Adulteration, pesticides pose threat to India's global standing in spices

Several importing countries have already raised complaints about poor quality jeera, chilli and pepper

While India may be enjoying pole position in the globalspices market with nearly 45 per cent share, rising cases of adulteration and presence of pesticides in outbound shipments of the commodity are posing a threat to the country's standing. Several importing countries have already raised complaints about the quality of spices, especially jeera (cumin), chilli and pepper.

Bhaskar Shah, chairman of Indian Spice and Foodstuff Exporters' Association (ISFEA) said, "Currently, India has a market share of about 45 per cent and if issues ofpesticide and adulteration are not tackled, this could go down over the next few years. Both government and industry have to take strict action, otherwise we will lose our market globally."

Importing countries have begun warning exporters in India to serve quality products and tighten quality control rules or lose business. As per Spices Board India data, exports increased by 25 per cent in 2012-13, but dropped by nine per cent in 2014-15.

"It is true that adulteration and pesticides are major aspects governing the food industry and trade market. Food safety and sustainability are the key words ruling the global market. All importing countries have their own stringent food laws and regulations to maintain quality standards of products imported to ensure the safety and health of their citizens and the exporters have to abide with these rules," said A Jayathilak, chairman, Spices Board.

According to Jayathilak, there persists a continuous international demand for Indian spices owing to their superior quality. India has also been able to maintain a good image in the world market thus far by taking rapid action to sort out the alerts received from the importing countries.

There has been increased awareness of food safety issues all over the world in recent years, especially in developed countries such as the US, Japan and those belonging to the European Union. Hence regulatory control of imported spices in these countries has become stricter, with extremely low maximum residue limits imposed for pesticide residues, mycotoxins and also for microbiological contamination.

These are applicable to all countries that export spices, since India is one of the biggest exporters of spices in the world with the rate of spice exports growing steadily, the impact of these strict regulations felt by the Indian exporters might be proportionately larger.

Jayathilak said, "The food standards, guidelines and codes of practices on imported items formulated to protect the health of its citizens are different for each country. Hence due to lack of uniformity in the regulatory standards for importing spices, the Indian spice exporters face immense challenge to assort their consignments to meet the quality standards in accordance to the importing countries."

At present, there are three important concerns with respect to export of spices including pathogens, pesticide residues and mycotoxins. Spices Board has taken extensive measures for the control of these issues. Firstly, the Board has established seven state-of-the-art laboratories at the major export locations in India. Secondly, the Board has implemented mandatory testing programs covering the major food safety issues (presence of pesticide residues, mycotoxins and illegal dyes like Sudan), for the export of spices from India.

The establishment of a Centre of Excellence in analysis of pesticide residues and microbiological contamination in spices is already in progress at the Board's laboratory in Mumbai.

However, the Spices Board is confident that the issues would be addressed, though the industry still believes that more efforts needed from government side and within the industry.

"Adulteration and pesticides are the major concern for the spice industry. So far, importing countries have not taken major steps for India other than tightening the rules. If we will not deliver quality products, it could be a big threat," said said Yogesh Mehta, managing director of Spicexim.

To address the issue, recently traders and exporters met to take remedial measures. Also to reduce the pesticide problem in spices, the industry planning to collaborate with farmers and appoint scientists to educate farmers in this regard. Spice traders and exporters have come together to form a new body called 'Seed and Spice Stakeholder Association' (SSSA).

Ashwin Nayak, a director on the board of SSSA, "We are now going to form special task force to find out adulteration. Board meeting of the association will soon meet for that."

Jayathilak said, "For reducing the issues of adulteration and pesticides in spices, the issue has to be communicated to all stakeholders of spice industry and the reform for production of clean and safe spices has to begin from the basic level of industry."

Spices Board has always promoted farmers to adopt organic farming in spice cultivation. The Spices Board has implemented various scheme heads under developmental programs for promoting organic cultivation of spices like ginger, turmeric, herbal spices, seed spices and chillies and provides assistance to organic farmers for obtaining organic certification.

The quality improvement training programs for farmers are conducted in all regions to impart the necessity of production of clean and safe spices, the monetary benefits obtained on the production and sale of pesticide free spices.

DINAMANI NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Fruits Seized

4000 Kg of poisonous mangoes seized

DINAMANAI NEWS

கோயம்பேடு மார்க்கெட்டில் கார்பைடு கற்களில் பழுக்க வைத்த 4.5 டன் மாம்பழம், பப்பாளி பறிமுதல் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி

அண்ணா நகர், ஜூன் 15:

கோயம் பேடு மார்க் கெட் டில் கார் பைடு கற் கள் மூலம் பழுக்க வைத்த 4.5 டன் மாம் ப ழம் மற் றும் பப் பாளி பழங் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்டு அழிக் கப் பட் டன.

கோயம் பேடு பழ மார்க் கெட் டில் மாம் ப ழங் களை கால் சி யம் கார் பைடு என்ற ரசா யன கற் களை பயன் ப டுத்தி, இயற் கைக்கு முர ணாக பழுக்க வைத்து, விற் பனை செய் வ தாக, சென்னை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் கதி ர வ னுக்கு புகார் வந் தது.

கோயம் பேடு பழ மார்க் கெட் டில் மாம் ப ழங் களை கால் சி யம் கார் பைடு என்ற ரசா யன கற் களை பயன் ப டுத்தி, இயற் கைக்கு முர ணாக பழுக்க வைத்து, விற் பனை செய் வ தாக, சென்னை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் கதி ர வ னுக்கு புகார் வந் தது.

இதை ய டுத்து அவ ரது தலை மை யில், உணவு பாது காப்பு ஆய் வா ளர் கள் சதா சி வம், மணி மா றன், கண் ணன், கஸ் தூரி உள் பட 10க்கு மேற் பட்ட அலு வ லர் கள் நேற்று கோயம் பேடு பழ மார்க் கெட் டில் திடீர் சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

அங் குள்ள 65 கடை க ளில் சோதனை செய் த போது, 42 கடை க ளில் கார் பைடு கற் களை வைத்து பழங் களை பழுக்க செய் வது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. அந்த கடை க ளில் இருந்து 4.5 டன் மாம் ப ழம், பப் பாளி பழங் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். மேலும், அங் கி ருந்து 250 கிலோ கார் பைடு கற் களை கைப் பற் றி னர்.

பிறகு பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட பழங் களை, குப் பை யில் கொட்டி அழித் த னர். மேலும், சில கடை க ளில் உள்ள பழங் களை கைப் பற்றி, ஆய் வக பரி சோ த னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத் துள் ள னர். அதில், அந்த பழங் க ளும் கார் பைடு கற் களை கொண்டு பழுக்க செய் தது தெரி ய வந் தால், சம் பந் தப் பட்ட கடைக் கா ரர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என அதி கா ரி கள் கூறி னர். இது கு றித்து அதி கா ரி கள் கூறு கை யில், மார்க் கெட் பகு தி யில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் கால் சி யம் கார் பைடு எனப் ப டும் ரசா யன கற் கள் மூலம் பழங் களை பழுக்க செய் வ தாக எங் க ளுக்கு தொடர்ந்து புகார் கள் வரு கின் றன. இது போன்ற பழங் களை சாப் பி டு வ தால், பொது மக் க ளுக்கு வயிற்று புண், தொண்டை புண், புற்று நோய், தைராய்டு பிரச்னை ஏற் ப டும். இதனை தடுக்க நாங் கள் தீவிர நட வ டிக்கை எடுத்து வரு கி றோம் என் ற னர்.

