How much can you trust the food you eat?

Some of the most popular brands in India and globally have had their share of turbulence in the past. Companies have lost trust, money and reputation and customers have lost faith

Managing and maintaining brand reputation for safe and high quality products is critical for any food company 

Today, all of us travel – whether for work or pleasure or both. Traditionally, drinking water has been a cause of concern among travelers and today “safe” bottled water is commonly available across the globe. Further, many of us use hand sanitizers before we eat, which is again a good hygiene. However, do we stop to think about the food which we eat? Are we paying enough attention to, or should we be concerned about the health & safety and hygiene standards which are followed while producing those delicious noodles, burgers and softdrinks that almost all of us indulge in; and which our children are virtually growing up on? 

Be it concerns around higher-than-permissible levels of specific ingredients in noodles or the worms in found in chocolate bars or lizards & rats in fries or be it adulteration of milk, edible oils or spurious liquor, all these are just a few examples of many that have rocked consumer confidence. This, combined with omni--present social media and increasing consumer activism, ensures that nowadays rarely a month goes by without such news of food scandals. Some of the most popular brands in India and globally have had their share of turbulence in the past. Companies have lost trust, money and reputation and customers have lost faith. The food industry is often accused of perpetrating a massive health and economic fraud. It may be in various forms like substitution, dilution, counterfeiting, tampering or misrepresentation ingredients, etc. The causes vary from accidental contamination to pure negligence – but the public outrage is universal. 

Food is an industry where customer trust and confidence is paramount. A crisis event can threaten the very viability of a business. Such a crisis event deviates the business from pursuing its strategic growth path and re-allocates almost all its resources from competing in the marketplace to fighting for survival. Companies that have undergone the above food safety incidents have since deviated from their long term strategic plans to remain just about viable to enable re-building of the brand. 

Managing and maintaining brand reputation for safe and high quality products is critical for any food company. In the past it may have been enough to produce affordable food, but now only those companies that earn the trust of consumers survive. The collisions of the megatrends and associated consumer demands means companies must not only deliver on quality and transparency but also continuously maintain trust. 

Today the consumer is always hungry; hungry for more choice, value and quality information. It’s a challenging (and an important) problem companies need to solve: how do you satisfy a market hungry for more while incorporating consumer demand and feedback? When it comes to health and safety around food products, consumers rightly insist on compliance with measures that ensure their safety. People want to know more about what they’re eating and feeding to their families, its nutritional values / health impact, how it has been grown, processed/ manufactured and much more. 

In India the apex Food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) implements and enforces food regulation as prescribed in the the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011. 

Building trust is a winning strategy that all successful food companies are prioritising and investing in to win customer preference and thus market share. This is one of the greatest opportunities for food companies to make a difference. Some of the leading companies have been able to identify this opportunity and have proactively respond to food trust concerns and safeguarded themselves against exposure to potential scandals. 

Any agribusiness value chain, from production to final consumption, can only benefit from having greater transparency and credibility along its multiple links. A good case in point is that many companies selling branded tea have started re-looking at their supply chains to ensure ethical sourcing of tea and mention this information on their retail packs. 

Food fraud requires a comprehensive action to the issues challenging the modern-day supply chains. Areas where Companies need to be watchful includes usage of third party manufacturer / co-packers, sourcing of alternative raw material, ensuring usage of food grade primary packing material, changes in vendors or usage of one time vendors, existing & upcoming regulations / legislations, maintenance of product shelf life, hygiene and storage norms across the value chain, management of crisis and product recalls. Strengthening internal controls around these aspects and bringing in stringent monitoring mechanisms has become one of the most important requirements for affected companies. 

The impacts of a disruption are costly, brand damaging and far reaching. And concernedly, they are happening in an environment of increased regularity and governance – accelerated and exaggerated by the megatrends reshaping society. 

Companies now are more alert to these issues and are investing millions to ensure integrity and safety throughout the supply chain. However, the focus of these investments is often diluted for prioritizing short term gains in cost efficiency over long term profits through efficient risk management. 

Companies needs to move beyond traditional program based on food science to developing an effective strategy focused on a preventative, risk-based approach to food frauds and effective crisis management. Viewing food trust strategy through a risk-based, preventive lens, with a focus on quality management, product integrity and traceability will help in building and sustaining trust. 

As Napoleon Bonaparte famously said, an army marches on its stomach; food is a necessity for life and only the best will do – your customer will not take a perceived or real risk to their own or their family’s health. Trust is everything!

Tirupati Laddoo Approved As Temple Gets Food Safety License

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the governing body of the Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, has at last obtained a license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

According to reports, the FSSAI license has been obtained for its famous laddu prasadam, and the food that it distributes under the Annaprasadam scheme. The FSSAI had also asked the Central Licensing Authority in Chennai to inspect the 'pottu' used in preparing the temple's famous laddus. 

This order came after an RTI application by a Bengaluru-based RTI activist in December last year. This would mean that the TTD will now follow regulations of the Food Safety Standards Act. 

The Hindu reported that the TTD, which initially objected to the directive that would allow non-Srivaishnavites into the kitchen (for inspection), changed its mind and applied for the licence last month, following which it was granted.

In his complaint, the RTI activist reportedly wrote: 

The cooks who are in preparation of these laddus in large quantity are found wearing no proper dress. They are barely clad and found sweating due to heavy heat in the kitchen. These cooks are not wearing any hand glove, apron and other safety gear. 

The laddu is a major source of the TTD's revenue and adds several crore rupees to its annual budget. It is made with flour, sugar, ghee, oil, cardamom and dry fruits. 

However, objects like iron pins, key chains and even gutka packets have been previously found in the laddus. 

In 2016, a total of 10.46 crore laddus, were sold as 'prasadam'. In its 2017 budget, the TTD stated that the sale of laddus was expected to fetch Rs 165 crore. 

In 2015, the laddu entered its 300th year. Temple officials say the sacred offering was introduced on 2 August, 1715. The laddu is in great demand on special occasions. The authorities sell the prasad round the clock during Brahmotsavam.

In 2014, about 1.8 million laddus were sold in the first seven days of Brahmotsavam, breaking all previous records. In 2014, the Office of the Registrar of Patents, Trademarks and Geographical Indications also awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status to the Tirupati laddu.

To ensure better quality, KMC starts food drive from Golpark Team

 | 20 Sep 2017 2:28 PM To ensure better quality, KMC starts food drive from Golpark Kolkata: In a bid to ensure that the quality of food is not compromised with during the Durga Puja, food safety officers of Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Wednesday kicked off their food drive from Golpark area in South Kolkata. 

The team was led by Member Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh. The drive was started from Purna Das Road where a number of restaurants serving authentic Bengali and Chinese cuisines are located. The team was dissatisfied with the hygienic condition of the kitchen at Azad Hind Dhaba where the floor was found to be very filthy. "We have instructed them to change the kitchen floor immediately and served notice to them for keeping the kitchen dirty," a health officer involved in the drive said. 

The cornflour packet that was used for cooking in the Chinese restaurant 'Bliss' was also found without the level of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which is mandatory for any packaged product. Even the kitchen at 'Tero Parbon' needs better maintenance," an official said. The team found bread crumbs with artificial colour and poor quality from the restaurant 'Jhole Jhale Ambale' which is presently closed for renovation. 

