Apr 29, 2012
Apr 28, 2012
Food Safety Act is unrealistic, says traders’ association
The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, has been introduced to replace the Prevention of Adulteration Act, 1954. “Ironically, the major challenge of the menace of adulteration has not been dealt with in the new Act but rather more emphasis has been laid down on ‘mis-branded’ food,” the Confederation of All India Traders said
A traders association has urged the union health ministry to constitute an expert committee to look in to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and has also announced nationwide protest against it. Calling the provisions as draconian, unrealistic and impracticable, the association feels that it will impact the businesses of small and medium traders. The Act proposes separate licences for each enterprise and separate audit reports for various products.
BC Bhartia, secretary general, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said, “The Act in question prescribes the traders to prepare an audit report, obtain clearance from state pollution control board, get a no-objection certificate from the municipal corporation, medical certificates of workers, graduate technologist and a separate audit report for products made from milk, which is not possible under the Indian food conditions. The Act is framed is in utter disregard of the ground realties and will promote big corporate houses to enter into food business.”
It further added that, “This would trigger further corruption and would allow government machinery to harass the traders-said CAIT,” he added.
The traders association has called upon union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to constitute an expert committee of food policy analysts, government officials and representative of trade to review the provisions of the Act.
The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, has been introduced to replace the Prevention of Adulteration Act 1954. “Ironically, the major challenge of the menace of adulteration has not been dealt with in the new Act but rather more emphasis has been laid down on ‘mis-branded’ food, which does not fall under the ambit of ‘adulteration’. Adulteration is a heinous crime which cannot be misbranded because of distinction in implications of classification. Such a provision will encroach upon the rights of the consumers in the country. The Act will promote adulteration or demote it, is a question?” CAIT said in a release.
CAIT is conducting a national conference of trade leaders on 10th and 11th May at New Delhi to discuss a national agitation. Earlier, traders from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had already held a trade bandh for four and three days, respectively. On 25th April, Madhya Pradesh-based MP Sumitra Mahajan has also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.
'Stop milking consumers or face action'
State govt apprises cooperative milk federations and agencies about the stringent measures of centre's new food safety Act; warns them against adulteration
It’s an aspect, which has been raised on umpteen occasions by cognisant citizens that as fundamental an issue as food safety has not received the kind of observance it deserves from the government. Many hope that with the regime of the centre’s Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 about to take full effect, their meals will be more palatable in the days to come.
The government has made it clear to milk procurement agencies, which sell the product under a brand name, that they will have a lot to answer for supply of adulterated milk rather than shifting responsibility to suppliers, officers of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and police. Addressing representatives of cooperative milk federations and private agencies engaged in the dairy business, minister of state for FDA Satej alias Bunty D Patil apprised them of the consequences in a meeting at YB Chavan Centre on Thursday. Provisions from the new Act are stringent and punishment for adulterated milk supply is from six months to a life term, warned the MoS to the gathering. Also present were his seniors Manohar Naik and dairy development minister Madhukar Chavan.
In black and white
As an effective measure to control the supply of adulterated milk, a suggestion was made to destroy tankers carrying the spurious product at entry points of Mumbai. The idea was accepted by the ministers present. Patil directed FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagde to devise a workable plan for this. The meeting was organised as part of a sensitisation drive for the new Act. A meeting of milk suppliers and agents from Mumbai will soon be called to create awareness, along with the plan to observe June as the ‘awareness month’. The dairy development minister announced a census of the milch and non-milch cows and buffaloes to discern the exact statistics pertaining to milk collection and the extent of adulteration in the state.
Exclude primary foods from Act, validity & renewal licenses to be clarified
With the FSS Act, 2006, and its tardy implementation across the country coming under fire from various sections of the industry, Nagendra Bhargava, chairman, The Midland Fruit & Vegetable Products (I) Pvt Ltd, and former chairman, the Processed Food Export Promotion Council [replaced by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)], has come out with some suggestions to make the enforcement better.
For example, The Act defines food as any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is intended for human consumption and includes primary food (an article of food, being a produce of agriculture or horticulture or aquaculture in its natural form, resulting from the growing, raising, cultivation, picking, harvesting, collection in the hands of a person other than a farmer) including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment.
According to Bhargava, the FSSAI should exclude primary foods from this bracket.
This is because all primary foods are sold in the mandis and the sales are made on cash basis and are unrecorded and unbilled.
Is it practical for any commission agent; wholesaler or sub-wholesaler to ensure that the retailer; hawker or rediwala who is buying from him has a valid licence or registration number?
Water, another important clause in the definition, would need an in-depth analysis. Probably a separate standard would be needed for water alone given the complex water supply structure the country currently has.
Bhargava explains: Take the example of Delhi Jal Board under the Delhi Government which sells water to all those engaged in food business operations. An advisory to the Delhi Jal Board would be needed to obtain a licence needed for supplying water for food businesses. The same holds true for all metropolitan towns, cities and union territories where municipal corporations supply water.
Time limit for conversion of existing licence
There is no time limit for conversion of existing licence after submission of application for conversion. A time frame for issuance of converted licences needs to be specified.
Though the Act says that a licence shall, subject to the provisions of these Regulations, be issued by the concerned licensing authority within a period of 60 days from the date of issue of an application ID number, but whether it is applicable for conversion of licences also and whether the deadline is being adhered to by the Authority?
Validity and renewal of Licence/Registration (Reg 2.1.7)
It stipulates that “Registration or Licence granted under this regulation can be valid for a period of 1 to 5 years as chosen by the FBO, from the date of issue of licence.”
Bhargava suggests: Validity of licence or registration should be from FY April 1 to March 31 or calendar year January 1 to December 31.
The FSSR mentions, “No license fee will have to be paid for the remaining period of the validity of the earlier licence or registration granted under any of the said Acts or Orders.”
An erstwhile FPO licence which is valid up to 31.12.2012 when applied for conversion together with 1 year licence fee on 13.03.2012 has been issued valid till 13.03.2013. Whereas, it should have been valid till 31.12.2013 as no licence fee was payable till 31.12.2012 (Regulation 2.1.2(1).
Reg 2.1.2(1) of Chapter-2 of Licensing and Registration of Food Business
This rule says that no person shall commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licence.
It stipulates, “Non-compliance with this provision by a FBO will attract penalty under Sec-55 of the Act.”
Bhargava points out a probable technical error in this clause and has asked the FSSAI to re-examine this clause. According to him, it should be Section-63 and not Section-55. Section 55 talks about “Penalty for failure to comply with the directions of Food Safety Officer” while Section 63 talks about “Punishment for carrying out a business without licence.”
Condition of Licence (Annex 3 of Reg)
It stipulates, “All FBOs shall ensure that all 14 stipulated conditions are complied with at all times during the course of food business.”
Bhargava suggests: Conditions No 4 to 12 of this Annexure cannot be complied with by re-labellers, importers, storage/warehouse/cold storage, retail trade, wholesale trade, distributors/suppliers and transporters.
Hence, they should be exempted.
