TUV SUD Recognized by FSSAI to Carry Out Food Safety Inspections, Audits and Testing

-- In a first, FSSAI authorizes external agencies to carry out inspection and audits on its behalf
-- German certification major TUV SUD is the only company to obtain recognition for carrying out food testing services as well as auditing/inspection

TUV SUD South Asia has been authorized by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to undertake the inspection/audit of Food Business Operators on their behalf in terms of provisions under Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011. This inspection/audit would enable the FBOs (Food Business Operators) to demonstrate compliance to requirements laid down under FSS Act and rules/regulations made thereunder, thereby leading to issue of FSSAI License including its renewal thereafter. Responsibilities for TUV SUD in its new role will include inspecting food businesses for basic sanitary and hygiene requirements, conducting preliminary inspection of newly established FBOs, routine and surprise inspections as directed by the FSSAI, conducting periodical audits at least once a year for food businesses, verifying rectification of deficiencies pointed out by the FSSAI, guiding and advising license applicants applying for the license. The accreditation further authorizes TUV SUD to award the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) certificate as per FSS Act that is mandatory for all Food Business Operators and issue certification for FSMS.

We are honoured by the responsibility we have been entrusted with and look forward to working with the FSSAI to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers, said Pankaj Jaiminy, AVP, Food Safety, TUV SUD South Asia Pvt. Ltd.. We have run food safety inspection and certification programs with private companies and governments around the world for close to 5 decades globally. In India we have a highly experienced team working out of three food testing laboratories across the country, who will apply both their global experience and deep local knowledge to support the FSSAI in devising and improving food safety norms in India. TUV SUD is the only agency who has been recognised for both food testing and inspection/auditing by FSSAI.

This is the first time the FSSAI has authorized external agencies to carry out inspection and audits of FBOs. The FSSAI Act implemented on 5th of August 2011 requires all food manufacturers to acquire a FSMS license. Applying for a FSMS certification is mandatory for all FBOs applying for the first time, however for those seeking renewal, the certification procedure is voluntary. TUV SUD will also be training new food business operators towards Food Safety Management and Systems along with verifying complaints filed with the FSSAI. In addition to TUV SUD, four other private agencies have been similarly accredited by the FSSAI to carry out similar services.

Clarification regarding appointment of Food Inspectors employed by the Municipal Corporations/Councils, as the FSO and DO under the Provisions of FSS Act,2006

Social cause: Retired bureaucrats help set up food testing laboratory in Indore

INDORE: A Centre-funded food testing laboratory is in the offing in Indore at the initiative of retired bureaucrats, who have come together for a social cause under an NGO - Centre for Consumer Protection Research and Awareness (CCPRA).
The state-of-the-art laboratory, which would come up on the campus of Oriental University here, is expected to be functional within six months.
"The laboratory is being set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and would be empowered with special surveillance powers to carry out testing and inspection of samples of food items across Madhya Pradesh," said a former IAS officer, K S Parmar, who is the organizer of CCPRA. He further said that since the laboratory would be accredited by the government of India, the report prepared by it would be valid in the court of law.
The demand for the laboratory arose from the fact that Indore has become a hub of manufacturing and sale of adulterated food items. During festive seasons, the district administration and the civic body jointly carried out raids seizing large quantities of adulterated food items.
"This would be an added help to the authorities as the laboratory can suo motu collect samples and test them," said Parmar.
Moreover, Madhya Pradesh being dry-port area, the food items meant for export and import can be tested at the proposed laboratory for a fee.
"Though, the laboratory would be solely funded by the ministry of food processing, the maintenance and running cost of it will have to be borne by the private Oriental University," he said.
The CCPRA applied for the laboratory under a Union government scheme for setting up of food testing laboratory.
"We are happy to house the laboratory," said Dr Narendra Virmani, vice-chancellor, Oriental University. He assured all cooperation for setting up the laboratory. The scheme has a provision to allow a state government or any recognized university to set up the laboratory.
"In Madhya Pradesh, there is only one state laboratory for referral and food testing at Bhopal. So there was an urgent need for another one," he said.