The packet of bread crumb was destroyed immediately. The Indthalia restaurant at Hindustan Park was using Ajinomoto which can be carcinogenic though the packet with the stuff had FSSAI mark. "It is written in the packet that this should not be consumed by children below 12 years. A restaurant is never in a position to cook food for children with separate ingredients. So I had urged the restaurant authorities not to use Ajinomoto in food for health reasons," Ghosh said. 

He also instructed them to furnish trade licenses inside the restaurant which was not there and had to be brought from a nearby location. The team also visited a number of roadside food stalls and made them aware of the basic food safety standards that should be followed. The team also circulated booklets brought out by the civic body as per food safety standards of FSSAI. 

"During the Puja days, we will focus on the temporary stalls that will be set up in and around the puja pandals. In the next few days, we will cover various leading restaurants across the city," Ghosh said.

KMC rolls out food safety drive ahead of Durga Pujas

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Wednesday launched a food safety drive ahead of the festive season. According to Atin Ghosh, the member, mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC health the drive would continue till September 26. The civic team on Wednesday conducted a surprise drive in Gariahat and Golpark Park area. After a couple of hours drive, the KMC health department team went back to the headquarters taking note of deplorable conditions of kitchens of three well-known restaurants and inferior quality of food ingredients found in five other eateries. 

Surprisingly, quality of food was found to be satisfactory in the street food stalls. However, the problem with these stalls was - washing utensils with turbid water. "I have asked the health officials to send notices to the owners of some restaurants where the cooks work in an unhygienic condition. We will continue with the drive and spread it across the city in next six days to ensure better quality of food is served during the festive days," Ghosh said.

Viviana Mall becomes first mall in India to conduct FOSTAC training for Food Business Operator as per FSSAI guideline

Viviana Mall, leading destination mall in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is the first mall to organize Food Safety Training & Certification (FOSTAC) has laid down by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).

The FOSTAC training program will slowly and steadily reach across all food operating businesses in order to make all operators FSSAI compliance

Joint Commissioner (FOOD) Konkan Division, FDA – Thane, Suresh Deshmukh was present during the inauguration along with Assistant Commissioner, (Food), FDA – Thane, Krishna Dabhade, who was one of the trainer training the participants from restaurants and food outlets (29 participants in all).

Assistant Commissioner, (Food), FDA – Thane, Krishna Dabhade, who himself conducted training for Food Business Operators (FBO’s) of the mall said, “The training will help food handlers to gain advanced expertise and adhere to the required guidelines in order to provide clean, hygienic, safe food to the customers. We have launched our mascot Master Sehat and Ms. Sehat as approved by FSSAI of healthy individuals. Through the mascot we aim to reach more than 20 lakh plus food operators and customers in a span of a year.”

In order to align with the future guidelines or policies by FSSAI’s, Viviana Mall organized this training for the food establishments present inside the mall. FOSTAC program developed by FSSAI will help in maintaining hygiene and food safety implementation at food establishments. The FSSAI is looking to introduce a mandatory requirement of having at least one trained and certified Food Safety Supervisor in each Food Service Establishment very soon in near future. Food safety supervisor will be responsible in preparing, processing and serving safe and hygiene food that is being served at that particular food business operator. 

Speaking at the event, Joint Commissioner (FOOD), Konkan division FDA – Thane, Suresh Deshmukh said, “FDA’s main objective is to provide clean, safe and hygienic food and we are glad that Viviana Mall, which witnesses 25, 000 to 30, 000 footfalls every day has become a part of the initiative. To spread awareness about clean and hygienic safe food, we are taking certain steps and we are thankful to Viviana Mall to provide us a platform to kick start our initiative as landmark for rest of the malls in Maharashtra State. Proper certification from FDA would be made mandatory for obtaining license for a food business in the next five – six months.”

Viviana Mall invited all the restaurants and food outlets present inside the mall to be a part of the FOSTAC training program.

CEO, Viviana Mall, Sunil Shroff said, “The mall strives to provide better quality and hygienic food to its patrons and employees in the mall. We aim to proactively make our food establishments FSSAI compliant even before the certification becomes mandatory. Even if one supervisor in a food chain is FSSAI certified, the skills can be passed to other employees too. This shall help food businesses to gain more trust from customers and deepen the brand connect.”

The FOSTAC training program will slowly and steadily reach across all food operating businesses in order to make all operators FSSAI compliance. After assessment participants will be certified as FSS (Food Safety Supervisor) which is valid for 2 years.

42 sacks of gutka, other tobacco products seized, 7 arrested

Coimbatore: Police on Wednesday arrested seven men from Rajasthan, who tried to smuggle 52 sacks of banned tobacco products to the city in three vehicles. 

They were identified as Pawar Lal, Manju Lal, Hanumanth Ram, Dhanuwal Ram, Saleem, Sundar and Dhawal Ram. They had brought the tobacco products, including gutka, from Bengaluru in a truck and two cars, Saravanampatti police sources said. 

"Food safety department officials, who had received a tip-off about tobacco products being brought into the city, were conducting vehicle check at Saravanampatti. They seized 42 sacks of gutka and other products made of tobacco from three vehicles," a police officer said. 

The accused are residents of Ponnairajapuram in the city. Pawar Lal was arrested for the same offence about five months ago at Rathinapuri, the officer said. 

Police booked them under Section 269, 270, 280, 341, 353 and 506 (2) of the Indian Penal Code for negligent and malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life, rash navigation of a vessel as to endanger human life, punishment for wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty respectively. The accused have also been booked under Section 7 of the cigarette and other tobacco products Act. 

They were remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday evening.

கடைகளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு: உணவுப்பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் குறித்து ‘வாட்ஸ்அப்’பில் புகார் தெரிவிக்கலாம்

கடைகளில் உணவுப்பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் குறித்து ‘வாட்ஸ் அப்’பில் புகார் தெரிவிக்கலாம் என கலெக்டர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். 

திருவண்ணாமலை, 

திருவண்ணாமலை அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோவிலுக்கு தமிழகத்தில் மட்டும் அல்லாமல் வெளிநாடுகளில் இருந்தும் ஏராளமான பக்தர்கள் வருகின்றனர். பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் பஸ்களில்தான் திருவண்ணாமலைக்கு வருகின்றனர். திருவண்ணாமலை பஸ் நிலையத்தை சுற்றி அதிக அளவில் கடைகள், ஓட்டல்கள் செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றன. இங்கு தரமற்ற மற்றும் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக புகார்கள் எழுந்தன.

இதனையடுத்து கலெக்டர் கே.எஸ்.கந்தசாமி நேற்று பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளுக்கு சென்று திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டார்.

ஆய்வின்போது டீக்கடைகள், பழக்கடைகளில் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் உள்ளதா? ஓட்டல்களில் உள்ள உணவு தரமானதுதானா? என பார்வையிட்டார். சில பொருட்களையும் எடுத்து தயாரிப்பு தேதி உள்ளிட்ட விவரங்களை பார்வையிட்டார். இதில் காலாவதியான மற்றும் தரமற்ற உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட கடைகளுக்கு அபராதம் விதிக்கப்பட்டது

இதனை தொடர்ந்து அவர் நிருபர்களுக்கு பேட்டி அளித்தார்.

