Tests confirm no formalin in Chennai fish: Fisheries minister

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar on Friday refuted reports that fish sold in Chennai contain the cancer-causing chemical formalin.

The minister told reporters that tests by Tamil Nadu Fisheries University and the food safety department had ruled out the presence of formalin — illegally used as a preservative — in fish samples collected at random from landing centres, fish markets and harbours in Chennai and surrounding areas.

Jayakumar was attempting to counter a public scare over accounts of fish laced with the chemical showing up in markets in Chennai and elsewhere in the state.

“People can test samples in private institutes if they are not confident of the tests by officials,” he said, adding that the government was taking measures to ensure that only chemical-free fish is available for sale in the state.

“Middlemen transporting fish from neighbouring states may have engaged in such practices,” the minister said in response to a question on traces of formalin in samples from Chintadripet. State food safety officials have been conducting tests of fish samples over the past fortnight on an alert from Kerala on seizure of a consignment of formalin-laced fish.

Jayakumar said the use of illegal preservatives like formalin would attract stern action. Noting that the formalin scare had caused fish sales to plunge, directly affecting fishermen, he appealed to people not to allow rumours to sway them. “Why would fishermen want to risk their livelihood by adopting such practices?” he said.

“Fishermen have mechanized boats with cold storage facilities to keep fish fresh for 10 to 15 days and transporters use refrigerated trucks,” he said. “There is no need to use formalin because the demand for fish is high.”

Mortuaries use formalin, derived from formaldehyde, to preserve bodies. Fish wholesalers sometimes illegally use it as a preservative, especially while transporting it to other states.

Formalin is commonly used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in. Fish traders sometimes illegally use it as a preservative.

Officials of the food safety and fisheries departments had earlier in the week conducted checks in fish markets in Kasimedu, Chintadripet and Saidapet. None of 24 samples they tested with rapid-detection kits were chemically contaminated.

Sale of salani fish banned in Assam

Ban follows after fish samples found with formalin

GUWAHATI, July 10: Dispur on Tuesday banned procurement of frozen fish (commonly known as salani fish) from outside Assam and any sale of the same in markets for the next ten days.

The ban has been imposed after the Public Health Laboratory, Assam confirmed use of formalin in some samples of such fish collected by officials of the Commissionerate of Food Safety from Pamohi wholesale market in the city on June 29.

A solution of 35 to 40 per cent of water in formaldehyde or methanal is called formalin. Formalin is a strong disinfectant and tissue hardener and it is used for preserving biological and anatomical specimens. It is also used as an antiseptic in sterilizing surgical instruments. Use of such chemicals to keep fish fresh for a longer period causes serious health hazards for fish-eating population.

“After 10 days, we will again conduct drives, and if formalin is still found, we will punish them under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The original sellers will be contacted through the cash memos. Also, we will request the local sellers not to increase fish prices during this period,” said an official of the Food Safety Department.

The government is, however, reluctant to stop procurement of fish for a long time as a large number of people might be affected by such a step. The official, however, said if any fish seller is found using formalin for preservation of fish in future will be arrested and sent to jail for a minimum period of two years and maximum of seven years. The accused will also have to pay fine to the tune of Rs 10 lakh.

No U-turn on fish results: FDA

The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Goa on Friday said that there was no U-turn by the FDA with regards to tests conducted on fish in a raid on Thursday.

A statement from the FDA here said, they had received communication from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to furnish details of sampling of fish and detections of contaminants of fish with Formalin if Positive; by lab reports.

''Also keeping in mind the reports of banning of import of fish from Chennai by the State of Assam due to Formalin contamination, and to ensure that the fish received by our State from Chennai is free from contamination the FDA officials had visited wholesale fish market at Margao and fish Market at Panaji on July 12, 2018, to draw the fish samples,'' it said.

Spot tests carried out on the samples indicated presence of Aldehydes, which is a family of organic compounds which includes formaldehyde. Formaldehyde in its liquid form is known as formalin. Among all the aldehydes, formalin (formaldehyde) is carcinogenic, if consumed in excess.

To rule out the presence of added Formaldehyde in the fish samples same were subjected to detailed testing at FDA laboratory at Bambolim and the results were found to be within permissible limit.

Spot test carried out for detection of Aldehyde is only an indicative test and unless the confirmatory tests are carried out in the Laboratory to ascertain the presence of formalin quality, fish cannot be declared as positive for Formalin content.

It is to be noted that Marine fish naturally contains certain amount of Formalin. As per the report published by Society of Fisheries Technologists (India) the concentration of Formaldehyde in Marine fish is found to be varying between 2.38 to 2.95 mg/kg; fish/shellfish 0.33 to 16 mg/kg.etc.

The Scientific papers published in the International Journal of Fisheries and aquatic studies shows that freshly caught fishes contains presence of naturally occurring formaldehyde in the range of 1.45 mg/Kg to 2.6 mg/Kg. However, the concentration may vary depending upon the commodity, the geographical condition, the marine waters.

The Laboratory analysis performed on the fish samples drawn from Margao wholesale market and Panjim market showed the results on par with the naturally occurring concentration for the different fishes tested ruling out the possibility of added amount of formalin.

In the afternoon on July 12, 2018, two more samples of Verli (silver fish) and Mackerels were drawn by the FDA officials from Old Goa and these samples also showed positive for Aldehydes by the spot test however, upon laboratory analysis no added formalin was detected.

