FOOD SAFETY LATEST

Apr 8, 2018

FDA asks business operators, fruit vendors to refrain from use of harmful chemicals

Panaji, Apr 7 (UNI) Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has warned food business operators and fruit vendors to refrain from use of harmful chemicals.

According to a statement here, Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has come across instances wherein agricultural chemicals like Ethapone, Etherel etc are used to ripen fruits like mango, banana etc and that such practice is commonly adopted during the festival season, when the demand of fruits is on the higher side.

''In view of such mal-practice FDA has strictly warned all the food business operators (FBO) dealing in trade of fruits to refrain from use of such harmful chemicals for Artificial ripening of Fruits.

Furthermore, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have come out with an advisory wherein the use of Ethapone, Carbide etc for artificial ripening is strictly prohibited and hence FDA will engage in special drives to check for use of such chemical and any vendor found using such chemicals or is found in possession of such chemicals will be dealt with seriously as per the penal provision of law,'' the statement said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has permitted artificial ripening by use of Ethylene gas at a concentration up to 100 ppm depending on the crop, variety and maturity through ethylene gas chambers which are licensed/registered under the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, the FDA further informed.

Check on lamp ghee after suspected food poisoning

It was alleged that lamp ghee was used for preparing prasadam at a temple

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is conducting checks across Coimbatore district on the label used for ‘lamp ghee’, a low quality ghee used for lighting lamps, following the death of two women near Mettupalayam, who allegedly died of food poisoning caused by temple prasadam made with the product.

B. Vijayalalithambigai, designated officer of FSSAI, said that lamp ghee sold in shops are checked to verify whether the labelling mentions that the product should only be used for lighting lamps and not of edible quality.

“Labels of lamp ghees checked during the inspections by the officials had labels mentioning that they are made for the use of lighting lamps. Ghee made for such non-edible purpose must bear the label, warning the buyers,” said Ms. Vijayalalithambigai.

It was alleged that lamp ghee was used for preparing prasadam at Mariamman temple near Mahadevapuram in Mettupalayam on Tuesday.

While Loganayagi (60) and Savithri (60) of Nadar Colony near Mahadevapuram died of suspected food poisoning, more than 60 people underwent treatement with complaints of stomach pain and diarrhoea at Government Hospital, Mettupalayam.

Officials with the Health Department said that the two women did not come for treatment at the Government hospital.

When food safety officials checked with the persons who prepared the prasadam (made of aval - rice flakes), they informed them that lamp ghee was not used for the preparation.

However, it was found that lamp ghee was used for lighting lamps at the temple.

“They showed us a ghee bottle with a label which said that it should be used only for lighting lamps. We could not confirm if it was used in the prasadam as its samples were not avaialable,” said a food safety officer.

It has also been alleged that the prasadam was prepared previous day night for the ease of serving on Tuesday, which could lead to contamination and growth of micro organisms.

M. Chandhirasekaran, Joint Director of Health Services, said that condition of those who undergoing treatment at the Government hospital was stable.

He said that the reason for the death of the women could be ascertained based on the autopsy report.

Commissioner reviews implementation of FS&S Act

JAMMU: Commissioner Food Safety, Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar chaired a special meeting regarding the present status and preparedness of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS&S Act) in the State, here on Saturday.

The meeting held deliberations on the new food law and its current status in the state besides on ways and means to streamline the state food safety department.

During the meeting, the newly appointed Food Safety Officers presented their Vision Document and opined their suggestions for streamlining of the state food safety department.

Dr Kabir appreciated the suggestions of FSO’s and other participants and impressed for dedicated efforts to augment food safety in J&K state. He advised the commissionerate to gear up for speedy preparedness for implementation of FSS Act in letter and spirit.

Several important decisions were taken in the meetings including creation of a website, constituting of Flying Squads to address emergency complaints and VIP duties, constituting of Food Safety Resource Person Wing for awareness and training, creation of Research and Development wing in laboratories, Advance funding system for sampling and creation of Standing Committee and a Legal Cell and a toll-free number (to be published in leading dailies) to address the complaints of consumers.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Jammu Dr. Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner HQ Jammu Khursheed Ahmad and Public Analyst Public Health Labs J&K Sumit Sharma at Govt. Hospital Gandhi Nagar Jammu and newly appointed Food Safety Officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

Apr 7, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Food watchdog warns fruit traders

Panaji: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of action if operators in the food business, especially those engaged in the trade of fruits, are found using chemicals to artificially ripen fruits.

FDA will conduct special drives to check for use of such chemicals, and any vendor found guilty of using or in possession of these chemicals will be booked.

In a statement, FDA also said there were instances where agricultural chemicals like ethapone and etherel were being used to ripen mangoes and bananas artificially, which is a common practice during festivals due to the high demand.

FDA has also informed vendors and traders that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) permits artificial ripening of fruits using ethylene gas at a concentration of up to 100ppm depending on the crop, the variety and maturity, through the use of ethylene gas chambers which are licensed/registered under the Food Saftey and Standard Act 2006.

Food department finds little to test in school kitchen

NOIDA: The food department examined the kitchen of Step by Step school but isn't very hopeful of pinpointing what led to students falling sick after eating their meals on Thursday. That's because none of the food served to students was available and no samples could be taken.

"We even checked the dustbins but they had been emptied by the time we reached. Had we got samples of the prepared food, it would have yielded good results," said Sanjay Sharma, designated officer, food safety and drug administration (FSDA).

The FSDA team waited outside the school's campus in Noida's Sector 132 for two hours before it got access to the school. Inspectors found just two items that they could bring back with them for tests - edible oil and ajwain (carom seeds), possibly used in the paratha served to students. "The results of the two samples should come within a week," Sharma said.