அப்போது அவர் கூறியதாவது:-

உணவுப்பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் என்பது தற்போது பெரிய பிரச்சினையாக கருதப்படுகிறது. தரமற்ற உணவுப்பொருட்களை பொதுமக்கள் வாங்குவதை தடுக்க விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தவும், அவ்வாறு விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் கடைகளுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை விடுக்கும் விதமாகவும் இந்த ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.

நுகர்வோர்கள் பொருட்கள் வாங்கும் முன்பு அந்த பொருட்கள் தரமானதா? காலாவதியாகி உள்ளதா? என்பதை தெரிந்து கொண்டு வாங்க வேண்டும். கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் பொருட்களில் குறைபாடுகள் இருந்தால் அது குறித்த புகாரை 94440 -42322 என்ற ‘வாட்ஸ்- அப்’ எண்ணிற்கு புகைப்படமாகவோ, வீடியோ பதிவாகவோ, எழுத்து மூலமாகவோ பதிவு செய்து அனுப்பலாம். மேலும் அதில் எந்த இடத்தில் கடை அமைந்துள்ளது குறித்த விவரத்தையும் தெரிவிக்கலாம். புகார் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்ட 24 மணி நேரத்தில் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.

திருவண்ணாமலை பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள நகராட்சி சுகாதார வளாகத்தை பொதுமக்கள் இலவசமாக பயன்படுத்தும் வகையில் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். மேலும் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள அனைத்து பஸ் நிலைய கட்டிடங்களின் உறுதித்தன்மை குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்யப்பட்டு குறைபாடுகள் இருப்பின் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். தரமற்ற உணவுப்பொருட்களை விற்றால் அந்த கடைகளுக்கு அபராதம் மட்டும் இன்றி, கடைக்கு சீல் வைக்கும் நடவடிக்கையும் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும்.

இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

அதிகாரிகள் சோதனையின்போது ஒரு சில கடைகளில் தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலைப்பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டது தெரிய வந்தது. இதையடுத்து அதிகாரிகள் அந்த பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

ஆய்வின்போது நகராட்சி கமிஷனர் பாரிஜாதம், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் செந்தில்குமார், நகர்நல அலுவலர் வினோத்குமார், நகர உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் காலேஷ்குமார், ஒன்றிய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் சுப்பிரமணி, சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் வினோத்கண்ணா உள்பட பலர் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

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Prohibited tobacco products worth Rs.17 lakh seized

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பெங்களூருவில் இருந்து கோவைக்கு கடத்தப்பட்ட ரூ.15 லட்சம் போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் 7 பேர் கைது

பெங்களூருவில் இருந்து கோவைக்கு கடத்தி வரப்பட்ட ரூ.15 லட்சம் போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இதுதொடர்பாக தொழில் அதிபர்கள் உள்பட 7 பேரை போலீசார் கைது செய்தனர். 

கோவை,

கோவையில் உள்ள ஒரு வீட்டுக்கு கன்டெய்னர் வேனில் போதை பாக்கு (பான்பராக்) பாக்கெட்டுகள் பெங்களூருவில் இருந்து கடத்தி வரப்பட்டுள்ளதாக போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. உடனே போலீசார் அங்கு சென்று கன்டெய்னர் வேனை திறந்து சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

அதில் குவியல், குவியலாக போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகள் இருந்தன. அருகில் நிறுத்தப்பட்டு இருந்த மற்றொரு சிறிய வேனிலும் போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகள் காணப்பட்டன.

இதுதொடர்பாக வேன் டிரைவர்களிடம் விசாரணை நடத்திய போது, பெங்களூருவில் இருந்து போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகள் கடத்தி வரப்பட்டு கோவை மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் வடமாநில தொழில் அதிபர்கள் சப்ளை செய்து வருவது தெரியவந்தது. பிடிபட்ட போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகளின் மொத்த மதிப்பு ரூ.15 லட்சம் ஆகும்.

இதையடுத்து வட மாநில தொழில் அதிபர்கள் பவர்லால் (வயது 40), மஞ்சுலால் (43), டிரைவர்கள் அனுமன்ராம் (21), சானிவால் ராம் (25), சுந்தர் (29), தொழிலாளர்கள் சலீம் (27), சாவாராம் (25) ஆகியோர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர். அவர்களிடம் தீவிர விசாரணை நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.

கைதான தொழில் அதிபர் பவர்லால், கோவையில் குடோன் வைத்துள்ளார். சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு ஒரு கும்பல் இங்கிருந்து போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகளை கொள்ளையடித்து சென்றது. இந்த வழக்கின் போது சட்டவிரோதமாக போதை பாக்கு பாக்கெட்டுகளை பதுக்கி வைத்தது தொடர்பாக தன் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யாமல் இருக்க, கோவை போலீஸ் துணை கமி‌ஷனராக இருந்த சுகுமார் லஞ்சம் பெற்றதாக லஞ்ச ஒழிப்பு போலீசில் பவர்லால் புகார் செய்தார்.

இது தொடர்பாக சுகுமார் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டு கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு விசாரணை நடைபெற்று வருகிறது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

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TTD obtains licence formaking laddu, prasadam

Sequel to tough line taken by FSSAI on quality concerns raised by activist

The TTD at last has obtained a central licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for both its famed laddu and the food which it distributes free among the devotees under the Nitya Annaprasadam scheme. 

The TTD, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory to certify the quality of laddu and other ‘anna prasadams’ being prepared in the temple kitchen on a daily basis, did not have any central licence to run its kitchen. A Bengaluru-based activist, T. Narasimhamurthy filed a complaint with the FSSAI in July last alleging that laddus were being prepared in unhygienic surroundings. The presence of materials such as nuts, bolts and gutkha covers in some laddus sold to devotees pointed to this, he had alleged. Reacting strongly, the FSSAI directed the Central Licensing Authority in Chennai to inspect the temple kitchen and submit a detailed report. The authority made it clear that as laddu is a food item as defined under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, TTD should obtain the certificate. 

The TTD, which initially took objection to the directive on the ground that allowing non-Srivaishnavites into the kitchen would hurt the sentiments of devotees, however changed its mind and applied for the licence last month. Talking to The Hindu the Deputy Executive Officer (Annadanam) Mr. Venugopal confirmed the receipt of the certificate for both laddu as well as ‘anna prasadam.’ 

Assistant Executive Officer (Potu) Ashok said the TTD had obtained the certificate in the month of August itself.

‘30 lakh temples in India do not adhere to food safety standards’

BENGALURU: "A six-month jail term and a fine of Rs 5 lakh is levied on those operating without licenses,” says T Narasimha Murthy, which is not being followed in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s (TTD) case. He adds that the TTD is prompt in taking their own issues to court, but don’t want to follow any rules themselves. “For example, there was a sweet shop in Chennai called ‘Tirupati Ladoos’. TTD approached the TN High Court and had the shop shut down.”

The way ahead

The TTD has obtained the license (which will have to be renewed each year) for operating as a FBO (Food Business Operator), making Murthy’s fight successful after several threats sent his way to back off over the last few months. “They have finally obtained the license about a month ago. Usually, when the documents are submitted to us and if they are all in place, we issue the license within a day or two,” says Dr M Kannan, southern regional deputy director, Central Licensing Authority, FSSAI. He adds that apart from Murthy’s efforts, the FSSAI has also been trying to get various temples to get licences, and now that TTD has got its, others will follow. 