FDA Goa on Friday received the "CIFTest" Formaldehyde detection kit for fresh fish developed by ICAR Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Mastsyapuri, Cochin, and the above two samples were also tested by the kit and the same did not show presence of formalin.

The FDA would continue its drive to test the samples of fish for presence of formalin contamination to assure the public of Goa that the fish available in Goa was safe for public consumption.

The public were requested not to panic regarding the quality of fish available in the state, the statement added.

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Fish samples test negative for formalin

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Temple ‘prasadam’ to be offered first to FSSAI, then God

Divine food: Devotees get ‘prasadam’ at the entrance to the Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram. |

Food Safety body to standardise temple prasadams and fix ‘best before’ dates in Tamil Nadu

When it comes to temple prasadams, faith in God has traditionally been a good enough guarantor of food safety. But soon, the sacred offerings made to the deities, such as laddus, murukku, vadai, and adhirasam, will get third party validation of their safety and quality in the form of certification by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The 47 major temples in Tamil Nadu plan to sell prasadams in food grade containers that will have ‘best before’ dates.

Already, the Sri Dandayudhapani Temple in Palani has gone in for licensing of its Panchamirtham. This famous prasadam now comes packed in containers, along with labelling that enumerates the ingredients, weight, price, FSSAI licence number, and other details stipulated by the Food Safety Department (FSD), said an official from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department.

Regular inspections

The HR and CE Department has directed temples that sell prasadams over the counter to go in for licensing from the FSD, which will test samples to provide a ‘best before’ date. There would also be regular inspections from the FSD to ensure quality and quantity in the prasadams being sold.

Among the major temples in the State, the Palani temple was the first to go in for FSSAI certification. Prasadams in temples are usually made by contractors who get the tender for a year, from July to June. “Contractors have been asked to ensure quality. We are planning to involve experts in the making of sweets and savouries to bring in standardisation. Already, the Food Safety Department has conducted training programmes for the contractors and also for the madapalli staff of temples,” an official said. We have also asked them to ensure that items cooked using rice be sold as soon as possible, he added.

The FSD also ensures the quality of food at major temple festivals.

Food safety appellate body formed

G.O. issued and rules notified; chairperson identified, says senior official

Almost 12 years after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, was enacted by Parliament, the Tamil Nadu government has established the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals against the ruling of the adjudicating officer. The government also notified rules governing the tribunal recently.

“The G.O. for setting up the tribunal has been issued and a person has been identified to be its chairperson; steps are on to set up an office for the tribunal,” a senior officer connected with the development said.

As per Section 70 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Central and State governments are to establish one or more food safety appellate tribunals to hear appeals from the decisions of the adjudicating officer. The one-member panel is to be held by a district judge (the adjudicating officer is in the rank of an additional district magistrate).

Test Your Food Sample

A food-testing facility on wheels has been on the rounds of Chandigarh for almost two years now. The UT food safety department developed this van in 2016 to check adulteration and, after Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) appreciated it, the idea caught on in the entire country.

This mobile laboratory is a one-stop solution for the city residents who need to know the purity of their daily food. Its crew of two technicians and a helper travels to five places in Chandigarh. It stands at the Sector-22 civil hospital on Mondays, Sector-8 civil dispensary on Tuesdays, Sector-40 civil dispensary on Wednesdays, the Sector-45 civil hospital on Thursdays, and the Manimajra civil hospital on Friday.

The van also visits housing societies as and when the resident welfare associations require. It remains at each venue from 11am to 5pm, before returning to the food safety department office in Sector 16.

Items on the hit list

Laboratory technician Kavaljit Singh said: “The most-tested product? It’s the milk samples that people bring to us. It’s a rare occasion when they bring packed milk, as most of the times, it is the loose product they doubt. Also, the chances of getting water-diluted milk are higher when one receives it from open canisters. The next most tested item is pulses, as these can be adulterated easily with chalk powder and are polished with chemicals for artificial lustre.

Quick process

Consumers have to first register their details on the spot. The team requires their name, contact details, including address, and the food item that is to be tested. In case of milk, people should specify whether it is of a buffalo or a cow, and whether it is double-toned, skimmed, toned, full-cream, or mixed.”

The most-used machine aboard the van is the milk tester. Of its two parts, the first reads the ratio of the sub-ingredients and confirms whether these are present in amounts specified by the FSSAI. The second part confirms adulteration. Pulses are mixed with certain chemicals to ascertain the presence of adulterants. The entire process, be it for the testing of milk, pulses, or any other food product, does not exceed 20 minutes. The milk sample is first brought to room temperature before being tested, which takes not more than two minutes.

Results are out

The results are delivered on the spot. The printed reports state the level of adulteration of the tested sample, including the adulterants it was tested for. In case of a failed report, the consumer can approach the consumer court with the printed results as a proof against the seller. The laboratory’s job is limited to producing the report. The issue is to be taken up by the consumers themselves. Along with the results, the consumers are also handed a receipt for their payment.

Food samples that require intensive testing are forwarded to the designated officer and food safety licensing authority. A record of the daily reports goes to the licensing authority, and a nodal officer inspects it. 

Cost-effective testing

In order to get milk samples tested, a consumer will have to shell out nothing more than Rs 20. Jasvir Kaur, another lab technician, said, “When it comes to pulses, the cost for testing against each possible adulterant is Rs 20.”

