SALEM DIST. FOOD SAFETY DEPT. NEWS

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Mynamarese food items to be tested

Imphal, October 26 2012: Food items imported from neighbouring Myanmar to Manipur are now subject to safety and efficacy testing in laboratory and at the same time the next step is to pay special attention to different brands of packaged drinking water produced in the state, an official of Manipur Medical Directorate said.

The step has been taken up by the state Government in response to an official instruction by Central Government, an official of the state Medical Directorate who did not want to be named told Nepram Tombi of Newmai News Network on Friday.

With the centre paying special attention to all the eatables included in Indo-Myanmar boarder trade, the instruction was given to the state Government by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) at the Centre acting on a prior proposal submitted to the latter by Manipur Government in this regard in July this year, the official informed.

As per the instruction, the largest imported food item betel nuts were tested at Food Testing Laboratory, Lamphelpat in August, he said.

The test was conducted after taking samples of the betel nuts under the supervision of food experts.

However, no detrimental substance was detected during the testing after which further import of betel nuts in the state was approved, he added.

The procedure of testing of every suspicious food item is carried out by way of purchasing them from traders and then sending them to the state laboratory, he further said.

This, he said, is done by the concerned Food Safety Officers (FSOs) of all the districts.

In the case of imported foodstuffs, test is conducted after the samples are received, the Medical Directorate official said.

The food samples are sent to the laboratory by custom officials.

He also said it has become quite necessary at the same time to keep special attention to all the packaged drinking water available in the state.

It does not mean that they are all bad but the point is that the need for testing such article has grown up, he stressed.

The official said it has been a demand from some section of the public that manufacturing and expiry dates pasted along with label tags on every bottled drinking water brands should be indicated by markings only.

A chemical compound called bisphenol-A is contained in every bottle to make the water look clean and clear but as expiry date of the compound extends beyond it dissolves slowly and causes harm to health, he further said.

Considering the above fact, experts from the state Food Testing Laboratory are also of the view that it is better to indicate manufacturing and expiry dates of every packaged drinking water through proper markings on the surface of the bottle itself.

This will enable to prevent from reselling of already used bottles and also selling of bottled drinking water brands beyond expiry dates, he suggested.

He further informed that the Central Government has also given approval to upgrade the present building and equipments of the Food Testing Laboratory at Lamphelpat by April 2013 .

All the other eatables included in the Indo-Myammar Border Trade will be tested at the laboratory a soon as it is upgraded but testing of all the items is impossible as of now due to lack of better proper tools and microbiology room, he added.

The major food items now imported from Myanmar through barter mechanism are betel nuts, turmeric, red kidneys beans (rajma), kuth roots, gram, resin, dry ginger, etc.

Offenders escape prosecution in absence of testing facilities

Jammu, Oct 26: With inadequate facility of testing laboratories in the city, the anti-adulteration drive launched by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is proving a futile exercise as it is unable to get timely result of samples picked for testing to prosecute the offenders.  
 Sources said that the only Food and Drug Laboratory at Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) getting hundreds of samples daily form across the region is overburdened and thus fails to meet the urgency of getting the results to imitate legal action against the  traders resorting adulteration..  
 They said that as per Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) Act-2008, JMC can not set up its own food testing laboratory as a result of which it has to depend on Food and Drug Laboratory at Regional Research Laboratory (RRL)   the only laboratory in the region. The laboratory is regulated by both Union Health Ministry and State Health Ministry, they added.
 They said the laboratory is well equipped with modern gadgets to test all kind of food items which are sent there. Hundreds of samples of food items are sent to this laboratory from across the Jammu region for testing on daily basis which make it overburdened and consequently led to delay in getting results. The maximum time for providing result has been fixed for 14 days which is very long period to take further action against the violators.
 In view of the ongoing festive season, the Health wing of JMC has intensified the anti adulteration drive and conducts massive raids at business establishments selling sweets  , milk and   allied products   within municipal limits and dozens of food samples lifted daily are sent to this laboratory, they said adding that but it cannot get the results in time giving the offenders much time to escape the legal action.
 They added that Consumers Affairs Public Distribution (CAPD) Department was also conducting anti adulteration drives and send the samples to RLL and face same problem   .
 When contacted the Health Officer JMC, Dr Vinod Sharma admitted that Food and Drug laboratory at RRL has very small set up and can not cater to bulk of samples. He said that inadequate staff and many other  problems hamper  the timely testing . 
  “We have to face many problems to take immediate legal action against the defaulters. However we seize adulterated food items and impose heavy fine on the violators”, he added. He further said that Additional Deputy Commissioner has an authority to impose the fine from Rs 5000 to Rs 5 lakh.

