Consumer literacy is need of the hour

Adulteration is a legal term meaning that a food product fails to meet legal standards. Adulteration is an addition of another substance to a food item in order to increase the quantity of the food item in raw form or prepared form, which may result in the loss of the actual quality of food items. 

Adulteration of food items is commonly practised all over the world by the trade bodies. When the price of food production is higher than the price which the consumer is prepared to pay, the seller is compelled to supply a food product of inferior quality, thus occurs the adulteration.

Adulteration is one of the biggest problem faced at the present time and all food items like milk and milk products, vegetables oil and fats, spices and condiments, beverages like coffee, tea, even rice and water are adulterated from many ways.

Adulteration causes many diseases like cancer, lathyrism (neurological disease often resulting in weakness and paralysis of the legs.), liver disease, cardiac failure, kidney diseases and nervous system related diseases.

Besides the common adulterer food items, below are the items which our children and youngsters are consumed daily in the form of snacks. 

Chocolates

Chocolates may be regarded as the world’s most popular snack food. An average American consumes over four kgs of chocolates annually, while in Switzerland the world’s leading chocolate producer, a Swiss consumes over double this amount.

South Asia also have a sweet tooth and consumes a considerable amount of sweet, including chocolates. However, it has recently come to light that chocolates can become contaminated in spite of the fact that it has been consumed for centuries without any complaint of any apparent ill effect.

Some of these contaminations are discussed as - heavy metal contamination: It might sound surprising, but heavy metal contamination can be a problem in the case of chocolate too! Since cocoa powder is the key ingredient for making chocolates, the food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) has fixed the upper permissible levels for two heavy metals, these are lead and copper.

As per the food safety and standards (contaminants, toxins and residues) regulations, 2011, the maximum level of these heavy metals in cocoa powder are as:

Lead: 5.0 ppm by weight, on the dry fat-free substance.

Copper: 7.0 ppm by weight on the fat-free substance. (Most contaminants are expressed as Parts per Million (PPM).

This means that the concentration of the particular substance is very low, even though the regulatory agency may consider it a significant amount.

One PPM is one part of million or the value is equivalent to the absolute fractional amount multiplied by one million.

Therefore, these metals can cause health hazards in case of continuous consumption of the chocolates containing lead and copper in the upper permissible levels. The lead exposure can cause damage to the central nervous systems, leading to learning difficulties and lower IQ in infants and young children.

Copper exposure can cause general weakness, hypothyroidism, depression, constipation and low blood pressure. 

Potato chips and noodles

As per the study was done by the Ahmedabad based Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) on some popular brands of potato chips/noodles and they revealed that almost all the brands available in the market contain harmful levels of sodium and fat, as excess fat content would trigger health problems like obesity and excessive usage of sodium could cause hypertension.

To make these potato chips and noodles tastier, manufacturers are using taste enhancers, commonly known as E 631.This E 631 is Disodium inosinate and comes from inosinic acid and is naturally found in a variety of animals, such as pigs or fish. This taste enhancer in the potato chips and noodles may cause diseases like Asthma and gout.

Soft drinks

The soft drink sector of the market is a much bigger money-spinner than the bottled water segment.

As per the tests, conducted by the pollution monitoring laboratory (PML) of the centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The agency analysed the content of 12 its growing popularity means that children and teenagers, who glug these bottles, are drinking a toxic potion.

Soft drink brands sold in and around Delhi and were tested for organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides and synthetic pyrethroids - all commonly used in India as insecticides.

The test results were shocking as those of bottled water samples contained residues of four extremely toxic pesticides and insecticides: Lindane, DDT, Malathion and Chlorpyrifos.

The higher level of these pesticides and insecticides present in the soft drinks may cause cancer and damage to the nervous and reproductive system in the humans.

Tail piece

There have been various instances of food adulteration in Jammu Kashmir, and people are suffering from gastric problems due to consumption of adulterated food items.

It is highly unlikely that more legislation or increase fines and jail terms alone will reduce adulteration, particularly given the corruption that exists in the enforcement area and low conviction rate.

Greater consumer vigilance and action can help to improve the situation. But such efforts are not fruitful unless consumers themselves are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Under these circumstances, consumer literacy is the need of the hour with special attention to the low-income groups who suffer the most.

‘New FSSAI norms will curb organic farming growth’

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19

A pan-India advocacy organisation that promotes ecological agriculture has said the recent notification on organic farming by Indian food safety regulator would be detrimental to the growth of organic farming in the country.

The Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), in a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said the notification on organic foods issued on December 29 last year, which makes certification mandatory for all barring a small set of farmers, would serve as a major impediment that deter farmers from shifting to organic farming. “As the Food Safety regulator, you are aware of the all-pervasive contamination by agro-chemicals, including of groundwater. We believe that organic farming has to be supported in all ways possible for it to spread to larger areas in a short span, given the need of the hour, the ASHA letter said.

The regulation could deter farmers to shift to, and pursue safer food production systems, because it will involve higher burden on farmers, beyond their financial and other capabilities, it said. “This, in a way, self-defeating to the very mandate of FSSAI,” it added.

This is missing the present notification and in the absence of that, FSSAI rushing in with its unreasonable regulation is an impediment.

“FSSAI should have waited out the implementation of its new regulations until something like this is put into place by State agriculture departments and Union Agriculture Ministry, it said.

It further said that there was no justification for giving the exemption to only “small” producers – this exemption should be extended to all organic farmers of the country, and their collectives.

ASHA also proposed that the regulator should exempt all those organic producers whose stocks are getting marketed through retail outlets that have directly sourced the produce from such organic farmers, without any intermediaries and are directly selling to end consumers (B2C).

“It appears that the situation of small illiterate farmers who desperately need organic farming as a way out of their agrarian distress is not considered when regulations are made,” ASHA said.

Agreement on Food Safety Cooperation signed between Japan and India

Japan and India will work together on the issue of Food Safety Cooperation.

Japan and India share the importance of cooperation in the field of food safety for promoting investment in India by Japanese food companies and decided to strengthen the cooperation in this field. As per the announcement, a FSSAI delegation will visit Japan for strengthening food safety cooperation and a meeting for information exchange on food safety will be held, coinciding with this visit.

This announcement was followed by the signing of MoU between Ise Foods Inc. and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, as per which the Japanese Food major will invest approximately INR 217 crores in Poultry farm and egg processing, as part of its Ise-Suzuki India Mega Project, in Telangana, beginning next year. MoFPI will facilitate Ise foods for the establishment of the aforesaid project in India.

Mr. Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan stated that two very important announcements had been made today.

These included the Agreement on the form of phytosanitary measures on the marine food trade between India and Japan and the second was the setting up of a Joint Working Group on Cold Chain between the two countries.

Mr Ashish Bahuguna, Chairperson, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stated that the FSSAI was focussing on both food safety as well as nutritional value of the food. He was of the view that Japanese foods are known for their safety as well as their nutritional value. He stated that Japanese food has slowly been introduced into India and efforts were being made to adapt Japanese food to Indian tastes.