Murthy claims that there are close to 30 lakh temples in the country that do not adhere to food safety standards. “I see the TTD as the Supreme Court, and now that I have succeeded in making them get a license, I can focus on other temples in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and then Golden Temple,” he says adding that RTIs are the best way to get anything done in this country. 

When CE contacted TTD, they were unavailable for comment.

Health Min orders Punjab Food Safety admin to crack whip against food adulteration mafia

Chandigarh, Sept 19 (UNI) Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra today issued strict instruction to the State food safety administration to keep an eagle’s eye on the production of food items besides conducting random sampling of the food items and selling of food like sweets, fast food, packed food and bakery items. District Health Officers and assistant food commissioners have been mandated to take stern legal action against such anti social elements who play with the lives of the innocent citizens by selling adulterated food items. 

These instructions were issued by the Minister while chairing high level meeting of Food Safety Administration of state and district authorities here. He said that it is a matter of serious concern that many manufactures are indulging in the producing food items using harmful chemical and contaminated ingredients which causes illness to the consumers in the state. He said erring sellers or manufacturer will not spared at any cost and there is no laxity for the mafia who are running the trade of adulterated food items. 

Mr Mohindra said that instructions have also been issued to all SSPs to provide security to concerning officers for conducting raids at odd time. He also instructed inter-district teams at head office to conduct the special drive against adulteration in the field. He said that during this drive, special checking point would be set at Punjab’s border areas to break the supply line of adulterated food like khoya, ghee and other food items. He instructed the all officers to ensure that small vendors may not feel harassment on the name of food adulteration. 

He said especially, cold stores wherein bulk of food products have been kept, and dedicated places of production like sweet and bakery items must be checked. He said that all cold stores for storage and manufacturing places should be neat and clean. Mr Mohindra said in such cases, where food seems to be unsafe for human consumption, articles of food must be seized and send to the laboratory. The Minister also asked the officers to share the obstacles faced during the raids and sampling for further departmental reforms in the department. He said soon, a dedicated app will be launched by the department to bring transparency in the functioning of food safety department.

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Action plan soon to curb adulteration of eible oil

Expedite check on edible oil brands, HC to food safety dept

Madurai: Directing the food safety and drug administration to expedite its task of checking edible oil brands on various parameters, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Monday further directed it to enforce the department's WhatsApp number (9444042322) created for receiving complaints from consumers on adulteration, poor quality or labelling defects of the oil scrupulously. 

The division bench of justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan gave this direction while disposing of a petition filed by one K Ravichandran that sought to constitute committee to examine edible oil packets available in market to ascertain whether it is fit for consumption. 

During hearing, the special government pleader (SGP) M Govidan told the court the state government's Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration, created on December 22, 2011, is acting effectively for the enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006. 

Since the inception of the department, 1,402 edible oil samples were analysed, of which 20 were found unsafe and 507 were found contravene to the FSSA. Eighteen cases were filed before the judicial magistrate courts which gave conviction in eight cases and imposed Rs 1.68 lakh penalty. A total of 384 cases were put forth before the adjudication officer, of which 238 were convicted and Rs 49.89 lakh was imposed as penalties, the SGP said. 

Besides, based on complaints given by public, the department made inspections. Now, the food safety and drug administration commissioner P Amudha has constituted a state-level committee to monitor the quality of edible oil based on FSSA. 

The committee, having deputy director of the department as its head and designated officers of Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Virudhunagar, Madurai and Tuticorin as its members will look into adulteration in edible oil, adherence to FSSA standards and labelling/ mislabelling. 

The committee will meet immediately to check/ scrutinise the various brands of edible oil available in the market for safety, standards and labelling as per FSSA and rules, the SGP said. 

He also said instructions will be given to the district offices to lift the samples of all major oil brands and send a report to the state committee on the test results and labelling discrepancies.

New norms on anvil to deal with sub-standard imports

Imported items will have to be of a certain minimum quality; FSSAI, BIS, and APEDA are working towards setting standards and technical regulations

The government is working towards strengthening standards norms and certification for the shipments coming into the country, as a part of its strategy to rein sub-standard imports from countries including China.

“We are pushing for certain standardisation of products that come into the country. This will not only result in exports promotion, but also curb cheap imports from countries,” a senior government official told Moneycontrol.

Any item that enters the Indian shores must adhere to certain quality and standards, the official said, adding that sector regulators such as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Bureau of Indian Standards, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), among others are working towards setting certain standards and technical regulations for imports.

Another government official said that the commerce ministry has told other ministries to consistently monitor and review imports of goods pertaining to their industry.

Former Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that India should provide quality goods at an affordable price and set standards, rather than following them.

In May, Sitharaman also launched the India Standards Portal that acts as a hub for all information on standards, technical regulations, accreditation practices, and the related bodies in India.

The development comes at a time when there has also been a growing clamour on for import restriction on items, especially related to renewable energy, electronics and information technology as inward shipments of these products has escalated from China.

Indian steel industry had in the last two years faced the brunt of surge in cheap imports, especially from China that rendered local companies uncompetitive.

Similarly, in the last two years, government had imposed quality control order on steel products, after imports Indian market was flooded with poor quality imports of the alloy. Of the total inward shipments, China—the largest producer, consumer and exporter of the alloy—accounted for most of it.

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வீட்டில் பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த ரூ.9 லட்சம் மதிப்பிலான புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

சேலம் பொன்னம்மாபேட்டையில் வீட்டில் பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த ரூ.9 லட்சம் மதிப்பிலான புகையிலை பொருட்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.
சேலம்,
சேலம் பொன்னம்மாபேட்டை அண்ணாநகர் 4-வது தெருவில் உள்ள ஒரு வீட்டில் அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக, சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ‘வாட்ஸ் அப்‘ எண்ணிற்கு புகார் வந்தது. அந்த புகாரின் பேரில், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் மாரியப்பன் தலைமையில் அதிகாரிகள் அந்த பகுதியில் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
அப்போது, அங்குள்ள கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி என்பவரது வீட்டில் அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா, பான்மசாலா உள்ளிட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டு இருப்பது கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து அதிகாரிகள் கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தியிடம் விசாரணை நடத்தினர்.
பறிமுதல்
விசாரணையில், ராஜஸ்தான் மாநிலத்தை சேர்ந்த மனோகர் சிங் (வயது 40) என்பவர் கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி வீட்டை வாடகைக்கு எடுத்து, புகையிலை பொருட்களை பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து வீட்டில் மூட்டை, மூட்டையாக பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த புகையிலை பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.
பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களின் மதிப்பு ரூ.9 லட்சம் என்று அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர். மேலும் இதுதொடர்பாக மனோகர் சிங்கிடம் அதிகாரிகள் விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகிறார்கள்.