FDA Warns Whole Foods of ‘Serious Violations’ After Inspections

Including conditions that support the growth of the bacteria that causes listeria

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Whole Foods of a series of “serious violations” it found while inspecting a food preparation facility in Massachusetts, including conditions that support the growth of the bacteria that causes listeria.

The FDA detailed its findings from inspections conducted in February in a lengthy letter it sent to Whole Foods executives last Wednesday. The facility packed and prepared food under “insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health,” the letter said.

The violations stemmed from employees handling products in areas where “condensate from ceiling joints was dripping onto the surface below,” according to the FDA. Employees were also spotted touching exposed products without washing their hands or changing gloves after first cleaning work surfaces.

FDA laboratory analysis of swabs taken from surfaces where food makes contact at the site also confirmed the presence of the bacteria Listeria welshimeri, which was non-pathogenic, meaning it is incapable of causing disease. Still, its presence is seen as an indicator for the probable presence of Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA said.

“This finding demonstrates that conditions exist in and on your equipment that would support the presence and growth of Listeria monocytogenes and indicates that your cleaning and sanitation practices may not be adequate,” the letter said. “Your firm should consider improving your environmental monitoring program to verify the adequacy of your cleaning and sanitation operation.”

Whole Foods said it has addressed and corrected each of the issues identified in the letter. The company also said the “thorough ”steps it took to address the violations were not reflected in the FDA’s letter. “We were honestly surprised,” Ken Meyer, global vice president of operations forWhole Foods Market, said in a statement. “We’ve been in close contact with the FDA, opened our doors to inspectors regularly since February and worked with them to address every issue brought to our attention.”

After carbide, fruit traders turn to 'China powder'

State still languishing without enough food inspectors to check adulteration

HYDERABAD: Despite the Hyderabad high court's intervention in the matter, fresh, unadulterated fruits and vegetables are still out of reach for the common people in the city. Be it due to the lack of food safety inspectors or the novel ways introduced by traders to ripen fruits, what's flooding the market still is harmful chemical-laced food.

In fact, the high court came down heavily on the nonchalant way in which the staff of the two states are responding to the challenge posed by unscrupulous traders. This prompted the Telangana government's special counsel, A Sanjeev Kumar, to reveal that traders have begun using a new chemical called China powder to ripen fruits.

Following this claim made in the court, food safety experts are now questioning the source of the powder and its chemical composition. "We have heard of such chemicals, but they were not prominently used earlier as they were costlier than calcium carbide. While calcium carbide is known to be toxic, there is no substantial proof to suggest that this powder is safe," said a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the condition of anonymity.

Experts from the city too said there must be a thorough investigation to find what goes into China powder. "China powder comes with labelling that specifies that it could contain ethylene. While its use is permitted by the Supreme Court, there is no proper mention about the concentration of ethylene in these packets," said V Sudershan Rao, a food safety expert at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

Even as the flow of adulterated food on to our table continues, the state still lacks proper mechanism to curb the menace in the city. According to the M Prasada Rao committee recommendations on rationalisation of staffing patterns in the GHMC, a city as expansive as Hyderabad requires as many as 25 food inspectors and more people to lift samples at the circle level.

"As a first step to curb adulteration, we must have more food inspectors to lift samples. While the requirement is of 25 inspectors, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has no more than four," said a senior official from the Nutrition Society of India.

DINAMANI & DAILYTHANTHI NEWS

For an adulteration-free lifestyle

Organic products

One out of every 5 samples of food items tested by public food safety labs in the country has been found “adulterated and misbranded”, according to the testing report of public laboratories released by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). And thanks to social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp, we get to see videos showing how synthetic cabbage is made, how food colouring is done to make tomatoes look more red and ripe and much more. Considering the increasing need to find safe and nutritious food, Aditi Ghokle and Aman Singal started an online platform, All Things Organic, which focuses only on organic and natural products.

Launched in September 2015, the website allthingsorganic.com features organic fruits, vegetables, groceries, processed items made from organic ingredients, and also cosmetics and homecare necessities.

“We started with a very personal need of trying to find safe nutritious food for our families. We spoke to some friends and found out that we are not alone in this struggle. With the mission to provide chemical-free lifestyle to all, we started with this portal,” Singal tells Metrolife. 

According to a research conducted by Ghokle and Singal, 70 per cent of high quality organically grown food in India is exported due to lucrative pricing, because of which, only traders benefit, not the farmers. 

So in order to provide direct sourcing from farmers, they have introduced a ‘Farm Traceability Program’ for their certified fresh produce, under which fruits and vegetables under their label Organic Origins can be traced back to their respective farms using a Quick Response (QR) code.

“By scanning the code, the consumer gets access to complete details of the farm along with pictures. Through this, we try to ensure transparency by directly connecting consumers to farmers. This allows elimination of middlemen. This way, the organic produce becomes more affordable,” says Singal. 

Apart from providing homemade dishes like organic kaanji, aam panna and garlic pickle, the portal provides a range of organic beauty products like bath salts, body scrubs, hair oils, hair conditioners and more, which are not easily available in the market. 

“In India, the cosmetics market is dominated by bigger brands. So we got together many small ventures who were working in organic beauty products to provide them with a platform to sell their products,” adds Singal. 

However, while organic products are available only in supermarkets or shopping malls and not in the next grocery store in one’s locality, how do they manage their inventory? “We work with multiple suppliers for this. While we do maintain some inventory, we also work in a Just-in-Time (JIT) format to source the freshest available products for our customers. Also, through our subscription program, we are able to manage the supply challenges,” says Singal adding that they are now looking forward to launch a range of freshly processed organic products which are children’s favourites along with homemade recipes and healthy snacks.

HEALTH MINISTRY TO ‘RECONSIDER’ PRODUCTION OF KHESARI DAL

Even as the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended lifting of the ban on three varieties — Ratan, Prateek and Mahateara — of the controversial Khesari dal terming them safe, the Union Health Ministry seems to be treading cautiously in the matter.

In view of negative reports regarding the dal, which was banned in the country way back in 1961 after its consumption was linked to a neurological disorder called lathyrism (paralysis in the legs), the Ministry has set up a panel and is seeking views from various representatives particularly those opposing the lifting of ban in this regard.

“Yes, following clearance from a research panel headed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for consumption of the Khesari dal, the FSSAI has recommended removal of ban and sought our final decision.

“But we are not in haste. We are seeking views from the stakeholders who are against the ban lift. Our final decision will based on the assessment of all the views,” a senior official from the Ministry said.

Considered as the poor man’s dal due to its low cost, those opposing the lifting of ban claim that it will not be a healthy move as there are high chances of pulse producer indulging in adulteration.

The FSSAI has gone solely by the ICMR’s latest recommendation on lifting the ban on sale and storage of the three varieties of Khesari dal in view of its high protein content and water use efficiency.

A hardy pulse crop, Khesari (Lathyrus odoratus) can grow in both drought as well as waterlogged conditions. The grain is known to produce a toxin called BAPN or beta-amino-propio-nitrile, which, when ingested, causes limb paralysis and bone deformity — the result of a neurological disorder called lathyrism. There is a debate in the scientific community over the safety of khesari dal. As per a report in the Indian Journal of Medicine, published in July 2013, the dal is “harmless as a part of a normal diet” and could even become a “prized commodity” for cardiovascular care. However, the Indian Institute of Toxicological Research is reported to be of the opinion that khesari dal’s consumption is “not safe”.

