Is your butter safe? 1,000 kg of fake dairy product in Amul packaging seized

According to the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, out of 49,290 samples of food items tested, one-fifth were found adulterated or misbranded.

Samples of fake Amul butter seized by Mumbai police

The Mumbai Police has seized 1,000 kg of fake Amul butter from Bhayander area of the city and arrested five members of a gang that was involved in making the spurious food product. The police raided their hideout and saw the butter being filled into Amul packaging.

A team of Mumbai police led by Assistant Superintendent Police Atul Kulkarni busted the hideout of the gang and seized both the butter and Amul packaging from the premises, according to Times Now. The police team is trying to find out how these men got their hands on the packaging being used by the Amul.

Disastrous cases of food adulteration are common in India. The most recent is the incident in which 15 people died and hundreds of devotees fell sick after eating tomato rice at a temple in Chamarajanagar, about 125 km from Bengaluru.

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had said in its report that out of 49,290 samples of food items that were tested, one-fifth were found adulterated or misbranded.

The FSSAI also said that milk and its products are the commonly adulterated foods in India as per a study it conducted in 2012.

Mindless Profiteering 

Some common adulterans (unwanted substances) added to the milk and its products are chalk, water, caustic soda, skimmed milk and oil.

Butter, according to FSSAI, can be made with cheaper oils or mixed with water to extract large quantities from a small amount of milk. The other commonly adulterated foods in India are tea, coffee, wheat, rice, vegetables, sweets and pulses.

Although food adulteration is a punishable offence, small-time businessmen and vendors are often found mixing adulterants in foods. The target consumers are often from the lower economic sections of society who are tricked into buying cheaper products, risking their health.

Utterly Butterly Malicious! 1000 kg of fake butter being sold in Amul packaging seized in Mumbai

Police in Mumbai busted a gang of miscreants who were selling adulterated butter by packaging it as Amul. During the raid, officials recovered a thousand kilograms of spurious butter.

They were selling adulterated butter by wrapping it under Amul packaging 

Mumbai: Police in Mumbai's Bhayander area have arrested five men for selling spurious butter by packaging it as Amul butter. According to reports, a team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Atul Kulkarni made the arrests after busting the gang's hideout at Bhayander Road under the limits of the Kashimira Road police station.

Pictures accessed by sections of the media show adulterated butter being filled into Amul packaging. At the time of the raid, police seized a staggering 1,000 kilograms of butter along with packaging used by Amul Butter. An investigation has been launched into the case to ascertain how members of the gang got their hands on the packaging used by Amul cooperation.

The process of adding unwanted substances to food in a bid to increase profits is known as adulteration. While it is a common practice across the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) keeps a tight check on adulterated products infiltrating the market. Milk, tea, coffee, vegetables, dairy products along with wheat and other food grains are the most commonly adulterated products in India as per a report by the Annual Public Laboratory Testing.

Food inspectors with the municipal corporation in Gujarat's Surat city busted a gang of miscreants who were allegedly mixing adulterated ingredients to butter and ghee before selling it off as pure to residents in Katargam and Varachh. During the raid which was conducted on December 12, officials seized 25 kg of loose butter and 15 kg of vanaspati ghee from one of the locations while recovering 12 ghee tins of 15 kg each and 48 packs of butter of 1 kg each from the gang's second hideout.

Only 5 water packaging firms possess FSSAI licence

A majority of drinking water packaging firms operate without licence in Bathinda. 

Bathinda, December 26

A number of water packaging units here are operating without obtaining FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) licence from the Health Department in the district. In the absence of any check by the authorities, there are chances that the packaged water you are buying may not be safe for drinking.

The data procured from the District Health Department revealed that only five water packaging units obtained FSSAI licence (mandatory to supply safe drinking water).

Kashmira Hygienic at Gobindpura, True Indra at Bibi Wala village, Osnowa at Gill Pati, Oxyfresh on Mansa Road and MD Drinking Water Company at Paras Ram Nagar are the units that have obtained the licence.

Owing to the apathetic attitude of the Health Department, nearly 36 water packaging units (most of which are on the outskirts of the city) operating in the district are functioning without obtaining FSSAI licence.

Four units in Rama Mandi, three in Talwandi Sabo, two each in Sangat Mandi and Rampura Phul, three each in Bhucho Mandi and Maur and one each in Kot Shamir and Goniana Mandi have been functioning for a couple of years.

Twelve water packaging units operating from different locations in the city are functioning without obtaining FSSAI licence and around 24 such units are operating on the outskirts.

Though the matter was highlighted in these columns around 10 months ago, the Health Department did not take any concrete steps to ensure that maximum water packaging units acquire licence. Even the Health Department has not issued challans to firms violating food safety norms.

Dr Ashok Monga said, “No new water packaging firm has applied for/received licence in the district recently. We carry out random checking but have not issued any challans so far. If there is any specific complaint, we will ensure appropriate action.”

Dr Monga added, “Our staff is deployed on election duties for now. We will check and identify water packaging firms that have not obtained FSSAI licence and take action against them.”

A senior functionary of the Health Department on condition of anonymity said it raised a serious question over the functioning of the Health Department or their “tacit approval” to such firms.

He said around five to seven years ago, there were a handful of water packaging firms (without FSSAI licence) operating in the district, but due to “tacit approval” accorded by officials concerned these units had now mushroomed in the district now.

“As Bathinda and other neigbouring districts of the Malwa region have already earned notoriety of being cancer belt owing to the presence of heavy metals in the groundwater, the Health Department’s failure to tighten the noose around illegal water suppliers may cause serious problems in the long run,” warned a medical oncologist of a private hospital.

