Oct 2, 2017
Admn yet to check vendors using newspapers to serve food
Indore: Despite an advisory from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), local authorities are yet to ensure a ban on the use of newspapers to pack and serve food — a practice usually adopted by small street vendors — since it is a health hazard.
Manish Swami, the food safety officer in the Food and Drug Department said, "The administration has been conducting regular searches at food outlets to check if they comply by FSSAI norms. However a special drive is needed to raise awareness among people and penalties will be levied to discourage the practice."
He added that vendors found resorting to the practice will be fined up to Rs 25,000. For restaurants, hotels and other big players of the food industry, the penalty can be increased up to Rs 2 lakh.
"We plan to start a special drive to create awareness and enforce FSSAI's directives by adopting various measures," Swami said.
Since Indore is now officially the cleanest city, Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has enforced a complete ban on sale of drinking water in plastic sachets since the packaging material is of substandard quality and accumulates into huge amounts of garbage.
"As newspapers are cheaper than disposable plates, roadside vendors prefer to use it to pack and serve food items to save money. Residents' participation is also needed to ban the practice," IMC food safety officer Lakhan Chasane told TOI.
FSSAI's instructions comes after it was found that people's health was being affected due to the consumption of food items laced with newspaper ink. The advisory read that older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications if they consume food packed in newspapers.
"Newspapers used to pack, serve or absorb excess oil from fried food is also a common practice in many homes," the nutrition consultant, Anita Joshi told TOI.
According to FSSAI, printing ink may contain bioactive material, harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives, preservatives, chemical contaminants and even pathogenic microorganisms that may pose potential risks to human health.
Q&A:
Chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr HN Nayak
Q: How harmful is this use of newspapers?
Answer: The kind of material used in making newspapers combined with different chemicals from the ink leave toxic components on foods, thus making it very harmful for health, especially for people with low immunity.
Q: What impact can it have on the health of pregnant women?
Answer: It can damage the digestive system, lead to defective births, disturb the growth of the foetus and adversely impact the unborn child's IQ level. Pregnant women need to take extra care and avoid using newspapers to wrap and serve food.
Q: What are alternates to this practice?
Answer: To absorb oil from fried food, one should use kitchen tissue paper instead of newspaper. Avoid drinking hot beverages in thin plastic cups. Carry containers to get something from a restaurant and use butter paper to wrap cut fruits.
Q: How can the health department ensure a ban on this practice?
Answer: To spread public awareness, we will have to work on a plan with the authorities.
BOX: Thermocol, foil too expensive
As an alternative to newspapers, vendors can use aluminum foil and paper/thermocol bowls but due to its cost effective nature, roadside vendors prefer the first.
"An 18-metre pack of aluminum foil costs around Rs 100 and a bundle of 50 pieces of paper/thermocol bowls is Rs 20/40 while it costs hardly Rs 10 to buy that amount of old newspapers. To pocket some money, roadside vendors use newspapers," a roadside street vendor, Ganesh Vishwakarma told TOI.
He added that customers never complain about this practice but if vendors increase the price of food items as to use aluminum foil or paper/thermocol bowls, he may lose business.
Some roadside vendors claimed they never receive any instructions from the food department regarding a ban on the use of newspapers to pack/serve the foods.
Two fined for ‘substandard’food items
Panaji: Durgaprasad Kukalkar, owner of Decent Fast Food, Sakhali, and vendor Iam Bahadur B K have been fined Rs 25,000 each by district magistrate North Goa Nila Mohanan for allegedly selling substandard chicken pakodas. Both have been directed to pay the penalty within 30 days of the date of order.
"Samples of the chicken pakodas show presence of synthetic colour which is not permitted as per Section 3.1.2.6 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011," the district magistrate stated in her order. Failure to pay the penalty will necessitate action as deemed fit under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules 2011 and Regulations 2011, Mohanan said.
Activists decry ‘inhumane’ chicken-rearing practices
PUNE: Highlighting the cruel practices adopted in chicken production, Animal Equality, a Pune-based animal protection organization, has said that the practices violate the most basic animal welfare and food safety standards.
Animal Equality studied several chicken farms in Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana between December 2016 and June 2017, and recently published the findings. The study covered the entire chicken production cycle — right from the day chicks are hatched, till the meat is processed.
Amruta Ubale, the executive director of Animal Equality, said, "Day-old chicks are roughly handled, stuffed into boxes and their beaks are mutilated with hot blades without anaesthesia. Their journey to the farms lasts hours, and sometimes days. All this without food or water. The weaker chicks are discarded, and left to die a slow agonizing death."
Hens are also put through "forced molting."
"Though this practice is illegal as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the orders of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), it is practised. It deprives egg-laying hens of food to stimulate additional cycles of egg production. Food could be withheld for up to 14 days, and they are also deprived of water for 1-2 days," she said.
According to the report, many chicks and hens fall ill and die of starvation, others die of heart attacks or respiratory infections. "Once they reach their maximum weight, they are crammed into transport trucks in large numbers. They are sent on rigorous journeys without food or water. At the meat market, their throats are slit and hens are thrown into drain bins, where they languish in pain for several minutes before they die," said Ubale.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, states that animals have to be stunned before slaughter. However, this is never practised.
Oct 1, 2017
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FSSAI visits city’s places of worship to check on food safety
Thane: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently flagged off a community awareness programme to educate people about food safety and hygiene in places of worship.
The campaign called Bhog is conceptualised by the FSSAI, an autonomous body of the central health ministry, which aims to concentrate its activity at all religious sites where the devotees tend to overlook hygiene while giving away prasad or serving food in and around the premises. In fact, the religious places could be termed as high-risk prone spots for spread of illness caused due to food contamination, flies, said the officials.