Ample storage

At first glance, it’s difficult to judge from the size of the van the kind of room it has inside. It’s tough also to guess its infrastructure and storage capacity for equipment and samples (some samples brought for testing need cold storage). Even after adjusting several drawers, a refrigerator, pedestal fans and a long countertop holding food sample testing machines, a cylinder, and fire extinguisher, the van is still left with ample space for three-member crew to move around.

With milk being the most tested product, the consumers coming to the mobile laboratory number from eight to 10 daily. The consumers coming up with pulses don’t surpass 13 to 14 cases a month. It is closely followed by the demand for testing several other products in the laboratory. Hey Chandigarh, with a mobile testing laboratory in your neighborhood, why take the chances of being fooled by the shopkeepers?

Box:

Schedule of mobile lab

Monday |Civil Hospital, Sector 22

Tuesday | Civil Dispensary, Sector 8

Wednesday | Civil Dispensary, Sector 40

Thursday | Civil Hospital, Sector 45

Friday | Civil Hospital, Manimajra

Box:

Products tested

Items |Tested for

Milk | Fat, urea, starch, glucose, neutraliser

Desi Ghee | Margarine

Cheese |Starch

Mustard oil |Argan oil, castor oil

Pulses |Metanil yellow colour, lead chromate, chalk powder

Jaggery | Metanil yellow colour, washing soda

Lucknow eateries to be graded on quality and hygiene

LUCKNOW: You will soon be able to see a ‘grade’ outside your favourite food joint, based on various parameters it will be judged on.

Under the new system, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) will grade Lucknow’s food joints as A+, A, B and so on, based on various inspections.

According to district food officer Suresh Kumar, the system is for all small eateries, restaurants, hotels, resorts and food courts for five categories.

These are: design and facilities, control and operation, maintenance and sanitation, personal hygiene, and lastly, training and keeping records.

Besides, an annual medical examination or fitness certificate is mandatory for the food joint owner and employees.

All employees will also be checked for prescribed vaccination under the personal hygiene category.

The food joint must also have a mechanism to receive customer complaints and make a redressal system. This record will be inspected weekly by FSDA. If any quality-related complaint is found, an investigation will follow and the joint owner could face legal action or the place could be closed down.

The five categories have 47 sub-categories, the maximum marks for which total to 114. There will also be negative marking on the subcategories.

If negative marking exceeds 70 points, the food joint will face legal action.

Food chain owners, executives attend CII food safety training

Kolkata: About 50 owners and executives from hotel and restaurant groups, clubs and canteens, food joints & eateries attended a Food Safety Training and Certificate (FOSTAC) programme organised by CII on Thursday.

The programme, which was inaugurated by Godhuli Mukherjee, the Food Commissioner of Bengal, is a part of its Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan (Safe Food Campaign), included specialized training sessions on how and why one can maintain quality and hygiene – right from the stage of procuring raw materials, cooking, cleaning and storing to serving and transporting food.

"We explained to the participants why they should religiously follow the guidelines formed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ,"said A K Sen, CII FACE Faculty & National Level Resource Person (FoSTaC), Food Safety & Quality, FSSAI.

"All those engaged in the business of preparing, serving and supplying food items need to be quality conscious and responsible," he said.

Sen lauded the efforts of the state government for playing a proactive role in the wake of allegations of carcass meat being sold and served in and around the city. "The Government is taking measures, carrying out regular inspections and taking actions," he said, adding that the implementation of FSSAI standards should remain a priority.

Sagar Daryani, Co-Founder & CEO, Wow Momo Foods Pvt Ltd, and Chair, CII ER Food Safety Core Group, admitted that the "rotten meat scandal" gave a bad blow to the industry as a whole. "In my own company, business was 37 percent negative till May. June saw a revival. July is even better," Daryani said. "Many eateries in Kolkata have been forced to suspend operations, CII strongly advocates regular training in food safety in this backdrop," Daryani added.

The day-long programme ended with a test. "Upon qualifying the test, the participants will be certified as FOSTAC-Trained – a mandatory FSSAI regulation since 2017," said Sen.

Chemical use was in focus 4 yrs ago too

Panaji: The use of the cancer-causing chemical, formalin, to preserve fish in exports from Goa had surfaced in Kerala four years ago, after an advocate filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking compliance of food safety rules. A report submitted before the Kerala high court in January 2014 in connection with the PIL filed by join food safety commissioner K Anil Kumar, had stated that some samples of fish analysed to verify if formalin had been used as a preservative, had tested positive. Advocate A G Basil had filed the PIL alleging malpractices in the food industry and had prayed for a direction to ensure that the food sold adhered to provisions of the Food Safety Act and Rules.

Formalin had been found in the fish brought into Kerala from Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and the governments of the coastal states had been informed, the court was told. But, the Goa food and drugs administration (FDA) had responded to the issue by stating that analysis of some samples had proven negative. “We had taken some samples, but found nothing in the fish samples,” an FDA official had said.

Subsequently, a couple of years ago, the FDA had done more analyses but did not find formalin in the samples, sources said. 

Calore count off the menu in city eateries

Assam bans fish from AP

Soon, formal test kits to hit markets in Andhra Pradesh

Soon, formal test kits to hit markets Soon, formal test kits to hit markets Soon, formal test kits to hit markets Soon, formal test kits to hit

VISAKHAPATNAM: Test kits, developed by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), for detection of formalin and ammonia contamination in fish, will be commercially produced soon. Finding that there is increasing use of formalin in the freshwater fish sent from Andhra Pradesh to northeastern states of India, a joint team of Food Safety department, Animal Husbandry department and the Fisheries department has been inspecting freshwater fishing areas to certify the stock using the kit.