DINAKARAN NEWS

An open letter to Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman and CEO

Dear Ms Nooyi

This letter is a gentle reminder of a promise you made in the March of 2010 through a public announcement that your esteemed company , PepsiCo, is voluntarily adopting a new global policy by stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools by 2012. I believe when you planned this policy, you meant 2012 and not 2013 for we are about to Enter the New Year In a couple of months and to our utter disappointment, you haven't fulfilled your promise till date.

Today, when junk food and sugar-loaded soft drinks are being shunned and banned in the schools globally to prevent our children from poor health and obesity, ma'am, I would have really appreciated your contribution as a savior towards this epidemic "Obesogenic" situation. The campaign to make schools "junk-free" is catching fire all over the world. Activists, doctors, media and a lot of celebrity chefs have immensely criticized sportsmen and celebrities like filmstars for endorsing junk food and colas. Their involvement with such brands has an inevitable and severe impact on kids, who wish to be like them and follow their heroes blindly.

Don't you feel the heat of the situation? Don't the harmful effects of junk food horrify you? India being the "Diabetes Capital of the World" and cancer being the second terrifying disease engulfing Indians don't bother you? Are you ready to be a part of this mayhem? Wouldn't you like to contribute towards helping this situation for the sake of the children, our children, your children? I feel that with timely fulfillment of your promise, PepsiCo could have emerged as exemplary for promoting healthy food and disease-free life among kids.

Although we have made sure that no school shall be selling unhealthy or junk food and colas across India based on Public Interest Litigation filed by us in the Delhi High Court against consumption of Junk Food in Schools. And you will be happy to note that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already started the work for framing guidelines to make available quality and safe food at schools across the country by March of 2013, but we still feel that you should fulfill your promise and make a graceful exit from schools.

According to the reply filed by FSSAI in the Hon'ble Delhi High Court that there are more than 8 lakh primary and upper primary schools spread all over the country, imparting education to more than 12 crore children and we strongly believe that all these children will have access to healthy and nutritious food along with a happy future.

Ma'am, I understand that PepsiCo is one of the largest manufacturers of beverages and snacks globally. And I appreciate the fact that PepsiCo has also dedicated itself for offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, but I am surprised with the delay about the commitment made by you publicly as till date there is no news of stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools anywhere in India.

These were your words that you have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting good health among students, and you have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that. This includes restoring or expanding physical education and promoting nutritional education. This global policy will definitely serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages but, ma'am, I am sorry to say that none of these statements impress us as a majority of common citizens like me believe in actions over speeches and unfulfilled commitments.

Obesity is a health epidemic not only across our country but globally and we have a responsibility as individuals and as society to do whatever we can to promote good nutrition and healthy eating habits so that we can reverse this alarming trend. A study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, among children in the age group of 14-18 found 17% of children to be obese or overweight. A similar study by Fortis Hospital, Delhi, found that 28% of school kids in the city are obese, whereas a research in urban areas of southern India revealed 21% of boys and 18% of girls between 13 and 18 years, to be obese.

School canteens have a social responsibility towards the health and growth of children, and in inculcating healthy eating. They could be used as places to motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food. However, it really saddens me that through massive billion-dollar advertising campaigns, corporates have laid claim to children's imagination and virtually insinuated themselves into every corner of children's lives. Today, children eat food designed for the health of corporate balance sheets rather than their own health.

The situation is alarming and needs quick action. We all are facing the harmful effects of junk food consumption like allergies, hair fall, poor stamina, digestive issues and adult diseases like, blood pressure, poor concentration, and hormonal disorders in our daily life.

We expect that your company is not only working towards getting good financial returns but also understands its moral responsibility towards mankind and society as a whole. Replacing full-sugar soft drinks from schools with healthy snacks and low-calorie nutritious beverages is a commendable idea. You are quite popular for your involvement by sponsoring the various programs, events and campaigns organized by schools in India and this step of yours will not only put you on a high moral ground but also enhance your reputation globally.

We as a non-profit expect/understand that you are really concerned about the health of children by taking a pledge of leaving the school canteens this year and will definitely fulfill your promise by ensuring the placement of low-calorie, low-sugar content and high nutritional value products on the school canteen racks.