The FSDA said it has suspended the licence of Sodexo, the company responsible for preparing meals for Step by Step students. In an email to parents on Thursday evening, Step by Step said it had suspended Sodexo's services. The school, which does not allow kids to bring food from home, also temporarily suspended that rule and asked parents to send kids with food and water till further notice. The school remained shut on Friday and will resume classes from Monday.

Officials said in 2016, the district administration had imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Sodexo when a sample of syrup collected from the Step By Step canteen hadn't passed the standard test at the government laboratory in Lucknow.

City magistrate Mahendra Singh told TOI since the school did not provide timely access to the FSDA, all samples could not be taken, and that the school had claimed all prepared food was distributed.

"I had met some kids at Jaypee Hospital on Thursday night who told me cheese was also served to them. It was not available at the spot but it is possible that it was contaminated. I agree that the testing might not yield anything since only two ingredients have been taken for sampling," Singh said.

He said administration's concern was that facts should have been shared by the school to ensure the best medical treatment was provided to students.

An official who claimed to be part of Sodexo's human resources at the company's Mumbai office told TOI over the phone they would look into the matter on Monday.

‘Over 100 students fell ill after eating lunch’

FIR lodged against Noida school management; teams visit hospitals

A day after several students fell ill following a meal at a Noida school, teams formed by the Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate on Friday visited various hospitals and met parents of the victims to record statements.

Officials said over 100 students had fallen ill after consuming a meal at Step by Step School in Noida Sector 132 on Thursday instead of the initial estimate of 25 children.

“We visited Apollo Hospital, where we found that five children were admitted but released on Friday. Nine children were admitted to Max Hospital, of which two are still admitted. Eighteen children were rushed to Jaypee Hospital, of which 17 have been released,” said Sanjaya Srivastava, Food Safety Officer, Gautam Budh Nagar.

The teams also visited four other hospitals to ascertain the number of students affected.

Students had complained of severe stomach ache after eating lunch on Thursday. The children were taken to various hospitals across the NCR for treatment.

The Food and Safety Department has taken samples of food items served for lunch to the students for forensic testing.

Food samples taken

“If the food samples fail, strict action will be taken against the school,” said District Magistrate B. N. Singh, adding that a report is expected within a week.

“A parent whose son fell sick has given a complaint and we have lodged an FIR against the school under Section 328 [causing hurt by means of poison]. It seems that more than 100 children fell sick. We are trying to meet the families of students to record statements for further investigation,” said Vedpal Singh Pundir, Station House Officer, Expressway police station.

The school management has also been charged under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty). It is alleged that the management did not allow administration teams to enter the premises to probe the incident.

The All Noida School Parents’ Association will meet the Meerut Zone Commissioner on Monday, and is likely to demand that the school’s licence be revoked.

2014 case

In 2014, the Food and Safety Department had taken samples of juice from the school canteen. The samples had failed the test and the administration had imposed a fine of ₹6.5 lakh on the school management and owner of the canteen.

The chicken and egg wars

Lounge asks four topical questions about the future of the bird

Counting chickens and eggs is big business in India, according to the National Action Plan For Egg And Poultry—2022 published by the Union government’s department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, which valued the poultry sector in India at about Rs80,000 crore (2015-16). Therefore, it comes as no surprise that this ubiquitous bird often finds itself at the centre of controversy and competitions.

Last week, there was cause for celebration in Madhya Pradesh as the local black fowl, Kadaknath, was awarded Geographical Indication (GI) status. This bit of news offered some salve for the poultry industry, which has been in crisis mode since an article published in The Guardian in February revealed how farmed chicken in India is pumped with the strongest antibiotics. Overnight, some people swore off chicken, while others returned to their tikkas once the issue lost its prime-time appeal.

As scientists work round the clock to come up with a solution to the country’s growing demand for chicken, the poultry industry is poised on the cusp of change. Lounge takes a closer look at a few of the big questions around this little bird.

Is black the new white?

It was a war for GI supremacy between Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh as the neighbouring states went head-to-head to claim the local Kadaknath chicken. While the first farms rearing this all-black chicken were set up in Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh in the 1970s, it was Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-affected Dantewada that came up with a winning breeding programme. Although both states had filed for certification, MP emerged the winner, and, almost simultaneously, also came up with an app to market and sell the chicken across the country.

Touted as the black superbird for its high protein and iron content and low cholesterol index, Kadaknath is a rather striking bird, black from beak to bone. Despite being substantially more expensive than the standard chicken, retailing at anything from Rs500-900 per kilogram, it is finding takers among health food enthusiasts as well as fine-dining restaurants. Mumbai’s Indigo Delicatessen serves a slow-cooked black fowl and root vegetable stew while Hyderabad’s organic restaurant Jivati serves up a spicy Andhra-style curry featuring this bird. As chefs like Manish Mehrotra and Jiggs Kalra experiment with new dishes featuring the Kadaknath, this black bird seems destined for culinary fame.

What did we learn from the colistin-laden bird?

There was mayhem in the aftermath of The Guardian article, titled “India’s Farmed Chickens Dosed With World’s Strongest Antibiotics, Study Finds”. The idea of a potential superbug that could arise from the consumption of colistin-laden birds struck fear into the heart of the staunchest chicken-loving Indian. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also came under the scanner—antibiotic usage among livestock and poultry remains unregulated. Vast quantities of colistin, the last-resort antibiotics used to treat drug-resistant infections, enter India’s massive poultry chain to treat the birds and help them grow faster. This study by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism was picked up by the Indian media. As the conversation around this increases, here’s hoping the stakeholders take action and more free-range chicken farms come up around the country.

Can the chicken we eat ever be clean?