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Plastic ban: Appeals for exemption get louder

 

Now, officials to check samples of cooked mid-day meals

Meerut: The director of Mid-Day Meal Authority (MDMA) in Uttar Pradesh has directed the officials of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) and authorities concerned to take samples of cooked food from schools to ensure that quality food is served in government educational institutions.

A letter issued by Abdul Samad, director of MDMA, stated: “This is to instruct all the FSDA officials that samples of cooked mid-day meals should be taken from all government schools, sent for quality check and their reports sought. The reports should be then submitted to the district task force and also given to the district basic shiksha adhikari.”

The MDMA officials routinely check samples of raw materials including spices, vegetables and condiments used for cooking meals in schools to ensure the quality of food prepared. However, food samples are rarely taken.

“Samples of cooked mid-day meals should be taken from at least 10 schools every month and a report in this regard should be submitted to the authorities concerned, so that if any anomalies are found, action is taken against those found guilty,” added the order.

Fat is in the fire: Delhi private schools found wanting on food safety

NEW DELHI: The kids aren’t eating healthy: an inspection of at least 10 private schools in Delhi has revealed that these institutions don’t have a canteen policy in place and, in most cases, the students are “being given to eat what they ask for”. The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which has been making rounds of canteens in private schools to check if they are providing nutritious food, found that in all the 10 cases so far, students are being given food high in fat, salt and sugar content, something that is strictly prohibited. 

DCPCR has been inspecting the schools to ensure effective implementation of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India guidelines, which are prepared by the central advisory committee of the body as advised by the Delhi high court in 2015. Recently, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had asked states to ensure an effective implementation of the norms.

Ranjana Prasad, member DCPCR, said: “NCPCR had decided to check if these guidelines were being followed and we are doing that in Delhi. We have so far covered 10 private schools in south Delhi. In most schools we saw that the canteens were selling HFSS food and gave whatever the students asked for. The children do not know what is good for them and what they should eat.” The canteens were serving burgers, chowmein and beverages — all strictly prohibited in the guidelines.

A research recently published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that there is a link between consumption of HFSS food and obesity. Numerous studies done among schoolchildren of Delhi, Amritsar and southern India show that the prevalence of overweight/obesity is high and on the rise. In urban post-pubertal children of Delhi, it increased from 16% in 2002 to about 24% in 2006. It is high among the affluent class and children of private schools compared to low and middle-income groups.

Apart from selling food that’s high in sugar and fat content, none of these schools had a canteen policy in place.

“It is most surprising that none of the schools knew about the canteen policy. As per guidelines, the canteens are required to provide different kinds of food. They are supposed to have 80% of the menu as green food, which includes vegetables, fruits and others. It is important to raise awareness about it among schools, children and parents so that the children grow up healthy,” said Prasad.

The inspection will be carried out in all the schools of the city and the Directorate of Education has recommended that the guidelines are strictly implemented.

Ahead of New Year, FDA to keep close watch on online food operators in Pune

According to FDA, during New Year and Christmas celebrations most of the people prefer to order food online. Most people are unaware of the hygiene and the FDA certificated of the restaurant from where the food is being ordered.

FDA officers informed that,strict instructions has been given to all food inspectors in the region to keep a watch on adulteration racket.

Puneites are all set to celebrate Christmas and New Year. However, considering the health of the people, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), has been keeping a watch on all online food operators in order to avoid adulteration in food during the festive season.

According to FDA, during New Year and Christmas celebrations most of the people prefer to order food online. Most people are unaware of the hygiene and the FDA certificated of the restaurant from where the food is being ordered. It was found that,many online food delivery operators were delivering food from non approved restaurants.To avoid this the FDA commissioner has instructed to take serious action against those found guilty.

FDA officers informed that,strict instructions has been given to all food inspectors in the region to keep a watch on adulteration racket. Sampat Deshmukh, assistant commissioner (food) of FDA, Satara, said “During every festive season we have to keep a watch on adulteration racket to avoid food contamination.This time also we have informed to all our food inspectors to take strict action against adulteration of food.”

FDA officers also informed that to avoid intake of adulterated food everyone should visit the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) website and read information about adulteration of foodwhich will inform them about food safety measures to be taken while handling and preparing food.

Most people are unaware about the where and how to lodge complaints to the FDA regarding food adulteration, hygiene or other food safety-related issues. In order to do this the FDA has given a toll free number 1800222365 where people can call and register their complaint.

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‘Consumers should not take things lying down’

Food adulteration a cause for concern: Joint Collector

Consumers needed to be more proactive and raise questions whenever a service or a product quality was compromised or subpar, said Joint Collector S. Dilli Rao.

Speaking to students from the district at the Government Arts College here on the National Consumer Day on Monday, Mr. Rao said food adulteration had become a cause for concern.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had framed rules back in 2011, but awareness among consumers was low, he said, adding that he District Consumer Information Centre should take up the responsibility to reach out to more number of people and make them aware.

Since packaged food was now common, people needed to know their rights and activists should release a booklet that detailed consumer rights and ways of seeking redressal. Winner of an elocution competition, Irshad Ahmed, a student of the college, raised concerns of pendency of cases and delayed judgments. He said consumer courts should be presided over by younger judges instead of retired judicial officers. A number of district consumer courts were short staffed, which was leading to a pile up of cases affecting villagers the most, he said, suggesting mobile consumer courts on certain days.

‘Interactive sessions’

District Consumer Information Centre president Ravindranath Reddy sought cooperation of district officials in organising interactive sessions with people every second Saturday. He suggested that one government official be appointed to deal with consumer affairs, becoming the point of contact for aggrieved consumers.

Later, prizes were given away to winners of essay and elocution competitions.

It’s Not Easy Cooking Food and Selling it in India: Hoteliers

Multiple licences and different state-level policies make doing business a challenge, say operators

New Delhi:

Leading food service operators say doing business in India is still not easy, and that consumption for the industry, which has an annual revenue of over ₹4 lakh crore, remains a challenge.