Condition of Licence (Condition – 14 of Annex 3 of Reg)
Every Food Business Operator is to take either a licence (Central or state) or registration from the local Authority as the case may be, depending on the type of business and turnover.
The manufacturer; importer or distributor shall buy and sell food products only from OR to licensed/ registered vendors and maintain record thereof.
Bhargava says: There are more than five crore Food Business Operators in the country. Issuance of licence to them by the Central Licensing Authority or State Licensing Authority may not be completed by August 5, 2012.
He cites the example of Delhi’s licensing authority. On being contacted, it informed that it was yet to develop infrastructure, only then licence / registration applications would be entertained.
“It is, therefore, essential that to comply with the Condition No 14 for licence the date be deferred by at least another one year,” says Bhargava.
Transfer of registration certificate or licence in case of death (Reg 2.1.11)
There is no clear procedure defined for transfer of licences. For example, in the event of the holder of Registration Certificate or licence not having any legal representative or any family member and if he wants to retire by selling of the business to some other entity, what is the procedure to be adopted for transfer?
Display of Licence on the Label [Packaging & Labeling Reg 2.2.1.(7)]
As per Draft Notification dated December 29, 2011, mentioning of licence number on the label is mandatory. Final notification is yet to come.
Bhargava has asked the authority to advise whether display of registration number on the label is mandatory?
For example, The Act defines food as any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is intended for human consumption and includes primary food (an article of food, being a produce of agriculture or horticulture or aquaculture in its natural form, resulting from the growing, raising, cultivation, picking, harvesting, collection in the hands of a person other than a farmer) including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment.
According to Bhargava, the FSSAI should exclude primary foods from this bracket.
This is because all primary foods are sold in the mandis and the sales are made on cash basis and are unrecorded and unbilled.
Is it practical for any commission agent; wholesaler or sub-wholesaler to ensure that the retailer; hawker or rediwala who is buying from him has a valid licence or registration number?
Water, another important clause in the definition, would need an in-depth analysis. Probably a separate standard would be needed for water alone given the complex water supply structure the country currently has.
Bhargava explains: Take the example of Delhi Jal Board under the Delhi Government which sells water to all those engaged in food business operations. An advisory to the Delhi Jal Board would be needed to obtain a licence needed for supplying water for food businesses. The same holds true for all metropolitan towns, cities and union territories where municipal corporations supply water.
Time limit for conversion of existing licence
There is no time limit for conversion of existing licence after submission of application for conversion. A time frame for issuance of converted licences needs to be specified.
Though the Act says that a licence shall, subject to the provisions of these Regulations, be issued by the concerned licensing authority within a period of 60 days from the date of issue of an application ID number, but whether it is applicable for conversion of licences also and whether the deadline is being adhered to by the Authority?
Validity and renewal of Licence/Registration (Reg 2.1.7)
It stipulates that “Registration or Licence granted under this regulation can be valid for a period of 1 to 5 years as chosen by the FBO, from the date of issue of licence.”
Bhargava suggests: Validity of licence or registration should be from FY April 1 to March 31 or calendar year January 1 to December 31.
The FSSR mentions, “No license fee will have to be paid for the remaining period of the validity of the earlier licence or registration granted under any of the said Acts or Orders.”
An erstwhile FPO licence which is valid up to 31.12.2012 when applied for conversion together with 1 year licence fee on 13.03.2012 has been issued valid till 13.03.2013. Whereas, it should have been valid till 31.12.2013 as no licence fee was payable till 31.12.2012 (Regulation 2.1.2(1).
Reg 2.1.2(1) of Chapter-2 of Licensing and Registration of Food Business
This rule says that no person shall commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licence.
It stipulates, “Non-compliance with this provision by a FBO will attract penalty under Sec-55 of the Act.”
Bhargava points out a probable technical error in this clause and has asked the FSSAI to re-examine this clause. According to him, it should be Section-63 and not Section-55. Section 55 talks about “Penalty for failure to comply with the directions of Food Safety Officer” while Section 63 talks about “Punishment for carrying out a business without licence.”
Condition of Licence (Annex 3 of Reg)
It stipulates, “All FBOs shall ensure that all 14 stipulated conditions are complied with at all times during the course of food business.”
Bhargava suggests: Conditions No 4 to 12 of this Annexure cannot be complied with by re-labellers, importers, storage/warehouse/cold storage, retail trade, wholesale trade, distributors/suppliers and transporters.
Hence, they should be exempted.
Condition of Licence (Condition – 14 of Annex 3 of Reg)
Every Food Business Operator is to take either a licence (Central or state) or registration from the local Authority as the case may be, depending on the type of business and turnover.
The manufacturer; importer or distributor shall buy and sell food products only from OR to licensed/ registered vendors and maintain record thereof.
Bhargava says: There are more than five crore Food Business Operators in the country. Issuance of licence to them by the Central Licensing Authority or State Licensing Authority may not be completed by August 5, 2012.
He cites the example of Delhi’s licensing authority. On being contacted, it informed that it was yet to develop infrastructure, only then licence / registration applications would be entertained.
“It is, therefore, essential that to comply with the Condition No 14 for licence the date be deferred by at least another one year,” says Bhargava.
Transfer of registration certificate or licence in case of death (Reg 2.1.11)
There is no clear procedure defined for transfer of licences. For example, in the event of the holder of Registration Certificate or licence not having any legal representative or any family member and if he wants to retire by selling of the business to some other entity, what is the procedure to be adopted for transfer?
Display of Licence on the Label [Packaging & Labeling Reg 2.2.1.(7)]
As per Draft Notification dated December 29, 2011, mentioning of licence number on the label is mandatory. Final notification is yet to come.
Bhargava has asked the authority to advise whether display of registration number on the label is mandatory?
Traders call for expert committee on Food Act
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to constitute an expert committee to look in to the provisions of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The committee should comprise of food policy analysts, experts, senior government officials and representatives of trade, it said.
It has also termed the Act as “draconian, unrealistic, impracticable” and said that it will ensure that street hawkers, small and medium traders are not able to perform business. It said, the Act will kill the existing business structure. The Confederation has demanded the government to keep the Act in abeyance till the report of the proposed expert committee is received.
CAIT is holding a national conference of trade leaders on May 10 and 11 in New Delhi to draw a programme for national agitation.
BC Bhartia, national president, CAIT, said that the Act prescribes the traders to prepare an audit report, obtain clearance from state pollution control board, get no-objection certificate from municipal corporation, medical certificates of workers, graduate technologist and a separate audit report made from milk, which is not possible under the Indian food conditions. The Act is framed in utter disregard of the ground realities and will promote big corporate houses as well to enter into food business, he added.
The traders are opposing the Act as they believe it will empower authorities to impose penalties at their discretion. “This would trigger further corruption,” CII said in a statement.
CAIT is holding a national conference of trade leaders on May 10 and 11 in New Delhi to draw a programme for national agitation.
BC Bhartia, national president, CAIT, said that the Act prescribes the traders to prepare an audit report, obtain clearance from state pollution control board, get no-objection certificate from municipal corporation, medical certificates of workers, graduate technologist and a separate audit report made from milk, which is not possible under the Indian food conditions. The Act is framed in utter disregard of the ground realities and will promote big corporate houses as well to enter into food business, he added.