A possible answer lies in the clean meats of tomorrow. Last week, animal welfare organization Humane Society International (HSI) India in partnership with Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology announced that they will soon start manufacturing clean meat in a petri dish. The lab-grown meat developed from the bird’s tissue will not require medicines or additives and will do away with issues related to cruelty against animals. As the meat will be grown outside the animal, tweaking the actual nutritional content of the meat could become a real possibility. Although it will take a few years for the product to hit the market, research and development is under way.

Will American drumsticks and Japanese eggs rule the roost?

In the more forseeable future, American chicken legs will soon be lining Indian supermarket shelves. The Union government has lifted food restrictions, allowing frozen poultry from the US. This move is set to meet the growing demand in India for the chicken leg or drumstick, which is considered a prized cut. From the tangri kebab of the north to the chicken fry of the south, there is a chicken drumstick for every occasion.

Meanwhile, in an interesting turn of events, Suzuki, the legendary Japanese carmaker that changed how India looks at cars, is now set to do the same thing with eggs. It has teamed up with Japan’s largest egg producer, Ise Foods, to set up farms based on the latter’s high-tech and hygienic model of egg production, providing know-how and a boost to the domestic egg market.

Training-cum-awareness programme for hoteliers held

JAMMU, Apr 6: One day training-cum-awareness programme for hoteliers was held at Cygnett Park Asia, Jammu.

The programme was led by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Jammu along with Food Safety officers Ajay Khajuria, Daleep Singh, Jai Inder and Hans Raj.

The programme was organized by Rattandeep Singh Anand, Managing Director Trans Asia Hotels Private and Secretary of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India who emphasized the need of this training session which will be fruitful for all the hoteliers.

The session was attended by large number of participants from different hotels, restaurants and food joints, which included General Managers, Executive Chefs, Supervisors, Food Handlers and many others.

Dr Parvesh Kumar apprised about good hygiene and good manufacturing practices. He asked all participants to take care from farm to plate, such as buying of raw material, screening, washing, cooking and storing. He laid special focus on personal hygiene. He also briefed the participants about the FSSAI Act 2006 and its implementation in vast.

Assistant Commissioner also informed about India Food Show which is being organized by MMYSTIC India at Government Model Middle School, Satwari Chowk, Satwari Cantt, Jammu from April 13 to 15. This type of show is happening first time in Jammu where in a exhibition of food processing, packaging, food and hospitality will be displayed, he added.

The event was organised by Amit Kumar Sood, General Manager, Cygnett Park Asia, Jammu and his management team.

Apr 6, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

You may be eating 100 plastic bits with every meal

2 die, 37 take ill after eating TN temple prasadam

Ghee samples sent for lab test

Two women die after consuming temple prasadam

Poor quality ghee is suspected to be the reason

Two women died of suspected food poisoning after consuming prasadamserved at a temple near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore on Thursday.

Loganayagi, 60, and Savithri, 60, from Nadar Colony near Mahadevapuram in Mettupalayam had complained of stomach pain and diarrhoea allegedly after consuming the prasadam — aval (rice flakes) mixed in ghee — served at Mariamman temple on Tuesday. The women died in their houses on Thursday.

Many devotees who consumed the prasadam had sought treatment at Mettupalayam Government Hospital with complaints of diarrhoea and stomach pain.

S. Cheralathan, Chief Medical Officer of Mettupalayam Government Hospital, said Loganayagi and Savithri were not among the 60 persons who sought treatment for stomach ache and diarrhoea. Out of the 60, 36 persons, including six children, were admitted to the hospital.

“Actual cause of the deaths could be ascertained only after post-mortem. Condition of all those who sought treatment at the hospital are stable,” said M. Chandhirasekaran, Joint Director of Health Services.

The police and Health Department officials suspect that the contamination was caused by ghee used in the rice flakes that was served as prasadam. It is suspected that poor quality ghee used for lighting lamps were used for the preparation of the prasadam. The police added that they are yet to receive a complaint from the families of the deceased in connection with the deaths.

B. Vijayalalithambigai, Designated Officer of FSSAI in Coimbatore, said that food safety officials who visited the area could not collect samples of the prasadam or ingredients for clinical examination. “Though we checked at several houses near the temple for samples of the prasadam, we could not get any” she said.

A food safety official who visited the houses of the deceased said that the women had not visited the temple for the function but could not confirm if family members or neighbours gave them the prasadam.

FSSAI proposes new rules for food products, businesses

NEW DELHI: India’s apex food safety regulator has proposed draft rules of advertisements for food products that will bar food companies, restaurants and hotels from putting up ads that are “against” healthy lifestyles or portray packaged food as a complete replacement for a normal meal.

As per the proposed regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, food businesses cannot use words as “natural”, “fresh”, “premium”, “finest, “best”, “authentic”, “genuine”, “real” on food labels except under specific conditions.

The draft rules also say that food businesses will not be permitted to advertise or make claims undermining the products of other manufacturers, so as to promote their own food products or influence consumer behaviour.

“Any person, including a third party, who advertises or is a party to the publication of any misleading advertisement not complying with these regulations, would be penalised with a fine extending upto Rs 10 lakh under Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” the draft norms say.

These regulations, after consideration of stakeholder comments and finalisation, are likely to come into force in a month’s time

Authorities in the FSSAI said that the proposed rules are aimed at protecting consumer interests and help them make informed choices.

“The guidelines also stipulate that the claims must be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, not misleading and help consumers to comprehend the information provided,” said an official.

In respect of nutrients or components, the claims may refer to a nutrient such as energy, fat, cholesterol, saturated fat, trans-fat, sugar, or sodium salt being low or absent, a food being a source of or high in respect of nutrients like dietary fibre, protein, vitamins or minerals—he explained.