Mr. Parag Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries stated that the MoU with Ise Foods was a direct outcome of World Food India which was held in November 2017 in New Delhi. He was of the view that there was much more potential for Japanese companies to invest in India given the fact that it has the technology and know-how in terms of food processing.

Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, President Designate, CII mentioned that Japan was the 'Partner Country'at World Food India 2017 organized by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), last year, with CII as the National Event Partner. This had effectively set in motion the transformatory process of the Indian food processing industry. The announcement of the Food Safety Cooperation between Japan and India and the MoU with Ise Foods Inc is a stepping stone in further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations, he added.

Adulteration has become a big business

With adulteration rampant in the food industry, consumers are at a disadvantage to know the quality of ingredients.

Grey market thrives as consumers look for cheap goods and overlook quality

Adulteration business is thriving, unnoticed by shopkeepers in a hurry. There is a duplicate for most of the popular brands in the market. Edible oil, cereals and auto spare parts... there is a duplicate for everything.

Despite stringent laws and periodical raids by officials, the grey market is thriving as a section of consumers are satisfied with the duplicate product as long as it is cheap, overlooking the quality factor. An edible oil manufacturer of a reputed brand said that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules were clear and specific. But the ‘inspector raj’ was misused for financial gains to aid the grey market.

It is the unsuspecting consumer who falls victim to the evil designs of the grey market. One of the shopkeepers of the auto spare parts hub on North Veli Street said only a trained eye could pick out the duplicate from the original one - be it engine oil, tyre, bulb or even headlight assembly. Profits from fake goods were so attractive that many shops pass them off as originals. And many consumers also happily buy “genuine spares” at a cheap price without tax.

Justifying the trade, a dealer said they sold fakes only to those customers who insisted on low-priced goods and did not want quotation or invoice or bill or receipt.

Oil market

Many of the oil stores on East Masi Street, Sandaipettai, East Veli Street, Munichalai and around Meenakshi Temple sell substandard products. For instance, a gingelly oil packet in one of the shops had no brand name, price and date of packing.

The oil is also sold in ‘loose.’ For the brand-conscious consumers, there are oil packets with names that sound like a reputed brand. Even when there was an address of the manufacturer printed in the pack, it turned out to be fake.

Unholy smoke

A priest in Meenakshi Temple said that though officials maintained that as part of security measures, devotees were not allowed to light camphor in the sannidhis, the real reason was that the smoke from the poor quality camphor remained as soot and polluted the place.

Rajaraman who runs a restaurant on West Perumal Maistry Street said adulteration was rampant in the food industry. “Synthetic masala, which is dark red in colour, is widely mixed in idli powder, ‘kaara sevu’ and ‘cauliflower 65,’ he said.

Tamil Nadu Bakers’ Federation president S. Anburajan said that after branded products came to the market, bakeries, big and small, purchased only genuine raw materials.

There were exclusive vanaspati products available for making bread, cakes and cookies, he said. Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association secretary S. Velshankar said that the number of complaints of adulteration from consumers was on the decline. But it need not be construed that adulteration had been prevented. It was because more consumers were aware of products and their shelf-life, and fewer victims.

Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior president S. Rethinavelu said manufacturers very well knew the consequences of adulteration. While the government encouraged branding, GST with its different slabs discouraged manufacturers. The government must issue clarification by bringing down the tax structure to 5%.

Health team raids hotel, collects food samples

Kapurthala: A surprise inspection of a hotel on the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway by the health department team revealed it was not adhering to food safety parameters.

Assistant commissioner (food) Dr Harjot Pal Singh said the checking was carried out on the directions of higher authorities that Hotel Cabbana was compromising with hygienic conditions. Phagwara senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Devinder Singh and food safety officer Satnam Singh also accompanied the inspection team, which collected six samples of the food being prepared and sent them for laboratory tests.

The assistant commissioner said the violations included open dustbins kept in the immediate vicinity of food items, bug-infested Bengal gram and rotten vegetables — cabbage and okra — among other things.

He also said further legal action would be taken against the offenders based on the report of analysis of the state food laboratory, Kharar under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules & Regulations 2011.

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Closure of cafeteria: GTech lauds CM’s intervention

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after the cabinet decided to replace Veena N Madhavan from the post of food safety commissioner, Group of Technology Companies (GTech), the industry body of IT companies in the state, lauded the government’s intervention in handling the difficult situation that followed food safety department closing down the dry pantry of an IT company at Technopark.

On Wednesday, food safety officers reopened the cafeteria at the IT firm Thoughtline functioning in phase III campus of Technopark. The area was sealed on Friday citing that the company did not have a license to operate the facility.

“The swift corrective action by the government, especially by the office of the chief minister, has sent out a positive message to the industry. This will restore the confidence of existing companies with regard to the government’s commitment towards ensuring an environment best suited for businesses,” said GTech chairman K Nandakumar.

Office bearers of GTech had met the CM earlier this week and apprised him on the action by the food safety officers.

Sources said that CM took a decision to replace Madhavan after she refused to attend a meeting convened by health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan with GTech office bearers and CEO of Thoughtline on Wednesday. The cabinet appointed M G Rajamanickam as the new food safety commissioner.

“The space closed down was a dry pantry. Nobody cooks or sells food there. Employees used this space to eat food they brought from home or outside. The manner in which the inspection was conducted and arbitrary closure of the facility did not go well with the business environment Technopark provides. Timely intervention by the departments of IT and health ensured corrective steps,” said GTech secretary P Vijay Kumar.

“Listing the IT company among eateries that the department claimed to have found working in unhygienic conditions, and publishing that in the media, was most unfortunate. Claims of company personnel obstructing the duty of food safety officers and holding them hostage were false. We were able to convince the government by handing-over supporting CCTV visuals,” he added.

Founding CEO of Technopark G Vijayaraghavan and IBS chief V K Mathews also praised the government for its intervention.

Food safety dept asks vendors not to wrap food in newspapers

Puducherry: The department of food safety has directed those who own or operate food businesses (small hoteliers and vendors), not to use newspapers to wrap, cover or serve food items, as it contains harmful chemicals.

Deputy food safety commissioner G L Upadhyaya sought them to use alternatives such as plantain leaves, aluminium foils and organically sourced disposable plates (made of plant origin).

He said newspapers, and cardboards made of recycled paper might contain traces of metallic contaminants, mineral oils and harmful chemicals like phthalates that can cause digestive issues and lead to severe toxicity. People with compromised vital organs and immune system are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications if they are exposed to food packed or served in such materials, he said.

“Food contaminated by newspaper ink raises serious concerns since the ink contains multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects. Printing inks may also contain harmful colours, binders, additives and preservatives. Besides chemical contaminants, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in used newspapers also poses a potential risk to human health,” Upadhyaya explained, asking vendors to avoid their use.

FSSAI regulates certain food definitions

The Food Saferty and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has defined certain food products which are used on regular basis.

FSSAI found it significant to spread the correct information of the food products that are easily available in the market to the consumers. As they say half knowledge is always dangerous, its always beneficial to give the correct food facts.

The food products covered are wheat protein, wheat atta, wheat glutten, fruits and vegetables, oils and fats, organic food products, spices and insecticides. The regulations and compliances regarding these products are also presented.

