FOOD SAFETY LATEST

Oct 25, 2018

FDA suspends licenses of 33 fish traders

Traders fail to submit papers within stipulated time; Vijai, Vishwajit air opposing views in a tweet before matter is resolved

FDA ORDER

>> The Registration Certificate granted under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, issued to the 33 FBOs (list enclosed) are revoked forthwith

>> FBOs were issued a warning that they had not adhered to the October 15 deadline to furnish the municipality trade licenses to the FDA

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DENIAL & ACCEPTANCE

>> Vishwajit Rane initially denied any orders being issued to revoke the registration certificates

>> He also tweeted that a final decision would be taken within two days, after examining the file

>> He retracted his stand a few minutes later: "The FDA director has issued the order, so be it."

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PANAJI: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Tuesday issued an order revoking registration certificates of 33 Food Business Operators (FBOs), all fish traders, as they failed to submit their municipality trade licenses within the October 17 deadline set by the Authority in the backdrop of the formalin-in-fish imbroglio.

The order issued by FDA Director Jyoti Sardesai, however, triggered a brief row a day later on Wednesday with two cabinet ministers - Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai - took to social media to air diametrically opposing views on the issue.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday initially denied any orders revoking the registration certificates had been issued.

"I will take a decision only after I see the file, which has not yet come to me," he told the Goan when contacted.

He also tweeted that there is no revocation of 33 fish traders' licenses and a final decision will be taken within two days, after examining the file.

But, Rane retracted his 'no revocation' stand a few minutes later when in an audio posted on the WhatsApp group 'FDA' created to facilitate communication between the media, he said: "The FDA director has issued the order, so be it."

Vijai Sardessai meanwhile tweeted: " Technically this means fish imports from outside the State is stopped?....fish traders are accountable to strict regulations."

It was perhaps Vijai Sardesai's tweet that influenced Rane to quickly retract. The latter subsequently claimed in the audio post on the 'FDA' whatsapp group that he had spoken to the FDA director as well as Vijai Sardesai, who told him to take "firm and stringent measures."

"We cannot increase the timeline (given to the fish traders)," Rane said.

Meanwhile, the order issued by FDA director states: "The Registration Certificate granted under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, issued to the 33 FBOs (list enclosed) are revoked forthwith."

The order issued by Sardesai also states that the FBOs were issued a warning that they had not adhered to the October 15 deadline to furnish the municipality trade licenses to the FDA.The order has been addressed to the president/secretary of the Margao Wholesale Market Association and it notes that individual notices were sent to all the 33 FBOs.

The requirement for fish traders to get necessary registrations was set in motion by Rane, after the formalin-in-fish fiasco broke out on August 4 and after the brief ban on import of fish was revoked by the government.

The government had initially given traders 15 days to register but extended the deadline on multiple occasions. The final extension of this deadline, however, ended on October 15, following which the FDA director triggered the process to revoke the registrations and finally issued the order on Tuesday.

Oct 24, 2018

Imported pulses to be tested for glyphosate contamination

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 23

In order to address a lacunae in food-safety regulations, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed its imports division to test glyphosate levels in imported pulses in line with global standards.

Noting that the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for glyphosate in pulses has not been specified in regulations in India, it has said that MRL specified in Codex standards should be taken into consideration while giving import clearances.

The recent FSSAI order assumed significance as a US court on Monday upheld that glyphosate was a potential carcinogen. Refusing to entertain a fresh trial sought by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer), a superior San Francisco court upheld a jury trial awarding compensation to a former school groundskeeper, who claimed that spraying of glyphosate caused him cancer. The court, however, reduced the punitive award to him substantially.

Codex Alimentarius is the joint food standards programme of FAO and WHO and is a collection of internationally recognised standards and practices for food products. Glyphosate is prevalently used as a herbicide.

Speaking to BusinessLine, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said: “Since we haven’t specified standards for maximum residue levels for glyphosate for pulses, the impression was that any amount of residue levels is allowed in pulses. Hence, we have decided to follow the Codex standards.” Different crops have different glyphosate MRL standards, he added.

FSSAI has also directed its regional offices to collect data on the glyphosate levels in imported pulses and submit the data to its headquarters on a fortnightly basis. Kavitha Kuruganthi, a farm activist, welcomed the move, but said the weed-killer is used indiscriminately in many crops, including some for which its application is not approved.

Codex standards specify glophosate MRL for beans, lentil, peas and soyabean on a per kg basis. The maximum residue levels range from 2 mg/kg in beans to 20 mg/kg in soyabean.

Over 10 quintal sweets prepared in unhygienic conditions destroyed

JAMMU, Oct 23: Over ten quintal sweets manufactured in unhygienic conditions were destroyed and nine wholesale manufacturers/sellers were challaned under Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006 by the Food Safety wing, Jammu of Drug and Food Control Organization, in city and its outskirts.

To check the manufacturing/selling of adulterated sweets, a Food Safety team headed by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu checked various whole sale outlets of Khoya, manufacturers of sweets and sellers of dry fruits in the municipal limits of Jammu and challaned nine food business operators under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Among those challaned were two wholesale sweet manufacturers at Om Nagar, near Revenue Complex Jammu. They were challaned for manufacturing sweets under unsanitary and unhygienic conditions. The team lifted samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Patisa from the two manufacturers for lab analysis and destroyed 200 kg of Rasgulla, 100 kg of Gulab Jamun and 90 kg of Patisa processed in unfavourable conditions.