“While ease of doing business is making some progress, it’s moving at a slow pace and we continue to be heavily controlled as an industry,” said Unnat Varma, Yum Restaurants-owned Pizza Hut’s newly appointed managing director for Asia Pacific. “Business models are very challenged here and rentals and labour costs are steep. When investors put the money, a great investment yields returns in 3.5-4 years, and in some cases, it doesn’t.”

For doing business in any state, on average a minimum of 15 licences and a maximum of 20 are required. Officials said the issues aren’t with central regulating authorities, such as Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) and the national antiprofiteering authority under the GST, but multiple licences and different policies for different states at various levels.

“An industry size of ₹4 lakh crore which contributes over 2% to the nation’s annual GDP and employs over 90 lakh citizens deserves better ease-of-doing business treatment,” said National Restaurant Association president Rahul Singh. “After unsuccessful pleas to multiple authorities, it’s evident that we need the ascendancy of the prime minister to see light at the end of this rather dark tunnel.”

Singh, who is also promoter of The Beer Cafe, added, “Apart from ‘make in India’ and ‘invest in India’, we also have the distinction of ‘serve in India’.”

Some other operators said ease of doing business, lesser regulatory hurdles, and faster returns on investment are making overseas markets more attractive to investors.

“It’s definitely easier to do business outside the country, both in terms of lesser number of licences and easier processes,” said Amit Burman, chairman of Lite Bite Foods, which operates close to 180 restaurant brands including Punjab Grill, Street Foods and Baker Street, and about a dozen outlets overseas across the US, Dubai and a few other countries. “For us, it’s worse because rentals at airports are 28-30% of top line, which on average is about twice at highstreet locations or malls,” Burman said. Lite Bite runs about half its stores at airports.

Sanjeev Kapoor Restaurants, promoted by chef Sanjeev Kapoor, now operates close to 35 restaurants overseas under the brands Khazana and Signature. Jiggs and Zorawar Kalra-promoted Massive Restaurants is another brand that is increasing its global footprint.

The roll back of input tax credit, ban on liquor on highways, food inflation, and intermittent localised regulations such as clampdown on rooftop restaurants have also impacted growth, industry executives said.

Before Christmas & New Year FSSAI Banned 74 Brands of Coconut Oil in Kerala

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as a prelude to the Christmas – New Year celebrations, conducted an inspection coconut oils of 74 brands were found to be adulterated. The storage, distribution and sale of products under any of these brands have been banned in an order issued by food safety commissioner Anand Singh. This year about 170 brands have been banned by the food safety department after they were found to have been adulterated. Earlier in May, 45 coconut oil brands and in June 51 brands were banned. Minister for health KK Shailaja said that this move was part of providing the public with safe food in connection with Christmas – New Year sales.

The food safety department has deployed 38 special squads to check if adulterated oils are on sale as part of the festival season.

The crackdown by the Food Safety department follows after tests showed adulteration in banned products, violating the provision of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Earlier in May 2018, the department had also banned the sale of 45 brands of coconut oil due to adulteration, and another 51 brands in June. With the latest move, a total of 166 brands of coconut oil have been banned in Kerala this year alone.

Food safety is everybody’s concern and authentic methods for detection of adulterants in food is required for value assessment as well as to assure consumer protection against risks.

Adulteration of food not only decreases the quality of food products but can also lead to a number of ill effects on the health. The Commissioner of Food Safety in Kerala banned the sale, storage, distribution and manufacture of some 74 brands of coconut oil in the state as they were found to be adulterated in an inspection done by the FSSAI as a precautionary step to contain adulteration in food items ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

According to the FSSAI, some common adulterants and contaminants can be tested by citizen themselves, although there are tests that need sophisticated equipment and highly trained personnel for the procedure. Meanwhile, the FSSAI has released a manual to help you determine if the food you bought from the store is adulterated and create awareness in consumers about food safety. Here’s a 4-step testing method for detection of adulterants in coconut oil.

In a transparent glass, take coconut oil.

Place the glass in your refrigerator for 30 minutes (do not keep it in the freezer).

After refrigeration, the coconut oil will solidify.

If the coconut oil is adulterated, other oils remain as a separate layer.

If you’ve bought coconut oil and are wondering whether the product has been contaminated, you would want to take this quick test to stay safe and healthy.

The Cochin Oil Merchants Association pointed out that the authorities take interest in only publishing the names of the banned coconut oil brands and the companies but fail to take further action against them. The coconut oil produced by the same company is brought to the market in different licenses. Many of them are included in the list of banned brands. Similarity in brand names also make it difficult to distinguish between two brands.

Most of the companies give their coconut oils names beginning with ‘Kera’ and ‘Coconut’. Oil Merchants Association pointed out that the ban cannot be imposed unless the products in shops are seized. Agmark certified coconut oil brands were also seized and banned after finding adulterants in them. Adulterating Agmark certified products is a serious offense which may invite punishments including imprisonment.

Palm oil and palm kernel oil are usually added in coconut oil as adulterants. There are no proper laboratory facilities in Kerala to detect adulteration. The samples are sent to the government labs in Mysuru and Pune which is a rather expensive and time consuming procedure. Due to this, the cases are settled charging only a fine, it is alleged. Earlier, the association had approached the high court demanding action against the offenders. The court had ordered to destroy the adulterated coconut oil and to cancel the license of the companies. Association President Thalath Muhammed said that the Government should initiate action to set up a proper system to detect adulterated coconut oil.

Meet the busy bee processing unadulterated honey

He may be a busy bee in an idiomatic expression but in plain terms, he is busy with bees. Donning protective gear, Nazim Nazir could be usually seen engaged in looking after the dozens of square wooden boxes packed with bees.