ரூ.9 லட்சம் மதிப்பு குட்கா பறிமுதல்: ராஜஸ்தான் வாலிபரிடம் விசாரணை

சேலம்: சேலத்தில், வீட்டில் பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த, 9 லட்சம் ரூபாய் மதிப்பிலான பான் மசாலா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.
சேலம், பொன்னமாபேட்டையில், பான் மசாலா, குட்கா ஆகியவை, சட்ட விரோதமாக பதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக, சேலம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலகத்துக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. நியமன அலுவலர் மாரியப்பன் தலைமையில் குழுவினர், நேற்று மாலை, அப்பகுதிக்கு சென்று, ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது, ஒரு வீட்டிற்குள், 9 லட்சம் ரூபாய் மதிப்பில், குட்கா, பான் மசாலா ஆகியவை, 776 கிலோ அளவுக்கு இருந்தது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. விசாரணையில், கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தியின் வீட்டில், ராஜஸ்தான் மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த மனோகர் சிங், 40, வாடகைக்கு தங்கி, புகையிலை பொருட்களை பதுக்கி விற்றுவந்தது தெரிந்தது. அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்த அதிகாரிகள், சென்னை, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை ஆய்வகத்துக்கு அனுப்பி, மனோகர் சிங், கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தியிடம் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.
மாரியப்பன் கூறுகையில், ''போதை பொருட்களை விற்பது குறித்து தகவல் தெரிந்தால், 94440 - 42322 வாட்ஸ்ஆப் எண்ணுக்கு, மக்கள் தகவல் தெரிவிக்கலாம். உடனடி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்,'' என்றார்.

தடை செய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா விற்பது இல்லை: மளிகை ஷாப் வர்த்தக சங்கம் முடிவு

சேலம்: 'அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களை விற்பது இல்லை' என, மளிகை ஷாப் வர்த்தக நலச்சங்க கூட்டத்தில், தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டது.
சேலம், செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டை மளிகை ஷாப் வர்த்தக நலச்சங்க பொதுக்குழு கூட்டம், தலைவர் நடராஜன் தலைமையில், நேற்று நடந்தது. செயலாளர் தர்மலிங்கம், சேலம் அனைத்து வணிகர் சங்க பொதுச் செயலாளர் ஜெயசீலன் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலை வகித்தனர். சங்க உறுப்பினர்கள், அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்வது இல்லை; தமிழகத்துக்கு தேவைப்படும் உளுந்து, துவரை, கடலை ஆகியவை, வெளி மாநிலங்களில் இருந்து விற்பனைக்கு வரும் நிலையில், அதன் விலை உயர்வுக்கு, வியாபாரிகள் பொறுப்பேற்க முடியாது. டெங்கு காய்ச்சல் உள்ளிட்ட நோய் பரவாமல் தடுக்க, குப்பையை மாநகராட்சியின் வாகனங்களில் மட்டுமே போட வேண்டும். செவ்வாய்ப்பேட்டை, கடைவீதி, முக்கோணம் சீனிவாசா பார்க் பகுதியில், மேம்பால பணி பல மாதங்களாக கிடப்பில் உள்ளது. அவற்றை விரைந்து முடித்து, கடைவீதிக்கு வரும் லாரிகள், வாகனங்கள் இடையூறு இன்றி வந்து செல்ல, மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். லைசென்ஸ் இன்றி வாகனம் ஓட்டுபவர், அதிக பாரம் ஏற்றுபவர், மொபைலில் பேசியபடி வாகனம் ஓட்டுபவர்களை கடுமையாக தண்டிக்க வேண்டும். அதை விடுத்து, தலைக்கவசம் கட்டாயம் அணிய வேண்டும் என நிர்ப்பந்தித்து வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யக்கூடாது என, போலீஸ் துறை, அரசை கேட்டுக் கொள்வது என்பன உள்பட பல்வேறு தீர்மானங்கள் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டன.

Rules permit limited inspection of eateries

Burden of non-communicable diseases high in TN

food department Dist food safety officials yet to collect samples of mid-day meal from schools

Indore: Despite worms being found in mid-day meal of a school and one month after the order for collection of samples of food items being served to children in government-run schools under mid-day meal scheme, district food safety department is yet to take any action.
Only three days ago, a teacher of Government Middle School number-40 in Dhakkanwala Kuan, had spotted worms in the mid-day meal when the food was about to be served to the students. Following the incident, about 200 students of the school had refused to eat mid-day meal. They were ready to eat the food only after the senior officials from zila panchayat assured them of quality of the food.
"Maintaining quality of the food being served under mid-day meal scheme should be priority of the authorities concerned since its main objective is to improve nutritional status of school children," said a senior administrative official wishing anonymity.
The scheme has remained helpful in increasing the enrolment, retention and attendance of children at government school, and thus, it increases responsibility of the departments concerned for its proper implementation, he added.

Food business operators told to obtain licence

The district administration has asked food business operators (FOBs) to register themselves with the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and obtain a licence, failing which action will be taken against them.
Collector S. Prabhakar said that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have made it mandatory under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for them to obtain licence for operating their business.
There are 18,002 government and private food business operators in the district of which 1,829 had registered themselves, and 7,864 had obtained licence.
Food business operators include food manufacturers, stockists, transporters, tea shops, bakeries, roadside eateries, meat sellers, fruit and vegetable sellers, hotels, canteens in educational institutions, marriage halls, people who sell flour, provision shops, distributors, oil producers and sellers, private milk storage companies, flour mills, persons involved in export and import, cold storage units, wholesale distributors, manufacturers of beverages and other food businesses.
The Collector said that action will be taken against operators who were functioning without registration or licence. Operators can contact the Office of the District Designated Officer functioning at the Erode Government Hospital premises on Mondays and Fridays either in person from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. or through WhatsApp number 99439-84071.
Online forms are available at www.fssai.gov.in
Public can lodge complaints related to the food items at 0424-2223545 or through WhatsApp at 94440-42322.

SUB-STANDARD NOVA SKIMMED MILK: FSAT endorses Rs 4 lakh fine on MP-based firm

 

The food safety appellate tribunal in Kashmir has upheld fine of rupees four lakh imposed by a food adjudicating officer on a Madhya Pradesh-based company after analysis reports attested its skimmed milk powder samples as substandard.
Presiding officer of FSAT Kashmir Muhammad Yousuf Akhoon upheld the order of the adjudicating food officer Anantnag against Sterling Agro Industries Limited, the manufactures of NOVA brand of skimmed milk powder.
“The sample of skimmed milk powder NOVA sample has been found of substandard quality since it contained less protein content and higher ash content than the prescribed limit,” the Tribunal said.
While the Tribunal held that the skimmed milk powder was admittedly meant for distribution among different Anganwadi centers of district Anantnag, it said the company cannot escape its liability as it is the manufacturer of this skimmed milk powder that was meant for human consumption, ‘more-so by children who are prone to be affected even by the slightest adulteration in food product,”
The company had approached the Tribunal in appeal against the order of adjudicating officer food safety Anantnag who had imposed the fine on the company after a Punjab-based accredited laboratory and Kolkata-based referral laboratory declared NOVA brand of skimmed milk powder samples as substandard.
After the officer had inspected stores of ICDS project Anantnag, he lifted samples from the stocked skimmed milk powder packets that were meant for distribution among different Anganwadi centers in the district and supplied by Nazir Ahmad Kawa.
Four parts of the skimmed milk powder (one kilogram each) bearing batch no (HR 15) and manufacturing address of M/S Sterling Agro Industries Limited Ghironji Industries Area, Malanpur District (MP), were taken as samples in keeping with the procedure laid down under Section 47 of FSS Act, 2006.
For detection of any violation of the provisions of FSS Act, one part of the sample was sent to a lab food analyst Kashmir and the second part to accredited laboratory—Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali, Punjab.
The other two parts of the sample were handed over to the designated officer food safety and standards Anantnag.
While the food analyst Kashmir declared the sample as of standard quality, the Punjab-based accredited lab declared it as sub-standard in violation of the FSS Act. After the reports of the two laboratories were at variance, the second part of the sample was sent to a referral laboratory in Kolkata for final opinion.
The referral laboratory declared the sample of sub-standard quality on the basis of detection of less protein and higher ash content than the prescribed limits.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Kawa had purchased the skimmed milk powder from M/S Sterling Agro Industries Limited, the manufacturer of the food product.
The food safety officer placed the compliant before the adjudicating officer food safety (additional deputy commissioner Anantnag) and he imposed a fine of Rs 4 lakh on the company after coming to the conclusion that its skimmed milk product was substandard.
“The report of referral laboratory Kolkata is to be taken as final in keeping with FSS Act,” the Tribunal said, dismissing the appeal as devoid of merit.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal ordered that the amount of penalty recovered from the appellant company which stands deposited in FDR with J&K Bank, branch old secretariat, be deposited in the government treasury along with the interest after the period of appeal is over.