Moreover, the production of both manufacturers were stopped as the infrastructures of both premises were not upto the standards as per the FSS Act 2006. Sample of Katlamas were also lifted from manufacturer Rakesh Kumar at Gole Gujral and he was also challaned under FSS Act.

Doulat Ram & Sons and Vishawinder Kumar Gupta & Sons—the two main wholesale outlets of Khoya in Hari market Jammu were also inspected from where four samples of Khoya were lifted and 260 kg of suspected sub-standard Khoya was seized. The samples were sent to the laboratory for detection of adulteration. Vishawinder Kumar and Sons was also challaned for storing the Khoya under unsanitary and unhygenic conditions and other contraventions of FSS Act 2006.

Samples of dry fruits were lifted from Sharma Enterprises and Chet Ram & Sons at Raghunath Bazaar, Jammu and both the Food Business Operators were challaned under section 58 of FSS Act 2006.

During the drive, samples of Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Ladoo and Paneer were also lifted from wholesale sweet manufacturers—Brijander Sweet Shop and Foran Singh Sweet Shop at Muthi and Balkrishan Sweet Shop at Paloura. The team also destroyed 510 kg of Rasgullas and 124 kg of Gulab Jamun, which were prepared under insanitary and unhygienic conditions. The activities of the all the three wholesale sweet manufacturers were stopped till further orders and they were challaned under FSSA 2006.

The drive was conducted on the directions of Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K. The inspecting team was comprised of Food Safety officers, Ajay Khajuria, Daleep Singh and Hans Raj Andotra.

Over 10 quintal sweets prepared in unhygienic conditions destroyed

Samples of dry fruits were lifted from Sharma Enterprises and Chet Ram & Sons at Raghunath Bazaar, Jammu and both the Food Business Operators were challaned under section 58 of FSS Act 2006.

The drive was conducted on the directions of Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K. The inspecting team was comprised of Food Safety officers, Ajay Khajuria, Daleep Singh and Hans Raj Andotra.

Delhi plans to keep a check on adulterated sweets during festive season

The Delhi government has launched a special drive to keep a check on adulterated sweets across the city in the ongoing festival season.

The Food Safety Department of the Delhi government recently issued an order directing Food and Civil Supplies Officers (FSOs) to carry out the drive against adulterated food items in their respective jurisdictions.

"All designated officers are directed to issue an order to FSOs concerned to carry out a special drive in the jurisdictional area of their districts for the lifting of samples of khoya, sweets made from khoya, other milk products..." the order stated.

The move is aimed at keeping a close watch on the sweets being supplied in the national capital. It also aims to tighten the noose around people who are involved in food adulteration, an official said.

He said strict action would be taken against those involved in food adulteration.

"The department teams will randomly lift samples at sweet shops and send them for examination," the official said.

"The government will not spare anybody found playing with the health of Delhiites," he added.

Microplastics have found their way into your gut

DINAMANI NEWS

Oct 23, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Milk and milk products will now be under surveillance

The FSSAI has directed all state food authorities to keep watch following the seizure of lakhs of litres of sub-standard milk in Maharashtra

PANJIM: In the backdrop of over lakhs of sub-standard milk being seized in Maharashtra, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the state food authorities in the country to maintain complete surveillance on milk and milk products during this festive season.

The country’s apex food regulator has also given a list of adulterants, along with the notice, wherein it has explained each adulterant and its specific use in milk and milk products, as a reference for the enforcement purpose.

“Public confidence in the safety and quality of milk and milk products is low. With low shelf life, milk and milk products are prone to spoilage if these are not stores and handled properly. There are instances of few unscrupulous elements, diary businesses indulging in acts of adulteration. Such cases of adulteration often increase during festival season when the demand for milk and milk products outstrips supply,” Joint Director (Regulatory Compliance Division) Daya Shankar said in the letter.

FSSAI said that while economically motivated adulteration of milk products invariably results in cheating of consumers, use of certain types of adulterants can also lead to a negative impact on their health. “At the same time, heavy microbial contamination and the consequent presence of microbial toxins in such products also pose a serious threat to the health of consumers,” officer said.

As such, States and Union Territories are advised to take up special drive on surveillance of milk and milk products like khoa, paneer, dahi, ghee, etc, during the festive season.

Oct 22, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Rs 4 lakh fine imposed on Valley firm for supplying sub-standard food item

JAMMU, Oct 21: Adjudicating Officer (under FSSA 2006), Jammu has imposed a fine of Rs 4 lakh on M/s Wani Brothers of Shopian for supplying sub-standard ‘Chana’ (gram) Whole to the ICDS centers of Khour Block in Jammu, besides directing the accused firm to replace the supply immediately.

Food Safety Officer, Block Pallanwala, district Jammu, had inspected the premises of ICDS Store CDPO Office Khour Block Pallanwala on August 18, 2018 and collected sample of the nutrition supply of Chana Whole with a view to get it tested from the Food Laboratory, Jammu so as to see whether it meets the requisite standard of the food item as laid down in the Regulation framed under Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006.