Since his childhood, Nazim had an outlandish but rather interesting penchant for these teeny-weeny humming creatures and when he turned 20 he took to apiculture and became an entrepreneur within a short span of time.

Nazim, a resident of Samboora, Pampore started with merely two hives and today he owns as many as 150 of them, yielding him at least 1200 kgs of honey.

"First, I had just two hives and I would use the home-grown harvest mainly for domestic purposes," says Nazim.

However, in March 2018, Nazim received a short training course in beekeeping organised by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) at Pampore. Following the training, KVIC provided Nazim 10 bee-boxes for free. After some time Nazim says that he was able to extract around 100 kg of honey from the boxes.

"When I sold the harvest in local market It fetched me around sixty thousand rupees," says Nazim.

As the interest of Nazim in the apiculture grew more and more, he began to study about the beekeeping exhaustively.

"I took to the internet and learnt a whole host of things about the beekeeping. I wanted to know well-nigh everything about the bee-keeping" Nazim says.

Now Nazim had expansion plans on his mind and he soon purchased about 50 hives. A little later he added around 100 more boxes to his business.

In the month of May, according to Nazim, he extracted around 1200 kg of honey from all his hives.

"The harvest was above average. I was also overwhelmed by the market response. Even customers visited my home to get the honey," Nazim said.

Soon Nazim focussed on the packaging and started packing the produce into the crystal clear glass jars of different sizes. He also minted his own brand name – Al Nahil.

"I have also applied for registration of my brand with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)," says Nazim.

As some of the honey-dealer in different areas of Kashmir make a killing by selling the adulterated honey, the honey business in recent years has taken a hit. However, Nazim says that he had thought of a novel idea of regaining the lost confidence of customers.

"As of now, I have a cash-back policy. If you find any kind of adulteration in my product or simply if you are not satisfied, I will return your money" he says, adding that from next year he would sell the honey along with the comb so there would be no room for doubt.

Apart from supplying honey to local markets, Nazim, since June this year, has at least exported 1200 jars of honey outside the state.

I exported it to states like MP, UP and Rajasthan. I received a very good market response from these states," Nazim says. Now he is also toying with the idea of sending honey to outside India.

Barely ten months into the business, Nazim comfortably earns Rs 20,000-25,000 a month and provides employment to two people.

Festivities round the corner: FSDA starts drive against ‘adulterated’ cakes

Meerut: With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) began its drive against “adulterated” cakes, sweets and other items that are sold during the festive time, on Sunday. Four teams with three members each will conduct surprise inspections at shops in rural and urban areas to check adulteration and the sale of stale items in the market.

“Four teams with three members each have been formed. These teams will conduct regular checks by sending suspicious food items to the Lucknow laboratory for testing. In most cases, action will be taken only after the laboratory results confirm adulteration. However, if the team finds any food item that appears to be sub-standard or unsafe, action will be taken accordingly,” said Archana Dheeran, designated food officer, Meerut.

The teams will keep a close eye on milk, milk-made products, cakes, Christmas treats, other sweets and bakery products, Dheeran said.

“The samples of suspicious food items will be sent to Lucknow’s food testing lab to avoid any manipulation at the city-based lab. However, if the food items look too suspicious, they will be sent to the city lab only and an immediate report will be sought. Sample reports from the city lab take only 48 hours and action can be taken soon after,” said Dheeran.

FSDA authorities said that customers can anonymously file complaints related to food adulteration.

If a city resident is apprehensive of a certain food item that he or she has purchased, then they can send it for testing to the food department personally by depositing a fee of Rs 1,000. If found adulterated, a complaint can be filed on the condition of anonymity.

Notices slapped on 1,000 eateries

Thiruvananthapuram: The food safety directorate has cancelled licences of 17 eateries and issued improvement notices to another 1,275 outlets as part of a statewide inspection.

The improvement notices issued by the food safety special squads to improve the conditions in which food was manufactured and distributed.

The inspection was held in four phases in 3,683 eateries across all districts, beginning on December 10. A total of 184 samples suspected to be of sub-standard quality or adulterated were collected and sent to analytical laboratories in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. A compounding fee of Rs 27.99 lakh was levied from the eateries that were found to be violating food safety norms.

The special squads formed to curb distribution and sale of adulterated coconut oil seized 18,302 litres of coconut oil banned brands and 2,460 litres of adulterated coconut oil from Thrissur. The squads also seized 50 litres of banned coconut oil brands from Kollam and 15 packets from Alappuzha.

Food safety commissioner had constituted 38 special squads to ensure food safety standards in bakeries, cake/wine production centres, distribution centres of bakery products during Christmas and New year as per the directive of the state government.

Kolkata bakers accused of unhygienic methods, to face regulation this Christmas season

The officials have been inspecting the factories which are involved with baking to check whether the bakeries are maintaining the required hygiene and that notices were being issued to those bakeries at fault to improve their standards.

Nahoum's is one of the oldest and the iconic Jewish bakeries in the city. 

HIGHLIGHTS

The city is known for its age-old bakeries which have been running since the British India

Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh said they have collected 17 samples of fresh cake and bread loaves from the stores

KMC has instructed the bakeries not to compromise with the quality of the products

With Christmas and the New Year right round the corner, the bakeries in Kolkata are facing the toughest time in recent history even during the best selling season.

Kolkata, which is famous for its traditional Bengali sweets, is also known for its age-old bakeries which have been running since the British ruled over India.

With the upcoming festivities, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has geared up to see that the people of the city don't fall sick.

Recently, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Health Department inspected some of the city's well-known bakeries including the iconic Flury's and the Kookie Jar.

Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh said they collected 17 samples of fresh cake and bread loaves from these stores.