The traders are opposing the Act as they believe it will empower authorities to impose penalties at their discretion. “This would trigger further corruption,” CII said in a statement.
Apr 27, 2012
Move towards Food Safety and Standards Regulations Implementation – A Good Beginning: CII Food & Bev 2012
New Delhi: In view of the recently mandated Food Regulations, CII organized an exclusive session on these regulations by CII- Jubilant Bhartia Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (FACE) during the CII’s Food & Bev 2012 today in Mumbai.Dr Indrani Ghose, Principal Counsellor - Food Safety and Quality, CII- Jubilant Bhartia Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence explained the shift from policing to self regulation, end-product testing to system standards, multiplicity of orders to a single act & focus on Risk assessment rather than control of adulteration in the new Food Safety Act in India.
The Conference was represented by industry captains from Food Processing, Manufacturing, Retail, Laboratories and Food Sanitation & Equipment manufacturers. It also saw participation from Consumers.
While the participants felt that Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) implementation was indeed a challenge, they welcomed the move by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) indicating that sooner or later the food industry needed to gear up on implementation of Food Safety and Quality systems by extensively training their in-house resources and addressing their infrastructure requirements in a planned manner. They expressed that, as consumer, intent towards FSSR implementation was a good beginning.
While India's vast population and its potential as a popular tourist destination made the FSSR imperative, some of the states were yet to overcome the constraints like administrative resource crunch and infrastructure hurdles. States such as Maharashtra, as industry representatives opined, is moving forward to address the challenges related to implementation. The participants pointed out that dearth of NABL accredited laboratories & reliability of laboratory reports were some of the other constraints they were facing. Besides these hurdles, Industry looks forward to the materialisation of FSSAI's plan for setting up laboratories in rural areas & approval of drafts on functional foods, labelling, packaging, claims and additives.
Over 15 Thousand Samples Analyzed in a Year to Check Pesticide Resudue in Food Crops
Government is implementing a Central Sector Scheme “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” under which samples of various food commodities including rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits and water are analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. During the period April, 2010 to March, 2011, 15321 samples of food commodities were analyzed, of which 188 samples (1.23%) had pesticide residues above Maximum Residue Limit prescribed under Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954.
The pesticide residue data generated under the scheme are shared with State Governments and concerned Ministries/Organizations to initiate the corrective action for judicious and proper use of pesticides on crops with an Integrated Pest Management approach and to generate awareness amongst farmers.
The implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 rests with States/Union Territory governments whose functionaries draw random samples of food articles regularly and take penal action in cases where the samples are found not conforming to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
The pesticide residue data generated under the scheme are shared with State Governments and concerned Ministries/Organizations to initiate the corrective action for judicious and proper use of pesticides on crops with an Integrated Pest Management approach and to generate awareness amongst farmers.
The implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 rests with States/Union Territory governments whose functionaries draw random samples of food articles regularly and take penal action in cases where the samples are found not conforming to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Lack of awareness hampers law on ensuring food safety
Bathinda, April 26
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure at the level of the District Food Safety Office or lack of awareness among the small shopkeepers, rehriwalas, vendors and the owners of business establishments about the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which was implemented on August 5 last year in the country, the district health authorities have been facing problems in implementing the Act in letter and spirit so far.
Perhaps due to lack of awareness, no small shopkeeper, rehriwala, pheriwala or vendor with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh, has applied to the District Food Safety Office for getting himself registered in the Bathinda district while around 12 business establishments with an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh have applied to the district office for procuring the licences so far.
As per the available information, the 12 establishments that have applied for licences, included distributors of juice, edible oils and other food products, Easyday stores and a hotel. However, out of these around 12 establishments, the licences of five have already been prepared by the district office here.
In the name of infrastructure and manpower, at present, there is only Food Safety Officer, besides a clerk who has been looking after some other work in the Civil Surgeon's office here. Besides, the District Health Officer has been made the designated officer (in-charge) for the implementation of the Act.
For creating awareness among the small shopkeepers, pheriwalas and rehriwalas who are reportedly about one lakh in number and thousands of big business establishments in the district, no separate budget has been provided for the purpose by the state health authorities, which is essential if the government wants proper implementation of the Act. Besides, the District Food Safety Office also requires a computer operator and a clerk for it.
Sources told this reporter that the Act had been enacted and implemented to protect the interests of the consumers.
Some special provisions had also been included in the Act for the protection of consumers so that they could not be deceived or misled by anyone by adopting unfair practices, including advertisements, in the case of food articles.
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure at the level of the District Food Safety Office or lack of awareness among the small shopkeepers, rehriwalas, vendors and the owners of business establishments about the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which was implemented on August 5 last year in the country, the district health authorities have been facing problems in implementing the Act in letter and spirit so far.
Perhaps due to lack of awareness, no small shopkeeper, rehriwala, pheriwala or vendor with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh, has applied to the District Food Safety Office for getting himself registered in the Bathinda district while around 12 business establishments with an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh have applied to the district office for procuring the licences so far.
As per the available information, the 12 establishments that have applied for licences, included distributors of juice, edible oils and other food products, Easyday stores and a hotel. However, out of these around 12 establishments, the licences of five have already been prepared by the district office here.
In the name of infrastructure and manpower, at present, there is only Food Safety Officer, besides a clerk who has been looking after some other work in the Civil Surgeon's office here. Besides, the District Health Officer has been made the designated officer (in-charge) for the implementation of the Act.
For creating awareness among the small shopkeepers, pheriwalas and rehriwalas who are reportedly about one lakh in number and thousands of big business establishments in the district, no separate budget has been provided for the purpose by the state health authorities, which is essential if the government wants proper implementation of the Act. Besides, the District Food Safety Office also requires a computer operator and a clerk for it.
Sources told this reporter that the Act had been enacted and implemented to protect the interests of the consumers.
Some special provisions had also been included in the Act for the protection of consumers so that they could not be deceived or misled by anyone by adopting unfair practices, including advertisements, in the case of food articles.
Food joints to come under FSSAI scanner soon
The district-level structure of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will have a full swing functioning soon. Even though the Authority came into effect throughout the country in August last year, the district-level structure was not functioning due to shortage of staff.
The district-level structure consists of Food Safety Officers (FSO) in each taluk, a designated officer at district-level and an adjudicating officer. The adjudicating officer is the Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district and the District Surveillance Officer (DSO) is given the charge of the district-level designated officer of the Authority.
Currently, due to lack of manpower, FSOs from other districts are given charge of the taluks in Dakshina Kannada from January onwards. The FSO of Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur district is looking after the matters in Mangalore and Belthangady taluks.
FSO of Kollegal taluk in Mysore is in charge of Bantwal, Sullia and Puttur taluks in the district.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, District Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh B V, who is the district-level designated officer, said that the State Government is likely to call for the posts of FSOs in State soon.
“The act is only partially implemented in the State due to lack of FSOs,” he said and added that the total FSOs in the State are below 50 per cent of which is actually required and by the month of August, we hope the vacancies will be filled.”