The report of Food Analyst was received on September 4, 2018 in which he declared the Chana Whole as sub-standard while stating that the sample does not conform to the standards prescribed for Chana Whole under Regulation No 2.4.6 (9) of FSS Regulations, 2011 in respect of Weevilled Grains and damaged grains.

Meanwhile, the supplier also accepted the report of the Food Analyst as he did not opt to get it re-analyzed by any other referral laboratory even though he was given option under Rule 2.4.2 (6) of the FSSA 2006/Regulation framed thereunder.

Following this, Food Safety Officer, Block Pallanwala, after getting sanction of the competent authority, lodged a complaint against Managing Director/ Person-Incharge of M/s Wani Brothers in the court of Adjudicating Officer (under FSSA 2006), Jammu under Section 51 of FSSA 2006 punishable under Section 51 of FSSA 2006.

After hearing the complainant and the accused, the Adjudicating Officer (under FSSA 2006), Jammu in the order said as the accused has virtually admitted the charge of substandard supply and also has undertaken to replace the same, which he is otherwise bound as per his supply contract, a fine of Rs 4 lakh is imposed on the accused to be deposited within seven days in treasury or with this court, which shall be credited to the Government Account.

The court also directed the accused to replace the supply immediately so that children of Anganwari Centres in the area do not suffer, while stating that the menace of food adulteration and supply of sub-standard food items is increasing day by day and it requires strict legal and social response as it threatens the very existence of a healthy human society.

Unsafe bottled water gluts State market

GUWAHATI: How safe is an intake of packaged (bottled) water that has glutted the market in Assam, especially in Guwahati? A burning question!

As if taking the advantage of lack of any stringent laws, a section of companies doing the business of bottled or packaged water in the State has adopted some unscrupulous practices that pose a threat to consumers’ health. Laboratory tests conducted by the Food Safety Wing of the State Health and Family Welfare Department have found bottled water either misbranded or sub-standard or not safe for human intake. Since there is no stringent law to deal with such unscrupulous companies, the actions being taken against them are limited to issuing notices, warnings, and ban on their business for a few days. The companies that are warned or issued notices or banned for doing business for a few days opt not to adopt any foul play for a certain period, only to spring back to their usual unscrupulous selves when the situation becomes normal.

The Food Safety Wing of the State Health and Family Welfare Department tested 14 samples of bottled water in 2016-17. While the wing found two samples as misbranded and as many sub-standard ones, five were not safe for human intake. In fiscal 2017-18, the wing tested 19 samples and found two samples as misbranded, one as sub-standard and nine as unsafe for human intake.

The companies that sell over two metric tonnes of packaged water per day have to get their licenses from the food safety agency of the Government of Indian and those selling less than two metric tonnes per day have to get such licenses from the Food Safety Wing of the State.

According to official sources, various brands of bottled water are sold in Assam with Central or State licenses. The labels of such bottles read either packaged drinking water or mineral added to water or purified water. For purified water, a number of tests have to be carried out to ascertain its purity.

Sources further say that a large number of bottles of packaged water of diverse brands are sold daily in Assam. It is not possible to check each and every bottle of all the brands, and as such food safety officials have to go for random checking. The cases of misbranded and sub-standard water bottles are disposed of at the ADC (additional deputy commissioner)-level either by charging fines or issuing notices or warning, but the cases of water bottles which are not safe for human intake are sent to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court for judgment.

An official said: “We take action as and when we receive complaints from the public. We’re going to take stringent action against three companies. We’ve received complaints against the three companies and their packaged water bottles have also failed our tests.”

The people of the State largely depend on packaged water as piped water being supplied is not free from impurities. In such a situation, it is imperative on the part of the department concerned to take some stringent measures to get rid of the health menace. Regular inspection of drinking water bottling factories in the State is one way to solve the problem.

Oct 21, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Food Safety Dept to continue to check on adulteration

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 20

Kahan Singh Pannu, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Punjab, has expressed hope that residents would be able to relish hygienically made pure sweets and milk products in the ongoing festival season this year.

He was attending a function at Narangwal village near here. Pannu appreciated that a majority of manufacturers and dealers in milk and milk products had responded positively to the Tandarusat Punjab Mission launched by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh-led government recently.

“A majority of entrepreneurs, including milk and milk product dealers and sweetmeat makers, assured to stick to quality and purity in case of eatables,” said Pannu maintaining that persistent surveillance by officials of various departments had yielded desired results till now. Pannu said the rank and file in the Food Safety Department had been advised to continue to check on adulteration.

Pannu said crisis had almost become a universal phenomenon. “Not that only food industry is in crisis, almost all fields, including agriculture, industry, education and service providing, are facing crisis to some extent. However, we are committed to meet the challenges and provide people the best services and commodities which are required for human existence,” said Pannu.

Oct 20, 2018

DINAMANI NEWS

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMANI NEWS

Oct 19, 2018

Special drive for ensuring sale and quality milk and milk products during festivals

Oct 16, 2018

Press Release - Swasth Bharat Yatra flags of from Leh, Panaji, Puducherry

Govt launches 'Swastha Bharat Yatra' campaign to create awareness about safe food

New Delhi, Oct 16 () The government Tuesday launched a national campaign 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' on the World Food Day under which a pan-India cycle rally is being organised to sensitise people about eating safe food and be healthy, FSSAI chief executive Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is leading this campaign where about 7,500 cyclists are expected to participate in over 18,000 km relay cycle rally travelling across six tracks through almost every state and UT over 100 days to propagate a powerful message 'Eat Right India'. The cyclathon will culminate in the national capital on January 27.