The campaign aims to train volunteers in the religious centres around mosques, gurudwaras, churches and temples. It will conduct vendor training programmes, workshops on food safety management systems, utilization of leftover flowers, fruits and vegetables, product handling and safety to name a few.
A senior official from the FSSAI said, "There is a need to inform and alert people about sanitation and food safety when it comes to prasad that is served to the devotees at places of worship. We have big temples in the city that see thousands of visitors, specially during the festive season. So, in September we conducted numerous visits to Kopineshwar temple, Sai Baba mandir at Vartak Nagar and the gurudwara at Teen Hath Naka. We also organised a training session wherein around 105 people from the food industry involved in preparation of sweets participated."
For example, in preparing the traditional sweet boondi as prasad, which is a popular delicacy, a systematic guidance procedure was laid down for the participants. From checking the quality of sieve, the concentration of sugar syrup to checking the frying temperature, everything needs to be inspected to avoid microbial contamination, said the team members.
"Right from preparation of the prasad to its handling, packaging and storage, everything is monitored by a health inspection officer, who also takes into account factors such as cleanliness of the premises, implementation of food hygiene and safety procedures," said an official.
There is a need to inform and alert people about sanitation and food safety when it comes to prasad that is served to the devotees. We conducted numerous visits to Kopineshwar temple, Sai Baba mandir at Vartak Nagar and the gurudwara at Teen Hath Naka.
INDIAN-ORIGIN 'CHICKEN KING' TO FACE INQUIRY OVER HYGIENE STANDARDS
An Indian-origin founder of Britain's 2 Sisters Food Group -- the largest supplier of chicken to supermarkets in the country -- is facing a parliamentary inquiry after an undercover investigation revealed poor hygiene standards and safety dates of chicken being allegedly manipulated in his factory.
Ranjit Singh Boparan's 2 Sisters Food Group (2SFG), which owns the factory in West Bromwich, will be probed after a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News showed footage of workers altering the source and slaughter date of poultry being processed at the plant.
Experts said their actions could artificially stretch the commercial life of the meat and dupe consumers into buying chicken past its use-by date.
Other footage showed chicken being picked off the floor and being thrown back on to the production line, and older poultry being mixed with fresher birds.
The empire created by 51-year-old Boparan, known as the "chicken king", employs 23,000 people.
Neil Parish, the Chairman of Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said he was preparing to call Boparan to Westminster to answer questions about the scandal.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) also launched an investigation into the company, which produces a third of all poultry products eaten in the UK.
Three of the UK's biggest supermarket chains -- Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl -- have meanwhile halted deliveries of chicken from the company's West Bromwich plant.
Marks & Spencer said the footage showed "unacceptable" standards. All chicken received from the plant had been cleared from its shelves as a precautionary measure and all further deliveries had been stopped until M&S completed its own investigation of conditions in the chicken factory.
Aldi and Lidl said they had also suspended supplies from the food processor, while Tesco and Sainsbury's had launched their own investigations.
The prospect of the Boparan being called in front of parliamentarians emerged as the FSA said it had begun "liaising with the local authority in regards to taking the investigation forward and will consider whether offences have been committed".
A spokesman for 2SFG said: "We have now had an opportunity to view all the evidence and launch our own internal investigation. This is ongoing and we will ensure our inquiries are comprehensive and thorough. We will of course continue to work closely with all stakeholders during this investigative phase."
"2SFG ensures all staff are fully trained on hygiene and safety matters, and enforces a number of policies to ensure compliance with all regulations," the 2SFG spokesman said.
Boparan founded the 2 Sisters Food Group in 1993 with a bank loan, and has since grown the firm into the UK's second largest food business by turnover. It claims to process around 6 million chickens a week.
Boparan and his wife Baljinder Kaur Boparan are estimated by the Sunday Times Rich List to be worth 544 million pounds.
DB extends 3 weeks’ time to Secys Health/Housing & Comm JMC, PCB to file response
JAMMU, Sep 29: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar extended 3 weeks further time to the Commissioner /Secretary to Govt. Health and Medical Education Department, Commissioner /Secretary to Govt. Animal /Sheep Husbandry Department, Commissioner /Secretary to Govt. Housing and Urban Development Department, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Director Animal Husbandry Department Jammu, Chairman J&K State Pollution Control Board, Regional Director J&K State Pollution Control Board Jammu, Municipal Veterinary Officer Municipal Corporation Jammu, Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India New Delhi to file their response in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment) an NGO working for welfare of animals through its Chairperson Devinder Kaur Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan seeking immediate closure of 59 number of un-registered dairies running within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
When this PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Suraj Singh and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL drew the attention of the Court towards the last order passed by the Division Bench headed by Justice Alok Aradhe whereby 4 weeks time had been granted to the aforesaid functionaries of the State to file response to the PIL.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that Jammu Municipal Corporation is taking the issue of unauthorized dairies very casually and has not come forward with its response when the issue is of great public importance relating to the health of the people.