FSSAI
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders that have hitherto regulated food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
FSSAI has been created as a statutory body for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Registration
According to the act, all Food Business Operators (FBO) should be registered under FSSAI and obtain license. FBO includes hotels, permanent or temporary stallholders, hawkers, home based canteens, Dhabawalas, manufacturers, processors, re-packers, food stalls arrangements in religious gatherings, slaughterhouses, storage houses, retail and wholesale traders etc.
Milk producers who are not a member in the Dairy Co-operative societies should also register under the Authority.
License holders who already registered under any previous acts and expiry date have not over by August 5, can continue with the existing license. Once the date expires, they can register under the FSSAI.
District Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh B V said that the authority already conducted meetings with various associations concerned including hotel owners’ association and Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. FSOs are distributing pamphlets regarding the registration process to different FBOs.
The FSSAI will soon launch awareness programme for Food Business Operators, media and public.
The district-level structure consists of Food Safety Officers (FSO) in each taluk, a designated officer at district-level and an adjudicating officer. The adjudicating officer is the Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district and the District Surveillance Officer (DSO) is given the charge of the district-level designated officer of the Authority.
Currently, due to lack of manpower, FSOs from other districts are given charge of the taluks in Dakshina Kannada from January onwards. The FSO of Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur district is looking after the matters in Mangalore and Belthangady taluks.
FSO of Kollegal taluk in Mysore is in charge of Bantwal, Sullia and Puttur taluks in the district.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, District Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh B V, who is the district-level designated officer, said that the State Government is likely to call for the posts of FSOs in State soon.
“The act is only partially implemented in the State due to lack of FSOs,” he said and added that the total FSOs in the State are below 50 per cent of which is actually required and by the month of August, we hope the vacancies will be filled.”
FSSAI
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders that have hitherto regulated food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
FSSAI has been created as a statutory body for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Registration
According to the act, all Food Business Operators (FBO) should be registered under FSSAI and obtain license. FBO includes hotels, permanent or temporary stallholders, hawkers, home based canteens, Dhabawalas, manufacturers, processors, re-packers, food stalls arrangements in religious gatherings, slaughterhouses, storage houses, retail and wholesale traders etc.
Milk producers who are not a member in the Dairy Co-operative societies should also register under the Authority.
License holders who already registered under any previous acts and expiry date have not over by August 5, can continue with the existing license. Once the date expires, they can register under the FSSAI.
District Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh B V said that the authority already conducted meetings with various associations concerned including hotel owners’ association and Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. FSOs are distributing pamphlets regarding the registration process to different FBOs.
The FSSAI will soon launch awareness programme for Food Business Operators, media and public.
Apr 26, 2012
Karaikudi bakers body to move court for injunction; seeks inclusive FSSA
The interim stay on the enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, granted by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently, has boosted the confidence of other traders' bodies in Tamil Nadu, including the Karaikudi Bakery Owners' Association (KBOA). In fact, the KBOA has decided to move court for an injunction in licensing and registration cases, and seems confident that many more writ petitions will follow suit.
“We would appreciate it if the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, is simplified, and more importantly, made more inclusive. However safe we try to make our products, we are no match for the multinational corporations and large-sized producers who are members of the panel formed to implement the Act. We face the threat of being wiped out of the industry, and that could affect the livelihood of lakhs,” R Kaleeswaran, honorary secretary, KBOA, said.
“Not only is the nomination process to this panel flawed, but vests in the food safety officers powers that they will misuse. We (small- and medium-sized food business operators) would like to run our businesses without having to resort to any unethical practices, but obtaining a licence or registration without paying an arbitrary penalty, which is often very high, is impossible. And to top it all, we have to become compliant in less than four months,” he said.
“We would appreciate it if the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, is simplified, and more importantly, made more inclusive. However safe we try to make our products, we are no match for the multinational corporations and large-sized producers who are members of the panel formed to implement the Act. We face the threat of being wiped out of the industry, and that could affect the livelihood of lakhs,” R Kaleeswaran, honorary secretary, KBOA, said.
“Not only is the nomination process to this panel flawed, but vests in the food safety officers powers that they will misuse. We (small- and medium-sized food business operators) would like to run our businesses without having to resort to any unethical practices, but obtaining a licence or registration without paying an arbitrary penalty, which is often very high, is impossible. And to top it all, we have to become compliant in less than four months,” he said.
Food Safety Act: Traders to propose amendments
Traders under the aegis of MP Food Manufacturers and Sellers Federation are planning to propose amendments in Food Safety and Standards Act. The proposal would be sent to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Members of Parliament. “Whatever is decided for traders should be in accordance with the Indian tradition and culture. Legal provisions imported from other countries should not be imposed on the traders,” said president, MP Food Manufacturers and Sellers Federation Ramesh Khandelwal.
“Even though the act is there, there is no necessary infrastructure to enforce its implementation. For example, under the act, it is mandatory to send food samples to a laboratory of international standard, but the same is yet to be set up in the state,” claimed Khandelwal. The traders have demanded scrapping of the clauses that require having a technician with B Sc degree for food manufacturing units and financial audit of these establishments. The traders also want the magnitude of penal provision to be lessened. Khandelwal said that while stringent punishment should be there for traders involved in adulteration, the existing provisions would only hassle honest businessmen.
The federation will also prepare a CD of these suggestions and the same would be sent to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Members of Parliament within a week. The traders are also seeking legal advice on these demands after studying various provisions of the act.
“Even though the act is there, there is no necessary infrastructure to enforce its implementation. For example, under the act, it is mandatory to send food samples to a laboratory of international standard, but the same is yet to be set up in the state,” claimed Khandelwal. The traders have demanded scrapping of the clauses that require having a technician with B Sc degree for food manufacturing units and financial audit of these establishments. The traders also want the magnitude of penal provision to be lessened. Khandelwal said that while stringent punishment should be there for traders involved in adulteration, the existing provisions would only hassle honest businessmen.
The federation will also prepare a CD of these suggestions and the same would be sent to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Members of Parliament within a week. The traders are also seeking legal advice on these demands after studying various provisions of the act.
Mad cow illness found in dairy animal in California
The putrescent cow, a fourth ever detected in a US, was found as partial of an agriculture dialect notice programme that tests about 40,000 cows a year for a deadly mind disease.
No beef from a cow was firm for a food supply, pronounced John Clifford, a department’s arch veterinary officer. “There is unequivocally no means for alarm here with courtesy to this animal,” Clifford told reporters.
Mad cow disease, or cow spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is deadly to cows and can means a deadly mind illness in people who eat sinister beef. The World Health Organisation has pronounced tests uncover humans can't be putrescent by celebration divert from BSE-infected animals.
After an conflict in Britain that appearance in 1993, a US strong precautions to keep BSE out of US cattle and a food supply. In other countries, a widespread of a infection was blamed on farmers adding recycled beef and bone dish from putrescent cows into cattle feed, so a pivotal US step has been to anathema feed containing such material.
