கண்ட பழ னி யப் பன் காலா வ தி யான குடி நீர் பாட் டிலை விற் கி றீர் களே எனக் கேட்க, கடை கா ரர் எங் க ளுக்கு அப் ப டி தான் பாட் டில் சப்ளை செய் யப் பட் டது என வாக் கு வா தம் செய் தார்.

மற்ற பய ணி க ளுக் கும் இதே பாட் டில் கொடுத் த தால் பய ணி கள் திரண்டு வந்து வாக் கு வா தத் தில் ஈடு பட் ட னர். இத னால் அப் ப கு தி யில் பர ப ரப்பு ஏற் பட் டது. அப் போது பாது காப்பு பணி யில் இருந்த ரயில்வே அதி கா ரி கள் மற் றும் ஆர் பி எப் போலீ சார் சம ர சம் செய்து வைக்க முயன் ற போது பய ணி கள் உரிய கடைக் கா ரர் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என வலி யு றுத் தி னர். இதற்கு நட வ டிக்கை எடுப் ப தாக கூறி யதை தொடர்ந்து தக ராறு செய்த பய ணி கள் ரயி லில் ஏறி புறப் பட்டு சென் ற னர். இத னால் ரயில் 5 நிமி டம் தாம த மாக புறப் பட்டு சென் றது. எனவே திருச்சி ரயில் நி லை யத் தில் காலா வ தி யான குடி நீர் பாட் டில் விற் பதை தடுக்க ரயில்வே நிர் வா கம் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என் பதே அனை வ ரின் எதிர் பார்ப் பாக உள் ளது.

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செங்கம் பகுதியில் அவலம் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானம், குடிநீர் பாட்டில்கள் விற்பனை ஜோர்

செங் கம், ஏப் 16:

செங் கம் பகு தி யில் காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னம், மற் றும் தண் ணீர் பாட் டில் கள் விற் பனை ஜோராக நடக் கி றது. இதை சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கண்டு கொள் வ தில்லை என பொது மக் கள் புகார் தெரி விக் கின் ற னர்.

கோடை வெயில் கார ண மாக திரு வண் ணா மலை மாவட் டம் செங் கம் மற் றும் அதன் சுற் றுப் புற கிரா மப் பு றங் க ளில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் குளிர் பா னம், குடி நீர் பாட் டில் கள் அமோ க மாக விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. பல கடை க ளில் காலா வ தி யான குடி நீர் பாட் டில் கள், குளிர் பா னம் விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக கூறப் ப டு கி றது.

கோடை வெயி லால் தாகத்தை தீர்த் துக் கொள்ள கடை க ளுக்கு வரும் அப் பாவி பொது மக் கள் குளிர் பா னங் கள், வாங் கிக் கு டித்து விட்டு செல் கின் ற னர். அப் படி வாங் கும் போது அது காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னமா என அவர் கள் பார்ப் ப தில்லை. அவ சர கோலத் தில் கடைக் கா ரர் கொடுக் கும் குடி நீர் பாட் டில் களை பொது மக் கள் வாங்கி குடித்து விட்டு செல் கின் ற னர். ஆனால் பல கடை க ளில் குளிர் பா னங் கள் மற் றும் குடி நீர் பாட் டில் களை காலா வ தி யான பின் ன ரும் கடை யில் இருப்பு வைத்து விற் பனை செய் வ தாக கூறப் ப டு கி றது. இதை சிலர் கூடு தல் விலைக் கும் விற் பனை செய் வ தாக கூறப் ப டு கி றது. மாவட்ட நிர் வா கம் மற் றும் சம் பந் தப் பட்ட சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் இதை கண் டு கொள் வ தில்லை என கூறப் ப டு கி றது.

எனவே அவ் வப் போது கடை க ளில் சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு நடத்தி காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னம், குடி நீர் பாட் டில் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றதா என ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண் டும் என இப் ப குதி மக் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

Ten simple tips to keep food poisoning at bay

One in six Americans gets sick every year due to food poisoning.