At this stage Senior AAG S.S. Nanda caused appearance for Jammu Municipal Corporation and Commissioner /Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, Deputy AGs Ehsan Mirza and Vishal Bharti appearing vice Senior AAG H.A. Siddiqui for Commissioner /Secretary Health and Medical Education, Government Advocate Ahtsham Bhat for Chairman Pollution Control Board, Government Advocate Sanjeev Padha for Commissioner /Secretary Sheep /Animal Husbandry Department and Advocate Amita Khajuria vice Advocate Rakesh Sharma appearing for Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India New Delhi sought some more time to respond to the Public Interest Litigation.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the information divulged by Public Information Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation vide his No.VPHS/MVO/331 dated 19-12-2014 read with communication No.JMC/S/ RTI/4758 dated 21-01-2015 wherein it was disclosed that there are 57 number of registered dairies and 59 number of un-registered dairies situated in JMC limits. He further submitted that till date 59 un-registered dairies are still working within the limits of JMC and the condition of the existing 57 registered dairies is also terrible as most of them are located in densely populated residential areas and the dung disposal goes into the public drains leading to infections/ environmental pollution and the officers of the JMC are totally unmoved over the rampant violations being committed by the owners of these dairies. He further submitted that even the registered 57 milk dairies are also functioning without the proper infrastructure and the Veterinary Division of JMC is not taking serious steps to enforce its orders/ norms /guidelines circulated vide public notice No.DIP/J-1494-P dated 10-2-2016.JNF
Sep 29, 2017
Prison food for Gurmeet Ram Rahim tasted for safety, samples preserved for 48 hours
Ram Rahim's barrack has only three other prisoners, but all of them are lodged in different cells. "This is also part of our strategy," added an official.
With Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh being a prisoner with high threat perception, authorities are taking no chances while serving him food inside Rohtak’s Sunaria jail. The food being given to the convicted dera head is tasted for its safety before being served and the entire process is videographed. Further, samples taken from each food item are preserved for 48 hours.
The dera chief has been in jail for one month after his conviction on August 25 for raping two sadhvis (female followers) at the dera headquarters in Sirsa.
“We have to be very careful about his security because of the threat perception to his life, even inside the jail. Intelligence agencies have already given their inputs in this regard,” an official of Haryana Prisons Department told The Indian Express on Thursday.
The source added, “We have to keep an eye on his food because somebody, as part of a conspiracy, might try to poison his meal. All the food for the prisoners is cooked in the kitchen under the watch of CCTV cameras. Before it being taken to the dera chief, it is tasted by a senior officer of the prisons department. When jail officials take his food to his barrack, a cameraperson escorts them to videograph the journey from the kitchen. Every clipping is preserved for a week.”
The dera chief has been kept in a barrack and guarded by several layers of security guards. The barrack has about a dozen cells in the shape of small rooms.
“His position in the jail is constantly changed so that nobody can pinpoint his location. The dera chief faces threat from external sources also,” said an official.
When contacted, Haryana Director General (Prisons) KP Singh said, “Apart from the regular jail superintendent, an additional jail superintendent has been posted in the jail to look after the security arrangements… Surprise checking is also conducted by the jail officers and judicial officers.”
K P Singh himself inspected the security arrangements inside the jail a few days ago.
Ram Rahim’s barrack has only three other prisoners, but all of them are lodged in different cells. “This is also part of our strategy. All three prisoners were sentenced for life but likely to be released in next few years. We feel that none of them will harm Ram Rahim because any such action would harm their prospects of an early release,” added the official.
A source further said, “The dera chief can roam in his barrack and meet the other prisoners. But he cannot go out of his barrack area, and nobody else can enter his area. An official has been deputed in front of his barrack to ensure compliance of the orders. We have to take such precaution because of apprehensions of violence by prisoners against him. He is taken out of the barrack to the library, or to the courtroom inside the jail meant for his appearance before the Panchkula court through video-conferencing.” The dera chief is still facing trial in two murder cases.
About his behaviour in prison, the official said: “He behaves like a normal prisoner. He was almost enjoying the status of god with his followers before his conviction.”
Seriously! Dead rat found in food at IIT-Delhi mess
New Delhi: On Tuesday morning, students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi were in for a shock when they sat for breakfast at the mess.
One of the students at the Aravali hostel at IIT-Delhi discovered a dead rat floating in the coconut chutney served to him in a plate.
The Times of India reported that one Jayant Darokar first sighted the dead mouse.
"By the time I found it, many had already eaten the chutney," Darokar wrote on Facebook.
The mess administration was informed which has assured to take corrective steps.
The students are, however, not a satisfied lot. They spoke about the poor hygiene condition at the hostel mess.
IIT director Ramgopal Rao said they have set up a panel of three wardens to look into the matter.
He said action was imminent against some people in the mess.
Food vendors fined for misbranding
PANJIM: The North District Collector has imposed a penalty of Rs 30,000 each on three food vendors for selling misbranded and sub-standard food items.
Collector Nila Mohanan has imposed penalty under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulations for manufacturing for sale and distribution of banana chips, tapioca sticks and tapioca wafers which were misbranded.
Senior Food Safety Officer Rajiv Korde had detained the consignment at Margao Railway Station on August 30, last year.
The collector has directed the violators to submit an undertaking within 30 days that they will not take up the manufacturing or marketing of such misbranded food articles across the State.
FDA closes down 9 vendors in Raia
Food and Drugs Administration raided 9 food vendors operating food stalls in Raia on Thursday morning without food safety licenses.
They were all dealing in loose biscuits, toast, chewda and other packed eatable items.
The 9 vendors were served issued unlicensed notice and also closed down all the premises till further orders.
FDA team comprising of Amit, Priya and Shradha visited the Raia market in Salcette and took samples of these gaddas selling items toast loose, khari biscuit for quality checking at their laboratory.
FDA Team conducted these inspection along with the Panchayat members after FDA had received complaints from Raia residents.
The Collector Nila Mohanan imposed a penalty of 30,000 rupees each on food vendors Bala Murugan of M/S B Chips, Kunnur Kerla and Siva Gurunathan of M/S. A.B. Chips, Zuarinagar under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act. 2006 and the Rules and Regulations for the manufacturing for sale and distribution of misbranded ‘Banana Chips’, Tapioca sticks and Tapioca Wafers.