Unlicensed water plant sealed

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This Delhi Man Found Insects & Bugs In Domino’s Oregano Sachets

 

We all like to have days when we can kick back and relax with a chilled beverage and a pizza. Cooking seems like such a task these days and we’d rather spend that time watching TV or having a conversation. The pizza arrives and our gut instinct is to reach out for the packets that contain chilli flakes and oregano, and many of us sprinkle them all over our pizza without a second thought. They’re only condiments, right? Well, you may want to look closely from now on, for this man found insects in Dominos pizza oregano packets and he’s uploaded a revolting video on social media as proof.

Insects In Dominos Pizza Packets

Delhi’s Rahul Arora had ordered a pizza like any other person on Friday evening and fell ill the morning after. He happened to notice tiny insects moving around in the oregano sachets and even uploaded a video where he opens a completely sealed packet pours out the contents into a small steel bowl. You can immediately see the tiny brown insects scurrying away.

Domino’s has replied to Arora’s tweet saying that they follow strict procedures and that they’d want to investigate the matter with him over a private conversation. The sachets even have the FSSAI accreditation on them. In which case, we wonder whether brands really adhere to the rules and regulations that FSSAI has put into place when they package anything.

Rahul Arora later got a call from Domino’s offering to replace his order. But, he told them off by saying that the issue is not a home delivery complaint and that the illness was caused due to the consumption of contaminated food. It’s wrong to trivialise such a thing.

He has also registered a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs and is waiting for a response. As quoted to NDTV, he said that “I wonder what would have happened if this happened in the US,” and that “The chalta hai attitude towards Indian consumers should end.”

Now, we understand that Domino’s probably doesn’t package its own oregano, and it probably has outsourced this to another company that prints and packages the herbs under the name of the brand. This does lead us to think whether the source goes through quality check from time to time.

Update

Since the video and Arora’s story went viral over the internet, Domino’s has released a statement that says, “This is with respect to a Consumer Complaint received on 11th September 2017 regarding oregano sachets, supplied by one of our vendors, in an outlet in Gurugram. The Company has since carried out a comprehensive inspection across vendors & stores and would like to reassure that all our food ingredients are safe for consumption and we have not received any other complaint of this nature.” 

“Jubilant FoodWorks maintains stringent hygiene and quality standards for its products. All the vendors and manufacturing units are FSMS (food safety management systems) certified. We also have Hazard & Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified (globally accepted standard for quality certification) commissaries where we follow strict quality standards and have a regular Audit process of all ingredients used.”

“Jubilant FoodWorks values its consumer’s experience and would like to reassure all its Consumers about best quality products, service and a great Domino’s experience at all times.”

Fungal Infection on imported wheat: Food safety nod must for distribution, Says Kerala HC

KOCHI: Imported wheat that was found to have fungal infection should not be distributed without the approval of food safety commissioner, the Kerala high court has ordered.

While issuing the directive, a division bench led by the chief justice said it is not possible to compromise in the matter of food safety and health. The court was considering an appeal filed by the state government regarding release of wheat imported by a private firm that was seized upon finding that it is not fit for use.

Kozhikode-based PK Roller Flour Mills had imported 20,000 tonnes of wheat from Ukraine through Kochi port in December last year. Food safety department had seized the wheat alleging that the wheat had fungal infection and is old.

Challenging the food safety department's action at the high court, the company had alleged that the wheat can be used after washing and drying it. A single bench had allowed for inspecting 20 tonnes of the wheat stored at a warehouse of the port after washing it. The company then sought a directive to shift the wheat to Kozhikode for washing. The court allowed such action to be carried out in the presence of an advocate commissioner.

During the hearing on the appeal filed by the food safety commissioner, state government contended that the wheat is not fit for human consumption and distribution of the wheat would create health problems.

India likely to ban cheap Pepper imports siting quality concerns

For the past few months Cheap Pepper imports from Vietnam has been causing problems in India, as decline in domestic prices being the main problem. Now the Spices board has recommended a ban on imports of Pepper siting quality concerns.

Pepper prices in India has declined to about Rs 400 per kg from Rs 650 per kg about a year ago, on the back of cheap imports from Vietnam through Sri lanka. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put the Vietnamese Pepper under the scanner for suspected contamination. 

Three months ago, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), expecting to bring some stability in prices launched trading in Malabar Garbled Black Pepper futures contract, but due to the cheap import it did not get the desired result.

It is estimated that Vietnam has exported about 3000 tons of Pepper to Sri Lanka during July and another 2000 tons in August and from that a majority share has arrived in India. Import from Sri Lanka carries a duty of 8 percent under the SAARC agreement, compared with 70 percent from other countries.

Appellate Tribunal upholds penalty on Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder

SRINAGAR, Sept 15: The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar has upheld the order by Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag, imposing a penalty of Rs 4.00 lakh on the manufacturer of the food product Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder for manufacturing and selling substandard skimmed milk powder.

Dismissing the appeal, filed by the manufacturer in the High Court, the Appellate Tribunal observed that it did not find any merit in the appeal. “The amount of penalty recovered from the appellant company which stands deposited in FDR with J&K Bank, Branch Old Secretariat, Srinagar be deposited in the Government Treasury along with the interest accrued thereon under rules after the period of appeal is over,” the court said.

A complaint under Section 26(2)(ii) of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 punishable under Section 51 of FSS Act, 2006, was filed by the enforcement authorities of Drug and Food Control Organization before the court of Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag against . Kuldeep Saluja, Laxmi Narian, Managing Partners of M/S Sterling Agro Industries Limited, Ghironji Industries Area Malanpur District Blind (MP) (Manufacturer of Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder), among others, for manufacturing and selling substandard skimmed milk powder.

After completion of enquiry, the Adjudicating Officer, Anantnag imposed a penalty of Rs 4.00 lakh on the manufacturer of the food product (Nova Brand Skimmed Milk Powder). The order impugned imposing penalty on the manufacturer was challenged before the High Court of J&K, at Srinagar. As soon as the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Kashmir became functional in the, month of January, 2017, the High Court at Srinagar directed the Registry to send the petition along with complete paper book to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar.