The technology has been licensed to the Mumbai-based HiMedia Laboratories Private Limited and the formal exchange of the MoU was held at a ICAR-CIFT, Kochi, recently. The development of the detection kit was in response to the needs of the ordinary fish consumers to detect contaminants and allay their apprehensions.

Since it takes three-four days for fish exports to reach destination and the fish don’t get contaminated in transit, traders use formalin for a longer shelf-life. As the unsuspecting consumers buy the fish, they are affected by digestive and cancer problems. “With this formalin test kit, consumers or even the public can check the formalin content. The strip when rubbed on fish changes colour it is detected to contain formalin. The kit with around 25 strips is `3 at our level but the price may change when it is commercially produced.

The production will start in 15 days,” said Raghu Prakash, the scientist incharge of the CIFT.

Finding that formalin fish are exported to North India, the state government has made it a point to check the formalin content in fishes and stamp them before exporting. With majority of the freshwater fish in AP is exported from West Godavari and Krishna districts, two teams haver been constituted in the two districts with fisheries officials, food inspector and veterinary assistant surgeon in each team. “The teams will go to the packing areas and test the fishes.

More than 4 per cent PPM (parts per million) will change the colour, indicating the presence of formalin,” said P Koteswara Rao, the incharge joint director of Fisheries. The checks have started in the two districts. The main aim is to see that freshwater fish exported from the AP should not have more than the permitted formalin. 

“Daily inspection report will be submitted and the box will be stamped for certification before being exported. The traders who use formalin in fish for exports will be booked under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),” Koteswara Rao told TNIE. 

Further, there are also reports on adulteration of seafood in the state. With around 500 landing centres, including major and minor ones, and four fishing harbours in the state, the department plans to get samples from the landing centres and check the fish for quality standards.

Rotten food items found at 2 clubs

Food establishments operate without licence; safety rules being ignored

Health officials at a food establishment in Amritsar on Wednesday. 

Amritsar, July 11

A team of health officials conducted a surprise check at three private clubs in the city on Wednesday. Two of the clubs were found using rotten eatables following which a huge quantity of items, including rotten chicken, were destroyed.

District Health Officer Dr Lakhbir Singh Bhagowalia said substandard food items were found at Lumsden Club and Heritage Club. Besides, the managements could not produce the mandatory licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The clubs have been operating without a licence which is against the FSSA norms. The department has issued a notice to them to get the licence within seven days and resolve all discrepancies within the stipulated time. “We will be conducting a follow up inspection after seven days and if no improvement is found, action as per law will be taken,” he said.

He added the condition at Amritsar Club was comparatively better and they also produced a valid FSSA licence.

Health officials said condition of kitchens was unhygienic and below normal standards. The clubs could not produce medical certificates of cooks and other staff. As per the law, the food businesses are required to get their staff medically examined for communicable diseases and ensure that all workers are fit and healthy.

Dr Baghowalia said none of the workers at any club wore head covers and gloves. The department has also asked the clubs to display and follow 12 golden rules for hygiene and cleanliness as listed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha has also called a meeting of hoteliers and restaurants, including private clubs, for Friday to ask them to follow all food safety instructions under the ongoing ‘Tandrust Punjab’ mission.

Ban on sale of fresh fish products

Hailakandi, July 11: District Magistrate, Hailakandi, Adil Khan has directed the Food Safety Officer Surat Zamman Choudhury to initiate legal action against fish vendors selling fresh fish products including crustaceans treated with formalin considered to be highly toxic and health hazard.

In an order issued to this effect here today, District Magistrate Khan asked the Food Safety Officer to inspect the markets and other places to verify the sale of fresh fish products, including crustaceans laced with formalin and to take firm legal action against the fish vendors under the provisions of Food Safety Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Addictives) Regulations 2011.

Khan asked the Food Safety Officer to take along with him the District Fisheries Development Officer and seek the help of the Officer-in-Charge of concerned Police Station to enforce the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 against storage, distribution and sale of fresh fish, including crustaceans brought from outside the State. The District Magistrate asked the Circle Officers to provide the officials necessary logistics and other support in enforcing the regulations. The order comes into force with immediate effect.

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Only 14% Tasmac bars comply with food safety regn

FSSAI launches Eat Right campaign to curb consumption of sugar, salt and fat

The objective is to combat negative nutritional trends and fight lifestyle diseases

This campaign has kick-started at a crucial time when India is becoming the diabetes capital of the world. Credit: FSSAI

States such as Karnataka and Odisha have shown high intake of salt in their diet, revealed Hemalatha R, director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) during the launch of the ‘Eat Right Movement’ today. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated this campaign, wherein the key stakeholders like food processing industries and restaurants will volunteer to reduce the percentage of salt, sugar and fat content in food.

This campaign has kick-started at a crucial time when India is becoming the diabetes capital of the world, cases of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies are on the rise, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for 1 in 5 disease-related deaths.

As a part of the campaign, edible oil industries took a pledge to reduce trans-fat content by 2 per cent by 2022. Later, food companies also took a pledge to reformulate packaged foods with reduced level of salt, sugar and saturated fat.

This Eat Right Movement is a collaborative move with stakeholders—on both the demand and supply side—coming together. On the demand side, the campaign focuses on empowering citizens to make right food choices. On the supply side, it nudges food businesses to reformulate their products, provide better nutritional information to consumers and make investments in healthy food as responsible food businesses.