MINUTES OF 6TH CAC MEETING OF FSSAI

Health experts have banned it so why can you still buy Gutka on the street?

The country's food regulator has banned it; health experts have been seeking a ban; even the health ministry favours a ban.
Yet, nothing seems to be moving towards the implementation of a ban on gutka
In a new push towards banning gutka, the health ministry has now decided to ask states to implement new rules notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which clearly state that 'tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products'.

Nothing seems to be moving towards the implementation of a ban on gutka

According to a 2004 Supreme Court ruling, gutka is a food product.
Keshav Desiraju, additional secretary in the health ministry, admitted on Tuesday that the FSSAI notification prohibits the use of tobacco in food items.
Yet he shied away from calling it a ban on gutka, saying it was a legal issue. However, he said, action needs to be taken by state governments and it does not need the Centre's directions to implement the rules.
'We are issuing instructions to state governments to implement the FSSAI notification,' Desiraju said. Health activists alleged the Centre is not taking proactive action to ban gutka because of the strong tobacco lobby.
'The Supreme Court in 2004 also said that the power of banning an article of food or an article used as ingredient of food belongs to the central government,' Bhavna Mukhopadhya, director, Voluntary Health Association of India, said.

Patent granted to kit prepared by Haryana Univ for testing urea in milk

The newly established Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, has been granted a patent by the Government of India for commercial production for the “Urea Detection in Milk” technology developed by its Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Sciences for testing Urea in milk.

 The Milk Testing Kit had been available for common public use since last year. According to the technique, a drop of reagent is put on a filter paper and then a drop of milk is also put on the reagent. If milk contains urea, a yellow colour ring develops within 2-3 minutes on the walls of milk-pot. The kit is available at the Farmer Service Centre of the University and at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karnal.

Patent granted to ‘Urea Detection in Milk’ technique in Haryana - THE HINDU

The Hindu - An official testing the quality of milk in Kochi to check the flow of low quality milk in the market during festive season. A file photo: Vipin Chandran. 

Patent for the technology of ‘Urea Detection in Milk’, developed by a scientist of Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, has been granted by the Patent Office.

P K Kapoor, Head of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar informed that a patent has been granted by Government of India to the technology of ‘Urea Detection in Milk’. 

It has been developed by Dr. Gulshan Narang, Disease Investigation Officer of the department.

In this technique, a drop of reagent is put on filter paper and then a drop of milk is also put on the reagent, if milk contains urea, yellow colour ring develops within one minute around the milk.

This technique is very simple and does not require costly equipments, said Dr. Narang. 

This test can be performed by any lay person and even at the site of collection of milk. This kit is also available at “Kisan Sewa Kendra”, Hisar and “Krishi Vigyan Kendra”, Karnal, he said.

Dr. Narang said that the urea is very hazardous for health, and this technology has more significance during summer and festival season when demand of milk is high and some bad elements produce synthetic milk.

OFFICERS APPOINTED UNDER FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT 2006

NAGAPATTINAM The district administration has appointed food safety officers under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, that came into force since August last year. At the State level, food safety and drug administration is being monitored by a food safety commissioner and at the district level by food safety officers.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 consolidates all existing food laws and repeals eight statutory food-related laws.

With the coming into force of Food Safety and Standards Act, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; The Fruit Products Order, 1955; The Meat Food Products Order, 1973; The Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988; The Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order,1967; The Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food along with the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939; stands repealed since August 5,2011.

Food producers, distributers, retailers, vendors, road-side hawkers, caterers, marriage caterers, and water suppliers are henceforth not required to have their activities registered with the local bodies or other concerned entities under any of the aforementioned expired laws.

All registrations of such activities shall be defined by the new Food Protection and Standards Act, and aforementioned activities shall be registered and licences renewed solely under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

According to a department release, applications for licenses and registrations may be obtained from the concerned Food Safety Inspectors, on payment of requisite fee.