Clifford pronounced a California cow was an atypical box of BSE, definition that it had not got a illness from eating putrescent cattle feed.
That meant a box was “just a pointless turn that can occur each once in a good while in an animal”, pronounced Bruce Akey, executive of a New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory during Cornell University. “Random mutations go on in inlet all a time.”
Questions sojourn about how a cow died, and either a occurrence will prompt a cultivation dialect to change how it tests for a disease. But Mike Doyle, executive of a University of Georgia’s Centre for Food Safety, pronounced a contrast complement worked since it had held what was a really singular event. “It’s good news since they held it,” Doyle said.
Clifford did not contend when a illness had been detected or accurately where a cow had been reared. He pronounced a cow had been during a digest plant in executive California when a box was detected by unchanging representation testing.
Dennis Luckey, executive vice-president of Baker Commodities, pronounced a illness had been detected during a Hanford, California, send hire when a association comparison a cow for pointless sampling.
Luckey pronounced a cow had died during a dairy and been incidentally tagged for a notice programme.
Michael Marsh, arch executive of Western United Dairymen, pronounced a cow was an adult animal over 30 months old, and had seemed normal when it was final observed. He pronounced a cow was initial tested on 18 April.
Rendering plants routine animal tools for products not going into a tellurian food chain, such as animal food, soap, chemicals and other domicile products.
There have been 3 reliable cases of BSE in cows in a US: in a Canadian-born cow in 2003 in Washington state, in 2005 in Texas, and in 2006 in Alabama. The 2005 and 2006 cases were also atypical varieties of a disease, cultivation dialect officials said.
The dialect was pity a lab formula with general animal health officials in Canada and England who would examination a exam results, Clifford said.
Past scares about insane cow illness have influenced beef exports to Japan and other countries. Japan criminialized all US beef imports in 2003 after a initial box of insane cow illness was detected in a US. Japan resumed shopping American beef in 2006 after a shared trade agreement environment new reserve standards.
HC tells govt to consider curbs on tobacco
ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court in an important direction has directed the state government to now consider the appropriateness of restricting the consumption, sale and distribution of tobacco and nicotine in food products on the same lines as the MP government has already put restrictions on the consumption, sale and distribution of the tobacco and nicotine in food products.
Passing this order on a PIL filed by Indian Dental Association and UP state & others, a division bench consisting of Justice Amar Saran and Justice Anurag Kumar has asked the chief secretary of the state either to put restriction on the same lines as in MP or show cause through the appropriate secretary in this court by the next date on May 23, 2012as to why such a direction imposing the restrictions on the consumption, sale and distribution of tobacco and nicotine in food products may not be issued by this court for enforcement of regulation to 2.3.4 prohibiting the use of tobacco and nicotine as an ingredient in any food product.
The bench has also made it open to the manufactures of the paan masala and gutkha products to move intervention application for clarifying their position by the next date. The petitioner through the PIL seeking ban on the production , sale and consumption of tobacco and nicotine in food products, it has been alleged that the use of the same are causing oral cancer.
It was submitted in the court that " food safety and standards ( prohibition and restrictions on sale) regulations 2011 " under the food safety and standards act 2006 has been enacted empowering union government to frame regulation to put ban on the use of tobacco and nicotine.The court in its order referred that " according to a study conducted by the indian counsel of medical research and the WHO ( world health organization), south east asian regional office, new delhi, 2001 , 80 percent
Apr 25, 2012
One lakh fine for flour mill owner
Anantnag, April 24: District Designated officer, Food safety District Anantnag today imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on the owner of Chinar Roller Flour Mills Sempora for manufacturing misbranded Atta.
Also a local and eight non locals form (UP & Bihar) have been prohibited from manufacturing of Bakery and Confectionery items which were found for sub- standard quality violating various provisions of safety and slandered act 2006.
Also a local and eight non locals form (UP & Bihar) have been prohibited from manufacturing of Bakery and Confectionery items which were found for sub- standard quality violating various provisions of safety and slandered act 2006.
More to junk food than meets the eye
Author(s): Sunita Narain
Issue: Apr 30, 2012
Illustration: Karno GuhathakurtaJunk food is junk by its very definition. But how bad is it and what is it that companies do not tell people about this food? This is what the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) laboratory checked. The results were both predictable and alarming. What was equally predictable was the response of big food companies and their spokespersons—denials and dismissals. But they are missing the point.First the study: CSE tested all that is readily available in fast food outlets or as branded and packaged items in shops across the country. These ranged from instant noodles, chips and Indian bhujia to the ubiquitous colas, chicken fries and burgers.
As I said, the results were partly predictable. Junk food is defined as food with empty calories—it provides fat, sugar and salt, without nutrition. The CSE study reconfirmed this but with a difference. Labels on packages do not explain just how much of our daily salt, sugar or fat quota this “fun” food is taking up. We are not told that one packet of chips, devoured easily, supplies half of what we should take daily in terms of fat and salt; one bottle of cola has twice the daily added sugar allowance of adults and children. It is not in the interest of food companies to advertise this. It is in our interest to know.
The study also found that companies were not just irresponsible through omission, but also through deliberate misrepresentation of facts about the quantity of trans fatty acids—trans fats in short—in their products. Trans fats, formed during hydrogenation of oil, are linked to serious health problems. But the Indian law does not require companies to declare the quantity of trans fat in their products. However, it does say that a company can make a “health” claim that its food item is trans fat-free, provided that each serving has less than 0.2 gm of it.
There are many operative misses in this regulation. Companies can determine their own size of serving and they do. Indian food giant Haldiram’s, for instance, takes 10 gm, which is less than a mouthful, as the serving size. That’s how it claims to be trans fat-free. Haldiram’s bhujia, Pepsi Lays’ chips and ITC’s Bingo chips had trans fat when they claimed otherwise. The rest of the junk food, which was not even pretending to be trans fat-free, was equally bad or worse. Companies can get away with this because nobody is checking.
Take the case of Pepsi. It went on an advertising spree, saying its potato chips were healthy because they did not have trans fat and were cooked in rice bran oil. Filmstar Saif Ali Khan was its brand ambassador, urging children and adults to eat without guilt and care. The chips were branded “snack-smart”, implying good. Then Pepsi decided that these chips were heavy on its pocket. So it changed the medium of cooking and removed the snack-smart logo and the declaration of zero-trans fat from the packets. But this time it did not launch an advertising campaign. Why should it?
The CSE study found the company was adding insult to injury. First, even what was claimed to be trans fat-free had 0.9 gm per 100 gm. Secondly, packets of chips manufactured in February 2012 had dangerously high trans fat levels of 3.7 gm per 100 gm—much more than what is allowed in daily diet. But under the weak Indian food regulations they did not have to tell people what was in the packet. It is no surprise then that Pepsi, in its official rebuttal to the CSE study, said, “All products are fully compliant with regulations, including those on labeling.” Clearly, food companies are not in the business of food, but in the business of profit.
Following the CSE tests two questions were raised. One, why should one test junk food when it is already known to be bad? Two, why test only packaged food when all Indian snacks are said to be equally bad?