He explained that his team of officials has been inspecting the factories which are involved with baking to check whether the bakeries are maintaining the required hygiene and that notices were being issued to those bakeries at fault to improve their standards.

Nahoum's, which is one of the oldest and the iconic Jewish bakeries in the city, received a notice from the officials for the same after they were inspected ahead of the Christmas.

The deputy Mayor said, "They need to follow the law or else a case will be fined against them and they will be jailed too."

"Since then, Nahoum's hygienic condition is much better today," he added.

During the inspection, the officials said, "We visited many cake shops in the city including Nahoum's, Kathleen, and some other cake shops. We found that the cake mixing was being done without any gloves and no hand sanitizer was used before the mixing."

The KMC has instructed the bakeries to not compromise with the quality of the products, to maintain the hygiene, and improve the working condition in the factories.

If they fail to follow the instructions, they will be charged under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

More than 10 lakh people are associated with the business with 4,000 bakeries across the state producing tonnes of cakes during the Christmas season.

Idris Ali, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and Secretary of Joint Action Committee of West Bengal Bakers Associations said that the industry was going through tough a time and sudden regulations would add to the difficulties.

He said, "Bakery industry is facing difficulties due to GST. We pay 18% GST on cakes and biscuits. The linesmen selling cakes and bakeries bring the revenue in coins in thousands and lakhs. But when we take these coins to the bank, they refuse to take them which is causing us too many difficulties."

Adding that the recent raid has shown that some baker do not follow the baking process and do not maintain the hygiene, he said, "I request the bakery owners to follow the rules strictly and maintain the hygiene."

Talking about maintaining fair prices, Idris Ali said, "These goods and bakeries produced are not just for the rich but also the poor. So, we must take care of the prices and weight of the bakeries we sell. We must not cheat the common people."

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Are baby food makers driving overdiagnosis of cow milk allergy in kids?

NEW DELHI: A recent article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has warned that the $50 billion global formula industry could be fanning overdiagnosis of allergy to cow’s milk protein to sell specialist formula. Arguing that specialist formula is not a breast milk substitute, the industry has been aggressively marketing it and using it to forge close ties with healthcare professionals in the UK and globally by sponsoring medical education and research on allergies, the article points out.

This has echoes from the recent controversy in India where the formula industry was accused of trying to circumvent the Infant Milk Substitute (IMS) Act — a law to prevent predatory marketing practices of baby food companies - citing special nutrition needs of babies born with metabolic errors or allergies that might not allow breastfeeding. It had wanted specialist formulas to not be categorized as infant milk substitute (IMS) in an attempt to stay out of the Act.

According to the BMJ article by Chris Van Tulleken of the University College, London, overdiagnosis of the allergy could undermine breastfeeding. Between 2006 and 2016, in the UK, prescriptions of specialist formula milks for infants with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) increased by nearly 500%, while National Health Service (NHS) spending on these products increased by nearly 700% from 8 million pounds to over 60 million annually, noted the article, adding that epidemiological data gave no indication of such a large increase in prevalence of the allergy. This raised the question of industry-driven overdiagnosis through funding and influencing of research, guidelines, medical education and public awareness drives on the allergy.

Referring to how the industry targets framing of treatment guidelines, Bob Boyle, deputy medical director and consultant paediatrician from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust was quoted as stating: “There are many more milk allergy guidelines published than for other food allergies. Many have direct or indirect support from industry, which has a lot to gain from increased specialised formula use.” Many of the symptoms listed in these guidelines are so broad that virtually every infant could be diagnosed as having an allergy, pointed out another practitioner.

In India too, the food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) had constituted a steering committee that included the infant and young child nutrition council of India (IYNCI), a front organization for baby food manufacturers with four of the biggest baby food companies - Abbott, Danone, Mead Johnson and Nestle -- as members. The move to exempt food for special medical purposes (FSMP) from the IMS Act came from this steering committee. Though the IYNCI was dropped from the committee following protests by nutrition experts, paediatricians and the breastfeeding promotion network of India (BPNI), the FSSAI pushed ahead with the exemption for FSMPs.

The food regulator also partnered baby food companies to launch an initiative called Diet4Life, a platform used by these companies to sponsor awareness programs for paediatricians, dieticians and parents, ostensibly to educate them about management of inborn errors of metabolism and allergic conditions in children. Under the IMS Act, baby food companies cannot sponsor healthcare providers or market infant milk substitutes. Doctor Arun Gupta of BPNI had pointed out that it was to circumvent these restrictions that the industry was lobbying hard for its products to be taken out of the categorization “infant milk substitute”.

The UK has no law like India’s IMS Act. All it has is the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes adopted by the WHO in 1981 after egregious marketing practices of these companies were exposed in the 1970s. Though the code includes marketing restrictions and states that companies cannot sponsor educational events or advertise anywhere within the health system, there have been frequent and widely reported allegations of code violations across the world.

The Indian Academy of Paediatrics resolved more than two decades ago that it would “not accept sponsorship in any form from any industry connected directly or indirectly” with products covered by the IMS Act. In contrast, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health accepts funding from Danone and Nestle. The RCPCH website claimed that it only accepted advertising or conference stands providing information about specialist formulas (FSMP), not breast milk substitutes. The British dietetic association with input from the British society of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition and British society for allergy and clinical immunology (BSACI) all accept funding from baby food companies. The British dietetic association has Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Danone Nutricia as strategic partners and Vitaflo (Nestlé) and Friesland Campina (a global formula producer) as key supporters, pointed out the article.

Most healthcare players who take money from baby food companies say their sponsorship relates only to specialist formulas. But Nigel Rollins from the World Health Organization’s department of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health confirmed to Tulleken that specialist formulas are unequivocally breast milk substitutes in the eyes of WHO and are thus covered by the code. The belief that specialist formulas are exempt from the code may be enabling manufacturers to justify this network of links with clinicians and institutions to pursue a wider agenda, stated the article.