Here are ten simple ways of keeping away fromfood poisoning.

Every year, around one in six Americans gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalised and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases, commonly known as food poisoning, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The risk of picking up foodborne bugs at home can be reduced by following these ten food safety recommendations. Common sources of infection are foods that have been incorrectly stored or not cooked properly, or which have been cross-contaminated by other foods.

Keep hands clean

Hands should be washed with soap and water before and during food preparation. If that's not possible, use an antibacterial wipe, gel or solution. This should be repeated after touching raw foods (meat and vegetables) and after contact with any other possible source of contamination (going to the bathroom, changing baby's diapers, petting an animal, changing kitty litter, handling soil or objects dirtied with soil, etc.).

Stay out of the kitchen when sick

When gastroenteritis strikes, avoid preparing meals for yourself or for friends and family. Find someone to take over if possible, or be very vigilant about hand washing. Opt for foods that don't require much preparation.

Get leftovers straight in the fridge Don't keep any cooked foods or dishes at room temperature for more than two hours before putting them in the fridge.

Keep fridges clean

If foods spill inside the fridge, clean them up immediately with a suitable detergent. Fridges should be cleaned fully as often as necessary and at least once a year.

Check fridge temperatures

The coldest part of a fridge should be kept at a temperature between 0 and 4°C. Check the door seals to ensure they're still airtight.

Use separate chopping boards

Keep one chopping board for raw meat and fish, and another for cooked foods and clean vegetables. Once foods are cooked, don't reuse the same dishes or utensils to carry or handle raw ingredients.

Don't keep ready-to-eat dishes too long

Recommendations suggest that pre-prepared deli products, ready-to-eat dishes, cream-based cakes or highly perishable foods that aren't pre-wrapped and which don't have a use-by date should be kept for no more than three days. Retailers should be able to provide more specific guidelines.

Cook ground meat thoroughly

Protect young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems from harmful bugs and bacteria by cooking ground meat products thoroughly. A ground meat patty served rare could still harbor harmful bacteria.

Avoid raw foods

Children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are strongly advised to avoid raw meat and fish (carpaccio, ceviche, sushi, etc.) and unpasteurized dairy products. Freezing fish for seven days is an effective way of killing parasites (such as Anisakis). With fresh produce, check the label before freezing to avoid refreezing products that have already thawed.

Keep baby's bottles in the fridge

Special care should be taken with baby meals and bottles of infant formula: keep them for no more than 48 hours at 4°C.

FSSAI’s new set of standards for milk may help tackle adulteration menace

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the apex food regulator, is expected to come out with a set of standards for milk soon.
The move will be in line with global best practices and help in determining the benchmarks for adulteration and fat contents amongst others. FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal revealed this information while addressing FBOs (food business operators) recently at an event hosted by All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) in New Delhi.
The current guidelines were set in 1954, and only milk from cow, sheep, buffalo and goat fell under their purview while milk from camel and yak along with flavoured and fortified milk remained out of the ambit of the standards.
“There is a need to revisit old standards as they were based on old assumptions for fat and SNF (solid-not-fat) content,” stated Agarwal, adding that FSSAI would come up with the standards soon.
According to experts, even adding water to milk is considered as adulteration which may not be harmful for health. Further the SNF content standards vary amongst states. Also, milk fortification has been on the agenda of FSSAI for some time but the same could not take off because there were no standards for the purpose.
Industry response
In response to the proposal, Girish Chitale, partner, Chitale Dairy, said, "The milk to which water is added or diluted is not always the adulterated one but the primary concern is fat content. When milk is water-diluted it loses its fat content and quality of the milk is lost. If there is no presence of adulterants then the milk is clear but is diluted with water, which causes no harm but lacks nutrients."
Dr R S Khanna, chairman, Kwality Limited, stated, “As a socially responsible corporate touching the lives of millions, Kwality welcomes FSSAI’s move to come out with new safety standards for checking milk adulteration in India. India is the world's largest producer as well as consumer of milk and domestic demand for dairy products has been increasing consistently over the years. Milk is also the primary source of nutrition for millions in India and hence quality of milk has to be the primary concern.”
He added, “The milk industry has evolved a lot since 1954 when the existing milk safety guidelines were formed. Over the years, there have been changes in the quality of fodder and water used by cattle for consumption. Similarly, milk from camel and yak as well as flavoured and fortified milk has, so far, remained outside the ambit of safety regulations. It is imperative that milk safety regulations are in sync with the changing socio-economic dynamics of the country and benchmarks are designed to capture changes in technology and other safety parameters. It is also necessary to have uniformity in safety standards across states and it is heartening to see that FSSAI has addressed all these concerns.”
Further, with regard to fat content, there were certain demands from FBOs using camel milk. While FSSAI emphasises on 3 per cent milk fat in camel milk and 6.5 per cent solid-not-fat as standard, FBOs have been seeking reduction of mandatory fat content requirement to 2.5 per cent, according to Valamjibhai Humbal, chairman, Sarhad Dairy, Gujarat.
Humbal pointed out, "Here in the western regions of Kutch and Rajasthan, we have a huge population which depends on camel as a source of milk. In these terrains, camel can sustain well than cattle."