Senior Food Safety officer Rajv Korde had detained the consignment at Margao Railway Station on August 30, 2016 and balance stock of 320 kgs was seized.
Sep 28, 2017
FSSAI training food businesses to improve food safety standards
All food businesses need to have at least one person as food safety supervisor who has to be trained and certified as per FSSAI's curriculum
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken up a nationwide training programme to increase the capacity of food businesses towards improving standards of food safety, FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal has said.
He said particularly, small food businesses are not even aware what steps should be taken towards raising food safety standards.
"...So, we have taken up a massive programme for training and capacity building in food businesses.Once that happens, the standards of food safety will improve. It (training) has already begun across the country," Agrawal told PTI on the sidelines of an event.
All food businesses are needed to have at least one person as food safety supervisor who has to be trained and certified as per FSSAI's curriculum, he said.
The training programme has begun across the country several months ago and the plan is to reach out to five to six lakh food businesses in about two years, Agarwal said.
"I think we do not want to bother small businesses to begin with. We will focus our attention on medium and large businesses. We will have to reach out to several lakh food businesses, five-six lakh food businesses to begin with. We will do it in a period of one-and-half to two years," he said.
A training course has been developed for each kind of business and there are a total of 19 such courses, he said.
"There are 19 courses. Each kind of business, there is one course. These courses are very short courses. One-day, two days, three-day courses," he said.
The enforcement of food safety standards is done largely through the state food safety commissioners and the FSSAI is trying to work with all states to improve the standards of food safety, the FSSAI CEO said.
"Different states are in different stages of evolution. In some states, it is very good. In some states, there is a gap. We are trying to work with all the states so that we can improve the quality of compliance by the food businesses," he said.
The FSSAI and the state authorities work under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, he added.
'FSSAI working with industry to address food fortification challenges'
MANGALURU: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working with the industry to understand the challenges being faced in promoting fortification of wheat flour, rice and double fortification of salt, its chief executive officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal said at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi.
"We have recevied fairly good amount of success in getting the free-market availability of fortified oil and milk but in case of wheat flour, rice and double fortification of salts, the progress has been slow," said Agarwal addressing an ASSOCHAM conference on Nutrition and Food Security.
"We are working on it, we are working with the food industry to nudge them, persuade them to understand what are the challenges they are facing," added Agarwal.
The FSSAI is also trying to figure out regulatory concerns the industry might have as they go in for fortification. "Obviously when we go-in for fortification as per standards, we have to be monitoring an evaluation of whether we are getting the results, so for doing all of it we have established Food Fortification Resource Centre with the support of Tata Trust at FSSAI and we have a dedicated team working to promote large-scale fortification of these five staples in the country," Agarwal added.
Despite government policy for fortification, the progress has been somewhat limited, except a few areas where excellence has been achieved largely based on initiatives of individual officers who have felt and recognised the need for fortified staples to reach out the benefit of fortification to the poorest of the poor, he conceeded. "But by and large there had been a lukewarm response to it," he noted.
"In last one year we have made significant progress in terms of standards, giving some structure to the space, but going around the country, we still feel that whole idea of socialisation of the importance of food fortification amongst key stakeholders in the states is still not complete," he said.
"Merely issuing orders and notifications from Government of India will not suffice, state governments in many cases require hand-holding support in order to first be sensitised about why going for fortification and enable them to procure in various programs, fortified staples," added Agarwal.
When it comes to achieving food fortification of five staples across India, there is a long way to go as there are many challenges to make it happen. " I have seen many reports from the states whereby state officials remained confused as to whether or not this is required to be done, clarity in terms of how it is to be done is not there in most states," he added.
"In many f these programs, particularly where you are depending on local initiatives at the state government level are not easy to implement and they take their own time," he added.
Come under purview of Food Safety Act, traders told
TRICHY: Insisting on mandatory registration and licence for business under food safetyand standards authority of India (FSSAI), the district administration has reminded traders to come under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
Collector K Rajamani on Wednesday asserted that all traders involved in food business should compulsorily obtain either registration or licence from the food safety department in the district as soon as possible.
Despite coming into force in 2011 across the country, the Food Safety and Standards Act is seen as a burden by people in the food business in Tamil Nadu. Though the state government enforced the Act in 2012, the process got speeded up after the formation of the food safety department headed by a designated officer (DO) for all districts to get all the traders registered and licensed under the Act in 2015-16.
Going by the data of the food safety and drug administration department in Trichy, a total of 17,600 food business establishments including road side eateries should be covered under the Act across the district. However, the department saw lukewarm response from the traders with only 5,000 of them turning up for registrations and a meagre 1,000 businessmen applying for licence as of now.
Those with an annual turnover of below Rs 12 lakh should get their business registered while those with a turnover of above Rs 12 lakh must get the licence under the Act.
They can apply online at www.fssai.gov.in for both registration and licence by paying Rs 100 and Rs 3,000 in the district treasury following which they should submit the relevant documents to the DO, food safety and drug administration department near Jamal Mohammed College in Trichy. The registration and the licence will be given in 60 days, said the collector.
It may be recalled that the traders association have been expressing their opposition to come under the purview of the Food Safety Act citing several disadvantages to their business.
"Food Safety and Standards Act is said to ensure quality of food given to the people. They have laid down several guidelines to run the food business. However, none of the clauses of the Act will work out in a country like India. Particularly in Tamil Nadu, traders will have to pay penalty or undergo imprisonment for minor violations. Hence, we are vehemently opposing the Act here," general secretary of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippur, Ve Govindarajulu said.