Many clinicians and patients have also expressed concern on the availability of industry-funded online information promoting non-specific symptoms potentially indicating cow’s milk allergy in exclusively breastfed infants. This is despite evidence showing that though cow’s milk and other food protein can be transferred from mother to infant in breast milk, the quantities transferred are likely to be too small to cause symptoms in most infants. Amy Brown, professor of child public health at Swansea University, said that concerns about breast milk sufficiency or content was one of the main reasons for mothers stopping breastfeeding and the promotion of cow’s milk allergy to the public by industry played to this anxiety.

Punjab bans sale of loose spices and salt

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab commissionerate of food and drug administration has imposed a ban on the sale of loose powdered spices and salt.

Punjab food safety commissioner KS Pannu said on Friday that retailers would have to package and properly label powdered spices and condiments before selling them.

He said all food safety teams had been directed to keep a check on the sale of loose spices and salt in their jurisdiction. Anyone who does not comply with the order, would face action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, he added.

Pannu said spices were important commodities, but their adulteration was common and they were often mixed with artificial colours, starch and chalk powder for increasing their weight and enhancing their appearance. The consumption of adulterated spices could cause a number of diseases, including skin allergies and liver disorders.

Health Dept pitches in to inculcate right eating habits

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India kicks off event

Delegates from the Health Department pedal to create awareness on Saturday. 

Ludhiana, December 22

The Health Department is on a mission to create awareness among masses regarding “Eating less and eating right”.

Under the Swasth Bharat Yatra commenced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, cyclists pedalled from one district to another and spread a message of eat right India.

“Eating healthy is not just about the nutrients in the food. It also includes eating at the right time and eating properly. Meanwhile, eating late at night, hurriedly and inconsistently will have adverse effect on health,” said Dr Andesh Kang, District Health Officer.

On the first day of the three-day event, the team was welcomed at the Community Health Center (CHC), Dehlon. Less sugar, less oil and less salt intake in daily routine and eating fortified food was the message given by delegates.

Yogesh Goyal, Food Safety officer, said Eat right India is built on two broad pillars of eat healthy and eat safe. It aims to enable citizens to improve their health and well being.

Message to general public

Consume less sugar

Consume less salt

Consume less oil

‘Not just about the nutrients’

"Eating healthy is not just about the nutrients in the food. It also includes eating at the right time and eating properly. Meanwhile, eating late at night, hurriedly and inconsistently, will have adverse effect on health." Dr Andesh Kang, District Health Officer

‘Aim to improve citizen's health, well-being’

"Eat right India is built on two broad pillars of eat healthy and eat safe. It aims at enabling citizens to improve their health and well-being." Yogesh Goyal, Food Safety Officer

Advise social media platforms to put in place system for tracking fake messages: FSSAI to MeitY

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has requested the ministry to "sensitise" social media platforms on the large-scale implications of such false propaganda, RS Prasad said.

Food safety regulator FSSAI has requested the IT ministry to ensure social media platforms put in place a mechanism to track fake messages with regard to safety and quality of food products, Parliament was informed.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said FSSAI, in a November 27 letter, expressed concern over circulation of false and malicious videos on various social media platforms regarding the safety and quality of food available in the country.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has requested the ministry to "sensitise" social media platforms on the large-scale implications of such false propaganda, Prasad said.

The regulator has also asked the ministry to advise social media platforms to put in place a system for tracking of messages so that such mischievous perpetrators could be brought to book and penal action can be initiated against them, he added.

Prasad said the government has taken several steps to target such fake videos and messages to take action against people for circulating such false content.

The minister said the government has already issued a notice to messaging platform WhatsApp in July this year on spread of fake news through its platform. WhatsApp, in its response, has conveyed a number of steps that it has taken to address the issue of fake news.

The government has been asking the Facebook-owned company to put in place a mechanism to curb fake messages on its platform, that incited mob fury earlier this year. More than a dozen people were killed across India this year in mob lynchings, fuelled by rumours circulated on WhatsApp.The rumours ranged from suspicion of stealing children to victims being believed to be killing cows. Riots were instigated by people forwarding and misinterpreting videos on WhatsApp.

Punjab food safety commissioner orders check on sale of open/loose spices, salt

The Food and Drug Administration commissioner of Punjab Friday directed food safety teams to check the sale of open/loose powdered spices, condiments and salt across the state.

"Under the provisions of Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2006, no person can sell powdered spices and condiments except 'under packed condition'," Food Safety Commissioner K S Pannu said in an official statement here.

According to the regulation, condiments and spices can be sold only if they are properly packaged and labelled.

"Therefore, all teams have been directed to be vigilant and to ensure that open and loose spices, condiments and salt are not sold in their respective areas of jurisdiction and to take action under the Food Safety & Standards Act against the defaulters," Pannu said.

He said it was not uncommon for ground spices to be adulterated with artificial colours, starch, chalk powder, etc., in order to increase their weight and enhance their appearance.

"The consumption of adulterated spices can cause a number of diseases, including skin allergies, liver disorders, etc. So, food safety teams have been directed to check the sale of unpackaged salt, spices and condiments," Pannu added.

Staple Food Fortification consultation organised

The scaling up staple food fortification conclave was very engaging consultation conducted in partnership with CII-GAIIN-FFRC-FSSAI– SBY. Fortification has proven to be an effective mechanism for tackling malnutrition.

Welcome and Opening Remarks were given by Rajesh Khare, Chairman, Madhya Pradesh State Council & CEO, Evonne Industries Pvt Ltd. He highlighted that ‘Industry is cognizant of the fact that fortification is a good mechanism to tackle malnutrition’.