Also, food products can be claimed to be fresh only if they are not processed in any manner except washed, peeled, chilled, trimmed or cut or have undergone other processing necessary to make the product safe without altering its basic characteristics in any manner—say the proposed rules.

Food safety officers collect milk samples

Vadodara: Food safety officials of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) cracked down upon milk suppliers as well as milk processing units across the city on Thursday morning. The drive was conducted in wake of directions from the commissioner of food safety, Gandhinagar.

VMC teams were asked to remain present at 6am. The teams were despatched to different areas and collected 12 milk samples. These were sent to the public health laboratory of the civic body for analysis.

The areas where units were checked include Akota, Ajwa Road, Harankhana Road in Wadi, Chhani Road and Fatehpura.

Apr 5, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Health department team collects samples from food stalls near bus stand

LUDHIANA: Following complaints of adulteration and change in weather conditions, the district health departmentteam carried out extensive checking and sampling of food items in stalls near the city bus stand here on Monday, and issued strict guidelines to different vendors and food stall owners to follow the food safety norms effectively. The health team had also issued notices to some food stalls after watching the unhygienic conditions in their premises.

As per information provided by district food safety officer Yogesh Goyal — under the supervision of district health officer Andesh Kang — eight to nine food vendors based near the city bus stand had been checked thoroughly during the food checking and sampling drive on Monday afternoon. As many as 16 to 17 food samples were collected by health officials, including pizza, bread pakoda, green sauce, ice-cream, cream roll, popcorn, and apple juice.

Apart from the bus stand area, the health team also carried out a checking drive on Gill Road, taking samples from flour production and dairy production firms, and issued notices as per the rules of the health department. After collecting samples from different food vendors, the team sent them to the state food laboratory for testing. When the reports come out, the health team will take action, charging heavy penalties on all culprits.

NGO delivers food to 3,000 needy at Chennai’s ‘hunger spots’

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CHENNAI: Two months after No Food Waste (NFW), a homegrown NGO, launched its Chennai chapter, the group has collected and served food to nearly 3,000 people in the city. Started in Coimbatore in 2014, the project was launched in Chennai a year later only to close down. In February this year, with the support of the Chennai corporation, NFW’s food collection centre began functioning out of a corporation shelter in Zone 10 to serve the underprivileged and homeless in Nungambakkam, T Nagar and Saidapet.

Using two vans donated by the Tamil Nadu food safety department, volunteers work through the day to connect food donors with those deprived of meals in different ‘hunger spots’ in the city.

Through NFW’s website and app, anyone can help locate a hunger spot – spaces where there are people who can’t afford meals such as orphanages, hospitals, shelters, slums, and pavements. Once the pick-up request is received, a route for the driver is mapped. “We have three full-time volunteers who drive the van and deliver food at shelters, to homeless on the roads, and others identified at the hunger spots,” said Arun Kumar, coordinator of Chennai operations.

The response to the initiative has been overwhelming. “We get a number of requests from areas in north Chennai and around Vadapalani. For pick-up requests from areas beyond our reach or which seek to donate 50 plates of food or less, we inform them about the nearest place mapped as a hunger spot, so that they can drop the meals off directly,” added Arun.

The group is in talks with the civic body to roll out the scheme in other zones in the city limits. Anyone can donate food by calling 9087790877.

The NGO has also started food and beverage ATMs in cities like Salem and Coimbatore and plans to extend them to Chennai.

Cabinet approves agreement with Afghanistan on food safety

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the signing of a Cooperation Arrangement between Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Afghanistan's Health and Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock Ministries for cooperation in the field of food safety and related areas.

The areas of cooperation are establishment of a mechanism of information exchange and communication; facilitating technical exchange on identified topics of interest especially about import procedures, quality control operations, sampling, testing, packaging and labelling, as per a release.

They also include facilitating or organisation of joint seminars, workshops, visits, lectures,training programme.

"Other areas of interest to the participants within their responsibilities as they may mutually determine.

"The cooperation arrangement will facilitate information sharing training and capacity building measure and learning from each others best practice to improve food safety ecosystem," said an official statement.

KHADKI IS FULL OF UNLICENSED WATER PLANTS

At least 12 unauthorised water supply businesses were found in Khadki by Mirror, such as Samriddhi (L) and Standard Aqua (R); they charge Rs 50 for 20-litre containers, but usually only supply 17 or so litres;

Suppliers charging cheap for drinking water have no nod from FSSAI, BIS or any other authority. They run business from home, risking lives of thousands

As the summer heat rises, the need to keep hydrated is on everyone’s mind. Unfortunately, there’s a new and alarming twist to this tale — a large number of illegal and unaccounted water purifying stations have been found to be mushrooming around the city, posing a threat to tens of thousands of people.

In Khadki alone, Mirror went on ground only to find close to 12 such water purification plants running without licences from any authority, including mandatory nods from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), or even the state’s medical and health department.

These packaged drinking water hubs are supplying a vital resource across areas of Pune and minting heavy profits from these sales. They charge Rs 50 per container, which they claim is 20 litres in volume. However, customers are cheated on this front as well, since the containers actually only support around 17 litres of water.

What is even more surprising is the fact that many of these sellers have installed the water purifying apparatus at their homes itself with impunity, from where they vend it out in large numbers via vans.

When Mirror paid a surprise visit to some such outlets in Khadki, it was found that the quality of the containers in which water is supplied is absolutely filthy, and looks like it is hardly ever cleaned. One such seller was identified as Sanjay Gupta, whose water containers bear the name Samriddhi Water Suppliers. “We are the only suppliers around and get our water from another company in the Diggi area. We charge Rs 50 per container,” he said.