The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, Srinagar observed that the skimmed milk powder was meant for distribution among different Anganwari Centers of district Anantnag. The company cannot escape its liability as because it is the manufacturer of this skimmed milk powder (Nova Brand) that was meant for human consumption, more so by children who are prone to be affected even by a slightest adulteration in a food product.

Sale of adulterated, unhygienic foodstuff goes unchecked in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sept 15: The authorities here have failed to launch an effective campaign to check sale of adulterated and unhygienic foodstuff that is posing serious health threats to public.

Experts believe that the sale of substandard and highly adulterated foodstuff including cooked and uncooked items is going on unnoticed in almost all markets of the valley. 

"Though the consumers are complaining of the phenomenon, the concerned authorities have not planned a comprehensive crackdown against those involved in the devilry," one of the doctors who have served in the SMC Srinagar said.

He said that the sale of highly adulterated daily use commodities is a major cause behind a number of ailments particularly involving stomach and kidney.

Sources said that majority of local restaurants, shopkeepers, bakers, fast food centres and vendors in the city have been selling unhygienic foodstuff in extremely unhygienic conditions mainly because none of the concerned government authorities is giving due attention to provision of hygienic and clean foodstuff to consumers.

The concerned authorities have been doing almost nothing to safeguard poor public from food and water-borne diseases including viral hepatitis (A&E), gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and dysentery, said a social activist.

Pleading anonymity, one of the officials said that it is strange that the high-ups in the government have been elaborating a lot to improve healthcare services for public but doing almost nothing to eliminate causes behind ailments. It is ironical to take action on effects instead of removing causes, he said.

The authorities have not planned any crackdown against local hotels, shopkeepers and vendors selling unhygienic foodstuff while there is also no regular check on sale of food adulteration. However the divisional administration said that they are working hard to check sale of substandard and adulterated foodstuff in the markets.

They added that the concerned staff is collecting samples of food items regularly in routine from markets and send those to laboratory for quality checking.

FCS&CA Minister Chowdary Zulfikar said that the government is committed to curb the food adulteration in the state. "I have directed the field officials to regularly collect samples of various items and get these checked. We have intensified surveillance across the state and initiated a cross-verification of surveillance work by sending food safety officials outside their jurisdictions for inspection," the minister maintained.

It is to also pertinent to mention here that the State High Court has recently directed government to make food testing laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu functional by providing required manpower under Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. 

"Respondent State has to forthwith initiate action in setting up testing laboratories, as directed by the court, one at Srinagar and one at Jammu. We hope and trust that, two laboratories would be made functional," a division bench of the court comparing Justice M H Attar and Justice A M Magrey had said while hearing a suo-moto PIL.

FSSAI targets supplements, looks to curb doping in sports

Food regulator FSSAI will bring in rules on the presence of doping substances in food and nutritional supplements that are usually sold off the shelf

‘We have formed a working committee consisting of experts from relevant industries for technical assistance,’ FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal has said. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

New Delhi: The country’s food regulator now wants to curb the use of prohibited performance-enhancing substances by sports professionals through nutritional supplements.

Over the next few months, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will bring in regulations on the presence of doping substances in food and nutritional supplements that are usually sold off the shelf. Companies will have to follow specific labelling norms for selling food and nutritional supplements. Both domestically produced products and imported supplements will come under the FSSAI regime.

FSSAI, which signed a five-year agreement with National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Thursday, will develop capacities at its laboratories to test for the presence of restricted or prohibited substances in food and nutritional supplements.

At present, FSSAI laboratories do not have either the expertise or the capacity for this. NADA, however, does.

“We have formed a working committee consisting of experts from relevant industries for technical assistance. A draft regulation will be discussed in the next meeting on 21 September,” said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI.

Besides FSSAI’s own team, the committee will have representatives from NADA, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Narcotics Control Bureau, among others. FSSAI is also in the process of constituting a team for surveillance and enforcement of regulations. “As part of awareness development among consumers, we’ll also bring a special usage guide. Most of the doping is done without knowledge and they have ill-effects in the long term,” Agarwal added.

FSSAI and NADA held a series of meetings on the subject of doping in the last few months after the latter requested the food regulator to frame standards and regulations. “Doping is a menace we need to stop. With FSSAI, we’ll try to ensure availability of safe supplements for competing athletes, among others. There are about 300 substances that are prohibited globally. Of these, about 10 such as steroids, are commonly used,” said Navin Aggarwal, CEO and director general, NADA.

Last year, FSSAI notified standards for health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary use, foods for special medical purposes, functional foods and novel foods. According to the notification, these foods should “consist of a composition delivering the desired level of energy, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and other essential nutrients required for the respective age group, gender and physiological stage in accordance with the guidelines made by the Indian Council of Medical Research”.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in its doping violation report for 2015, ranked India third after the Russian Federation and Italy. In 2015, 117 athletes failed to clear dope tests.

The Indian government had, in 2013, drafted the National Sports Development Bill that highlighted elimination of doping practices. As per a 27 April report in the Indian Express, the government has been working on a new legislation to make doping by athletes a criminal offence and the proposed law could include coaches, manufacturers and suppliers of these products.

FSSAI, NADA ink pact to ensure dope-free nutrition supplements

Concerned over doping cases in sportspersons, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) today signed an agreement to put in place a system to ensure dope- free sports nutrition supplements are sold in the market.

At present, the NADA conducts test on human beings for doping, but there is no mechanism in place to test 'doping substance' in nutrition supplements that are consumed both by sportspersons and fitness enthusiasts. "Doping has been a major concern with us.

When we analysed the cases, we found many of the athletes involved in doping were on account of nutrition supplements. We took up with the FSSAI to address the issue," NADA Director General and CEO Navin Agarwal told reporters after the signing of the agreement.

The NADA chief added: "This holistic effort aims to provide an ecosystem of safe food for sports professionals across the country. It is one of the significant steps for NADA to ensure healthy and safe supplements for competing athletes." Sportspersons are in a dilemma as to which dietary supplement to use. 

"Many of them, instead of developing their stamina and physique, end up in doping violation," he said. It is a major public health issue for citizens as well because many of the supplements available in the open market near gyms contain some of the dope substances that are harmful for long-term health of an individual, he said.

The need of the hour is to put in place "some sort of facility" to ensure sportspersons do not inadvertently end up doping through supplements. Highlighting the key work areas to be undertaken as per the memorandum of agreement (MoU), FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said a working group of scientific committee will be set up that will give guidance for setting standards for manufacturers and importers of these products and method of testing doping substance in nutrition supplements.

"NADA labs do testing on humans for doping not on substances. As far as doping substances is concerned, the capacity of our labs has to be built to do the testing," he said, adding that the NADA will help in capacity building of FSSAI-accredited testing labs as well as the regulatory staff.

According to the FSSAI chief, the move will ensure food safety ecosystem in sports nutrition becomes more robust over time. The two bodies will also work together to come out with guidance on labelling with instructions on using supplements and printing 'dope-free', he said. "We are also looking at international experiences. We do not find provisions for labelling requirement for doping substances. 

There are some voluntary efforts around the world, but we are going to study them," the FSSAI chief said. The issues related to surveillance and enforcement as also creating awareness about safe and judicious use of nutrition supplements will also be studied, he added. 

The MoU signed with the FSSAI is valid for five years. The NADA has recently inked similar agreement with a drug regulator. Despite 300 doped substances banned globally, nearly 10 of them like Diuretics and Hormones are most widely used.