FSSAI to invest Rs500 crore to upgrade labs, will partner with private firms

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is planning to partner with private companies to upgrade the infrastructure of its laboratories and run them

While two central laboratories in Kolkata and Ghaziabad are owned by FSSAI, state governments own 82 laboratories.

New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to partner with private companies to upgrade the infrastructure of its laboratories and run them.

Besides, the country’s food regulator has allocated `500 crore for the upgradation and modernization of state government-owned laboratories over the next 2-3 years, FSSAI chief executive Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

While two central laboratories in Kolkata and Ghaziabad are owned by FSSAI, state governments own 82 laboratories.

“We are now trying to revive our Ghaziabad laboratory, which is almost defunct, through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement,” said Agarwal.

Under PPP, the government will provide the private companies full “capital support” to upgrade infrastructure and the private partner will be responsible for operations and maintenance, he added.

“We will ensure that the private partner gets business so that the lab is viable… we’ll soon float an expression of interest,” Agarwal said.

Initial estimates suggest that the regulator will have to spend about `20-25 crore for each of its laboratories for upgradation of infrastructure. However, certain functions at these laboratories, such as food analysts, will continue to be handled by government-appointed people. These people will be paid by the government.

Barring critical functions, employees for the remaining tasks will be hired by private partners. The government has already relocated some of its employees from the Ghaziabad laboratory to other departments.

The sum of `500 crore, which has been allocated to state government-owned laboratories, will be invested in their upgradation and modernization. “Building laboratory infrastructure is easy. Running them professionally is not,” Agarwal said.

To make the laboratories viable, the regulator also recently revised the testing charges, which were “abysmally low”. FSSAI formally notified the revised charges on 12 April.

Although the number of government-approved testing labs are limited, Agarwal said there was no need for more laboratories. “But we need to increase the number of tests we do. That’s far from adequate in terms of enforcement, surveillance and risk assessment,” he added.

A study by economic research organisation Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals, released on 30 March, noted that the absence of FSSAI laboratories at ports is one of the major hurdles that has been affecting business by delaying entry and exit of products, besides increasing the cost of logistics.

According to Agarwal, the regulator undertakes 100% sampling of all food products that come in. “This is becoming a bottleneck. That causes delay. Therefore, we are trying to simplify that. We are trying to do inspections more on risk-based approach rather than doing 100% sampling of imported foods,” he added.

Commenting on the financial aid from the government, Agarwal said the regulator will seek funds on a need basis. “There’s no point in asking for money and waiting for it,” he said.

FSSAI had, in April 2013, asked the government for about `5,000 crore to scale up. In the 12th Five-year Plan (2012-17), the government allocated only `2,350 crore to it.