Questioned about the clean factor and required licences, Gupta said, “The quality of our water is absolutely fine, as we use chlorination and filtration processes. We don’t have any licenses but the company we get water from probably has them. We have not obtained licences from FSSAI or BIS yet, but rest assured the quality of water is unquestionable.”

Another seller, Firoz Khan, who runs Standard Aqua in the area, has set up a plant by digging a borewell in his house. He, too, says his water is fit for drinking, but has not approached the FSSAI or BIS for licences “yet”. “Our water is pure and safe for all. We have fitted a water filtration plant here in my home,” said Khan.

Asked if he knows that setting up of commercial spaces in homes is illegal and whether he fears the law, he confidently said, “Sir, idhar sab chalta hai (everything goes here). No one ever comes to visit. We had set up the business two years ago.”

Meanwhile, local residents had complained to the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) early last month regarding this issue, but no action has been taken till date. “We had written to the cantonment board in March about the issue of illegal water supply from our area, and the fact that this threatens the life of citizens because there are no standard procedures followed. After there was no action on our previous complaints, we submitted another one just this Tuesday,” said Prabhakar Ashok Polkam, a resident of Khadki who has filed a complaint.

The authorities, on the other hand, seem to just be waking up to this flourishing flow of unchecked drinking water. Speaking to Mirror, Sanjay Naragude, assistant commissioner of Pune’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), assured that if this water is packaged, action will definitely be taken. “If the water is being sold in bottles, we can crack down on them. Retailing packaged drinking water requires licences from BIS and FSSAI, without which it absolutely cannot be sold.”

Is your ‘bubbletop’ water safe?

There is little knowledge of the origin of packaged water and how it is processed

As the temperature soars between 37 and 39 degree Celsius in Madurai, packaged drinking water manufacturers and distributors are having a field day as regulations are barely checked and water is irregularly tested.

A source from the PWD says that only 20% of the total number of manufacturers in Madurai have licences. Water is usually drawn from areas like Alagarkoil Road, Kadachanendal, Pudur, Mangalakudi, Kochadai, Thuvariman and Melakkal which have rich groundwater base. Groundwater in these areas is usually fit for direct consumption. Since many of the laboratories are not fully equipped, necessary tests, including for presence of total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, sulphate, e. coli, coliform bacteria, aerobic microbes and yeast are rarely done. Manufacturers must also check the raw water pump at borewell, per-filtration pumps, washing area and filling pumps, UV lamps and reverse osmosis membrane but these checks do not take place regularly.

A packaged drinking water manufacturer says that a microbiologist and a chemist must be employed by the firm through the year. However, most people can only afford them on a part-time basis. A limit of 20,000 litres has been set by the PWD for small and medium scale manufacturers and 30,000 for large scale manufacturers. But these rules are not followed, says an expert who works closely with drinking water plants.

“Those who are looking to set up units must seek get clearance from Revenue Inspector, Village Administrative Officer and village panchayat head to process packaged water. They must also fill a form for the PWD. We will conduct an eight-hour pump test and check the yield. If it is of good quality, we will give them a licence,” says the PWD official. The PWD is unable to determine the total number of firms in the city and outer limits as many function with permissions from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

N. Senthil Kumar, a proprietor of a local packaged drinking water company with requisite permissions and licences, says that many units do not list the nutrition information, the expiry date or the price. He insists that the reusable plastic water cans are to be replaced every six months based on usage. He clarifies that packaged drinking water means the removal of all minerals in drinking water. “It is difficult to ensure that water business is running properly as there are many unlicensed players and unofficial tankers who supply unsafe water for cheaper rates. Our water is regarded safe for consumption and the label usually has contact information for complaints, doubts and queries. This is not always the case,” he says.

Due to extensive groundwater extraction, areas like Usilampatti and Chellampatti are in the over-exploited and semi-critical phase. Areas in Madurai are in the safe and semi-critical zone, but the day is not far when the city will also join the danger league, warms an official of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.

K. Marundeeswarar, a distributor in K.K. Nagar, says customers must ask questions. “Ensure that there is a label with the date of expiry and nutrition value. Check whether the plastic container has been recycled recently. Do not encourage water tankers which supply water for ₹ 20. It could be untreated water. Make sure licences of the manufacturer are listed on the label,” he adds.

IDSA THANKS FSSAI FOR BRINGING FBO REGISTRATION ORDER

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a circular to the Food Safety Commissioners of all states and UTs, informing them about simplification of FBO registration process, bringing huge relief to the Direct Selling Industry, which has been facing difficulties in getting FBO registration done at various parts of the country. FSSAI has mandated that registration of Direct Sellers could be done by respective registration authorities on the basis of personal identity proofs such as PAN, Aadhar, EPIC etc. and identity certificate from Direct Selling Entities. The latest order will also enable the Direct Selling entities to register their Direct Sellers centrally, using the facilities of Common Registration Centers (CSC).

“Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) would like to thank Mr. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI for simplifying the FBO registration process. His continuous guidance and support has resulted in a vast number of pending issues being sorted out, including that if simplification of FBO registration process. This is a very positive step towards ease of doing business in the country. Not only it will streamline the registration process, the move would also ensure compliance of food safety norms by the Direct Selling industry,” said Vivek Katoch, IDSA Chairman.

Under the current FSSAI norms, it is mandatory for all food business operators to have FBO registration / license. The registration process is cumbersome particularly for Direct Sellers who earn commissions and retail margin from the sale of products, majorly Food & Health Supplements. These Direct Sellers face difficulties in getting registration due to different procedure and documentary requirement being adopted by different states registering authorities. The time-consuming process often deters the Direct Sellers some of whom even discontinue Direct Selling. However, with the recent FSSAI order in place, the Direct Selling entities will be able to centrally register their Direct Sellers, hence easing out pressure from their salesforce.