Cigarette shops barred from selling chips, soft drinks, other non-tobacco products
Health ministry has barred tobacco shops from selling any non-tobacco products, such as toffee, chips and soft drinks, as they may attract the attention of children
The health ministry’s move is aimed at preventing exposure of children to tobacco products.
New Delhi: The union ministry of health and family welfare has said that shops licensed to sell tobacco products will not be allowed to sell any non-tobacco products that may attract the attention of children.
The move is aimed at preventing exposure of children to tobacco products.
“It is felt that the regulation of tobacco products can be made more effective. It will be appropriate to develop a mechanism to provide permission or authorization through Municipal Authority to the retail shops who are selling tobacco products,” stated Arun Kumar Jha, economic adviser in the ministry of health and family welfare, in a letter dated 21st September 2017.
“Further, it would also be appropriate to make a condition or provision in the authorization that the shops authorized for selling tobacco products, cannot sell any non-tobacco products such as toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, soft drinks, etc., which are essentially meant for non-user, especially children,” Jha said in the letter.
The health ministry also emphasized on various rules and regulations in place to prevent tobacco exposure. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), specifically prohibits smoking in all public places, prohibition of direct and indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of cigarettes and other tobacco products, prohibition of sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors and within 100 yards of any educational institution and display of health warning, including pictorial warning on ill effects of tobacco use on the packages of all tobacco products.
“The central government has enacted the Cigarettes and other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulations of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), to discourage the use of tobacco, with emphasis on protection of children and young people from being addicted to the use of tobacco, with a view to achieve improvement of public health in general,” stated Jha.
The central government has also enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which makes giving, or causing to be given, any child any tobacco products punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend up to seven years. Further, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, ensures availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and inter alia prohibits using of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products.
Sep 27, 2017
Can’t sell candy or cola in cigarette shops as govt plans to curb tobacco abuse
Shops selling tobacco products must not sell items such as toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, soft drinks, etc. that may attract non-users.
Cigarette packets are displayed at a shop in Mumbai.
Tobacconists must register with the local civic authority and they can’t sell candies and colas on the side that attract non-smokers to the shop, the government proposed in an attempt to reduce tobacco abuse in India.
The Union health ministry wrote on September 21 to the states to develop a mechanism to provide permission or authorisation through the municipal authority to retail shops selling tobacco products such as cigarette, bidi, chewable gutkha and khaini.
“The idea is to track every single shop selling tobacco products by making them register with the local municipal authority. Government should be able to identify all cigarette shops running anywhere in the country,” said Arun Jha, economic advisor with the ministry.
The focus is to discourage tobacco abuse among people, especially children and young adults.
“The sale of tobacco products to minors must be tracked and there should be no advertisement of tobacco products. These shops must not sell non-tobacco products such as toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, soft drinks, etc. that may attract non-users,” Jha said.
FACTS
According to a govt survey, every fifth adult in India are addicted to gutkha and khaini.
100 million Indians smoke cigarettes and bidis.
A World Health Organisation report says 10 million people die in India every year because of smoke-related diseases.
Tobacco was introduced in India in the 1600s
Every fifth adult in this country of more than 1.2 billion people are addicted to gutkha and khaini, while 100 million people smoke cigarettes and bidis, according to a government-approved survey.
“Tobacco initiation age in India is about 16 years … Tobacco shops are mushrooming and this order could act as a stronger deterrent than the current lenient law,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report says around 10 million people die in the country every year because of smoke-related diseases such as cancer, respiratory and heart disorders.
Tobacco abuse is a preventable cause of cancer, a disease growing at an alarming pace. Close to 60% cancers are preventable, of which 40% are related to tobacco.
Activists have lobbied for years for stronger restrictions, prompting the authorities to unroll ambitious new curbs on the popular habit that has taken a serious toll on the country’s health.
Besides stringent anti-smoking measures nationwide, including tax hikes on tobacco products, there are laws to deter sales.
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, discourages sales.
Giving or selling tobacco to a child attracts up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, tobacco and nicotine cannot be used in any foodstuff.
But people addicted to tobacco always find an excuse for their unhealthy indulgence. Cigarettes have become part of the social fabric after tobacco was introduced in India in the 1600s.
The government hopes to change that.
“Many states have responded positively to the letter and understand the larger benefits of the move. We have made a request, let’s see how soon it can be implemented,” Jha said.
Unsafe, substandard food sold unabated in JK markets
SRINAGAR: The Food Safety Department officials have found hundreds of food outlets selling substandard and unhygienic in Jammu and Kashmir using carcinogenic substances as coloring and flavoring agents in popular food items.
According to official figures, over 660 food items were found substandard, misbranded and unsafe for human consumption in last one year as they have been using banned ingredients and synthetic coloring and flavoring agents.
Officials told Kashmir Reader said some of the food outlets were found using carcinogenic coloring agents like Tatrazine and banned flavoring agents in popular food items like Kebabs, Kanti, Biryani, Ice cream and Milk/fruit shakes.
“Most of the food outlets were using banned coloring and flavoring agents which forced us to seize their licenses. We have also launched prosecution against them as per Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules,” they said.
Over 1100 prosecutions have been launched against the violators between April 2016 and March 2017, as per the official data.
Shockingly, the food safety officials have found many food outlets in main business hub Lal Chowk using banned Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in food items.
MSG is a harmful tasting agent which was found in Maggi noodles last year and led to its temporary ban across India.
“Unfortunately people are being served food items mixed with harmful chemicals. This is the highly alarming situation and needs to be checked as soon as possible,” said an officer.
Last month, the Assistant Commissioner Food Safety (Hq) J&K has issued a notice to all the designated officers across the state asking them to keep vigil over the sale of substandard and contaminated food items including milk and cold drinks and proceed under Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules.