FIR lodged against food chain in poisoning case

MUMBAI: The food chain sent fresh food as random sample to the team, while the truck was loaded with 'stale' food for school students, claimed the organizers of Thursday's event. Around 20 students, between the age group of 13-19 years, were hospitalized and hundreds more complained of uneasiness and vomiting after consuming food served by the popular food chain, Box8, at four different venues for the conference on Friday. An FIR was filed by the Khar police against Poncho Hospitality private Limited, which runs 'Box8', for causing harm and pain to young students.

Rishabh Shah, the founder president of the Indian International Model United Nations, a students-run organization, which has arranged for the conference to discuss world issues, said that Box8 had promised to send food from four different kitchens to their venues. "But they sent food from their kitchen in Thane to all the four centres, including the one at KC College in Churchgate," said Shah. 

"We had done a careful survey of caterers who would serve food at four different venues. But the firm failed to deliver its promise and instead put the lives of several young children, aged 13-19 years, in danger," said Shah. Several parents signed a petition on Friday, seeking action against the food outlet.

The incident discouraged some parents and teachers to send their children for the second day of the conference affecting the attendance severely at one of the venues. While attendance at Thadomal Shahani College of Engineering, was down by 50% on Friday, around 75-80% students reported at KC and Lala Lajpatrai College for the second day of the conference. The attendance at Whistling Woods by and large remained unaffected. Some schools and parents decided not to send their students on day two. "We decided not to send our students for the conference on Friday. Out of the 65, one of the students had to be admitted," said Chandrakanta Pathak, principal, HVB Global Academy, Marine Drive. Similarly, a group of eight students from JB Vachha High School did not attend day two.

Some schools were, however, happy with the arrangements on day two. "We have a policy that the teachers check the food before the students consume it so we were lucky the students didn't eat. The children went for day two and the arrangements were in place," said Armaity Engineer, principal,Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School, Juhu.

Arya Jain, brother of a volunteer, who had to be admitted to the Jaslok Hospital said that his sister is discharged and is recovering. "She is feeling little weak. But we would sue Box8 if her problem persists," said Jain. Numerologist Sanjay Jumaani, whose daughter complained of uneasiness, also said that the police need to take action against the company.

Meanwhile, an official statement released by Box8, stated, "We are deeply concerned about the news report of illness caused to some students yesterday. Box8 maintains a rigourous quality process through preparation of food and delivery system, including tasting the food before serving, which too was followed yesterday without any adverse results. Matter is being inquired by the authorities and we have been fully co-operating to identify the cause. Once the cause is identified, Box8 will spare no efforts to deal with the same."

Police file FIR, collect food samples

The Mumbai Police have registered an FIR in connection with the food poisoning incident on Thursday in which an estimated 5,000 students attending a pan-Mumbai event had to be rushed to hospital after consuming food supplied by Box8.

“We have registered an FIR for causing injury or endangering life of others under the IPC in connection with the matter. No one has been named as an accused at this point. We are conducting inquiries at the kitchen in Thane from where the food was supplied for the event,” said Senior PI Ramchandra Jadhav with Khar police station.

The Khar police were the first to be informed of the incident after seven students attending the event at the Thadomal Shahani College of Engineering were rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra on Thursday. The Lala Lajpatrai College in Tardeo, KC College in Churchgate and Whistling Woods Institute in Goregaon were also venues for the event.

By Thursday evening, the Tardeo police were also informed by the Jaslok Hospital authorities about a similar case, and inquiries soon confirmed that food was supplied from the same kitchen to all the venues. On Friday, it was decided to let the Khar police head the probe as they were the first respondents.

“We have handed over our paperwork pertaining to the investigation to the Khar police. We had collected some samples of the food on Thursday and sent them for forensic analysis. The reports will also be forwarded to the Khar police,” said PI Dnyanesh Devade with Tardeo police station.

The Khar police too have collected samples from the kitchen in Thane and will be sending them for analysis, officers said.

“We have begun inquiries with the Thane kitchen staff to find out who was responsible for ensuring the food supplied was safe for consumption. The entire supply chain, from the cooks to those who transported it to the venues, will be questioned,” Mr Jadhav added.

Cops are probing the Box8 kitchen in Thane to find out who is responsible for food safety