First, as the study shows, we do not know just how bad this food really is. We should know more because it is critical we take informed decisions about our health. Non-communicable diseases, from hypertension to cancer, are a global epidemic. Bad food and bad lifestyle are major causes of these diseases. Indians are especially vulnerable when it comes to diabetes; as compared to Caucasians, they are genetically disposed to have more fat than muscle and have a greater propensity to put fat around the abdomen. They are also too poor to cope with the horrendous health costs of debilitating diseases like diabetes. Therefore, Indian food regulations have to be even more stringent in limiting quantities of salt, sugar and fat in food.
Secondly, regarding food other than junk it must be made clear that traditional and local diets are built on the principle of moderation and balance. Indian diet, with its diversity of regional cuisines, celebrates good food. Problem arises when one adds “new” food and makes it universal—“McDonalise” it or “supersize” it. Therefore, the right thing to do is not to pit junk food against Indian snacks but to consider how much and what you eat. The choice is yours to make. So eat at your own risk.
Junk food ups health risk in Indians
Junk food ups health risk in Indians (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)
Diet experts have said Indians are consuming junk foods more often than in the past, and have warned that this poses a major risk to their health.
Deputy Programme Manager at the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) Savvy Soumya Mishra said that merely criticising international fast food chains for spoiling Indian dietary patterns is not enough.
She said that fast food had reached rural markets in the form of potato chips and soft-drinks and wished remedial measures are taken.
"Potato chips and similar snacks are available even in remote villages, where you may not find a school or a ration shop. These things have more reach. There will be soft-drink bottles in places that may not have even clean drinking water. McDonald''s and Pizza Hut may not have reached there, but chips and soft drinks have, what a pity!" Mishra said.
She further stressed on the importance of reducing children's access to trans fat-laden junk food, suggesting a ban on such eatables in schools.
"Imposing a ban is the government''s decision, but junk food must be banned in schools because it is difficult to restrain children. You can ban it in school and introduce fruits and fruit juices. There are also many things prepared at home. We grew up eating a lot of other things, traditional food. We did not grow on chips and packaged snacks like Kurkure," added Mishra.
Delhi-based cardiologist Dr. K K Aggarwal, said the problem of junk food was not just limited to food items like burgers and pizzas.
He said traditional Indian snacks prepared using vegetable fat were also a big threat.
"We shouldn''t get carried away and just ban burgers. Everything that just tastes good is bad for health, because such things will either be made with ''ghee'' (clarified butter), which is very unlikely, or with trans fats sourced from vegetables. So, whatever contains trans fats is unhealthy, regardless of whether it is commercial or not," observed Dr. Aggarwal.
However, the commoners'' reaction towards junk seemed to be mixed.
"Young people these days prefer fast food. But as the report has said, one should avoid that food. As far as traditional recipes are concerned, we should go for that," said Suresh, a resident of the city.
The contrary opinion suggested that junk food was a necessity given the changed nature of people''s daily lives, and now came in many variants, some of them healthier than the rest.
"These days, people need their food quick. Many families have both parents working, so burgers and chips are very good alternatives for those who are in a rush. But these things come in many varieties. Now we have potato chips, which are baked. One can eat well, it is also a little costly, but we can''t say these things are useless," said Arpit, another resident.
The FSSAI pronounces products free of trans fats if they have less than 0.2 grams of trans fats per serving.
A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment had accused many brands of labelling their products trans fat-free even though they contained it in large amounts.
Trans fat consumption increases the risk of coronary heart disease, leading to recommendations by health experts that they be consumed only in traces.
Apr 24, 2012
TN traders’ writ on FSSR: Madurai Bench grants interim stay on regulations
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted R Viduthalai, senior counsel, and G Sankaran, advocate, – who argued a writ petition on behalf of a group of traders' bodies in the southern city against certain provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, last week – interim stay on the regulations. This was known through a statement sent via e-mail by Ganesh Jeyaraj, member, Madurai Managar Anaitthu Vanigargal Nala Sangam.
Incidentally, the body is one of many associations from all over the country opposing the contentious provisions. Its president, L Thangavel, also heads the Madurai chapter of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sankankalin Peramaippu – whose parent organisation is led by A M Vikramaraja. Another body from the state that had submitted its objections to the regulations to the Central government was Tamil Nadu Food Grains Association Ltd, headed by S P Jeyapragasam.
The regulations of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, have been stayed pending disposal of the writ petition; and the Bench also granted an interim injunction restraining Tamil Nadu's food safety commissioner, his subordinates and officers from enforcing the FSSR's licensing and registration regulations against the petitioners, who are petty manufacturers.
P Arivarasu was Madurai Managar Anaitthu Vanigargal Nala Sangam's co-petitioner. The co-respondents named in the petition were the Union of India (represented by its secretary to the government, ministry of health and family welfare) and the state food safety commissioner. S R A Ramachandran was the counsel for the respondents. Justice K Venkataraman was the judge.
Apr 23, 2012
Water, water everywhere, but how many brands are safe to drink? - THE HINDU
Unauthorised manufacturing units mushroom as consumption goes up by 15%
Areas abutting the city are increasingly dotted with packaged drinking water industrial units. A minimum of 30 plants have come up over the last year in the neighbouring districts. The rising demand for water this summer has also paved the way for the sale of sub-standard quality of water and operation of unauthorised units.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Southern Region, cancelled the licences of 15 industrial units in and around the city in the past one year. The units lost their licenses for either not meeting the quality standard, unsatisfactory operation or misuse of the ISI mark.
Over the past decade, packaged drinking water has become an indispensable part of urban life. Even as Chennai Metrowater has stepped up its daily water supply to 830 million litres a day, packaged drinking water still continues to capture a large market. According to statistics of Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association, the city and suburbs consume not less than 70 lakh litres of packaged water daily, which is 15 per cent more than last year's sales.
While some residents say that they prefer packaged drinking water for its quality, those in the fringes of the city deem it a boon as they are yet to be covered with piped water supply. At present, there are nearly 290 licensed industrial units functioning in localities rich in groundwater resources in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. Last year alone, the BIS sanctioned licences to 150 units, which is 35 more than the number of applications approved every year.
The growing demand for water has led to mushrooming of unauthorised units around the city, point out members of the Association.
While the BIS-approved units have to follow stringent norms to avoid cancellation of licence, those functioning without a licence do not have to spend on an elaborate filtration process or testing facilities, they added, alleging that there are about 100 such units operating in the city. “They function like a cottage industry and follow basic filtration process. They brand it as herbal or flavoured water to escape the purview of the BIS,” said A. Shakespeare, the association's general secretary.
Members also point out that unauthorised unit holders often fill water obtained from private tankers and sell them in the bubble-top 20-litre containers of popular brands. They take advantage of the system of reusing the containers after sterilisation in the industry. “We found several such containers bearing popular brand names, ready for despatch at Puzhal recently. The unit holder had obtained the containers through some retailers,” said Mr. Shakespeare.
Members said that most of them were BIS licensees who lost the licence for operation for not maintaining standards. V. Murali, patron of the association, said that the business of herbal water is growing as there is no specification or monitoring by government agencies. “People must also check for ISI mark. When they find difference in taste or distorted labels, they may contact the manufacturer,” he said.