PMO calls meeting on trade cargo scrutiny norms tomorrow

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has called a meeting of various ministries and regulators tomorrow to sort out issues concerning scrutiny of trade cargo with the overall objective of improving ease of doing business. 

The meeting has been called on the request of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) which wants the PMO to resolve the differences among various departments over the issue of 10 per cent risk assessment, an official said. 

With a view to promote ease of doing business, the CBEC has proposed a new system under which only 10 per cent of the cargo would be scrutinised. 

However, the proposal is not agreeable to certain departments. 

Representatives of ministries and departments, including Shipping, Health, Plant Quarantine, Animal Quarantine, Agriculture and Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI), would attend the meeting. 

According to an industry expert, countries world over follow the system of 1 per cent to 10 per cent risk assessment of containers. 

"This move would help importers and exporters cut transaction time and cost. Based on the risk assessment of importer or supplier, minimum number of containers should be scrutinised," Director General of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Ajay Sahai said.

Like junk food? Acid reflux cancer on rise

Chennai:

Deep fried samosas, oily bajjis and cheesy burgers washed down with sugar-loaded aerated drinks lead not just to a bulging waistline, but can increase risk of food pipe cancer.

Over the past 20 years, ma ny hospitals across India have recorded a two-fold increase in cancer of the lower part of the food pipe caused by prolonged acid reflux disease linked to junk food.

“This kind of cancer is common in the west. Now we are seeing it more often in India. There is a link between high-fat, low-fibre food and cancer. Many people diagnosed with this type of cancer have been suffering from reflux,“ said Dr R Swaminat han, professor and head, biostatistics and cancer registry , Cancer Institute.

In people with reflux, the acid which the stomach uses to digest food escapes into the lower part of the food pipe.This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of the food pipe causing inflam mation and scars leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The commonest symptom is heartburn or chest pain. In the last two decades, doctors say, reflux has reached epidemic proportions.

Over a period of time, reflux can cause a kind of can cer called adenocarcinoma that develops in the gland cells. The Cancer Institute, Chennai, which maintains the Madras Metropolitan Tumour registry , has now decided to do a pilot study and register types and sites of foodpipe cancer for the city registry and national registry .

“This type of cancer occurs only in the bottommost part of the food pipe,“ Dr Swaminathan said.

In the 90s, gastroenterologists saw a rise in squamous cell cancer, mostly in the top and middle parts of the foodpipe, which is mainly caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Now, nearly a quarter of foodpipe cancers are at the bottom of the food pipe. In some hospitals, the number is even higher. For instance in Coimbatore, gastroenterologists say at least 40% to 50% of food pipe cancers are caused by GERD. “In the mid-1990s, only 10% to 15% of cancers were adenocarcinoma. Last year we saw the trend nearly reverse,“ said the founder and chairman of Gem Hospitals, Dr C Palanivelu.

Senior gastroenterologists say dietary habits have played a huge role in pushing up cancer of the foodpipe.Two years ago, an ongoing study by Government General Hospital's department of surgical gastroenterology linked smoked meat -red meat or fish dipped in greasy oil, and covered with a mix of salt, chilli powder and spices before it is cooked directly over fire -to food pipe cancers. When meat or fish is cooked directly over fire, it gets covered with carcinogens, making it more dangerous than even smoking or consumption of alcohol, surgical gastroenterologist Dr S M Chandramohan who's studied more than 100 cancer patients.

The silver lining is that adenocarcinoma is relatively easier to treat than squamous cell carcinoma.“If reflux is detected in the early stages, it can be treated with medicines or endoscopic surgery ,“ said Dr V G Mohan Prasad. “We can treat reflux even when it goes into the next stage, which is called Barrett's disease. But, at present, smoking and chewing tobacco continue to be our biggest problem. Cancer caused by this reaches advanced stage three without symptoms and requires chemotherapy , radiation and surgery ,“ said Dr P Karthikeyan, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital.

கெமிக்கல் தெளித்த மாம்பழத்தால் வயிற்றுபோக்கு ஏற்படும் சுகாதாரத்துறை எச்சரிக்கை

சென்னை, ஜூன் 14:

சுவைக்கு பெயர் பெற்ற ஜவ் வாது மற் றும் பங் க ன பள்ளி வகை மாம் ப ழங் கள், மக் க ளின் வயிற் றுக்கு பிரச்னை ஏற் ப டுத் தும் வகை யில் பதப் ப டுத் தப் பட்டு வரு கின் றன. இத னால், வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் என மக் க ளுக்கு, சுகா தார துறை எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத்து உள் ளது.

திரு வள் ளூர் மாவட் டத் தில், 3,000 ஏக் கர் பரப் பில் மாம் ப ழம் சாகு படி செய் யப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. ஏப் ரல் மாத துவக் கத் தில் செந் தூரா, மாத இறு தி யில் ஜவ் வாது, மே மாதத் தில் பங் க ன பள்ளி, ருமானி, நீலம், பெங் க ளூரா, ஜூன் மாதத் தில் நீலம் ஆகிய ஆறு வகை மாம் ப ழங் கள் கிடைக் கின் றன.

இவற் றில், புள் ளி கள் ஏது மின்றி பொலி வு டன் காணப் ப டும் ஜவ் வாது மற் றும் பங் க னப் பள்ளி மாம் ப ழங் களை ஏற் று ம தி யா ளர் கள் டன் னுக்கு, ரூ.45 ஆயி ரம் வரை கொடுத்து கொள் மு தல் செய்து வந் த னர்.

இந்த ஆண்டு பரு வ நிலை மாற் றங் க ளால் விளைச் சல் குறைந் த தோடு, ஏற் று மதி ரக மாம் ப ழங் க ளின் தரம் குறைந் து விட் டது. இது கு றித்து, மாம் பழ சாகு ப டி யா ளர் ஒரு வர் கூறு கை யில், இந்த ஆண்டு, குறிப் பிட்ட காலத் தில் மழை பெய் யா த தால், 90 சத வீத பழங் க ளில் புள் ளி கள் விழுந்து விட் டன. அதோடு அடிக் கடி சூறா வ ளிக் காற்று வீசி ய தால், மரத் தில் இருந்த மாங் காய் கள் கொட்டி விட் டன என் றார்.

இத னால், இந்த ஆண்டு விளைந்த பெரும் பா லான மாம் ப ழங் கள் உள் ளூர் சந் தைக்கே வந் துள் ளன. இவற்றை குறைந்த காலத் தில் விற்க வச தி யாக, ஆபத் தான முறையை வியா பா ரி கள் கையாண்டு வரு கின் ற னர்.

இதற்கு முன்பு செங் காய் கள் எனப் ப டும், முழு மை யாக பழுக் காத நிலை யில் உள்ள பழங் களை பறித்து, சந் தைக்கு அனுப் பிய பின் “கார் பை டு’ கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைத் த னர். இதற்கு கெடு பிடி அதி க ரித்து விட் ட தால், தற் போது, “எத் தி லீன் ’’ திர வத்தை மாம் ப ழங் க ளில் தெளித்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

இத் த கைய பழங் களை சாப் பி டு வ தால் வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் என மருத் து வர் கள் எச் ச ரித்து உள் ள னர்.