Oncologists said that researchers had found that synthetic colouring agents act as carcinogens though not fully classified as yet.
“The colouring agents like Tartizine and Corsimisine which were found in food items are non-permitted to be used in the food products especially spice. If they are used in smoked or grilled food they become more deadly,” doctors said.
Tartazine is carcinogen, says study
Tartrazine is one of the most widely used artificial foods, drugs and cosmetic dyes. It is a nitrous derivative and is known to cause allergic reactions such as asthma and urticaria, as well as having been the focus of studies on mutagenesis and carcinogenesis due to its transformation into aromatic amine sulfanilic acid after being metabolized by the gastrointestinal microflora. 45 male Wistar rats were assigned to a control group (A) or a treatment one (B).
The treatment group received 7.5 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) of tartrazine daily in drinking water offered ad libitum for ten months from weaning to the age of twelve months. There was a significant increase in the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils of the gastric antrum mucosa. No carcinogenetic changes in any gastric area were observed during the study. As tartrazine belongs to the azo class, it is still a possible food carcinogen. Other studies with different doses and schedules, observing their effects associated to other carcinogens should be carried out if their safe use is to be recommended.
Adulterated edible oil racket busted
The officials of Vigilance and Enforcement department in association with Civil Supplies Department on Tuesday conducted a raid and busted a gang involved in making adulterated edible oil at HB Colony area in the city.
The officials nabbed one K Ravindra Reddy, prime accused in the oil adulteration racket.
Vigilance DSP CM Naidu said Reddy and his team used to collect the used edible oil from various places and would mix it with fresh edible oil and sell them in various parts of the State and also in Telangana.
The officials seized over 2,000 litres of the adulterated oil and an oil tanker, in which they used to prepare the adulterated edible oil.
The officials have launched a manhunt for two persons in connection with the case. Officials of Food Safety Department said consumption of the adulterated oil could lead to lead to liver cancer and jaundice and a few other diseases.
Ujjain: Admin cracks the whip on sellers of adulterated sweets during festive season
Ujjain: The food safety department will clamp down heavily on shopkeepers and vendors selling adulterated sweets and ‘mawa’ during this festival season. The city administration has taken the decision to impose the National Security Act against offenders, in view of the huge volumes of sweets consumed during Dushhera and Diwali. Collector Sanket Bhondve and SP Sachin Atulkar have instructed the health department to keep a strict vigil in this regard.
These decisions were taken at a meeting which the collector held with SDMs and SDOs of the district. He also gave several orders regarding safety and security, during the festival season. He further instructed officials to ensure that the Explosives Act was complied with, for the use of firecrackers. During the meet, ADM Narendra Suryavanshi informed that all 29 cases registered under NSA had been solved. A total of 305 cases of detention were registered, out of which 103 cases were retracted, due lack of evidence and around 50 percent of cases registered under NSA were cancelled.
The collector also gave orders for the auction of vehicles seized in various cases under the excise act, mineral act and others. He called for the formation of a committee for the purpose, and issuance of a corrigendum of auction. Total registered arms in district stood at 5700, the ADM informed. The collector and SP called for strict action against those in illegal possession of arms and cancellation of arms licenses of those with criminal records.
Sep 26, 2017
FSDA seizes ‘misbranded’ 105 quintal gram flour in Muzaffarnagar
Meerut/Muzaffarnagar: To keep a tab on the quality of food items being sold during the ongoing festive season, Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) officials conducted several raids and seized 105 quintal of “misbranded” gram flour in Muzaffarnagar.
They also took four samples of suspected adulterated oil and other items in Meerut also.
“Due to ongoing Navratras and the upcoming festival of Diwali, we conducted a surprise raid at some food stores in Muzaffarnagar and found some items which seemed adulterated,” said Sarvesh Mishra, chief food safety officer.
The flour-- which was neatly packed in 200packs-- have been sent for testing along with empty brand packets in which the flour was being filled, said Vinit Kumar, in-charge of food department in Muzaffarnagar.
USE OF CALCIUM CARBIDE IN ARTIFICIAL FRUIT RIPENING: DB directs regular inspections, seeks detailed reports
The Division Bench observed that an action taken report has been filed on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in terms of the order dated 9th of June, 2017.
In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against use of calcium carbide in artificial fruit ripening, a Division Bench (DB) of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed Deputy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu, to ensure that inspections are carried regularly in various fruit markets of Jammu.
The DB directed that detailed reports be submitted to this court, giving the details regarding the premises checked by the team, the name of the owner of the premises visited, its location and the report of the samples taken.
The Division Bench observed that an action taken report has been filed on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in terms of the order dated 9th of June, 2017.
It is stated in the action taken report that in the month of May, 2017, approximately 21.12 quintals of Mango and 30 quintals of Papaya were seized from the shed of Fruit Market, Narwal by the enforcement staff appointed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules made thereunder, which was later destroyed at the dumping ground, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu.
It is submitted that last year also, artificial ripened fruits (papaya) was seized from the premises of two fruit business operators at Fruit Market, Narwal, which were later destroyed.
Division Bench further observed that from the record, it appears that the Deputy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu by order dated 2.6.2017 had designated a team of officers to carry out a special drive for five working days starting from 12th June, 2017 in their respective districts to check the quality of milk and milk products and artificially ripened fresh fruits with calcium carbide.
Division Bench further observed that from the report, it appears that the samples that were taken from the Fruits and Vegetables Market, Narwal, which were subsequently destroyed, had been taken prior to the constitution of the team in June, 2017.
The DB observed that apart from visiting the fruits and vegetables Market, Narwal, the team does not appear to have stated anything with regard to their visit to other parts of the city wherefrom business is being conducted.