BIS, Southern Region's deputy director general, K. Anbarasu said in the last one year, 52 industrial units have been warned for supplying low quality water as the random samples taken from them failed to meet the standards. Of this, 15 were in and around Chennai.
“We can only monitor those who have licenses. The containers are also checked for quality. However, there is no specified standard for herbal water,” he said.
Bottled water that claims to have added minerals and proprietary food are controlled by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a newly established department in the city, he added. Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India said that they were awaiting formulation of standards for flavoured water by the Central government.
Apr 22, 2012
Panel to help implement food safety Act
PUNE: An expert advisory committee will soon be formed and it will assist the local food and drug administration officials in implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and Regulations, Rules, 2011, said Mahesh Zagade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra, on Tuesday.
Zagade was speaking at an interactive session organised jointly by National Agriculture and Food Analysis and Research Institute (NAFARI) and Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA).
Representatives from food processing industries, traders and entrepreneurs attended the session, which was aimed at addressing questions and problems regarding the implementation of the new act and its rules.
The Agri-food Directory, a compilation of addresses of various manufacturers, businesses and industrial production units in the supply chain of food processing, was formally released by NAFARI on the occasion.
Anant Sardeshmukh, executive director general, MCCIA, said such deliberations and interactions in the preliminary stages of the Act were important for its effective implementation.
M A Tejani, member, executive committee, MCCIA, and president of All India Food Processors' Association, said the new act was a long-term vision and aimed at unifying separate legislations. "However, there are some teething problems when the implementation begins. Thus, stake-holders from industry and trade, along with the government, can together find solutions," said Tejani. Tejani suggested the formation of expert advisory committee which will address stakeholders' problems concerning the act and thus facilitate its effective implementation.
Tejani also sought clarity on the roles of the municipal corporation, Weight and Measure Department, and the state excise authority in the implementation of the Act to avoid duplication and dual enforcement. He added that the definition of "proprietary food" needed to be made clear. "According to present understanding, each proprietary food requires separate approval and licensing, which is highly impractical. Industry associations have already taken up the matter with food safety standard authority in Delhi," added Tejani.
Zagade, in response, said confusion about the provisions of the new act may have been the result of fewer interactions between the state authorities and stakeholders from the industry. "This act is more of a developmental act rather than a regulatory act. Also, the act is not an imposition on business, but seeks expansion of the food industry, enabling it to compete internationally. Complying with the standards of this act will enable the food industry in India reach the international market," he said.
"I have taken up the issue of forming a techno-scientific committee with the centre. Such a committee will come up on the local level throughout the country. The committee will promote more interaction between the implementing agencies of the act and stakeholders in the industry," said Zagade, adding that the lacunae in the provisions of the act will also be taken up with the central authority separately.
Vinay Oswal, director, NAFARI, suggested that nominations for the techno-scientific committee should come from the industry. "Also, the process of forming this body will be based on a selection criterion, while its operation will have a specific protocol. The body will undertake a multi-faceted role, making sure that the new act is implemented effectively. One of its roles will be scientific evaluation of issues related to food safety, and food products, eliminating food hazards and the like. The ultimate goal is that consumers should get good, healthy, hazard-free and nutritious food," Oswal said adding that the body will consist scientists and technologists from the food processing industry.
Apr 21, 2012
Tea to be declared national drink: Montek
File photo shows a plantation worker braving the wet and misty weather in a tea garden on the Ooty-Lovedale road. Photo: D. Radhakrishnan
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Saturday said tea would be declared as national drink by April next year.
“The drink would be accorded national drink status by April 17 next year to coincide with the 212th birth anniversary of first Assamese tea planter and Sepoy Mutiny leader Maniram Dewan,” Mr. Ahluwalia said while addressing the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Assam Tea Planters Association here.
It was Maniram Dewan who was not only the first indigenous tea planter but also involved in the national movement, he said at the Tocklai Experimental Station.
“The other important reason is that half of the tea industry labour comprises women and is the largest employer in the organised sector,” Mr. Ahluwalia added.
The Deputy Chairman said he would soon take up the matter with Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma.
He said India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world. According to ORG-India Tea Consumption Study, 83 per cent households in India consume tea and is the cheapest beverage in the world after water.
Mr. Ahluwalia urged tea planters and producers to emulate the path of coffee planters and go in for producing more varieties.
There are more than 20 varieties of coffee in the market but there are only two varieties of tea -- CTC and Orthodox -- and there was an urgent need to bring in more varieties, he said.
Advanced tech in food preservation with safety features
In a world driven by innovation, novel non-thermal food safety intervention technologies are gaining ground.
While it's a fact that such technologies are gaining popularity, it may be mentioned that consumer interest in health and wellness prompted the food industry to develop technological solutions for preserving heat-sensitive functional foods with extended shelf life. In this regard, the food industry has been investigating several alternative food preservation techniques, according to a section of food technologists.
Extensive research is being undertaken at the Defence Bio-Engineering and Electrometrical Laboratory at the Defence Research Development Organisation, Bengaluru, University of Nebraska and Stansted Fluid Power UK.
Spectrum of tech
These cover the entire spectrum of advanced thermal processing known as Ohmic heating, Microwave heating and Radio Frequency heating and non-thermal food preservation methods such as High Pressure processing (HPP), Pulsed Electric Field processing (PEF), Irradiation, Ultrasound treatment, Ultraviolet processing, Ozone treatment and Cold Plasma treatment. Technologies like nanochitosan emulsion for antimicrobial coating in the application for preservation of food material and ultra high pressure homogenisation equipment are also devised.
There are several recent applications in advanced thermal and non-thermal intervention technologies that can be used for extending the shelf life of foods, quality and nutritional value of foods. It also covers the technology principles, equipment, microbial efficacy and food quality, according to Harshavaradhan Thippareddi, associate professor, and food safety extension specialist, department of food science technology, University of Nebraska.
While several technologies have been investigated, some of the technologies have gained wide acceptance in the food processing industry. The notable ones are HPP, PEF and UV light processing.
Evaluating potential
Investigations are underway to evaluate the potential for application of cold plasma technology for application to specific products such as fruits and fruit surfaces. While these technologies have applications in the food industry, they should be selected for specific applications as they may cause undesirable changes in some products. "HPP is widely accepted and used currently in the ready-to-eat meat and poultry processing industry to control Listeria monocytogenes. It can also improve the safety of fresh oysters and enhance the shelf life of avocado pulp," he said in a presentation on food technologies organised by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore.
Similarly, UV light is being used in fruit juices, especially apple juice for destruction of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella and E. Coli.
"Pulsed electric fields have been developed for application to liquid foods such as milk and fruit juices. Now we need to look at each of these technologies in terms of mechanism of action, efficacy and specific application to foods to improve their safety," he added.
Defence Bio-Engineering and Electrometrical Laboratory at the Defence Research Development Organisation has developed the nanochitosan emulsion for antimicrobial coating in the application for preservation of food material. The nano emulsion can be used to coat the fruits and vegetables to extend the shelf life and appearance, according to the scientists.