Ma'am, we grew up on your company's products, enjoyed them, endorsed them and also gifted you heavy balance sheets every year. Today, we want a gift from you, a strong commitment that you will fulfill your promise by the 28th of October, so we can have a wonderful and healthy gift on your birthday.

P.S. "Happy Birthday"

Warm Regards

Rahul Verma
Co-founder
Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups.

(The Uday Foundation has grown from what was essentially a handful of parents and doctors of babies with birth defects to a nonprofit fully dedicated to children, health and human rights. Its main aim is to provide support services to children afflicted with congenital defects, critical disorders, syndromes, and diseases that affect their health condition, education and growth.)

Shocking! All instant noodle brands are fooling you on nutrition, health

Lab tests conducted by CERS clearly indicate that the ‘health’ quotient claimed by instant noodles brands is far from being true. As a matter of fact, high levels of sodium, fat and carbohydrates in these food products can lead to life-threatening conditions like cardiac disorders and blood pressure

Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education & Research Society (CERS) has said its in-house laboratory test of 15 popular instant noodles brand reveals that most health claims made by these brands are deceptive and are way below in nutrition levels as well.

The fifteen brands tested included brands like Maggi, Top Ramen, Knorr, Ching’s Secret, Sunfeast Yippee!, Foodles, Tasty Treat and Wai Wai X-press. The results were shocking. “Some of the common findings for most of the samples tested included high level of sodium salts, significantly low fibre content, high amount of fats and several other shocking factors. The brands that claimed ‘Healthy’, ‘wholesome’, ‘enriched with proteins and iron’ and ‘full of fibre’, were refuted by the test findings as going way above the safe limit of several harmful elements,” CERS said in a release.

7 Facts about Instant Noodles •   Noodles are junk food with little nutrition value in spite of all the health claims. Avoid if you can. If you cannot, reduce consumption. •    Check the shelf life. It varies from brand to brand. •    Increase the protein value of the noodles by adding an egg or a small amount of soy products such as tofu or soya nuggets. Add vegetables and fruits either for garnishing or as an accompaniment. •    Majority of salt is added to noodles through the seasoning supplied in sachets. So reduce the sodium content by using the minimum amount of seasoning, preferably half of the sachets. •    Instant noodle soup is often high in salt; limit its consumption to avoid excess intake. •    Instant noodles can serve as breakfast or evening snacks but not as main meals. Limit the consumption to a maximum of once in a week or ten days. •    Pregnant women and infants (below 12 months) must avoid consumption of instant noodles containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) as flavour enhancer (INS 621). So watch out for MSG or INS 621 in the list of ingredients given on the packet.

CERS said the domestic market for instant noodles in worth Rs1,000 crore and most people consume it more than once in a fortnight. This led the consumer organisation to probe claims made by these brands.
It said, “Some of the brands like the ‘Top Ramen Oat Noodles’ and ‘Maggi Vegetable Multigrainz Noodles’ that prominently claimed to be relatively healthier than their counterparts through their advertisements, were actually fooling their customers in to eating noodles and harming their health.” 
Instant noodles, while chiefly targeted at easily impressionable kids, are also now promoted across all age groups as a healthy snacking option. But the tests conducted by CERS clearly indicate that the ‘health’ quotient claimed by instant noodles brands is far from being true. As a matter of fact, high levels of sodium, fat and carbohydrates in these food products can lead to life-threatening conditions like cardiac disorders and blood pressure problems.
None of the brands were able to substantiate their tall claims of being healthy snacking option when interpreted against Food Standards Agency (FSA) of UK standards for fats and sodium, CERS said in a release.
Though there are no specific Indian Standards to check the level of nutrition when it comes to instant noodles, CERS conducted the tests for basic parameters that included total ash, moisture level, acid insoluble ash, fat, crude fibre, proteins, sodium, calcium, iron, carbohydrate, and energy. During these tests, the labelling information on each of the samples was checked against the regulations laid down by Food Safety and Standards (packaging & labelling) Regulations, 2011. Contrary to their claims of being a harmless snack, most of the instant noodles brands have emerged to be a dangerous choice in the present day stressful lifestyle, the release said.