இது கு றித்து மாவட்ட சுகா தார துறை இணை இயக் கு னர் பிர பா கர் கூறு கை யில், செங் காய் களை விரை வில் பழுக்க வைப் ப தற் காக, எத் தி லீன் திர வம் தெளிக் கப் பட்ட பழங் கள் விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக புகார் கள் வந் துள் ளன. இந்த வகை பழங் களை சாப் பிட் டால் செரி மா னம் ஏற் ப டாது. மேலும், வயிற் றுப் போக்கு ஏற் ப டும் வாய்ப்பு அதி கம் உள் ளது. இந்த பழங் களை தண் ணீ ரில் கழுவி சாப் பிட் டால், உட லுக்கு தீங்கு ஏற் ப டாது என மக் கள் நினைக் கின் ற னர். அது தவறு என் றார்.

மேலும், இவ் வாறு விற் கப் ப டும் மாம் ப ழங் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழிக்க, அரசு மருத் து வ ம னை க ளில் பணி பு ரி யும் சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் க ளுக்கு அறி வு றுத் தப் பட்டு உள் ளது. இது கு றித்து, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட அரசு மருத் து வ மனை சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் க ளி டம் மக் கள் புகார் அளித் தால் உட ன டி யாக நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என் றார்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Fresh trouble for Khyber

நவீன இறைச்சி கூடத்துக்கு பூட்டு: உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் கெடு

மேட்டூர்: 'மேட்டூர் நகராட்சி நவீன இறைச்சி கூடத்தை, வரும், 15ம் தேதிக்குள் திறக்க ஒப்பந்ததாரர் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்காவிடில், சீல் வைக்கப்படும்' என, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் தெரிவித்தார்.
மேட்டூர் நகராட்சியில் கடந்த, 2007-08ல், 20 லட்சம் ரூபாய் செலவில் நவீன ஆடு வெட்டும் கூடம் கட்டப்பட்டது. வியாபாரிகள் இந்த கூடத்தில் ஆடுகளை வெட்டி, இறைச்சியை மட்டும் கடைகளுக்கு கொண்டு சென்று விற்பனை செய்ய வேண்டும். மேட்டூர் நகராட்சி சார்பில் நவீன ஆடு வெட்டும் கூடத்தில் வைத்து ஆடுகளை வெட்டுவோரிடம் கட்டணம் வசூல் செய்யும் உரிமம் தனியாருக்கு ஏலம் விடப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஒப்பந்ததாரர் ஆடு வெட்டும் கூடத்தை பூட்டி வைத்துள்ளதால், மேட்டூர் நகராட்சியில், வியாபாரிகள் பலர் சாலையோரம் ஆடுகளை வெட்டி விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர்.
இந்நிலையில், நேற்று மேட்டூர் நகராட்சி நவீன இறைச்சி வெட்டும் கூடத்தை ஆய்வு செய்த, சேலம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது: வியாபாரிகள் சாலையோரம் ஆடுகளை வெட்டுவதால் சுகாதாரகேடு ஏற்படுகிறது. பூட்டி கிடக்கும் ஆடு வெட்டும் கூடத்தை, வரும், 15ம் தேதிக்குள் திறக்க ஒப்பந்ததாரருக்கு அவகாசம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தவறும்பட்சத்தில் மேட்டூர் நகராட்சிக்கு நோட்டீஸ் கொடுப்பது மட்டுமின்றி, ஆடு வெட்டும் கூடமும் பூட்டி சீல் வைக்கப்படும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

ஒகேனக்கல்லில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு

பென் னா க ரம், ஜூன் 13:
பென் னா க ரம் ஒகே னக் கல் லுக்கு நாள் தோ றும் ஆயி ரக் க ணக் கான சுற் று லா ப ய ணி கள் வந்து செல் கின் ற னர். சுற் றுலா பய ணி க ளின் உணவு பாது காப்பை வலி யு றுத் தும் வகை யில், மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி காரி டாக் டர் பிருந்தா மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் ஒகே னக் கல் பகு தி யில் செயல் ப டும் ஓட் டல் க ளில் தயா ரிக் கப் ப டும், உண வு க ளின் தரம் குறித்து ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.
பின் னர் உணவு வணி கர் கள் மற் றும் பொது மக் கள் விழிப் பு ணர்வு முகாம் கள் நடந் தது, அதில் டாக் டர் பிருந்தா ேபசு கை யில், ‘மீன் களை சமைப் ப தற்கு கலர் பொ டி களை பயன் ப டுத்த கூடாது, மீன் களை திறந் த வெ ளி யில் விற்க கூடாது. புகை யிலை, கால வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள் ேபான் ற வற்றை விற் பனை செய்ய கூடாது. மீறி இது ேபான்ற செயல் க ளில் ஈடு பட் டால் கடு மை யான நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும்’ என் றார்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Spurious Drink

Food safety authorities put eateries under lens in Kerala

Special squads have been formed to check the quality of food and hygiene standards of eateries

Apart from eateries, drinking water sources and tanker lorries supplying water are also under lens

KOCHI: With the onset of monsoon, officials at the Food Safety Commissionerate have intensified raids on hotels and eateries. Special squads have been formed to check the quality of food and hygiene standards of eateries.

“Special focus is being given to areas like Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the eastern parts of the district, which are highly vulnerable to the outbreak of infectious diseases.

Wayside eateries and restaurants in West Kochi are being regularly inspected and notices have been served on many for failing to adhere to hygiene norms," said K.V. Shibu, food safety assistant commissioner. There have been widespread complaints that wayside shops in West Kochi are selling substandard food and are using re-used oil, unhygienic pots and polluted water.

Awareness classes on food safety, sanitation and personal hygiene to owners and workers of eateries are also being conducted. Apart from eateries, drinking water sources and tanker lorries that supply potable water are also under scanner. The health wing of the City Corporation has also constituted special squads to inspect hotels and restaurants.

However, it is interesting to note that the district panchayat which conducted series of health and sanitation programmes like 'operation hot water', 'operation yellow-free' during the monsoon last year has not yet initiated any such programmes this time.

Gutka, paan masala worth 2.46L seized

Pune: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials raided and seized gutka and paan masala worth Rs 2.46 lakh from a godown in Pimpri on Sunday.

"The raid was conducted following a tip-off. We seized gutka and paan masala worth Rs 2.46 lakh from the godown," Shivaji Desai, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune, said. Desai took charge as FDA chief, Pune division, last week.

Food safety officials K S Shinde, Kiran Jadhav, Laxmikant Sawale and Avinash Bhandwalkar carried out the raid under the guidance of S M Deshmukh, assistant commissioner (food), Pune. "The trader will be interrogated to trace the source of the banned products. An FIR will be filed against him on Monday," Desai said.

Bread-makers blame AMC raid for fall in sale

Ahmedabad: Bread manufacturers of the city have complained to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) that their counter sales dropped by 40% on Saturday after the civic body took 22 samples for testing for potassium bromate content. Every day, close to 500 bakeries in the city manufacture one lakh bread packets; 22,000 pao bhajis; and 25,000 pizza packs.

In a representation before the AMC's health department, the bread-makers have claimed that they had maintained all standards. The AMC's food sample tests have also showed that the presence of potassium bromate was 25 to 30 parts per million in the bread loaves. This is within permitted limits.