Stansted's range
Stansted Fluid Power has developed a range of systems customised to the requirements of HHP (high hydrostatic pressure) processing for both pasteurisation and sterilisation. The application of ultra high pressure homogenisation for food applications have included a wide variety of liquid products covering milk, fruit juices, vegetable extracts and flavourings where effects of micro organisms, creation of finer and more stable emulsions, active ingredients encapsulation and product sterilisations are developed. These advances are from technical abstracts on Innovative Techniques in Food Processing and Preservation published by the DFRL.
While it's a fact that such technologies are gaining popularity, it may be mentioned that consumer interest in health and wellness prompted the food industry to develop technological solutions for preserving heat-sensitive functional foods with extended shelf life. In this regard, the food industry has been investigating several alternative food preservation techniques, according to a section of food technologists.
Extensive research is being undertaken at the Defence Bio-Engineering and Electrometrical Laboratory at the Defence Research Development Organisation, Bengaluru, University of Nebraska and Stansted Fluid Power UK.
Spectrum of tech
These cover the entire spectrum of advanced thermal processing known as Ohmic heating, Microwave heating and Radio Frequency heating and non-thermal food preservation methods such as High Pressure processing (HPP), Pulsed Electric Field processing (PEF), Irradiation, Ultrasound treatment, Ultraviolet processing, Ozone treatment and Cold Plasma treatment. Technologies like nanochitosan emulsion for antimicrobial coating in the application for preservation of food material and ultra high pressure homogenisation equipment are also devised.
There are several recent applications in advanced thermal and non-thermal intervention technologies that can be used for extending the shelf life of foods, quality and nutritional value of foods. It also covers the technology principles, equipment, microbial efficacy and food quality, according to Harshavaradhan Thippareddi, associate professor, and food safety extension specialist, department of food science technology, University of Nebraska.
While several technologies have been investigated, some of the technologies have gained wide acceptance in the food processing industry. The notable ones are HPP, PEF and UV light processing.
Evaluating potential
Investigations are underway to evaluate the potential for application of cold plasma technology for application to specific products such as fruits and fruit surfaces. While these technologies have applications in the food industry, they should be selected for specific applications as they may cause undesirable changes in some products. "HPP is widely accepted and used currently in the ready-to-eat meat and poultry processing industry to control Listeria monocytogenes. It can also improve the safety of fresh oysters and enhance the shelf life of avocado pulp," he said in a presentation on food technologies organised by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore.
Similarly, UV light is being used in fruit juices, especially apple juice for destruction of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella and E. Coli.
"Pulsed electric fields have been developed for application to liquid foods such as milk and fruit juices. Now we need to look at each of these technologies in terms of mechanism of action, efficacy and specific application to foods to improve their safety," he added.
Defence Bio-Engineering and Electrometrical Laboratory at the Defence Research Development Organisation has developed the nanochitosan emulsion for antimicrobial coating in the application for preservation of food material. The nano emulsion can be used to coat the fruits and vegetables to extend the shelf life and appearance, according to the scientists.
Stansted's range
Stansted Fluid Power has developed a range of systems customised to the requirements of HHP (high hydrostatic pressure) processing for both pasteurisation and sterilisation. The application of ultra high pressure homogenisation for food applications have included a wide variety of liquid products covering milk, fruit juices, vegetable extracts and flavourings where effects of micro organisms, creation of finer and more stable emulsions, active ingredients encapsulation and product sterilisations are developed. These advances are from technical abstracts on Innovative Techniques in Food Processing and Preservation published by the DFRL.
Several food items fail laboratory test
JAIPUR: Out of the total food samples collected in the state in 2011-12, around 17% failed as in the laboratory tests they were not found fit for consumption or were of sub-standard quality.
According to the medical, health and family welfare department, food inspectors collected 3,908 samples in all the districts of the state. They collected the samples during festivals like Holi and Diwali and also on routine days.
The lab results of the samples can make the consumers more alert about selecting and purchasing the food items from the market. Out of the total 3,908 samples of food items collected, around 690 failed to meet the standard of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Some of them were not even fit for consumption.
The department claimed that it has taken action against the offending food vendors and manufacturers. "Challans were filed against them," said food safety commissioner BR Meena.
Among the samples of food items that were sent for testing were all kinds of eatable items like milk products including sweets and ghee.
Cancer chemical alert over crisps and coffee as Food Standards Agency identifies 13 at-risk products
Food firms have been warned about the presence of a cancer-risk chemical in everyday products ranging from crisps and chips to instant coffee and ginger biscuits.
A biscuit designed for babies and toddlers has also been caught up in the alert.
Experts are even warning families to only lightly toast their bread at home, as the chemical, called acrylamide, is more likely to form the longer and darker foods cook.
A study by the Food Standards Agency has identified 13 products containing raised levels of the chemical. In each case, officials at the local council where the supplier is based have been told to notify them.
Study: The Food Standards Agency has identified 13 products containing raised levels of the chemical acrylamide
Acrylamide, which is still being investigated by scientists, is a cooking by-product associated with frying, baking, roasting or toasting foods at very high temperatures, usually greater than 120c.
The FSA insists its findings raise no immediate risk to the public and there is no need for people to change their diet.
However, it is putting pressure on all food companies to reduce acrylamide levels because long-term consumption could increase the risk of cancer. Its official advice is also that families should ensure bread and chips they eat are only toasted or baked to the 'lightest colour possible'.
The FSA said its study of levels of acrylamide and furan – another cancer-risk chemical – is used to identify which firms need to take action. Acrylamide is formed by a reaction between natural components in food as it cooks.
In reality it has probably been in the diet for as long as man has fried, roasted or toasted food. Manufacturers including Heinz and McVitie's have already responded by changing their recipes.
Warned: Food firms have been cautioned that everyday products such as crisps, biscuits and instant coffee could contain the cancer-risk chemical acrylamide
The FSA is required by the EU and the European Food Safety Authority to carry out the annual tests. It looked at 248 samples, from chips sold by fast-food outlets to supermarket own-label and big brand ranges. In 13 cases levels were above the 'indicative value' – a trigger point to tell the firm it should examine its production process.
At risk: The FSA has warned food firms that everyday products such as instant coffee could contain the cancer chemical acrylamide
The FSA said: 'This raised worldwide public concern because studies in laboratory animals suggest acrylamide has the potential to cause cancer in humans by interacting with the DNA in cells.
'The Agency believes exposure to such chemicals should be as low as reasonably practicable.'
The latest survey found 'an upward trend' in acrylamide levels in processed cereal-based baby foods, excluding rusks. Importantly however, the FSA said this did not mean parents should stop giving these products to youngsters.
The Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, said members are 'ensuring levels are as low as reasonably achievable'.
Heinz changed its Banana Biscotti recipe this year to reduce acrylamide to trace levels. United Biscuits, which makes McVitie's Gingernuts, said it has cut acrylamide by 70 per cent. The firm also pledged to cut levels in its McCoy’s crisps.
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