According to the release, A. Jeganathan, has been designated district food safety inspector, and the following persons designated as food safety officers for various blocks:

A.T.Anbazhagan(94435 26579) for Thirumarugal; K.Kodandabani (99421 84685) for Vedaranyam; S.Peter Pugazhendhi(94437 02460) for Keezhayur; A.Sathish(97861 47236) for Keezhvelur; M.Anthiony Prabhu(95436 97607) for Thalainayar; A.Maharajan(99765 59438)for Nagapattinam; R.Thavapalan( 99426 93266) for Semmanarkoil; P.Srinivasan(94425 75044) for Sirkazhi; C.Senthikumar(94890 07659) for Kollidam; D.Sekar (94439 85754) for Mayiladuthurai block; R.M.Praveen Raghu(94876 41649) for Kuthalam; V.Muthayan(94434 85271) for Mayiladuthurai Municipality; V.Balaguru(94867 19030) for Vedarnayam Municipality.

Any complaints of irregularities in quality of goods shall be brought to the notice of the food safety officers.

TRANSFER IN HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE DEPT. - GOVT. PRESS RELEASE

DINAMALAR NEWS

Get licence to run food business: Haryana govt

All food business operators in Haryana are now required to be registered or licenced in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
A spokesperson of the Food and Drugs Administration Department said any person undertaking food business, whether it is for profit or not-for-profit, is required to obtain the requisite license or get registered under the Act.
He said Rs 100 would be charged as the registration fee from food business operators, while Rs 5,000 would be charged as licence fee from three star and above hotels, and the manufacturers or millers.
Besides, Rs 2,000 will be charged as licence fee from all food services providers including restaurants, boarding houses, canteens of schools, colleges, offices and institutions, and caters, banquet halls with food catering, food vendors like dhaba wallas and from any other food business operator.

Saying no to burgers and chips

Children are among the biggest consumers of junk food. A recent Delhi High Court ruling could make it tougher for junk food sellers to target them, reports V. Kumara Swamy

When he visited his children’s school, Rahul Verma was astonished to see the amount of junk food and carbonated drinks they were consuming. “I was shocked to see small children munching chips and gulping colas in the school’s cafeteria. It was clear that I had to do something about it,” recalls Verma, co-founder, Uday Foundation, a Delhi-based social organisation. Verma got busy collecting information on the effects of junk food, and in December 2010, he filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court. The Uday Foundation’s demands included the banning of junk food and carbonated drinks in schools, discouraging the availability of “unhygienic food” within 500 yards of schools, a comprehensive school canteen policy with emphasis on healthy nutrition and the banning of junk food and carbonated drink advertisements in the media. In his PIL, Verma argued that with a large number of schools tying up with fast food chains, junk food and colas had become the norm at many school canteens. So it was high time that the Delhi High Court cracked down on these educational institutions. It was also around this time that the World Health Organization (WHO) came out with a report, stressing that junk food should be banned in schools and playgrounds around the world. Acting on the PIL, the Delhi High Court recently gave the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) six months to come out with a set of guidelines to implement the banning of junk food in and around schools. FSSAI is a statutory body under the ministry of health and family welfare that lays down standards for articles of food in India. “It's a welcome decision,” says Verma. “Now we are waiting for the guidelines. I hope these will be implemented across the country one day.” Junk foods are basically processed foods such as pizzas, burgers, soft drinks, candies and so on, which often have a higher ratio of calories than unprocessed foods. High on “empty calories”, junk foods lack essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fibre. The effects of junk food can be seen on youngsters who visit Ekta Tandon, a Delhi-based nutritionist and dietician at DailyDiet.in, clinic and website. “Most of the kids are overweight and are already facing several health problems. I have no doubt that it is due to the excessive consumption of junk food,” says Tandon. She says that since children spend a major part of their waking hours in school, it is essential that they eat healthy food. In 2011, a survey spread over two years and conducted by Delhi-based doctors Anoop Misra and Seema Gulati came to the conclusion that more than 40 per cent of children ate out one or more times a week. Also, at least 70 per cent of them ate chips one or more times a week. Several schools across the country participated in the survey. “There is no doubt that parents also play a huge role in children consuming empty calories. But schools add to the problem if junk food is easily available there,” says Dr Gulati, head, nutrition research group, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC) and Center of Nutrition and Metabolic Research (C-NET), Delhi. Abhisheka Kumar whose daughter studies in pre-nursery in Presidium, Indirapuram, on the outskirts of Delhi, says that since some schools serve breakfast and lunch in their in-house canteens, the onus is on the parents to demand that their wards are provided with healthy meals. “Some of these schools have menus that rival those of upscale restaurants. Parents whose children study in such schools should refer to the judgement and say enough is enough,” says Kumar. Gulati too fears that if the situation persists, it will lead to the development of diabetes and metabolic syndrome epidemics among children at a faster clip. Even the FSSAI admitted in the Delhi High Court that there is a “positive correlation between the consumption of foods with “empty calories” and chronic degenerative diseases as well as hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular problems and glucose intolerance.” Some educational institutions say they have already instituted a policy of providing healthy food at their canteens. For instance, Tagore International School in Delhi has been following a “no junk food” policy for sometime now. “We have given a list of food items that our cafeteria people can sell. Carbonated drinks, samosas, burgers, chocolates are now a big no-no,” says Madhulika Sen, principal and chairperson, Tagore International School. The human resources development ministry too has done its bit. For instance, it has instructed all Navodaya Vidalayas under it to provide healthy food at schools and hostels. Kendriya Vidyalayas too have been asked to avoid keeping junk food items in their canteens. But there’s still a long way to go. For instance, it won’t be easy to stop the selling of junk food within 500 yards of schools. “The 500 yard rule is a bit of a stretch as there are many schools which are in the middle of market areas,” says an FSSAI official. For people like Verma, though, the battle has just begun. “It’s just the beginning. We hope to bring pressure on every state in country to ban junk food,” he says. Consumers, specially the parents of small children, will hope that he wins the battle.