There were, however, five bread packets in the 22 samples that did not contain information such as the ingredients used and health value, as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

KCP-PML unfolds salt adulteration case

IMPHAL, June 12: Amidst the development over the arrest of five volunteers of Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) for pulling up two non-local traders who were found adulterating Tata salt, the armed Kangleipak Communist Party (Poirei Meitei Lup) contended that the unwarranted arrest is a plot orchestrated by the government just to save the nine Food Safety Officers who were recruited despite not qualifying Recruitment Rules.

According to a statement signed by Publicity Secretary of KCP-PML Malemnganba Meitei, people of the state are going to suffer more from such adulteration of eatable items by non-local businessmen whose intention is to gain profit by indulging in health hazardous activities.

It claimed that knowing the intensity of the adulteration case, Operation Mangal of Kangleipak of the outfit launched a thorough probe into it which came to light that the five volunteers of the students’ body were arrested and jailed by the order of Ibobi-led Congress government only to cover up the wrong recruitment of nine Food Safety Officers of Directorate of Health Services.

The operation also revealed that huge amount of money was taken from non-local traders who indulge in adulteration of eatable items sidelining health concerns of the people, the outfit in the statement alleged.

Reminding that the country has enacted Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 Rules & Regulation, 2011 to regulate adulteration of eatable items; it questioned the reasons behind the defunct of Food Safety & Standards Informent Wing.

DINAKARAN NEWS

48,733 bags of sago nearing expiry date seized

Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department raided seven godowns in Attur taluk and seized 48,733 bags of sago that were nearing expiry date, but were stocked for sales.

Based on complaints that sago were sold in the market even after the expiry date, a team led by District Designated Officer T. Anuradha and food safety inspectors raided the godowns in Thammampatti, Keeripatti, Olipuram and Gangavalli in the past 10 days.

Commodity loans

Officials found that all the goods were under the custody of collateral management companies as the manufacturers had pledged their goods and obtained commodity loans from many nationalised banks.

The manufacturing date in most of the bags were mentioned as January, 2016 as the manufacturer pledged the goods and obtained loans.

Officials learnt that after repaying the bank loans only, the goods will be released after which it will be taken to the market for sale.

Officials found that recently manufactured sago were sold immediately as they manufacturers reaped good profit. But sago bags produced before six months were not sold as the manufacturer was unable to get good price.

On Thursday, during their raid in Attur, officials found 5,357 bags that were about to expire.

Of this, 3,500 bags were found without manufacturing date or the details of the manufacturer.

Samples were taken and sent to the Government Food Laboratory in Udayapatti. All the bags were kept in the godowns under the custody of the collateral management companies and sealed by the officials.

“Based on the laboratory report, further action will be initiated”, officials said.

The manufacturing date in most of the bags were mentioned as January, 2016

Cancerous bread tangled up in red tape

Officials raid shops, hotels in Dharwad

Officials inspecting a hotel in Dharwad on Friday.

Food was being prepared in unhygienic conditions and permit licences were not renewed

Official teams of the departments of Food and Civil Supplies and Health and food inspectors of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) raided over 80 shops including bakeries, hotels, khanavalis and milk parlours here on Friday.

The raids were headed by Food and Civil Supplies Deputy Director Sadashiv Mirji and HDMC Food Safety officer K. Shivakumar. There were three teams comprising six officials each.

Shops in the main market area, Saptapur and Srinagar Circle were raided and two khanavalis, three hotels, a bakery and a milk parlour were sealed.

It was found that these shopkeepers had failed to adopt food safety norms and were preparing and serving food in unhygienic conditions. Some of the hotels had not allowed the suppliers and cooks to undergo medical treatment, while others had not renewed their permit licences. The officials sealed Damodar Hotel and Rupali Hotel in front of the Central Bus Terminus, and Dosa Den located at the basement near Hedge Medicals.

The officials also raided Royal Kitchen located at the entrance of Akkipeth and have warned the hotel owner of legal action if food safety measures were not adhered to. There were complaints from the public about this hotel using artificial colours and some banned chemical substances to prepare food.

The officials found that at the Hiremath Khanavali and Prabhu Khanavali located near the CBT, the rice being used was of sub-standard quality, the vegetables were rotten and the kitchen was in a poor condition. Sri Krishna Bakery located in the same area too was sealed.

Fungus on cup cakes

The officials found fungus on cup cakes and there was a foul smell from snacks like chips and others because low quality oil was used to prepare them. The bakery was selling branded biscuits whose expiry date was over, Mr. Shivakumar said. The officials had issued warning to the bakery owner thrice, but he had not adhered to safety norms. The bakery has been sealed. The soft drinks stored in the refrigerators too had expired a year ago.

As the monsoon has arrived, the hotels and restaurants have to adopt precautionary measures to contain outbreak of epidemics, the officials said.

The raids will continue for another week. All the hotels and eateries which fail to adopt the norms would be sealed, they said.

At a Nandini milk parlour located near the Regal Circle, the officials found that the expiry date of several Nandini products kept for sale had expired three months ago. The officials took to task the owner of the milk parlour and directed for its closure.

ROAD MISHAPS: CHAMOLI FOOD INSPECTOR, WOMAN KILLED

Two persons - Chamoli food safety inspector and a woman - died in road accidents reported from Dehradun and Tehri on Friday. In Tehri district, Rakesh Singh, resident of Chamoli, was posted there as food safety inspector. He died after the car he was driving fell into a gorge of around 200 metres. He is supposed to have lost control over his car while negotiating a sharp band at Thindhara in Devprayag. He was going to Dehradun cantt where he had built his house. 

The accident occurred around 2.35 pm, police said. Along with local police, SDRF personnel plunged in the operation to drag his body up. The body was later sent for postmortem. At Patelnagar police station area in Dehradun, Sushila, resident of Panditwadi, died when she was riding pillion while her husband was riding the bike. 

The couple was going towards ISBT to catch a bus for Ambala.

HC directs for setting up of Food testing labs

 

Srinagar, June 10: The State High Court today directed the Government to initiate process for setting up of testing laboratories, manpower and other infrastructure like transport facility to check and curb the food adulteration across the State.

The direction was passed by the Court after the amicus curie senior advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir informed the Court that nothing is being done on ground except paper work by the Government functionaries. He submitted before the court that 4 posts in the Food Safety department have been referred to Service Selection Board six years ago but till date the department has not been able to fill these posts.

The amicus curie further submitted that there is no laboratory functional, no manpower, and no scientist and how State expect that the food adulteration be curbed and stopped and ‘without manpower if machines are available in the department those will get rusted’.

The court told Advocate General of the State that he (Advocate Bashir) is submitting harsh realities. “Manpower is the fundamental issue. If you fail in it then court shall proceed in the manner, in which it is required to proceed” court further added.

Court after hearing a battery of lawyers including those who represent manufacturing and food processing unit holders directed the Government to set up testing laboratories and other infrastructure to curb the food adulteration.

“The respondent-state to initiate action in setting up of testing laboratories one at Srinagar and one at Jammu”, directed the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey ‘with the hope and trust’ court said that before next date two laboratories would be made functional.

Court also directed for providing technical manpower which is required in terms of the FSS Act of 2006 and rules made there under. “The recruitment shall be made on fast track basis and as far as possible appointments made before the next date,” court said adding “The laboratories shall be fully equipped before the next date to make them functional”.

With regard to transport facility to the department, the court said the mobile vans shall also be purchased and put to service before the next date and order the listing of PIL for further consideration in the week commencing from July 11.