"We are not mindful of wheat we are eating. What we eat is important. Therefore, we want consumers to demand safe and healthy food which will force food businesses to manufacture only those products," Agarwal told reporters here.

He said the campaign has been launched by the central government, in association with states, from October 16 on occasion of the World Food Day. The FSSAI is leading this campaign to create consumer awareness about eating safe and nutritious food for becoming healthy.

The 'Swasth Bharat Yatra' was launched simultaneously at Leh (in Jammu & Kashmir), Panaji (Goa), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Puducherry, Ranchi ( Jharkhand) and Agarthala (Tripura).

From October 16 to January 27, 2019, on every single day, 150 volunteer cyclists and a convoy including the 'Eat Right Mobile Unit' and 'Mobile Food Testing Unit' would travel across the country to build awareness around food safety, combating food adulteration and healthy diets.

"In all, over 7,500 volunteer cyclists would stop at 2,000+ locations and conduct in-city and en-route activities and 'Prabhat Pheris' to propagate the message of Eat Right India," the food safety regulator said.

Agarwal said there is sufficient availability of food in the country and barring few crops India is self sufficient. The government is also making available foods at a cheaper rates to people through a public distribution system and other welfare schemes with an annual subsidy of about Rs 2 lakh crore.

"We do not have any issue with availability and affordability of food. But there is an issue with quality and safety of food that we eat," he said, adding that the regulator has taken a number of initiatives in the last few years to nudge consumers as well as food businesses towards addressing this matter.

Elaborating on the campaign, Agarwal said this would not only mobilise the masses but also create a large pool of local community to sustain this movement.Asked about India's 103rd rank in 'Global Hunger Index' out of 119 countries, Agarwal said there is a need to analyse the parameters on which the countries have been ranked in this study.

World Food Day: Motorcycle rally spreads ‘less salt, less sugar and less fat’ message in Trichy

TRICHY: The Trichy district food safety department conducted a motorcycle rally here on Tuesday, on the occasion of the World Food Day (October 16), to spread the “less salt, less sugar and less fat” message among the residents.

Around 200 people, including members from Integrated Child Development Services and food safety department, other government officials, food business operators and college students participated in the rally.

District collector K Rajamani flagged off the rally from Chathiram Bus Stand. It ended at Uzhavar Sandhai grounds.

Students from Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts performed a drama near Central Bus Stand to create awareness about safe eating.

Speaking about the reason for choosing the ‘less salt, less sugar and less fat’ theme, designated officer for Trichy district food safety department Dr R Chitra said they had selected it since lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and hypertension were rampant among people.

“When it comes to eating safe, reducing consumption of salt, sugar and fat are the three most important practices that people should follow. When this is regulated properly – coupled with exercises – people can reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases,” she said.

The rally was held in solidarity with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) ‘Swasth Bharath Yatra’ cycle rallies which were flagged off from six different locations in the country to promote the ‘Eat Right India’ movement.

Formaldehyde issue puts FSSAI in a spot

Panaji: Stating that permissible limits of naturally occurring formaldehyde were not available, the assistant director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), told the high court of Bombay at Goa that a scientific panel would examine the issue of “setting permissible limits of naturally occurring formaldehyde in fish and fish products”.

The authority, in its affidavit responding to three petitions over the formalin in fish issue, put the onus on the state government by stating that enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2011, primarily lay with the state.

The advocate representing the FSSAI told the court that the authority had already given all states a guidance note on formalin. The FSSAI further stated that it has been issuing advisories and directions to all states from time to time for effective and rigorous enforcement. It maintained that it was up to officials of the food safety department of each state to check compliance of standards laid down under the prevalent acts and regulations.

Justice N M Jamdar told the advocate representing the FSSAI that the court had sought the authority’s say in the matter considering that it was an expert body. Stating that the court had expected the FSSAI to apply its mind in the matter, Jamdar said it “cannot simply reproduce the act” (in its affidavit). He added that while the state may be the implementing authority, the central authority is “still the apex body”.

The issue saw yet another citizen, Sanjeev Raiturcar, file a petition in the formalin in fish issue. Raiturcar has prayed for directions to close down the wholesale fish market at Madel, Margao, and reopen it only once the municipality provided all the necessary infrastructure of drainage, toilets etc. and after consent from the relevant authorities including the Goa State Pollution Control Board was obtained.

The petitioner has also prayed for directions to stop sewage and drainage of toxic water into the Sal and adjoining fields.

17 samples of food items lifted, various shops challaned for insanitary conditions

Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu, Dr Parvesh Kumar and his team inspecting packaged mustard oil.

JAMMU, Oct 15: To ensure that no adulterated food item is sold out in the market, Food Safety wing of Drugs and Food Control Organization, Jammu conducted a special drive during ongoing Navratras with a special focus on milk and milk products, edible oils, Drau and Singhara atta and Sabu Dana.