Food safety body, NADA join hands to check doping substances, adulterants in sports nutrition products

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 14: 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has signed a MoU with National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to focus on collaborative efforts to address the issues of doping substances and other adulterants in food supplements and nutritional products used by sports professionals.

Under this agreement, the two government agencies have identified various areas which can be addressed through joint efforts by the two government agencies. A working group has been set up for more focused work in this direction, as part of this MoU.Working group

“The Working Group will comprise members of the FSSAI’s scientific panel on functional foods, nutraceuticals, dietetic products and other similar products along with representatives of NADA. Representatives of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Narcotics Control Bureau and others, as and when required, may be co-opted in the Working Group,” an official statement added. Guidance on the use of labelling/claims for supplements and special dietary products meant for sports professionals and building capacity of the regulatory staff for effective surveillance and enforcements activities, are some of the areas which have been identified for collaboration.Five labs

FSSAI will also identify five labs, in a bid to build testing capacities in FSSAI-notified primary and referral laboratories for detection of doping substances and adulterants in sports-nutrition supplements and products.

In a statement, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said that this MoU will help in developing and strengthening co-operation in the field of Sports Nutrition between the two government agencies. “This would also ensure that the food safety ecosystem in the field of sports nutrition becomes more robust over the time,” he added.

Navin Aggarwal, DG & CEO, NADA, said, “This holistic effort aims to provide an eco-system of safe food for sport professionals across the country. It is one of the significant steps for NADA to ensure healthy and safe supplements for competing athletes.”

FDA steps up to raise the food safety standards in temples

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken the batten to raise the hygiene and food standards in temples of the state. FDA will be conducting several workshops and training session around 254 temple trusts across the state and will impart technical skills to the participants which will help them in maintaining the quality of food.

The initiative will be flagged off in Mumbai on Wednesday, September 13, at Iskcon Temple, Juhu.

The initiative called the Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (BHOG) was launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Prabhadevi-based Siddhivinayak Temple. Training will be conducted in various districts across the state throughout September.

Dr Pallavi Darade, Commissioner, FDA said “53 temple trusts and vendors who prepare various kinds of Prasad will be attending the first session. The topics to be covered include food safety, ingredients, packaging, and hygiene.

The session will help temple trusts maintain proper standards of food hygiene. Participants would be introduced to a scientific approach to safety concerns and learn about the rules and regulation of food safety,” Darade said.

“More training sessions will be planned depending upon the number of temple trusts that come forward. We will be training 3,000 people and 254 temples,” said CD Salunke, Joint Commissioner, FDA. In October, restaurant and hotel staff in Mumbai will also receive training by the FDA.

Chicken on your plate led short, but a life full of brutalities

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food businesses) Regulation, 2011, chicken must be reared, transported and slaughtered in humane conditions. 

The next time you order a chicken meal, consider this. A study of chicken farms in Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana revealed that birds reared for meat spend short and brutal lives.

A survey by a Pune-based animal rights organisation, Animal Equality, which looked studied the production cycle — from birth to processing of meat — at five farms and three markets between December 2016 and June 2017, found that chicken production violates basic animal welfare and food safety standards.

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food businesses) Regulation, 2011, chicken must be reared, transported and slaughtered in humane conditions. But the rules are not followed, the study says. One-day-old chickens were stuffed and transported in boxes, fed with drug-laden food to gain weight and killed in cruel and unhygienic conditions.

“After being fed antibiotic-laden feed, which causes extreme weight gain, those who survive are brutally pulled out in groups and weighed by hanging them upside down,” says the study.

It also states that the sudden weight gain due to antibiotics leaves the chicken crippled. The cramped conditions in the cages can cause stress, heart attacks or respiratory infections. Once they reach their maximum weight, they are stuffed into transport truck.

“They are sent on rigorous journeys which last for hours, sometimes days without food or water,” said Amruta Ubale, executive director, Animal Equality.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001 states that animals have to be stunned before slaughter. “We found that this is never practiced at all locations surveyed by us,” said Amruta Ubale, executive director, Animal Equality.

The study says that once the birds reach meat markets, they are crammed into small cages. “Many birds develop infections and diseases. There is no health inspection conducted on the birds. Their throats are slit and they are thrown into drain bins where they languish in pain for several minutes before they die. Carcasses are defeathered, hot torched or boiled in water in the filthiest of conditions, the study concluded. The unhygienic conditions of meat markets are also a public health hazard, the study adds.

The Poultry Federation of India (PFI) confirmed unhygienic meat shops violate both food safety laws and laws protecting animals. “The mindset in India still exists where the consumer approaches a meat shop, choose his chicken and asks the butcher to slice it the way he wants. In such circumstances, the consumer mindset needs to change the enhance these laws that are being violated, which is not the case abroad,” said Ramesh Khatri, president, PFI. “However, there are large industries that are following the stunning procedure before killing chickens and also practice the profession in clean and hygienic surroundings.”

HT had reported in February that an investigation into 20 poultry farms across the country by Animal Equality revealed that confining hens in battery cages - small wired cages used by farmers to keep the birds for their entire life, primarily for laying eggs – not only led to a number of deaths, but also deformed and injured the birds feet.

Animal Equality submitted findings of both studies to the Law Commission of India (LCI) along with a list of recommendations for the welfare of chickens. “Our reports also pointed out to the existing animal welfare, food safety and transport laws which are violated,” said Ubale.

A senior official from LCI said that the recommendations were included as a part of proposed guidelines under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Egg Laying Hens) Rules, 2017 and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Broiler Chicken) Rules, 2017. “After consulting the union environment ministry, we will be releasing draft regulations for inviting suggestions and objections for the rules, later this year,” the official said.

The PFI said it has written to the state government about the use of antibiotics. “We are awaiting guidelines to make laws stricter in the country but it will take at least a few years to sensitise the poultry industry,” said Khatri.

There are also concerns of the issue turning into a dangerous debate like the beef ban controversy. “We are taking several steps to ensure that this industry functions with appropriate standards but to sensitise everyone about correct practices might make it a political issue in a secular country like India,” said AK Sharma, coordinator, PFI.

1,200 food outlets have no licence, registration in dist: FSDA

Meerut: In an ongoing two-month survey conducted by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) authorities, as many as 1,200 food outlets in Meerut district were found to be running without licences or registrations that are mandatory for their functioning. The survey is being carried out to ensure that no food outlet is run illegally in the district.

Giving details, Archana Dheeran, designated officer, FSDA, said, “According to the instructions that have come from the state government authorities, we have been told to conduct a survey in the entire district to identify the food outlets which have not registered or taken a licence from us. Once identified, they will be given 20 days to comply with the rules or a case will be registered against them.”

It should be noted that a food outlet with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh needs to have a “registration” which can be obtained for a fee of Rs 100 every year. Similarly, a food outlet with an annual turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh has to get a licence for Rs 2,000 a year.

Dheeran said, “The survey is being done so as to make people aware about registrations and licences as these are necessary as per norms. Also it is necessary to ensure that no person selling food, even on a push cart, does not operate without a food licence. Until now, we have identified 1,200 food outlets in Meerut which do not have any registrations or licences from the department and have been issued notices. We expect to identify more such outlets by the time we end the survey.”

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