Meanwhile, court directed all those manufacturers and unit holders who have not filed their undertakings in terms of Supreme Court directions, to file their undertakings before the next date.

It may be mentioned here that the High Court had earlier directed to all the food manufacturers and food processing unit holders for filing of undertaking before the Registrar Judicial of the court indicating therein that in case their food items are found adulterated then their units shall be sealed by the authorities.

The traders body has challenged the DB order before the apex court and the apex court recently modified the order with regard to providing of undertaking to the extent that in the event the food item of any manufacturing and processing unit is found adulterated then authorities will take action as per law instead of sealing their units.

“Instead of sealing the concerned authorities shall take necessary action as per provisions of the act. We are modifying only this part of the order”, Supreme Court said while modifying the order of High Court.

Court also after perusal of the status report of the Government said that it does not show that some steps have been taken in implementing the provisions of food safety and standards act but a lot is required to be done to alleviate and ease the sufferings of the people.

The suo moto cognizance has been taken by the court after various reports coming in media about the lack in checking the poor consumption of foods in the Valley and about the food items like oil, milk etc consumed by general masses according to the reports are contaminated and such kind of adulteration have flooded the markets of the Valley as there is no mechanism in place to check the purity of eatables.

‘Make food testing labs functional by July 11’

High Court directs Govt to provide manpower to 2 labs on fast-track basis

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday directed the government to set up Food Testing Laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar immediately and make them functional by July 11. 

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation against food adulteration, a division bench of Justice MuzaffarHussain Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey said: “We hope and trust that before next date of hearing, two laboratories one at Srinagar and one at Jammu would be made functional. The laboratories shall be fully equipped.”

While the court directed the government to provide required technical manpower to the laboratories in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, it said the recruitment be made on fast-track basis before the next hearing as far as possible.

Listing the case for further hearing in the week commencing July 1, the court also directed the government to purchase Mobile Vans and put them to service before the next date of hearing. 

Earlier this year—in response to the status report by government that attested bad the state of affairs—the court had said the respondents in the compliance report have stated how only two Food Testing Laboratories, one at Dalgate here and another at Patoli Jammu, are completely outdated and equipment installed in these labs is dysfunctional.

Meanwhile, the Court took on record Supreme Court order of June 7, 2016 in a Special Leave Petition whereby J&K High Court order dated April 27 asked the authorities to seal business units whose products were found adulterated, was modified. 

On June 7, the apex court had modified a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order and asked a state traders' body to give an undertaking that if the food items supplied by them are found to be adulterated, then the authorities will take action as per law instead of sealing their units.

In its order of April 27, this year, the High Court had earlier this year asked the traders' body to give an undertaking that if prima-facie the food items supplied by them were found to be adulterated, then their units would be liable to be sealed.

While senior lawyer and Amicus Curie Bashir Ahmad Bashir and Advocate General Jahangir Iqbal Ganai submitted that modification of the High Court order by the apex court does not mean that the respondents will not file the undertakings, Advocate Ashok Bhan and other counsels appearing for respondents countered the submission. 

“All those respondents, who have not filed the undertakings till date, shall file the same before the next date in the light of Order of Hon'ble Supreme Court passed on 7th June, 2016,” the court said 

Taking on record the latest status report filed by government through AAG, M I Dar in the Open Court, the court said: “Though it does show that some steps have been taken in implementing the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules made therein, a lot is required to be done to alleviate the sufferings of the people”.

Regulator sat on decision to ban cancer-causing food additive for 4 years

Potassium Bromate — used to make bread rise — is known to cause cancer of the thyroid, kidney and abdominal lining, and is banned in several countries including the European Union, Canada, China, Australia and New Zealand. 

A recent study found 85% of bread and bakery samples tested in Delhi contained potassium bromate, a known carcinogen. An HT investigation has now revealed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had made up its mind to ban the chemical’s use as a food additive four years ago but never implemented its decision.

Potassium Bromate — used to make bread rise — is known to cause cancer of the thyroid, kidney and abdominal lining, and is banned in several countries including the European Union, Canada, China, Australia and New Zealand. The WHO, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and International Agency for Research on Cancer have all found it to be potentially carcinogenic.

Following last month’s revelations by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment, the FSSAI said it would issue a notification to remove potassium bromate from the list of permitted food additives.

Records of FSSAI meetings accessed by HT, however, show that on June 6, 2012, the food regulator “approved the recommendation” of its scientific committee to ban the “use of potassium bromate as a food additive”. The committee had reached this conclusion at its meeting on December 23, 2011. It backed its recommendation by saying safer alternatives were available in the market.

Asked why the ban wasn’t implemented all these years, FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said, “The notification is a long-drawn process. There has been no consensus among scientists on the carcinogenicity of potassium bromate. The United States has not banned it yet. Plus, the bread industry told us it would not use bromate and we believed it. We were shocked to know about the CSE findings.”

The FSSAI is still to issue a formal order banning bromate though bread manufacturers, in the wake of the CSE study, announced they would stop using the rising agent.

Chandra Bhushan, CSE deputy director general who was part of the Delhi tests, said his organisation had approached the FSSAI several times seeking a notification banning bromate after the regulator approved the scientific committee’s recommendation in 2012. But when the FSSAI made no such move, “we decided to carry out the lab tests as we believed it was important to remove bromate from bread in the interest of public health”.

The think tank’s report said bromate “was allowed based on the assumption that no residue would be found in the final product. However, studies began to find detectable residues of bromate in finished products”.

New policy to make food recall easy with barcoding system, traceability

Finally, India will have a fast and smooth food recall process, in accordance with global best practices. In this regard, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on a new draft food recall policy with technologically advanced features such as use of barcoding system and identification of actual lot to be recalled amongst large quantity through traceability mechanism.

While food recalls have been rare in India save examples such as Parle Mango Bite, last year’s Maggi noodles controversy that saw India’s biggest food recall, changed the scenario. Following the Maggi row, efforts were made to introduce a comprehensive recall policy in the country. The text of this recall policy was put forth last year for consideration, however, it did not get approval of the authority on account of certain issues, revealed a senior official from FSSAI.

He explained, “The draft was not approved because there was some disagreement on the framework. Therefore the authority had decided to redraft the policy.” The policy would be finalised soon and made operational by next financial year wherein the FSSAI has decided to make a final notification of recall regulations.

Besides, there would be a food recall portal by FSSAI that would contain all the necessary procedural advice for FBOs, and the dos and don’ts with respect to food recall. Further, the apex food regulator wants to prepare guidelines for a traceability mechanism to support the system of food recall.

When asked about the food recall policy, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, stated that it was being considered for some time and FSSAI was in the process of drafting the new policy that would be in place soon.

“It was vital for the whole food safety mechanism and we would be drafting the new set of guidelines with respect to food recall that would be put out for consideration soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, FSSAI officials informed that this recall policy would guide the FBOs on how to carry out the recall by using the barcoding system and identifying the actual lot to be recalled amongst large quantity of the said product declared unsafe. This would also help the consumers to remain alert from buying such product.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year the FSSAI asked Nestle to withdraw its Maggi noodles of all variants from market on account of some lab finding of high Lead and MSG content. The whole lot of Maggi noodles worth millions of dollars was destroyed. Not only noodles but many energy drinks were asked to initiate a recall citing non-adherence to food safety norms.

In the previous draft for recall management, there were defined subjects that include mention of “public warning,” “recall,” and the onus of the recall. It also talked about the recall plan and destruction of food along with the role of the state food safety mechanism.