CERS has recommended several actions through which the government can force the instant noodle manufacturers to improve their products and safeguard the health of the consumers. Some of these recommendations include suggestions like the Food Safety and Standards authorities take note of the salt minimization efforts put forth by UK FSA and compel manufacturers to reduce the sodium levels. The consumer body has also suggested stringent norms for packaging wherein manufacturers highlight the content of their products explicitly making it easier for the consumer to notice.
Citing the major role played by the misleading advertisements of instant noodles, CERS has recommended that Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) implement stricter conditions forcing manufacturers to refrain from making false claims to innocent consumers. The recommendations are also directed towards manufacturers, asking them to reduce the level of harmful elements like sodium and increase the amount of nutritional elements like calcium and iron.
CERS said it sent out the results of each brand to its respective manufacturer seeking clarification about the alarming results. However, none of the manufacturers responded to the queries raised by CERS, the release added.

How KFC India Could Have Saved Face After The Wormgate Episode

Our views on how KFC India could have saved its online reputation, following the worms found in the chicken at its Trivandrum outlet.

“Someone found worms in my fried chicken and pictures of it are everywhere now. My outlet has been shut down by the food safety guys who have already begun their investigations. I did put up a kitchen tour video on my Facebook page for my worried fans, in which I explained about all the safety measures we take but did not offer an explanation for the worms. I also hogged a piece at the end, after all I’m the Chief Food Innovation Officer. But, my fans seem to be really peeved about this. I don’t understand what the fuss is all about?”

If you are this man and you don’t understand what the fuss is all about, then you are in grave trouble. In fact, you could become the butt of jokes just as KFC India discovered right after it totally mishandled a wormgate episode on its Facebook page. Here’s what happened earlier this month and since then, there have been no updates regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, I see the page admin has been posting yummy pictures and updates from the Radio KFC Facebook contest. And I also see a standard response that the matter is under investigation, whenever a fan questions about the worms. KFC India is clearly being defensive and that doesn’t help save its face. And all this when it has expansion plans in the country!

Instead of taking a concerned approach on social media rather than one that reeks of indifference, the online reputation managers at KFC India have left me disappointed. While they did take a few damage control steps, there are quite a few blunders in the approach. Let’s take a look:

Address the issue beforehand

Perhaps, a rival planted those worms or this is something even more sinister, but KFC India needed to address the issue on all its digital properties, sooner than it did. Yes, they did address the issue at hand in the form of a Facebook update but this came after a good number of days, during which the damage was already done – the brand was lampooned on Facebook and Twitter and even rechristened as KFW (Kentucky Fried Worms).

A brand is accountable to its community. Just as KFC expects its fans to drool over its yummy zingers and ‘like’ the post at once, it should also be ready to see them being spiteful about the worm incident. Had the statement come in just as the news media broke the story, it would have helped mitigate the damage right at the very beginning. Fans love what you serve them and worms were definitely not in the menu, so the informative update posted by KFC was a good thing but rather late in the day.

Bring in a face to the brand

Fans and onlookers weren’t content with what was posted by the page admin. There were reports of fewer numbers at KFC outlets. As competitors were feasting away their business, KFC came up with a video update from the Chief Food Innovation Officer, Vijay Sukumar of Yum! Restaurants that manages KFC in India. I was thrilled to bits! Here’s a brand with a face. And that is such a human thing to do.

But, in the entire video of 1:27 minutes, Vijay kept harping about the brand’s stringent food safety standards while taking us through a kitchen tour but not once did he make any reference to the worms found in the Trivandrum outlet chicken. He even took a bite from a KFC chicken bucket hoping to reassure us. But, all that ‘human face’ effort went down the drain. A man of authority talks to his irate fans to reassure them about the brand’s safety standards but avoids to address the very reason of his fan’s fury!

Choose their words carefully

The statement by the page admin comes across as a calculated one. When you are already angry about the breach of trust, how would you savour an official statement that begins like this –  ”Hi we know some of you have been hearing and reading about the recent inspection conducted by the local authorities at our restaurant in Trivandrum. Nothing is more important to us than food safety. We take all claims about our food very seriously and we are thoroughly investigating this claim. Please rest assured that as a responsible brand, we are committed to following international standards and serving the highest quality products to all our customers across each of our restaurants.”

The tone chosen suggests that it is all about the brand and how affected they have been by the whole incident. They do not seem to be concerned about the customers at all. Sounds like a sales pitch just as the remainder of the statement!

Besides, the ‘Hi’ has been addressed with an ‘indifferent’ tone. KFC doesn’t seem to be talking to its fans or brand advocates here.

Regain the lost trust

Your community trusts you and you need to respect that. This might be an unfortunate incident and you are breaking your head how this could ever happen to you but the fact is that it did happen and there is ample evidence. So, you have to deal with it. While you are seriously ‘investigating the claim’, you need to seriously regain the lost trust of your fans.