Talking about Staple Food Fortification: Enriching Foods, Enriching Lives Arijit Chakrabarty, Senior Project Manager, GAIN – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition said, It is a relieving fact that today in India around 90 per cent of population uses iodized salt. But in earlier times it was not the case, that’s why there were more malnourished people at that time then present.

It is finding from a study that out of all the malnourished people of the world, India’s share is 35%. The reason for this is the food law in micronutrients. Fortification is simple, low cost and no risk so it is very beneficial for health point of view.

Deeksha Bhatt, Coordinator, Food Fortification Resource Centre, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India talked about the role of FSSAI in Creating an enabling environment to initiate and scale-up staple food fortification. FSSAI enables Consumer communication, Regulatory support, Production fortification, establishing and running NABL labs that were instrumental in encouraging 15 States and 13 UT to adopt food fortification. She detailed upon organizing the FSSAI Eat Right Mela in Delhi.

Ban on import of milk and milk products from China

Ban is on single use plastic

DINAKARAN NEWS

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DINAMANI NEWS

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DINAKARAN NEWS

Restaurants found serving stale food

Vigilance teams examining the food the chicken used for cooking at a restaurant, in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. 

Vigilance teams collect samples

A team of officials of Vigilance and Enforcement Department and Food Safety Wing of the GVMC registered cases against two restaurants in the city on the charges of serving stale food to the customers and not maintaining hygiene on their premises.

The officials raided the restaurants on Beach Road and in Dabagardens area on Thursday and found that leftover food was being stored in refrigerators and served to the customers the next day. The kitchens were also reeked of poor sanitation, the officials said.

Acting on tip-offs, the three teams of officials led by vigilance SP D. Koteswara Rao conducted the raids. They said that huge quantities of leftover and stale food including biryani, white rice, chicken, fish, prawns and a few other dishes were found to be stored in refrigerators.

Poor sanitation

“Some dishes were found to be stored in freezers for more than three days. We also found rotten vegetables being used for cooking. Freezers and kitchens were badly maintained,” Vigilance & Enforcement Inspector R. Mallikarjuna Rao said.

The teams, he said, collected samples for further analysis and destroyed the stale food.

“Cases have been registered under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act. The raids will continue,” Mr. Koteswara Rao said and asked all the restaurant owners to maitain sanitation.

Vigilance DSP P.M. Naidu, Inspectors N. Srinivasa Rao, B. Narimani, Food Safety Inspector G.V. Apparao took part in the raids.

FSSAI considering 1% as labelling requirement for genetically modified food items

In July, the food regulator had come under severe criticism from the environmental watchdog, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), after it detected the presence of GM content in nearly three in 10 (32%) packaged food samples that were randomly tested.

The apex food regulator framing guidelines for labelling of genetically modified (GM) food items for manufacture, sale and distribution in India is considering a threshold value of 1% as labelling requirement.

The apex food regulator framing guidelines for labelling of genetically modified (GM) food items for manufacture, sale and distribution in India is considering a threshold value of 1% as labelling requirement.

GM food items are those produced from genetically modified organisms or ingredients derived from them. Threshold level for labelling refers to the maximum permissible level of unintentional and technically unavoidable GM content in food that does not call for labelling.

While 5% was initially being considered for declaring the content on the lines of countries such as Japan, Canada, Thailand and Indonesia, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is, in a recent development, considering making it 1%, according to sources familiar with the matter. The European Union prescribes a threshold of 0.9%.

“Ideally, it should be 1% but since it is not easy — and very expensive — to quantify a smaller value, there was a suggestion to make it 5%, at least to begin with. However, after a lot of brainstorming, it was decided that 1% should be proposed, and the labs can get equipped for testing gradually,” said a source requesting anonymity.

In July, the food regulator had come under severe criticism from the environmental watchdog, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), after it detected the presence of GM content in nearly three in 10 (32%) packaged food samples that were randomly tested. The products found to be GM-positive included infant food, edible oil and packaged snacks.

In response, FSSAI released a statement saying it had started work on framing regulations that would lay down procedures for safety assessment and approval of food items. The draft regulations will, after formal approval from FSSAI’s scientific panel, scientific committee and the authority, be notified in the Gazette to elicit comments of various stakeholders. Later, the regulations will be finalised with the approval of the government.

135 samples of milk products seized

Chandigarh: Continuing with its drive against spurious food products, teams of food and drug administration seized 135 samples of milk and milk products from different parts of Punjab on Wednesday.

The teams collected 135 samples, including of desi ghee, curd, paneer, butter, khoya, lassi, burfi and cream, from various food business operators and forwarded them to the State Food Safety Laboratory in Kharar for analysis.

Food and drug administration commissioner and Tandrust Punjab Mission director K S Pannu said the Punjab government was taking the matter of food adulteration seriously and conducting regular inspections. He said that besides regular inspection of milk and milk products, special campaigns regarding other food items, like fruits, are also being carried out.

Pannu warned of strict action against those found indulging in malpractices. Punishment up to 6 years with a fine of Rs 1 lakh can be imposed on a food business operator whose products are found to be unsafe for human consumption, he said. In case of samples being found sub-standard, a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed through a trial at the level of additional deputy commissioner of the district, he added.

Samples of milk, dairy items collected to check for adulteration in Punjab

As many as 135 samples of milk and other dairy products were collected from different places in Punjab by food safety teams as part of a drive against adulteration, officials said Wednesday.

The teams collected samples of 'desi ghee' (clarified butter), dahi (curd), cheese, butter, 'khoya', 'burfi' etc., from various food business operators across the state, they said.

The samples have been sent to the State Food Safety Laboratory in Kharar for analysis, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner K S Pannu said in an official release.