This is a voluntary movement from both the sides. To begin with, food brands such as Haldiram’s, Bikanerwala, Kellogg’s have volunteered to reformulate their products.

Related resources to disseminate the message

Apart from this, a tool kit also has been introduced to address the issue at grassroots level. Both theory- and activity-based manuals have been developed to train the ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the villages.

On the consumer front, FSSAI has come up with a separate portal where they can post queries and experts from the Nutrition Society of India(NSI), Indian Dietetic Association (IDA), Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and individual experts will guide them. An AI-powered Chatbot for citizens to answer all questions related to food is also available. The experts have contributed health tips, balanced diets and easy recipes, which are available on the website. 

Calling it a good move, Sunita Narain, director of Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, said that just like new regulations on packaging and labelling, and safe food for school children, FSSAI should consider making ‘Eating Right’ a regulation instead of only a volunteering activity to have a better impact.

FSSAI asks food companies to voluntarily cut salt, sugar, fat in packaged products

To promote safe and healthy food, regulator FSSAI today asked industry to voluntarily reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat in packaged food products as it would take about an year to make labelling norms operational.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) today launched a national campaign 'The Eat Right Movement' to improve public health and combat lifestyle diseases.

Edible oil industry, bakeries and FMCG companies, including Nestle India, HUL and Patanjali, took pledge to reduce the level of salt, sugar and fat in food products.

To kick start and popularise the movement, FSSAI has roped in film actor Rajkummar Rao for a short video that encourages citizens to reduce salt, sugar and fat. The video would be telecast on television channels and circulated through other mass media including social media.

"We have come out with draft food labelling regulation. It is with the Health Ministry now," FSSAI's CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said at the launch of this movement which was attended by top officials of Nestle India, Patanjali and HUL among others.

"It will take at least one year to be operational. Until then, this is the opportune time for the food industry to reformulate their products," he added.

Agarwal said the regulator would get an actual feedback from the industry while finalising the labelling norms if food business operators start following the draft rules.

The FSSAI CEO said that it would take about 4-5 months to finalise the packaging and labelling norms and then at least six months would be given to the industry for compliance.

While launching 'The Eat Right Movement', he said the campaign is built on two broad pillars of 'Eat Healthy' and 'Eat Safe'.

On the demand side, the movement focuses on empowering citizens to make the right food choices. On the supply side, it nudges food businesses to reformulate their products, provide better nutritional information to consumers and make investments in healthy food as responsible food businesses.

While the edible oil industry, bakeries and halwais' committed to phase out trans-fats by 2022, major food companies pledged to reformulate packaged foods to reduce the level of salt, sugar and saturated fat.

The food services sector promised to provide healthier food options and introduce menu-labelling, even as major food retail players including e-commerce players agreed to promote healthier food options and responsible retail practices.

This movement could not have come at a better time, with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) accounting for 1 in 5 disease-related deaths, widespread anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies on the rise and India becoming the diabetes capital of the world, the FSSAI said.

Speaking on the occasion, K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, said there is a need to complement reduction of salt, sugar, fat with lifestyle changes such as eating a more plant-based, natural diet.

The industry is a big player in supporting this movement therefore synergy between government, civil society and the industry is critical to its success, he added.

Suneeta Narain, DG, Centre for Science and Environment, said the FSSAI should "move ahead with the labelling regulations as fast as possible." She favoured government regulations to deal with junk foods and not voluntary commitments from the industry.

FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna said these voluntary nutrition commitments are a giant leap forward to combat negative nutrition trends in society.

Eat Right Movement off to a healthy start

Actor Rajkummar Rao launches the web portal in Mumbai on July 10, 2018 to kick-start the Eat Right Movement. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority’s programme aims at engaging citizens to make correct choices

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday unveiled ‘The Eat Right Movement’, built on two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’. The programme aims to engage and enable citizens to improve their health and well-being by making the right food choices.

Star attraction

Kicked off in the city by National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao, the event saw the food industry, public health professionals, civil society and consumer organisations, and influencers and celebrities coming together to pledge concrete steps to create ‘The Eat Right Movement’ in the country.

FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said the movement can grow organically as a self-perpetuating movement, co-owned and co-led by various partners using the broad framework and resources put together by professionals and experts in the field of food and nutrition.

Stating that its aim was to cut down salt/sugar and oil consumption by 30% in three years Mr. Aggarwal said that 15 major food manufactures have already joined the programme.

The FSSAI, he said, “is looking at robust food labelling and cleaning up the claims space.”

Tasmac collecting details of bars without FSSA licences

Additional Advocate General seeks one week time

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), a government undertaking which operates liquor shops in the State, on Tuesday told the Madras High Court that it had instructed its district managers to issue notices seeking explanation from all bar owners whether they had obtained licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

Additional Advocate General P.H. Arvindh Pandian made the submission before Justices N. Kirubakaran and V. Parthiban and sought a week’s time to revert on the progress. He said he would be able to place the statistics of the bars that were being run with FSSA licences and those without licences only after receiving reply to the notices.

It was during the last hearing of the case on July 5 that the judges had raised a question whether all bars had been licenced under the 2006 enactment. As to the question on the possibility of opening shops at 2 p.m. every day instead of 12 p.m., the AAG said it was a policy decision that had to be taken at the highest level in the government.