The first rule of ORM is to apologise or acknowledge a disaster at once. KFC took a long time to come up with a statement following the online backlash.

The second rule is to offer a resolution or at least talk about the disaster. KFC’s kitchen tour video did not even make a passing reference to the worms found in its chicken. Avoiding an issue when you are directly accountable is the worst you can do. The brand could have reduced some of the damage by not making that video at all!

Fans have been quite fierce in their comments and the fury is still high on Facebook. Had the brand really put themselves into a damage control mode and followed the steps mentioned above, this fury would have died down by now. Regaining the trust of your customers is tough but not impossible.

As KFC India fights hard to reopen the outlet, I don’t know what it will do to the many articles that come up when you type ‘KFC India’ into Google.

More than 68% of Milk in India has Paint, Detergent

Adulterated Sweets Flood in Indian Market

Milk adulteration - Frequent testing only answer

If it is milk, it’s bound be adulterated, at least with water. That is the largely accepted fact about this traditional protein-rich source of nutrition in India. The recent revelation by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that nearly 70 per cent of the milk samples taken by it across the country failed is merely a confirmation of what everyone knows. While defining ‘pure’ and ‘adulterated’ milk is difficult, the FSSAI has compared the samples to certain standards of hygiene and nutrition laid down by it. Even the clean milk supplied in packets by recognised organisations is not as it came from the udders of the cow. Most of it is ‘reconstituted’ — it has water, fat or milk solids added or removed to make it adhere to standards corresponding to the label on it.

What is dangerous is the kind of adulterants that go into milk in the unorganised sector to make it look like the genuine thing even when it is not. It could be anything from detergent, urea, and sugar to baking soda. The temptation to adulterate milk is strong — as it is so easy — and the only way to check it is stringent and frequent testing. And that is something most state governments are neither equipped nor inclined to do. According to the Food Safety and Standards Act, implemented in Punjab in 2011, all units handling food in any manner have to be licensed by the Heath Department. But the department does not even have the infrastructure to do the registration, what to talk of testing.

At the macro level, steps have to be taken to increase milk production, as shortage is a major incentive for cheating. At the same time, initiatives are required to expand the cooperative system of milk collection and handling, which by the virtue of institutionalising the trade prevents malpractices to a great extent. Setting up a foolproof chain can be a test of a government in running a farmer-welfare cooperative system, as milk is one of the most perishable food products, and the system can be replicated for any fresh farm produce.

Food vendors, the new focus of dengue drive

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has roped in the city’s food vendors in their drive against dengue and water-borne diseases this monsoon.
Around 20,000 food-business operators, including star hotels, will become the focal point of a mosquito control drive, said officials of the department.
Since many of the premises owned by food-business operators were found to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the Chennai Corporation and the food safety department have decided to focus here, as part of their massive awareness drive.
The drive is being organised in areas such as Anna Nagar, Kothwal Chavadi, T. Nagar, Perambur and Tondiarpet. On Thursday, hundreds of food vendors, including hotel owners participated in an awareness meeting.
Senior entomologists conducted training sessions on ways to prevent the growth of mosquito larvae and on how to identify breeding grounds. The training sessions also included information on the four different types of dengue spread by theAedes aegyptimosquito.
Officials also made a presentation on the disease for the participants, and said awareness programmes were needed to sensitise all their employees, too, about the infection.
The drive for mosquito control and prevention of water-borne diseases are part of efforts towards increasing food safety and preventing food adulteration in the city. The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 came into force on August 5, 2011.
The Corporation issues trade licences to food-business operators, while their registration is carried out by the food safety department.

Around 20,000 food-business operators, including star hotels will be sensitised about the disease