A team of food safety officers led by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Jammu under the overall supervision of Commissioner Food Safety, J&K, inspected various sweet shops, grocery shops, Bakery shops and oil mills. As many as 17 samples of various food items were lifted so for which include atta of Singhara and Drau, milk, paneer, curd, edible oil, Sabu Dana.

During the inspection, various shops namely New Baker, Sat Guru sweet shop, Kwality Dhaba at Shastri Nagar, Jandyal sweet shop at Sanjay Nagar Chowk, Chowdhary Milk products at last Morh, Chowdhary Milk shop at Rampura, Chowdhary sweet shop at Shastri Nagar were challaned under insanitary and unhygienic conditions and samples of Milk and Milk products were also lifted from the same shops.

Samples were also lifted from Pahalwan sweet shop at Peer Mitha, Vermani Store at Gandhi Nagar, JK Oil Industry at Gangyal, Ruhi Baker at Gangyal, Future Retail at Jewel, Super Karyana Store, Rajinder Dry Fruit and Karyana Merchant at Jewel.

The team also held an awareness programme for shop keepers outside Dhoodadhari Mandir, Shastri Nagar and Raghunath Mandir, wherein shopkeepers were instructed to maintain norms as per FSS Act 2006 and follow Swacch Bharat Abhiyan.

The team was comprised of Food Safety officers Daleep Singh, Ajay Khajuria, Hans Raj Andorra and Pervaiz Ahmed.

Delivery vehicles smuggling sub-standard sweets caught

Chandigarh, Oct 16 (UNI) In yet another one of its kind illicit movement of sub-standard sweets, the Food Safety Team in two different inspections nabbed two newspaper carrying vehicles smuggling alleged adulterated sweets, Mr Kahan Singh Pannu, Commissioner Food and Drug Administration Punjab, informed.

At about 0430 hrs, the Food Safety Team Pathankot intercepted a TATA Ace vehicle carrying 150 kg boondi dana and about 100 kg burfi.

The driver disclosed that the boondi dana was associated with Inderjit Krishanlal & Sons, Gandhi Camp Jalandhar and produced a challan for the same but no proof regarding the carrying of burfi was produced.

In a similar incident, the same team intercepted a Tata 407 at Dhangu Road carrying 4.05 quintals of sweets linked with Kishore Petha House, Mukerian, hidden under the newspaper stock.

Oct 15, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

95 kg stale food, farsan destroyed at garba venues

Vadodara: Health officials of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) conducted surprise checking at four different garba venues in the city. The teams checked over 160 food stalls during the drive.

VMC teams have been on a drive to check food vendors since about a week. After checking sweet and savoury shops, the teams focussed on garba venues in the city since Friday night.

On Friday, food safety officers checked 166 stalls in the city and destroyed 95kg food items there. The items that were disposed of included ‘batata vada’, chutney, momos, rice, samosas and cut fruits.

1.5 quintal foul smelling khoya seized

CHANDIGARH: Continuing with its drive against spurious food products, the food and safety teams of the health department on Saturday carried out inspections for adulterated products.

The food safety wing, Pathankot, in a raid at Aman Cold Store found about 1.5 quintal of foul smelling khoya. The store belongs to a sweets shop owner at Shahpur Chowk, Pathankot. The team took the samples and destroyed the khoya as it was not fit for human consumption. On the same premises, about 3.72 quintal of fat spread was found, which was being sold as butter. Sample of fat has been taken and whole stock has been seized.

Two bread manufacturing units in Amritsar were inspected and sealed due to poor hygiene. Both units were being run in residential areas without licence. A soda manufacturing unit was also sealed in Fatehgarh Colony, Anngarh, Amritsar, for being run without a mandatory licence. An illegal water packing unit at Shri Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran, was also sealed for not having the required licence.

Commissioner, food safety, K S Pannu said that, “It is a general impression that substandard khoya procured at cheaper rates from other states is stored ahead of the festival season in cold stores by sweets manufacturers, so we are constantly checking these across the state.”

Assam govt bans Wai- Wai noodles

GUWAHATI: After the Maggi fiasco, Assam has now prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of Wai Wai 1-2-3 Noodles (mini) and Wai Wai Mimi ready-to-eat noodles after they tested positive for monosodium glutamate (MSG), a banned flavour enhancer.

The curbs were imposed for an initial period of 30 days with immediate effect in the interests of public health, the state government said in a notification issued on Monday, adding that the products were declared unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

Samples of both the noodle products- Wai Wai 1-2-3 Noodles (mini) and Wai Wai Mimi tested positive for monosodium glutamate, which is not allowed to be used as an additive in pastas and noodles.

The new ban order comes into effect two weeks after Maggi was banned in the state.

Oct 14, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Juice seller sentenced to rigorous imprisonment after food inspector seizes poor-quality pineapple from shop

Preetam Singh, 43, was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of one year along with a penalty of Rs 5,000 for selling juice made out of inferior-quality fruits in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Juice seller sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in MP | Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Bhopal: In Madhya Pradesh's capital city of Bhopal, a juice seller was sentenced to a year-long rigorous imprisonment by a special court for using poor quality pineapple at his establishment. The court, instituted for the trial of cases pertaining to food adulteration also slapped a penalty of Rs 5,000 on the vendor and also confiscated sub-standard fruits from his shop situated near Habibganj Crossing.