Erring traders fined Rs 160000 in Budgam

Budgam:

District Administration Budgam have realized a fine of Rs 1.6 lakh from various shopkeepers, wholesale dealers, distributors and manufacturers for selling adulterated, sub-standard and misbranded food items in different markets across the district, against the Food Safety and Standard Act-2006 (FSSA).

ADC Budgam Mohammad Farooq Dar said that the fine of Rs 1.6 lakh has been realized from the erring businessmen during last nine months after the food item samples collected from the market were found in contravention of the FSSA-2006.

He said the samples include tea, sweets, suji, milk, bakery, spices and other food products, which were collected from the different markets by the food safety officers.

Taking immediate action against the erring shopkeepers, fine was imposed against each shopkeeper and manufacturer for failing to live up to the food safety standards and selling food items in breach of FSS Act-2006.

The penalties on the erring businessmen were imposed by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam Mohammad Farooq Dar as Adjudicating Officer of FSSA Budgam under section 51/52 of FSS Act-2006.

Meanwhile, Adjudicating Officer directed FSS officers to conduct regular checkups and continue collection of samples from the markets for lab testing to ensure that no sub-standard or adulterated food items are being sold anywhere in the market at the risk of the life of consumers.

Besides, Adjudicating Officer also said that no shopkeeper or manufacturer would be allowed to indulge in such illegal practices, selling food products harmful for the human consumption.

He said that action would be taken against the shopkeeper for failing to maintain hygienic sale of food items.

Authorities further imposed a penalty of suspension of license as recovery of the amount as arrears of land revenue as per Section-96 of the Act on the erring shopkeeper incase he fails to deposit the penalty amount within the specified time. Besides, the accused is also directed not to repeat the practice of selling misbranded food items and comply the provision the provision of FSSA-2006.

Study finds plastics in bottled water from Mum, 2 other cities

Companies Say Strict Quality Control Ensured

Mumbai: A study by scientists from the State University of New York has found that more than 90 per cent of bottled water worldwide, including India, contains tiny pieces of plastic.

The researchers tested 259 individual bottles across 11 brands sold in nine countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and the US. Samples in India were drawn from 19 locations in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. Top global brands including Aquafina, Evian as well as the Indian brand Bisleri were tested. A Bisleri sample from Chennai showed over 5,000 microplastic particles per litre, according to the research team’s data.

Although bottling companies reacted to the study saying they enforce strict quality control, the findings indicating presence of carcinogenic substance in the water raise concerns about the long-term implications for public health.

Polypropylene, used to make plastic bottle caps, was the most common polymeric material (54%) found in the samples while nylon was the second most abundant (16%). After accounting for possible laboratory contamination, 93% of bottled water showed some presence of microplastics. Researchers found an average of 10.4 microplastic particles per litre of bottled water using spectroscopic analysis. This is twice as much as what was found in a previous study on tap water by the same team. The data indicated the contamination is at least partially coming from the packaging or bottling process.

Densities of microplastic contamination varied from zero contamination to one bottle with an excess of 10,000 microplastic particles per litre.

Packaged drinking water is a loosely regulated industry in India with hundreds of big and small brands vying for a share of the metro and small town market. Bottling units are regulated by state and central agencies in India including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA officials were not available for comment on Thursday on the study despite repeated attempts.

The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is instrumental in checking water bottle samples for ‘quality of plastic and related contamination inside the bottle’ on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Officials with the IIP lab in Mumbai said preventive action is taken by the BIS only if residual monomers, heavy metals or residual (chemical) catalysts are found beyond acceptable limits. However, such cases are rare, they said.Among leading companies, PepsiCo India contested the study’s findings saying, “Aquafina maintains rigorous quality control measures, sanitary manufacturing practices, filtration and other food safety mechanisms which yield a reliably safe product for enjoyment anywhere in the world. The science of microplastics and microfibers is in its infancy. Microplastic particles are found across our environment, including soil, air and water.”

The study specifically mentions the batch number and location of purchase for all the 27 lots of samples containing 259 bottles tested. Only 17 individual bottles “showed no microplastic contamination in excess of possible laboratory background,” said the study.

Chemicals found in plastic bottles are also known to have affected newborn children. A 2013 study by Dr Arbinder Singal, a paediatric urologist with MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai, found a growing incidence of genital abnormality among newborn boys due to increasing exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals found in plastic bottles, food wraps, cosmetics and toys. The study noticed a 200% rise in the incidence of undescended testicles.

The bottled water industry faced tough questions earlier when studies indicated high pesticide residue in the water. This resulted in a crackdown and more scrutiny on the processes. The distinction between “natural mineral water” and “bottled water” also came in through awareness campaigns and consumer activism which questioned the widespread use of the term “mineral water” for packaged water which had not been fortified with minerals. Most companies then switched to describing their product as “bottled water”.

‘Any kind of plastic is alien, so it could be harmful’

Mumbai: Traces of microplastics in bottled water could have impacts on human health, say experts. They, however, feel that a lot of research needs to be done to understand the health implications and draw guidelines.

Uday Annapure, head of the department of food engineering and technology at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, said, “While there are a lot of microorganisms in the air, our bodies learn to deal with them. However, any kind of plastic is alien and deposition over time in the intestines could be harmful but more study needs to be done." He added that an important aspect to take this further would be to study the people working in the industry since they would be exposed to these micro particles.

According to Dr Altaf Patel, director of medicine at Jaslok hospital, plastics when leached in to water could have carcinogenic effects. “Most bottled water brands don’t disclose the bacterial, particulate matter or toxic content,” he said.

Dr Shahid Barmare, consultant physician at Kohinoor Hospital, said, "People often come to us with concern if they should use plastic containers for food and water. Plastic leaching is known to have an impact especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. So if at all people need to use it, we suggest that they constantly keep changing it and not use it for storing food for children..”

Similarly, Dr Kiran Coelho, a gynecologist, said, “While there are no concrete studies linking storing food in plastic containers to problems during pregnancy or congenital birth defects, we advice against its use." TNN

`குழந்தைகள், கர்ப்பிணிகள், பாலூட்டும் தாய்மார்கள் குடிக்கக் கூடாது’ - குளிர்பானத் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனமே குறிப்பிடும் எச்சரிக்கை!

கடந்த வாரம் ரயில்வே ஸ்டேஷனில் நடந்த ஒரு நிகழ்வு… கருமையான குளிர்பானத்துக்குள்ளிருக்கும் உட்பொருள்களைப் பற்றித் தெரிந்துகொள்வதற்காக குளிர்பானம் ஒன்றை வாங்கினேன். 250 மி.லி கொள்ளளவு கொண்ட அதன் விலை இருபத்தைந்து ரூபாய். அதே கடையில் ஐந்து வயது மதிக்கத்தக்க சிறுவன், அதே குளிர்பானத்தின் பெயரை உரிமையுடன் சொல்லி, தனது தந்தையிடம் கேட்டான். தந்தையும் எந்தவித மறுப்புமின்றி வாங்கிக் கொடுத்தார். சிறுவன், தான் விரும்பிய பொருள் கிடைத்த மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் சில்லென்ற குளிர்பானத்தைப் பருகினான். சிறுவன் நடந்துகொண்டே குளிர்பானத்தைப் பருகப் பருக, நான் அந்தப் பாட்டிலில் அச்சிடப்பட்டிருந்த வாசகங்களைப் படித்தேன்.