What Can Honey Do For Your Health

Around the world and throughout many ages, honey has been one of the most preferred breakfast ingredients for most people. Although, most people love honey for its mouth-watering taste, they tend to forget that honey has a vast repository of health benefits, as well. Moreover, honey can be consumed in many ways. It might be directly eaten, or mixed with a juice or just smeared on the bread like jam. A drink of honey mixed with limejuice, some herbs and cinnamon is also delicious. The best thing about honey is that you can consume it in any way you like. However, knowing about health benefits of honey might guide you in understanding the purpose of having honey regularly, apart from the reason of its obvious taste.

About honey
Honey is a carbohydrate compound that is easily absorbable in comparison to sugar. This helps in heat generation, replacement of energy and formation of some tissues. Honey is often considered being a better choice in comparison to milk, sugar canes and starches. This is because milk acts as a breeding ground for bacteria while sugarcane and starches have to go through a process of digestion. On the other hand, since bees have predigested the honey, the sugar in it is already inverted and concentrated. This is beneficial for people with weak digestion lacking in amylase and invertase, as the stomach is saved from extra labor. Now, since you have an idea about the trivia of honey, it is time to move on to its organic health benefits.
Organic food health benefits of honey
Honey as a natural energy booster: Honey being a natural resource of carbohydrate gives our body the necessary energy and strength, which is capable of boosting the performance, endurance levels of the muscles and reducing fatigue from the muscles in athletes. The glucose present in the honey assimilates in the body quickly and checks fatigue while you are exercising and the fructose gives energy that sustains for long. Due to this, honey is even considered better than any forms of sugar to keep the blood sugar levels in control. It also helps in restoring glycogen after a workout and recovery of the muscle.

Honey as a builder of immunity system: Honey can help you to stay fit and healthy as it helps in building the immunity system of your body. This is due to the anti-bacterial properties and presence of antioxidants like nutraceuticals in honey that helps in removing free radicals from the human body.
Honey has anti-cancerous properties: Honey with its anti-tumor properties and elements prevent the spread of carcinogen in the body.
Other miscellaneous functions of honey

• Honey is a great remedy for arthritis pain, athlete foot and yeast infection.
• Honey has antiseptic properties that make it capable of preventing growth of some bacteria and treat external wounds like burns and cuts. It also prevents infections of all sorts and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also contains anti-fungal properties.
• Honey works great for combating hangovers as it has “sobering agents”, which accelerates the oxidation process of alcohol.
• Anti microbial properties enable honey to treat a sore throat, as well. That is why professional singers mostly use it to relax their throats.
• Honey helps insomniacs and cures their sleeplessness.
• Honey acts as sweetener, yet helps in loosing weight by digesting the body fat.
• Vitamins and minerals like Calcium and Iron is present in honey, which are good for health.
• Honey helps in imparting a smooth skin, which acts perfectly when combined with milk.