The shop was known as Khalsa Juice Centre and was raided about 10 years ago by the then-food inspector Bhojraj Singh Dhakad. A charge-sheet was lodged against the accused 43-year-old juice shop owner Preetam Singh under relevant sections of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

A news report published by the Times of India said that Prakash Kumar Uike, Judicial Magistrate First Class held Singh guilty after observing that poor quality fruit juice was being served to customers, thereby cheating them. The court further observed that the substandard-quality juice may have had an adverse impact on the health of the customers. Maintaining the same, Singh was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment.

This should most definitely come as a reminder to those in the catering business and food industry to comply with guidelines laid down by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI, especially those who disregard the health and safety of their customers and go on to deceive them by providing goods and services processed out of low-grade raw material.

Vijaywada: Ghee-making unit 'using stale butter' raided

VIJAYAWADA: Food safety officials along with a vigilance and enforcement team raided a ghee-making unit on Friday, which is allegedly using stale butter to manufacture ghee. The unit is located at Nunna in the city outskirts.

The officials seized about 40 tonnes of stale butter and 20 tonnes of processed ghee from the premises of Durga Agencies.

The officials also found that the premises of Durga Agencies was in unhygienic condition with cockroaches all over the place. The butter being used to make ghee was stale and stinking. Food safety assistant controller, N Purnachandar Rao, told TOI that the butter used in preparation of ghee was stale and past the expiry date.

Durga Agencies has a license to run the industry. It is marketing ghee under ‘Durga’ and ‘Kamadhenu’ brnad names. The industry is owned by P Krishna, who has two pending cases of similar nature against him, added Purnachandar Rao.

The officials collected two samples each of butter and ghee for laboratory test. Durga Agencies also makes curd sold in sachets of various sizes. They also collected samples of the curd.

Rao said they have served notices on the industry, seized the stocks and sealed the premises. Criminal proceedings will be initiated against the industry based on the lab findings.

95 kg stale food, farsan destroyed at garba venues

Vadodara: Health officials of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) conducted surprise checking at four different garba venues in the city. The teams checked over 160 food stalls during the drive.

VMC teams have been on a drive to check food vendors since about a week. After checking sweet and savoury shops, the teams focussed on garba venues in the city since Friday night.

Oct 13, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Civic body begins food safety drive

VADODARA: Food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) conducted extensive drives to check sweet and savoury shops in wake of the festive season.

Stress is also being laid on ensuring that ‘fafda-jalebis’ are prepared in a hygienic manner for Dussehra.

VMC officials had begun the drive on Tuesday and this will continue till Dussehra. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the officials checked shops in the ST Depot, Rajmahal Road, Waghodiya-Dabhoi Ring Road, Sussen-Tarsali Road, Fatehpura, Akota, Sayajipark, Ajwa Road, New VIP Road, Harni, Sangam Char Rasta, Market, Kadak Bazar, Manjalpur, Somatalav, Makarpura, Parivar Crossroads and others.

On Thursday, officials checked shops in Sayajigunj, Waghodiya Road, Makarpura, Karelibaug and Warasiya Ring Road areas. In all, the food safety officers have collected 61 samples so far. The samples include those of raw materials as well as prepared food items.

Food safety authority issues draft standards for cereal products

The food regulator, which released the draft standards on Wednesday, has called for comments within 30 days

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought stakeholders’ comments on the draft notification related to cereals and cereals products, including instant noodles, fortified atta, maida, and rice; durum wheat maida, quinoa, tapioca, palm sago and pearl millet flour.

The food regulator, which released the draft standards on Wednesday, has called for comments within 30 days.

The draft defines instant noodles as a product prepared from wheat flour and/or rice flour and/or flour of any other cereals, millets and legumes covered under food additives regulations and water as the main ingredient with or without the addition of spices by kneading the dough and extending it.

“Starches, dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, edible protein and egg powder may be added, if required,” it said.

The draft rules added that instant noodles are characterised by the use of pregelatinisation process and dehydration either by frying or other methods.

Pregelatinisation is a process which is used to modify starch properties. These starches are cold-water-soluble and useful for making pasta and noodles.

According to the draft standards, the product should be presented as fried noodles or non-fried noodles.

“The product shall be of good characteristic colour, appearance, texture, aroma and taste and shall be free from added colour, undesirable taste, dirt, insects’ larvae and impurities or any other extraneous matter,” it said.

The draft rules standards state that noodles and the seasoning will separately comply with the safety regulations and the seasoning accompanying the instant noodles should be labeled distinctly on the package.

Nestle’s popular brand of instant noodles, Maggi, was banned last year when lead presence was reported in its samples. The Bombay High Court lifted the ban in August 2015, asking for fresh rounds of tests to ascertain whether it was safe for consumption.

Food safety officials seize food products in Kohima

Food safety officials conducting inspection at a food establishment in Kohima on October 11.

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 12 (MExN): Food safety officials along with Kohima Municipal Council officials carried out a joint inspection of food establishments in Kohima on October 11.

During the inspection, some food products which had exceeded best before date was seized by the team from M/S Best Bakery located at PR Hill, Kohima, informed a press note from the Kohima Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

It further notified on the appeal made by food safety regulators of the district for consumers to participate and report to the CMO’s office about any food complaints. “Colony Panchayats/Youth Organisations can also write to the undersigned if joint inspection needs to be done in regard to food items in your colonies,” it informed.