சிறியதாக அச்சிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் உட்பொருள்கள்...

`குளிர்பானத்தின் பெயர் (கூடுதல் சக்தியுடன் என்ற அடைமொழியுடன்)… அதிகளவு கஃபைன் (Caffeine) கொண்டது… குழந்தைகள், பாலூட்டும் தாய்மார்கள், கர்ப்பிணிகள் குடிக்கக் கூடாது… கஃபைன் அலர்ஜி உள்ளவர்கள் குடிக்கக் கூடாது… ஒரு நாளைக்கு 500 மிலி-க்கு அதிகமாகப் பருகக் கூடாது’ என்றெல்லாம் லென்ஸ் வைத்துப் பார்க்கும் அளவுக்கு, மிகச் சிறிய எழுத்துகள் பாட்டிலில் அச்சிடப்பட்டிருந்தன. ஒரு நுகர்வுப் பொருளில் இருக்கும் உட்பொருள்களைப் படித்துப் பார்த்து வாங்கும் விழிப்புஉணர்வு, மக்களிடம் இல்லை. அப்படியிருக்கும்போது, இவ்வளவு எச்சரிக்கைக் குறிப்புகள் கொண்ட ஒரு குளிர்பானத்தை, விதவிதமான மனிதர்கள் வந்துபோகும் ரயில் நிலையத்தில் விற்கும் நியாயமற்ற சமுதாயத்தில்தான் நாம் வாழ்கிறோம். அதே குளிர்பானம் பேருந்து நிலையங்கள், வணிக வளாகங்கள், மளிகைக்கடைகள்... என அனைத்து இடங்களிலும் சர்வ சாதாரணமாகக் கிடைத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்பதுதான் வேதனை!

கஃபைன் மட்டுமா?

கர்ப்பிணிகள்… பாலூட்டும் தாய்மார்கள்… குழந்தைகள் குடிக்கக் கூடாத அளவுக்கு அதிலுள்ள பொருள் கஃபைன் மட்டும்தானா... அல்லது வேறு ஏதாவது இருக்கிறதா? நமக்குத் தெரிய வாய்ப்பில்லை. செயற்கைக் குளிர்பான நிறுவனத்துக்கே வெளிச்சம். வயது வித்தியாசமின்றி, அந்த நிறுவனமே அறிவுறுத்தும் எச்சரிக்கையை மீறி, அவர்களின் குளிர்பானம் அனைவராலும் குடிக்கப்படுவதுதான் நிதர்சனம். நான் பார்த்தது ஒரு சிறுவன். இன்னும் எத்தனையோ சிறுவர்களின் பிஞ்சு உறுப்புகள், அந்தக் குளிர்பானத்தை, அதிலுள்ள சாப்பிடக் கூடாத உட்பொருள்களை கிரகித்துக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கின்றன.

பாதிக்கப்படுவது யார்?

விஷயம் என்ன தெரியுமா? குளிர்பானங்களை வியாபாரம் செய்யும் கடைக்காரர்களுக்குமேகூட அதிலிருக்கும் பாதகங்களைப் பற்றித் தெரிந்திருக்க வாய்ப்பில்லை. காரணம், அவ்வளவு சிறிய எழுத்துகளில் எச்சரிக்கைவிடுத்திருக்கிறார்கள். விஷயம் தெரிந்தால், அறம் சார்ந்த விற்பன்னர்கள் உறுதியாக விற்பனை செய்ய மாட்டார்கள். `குழந்தைகள் குடிப்பதற்கு உகந்ததல்ல’ என்று அச்சிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் குளிர்பானத்தின் தீவிரம் புரியாமல் பருகும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு ஏதாவது பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டு, நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றத்துக்குச் சென்றாலும் வழக்கு நிற்காது. தாங்கள் சிறியதாக அச்சிட்ட எழுத்துகளை, பெரியதாக நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஒப்படைப்பார் அந்தப் பன்னாட்டுக் குளிர்பான நிறுவனத்துக்காக வாதாடும் வழக்கறிஞர். கடைசியில் பாதிக்கப்படுவது ஒன்றும் அறியாத அப்பாவி மக்கள்தாம்.

இளைஞர்களின் உற்சாக பானம்!

கஃபைன் கலந்த குளிர்பானம் குறித்த எனது அனுபவங்களை சென்னையிலிருக்கும் பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனத்தில் பணிபுரியும் நண்பரிடம் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தேன். அப்போது அவர் அதிர்ச்சியான தகவல் ஒன்றைப் பகிர்ந்துகொண்டார். குளிர்பானத்தில் நிறைய ’கஃபைன்’ இருப்பதாக விளம்பரப்படுத்தப்படுவதால், இரவுநேரப் பணியில் நீண்ட நேரம் கண்விழித்து வேலை செய்யவேண்டிய இளைஞர்களின் உற்சாக பானமாக அது உருவெடுத்திருக்கிறதாம். `ஒரு நாளைக்கு 500 மி.லி-க்கு மேல் குடிக்கக் கூடாது’ என்று எச்சரிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் நிலையில், குறைந்தது ஒரு லிட்டர் வரை ஒரே இரவில் பல இளைஞர்கள் பருகுகிறார்களாம். இப்படியே தினமும் தொடர்ந்தால், கஃபைனின் அளவு அதிகரித்து, மிகப் பெரிய பாதிப்புகளை உண்டாக்கும்.

கஃபைன் ஏற்படுத்தும் பாதிப்புகள்...

உறங்காமல் இருப்பதற்காக அளவுக்கு மீறி காபி குடிப்பதே பாதிப்புகளை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்ற நிலையில், தனியாக கஃபைன் சேர்க்கப்பட்ட பானத்தை அருந்தினால், விரைவில் மிகப் பெரிய பாதிப்புகள் ஏற்படும். அந்தக் குளிர்பானத்தில் இருக்கும் கஃபைனின் அளவு, ஏறக்குறைய 40 மி.கி / 250 மி.லி. அதிக அளவிளான கஃபைன் (High caffeine) என்றும் அதில் அச்சிடப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. நான் குறிப்பிட்டிருப்பது அதிகளவில் கஃபைன் கலக்கப்பட்ட ஒரு பன்னாட்டுக் குளிர்பானத்தைப் பற்றி. அது மட்டுமில்லாமல், கஃபைன் கலக்கப்பட்ட எத்தனையோ பன்னாட்டு குளிர்பானங்கள் பொதுமக்களைக் கவரும் வகையில் வெவ்வேறு ரூபங்களில் வலம்வருகின்றன.

அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக கஃபைன் நமது ரத்தத்தில் கலக்கும்போது, ஒழுங்கற்ற இதயத்துடிப்பு, மூச்சுவிடுவதில் சிரமம், மயக்கம், தலைவலி, தூக்கமின்மை, மனஅழுத்தம்... எனப் பல்வேறு பாதிப்புகளை உண்டாக்கும். `கஃபைனால் தூண்டப்பட்ட மனப்பதற்றம்’ (Caffeine induced anxiety disorder) என்ற நோய்ப் பிரிவு, மனநோய்கள் சார்ந்த வகைப்பட்டியலில் இடம்பெற்றிருக்கிறது. அதிகளவு கஃபைன் கலந்த குளிர்பானத்தை ஒருவர் குடித்து, அதனால் பாதிப்புகள் ஏற்படுமானால் அதற்கென்ன மருத்துவம் தெரியுமா? விஷத்தை குடித்தவர்களுக்குக் கொடுக்கப்படும் மருத்துவம்தான் அவர்களுக்கும்!

குளிர்பானங்களில் சேர்க்கப்படும் கஃபைனால் ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புகள் ஒருபுறமிருக்க, அளவுக்கு மீறிய செயற்கைச் சர்க்கரைகளால் உடல் பருமன், சர்க்கரைநோய் என பாதிப்புகள் மறுபுறம் உருவெடுக்கும். `புகைப்பிடித்தால் புற்றுநோய் உண்டாகும்’ என்று சிகரெட் அட்டையில் எழுதப்பட்டிருப்பதைப்போல, `செயற்கை பானங்களை அருந்தினால் தொற்றா நோய்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரிக்கும்’ என்று அவரவர் மனங்களில் எழுதிவைத்துக்கொண்டு அவற்றை தவிர்த்தால் ஆரோக்கியத்துக்கு நல்லது.

ஒரு நாளைக்கு ஒருவர் ¼ லிட்டர் தண்ணீர் குடிக்கிறார் என்றால், அவரது இரைப்பை ¼ லிட்டர் அளவு விரிவடையும். அதுவே வாயு நிரப்பப்பட்ட ¼ லிட்டர் குளிர்பானத்தைப் பருகினால், இரைப்பையானது ½ லிட்டர் வரை விரிவடையும். இதன் காரணமாக உணவுக்குழாயை நோக்கி, இரைப்பையின் அமிலம் கலந்த கூழ்மங்கள் எதுக்களிக்கும். தொடர்ந்து இப்படி நிகழும்போது, உணவுக்குழாயின் திசுக்கள் பாதிப்படைந்து, தாங்க முடியாத நெஞ்செரிச்சல், வலி ஏற்படும். இப்படி உணவுக்குழாயின் திசுக்கள் பாதிப்படைவதை ‘பாரட்ஸ் ஈஸோபேகஸ்’ (Barrett’s oesophagus) என மருத்துவ உலகம் அழைக்கிறது. அடுத்தகட்டமாக உணவுக்குழாயில் புற்றுநோய் வருவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகளும் இருக்கின்றன. வாயு நிரப்பப்பட்ட குளிர்பானங்கள் அதிகமாக விற்பனையாகும் ஆஸ்திரேலியா, இங்கிலாந்து போன்ற நாடுகளில் உணவுக்குழாய் புற்றுநோயாளர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகம்.

பதப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பழச்சாறுகள்...

வேனிற்காலத்தை மனதில் வைத்து, செயற்கைக் குளிர்பானங்கள் சார்ந்த விளம்பரங்கள் அதிகளவில் தொலைக்காட்சிகளில் ஒளிபரப்பாகத் தொடங்கிவிட்டன... உங்கள் அபிமான நட்சத்திரங்களின் வாய்மொழியுடன்! செயற்கைக் குளிர்பானங்கள் மட்டுமல்லாமல், `பழச்சாறுகள் மட்டுமே’ என்று விளம்பரப்படுத்தப்படும் குளிர்பானங்களும் வேண்டாம். நேரடியாக மாம்பழத்தின் சுவையை அனுபவிப்பதற்கும், அட்டையில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழச் சாற்றைச் சுவைப்பதற்கும் வித்தியாசங்கள் நிறைய இருக்கின்றன. ஒரு முழு மாம்பழத்தின் மூலம் நமக்குக் கிடைக்கும் இயற்கைச் சர்க்கரைக்கும், 200 மி.லி பதப்படுத்தபட்ட பழச்சாறு கொடுக்கும் சர்க்கரையின் அளவிலும் தரத்திலும் மிகுந்த வேறுபாடுகள் உள்ளன. 2014-ம் ஆண்டு, செயற்கைக் குளிர்பானங்களில் குறிப்பிட்ட அளவு பழச்சாறுகளைக் கலந்து சந்தையில்விடலாமா என்ற பேச்சு அடிபட்டது. அப்போது பல்வேறு உணவியல் ஆர்வலர்கள் அதற்கு எதிராகக் குரல் கொடுத்தார்கள். அதற்கு அவர்கள் முன்வைத்த காரணம்… `செயற்கைக் குளிர்பானங்கள் என்றாலும் சரி, பதப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பழச்சாறுகள் என்றாலும் சரி, இரண்டிலுமே சர்க்கரையின் அளவு அதிகம்’ என்பதுதான். அது தவிர்த்து அவை கெடாமல் இருப்பதற்காகச் சேர்க்கப்படும் பதப்படுத்திகள் சார்ந்தும் அவர்கள் தங்கள் எதிர்ப்பைப் பதிவுசெய்திருந்தார்கள்.

`பன்னாட்டுக் குளிர்பானங்களில் பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்துகள் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன… பயன்படுத்தாதீர்கள்’ என்ற செய்தி அவ்வப்போது வெளிவருவதுண்டு. கிட்டத்தட்ட பதினைந்து ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர், ஆந்திராவில் இருக்கும் குண்டூர் பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த விவசாயிகள், தாங்கள் விளைவித்த நெற்பயிர்கள் பூச்சிகளால் பாதிப்படையாமலிருக்க, ஒரு பன்னாட்டுக் குளிர்பானத்தை சமஅளவு பூச்சிமருந்துடன் கலந்து பயன்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள். அதுதொடக பல வழக்குகளும் ஆய்வுகளும் நடைபெற்றது வேறு கதை.

கஃபைன் சார்ந்தோ, சர்க்கரை சார்ந்தோ அல்லது அதில் சேர்க்கப்படும் வாயுக்கள் காரணமாகவோ பிரச்னைகள் ஏற்படலாம். விபரீதங்களைத் தவிர்க்க சிறந்த வழி, செயற்கைக் குளிர்பானங்களை வெறுத்து ஒதுக்குவது மட்டும்தான். பானங்களுக்கா நம்மிடம் பஞ்சம்? ஒவ்வோரு பருவ காலத்துக்கும் வகை வகையாக இயற்கை பானங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தியவர்கள் நாம். மீண்டும் அவற்றை மீட்டெடுப்பது, நம் கையில்தான் இருக்கிறது.

How much plastic is there in your packaged water?

Packaged water can be a lifeline for many of the 2.1 billion people worldwide with unsafe drinking water 

A new research by Orb Media a non-profit journalism organisation based in Washington, D.C., shows that a single bottle can hold dozens or possibly even thousands of microscopic plastic particles.