Unhappy with the reply, Justice Kirubakaran said it was essential to open liquor shops after lunch hours so that the addicts could be encouraged to work during daytime. He impressed upon the need for the government to give a serious thought to the proposal and adjourned the matter by a week.

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No formalin, says fisheries director

Fish pass formalin test, labs to examine samples again

Fish samples in Chennai test positive for formalin

Fish being tested at the State Referral Laboratory for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Aquatic Animal Health in Madhavaram, Chennai, on Jule 08, 2018. 

Minister promises action against those using carcinogen

As many as 11 out of 30 samples of fish species purchased from Chinthadripet and Kasimedu, the two major fish markets in Chennai, on two different days, have tested positive for formalin, a cancer-inducing chemical used illegally to preserve fish.

The fish were tested by scientists of the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University exclusively for The Hindu.

A low-cost formalin detection kit developed by researchers of the State-run university was used to test the samples purchased by The Hindu for ascertaining if they contained the carcinogen that is used widely as a preservative and disinfectant.

The tests were conducted on July 4 and July 8, the days when the fish were purchased.

Only one of 13 samples of fish purchased last Wednesday from the Chinthadripet, Velachery and Neelankarai markets tested positive at the university’s referral laboratory in Madhavaram.

However on Sunday as many as 10 of the 17 fish samples purchased from Chinthadripet and Kasimedu markets tested positive for the carcinogen, causing alarm.

Formalin causes irritation in the eyes, throat, skin and stomach. In the long run continued exposure causes harm to the kidneys, liver and can even cause cancers.

This is the first time samples of fish in Tamil Nadu have tested positive for formalin.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials have been undertaking tests at fish markets and harbours across the State to test for formalin following a scare in neighbouring Kerala that fish sourced from here were chemically contaminated.

Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said use of formalin as a preservative cannot be allowed at any cost. He said tests had been conducted in Thoothukudi and other places based on information received by the department but none of those samples had any formalin.

Samples to be lifted

“Since The Hindu has brought the [Chennai] test results to our notice, we will lift samples [from fish markets] and conduct tests. We will not hesitate to take strict action against those indulging in such acts,” Mr Jayakumar said.

Both big and small lizard fish or panna or kezhanga and paarai (Malabar trevally) were found to have formalin content of above 20 ppm (parts per million). Other varieties such as sura, octopus, eri vavvaal, ottu kanava, peikanava and kelithi had formalin of around 5 ppm.

For the test, a two gram piece of meat from the fish was taken and put inside four ml of diluent and shaken so that the formalin will get into it. Then this diluent was poured into the bottle containing the reagent that turned yellow revealing that it had tested positive.

“It is a very sensitive reagent and can detect up to 0.5 milligram per kilo. The actual test takes only 10 minutes,” explained Felix, Vice Chancellor of the University.

Fish industry experts said that formalin or formaldehyde is sprayed on the fish or injected into the fish or the fish is dipped into the solution. This helps keep the fish fresh for a longer time. Usually people who buy fish check the gills for freshness, if it is red it denotes freshness, when formalin is used the gills remain red for longer periods. In some cases, fishermen also apply kumkum to retain redness.

Case against 46 persons for holding food safety officials captive

The Attur Rural Police have registered a case against 46 persons for allegedly holding four officials of the Food Safety Department captive for a few hours in a sago manufacturing unit in Kattukottai village near Attur on Wednesday.

Police sources said that S. Mariappan, Designated Officer, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, and three other staff, were conducting surprise check in the sago unit following complaints of adulteration in the sago manufacturing process, when they were detained by the owner of the concerned unit along with the owners of other nearby units.

The police rushed to the spot and rescued the officials. Based on a complaint lodged by Mr. Mariappan, the Attur Rural Police registered case against six known persons, including S. Duraisamy, president of the Attur Sago and Starch Manufacturers Welfare Association, S. Prabakaran, its secretary, and 40 unknown persons under Sections 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 506 (1) IPC (criminal intimidation), police sources said.

FSSAI in Coimbatore yet to have fish testing kits

Recent seizures of fish treated with toxic chemical formalin by the Food Safety Department had triggered panic in Kerala. While spot testing kit was used to test fish consignments on transit in the neighbouring State, similar facility is yet to be used by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 30 districts in the State, including Coimbatore. As of now, spot test kits are used only in Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts.

P. Amudha, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, told The Hindu that FSSAI is already working with Fisheries Department on finding a solution on the issue.

“We have started testing fish with kits developed by the Fisheries College and Research Institute for testing formalin or other chemical added as preservatives in Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts” said Ms. Amudha.

The official added that use of test kits developed by FCRI in the two districts are on pilot basis.

The spot testing kits are used to check the use of preservatives in fish due to practical difficulties in lifting samples and testing them at Government approved food laboratories.

During a recent inspection at Ukkdam new market here, the FSSAI team could only do a manual checking of stalls. The team, however, had seized 10 kg of rotten fish which was later dumped.

Apart from Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam, fish sold in Coimbatore have their origins from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. While sea fish of certain varieties are brought from Odisha, those sourced from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are fresh water fishes like katla, rogue and mrigal.

According to H. Bawa, president of Coimbatore District Fish Traders Association, Coimbatore is among districts with highest consumption of fish in the State. Nearly 60 to 70 tonnes of fish are sold on Saturday and Sunday and 15 to 20 tonnes during weekdays here.