The objective was to guide the food business operators on how to carry out a food recall process using global identification systems such as barcode and other mechanisms like email, paper, and fax, which facilitated fast removal of the food under recall from the distribution chain and informing consumers (where necessary) of the presence of such food in the market and ensure that it was contained and destroyed or rendered safe. It was further to guide food business operators on how to establish a written ‘Recall Plan’ for executing the food recall process in case the food is determined unsafe and to protect the health of consumers in such a situation and lay down the complete process of recall, post-recall report, closure of the recall process and follow-up action in order to ensure the effectiveness of the recall and prevent a recurrence, according to the draft.

Buyers desire mechanism to curb sale of spoilt fish

The only fish market near Stony Bridge in the city abounds with customers on Sundays. There is an element of certainty about freshness of the fishes due to fast movement of stock. But, during week days, buyers are required to take a chance.

Once in a way, the fish they buy is found spoiled after they reach home.

According to the sellers, fish will not last beyond three days even under refrigeration from the time of catch.

Since the fish has to be transported from coastal districts, the catch becomes a day old by the time it is readied for sale. And, there are strong possibilities for the unsold stock to be sold on the subsequent days.

Corporation authorities said their role is limited to ensuring the hygienic environment, and that the responsibility of checking freshness of fishes vests with the Food Safety Department.

According to Food Safety Department officials, sale of spoilt fishes will be curbed through periodic checks. There has been no specific complaint about freshness of fish, but there have been reports of fishes being fried in used oil at joints, particularly on the river banks, a senior official of Food Safety Department said, adding that periodic checks will be conducted in future to check if there is discolouration or strong odour, and body slime on the fishes.

Annual ban

Meanwhile, the supply of fishes has now increased after the completion of the annual ban on deep sea fishing. There was a likelihood for a reduction in costs in the coming weeks, sellers said.

Not adding potassium bromate in breads: Bakery owners

Mysuru: Bread makers in Mysuru are upset over the reports that banned and 'deadly' substance - potassium bromate is being used to make bread as it has hit their business by 50% in the last two weeks. 

Hotel, Sweets and Bakery Owners Association members are making a last-ditch to woo their customers back saying consumers can visit their work places to check the process of making bread and also can test their products in any labs including city-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). 

The reports have kept its consumers away from buying bread from bakeries. This percentage is little higher in upscale localities as they have totally stopped eating it. 

Krishna Bakery, Kuvempunagar, proprietor Anand told TOI that almost half of his customers have stopped buying bread. This is the first such situation he is facing. "We don't use any chemical to prepare bread or bun. Maida, sugar, refined oil and yeast is used to make them. We'll buy the best quality maida from well-known manufacturer, he claims. 

Mohammed Nissar who is the secretary of the association said, "Preservatives are used in making bread or bun to improve their shelf life. Branded makers of bread may use them as they have to keep bread for nearly a week till they're sold. The bread we make has a shelf life only of less than 48 hours or two days as no preservative is added to it. We make bread depending on the daily demand." 

"We provide quality bread and its products to our customers and none of local bread makers use any chemical substance like potassium bromate. Customers can visit shops to check how bread is made and what are the raw materials used. If they have any doubt, let them test the product in any labs or CFTRI for their satisfaction. Controversial report has hardly hit the business in Mysuru. We, the bakers see this as an effort to harass bread makers. Let the government fill in the vacancies of Food Safety Officers to conduct test of raw materials in factories as more than 80% posts are vacant in Mysuru," said Narayanagowda C, president, Association of Hotel, Bakery and Sweet shop owners. 

Potassium Bromate is used during the process of milling maida to claim their product is whiter and better than others. Some bakers or manufacturers of raw materials may add the agent for dough texture improvement to get white and soft bread, Ram Rajshekaran, director of Central Food Technological Research Institute said.

This is done to have a guaranteed shelf life of bread. "If maida is whiter, the price will be higher as it is believed that maida which is whiter is of better quality. Hence, its makers use chemical substance to make it white," he added. 

"Chemical substance like potassium bromate, however is used but it should be well within the permissible limit. It is the job of Food Safety Officers to ensure that the substance is not used beyond permissible limits as per the standards of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Officers have to collect samples and send it for analysis on regular basis and as and when it is needed. Some of the chemicals used in raw materials will be 'deadly' and hence they're supposed to send samples for analysis without fail," he said.

He said either CFTRI has received samples for analysis or any food safety officers have contacted them in this regard.

Court: Hire more food inspectors

HC to TS: Appoint food safety officers in 90 days

HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday directed both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to take steps for filling the posts of food safety officers (FSOs) and other required staff in three months. Further, it wanted both the states to double the number of existing posts of FSOs in the near future.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice P Naveen Rao was dealing with a PIL case which was taken up suo moto based on a news item published in a vernacular daily last year on rampant usage of calcium carbide chemical for artificial ripening of fruits in AP and Telangana.

Following the court direction, principal secretary to medical and health of AP state Poonam Malakondaiah appeared before the bench on Wednesday. The bench earlier ordered for appearance of the official before it to explain the reasons for delay in filling the vacant posts in the food safety wing.  During the course of hearing, the bench felt that a constant vigil on adulterators is required to prevent food adulterations and also use of chemicals in preserving foods and ripening of fruits keeping in view of safety and health of future generations.

Advocate general of AP Dammalapati Srinivas, appearing for the senior official, submitted that the government has issued a GO to fill vacancies of 9 assistant food controllers, 26 food safety officers, 13 office superintendents and 13 junior assistant which are vacant in 13 districts of the state.

The bench asked about the time to be taken for filling the above sanctioned vacancies.

In reply, the AG said that the AP Public Service Commission (APPSC) has to fill the vacancies once the authorization letter is sent to the commission by the government.

Meanwhile, the special counsel of Telangana A Sanjeev Kumar said that they had already authorised the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) for filling the posts of FSOs and other vacancies of the department.

After hearing the counsels of both the states, the bench said that as both the commissions are not parties to the present case, it would request both the commissions to complete the recruitment within three months if both the governments fulfil all formalities in authorising the commissions on the issue.

The bench posted the matter after six weeks for further hearing.

Find out if the honey you consume is pure – Here's how!

New Delhi: Not sure, whether or not the honey you got from the supermarket is pure? Unfortunately, adulteration of pure honey with synthetic honey has become more prevalent nowadays.

As per a report from Times of India, recently tests conducted at the regional analytical laboratory in Kakkanad in Kerala showed that the product available in the market had colouring agents and additives.

Food safety officials found the presence of four colouring additives -tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmozine and ponceau 4R - in the sample that were collected from different shops in the city.

The adulteration was found in ATK Food Product with its address in Manickamanga lam in Kalady, although officials believe the address is wrong.

The tests were conducted following complaints regarding the widespread use of colouring additives in honey.

While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows synthetic colours up to 100 PPM (parts per million) in a single of combination of products such as bread, chocolates and biscuits, adding colouring additives to honey is prohibited, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011.

Here are some properties that will help you distinguish pure honey and adulterated honey:

Stickiness 

Your honey is pure if not sticky when rubbed between fingers.

Thickness

Pure honey is fairly thick and takes time to move from one side of the jar to the other, whereas fake honey is light and runny.

Taste

The taste of pure honey goes away in a matter of minutes, whereas it remains for a little longer in fake honey due to presence of sugar.