The mercury sprints past 30°C most days on Brazil’s world-famous Copacabana Beach.

Marcio Silva has trudged uncounted miles there, selling relief in the form of cold bottled water.

“I drink water because water is life, water is health, water is everything,” said Silva (51). “I drink it and sell it to others. I don’t want to sell something bad to people.”

Bottled water is marketed as the very essence of purity. It's the fastest-growing beverage market in the world, valued at US$147 billion per year.

But new research by Orb Media, a non-profit journalism organisation based in Washington, D.C., shows that a single bottle can hold dozens or possibly even thousands of microscopic plastic particles.

Tests on more than 250 bottles from 11 brands reveal contamination with plastic including polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Water mark

Orb Media conducts tests on more than 250 bottles from 11 brands

The study reveals contamination with plastic, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Two leading brands confirm their products contained microplastic, but said Orb's study significantly overstates the amount

Tests conducted for Orb at the State University of New York reveal a global average of 10.4 plastic particles a litre

Samples came from 19 locations in nine countries on five continents. Some bottles had effectively zero plastic. One contained more than 10,000 particles a litre. Plastic found in 93% of the samples

When contacted by reporters, two leading brands confirmed their products contained micro-plastic, but they said Orb’s study significantly overstates the amount.

For plastic particles in the 100 micron, or 0.10 millimetre size range, tests conducted for Orb at the State University of New York revealed a global average of 10.4 plastic particles per litre. These particles were confirmed as plastic using an industry standard infra-red microscope.

The tests also showed a much greater number of even smaller particles that researchers said are also likely plastic. The global average for these particles was 314.6 per litre.

Samples came from 19 locations in nine countries on five continents. Some bottles had effectively zero plastic. One contained more than 10,000 particles per litre.

We found plastic in 93 per cent of the samples.

“This is shocking,” said Erik Solheim, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program. “Please name one human being on the entire planet who wants plastic in his or her bottle.”

Peggy Apter certainly doesn’t. “It's disheartening,” said Apter, a real estate investor in Carmel, Indiana, who drinks only bottled water. “What's the world come to? Why can't we have just clean, pure water?”

Packaged water can be a lifeline for many of the 2.1 billion people worldwide with unsafe drinking water. Some 4,000 children die every day from water-borne diseases, according to the United Nations.

Yet many who do have safe tap water still choose bottled because they think it's cleaner, find it more convenient or prefer the taste. Bottled water output will soon hit 300 billion litres a year.

Scientists and governments are increasingly concerned about micro-plastic pollution. Recent studies have found micro-plastic — particles smaller than 5 millimetres — in the oceans, soil, air, lakes, and rivers.

But plastic’s final frontier may be the human body.

Microplastics in bottled water

Last year, Orb Media revealed microscopic plastic in global tap water samples.

Today's study is “a very illuminative example of how intimate our contact with plastic is,” said Martin Wagner, a toxicologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Micro-plastics are “probably in our tissues,” said Jane Muncke, managing director at the Food Packaging Forum, a Swiss research organization. “I’m sure they’re in mine.”

What this means for human health is unknown.

“Based on current knowledge, which is very fragmentary and incomplete, there is little health concern,” Wagner said. “The human body is well-adapted to dealing with non-digestible particles.”

As much as 90 percent of micro-plastic that is consumed might be excreted, a 2016 European Union report on plastic in seafood said.

Of the other ten percent, some plastic under 150 microns (0.15 millimetres) could enter the gut's lymphatic system, or pass from the bloodstream to the kidneys or liver, according the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Today’s bottled water study found plastic within that range.

But assumptions about how plastic behaves in the gut come from scientific models, not laboratory studies, Muncke said.

“We don't even know all the chemicals in plastics,” Muncke said. “There's so many unknowns here.”

Bottled water manufacturers emphasised their products met all government requirements.

Gerolsteiner, a German bottler, said its tests “have come up with a significantly lower quantity of micro-particles per litre,” than found in Orb’s study.

Nestle tested six bottles from three locations after an inquiry from Orb Media. Those tests, said Nestle Head of Quality Frederic de Bruyne, showed between zero and five plastic particles per liter.

None of the other bottlers agreed to make public results of their tests for plastic contamination.

“We stand by the safety of our bottled water products,” the American Beverage Association said in a statement.

Anca Paduraru, a food safety spokeswoman for the European Commission, said that while micro-plastic is not directly regulated in bottled water, “legislation makes clear there must be no contaminants.” The U.S. doesn’t have specific rules for micro-plastic in food and beverages.

Some consumers were shocked by Orb's discovery. Others were confident plastic wouldn't harm them.

“I feel cheated,” said Arnold Kokonya (23), a graphic design student in Nairobi, Kenya. “But then, at the same time, I feel safe.”

“Actually, I'm surprised,” said Norma Navarrete (36), a soprano who sips bottled water before performing with the Tijuana Opera in Mexico. “I mean, you drink it every day.”

The study was supervised by Professor Sherri Mason, a leading micro-plastic researcher at the State University of New York in Fredonia. Mason also managed Orb's 2017 tap water study.

To test bottled water, Mason's team first infused each bottle with a dye called Nile Red, an emerging method used by scientists for the rapid detection of micro-plastic. The water was then filtered to 1.5 microns, or 0.0015 millimetres — smaller than a human red blood cell.

Under a microscope, in the blue glare of a crime-scene investigation light, and viewed through orange goggles, the dyed plastic particles on each filter glow like tiny embers.

Mason analysed bigger particles, about 100 microns (0.10 millimetres), by Fourier-Transform Infra-red spectroscopy, which beams infra-red light into an object to read its molecular signature.

Polypropylene, used in bottle caps, made up 54 percent of those larger particles. Nylon was 16 percent. PET, used in bottles, was six percent. The majority of samples came in plastic bottles. Water in glass bottles also held micro-plastic.

Fluorescing particles that were too small to be analysed by FTIR should be called “probable micro-plastic,” said Andrew Mayes, senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of East Anglia, because “some of it might be another, unknown, substance to which Nile Red stain is adhering.” Mayes developed the Nile Red method for identifying micro-plastic.

De Bruyne, of Nestle, noted that Mason’s tests did not include a step in which biological substances are removed from the sample. Therefore, he said, some of the fluorescing particles could be false positives — natural material that the Nile Red had also stained. He didn’t specify what that material would be.

Mason noted that the so-called “digestion step” is used on debris-filled samples from the ocean or the seashore, and wasn’t needed for bottled water. “Certainly they are not suggesting that pure, filtered, pristine water is likely to have wood, algae, or chitin [prawn shells] in it?” she said.

To count the particles, we used an app that recorded the number of fluorescing objects in photographs of lab filters.

“This is pretty substantial,” Mayes said. “I've looked in some detail at the finer points of the way the work was done, and I'm satisfied that it has been applied carefully and appropriately, in a way that I would have done it in my lab.”

A recent paper in the journal Water Research reported finding micro-plastic in German mineral water. “I'm sure that this [plastic] is from the bottle itself,” lead author Darena Schymanski said.