“IDSA has been working closely with the Regulatory Compliance team at FSSAI and had sent many representations to simplify the FBO registration process in the interest of ease of doing business. We also take this opportunity to thank the team for understanding the concerns of the Industry and taking appropriate measures just when it mattered the most.” Vivek further said.

The latest FSSAI order will also give major boost to the Digital India campaign as Common Service Center (CSC) will centrally grant registration to Direct Sellers using digital data transfer and payment modes. It is also an apt example of the current government commitment towards creating a conducive environment for doing business for all industries.

About IDSA

Incorporated in 1996 and headquartered in Delhi, IDSA is an autonomous, self-regulatory body for the Direct Selling industry in India. The Association acts as an interface between the industry and policy-making bodies of the Government facilitating the cause of Direct Selling Industry in India. IDSA has played a proactive role in raising the voice for the Direct Selling Industry for policy reforms which can nurture growth and facilitate the trade of Direct Selling Industry in India with the Central and State Governments. It is affiliated to World Federation of Direct Selling Association, which was established in 1978, currently having 63 Direct Selling Associations across the world as its members. WFDSA is a non-government voluntary organization, representing Direct Selling Industry globally as a federation worldwide.

Erring shopkeepers fined for violating norms in Kargil

Kargil: On the directions of District Magistrate Kargil Haji Gulzar Hussain a joint inspection team headed by Tehsildar Kargil Wednesday conducted surprise visit of a number of cold storages and shops in Kargil town. The team comprised of the Chief Medical Officer Kargil, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Kargil, Executive Officer Municipal Committee Kargil, Assistant Director FCS&CA Kargil and SHO Kargil.

During the inspection a huge quantity of stale fruit and fish was seized and fine worth Rs 1000 was imposed upon the shopkeepers on spot for violating the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Essential Commodities Act. Moreover, the inedible food items were also destroyed on spot.

The team also took stock of the hygienic conditions of food items available in the market, charging of rates and other set standards. The shopkeepers and traders were asked to display the rate list prominently at their establishments besides to maintain cleanliness.

Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner has appealed all the traders to avoid any black marketing or hoarding and warned of stern action against the violators under rules. He has also issued specific directions to the concerned to carry out frequent inspections and checking of market so as to curb overcharging, black marketing, use of polythene and sale of substandard food items/

Apr 4, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAKARAN NEWS

Chocolate production may be harming environs

Chinese Pudi replaces carbide in fruit market

Officials find six to eight sachets in each of the mango cartons

Ethylene-producing chemical sachets imported from China have replaced calcium carbide for artificial ripening of mangoes at Gaddiannaram Agricultural Market Yard at Kothapet, popularly known as Kothapet fruit market.

The ethylene ripeners available in powder form too are forbidden under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

The state food safety officials, who visited the market on Tuesday, found many boxes containing the imported chemical sachets. Six to eight sachets were recovered from each of the cartons containing raw mangoes ready to be transported.

Following the High Court’s direction for strict implementation of the ban on Carbide, the State government increased enforcement, which led to commission agents and traders shifting to the Chinese Pudi as it is locally known.

Each sachet costs ₹4, as against ₹2 spent on the carbide sachet, and once inside a box of mangoes, it releases ethylene gas through small holes that are punched into it. However, the ingredients and their quantities are not mentioned on the product packages.

The Director, Institute of Preventive Medicine Public Health Labs & Food (Health) Administration, Telangana, K. Shankar, who led a team of scientists from the State Food Laboratory, Nacharam, said the samples collected from four locations inside the market would be sent to the lab for analysis, and if the use of carbide is found, the sellers would be punished.

T. Lakshmaiah, Deputy Food Controller from the State Food Lab, said carbide is banned as it releases acetylene gas which is carcinogenic and harmful for human consumption. Even ethylene is permitted only in its gaseous form in limited doses (up to 100 parts per million), and not in its powder form.

Lakshminaryana Reddy, senior scientist, said the ethylene-releasing chemical, namely ethephon, is used for faster fruition in plants and its residue should not be more than two parts per million on the fruits.

Traders and commission agents, who are unhappy over the restrictions on artificial ripening, demanded that the government find a solution instead of citing rules.

“The ripening chambers in the market are insufficient for the loads arriving here every day. Truckloads of mangoes arrive and leave on the same day to places far off, such as Delhi. How can we be expected to hold them here so long for ripening? We will shut down the business and go home if the government wants that,” fumed Mohammed Abid, a trader.

He also questioned why the chemical sachets from China were not stopped during the customs check in Mumbai, if they were harmful.

Dirty money is quite literally making you sick

HIGHLIGHTS

FSSAI observed that eateries and vendors should exercise precautions.
Children, pregnant mothers, the elderly and immunity-compromised people are more vulnerable to such infections.
Agency has directed all state food commissioners to create a systematic campaign for generating awareness among all citizens.

Dangerous diseases are cashing in on your filthy banknotes and coins, the countrys apex food regulator has pointed out.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) has directed all state food commissioners to create a systematic campaign for generating awareness among all citizens to discourage the simultaneous handling of food and currency notes and coins.

The agency has also observed that eateries and vendors should exercise precautions while collecting cash and handing out food.

Handling of currency with unclean and soiled hands, use of saliva during counting and storage under unhygienic conditions leads to its contamination with harmful microorganisms, mentioned the FSSAIs advisory.

The agency has said cross-contamination from currency is a risk to human health, leading to many conditions such as food poisoning as well as skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.