The DB observed that the process of ripening of fruits and vegetables by the use of Calcium Carbide might not be limited only to the fruits and vegetables market, Narwal but may be taking place in godowns being maintained by traders in and around the city of Jammu.
The DB directed the concerned authorities to identify all those places, which are being used as godowns/storage areas for storing fruits and vegetables, which potentially may involve the usage of calcium carbide as a ripening agent and regular inspections be conducted.
Restaurant locked down for violating safety norms
Churachandpur Consumer Club (CCC) today shutdown a restaurant named Cine View Restaurant at New Bazar Thangzam Road for gross violation of food safety norms. The restaurant is owned by a person named Ramesh Kumar Gupta.
The combined team of CCC led by president of Food Safety and Standards Administration (FSA) Wing, SN. John locked the restaurant today afternoon after informing the owner about the reason of their closing down the restaurant. Earlier, FSA Wing had warned the restaurant owner twice to maintain good quality of food. The restaurant was shut down today when CCC and FSA Wing found some food materials stored for longer periods with unhygienic maintenance of kitchen.
One of the team members said that they were surprised after finding ducks entering the restaurant eating hall. He continued that the unhygienic environment of the restaurant is not suitable and safe for people to consume foods.
Roadside eateries to be fined Rs 25,000 for unhygienic food
Food safety officials have reportedly warned the roadside eateries in and around Chennai of Rs 25,000 fine if they are found to be providing unhygienic and unhealthy foods. They have also given a helpline number 94440 42322 for complaints about unhygienic foods. Reportedly, 4,500 roadside eateries are operating in Chennai corporation and around the city.
Sep 25, 2017
Imported GM food floods Indian market unchecked
The official pointed to absence of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-mandated labelling system that could inform consumers that a particular food does have GM element so the harm should be well known.
New Delhi: Imported genetically modified (GM) food appears to be circulating uncontrolled in the country without any consumer advisories on possible harm, according to admission of a top government official before a parliamentary panel which, for now, has red-flagged introduction of GM crops in the country without evaluation of biosafety and socio-economic desirability.
“There are certain GM food which we are told is coming in as a mixed form in some of the imports that is happening,” an official of the department of health research told the parliamentary panel, chaired by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury, which recently submitted a report on “Genetically modified crops and its impact on environment”.
The official pointed to absence of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-mandated labelling system that could inform consumers that a particular food does have GM element so the harm should be well known.
The department-related parliamentary standing committee on science and technology and environment and forest has now “strongly” recommended to the FSSAI that labelling on imported GM food must be done with “immediate effect”.
The committee took note of the official’s submission that FSSAI’s scientific panel for the genetically modified organism in food has recommended mandatory labelling for designated food products that have GM ingredient of 5 per cent or more.
Hinting at the existence of an unregulated system under which Indians may already be unknowingly consuming imported GM food, the official of the department of health research said, “Once the labelling comes into force, some of the imported items – where we are still not very clear what the elements of GM food are – is something they are still working on.”
By the official’s own admission before the committee no GM food product has “really been approved so far” yet there are such food coming into the country as a mixed form in some of the imports.
The official also hinted that there was virtually no system in sight, in the near future, on how or who will set standards for GM food consumption.
The committee in its 301st report presented to the Rajya Sabha chairman last month, also expressed surprise over absence of an in-house scientific study by the department of health research on impact of GM food on human health.
Ms Chowdhury noted with pain that the secretary of department of health research that no study till date has been carried out on impact of GM crops on human health.
The official told the committee, “In terms of food, it would be very difficult to design a study where you tell one group of people that you have to take only this GM food and, then, tell another group to not take that GM food. Then, you have to follow them for many years. So, this type of study has not been done anywhere in the world. It has not been done in India also.”
Meanwhile, the Committee has put the breaks on introduction of GM crops and said, “The committee strongly believes that unless the biosafety and socio-economic desirability, taking into consideration long run effects, is evaluated by a participatory, independent and transparent process and a retrieval and accountability regime is put in place, no GM crop should be introduced in the country.”
The recommendation comes after India’s GM crop regulator Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) recently recommended the commercial use of genetically modified mustard in a submission to the environment ministry.
Socio-environment expert Sulagna Chattopadhyay welcomed the cautious note sounded by the committee and slammed the pressure group allegedly pushing for hasty introduction of GM crops.
“An impression is being created that we need GM crops to boost yield where as there are many hybrid high-varieties available in the country for that,” said Ms Chattopadhyay, editor of Geography and You magazine.
She also opposed the introduction of GM crops claiming that the gains of pest resistance shown by GM crops in initial years are lost in later years as some other pests become strong and more damaging, forcing additional use of insecticide and escalation of a farmers’ input cost.
“This is why the farmers growing Bt Cotton are suffering and committing suicides,” Ms Chattopadhyay said.
Pepsico India to counter malicious campaign on popular snack food
Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd is taking measures to assure consumers about the safety of Kurkure, in the wake of malicious rumours that the popular snack food contains plastic, said a senior company official.
From one variant in 1999, Kurkure has 40 variants and is also exported to several countries.
“I don’t know on what grounds the rumour is spread that Kurkure contains plastic. Normally big brands attract malicious rumours,” Marketing Director – Indian Snacks, Vani Gupta, told IANS on Saturday.
“We don’t see such malicious campaign in other parts of India. Only in Tamil Nadu we see such malicious campaigns,” Gupta said.
Some months back the associations of traders in Tamil Nadu had announced a ban on selling Pepsi and Coca Cola brands.
Gupta said the company is taking countermeasures in assuring the safety of Kurkure to mothers.