Orb's studies of tap water and bottled water used different methods. But there is room to compare them.

For micro-plastic around 100 microns, about the width of a hair, bottled water samples had nearly twice the particles per liter (10.4) as tap water (4.45).

So what's best, bottled or tap?

“If your tap water is of high quality, that's always better,” said Scott Belcher, professor of toxicology at North Carolina State University. “If you have contaminated and unsafe drinking water, bottled water may be your only alternative.”

Echoing other consumers we interviewed, Apter said, “it's the government's responsibility to educate people to know what they're drinking and eating.”

Odisha gets first mobile food testing laboratory

BHUBANESWAR: The State got its first Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) on Wednesday. Referred to as food safety on wheels, the van will be used to conduct tests for common adulterants in all products.Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena flagged off the van on the premises of Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) here on Wednesday.Introduced by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2016-17, the one-of-its-kind mobile food testing laboratory, which costs around `36 lakh is equipped with gadgets like milk analyser, hot air oven, hot plate, mixer grinder, digital weighing scale and air conditioner besides test equipment. 

“The mobile laboratory will help spot testing of adulteration in common food items, including milk products, prepared food and non-permitted colours. Testing of common adulteration can instill confidence in the local population while strengthening the hand of enforcement machinery,” Jena said.The van that comes up with a LCD set and mike will not only examine the food samples, but also create awareness among people at large congregations and schools about food adulteration. It will educate consumers in various aspects of food safety and common hygienic practices. People can also ask queries to the officials present in the van.

While FSSAI will provide `5 lakh per year for next three years for operation of the van, the State Government will bear the maintenance and transport expenses. A lab technician, lab assistant, helper and driver have been deployed on the van.“The mobile van would be regularly monitored to ensure that the services were being provided satisfactorily,” the Health Minister added. Among others, Health Secretary Dr Pramod Meherda, Director of National Health Mission Shalini Pandit and Food Safety Commissioner Archana Patnaik were present.

Food Safety Dept to challenge ‘lesser penalties’ imposed in food adulteration cases

Srinagar, Mar 14: Unsatisfied over imposing “lesser penalties”, the Food Safety Department would challenge the orders of additional deputy commissioners before the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal Kashmir (FSAT) in substandard food cases.

An official of the Food Safety Department said that they were not satisfied with the “meagre” amount imposed as fine by ADCs in substandard food cases in the Valley.

The ADCs are adjudicating officers to decide on the fine in food adulterated cases.

The official said that restaurants, traditional bakers, milk vendors, butchers, and various others, who sell eatable items, have been found for violating various provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. During various inspections, the official said that it was also found that “synthetic colours” were being used in many popular food items.

“But ADC, who are adjudicating officers, have imposed lesser fine against gravity of the cases,” the official said.

The official said that Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 was not being executed “properly” in the state.

The Act came into force across the country in August 2011. The Act was also to ensure improved quality of food for the consumers and censure misleading claims and advertisement by those in food business.

Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Srinagar, Hilal Mir said that they were framing a list of cases, which would be challenged before the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal Kashmir (FSAT).

“There are already few cases in High Court that will be referred to FSAT. A list is also being compiled where we will challenge the ADC orders in sub-standard food cases,” Mir said.

The FSAT was made operational in 2017. Principal District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Yousuf Akhoon has been appointed its Presiding Officer.

Akhoon said the FSAT will hear the appeals against the orders of adjudicating officers.

“Anyone can challenge the orders of the ADC, who are adjudicating officers, in imposing penalty in sub-standard cases. The Food Safety Department is compiling list of cases for challenging the orders of adjudicating cases where meager amount has been imposed against the gravity of the case,” he said.

Giving an example in one of the cases, he said, “Fine was imposed against an outside company for selling adulterated milk. The said outside challenged the order. We decided the case and imposed Rs 5 lakh fine, more than penalty imposed by adjudicating officer keeping into consideration its gravity,” he said.

Check essence of all problems in biryani

Letter related to Disposal of cases pending under PFA Act and other orders repealed by FSS Act, 2006. (Uploaded on: 14.03.2018)

Get Food Facts Right: FAQs on Wheat Flour and other Wheat Products. (Uploaded on: 13.03.2018)

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Buying 'mineral' water? There's a 30% chance it will be contaminated

Junior consumer affairs minister reveals 224 of 743 bottles tested by FSSAI contained impurities; action against 131 manufacturers taken

In what would come as a jarring statistic for the billion-dollar packaged water industry, three out of ten units of so-called mineral water sold across India have been found to be contaminated. This was stated by Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C R Chaudhary while replying to a question in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.Chaudhary stated that the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) had undertaken an exercise to test 743 samples in 2016-17. Out of these samples, almost a third, or 224 samples of packaged water were found to be not conforming to safety standards set in India.After finding such large samples to be contaminated, FSSAI launched cases against 131 manufacturers of these packaged water bottles. In the end, 33 were convicted and penalties were imposed on 40.

The minister did not elaborate on the nature of the penalties.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is the regulator for ensuring food quality, states “No person shall manufacture, sell or exhibit for sale packaged drinking water and mineral water except under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification mark”.

According to FSSAI guidelines, packaged water is deemed safe if, after being procured from sources, it is disinfected to a level where it does not adversely affect health. It can be disinfected by means of chemical agents or physical methods such as distillation, which will reduce the number of micro-organisms to a level scientifically acceptable for food safety.

Manufacturers were not just guilty of producing contaminated water by not following the prescribed standards, some were even found to be flouting Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) ‘Standard Mark’ guidelines. 

As per the government, the BIS has received 55 complaints in the past three years. Till February 2018, twenty-three complaints about packaged drinking water were established and action taken. Complaints were also received over misuse of BIS mark by the sellers..Chaudhary said that cases of packaged drinking water sold without BIS mark have come to FSSAI's notice and strict action has been advised under the penal provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act.

As per the BIS Act of 2016, goods notified by the central government under compulsory BIS Certification when sold without the standard mark, constitute a cognisable offence on the part of the vendor.

The possibility of the presence of several heavy metals beyond permissible limits and also essential minerals missing in the contents came forward, following which discreet raids were conducted.

Following investigation, 192 search-and-seizure operations were conducted at the bottling units during the past three years and in the current year, till February.

When asked if the government is planning to ban the sale of drinking water in plastic pouches, which is hazardous for both health and environment reasons, the minister said strict norms are laid down regarding packaging material.Chaudhary also emphasized that the FSSAI had launched an online safe water web portal where consumers can compare test reports of packaged drinking water including physical, chemical and microbiological information. 

This aims to use this portal as a confidence building exercise emphasising that the consumers have the right to know the quality of the packaged water they are drinking, he added.

3 out of 10 manufacturers of packaged drinking water are flouting safety norms. Not so pure, maybe?

How safe is your bottle of packaged drinking water? 

New Delhi: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution CR Chaudhary on Tuesday furnished a statement in the Lok Sabha where he said that three out of the ten units of mineral water sold across the country have been found to be contaminated.

This shocking revelation is expected to have a long-lasting effect on India's multi-billion dollar packaged water industry.