The state government is taking the matter of adulteration of food materials very seriously and regular inspections are being carried out, he added.

"Our mandate is to ensure availability of quality food and compliance with standards laid down by the FSSAI," Pannu said, adding that food business operators have been instructed to maintain strict hygiene and sanitary conditions.

He said besides regular inspection of milk and milk products, special campaigns focusing on food items like fruits, condiments and others were also being conducted.

The commissioner stated that action as per the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 would be taken against the food operators whose samples fail the quality test.

Eat Unchecked Fish And Take Care Of Your Health

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has relaxed safety norms to ‘help’ traditional small fishermen from Maharashtra and Karnataka send fish to Goa. He has compromised on his ‘not negotiable’ stand on safety standards for imported fish. The importer is no more required to bring fish in safe conditions but will be presumed to bring safe fish if he brings it in small vehicles! The requirement is diverted from compliance with safety standards to the size of vehicles used in transportation. Anyone would be allowed to bring fish in small vehicles from areas upto 60 kilometres away from Goa’s borders. All these months Rane had been assuring Goans he would not allow import of fish from other states until importers strictly complied with the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations. How come he has changed his stance? Are the interests of non-compliant fish importers more important to Rane than the health of the Goan men, women and children?

The flip-flop on the part of Health Minister Rane since the formalin-in-fish issue surfaced has eroded people’s trust in his ministry. His relaxation without establishing a strong monitoring system is going to make people lose whatever trust they have in his ministry about guaranteeing sale of safe fish. He changed his stance on import of fish only a month after he imposed a ban. Nothing has changed since the ban was imposed. The FDA has been doing random routine checks, which are more tokenism than real action for deterrence. The fish traders have won their battle for continuing with their trade without complying with any norms. The real losers in this mock battle between the Health Minister and fish importers were innocent Goan people who wanted nothing more than fish that was not going to harm their health. The Health Minister has given no such guarantee to the Goan people. The message from the relaxation is: Goans can go and eat the fish the traders are bringing and take care of their health!

Perhaps the state government listens to only organized protesters and the invisible lobbyists and wheeler-dealers. The Health Minister had maintained he would not succumb to any pressure and not lift the ban until the traders complied with regulations. But after the fish traders organized a protest a few days ago, their leaders came out full of cheer after meeting the Health Minister. What had passed on between the minister and the traders that was so effective as to make him relax the ban? Perhaps the Goans at large also need to organize protests to demand guarantees from the government to ensure safety standards for imported fish. They have suffered long enough. There is resentment among the people, for whom fish is a staple, and they have expressed their resentment by boycotting fish brought by fish traders. They are not fools not to understand that unsafe fish can be brought in smaller vehicles too. It can be brought in trucks from faraway states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and reloaded in smaller vehicles in areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka falling within 60 kms of Goa and brought to Goa without any checks to be sold in Goa’s markets. There are hundreds of examples that big traders have used the cover of ‘small businessmen’ to do their business in order to evade and avoid regulations and strict monitoring. There is a sympathy attached to the word ‘small.’ Fish traders and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane have used the word (small fishermen) to ‘exempt’ them from food safety standards and let them freely become conduits for big sharks!

Until last week Rane was applying his mind to give the charge of checking the quality of fish to Iva Fernandes, who had blown the lid off formalin in fish in July, in order to restore the trust of Goans in safety of fish. Informed sources saw it as punishment to Iva Fernandes as she was being asked to do a job which was supposed to be done by juniors. That showed that the health department and FDA were engaged more in their own games rather than in the serious business of assuring healthy fish to Goans. Rane should have set up a strong checking and monitoring apparatus before relaxing the ban. He has put the cart before the horse. He had promised to set up a state of art fish testing laboratory but there are no signs of it coming up any time soon. The Health Minister should not take Goan people for granted and condemn them to eating unchecked fish. He and the government might have to pay political costs for it.

Temple food and midday meals: need for hygiene protocols

FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR TEMPLES

Death by food poisoning is back in the news in Karnataka. As of the last report 13 people have died and over 130 people fell ill by consuming the prasad that was served at a temple in Chamarajanagar. This comes just two days after 87 students took ill after finding lizard in their midday meal scheme.

And the chief minister’s answer to this is to issue a circular, by the Religious and Endowments or Muzrai department of Karnataka, which states that all food served in temples, including those to be donated by private individuals, should be tested before being distributed to devotees. What will be tested and how it will be tested is for anyone to guess. It would not be surprising if tests refers to taste.

Neither test nor taste is a solution to the issue primarily because tests take way too long, are very expensive and the infrastructure is not available everywhere. Taste on the other hand is not an indication either, as good taste is not a guarantee of the food being free from contamination. In this case the methodology for contamination was very primitive but that should not lead us to the conclusion that things can be detected by taste.

The only way to avoid such situations from continuously recurring is to have a preventive system. It starts with having a secured premises. The following are the four basic points that need to be addressed:

Food should not be cooked in an open area as it often happens. There should be a closed area designated for the preparation of food and the cleanliness and hygiene of the place must be maintained.

The people cooking the food must be trained on food safety and hygiene and must have gone through the mandated medical tests before handling the food.

Storage and transport of the food must follow the guideline of moving only in closed containers and at the right temperature, following the tenement “hot must be hot and cold must be cold”

Fresh food must be served ideally within two hours (or 4 hours if the temperature is maintained) of preparation. Packaged food including the prasadam must have a date of expiry and non-toxic packaging material must be used.

The FSSAI had issued an order dated 29th January 2018 on the roll out of BHOG (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God) in states and union territories and the state of Karnataka has done absolutely nothing about it. It is time that we implement things that will be effective and capture the best practices across the states rather than just issue more government orders which cannot be enforced.