Children, pregnant mothers, the elderly and immunity-compromised people are more vulnerable to such infections. Food vendors, particularly those selling their wares on the streets, often prepare and serve food and collect money from patrons with the same hand.

Currency notes and coins are widely circulated everyday by public and these are source of microbiological contamination. This we were examining for a long time, but we cannot punish anyone. Therefore, we have directed all the state food commissioners to launch a strong awareness campaign on hygienically handling of currency notes and coins and this we have to start at a very basic level, Pawan Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI, told Mail Today.

Ideally, handling of food and money should be physically separated. After handling currency, hands should be thoroughly washed before touching food and vice-versa.

Three scientific studies published in the Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, and the International Journal of Advanced Research have highlighted that the presence of drugresistant pathogens on currency is the transmitter of a number of diseases in the community, including urinary and respiratory tract infections, septicaemia, skin infections, recurrent meningitis, toxic shock syndrome and a variety of gastro-intestinal diseases.

These studies were done in 2016. A study carried out by the department of microbiology of Tirunelveli Medical College in Tamil Nadu stated that the currency notes were contaminated with disease-causing pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, E coli and Staphylococcus aureus, i.e. pathogen that are present in excreta.

These currency notes were collected from a variety of sources including doctors, banks, local markets, butchers, students and housewives.

The studies prompted the food regulator to issue advisory. It mentioned that it is needed to ensure that hotels, hospitals, school and office canteens, restaurants, street food stalls, shops selling bakery products, sweets, and even those preparing food for mid-day meals and religious places, do not contaminate food with currency either at the time of preparation or at the time of sale or distribution.

Speaking to Mail Today, Dr SP Byotra, chairman of the internal medicine department at Delhis Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, It is a welcome initiative taken by the FSSAI to make people aware of the unhygienic transaction of currency notes and coins by hand. These are the biggest source of germs such as bacteria, fungi and parasites which can make us all sick. If we do a culture of currency notes, we can find harmful and life-threatening bacteria. For example, if a tuberculosis (TB) patient is keeping currency notes and coins in his pocket, with his sweat, the infection can be transferred to the currency and later this infection can pass onto the other person handling the notes.

"These microorganisms can cause us typhoid, lung diseases,gastrointestinal complications, etc," added Dr Byotra. Experts have pointed that currency notes should be handled and counted in a similar way like bank officials do.

It has been observed that bank tellers keep a sponge damper pad to count notes. The regulator has advised that food handlers, food sellers and others should avoid handling currency and food simultaneously. It has recommended that gloves be used to handle food, and bare and clean hands be used to handle currency.

Health dept team collects samples from food stalls near bus stand

Ludhiana: Following complaints of adulteration and change in weather conditions, the district health department team carried out extensive checking and sampling of food items in stalls near the city bus stand here on Monday, and issued strict guidelines to different vendors and food stall owners to follow the food safety norms effectively. The health team had also issued notices to some food stalls after watching the unhygienic conditions in their premises.

Apr 3, 2018

Handling cash could be bad for the tummy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One of the most widely circulated objects in the country could also be the carriers of disease-causing germs, according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The FSSAI has asked the Food Safety Commissioners of all states to create awareness about the clean handling of currency notes and coins.

Handling of currency with unclean and soiled hands, use of saliva during counting and storage under unhygienic conditions result in it becoming contaminated with harmful microorganisms, said the advisory.

The Food Safety Commissioners have been instructed to launch a systematic campaign to discourage simultaneous handling of food and currency notes and coins.

Cross-contamination from cash is a risk to human health leading to a host of ailments, including food poisoning and skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, it said.“Food vendors, especially wayside eateries, often prepare and serve food and collect money from patrons using the same hand. Hence, food handlers, food sellers and others should avoid handling currency and food simultaneously. Ideally, handling of food and money should be physically separated. After handling currency, the hands should be thoroughly washed before serving food items,” said the March 28 communique.

Know quality of water you buy

The general public can know the quality of the packaged drinking water in Namakkal district by visiting the State Food Safety Department website: https://safewater.fssai.gov.in/CleanWater/home.

In a press release here recently, M. Asia Mariam, District Collector said that units involved in the manufacture of the packaged drinking water should display the ISI number and the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) number prominently in all the water sachets, bottles and 20 litre cans for the benefit of the public.

The people by using any one of the numbers in the website could collect the details of the six months or one year test reports and also the quality of the drinking water. They can also collect the details of the usage period.

The people can also use the website for knowing whether the concern continues to have the ISI and FSSAI standards.

The Collector called upon the public to take advantage of this facility to know the quality of the package drinking water being supplied to them.

The people can prefer complaints about the packaged drinking water concerns and also about the functioning of the food safety department to the Whatsapp number 94440 42322, the release added.

CAG pulls up state dept for hiring unlicensed vendor

Pune: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s recent report rapped the state women and child development (WCD) department for “gross violation of terms and conditions” in engaging a food vendor.

The report said a private vendor from Pune, whose licence was cancelled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supplied 20.2 lakh packets of biscuits to anganwadi workers under the WCD’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.

Per the report, the FDA has no mechanism to check whether food business operators (FBOs) with expired licences continue to operate.

As per Food Safety and Standard Regulations, any FBO with an expired licence must cease business activity until their apply for a fresh registration or licence.

In the Pune case, the report stated, the vendor continued to supply food under ICDS without a licence. The vendor in question is Govardhan Ayur Pharma Private Limited (GAPPL). The supply order was placed in February 2015. GAPPL’s licence was cancelled in January 2014.

On July 22, 2015, a food supply officer inspected the premises and collected food samples, which were declared sub-standard.