While replying to a question in the lower house of parliament, Chaudhary claimed that the discovery was the result of an exercise undertaken by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI). As part of the exercise, FSSAI tested 743 samples of packaged water in 2016-2017 and found that 224 or almost a third of the total number of samples failed to meet safety standards that the products are expected to meet.

According to a report by The Business Standard, FSSAI, upon discovering the violation of safety standards, filed cases against 131 manufacturers of packaged drinking water. As a result, 33 were convicted while penalties were slapped on 40 of such manufacturers.

Guidelines issued by FSSAI deem a product to be 'safe packaged drinking water' only if it is disinfected to an extent where it does not adversely affect health once it is acquired from the sources.

However, manufacturers of packaged drinking water were found not only violating norms set by the FSSAI but also flouting Bureau of Indian Standards (ISI) 'standard mark' guidelines.

Representatives of the government have confirmed the same by saying that the bureau received acted on 23 complaints about packaged drinking water till February 2018.

However, food and beverage regulators have also prodded a possible presence of multiple heavy metals beyond permissible levels in packaged drinking water manufactured by such companies which have also been accused of selling their product without a BIS mark which constituted a cognizable offense on the part of the vendor.

Products manufactured by such companies also lack essential minerals, said Chaudhary.

During raids conducted in the wake of such violations of both FSSAI and ISI norms, 192 search-and-seizure drives were launched at bottling units across the country. The drive lasted three years, concluding in February of the current year.

With the intention of empowering the consumer and introducing transparency in the packaged drinking water industry, the FSSAI has launched an online portal where consumers can compare test reports of packaged drinking water including physical, chemical and microbiological information, added Chaudhary.

Enforce law that prevents sale of tobacco to minors: Council to CM

A letter in this regard was sent to the Chief Minister on March 10, where activists had urged him to not succumb to pressures from tobacco lobbyists.

On September 21, 2017, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had suggested measures to protect children from exposure to tobacco products, by introducing an authorisation mechanism. 

THE ACTION Council Against Tobacco (ACT) has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavisto issue a circular in the interest of public health, directing all health inspectors, directors of panchayat and urban affairs, and secretaries of local bodies, to strictly monitor and ensure that shops selling tobacco products have the mandatory licence. A letter in this regard was sent to the Chief Minister on March 10, where activists had urged him to not succumb to pressures from tobacco lobbyists.

On September 21, 2017, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had suggested measures to protect children from exposure to tobacco products, by introducing an authorisation mechanism. The ministry had asked municipal bodies and local authorities to authorise sale of tobacco at shops on the condition that they would have to be exclusive tobacco shops and cannot sell anything else such as “toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, soft drinks.”

“We have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure that these guidelines are followed and these shops that exclusively sell tobacco products should not sell goods like toffees, candies, cakes and chips,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital and secretary of ACT.

“Use of tobacco is a prominent risk factor for 6 to 8 leading causes of death and almost 40 per cent of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), including cancer, cardio-vascular diseases and lung disorders. Almost 13 lakh people die every year in India due to tobacco use. It is the duty of the state to protect children and improve public health under Article 39 and 47 of the Constitution of India. Yet, tobacco shops are mushrooming and the harmful product is freely available to our future generations,” Chaturvedi stated in the letter.

“…several outlets in Mumbai and other cities are still trading in tobacco products, in violation of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulations of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003 and Rules, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children)Act, 2015 and the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and Regulations, Legal Metrology Act thereby causing danger to our kids,” the letter read.

Milk adulteration may soon invite life imprisonment

The state government is considering to make adulteration of milk a non-bailable offence and increase the jail term to a minimum of three years, which can go up to life imprisonment.

Milk adulteration is an offence under section 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. At present, it is bailable, and the jail term, upon conviction, is between six months to one year.

"Even though it is a central act, the Union government has allowed us to make changes at the state level. We are working to bring a legally sound and strict law in the next few months," said food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat in both houses of legislature on Tuesday.

He said three states-Gujarat, Bihar and Orrisa-have amended the law to increase the jail term. "People are not afraid of the current law. We have felt the need for more stringent punishment to ensure an adulteration-free state," Bapat said.

The issue of milk adulteration was raised by NCP's Kiran Pawaskar in the legislative council. He said the number of cases was on the rise and "under the current law if a person is caught in the morning, he is out on bail within a couple of hours". In the assembly, the issue was raised by BJP's Ameet Satam through a calling attention notice.

"In several countries, including the UK and the US, if a restaurant is found to be violating FDA norms, it is sealed in 24 hours. The state government should also take such strict steps," said Pawaskar.

Bapat replied that the government was in the process of preparing the draft of the amendment. "We will bring it for the cabinet's approval in the next few months."

Do dry pantries need food safety license ?

TechnoparkToday.com >> In a bizarre turn of events, food safety officials barged into an IT company to inspect their dry pantry (a dining area for employees with a coffee vending machine and drinking water dispenser). The officials not only closed down the pantry demanding a food safety license, but also engaged in a war of words with employees.

This happened despite Technopark authorities given permission to food safety officials only to inspect eateries in Technopark. Thoughtline, a Technology company operating in Ganga building of Technopark Phase III was the scene of the entire drama. It was by Friday evening that food safety officials came to inspect the IT company which is functioning in the SEZ campus.

The employees questioned whether they have a permission to enter the SEZ campus, but the food safety officials insisted on conducting an inspection. They even called police to intervene in the baseless issue.

“It is unfortunate that such incidents are happening at a time when Kerala IT is doing its best to bring major IT companies to the state. It is nothing but officers’ highhandedness and ego. We are running IT companies, not eateries. Such dry pantries are set to ensure that employees get a comfortable area for dining” managing director of a Technopark company said to TechnoparkToday.com.

Employees and management of most of the companies where shocked by the unauthorized entry of food safety officials into an IT company and disrupting its normal functioning. The food safety officials also defamed the name of the company by circulating its name among the eateries which were closed after their audit.

Sources said that the company has escalated the matter to higher officials in the department of IT. It is expected that government will take a strong action to ensure that such issues are not repeated.

Meanwhile, food safety officials temporarily closed down 5 eateries in Technopark citing unhygienic conditions. A total of 93 eateries were inspected and among them, 30 were slapped a fine of Rs. 1.94 lakhs. Tasty Six at Bhavani building, Arabic Paradise near main gate, Gafoor Ka Dosth, Sabardast Fusion, and Table Cafe at Thejaswini building were among the eateries which were temporarily closed down.

Food safety officers organise awareness camp

JAMMU: A team for food safety officers under the overall supervision of Dr. Parvesh Kumar, Commissioner Food Safety Municipal Limit Jammu organised an awareness camp at KC 360 Restaurant to impart hygienic training on food standards of restaurant. Awareness with regard to keep premises hygienic, non using of newspapers, colour, additives, ajinomoto, preparing personal hygiene etc was imparted.

They were asked to maintain hygiene at all levels right from purchasing to serving to customers and were taught the ways of storing, cooking and serving food to customers including water purifiers, pest control, usage of dustbin, etc.

TAMIL MURASU NEWS