CMO directs food business operators

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kohima meanwhile informed that no Food Business Operators (FBO) shall manufacture, store, sell or distribute any article of food except under a Licence or Registration under Food Safety & Standards (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Another press release from the CMO informed all FBOs in Kohima to get registered or licenced under the stated regulations, 2011. Defaulters are liable to be penalized as per the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, it cautioned.

To ensure consumer safety, the CMO directed FBOs dealing with fresh fish products to first of all test the fish and to offer them for sale, only when it’s free of Formalin. CMO also requested customers to inquire from the FBO whether the fresh fish were tested and to show the test report as well.

Oct 11, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

Maharashtra FDA cracks whip on 113 eateries, issues notice to four food portals

In addition, a showcause notice has been issued to four food aggregator portals — Swiggy, Zomato, Food Panda, and Uber Eats — who delivered food from these outlets.

FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) Shailesh Aadhav said most food outlets inspected in Mumbai and found flouting norms were small scale businesses focussed on food delivery through portals.

THE MAHARASHTRA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued stop business notices to 113 food establishments in Mumbai that deliver food through e-commerce portals and online aggregators, after finding they violated norms under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. In addition, a showcause notice has been issued to four food aggregator portals — Swiggy, Zomato, Food Panda, and Uber Eats — who delivered food from these outlets.

“The FDA survey has revealed that the establishments of food processing working through these online app and websites worked in unhealthy conditions. There were several violations found,” said FDA Commissioner Pallavi Darade. The food delivery business has spiked with people preferring to order food in the comfort of their homes, she added.

Between September 21 and October 1, the FDA inspected 347 outlets that home-delivered food through online aggregators. The food inspectors found that at least 113 establishments were working without the requisite licence or registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Several were also found adopting unhygienic working conditions.

Inquiry showed that these 113 outlets were operating business through portals like Swiggy, Zomato, Food Panda and Uber Eats. At least 85 outlets were attached with Swiggy, 50 with Zomato, three with Food Panda and two with Uber Eats.

While the 113 food outlets have been issued stop business notice with immediate effect under Section 14 of Food Safety and Standards Act, the four portals were issued showcause notices. Officials with FDA said once they receive responses from the portals, further action will be taken.

In an email response to The Indian Express, a Swiggy spokesperson said, “Over the last two months, we have delisted hundreds of restaurants that were not compliant to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations or have poor customer ratings, while simultaneously assisting many restaurants to procure their licenses through our FSSAI Assist Program. Honouring the deadline of September 30, we have completed the delisting of those restaurants which were unable to procure their license or an acknowledgment.” The spokesperson added that as on October 1, all restaurants catering to Swiggy had FSSAI license.

“Separately, Swiggy has been working with Equinox Labs, a reputed food-audit firm accredited by FSSAI/ NABL on food hygiene audits that are conducted at restaurants, to ensure food prepared is in accordance with hygiene standards,” the spokesperson said.

FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) Shailesh Aadhav said most food outlets inspected in Mumbai and found flouting norms were small scale businesses focussed on food delivery through portals. “In most, we found cleanliness of cooking utensils and equipment was not maintained. Those cooking food were also not maintaining personal hygiene.”

A spokesperson from Uber Eats said that “the business is evolving every day and entities are regularly checked and removed from the platform”. “Providing access to reliable food for consumers is at the heart of our business and we are committed to raising awareness about food safety standards. We are working closely with the governing authorities to help them achieve their objective of ensuring good quality and safe food,” the spokesperson added.

An official from Zomato working in the merchant section said that they are not aware of receiving any showcause notice. Emails sent by The Indian Express to Zomato and Food Panda elicited no response.

Kolkata: KMC conducts special drive to check quality of food in restaurants

KOLKATA: A Kolkata Municipal Corporation health department team conducted a two-day special drive to check quality of food at some central Kolkata restaurants, food joints at a mall and a couple of reputable star hotels located off Eastern Metropolitan. The drive that was launched on Tuesday was part of a food safety exercise before pujas.

According to sources in the KMC health department though the civic food inspectors did not find adulteration in food collected from the star hotels, three food joints at the mall located off EM Bypass were asked to upgrade their bakery products and the quality of cooked food being sold there.

The civic team on Tuesday warned owner of a restaurant on Park Street against upkeep of its kitchen. “We found the kitchen of the restaurant on Park Street to be unclean and unhygienic. We have asked the owner to upgrade the kitchen with immediate effect or else we may have to take punitive steps,” said a KMC health department official.

The KMC team of food inspectors are also readying for a drive against food stalls and sellers of soft drinks in front of city’s major puja pandals. “We will undertake a special drive against quality of food to be served from the food stalls and soft drinks in front of city’s major puja pandals. We will arrange for a speedy test of these food to be collected and take steps against adulteration in food and soft drinks,” a KMC health department official said.

3 held for mixing oxytocin in milk

Swiggy, Zomato in a soup, get notices for deliveries from unsafe Restaurants

Food delivery apps delist 5k restaurants

Restaurants Body Files Complaints Against 50 Hotels

NRAI urges govt of Haryana to look into matter, says will take up issues in other states too

New Delhi:

In a first of its kind, the national restaurant association has written to the government of Haryana and the state chief minister against at least 50 restaurants in the state flouting laws on matters such as food safety, fire prevention and pollution control.