The ICDS department was told to recall the food from all anganwadis, but the biscuits had already distributed by then. The CAG recommended: “The government may create a database of FBOs which should be updated periodically ... (and) strengthen the enforcement structure.”

A case was lodged with Chief Judicial Magistrate, Pune, in November 2015.

Why eggs are hard outside and soft inside

Scientists believe they have cracked the conundrum of how chicken eggs are strong enough to resist being fractured from the outside, but weak enough to be broken from the inside when the chick hatches.

A Canadian study found that eggshells develop to be strong, but also not too weak because of changes in their nanostructure that occur during the egg’s incubation.

Researchers believe that a better understanding of events that drive eggshell hardening and strength could have important implications for food safety.

The team from McGill University in Montreal used new techniques to expose the interior of the eggshells to study their molecular nanostructure and mechanical properties. They said birds have benefited from millions of years of evolution to make the perfect eggshell — a thin, protective biomineralised chamber for embryonic growth that contains all the nutrients required for the growth of a baby chick.

Eggs are sufficiently hard when laid and during brooding to protect them from breaking. As the chick grows inside the eggshell, it needs calcium to form its bones. During egg incubation, the inner portion of the shell dissolves to provide this mineral ion supply, while at the same time weakening the shell enough to be broken by the hatching chick.

Using atomic force microscopy, and electron and X-ray imaging methods, the team found that this dual-function relationship is possible thanks to minute changes in the shell’s nanostructure that occurs during egg incubation.

In parallel experiments, the researchers were also able to recreate a similar nanostructure by adding osteopontin to mineral crystals grown in the lab. They found that a factor determining shell strength is the presence of nanostructured mineral associated with osteopontin, an eggshell protein also found in composite biological materials such as bone.

Professor Marc McKee said: “Eggshells are notoriously difficult to study by traditional means, because they easily break when we try to make a thin slice for imaging by electron microscopy. The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

Rs 2.5 lakh fine imposed on ‘dead chicken’ sellers

Tirupur: The district administration has imposed a total of Rs 2.5 lakh fine on three people who tried to sell dead chickens in the city.

Velliyangiri and M Radhakrishnan were caught red-handed when they were transporting dead chicken near Veerapandi on December 15. It was found that they would buy dead chicken from poultry farms in and around Palladam, and clean them at their houses at Kallangadu before selling masala-mixed meat to roadside food stalls. Subsequently, they were booked under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Following this, the district revenue officer and additional district magistrate S Prasanna Ramasamy imposed Rs 1 lakh fine on the violators recently.

In another case, P Arumugam of MS Garden in Palladam was found selling dead chicken. He was also booked under the Food Safety and Standards Act and was slapped a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh.

Meanwhile, FSDA designated officer to Tirupur K Tamil Selvan said, “The administration was committed to increase vigil on such violations. Heavy fines will be slapped on violators. The people should alert the food safety and drug administration department if they come across such cases. The department could be reached through WhatsApp too.”

New low-cost tool to detect bacteria in food, water

A new low-cost method for detecting bacteria in food or water samples has come closer to the reality.

Developed by scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the rapid and low-cost method could be useful to the chefs using fresh fruits and vegetables.

Researcher Lili He said, "Most people around the world cook their vegetables before eating, but here in the U.S. more and more people like to eat these foods raw. This gave us the idea that a quick test that can be done at home would be a good idea."

She added, "Microbial contamination is an important research topic right now. It has been a problem for a long time, but it is now the number one concern for food safety in the U.S."

The researchers designed a sensitive and reliable bacteria-detecting chip that can test whether fresh spinach or apple juice, for example, carry a bacterial load. The chip, used with a light microscope for optical detection, relies on what He called a "capture molecule," 3-mercaptophenylboronic acid (3-MBPA) that attracts and binds to any bacteria.

The chemical detection method relies on silver nanoparticles. The techniques are now in the patenting process.

The first step in the new test for bacteria detection is to collect a sample of water, juice or mashed vegetable leaf and place the chemical-based detection chip in with the sample.

The standard method for culturing bacteria from food samples, known as an aerobic plate count (APC) takes two days, He explained. "There are some others that are faster, but they are not very sensitive or reliable because ingredients in the food can interfere with them. We show in our most recent paper that our method is both sensitive and reliable and it can give you results in less than two hours."

The findings are published in the online issue of Food Microbiology and an earlier one in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal, Analytical Methods.

FSSAI to launch campaign ‘Project Dhoop’

Food Safety and Standard Authority India is on mission to spread awareness among children about Vitamin D that comes through natural sunlight intake of fortified food. FSSAI will soon launch a campaign ‘Project Dhoop’ that will help spread awareness.

According to the survey 2016 that was conducted by National Health and Family, 70 per cent of pre-school children and around 50 per cent of women suffer from anaemia caused by iron deficiency.

The source of Vitamin D is limited to sunlight and few non-vegetarian foods, hence fortifying foods is a necessary involvement, said by R K Marwaha, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Endocrinology.

The campaign Project Dhoop will be implemented in alliance with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and private firm Kwality Ltd, the regulator said in a statement.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed stakeholders about the projected campaign at an interaction on the issue of fortification. The campaign details are being worked out.

Alarming 70 per cent of the Indian population consumes less than 50 per cent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of micronutrients.

FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said, “Public health consequences of micronutrient deficiencies are serious. The message of food fortification hence needs to go out using various methods, to a variety of people.”

Food fortification is simple, inexpensive yet priceless strategy that has been used across the world to effectively prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies, he added.

The FSSAI has notified the standards and launched a fortification logo +F’ to help consumers and businesses identify the fortified product.

Santosh Karmarkar, an expert on folic acid deficiency said, it is the need of an hour to understand the importance of fortifying food with Vitamin D.”