Tips on how and when to have honey
The following are some valuable tips about how to have honey to your daily dose of nutrition:

• Have a spoonful of honey before you go out for a workout, it will assist you in covering an extra mile.
• Add honey to your tea or spread it on hot toast to free yourself from the early morning lethargy.
• Have a sandwich with honey, ham and butter to maintain energy throughout the day.
• Add honey to your lemonade to have a fine share of health and taste.
• Blend liquid honey, natural yogurt and orange juice to get an awesome healthy smoothie.
• Add a spoon of honey to hot milk or chamomile tea.

Honey is such a common ingredient that is found in everyone’s kitchen. It is not only available in the supermarkets, but also in the organic food online stores, as well. So, order your stock of honey today and start reaping benefits from tomorrow by adding a spoonful of honey to food to take you one step towards healthy living.

FSSAI ADVERTISEMENT IN DAILY THANTHI

FSSAI Law Spreads Consumer Awareness about Packaging and Labelling

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has introduced modifications to the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, specific to the section on packaging and labelling. Through these changes, it seeks to reduce the incidence of counterfeits in both branded and generic products, and increase consumer awareness. The FSSA details the packaging and labelling requirements in the Act, which should simplify the labels that a consumer reads on the packaged products. The FSSA has listed the general and product-specific requirements for packaging and labelling. Packaging and labelling are most susceptible to faking and duplication with the inclusion of false information. However, they can also be the most effective tools to counter the infiltration of fake products in markets with the help of advanced technology such as barcodes, holograms, RFID labels and other such unique identification devices. Hence, the FSSA encourages the use of Quick Response (QR) codes, cloud computing, effective price tags and label systems, and other such steps. Besides, the use of proper seals, labelling of pre-packaged foods and wrappers, simplification of the mentioned product information and the implementation of product-specific packaging requirements, ensure that customers are fully aware about their purchases.



Ever since the Act came into effect on August 5, 2011, the packaging and labelling industry has been quick to adhere to FSSA’s guidelines. The present changes hope to further enhance compliance in this regard.

Ensure food safety by March 7, roadside eateries told

The Hindu Though tempting, roadside eateries can cause stomach ailments. Photo: K.Ananthan 

Officials sensitise owners, vendors to Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006

The Food and Drug Administration Department of Food Safety Directorate has fixed March 7 as the deadline for owners of roadside, small eateries and food vendors using pushcarts to fall in line with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 to ensure hygiene and food safety.

Designated Officer for Food Safety R. Kadiravan, Food Safety Officers K. Chandran and R. Govindarajan on Thursday sensitised owners of small, roadside eateries and food stalls on pushcarts to the provisions in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 compared to the repealed Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

The owners will have to apply for licence and registration before March 7 failing which they will be evicted from their places of business. If the vendor has applied for licence and there is a delay in its issuance then he/she is at liberty to carry on with the business and the Act insulates him/her from action. The Department will provide identity cards with photo and certificates to them. 

The food stall owners should provide protected potable drinking water preferably water packets or bottled water to customers and the workers should be wearing masks and gloves. Those preparing and serving food should wear aprons and there should be stainless steel replacing iron or wooden surfaces on which the food is being prepared. All the three sides of the cooking place in pushcarts should be covered with 2.5-ft glass panes. 

Food should not be merely served on plates and there should be a plantain leaf or a butter paper. Spoons provided should be of “use and throw” type to prevent repeated use without proper cleaning. The food containers should remain closed and there should be containers or drums to wash hands.

No eatery or pushcart should be closer to drainage. Eateries should have a board depicting the brands of edible items used. The officials point out that a beginning has been made and the machinery wants to make the food vendors obey the rules so that their business grows and also the health of the customers is not affected.