Some of the restaurants and pubs, many of which are also chains operating more than one store, include names such as Hyde by Plan B, Junction, Karma, Knight Rider and The Social Chamber. Almost all of them continue to be listed on restaurant discovery and online ordering platform Zomato.

Addressed to Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, the letter highlights “non-compliance of laws prescribed to operate restaurants”. The national association, which has over 5,000 members, has urged the state government to set up a joint department committee to look at the functionality of such restaurants.

“Operators are flouting laws which cover commercial activity of operating a restaurant. While they are adhering to the excise policy in providing a ‘safe’ drinking place, these restaurants are preparing, cooking and serving food and other beverages; there has to be compliance of food safety, fire prevention and pollution control. These are being flouted,” the letter by National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) president Rahul Singh, written on behalf of its members, states.

ET has seen a copy of the letter, which has been registered by the Chief Minister Grievances Redress and Monitoring System.

“This is the first time we are taking up non-compliance of laws by restaurants with the government... We will take up similar cases in other states going forward,” Singh told ET.

The letter states that there are “various” rules which have to be in compliance to commercially operate a restaurant such as the FSSAI food safety licence and registration of Goods & Services Tax (GST).

Oct 10, 2018

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMANI NEWS

UNHEALTHY MEAT SEIZED

Swiggy, Zomato, other apps junk 10,500 ‘unsafe’ eateries

NEW DELHI: Leading e-commerce food delivery platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, UberEats and Food Panda have delisted 10,500 restaurants as they did not have the food safety regulator’s approval.
The move comes after a strict directive was issued in July this year by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) asking e-commerce sites to remove all unlicensed and non-registered restaurants from their listings by September 30.
In a latest review of its order, FSSAI found that Zomato has delisted 2,500, Swiggy 4,000, Foodpanda 1,800, UberEats 2,000 partner hotels. Around 200 restaurants on other platforms too have been axed.
“These food aggregators have been directed to share the list of delisted Hotels/Restaurants so that action can be initiated against the defaulters,” FSSAI said. It added, once the list is in place, it can be shared with state enforcement machinery for the action against non-compliant food business operators.
FSSAI’s order was triggered by complaints received by the regulator about substandard food being supplied by restaurants and vendors listed on these delivery platforms.

The food regulator had shared a checklist of compliance for hotels and restaurants with the e-commerce sites which they can refer for their internal food safety audits. Zomato and Swiggy have conducted internal food safety audits of some of their partner hotels and restaurants accordingly, the regulator said.
Based on the checklist, some of the food delivery aggregators have also come together for training and certification of the supervisors of hotels and restaurants.

Ensure prevention of cruelty to animals, food safety Acts not violated: Bombay HC to govt

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions raising concerns over illegal abattoirs operating across the city and on animal slaughter being conducted in a painful manner.
OBSERVING THAT public health and safety are at stake, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday said the state government must ensure that provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Food Safety and Standards Act are not breached or violated. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions raising concerns over illegal abattoirs operating across the city and on animal slaughter being conducted in a painful manner.
A division bench of Justice S C Dharmadhikari and Justice B P Colabawalla said the issue concerns public health. “It is for the state government to ensure that provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Food Safety and Standards Act are not breached or violated,” it added.
Justice Dharmadhikari said that sometimes fishermen do not sell fresh fish and there should be a surprise check conducted by officials. “Fish, meat and everything… the officers should carry out checks time to time.”
Counsel for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Anil Sakhare, told the court that civic officials conduct periodic checks on all shops. He added that in three years, around 700 FIRs have been lodged against shops carrying out slaughter without required permissions.

Justice Dharmadhikari further said that there are several places in the city where slaughter shops throw the carcasses and garbage on the roads. The BMC should make sure that they are disposed of properly, he added.

The bench has directed the BMC to file an affidavit and also asked the government to take up the issue with every municipal corporation and district council. The court will hear the matter again on November 2.

Food safety awareness program organized for vendors

JAMMU, Oct 9: To create awareness amongst food vendors and shopkeepers outside Bawe Wali Mata temple, a camp was organized today by a Food Safety team of Drug and Food Control Organization.
A large number of food vendors and shopkeepers, particularly sweet sellers of the area participated in the awareness camp, which was organized under the overall supervision of Commissioner, Food Safety, in view of the holy Navratras.
Stating that food safety is closely linked with health, Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, instructed the vendors and shopkeepers to keep their premises and surroundings clean as ‘Practicing good hygiene and maintaining cleanliness’ are the mantras for making safe food.
Food Safety team also demonstrated steps to make street food safe. The food vendors showed tremendous enthusiasm in learning good practices of making safe food. They were asked not to use inferior and adulterated raw material for making food and always cook food in clean utensils
The team also asked the vendors not to use old newspapers and polythene for packing and selling the food items like sweets and instead use brown paper. They also asked them to keep dustbins in their premises to avoid littering of garbage and avoid throwing filthy water in front of their establishments and on path to the temple premises.
Food Safety officers Ajay Khajuria and Dileep Singh were also present on the occasion.

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