According to her, it is better to assure the consumers about the safety rather than taking legal recourse against the rumour mongers.
One of the steps is redesigning of the package with the words ‘Made with Dal, Corn and Rice’ printed on it.
“In case of chips we know what it is made of. But it is not so with Kurkure. Hence we decided to adopt this strategy,” Gupta said.
On Saturday, Pepsico Holdings held an event here where bloggers – mostly young women – were told about Kurkure and the production process.
With the assistance of an award winning chef, the participants also whipped up some dishes made with several variants of Kurkure.
Gupta said: “Any food that is taken in moderate quantity is good. The problem crops up when one overdoes something.”
Queried about the usage of palmolein oil in the making of the product instead of other oils like rice bran oil, Gupta said: “The oil suits well with the product. The usage of palmolein oil is not driven by costs.”
“Many of our competitors play with the ingredient quantities when the prices fluctuate,” she added.
“Even at home it is advisable to change the oil brands once in two months so as to derive the benefits offered by them. In the case of Kurkure the oil quantity used may not be much. Only children above the age of five should be given salty snacks. All food stuffs should be consumed in moderate quantities,” T. Shanthi Kaavery, a consulting dietician, told IANS.
From one variant in 1999, Kurkure has 40 variants and is also exported to several countries.
“Kurkure is made in our plants in Canada and Bangladesh. The product is exported to Gulf countries.”
She said the organised Indian snack food market is around Rs 17,000 crore and is logging double digit growth.
Gupta said the company offers various regional flavours under Kurkure brand.
HKV loses sheen after outlets' sealing
Sealing these eateries has not only led to big losses for the owners but has affected the livelihood of 700 employees as well
After the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) sealed 21 restaurants in the Hauz Khas Village (HKV) on Saturday, the mood at the upscale market remained sombre on Sunday. Most of these eateries did not have proper environmental clearances, some did not have other licences while none of them followed the waste norms.
The sealing of the restaurants ruined many a plans, including that of a student who was headed to the market to celebrate his birthday. The shutting of his favourite eatery dampened his mood. Taking it in his stride, however, he said: "If the government is taking steps to benefit our environment, then we should cooperate as well."
The HKV Traders Association did not seem to have this benign outlook. "The sealing of these eateries, five of which are not even on the notified commercial street of Hauz Khas Village, is undemocratic and against the very concept of the Ease of Doing Business," Satinder Sarna, President of the association, said.
He added: "We need to have a chance to give our suggestions and work in partnership with the government, rather than being blamed for the inadequacy of the infrastructure. That is the responsibility of the state, for which we pay taxes."
Sealing these eateries has not only led to big losses for the owners but has affected the livelihood of 700 employees as well. The employees have now come out on the streets to protest against the DPCC decision.
Varun Bansal, owner of one of the eateries, Rehab Cafe, said his outlet was sealed even though it had clearances from the MCD Health Department, Delhi Police, Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI), Tourism and Excise Department, and even the Consent to Establish certificate.
"They could not have done it legally or ideally. It only shows that whenever the government mechanism wants, they can shut us down. But why, despite having all these licenses? It seems to be an action taken under pressure rather than on the basis of documents," Bansal said.
95% of food outlets illegal in Srinagar ‘Of 30,000 units, only 2,000 registered’
Nearly 30,000 illegal food units are operating in Srinagar, putting the health of millions of people at risk, Food Safety Department officials revealed on Wednesday.
Official sources told Kashmir Reader that these thousands of illegal food manufacturing and sale units are running without registration and license due to the paucity of staff and infrastructure at the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO).
“Only five Food Safety Officers (FSOs) are working in Srinagar district, which has more than 30,000 food outlets. Only 2000 of these outlets are registered with the Food Safety Department,” a senior DFCO official said, wishing anonymity, told Reader.
According to him, only 700 food units in Srinagar district have been issued licenses by the DFCO.
“Of the 2000 legal food units, 1300 have an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh and are registered under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The rest 700 have annual turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh,” the official said, quoting from records.
A Food Safety Officer told Kashmir Reader that the illegal units are mostly located in downtown areas. “They hardly meet the food safety standards, but escape checks due to their location and lack of human resource in the department,” he said.
“We are overburdened as there is no supporting staff in our department. There are hardly any Samplers, Field Workers and Assistants, to conduct field inspections in the city,” said another officer.
He said the FSOs had to do many assignments at a time, including VIP duty and attending to court proceedings.
“How can we check thousands of food units single-handedly?” he asked.
Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir admitted that only 2000 food units are registered in the district. However, he said, there is no confirmed data regarding the total number of food units operating in the district.
“Their number is huge, as hundreds of such units come up every month,” he said.
Last week, the food safety department prosecuted an illegal food unit, Moozin’s Pizza in Karan Nagar.
“The pizza unit was running without registration. We received a complaint from a customer that she suffered food poisoning due to the pizza sold by this outlet. We have prepared the prosecution case against the owner and he will be fined up to Rs 2 lakh,” Mir said.
In May this year, the government imposed a penalty of Rs 2.1 lakh on ten food operators for selling and manufacturing adulterated and substandard products.
A penalty of Rs 80,000 was levied on manufacturers of the Snow Cap milk brand, which is run by a government-supported cooperative, Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Limited (JKMPCL), situated at Cheshma Shahi.
In July, the department prosecuted 35 businesses operators for selling and manufacturing substandard and adulterated food products.
The department has started a fresh crackdown on food establishments, including manufacturers, for running their units illegally.
Officials told Reader that food business operators have been warned to desist from the malpractice of food adulteration.
“Stern action under Food Safety and Standards Act shall be initiated against those who sell adulterated and counterfeit food products,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
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