Smell

Pure honey will posses a mild smell or the actual scent of the flowers from where the nectar is collected. However, a fake honey will have none or sour smell.

Dissolving method

Pure honey doesn't get dissolved in water, but settled as a solid body at the bottom of the glass. Whereas fake honey stays mixed up and gets dissolved in water right away.

Heating

Pure honey gets caramelized quickly and doesn't form foam, whereas fake honey becomes bubbly and never caramelizes.

Loose edible oil on slippery slope

Voluntary consumer organisation, Consumer Voice, has found adulteration in loose edible oil sold in the open market across the country.

Laboratory tests on loose edible oil of eight varieties namely Mustard, sesame, coconut, sunflower, palmolein, soyabean, groundnut and cottonseed conducted by the Consumer Voice has found 85% of 1,015 samples collected from 15 States including Delhi were adulterated.

Test base

The base of the tests was both on quality and safety parameters as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and samples were tested at the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratory, the Consumer Voice in a statement said.

Adulteration in oil can cause diseases like cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage, cardiac arrest and epidemic dropsy.

The 15 States covered for the samples collections include Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The Consumer Voice says as per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations 2011), no person is allowed to sell, expose to sale, distribute, offer for a sale, dispatch or deliver to anyone edible oils in loose form.

Public interest

The State government, however, in public interest, can exempt any or all edible oils from this regulation for a specific period.

“The main objective behind these tests made by Consumer Voice was to draw conclusive evidence based on scientific testing that loose edible oils sold are prone to various kinds of adulterations,” said Ashim Sanyal, Chief Operating Officer, Consumer Voice.

“This is true for all varieties of edible oil and cuts across all States where adulteration is done unhindered with no control by State FDA’s.”

The Consumer Voice collected samples of two largest selling varieties of oils in loose form from each State and tested them for visibility, odour, suspended particles, argemone oil and unsaponifiable matter.

The Consumer NGO found 85% samples of coconut oil, 74.07% samples of cottonseed oil, 74% sesame oil and 71.77% samples of mustard oil adulterated.

DINAKARAN NEWS

Study finds ramant adulteration of loose edible oil sold across country

NEW DELHI: It's the large section of poor buying loose edible oil across the country, who are at risk as they consume the adulterated kitchen item, according to a recent study conducted by a consumer organisation. 

The laboratory tests carried out by Consumer Voice after lifting 1,015 samples of loose edible oil from 15 states found that nearly 85% of coconut oil samples failed to meet the specified norms. Similarly, 74.1% of the cotton seed oil samples, 74% of sesame oil and 72% of mustard oil samples could not pass the tests. The pass percentage was better in the case of soyabean oil and sun flower oil. 

According to the findings, out of the 230 soyabean oil samples only 46 failed and in the case of sunflower oil only 34 out of the 206 samples could not pass the test.

The samples were collected from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the organisation said. The sale of loose oil is banned, though it's sold across the country. As per regulations, a state government, in public interest, can allow any or all edible oils to be sold for a specific period. 

The voluntary consumer organisation said that the base of the tests was both on quality and safety parameters as per food safety and standards regulator, FSSAI and the tests were carried at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited laboratory. "Adulteration in oil can cause diseases like cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage cardiac arrest and epidemic epidemic dropsy. Mineral oil in some edible oils causes' cancer, paralysis, allergy, liver damage. Increase in serum cholesterol are other life risk diseases," the consumer organisation said.

While advocating that sale of loose edible oil be banned it has suggested FSSAI to allow in small packets of 100 ml and 200 ml so that it reaches to everyone.

Vigilance director visits Food Safety Commissioner Office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau director Jacob Thomas visited the food safety commissionerate as part of understanding anomalies in issuing of food safety licenses.

Jacob Thomas said that his visit was as part of the formulation of creation and implementation of creative vigilance, that he has envisioned while taking charge as vigilance director. "The visit was a part of creative vigilance strategy which is a basket of measures and methods," Jacob Thomas said. 

He held discussions with food safety commissioner G R Gokul and other officials. He also sought the details of the licenses that were cancelled by food safety commissioner in the last three years. The vigilance had received complaints in 2012, 13 and 14 alleging anomalies in issuance of food safety licenses. While the complaint received in 2012 stands closed, the two other complaints are pending with the agency.

It is reliable learnt that Jacob Thomas also sought details of the actions implemented in the food safety commissioner's office. While Biju Prabhakar was food safety commissioner, he had sent a detailed letter to the vigilance about the issues to be addressed in the department. On the basis of the letter, Jacob Thomas, who was then in the vigilance, had sent a detailed proposal to the government to be implemented in the food safety sector. His visit on Wednesday was also part of inspecting the steps that have been implemented on the basis of his recommendations.

Steps against artificial ripening: TS, AP make submissions

The division bench said recruitment for FSO should be done soon

A Division bench of the Hyderabad High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice P. Naveen Rao on Wednesday took on record the submission made by the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments that they had taken steps to fill the posts of Food Safety Officer (FSO) and felt that the respective service commissions would expedite the recruitment process.

The bench was dealing with the cases pertaining to usage of carbide gas for ripening fruits and its damage to health of citizens.

On Wednesday morning Poonam Malakondiah, Principal Secretary to the Medical Department of the AP government, appeared in person and submitted proceedings.

Vacancy

As per these proceedings, the AP government had announced nine assistant food controllers, 26 food safety officers, 13 office superintendents and 13 junior assistant which were vacant in 13 districts of AP.

The APPSC had been asked to fill the posts. Similar submission was made by the Telangan government. The bench took on record the submissions made the two State governments.

The bench felt that the recruitment be done expeditiously within three months and the number of posts increased, as health of the citizens was involved.

The case would be listed after three weeks.

Food adulterator penalised Rs 3 lakh

IMPHAL, Jun 8: Adjudicating Officer (Food Safety)/Additional District Magistrate, Imphal East has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on the proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores for misbranding and adulterating Kaziranga tea.

The proprietor has been identified as Ajay Prasad (35) s/o Hargovind Prasad of Khurai Telipati in Imphal East.

According to an order passed by Adjudicating Officer/ADM, Imphal East yesterday, Ajay Prasad has been found violating Section 26 (2) (ii) of the Food Standards Act, 2006 read with Section 3 (1) (zf) (A) & (B) of the said Act and Regulations 2.10.1 (1) of Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 which is punishable under Section 52 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The order mentioned that owner/proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores must deposit the penalty amount to the State Health Department within seven days from the date of passing the order failing which the amount would be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

The order further said that if M/s Ajay Stores wishes to continue its business, the firm should get registered/licensed at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with O/o the Designated Officer (Food Safety Administration)/Food Safety Officer, Imphal East.

The order further said that once the firm is registered, the ban imposed on them would be lifted under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations, 2011.

Samples of Kaziranga tea were collected from M/s Ajay Stores on April 16 last and analysed by the Food Analyst of Public Health Food Testing Laboratory, Medical Directorate, RD Wing complex, Lamphel.

The report given by the Food Analyst regarding the samples said, “The sample bearing Code No and Serial No 8/DO/IE/31 of Imphal East does not conform to the standard and is misbranded as per Food Safety and Standard Regulation 2011.”

The Food Safety officers and police personnel, who raided M/s Ajay Stores also came across the machine used by its proprietor Ajay Prasad in adulterating Kaziranga tea with other low grade tea.

The Kangleipak Students’ Association had busted the food adulteration case.