New Food Safety Licence irks Traders

The Hindu

It will only burden small business further, they say

With the Union Health Ministry making it mandatory for all traders and dealers of food items to obtain a new licence under the new Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), traders in Bangalore say it will burden them further.

The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), passed by Parliament in 2006, replaced the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFAA) with effect from August 5, 2011. This means that all traders should obtain the new licence by August 4, 2012 failing which they will attract a six-month imprisonment along with a hefty penalty.

At an interaction with C.R. Srinivasa Gowda, Joint Director of State Public Health Institute on Wednesday, members of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) expressed their displeasure over the new licence being made mandatory.

Long red tape

Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, who heads the FKCCI's APMC and Internal Trade Committee, said although traders were not against the Act they were concerned over the elaborate process of documentation required to be maintained to adhere to the new rules. “This will be major hindrance for small operators,” he said.

While some traders pointed out that the Health Department had not made any efforts to create awareness about the new food safety rules, others wanted the Government to first provide them with adequate infrastructure to run their business.

‘Who is monitoring?'

R.V. Gopi, president of Vegetable and Fruit Wholesale Merchants Association, who spoke on the unhygienic conditions in the city's markets, said: “If you see the surroundings of Kalasipalyam wholesale market, you will stop buying vegetables and fruits. Hotels buy their stocks from here and no one knows whether they clean the vegetables before cooking. How do your ensure food safety in such circumstances? Who will be responsible — the traders or the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — for not maintaining cleanliness?”

Responding, Mr. Srinivasa Gowda said traders could complain to the BBMP about the poor maintenance of markets.

Big challenge

Admitting that the transition from the old Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 was a big challenge for the State Health and Family Welfare Department's Food Safety Commissionerate, Mr. Gowda said efforts were being made for effective implementation of the Act.

FKCCI senior vice president K. Shiva Shanmugam and BBMP Chief Health Officer K.E. Manjula spoke.

Watchdog for restaurant chicken

East Singhbhum health officials collect samples from a Sakchi eatery where a broom (above) shares kitchen space with cooked food on Wednesday. Pictures by Bhola Prasad Chicken lovers of Jamshedpur, don’t spoil your appetite with niggling bird flu fears. Doubts about the health of poultry served in restaurants can be dumped right into the dustbin along with the leftover bones. Starting from Wednesday, East Singhbhum’s health team has beefed up its vigil on the quality of food served in eateries, especially non-vegetarian ones, with three important changes. First, from now on, a team of senior East Singhbhum health department officials will conduct checks on roadside eateries, restaurants and food kiosks on a routine basis. Earlier, raids were carried out only based on specific complaints. Two, the quality of food sold by hotels and commercial eateries used to be regulated under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, but now it has come under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Three, the probe team constituted for this purpose will get punitive rights. If an eatery is found to have violated safety standards, the panel can cancel its licence. A four-member team led by Swarn Singh, assistant chief medical officer of East Singhbhum, who is empowered to cancel the licence of an establishment, started its job on Wednesday. The assistant chief medical officer, in the news for the proposed crackdown on quacks, added that the move taken by the district health department assumed significance in view of the lingering bird flu scare. “The bird flu scare has not died down at all. Our move is a precautionary measure to ward off danger from diseases caused by the avians.” The drive will cover hotels, roadside eateries, catering services, food packaging units and beverages. “We have tried to be as extensive as possible as per instructions from principal secretary of health K. Vidyasagar. Collection of food samples and sending them to labs will be a routine job,” food inspector K.P. Singh said, adding it was not related to Ranchi’s recent milk adulteration incident. “We will focus on eateries that deal with chicken and poultry products,” Swarn Singh added. “Not only will this move prevent people from falling prey to toxic and stale edibles that induce various diseases, it will help improve the overall standard of the eateries,”. On Wednesday, they went to two well-known joints near Basant Talkies, Lakhi Caterer and Sanjha Chulha, spending over two hours inspecting raw and cook food, storage and cooking facilities as well as kitchens. They also took samples to be sent for inspection to a Dhanbad-based food-testing lab.

DINAMALAR ARTICLE

LIST OF DESIGNATED OFFICER & FOOD ANALYST IN TAMILNADU

 LIST OF FOOD ANALYST