“After the recent raid, the association members visited 48 wholesale stalls at Ukkadam old market and 60-odd retail stalls in new market and advised traders not to sell damaged or chemically treated fish. The association also informed wholesale dealers in other States and Tamil Nadu, from where fish are sourced, not to send consignments treated with chemicals. We have decided to inform Food Safety Department if any such consignment comes to our attention,” said Mr. Bawa.

Wokha bans sale of fresh fish

July 7: Deputy Commissioner, Wokha Dr Manazir Jeelani Samoon, IAS has prohibited storage, distribution or sale of fresh fish products including Crustaceans treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives in Wokha district for a period of three months or till corrective measures are taken with immediate effect.

In a notification, the DC warned that failure to comply with the provision of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and the notification will attract penalties up to Rs 10 lakhs with imprisonment under section 59 of the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.

Stale food in hotels harms people

Stale food in hotels harms people

Nellore: People who come to hotels are generally impressed by cool air-conditioned rooms, fine-looking environs and neatly dressed waiters. They do not pay much attention to the quality of food. Not only roadside food stalls, but even majority of popular restaurants and hotels have been serving contaminated and stale food. When Food Safety officials conducted raids on many popular hotels in the city, they found unhygienic conditions at kitchens. 

Popular hotels in the city were found to be having rotten non-vegetarian food items in refrigerators and also in preserving systems. People, after eating such food items, complain of stomach pain and vomiting. They get diarrhoea and other diseases. They simply consult the doctor and get treatment and never blame the hotel or restaurant managements. 

Experts say, more than 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins and chemical substances. 

There are only a few pure vegetarian hotels and others are both veg and non-veg hotels. Normally, non-vegetarian restaurants charge more when compared to vegetarian hotels as they purchase raw material, store in deep freezers, and serve to the customers. They, sometimes, preserve prepared food in refrigerators for serving on the next day. 

Many times stale food gets spoiled even it is stored in refrigerators. Still, customers cannot identify it due to presence of masalas. Nellore is basically famous for non-vegetarian and sea foods and people from outside prefer Nellore fish curry and other fish varieties, Hot pot biryani, various varieties of chicken, mutton, and local combination of non-veg with vegetables like Gongura, Mango, drumsticks and others.

Now, popular non-vegetarian hotels also resorting to adulteration and irregular practices of storage leading to contamination. Food-borne and waterborne diseases kill people, most of whom are children. Pregnant women, the sick and the elderly are also particularly vulnerable to foodborne diseases, said Dr A Subrahmanyam, a physician from the city.

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Rumours of formalin in fish hits trade

Checks Show Fish Safe, Say Officials

Chennai: 

Rumours that fish sent from Tamil Nadu to Kerala was laced with formalin has affected the trade in the state, particularly in Chennai. With aban on fishing along the west coast in place, fishermen in places like Kasimedu in Chennai had been sending most of the catch to Kerala and other places. The quantum of the loss is yet to be ascertained. 

In order to assuage buyers, officials of the fisheries department and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted thorough checks at the fishing harbor and fish markets and found, apart from finding decayed fish in a couple of places, none laced with formalin. Search teams used a kit developed by Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalithaa Fisheries University. 

FSSAI officials said they were working with the fisheries department on the issue and that fish samples were collected and tested in Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts. 

The fishermen, however, do not seem satisfied. South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association president K Bharathi said the government instead of just conducting checks should also spread awareness among people. “The fish that had formalin traces were sent from Andhra Pradesh to Kerala and not from Tamil Nadu,” he added. 

Fishermen in the state had begun getting a good catch very recently after the ban ended but have again been hit by the rumours, he said. Tuna from Tamil Nadu was one of the most sought after in Kerala and used to fetch up to ₹120 per kg. Now, traders in Kerala have rejected it. 

“There are no takers even after the price was reduced,” he said. 

Prof develops kit to check fish quality 

Chennai: 

A kit developed by Jeyashakila, a professor at Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University in Tuticorin, has come in handy to check quality of fish, especially to see if it is laced with formalin. 

Jeyashakila, who is also the head of the Referal Laboratory at the university, said a sample of the fish skin has to be put in a vial with a diluent. A chemical is added to the mixture which reacts if formalin is present in it. If the mixture turns fluorescent yellow, it is positive. If the sample remains colourless, it is negative. The test takes about five minutes to check for the presence of formalin. Using one kit, 25 samples can be tested, she added

How India is planning to fight lifestyle diseases

The FSSAI is flagging off its nationwide 'Eat Right' initiative on July 10 to promote healthy living.

In the early 1990s, when I used to be a health writer, Dr K Srinath Reddy, one of the country’s foremost public health advocates, used to lament the absence of any concern for "lifestyle diseases", especially those that are diet related and hence reversible, in the public sphere.

He would refer wistfully to the Danish model of reducing the burden of cardio-vascular diseases by rigorously introducing food labelling, cutting down salt intake at the population level, and introducing safe and nutritious food in schools.

Policy discussions in those days were still dominated by contagious diseases, from malaria to the new "pandemic" (as it was then described by a number of vested interest) of AIDS, and barring few people, such as Dr Reddy and the eminent late nutritionist, Dr Vulimiri Ramalingaswamy, no one really cared to underline the potential dangers of the new diets (now covered by the umbrella acronym HFSS, or High Fat, Salt and Sugar) that were being introduced into the country by fast food multinationals, cola giants and purveyors of breakfast cereals.

In the last 25 years, what were once lone voices of public intellectuals — such as Dr Reddy, Dr Vandana Shiva, alter-globalisation crusader and founder of Navdanya, and the director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Dr Sunita Narain — now got amplified into a chorus for change.

Informed Indians, influenced by the western debate on the subject sparked off by Fast Food Nation, the turn-of-the-millennium book by Eric Schlosser, started speaking up and acting against junk food, sugar-laden colas and breakfast cereals, genetically modified food, chemically altered "low fat" food, and "high-yielding agriculture" propelled by an overload of potentially life-threatening chemicals and fertilisers.

Multiple factors have ensured that food will finally find its place at the centre of the national health policy debate — and it will cease to be the sole concern of doctors, nutritionists and your friendly neighbourhood dietician.

The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a new set of progressive Draft Food Safety and Standards (Display and Labelling) Regulations, which have already triggered nationwide discussions on making it mandatory for sugar and added sugar to be mentioned specifically on product labels, for nutrition labels to be attached to junk food delivery boxes, and for film and sport celebrities to stay away from promoting colas.

The food regulator is also getting new, and realistic, standards in place for the certification of organic foodstuff, and it is all set to flag off its nationwide “Eat Right” initiative on July 10.

One of the pillars of the movement, which for the first time will also cover food served at holy places and on the Indian Railways, will be the implementation of the national goal of freeing India from the scourge of “transfats” (the real artery blockers, such as margarine and vegetable oil, or vanaspati, in packaged and fast foods) by 2022.

This movement can only gather momentum because of international initiatives such as the recently published, action-orientated "Solutions Menu" of the Nordic Council, or the SDG2 Advocacy Hub’s efforts to get chefs around the world aligned to sustainability issues, or the 20-member Lancet Commission’s monumental work on healthy and sustainable diets (look out for its report on India).

Getting a country such as India to "Eat Right" is not easy. No regulatory mechanism can be strong enough for a country where, as I learnt the other day, big food operators sell their used oil to small restaurants and street vendors for a profit! Unless all of us view "Eat Right" as more than just another slogan, but a call for national action, we’ll all continue to wallow in the sea of lifestyle diseases.

From what we eat to the air we breathe — cancer is everywhere

Sonali Bendre recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with a high-grade cancer that has metastasised. With this news, the actor falls in the category of other celebrities, such as Manisha Koirala, Lisa Ray and, more recently, Irrfan Khan, who were also diagnosed with different types of the disease. What’s worrying is the fact they were all leading healthy lives before being diagnosed with cancer. So, are lifestyle choices really to blame?

WATCH WHAT YOU CONSUME

Despite awareness, cancer continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. The government-run Kidwai Institute of Oncology alone witnesses some 1,000 patients every day from across the state. The patient pool doesn’t just consist of smokers. Experts, therefore, stress on the need for awareness and stricter regulations on food and packaging. “The common man is ignorant about the chemicals and pesticides that are pumped into the food we consume — with everything from bread to milk,” says Dr Vishal Rao, a head and neck oncologist.

Pesticides, preservatives and wasted calories seem to be the trends of new Indian recipes. Oncologist Dr BS Ajai Kumar says, “Urban Indians are yet to understand the serious implications of eating outside and how lifestyle changes can cause cancer. Unfortunately, because of our dietary habits, having canned and frozen food alters our body’s epigenetics (heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence). The amount of pesticides and herbicides used is unnatural. Breast, ovarian and colon cancer has increased drastically because of this demographic shift. The middle-class is now into junk food and the repercussions are not good.”

BREATHING IN DANGER

The rampant burning of garbage across the city and the exhaust from vehicles is more than just an eyesore. Doctors warn that another reason why there has been a spike in the number of cancer cases is the toxins that we all invariably breathe in. “Not just food safety and regulations, another area that needs to be looked at is the amount of pollution in the air that we all breathe. Sadly, there’s no check and regulation on garbage burning, vehicular smoke, the burning of dry wood and industrial pollution,” says Dr Vishal.

THE HEAVY PRICE OF BEAUTY

A study done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that 73 cosmetic products of four different categories were tested for heavy metals. Of this, 32 fairness creams (26 for women and six for men) were found to have mercury. Additionally, 30 lipsticks, eight lip balms and three anti-aging creams (samples included Indian and international cosmetic brands, along with a few herbal products) were found to contain lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel.

Causes

• Increasing obesity
• Lifestyle-related changes
• Alcohol consumption, which has increased three fold between 2000 and 2014
• Delayed childbirth and reduced breastfeeding
• Chemicals consumed through water and food
• Pollution, stress, lack of exercise

Dead lizard in midday meal makes two ill

NEW DELHI: Two girls aged 11 and 14, respectively were hospitalised after eating midday meal at their school in east Delhi’s Kalyanpuri on Saturday morning. A dead lizard was found in it during investigation.

Confirming the incident, DCP (east) Pankaj Kumar Singh said a case has been registered against the vendor under IPC section of endangering life or personal safety of others.

The incident happened after lunch when the girls started vomiting. They were taken to a nearby hospital and are currently stable. During inspection by the school staff, a dead lizard was found in the vessel in which the food packets were brought in. Subsequently, the principal filed a complaint with the police and the case was registered against the vendor. Police have sent the utensils for further investigation as well.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia later visited the school after hearing about the incident and talked to the children. The food vendor’s contract has been suspended till the investigations are completed. The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also received a complaint about the incident and has launched an investigation into it.

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