சாலையோர டிபன் கடைக்கு "லைசென்ஸ்' கட்டாயம்:கலெக்டர் மகரபூஷணம் அறிவிப்பு

சேலம்: "சாலையோர டிபன் கடைகள், சில்லி சிக்கன் கடைகள், காய்கறி, பழம் விற்பவர்கள், தலைச்சுமையாக வியாபாரம் செய்பவர்கள் உள்பட பல்வேறு உணவுப் பொருள் விற்பனையாளர்கள், தங்களுடைய பெயர் பதிவு மற்றும் லைசென்ஸ் பெறுவது கட்டாயமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது' என, சேலம் கலெக்டர் மகரபூஷணம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இது குறித்து, அவர் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கை:ரேஷன் கடை, ஆவின், டாஸ்மாக் கடை, பார், சிவில் சப்ளைஸ் குடோன்கள், கூட்டுறவு மற்றும் பொன்னி பண்டக சாலை, அறநிலையத்துறைக்கு உட்பட்ட கோவில்களில் அன்னதானம் மற்றும் பிரசாதம் வழங்குமிடம், ஆதிதிராவிடர், பிற்பட்டோர் நல விடுதிகள் ஆகியவை பதிவு அல்லது உரிமம் பெறுவது கட்டாயம். சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், அரசு உணவு நிறுவனங்கள் அனைத்தும் உரிமம் பெற்று விட்டன.

அனைத்து உணவுப்பொருள் தயாரிப்பாளர்கள், அரிசி ஆலைகள், சேகோ ஆலைகள், உணவு எண்ணெய் தயாரிப்பாளர் மற்றும் விற்பனையாளர்கள், மளிகை கடைக்காரர்கள், ஓட்டல் உரிமையாளர்கள், டீக்கடைகாரர்கள், இனிப்பு, காரவகைகள் தயாரிப்பவர், விற்பனை செய்பவர், சாலையோர உணவு கடைக்காரர்கள், பேக்கரி, இறைச்சி வியாபாரிகள், சில்லி சிக்கன் கடைகள், காய்கறி, பழம் விற்பனை செய்வோர், பால் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள், பால் வியாபாரிகள், பள்ளி, கல்லூரி, தொழிற்சாலைகளில் கேன்டீன் நடத்துபவர்கள், திருமண மண்டபங்களில் உணவு தயாரிப்போர், மொத்த மற்றும் சில்லரை வியாபாரிகள், தலைச்சுமையாக தெருவில் விற்பவர்கள், சாலையோர தள்ளுவண்டி கடைக்காரர்கள், அனைத்து உணவுப் பொருள் விற்பனையாளர்கள் அனைவரும் தங்களை பதிவு செய்வது, உரிமம் பெறுவது கட்டாயமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் பெறாமல் வியாபாரம் செய்வது குற்றமாகும். இந்த குற்றத்துக்கு, ஆறு மாத சிறைத்தண்டனை, ஐந்து லட்சம் ரூபாய் அபராதம் விதிக்க சட்டத்தில் இடம் உள்ளது.மொத்தம், 12 லட்சம் ரூபாய்க்கு, குறைவாக வணிகம் செய்யும் சிறு, குறு மற்றும் நடுத்தர நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் பகுதி உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவரிடம், "படிவம் ஏ'யை பூர்த்தி செய்து, வங்கியில், 100 ரூபாய் செலுத்தி, பதிவு சான்று பெற வேண்டும். 12 லட்சம் ரூபாய்க்கு அதிகமாக விற்பனை செய்வோர், மாவட்ட நியமன அதிகாரியிடம், "படிவம் பி'யை பூர்த்தி செய்து, 2,000 ரூபாய் முதல், 5,000 ரூபாய் வரை, செலுத்தி உரிமம் பெற வேண்டும். விண்ணப்பம் பெறப்பட்ட நாளில் இருந்து, 60 நாட்களுக்குள் உரிமம் வழங்கப்படும்.உரிமத்தின் காலம், பெறப்பட்ட நாளில் இருந்து ஒரு ஆண்டுக்கு செல்லத்தக்கதாகும்.

உணவுப்பொருள் நிறுவனங்கள், தங்கள் நிறுவனத்தை சுத்தமாக, சுகாதாரமாக பராமரிக்க வேண்டும். தொற்று நோயுள்ள பணியாளர்களை, நிறுவனங்களில் பணியமர்த்தக்கூடாது. விற்பனை நிலையத்தில், எலி மற்றும் பூச்சிகள், நோய் பரப்பும் கிருமிகள் இருக்கக்கூடாது. பயன்படுத்திய உணவு எண்ணெயை மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்தக்கூடாது.உணவு பொருள் விற்பனை செய்ய உரிமம் பெற்ற வணிகர்கள், தங்களின் உரிமத்தை புதுப்பிக்கவும், உரிமத்தை மாற்றியமைக்கவும், அடுத்த ஆண்டு ஃபிப்.,4ம் தேதி வரை காலக்கெடு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுவரை, உணவு உரிமம் பெறாதவர்கள், உடனடியாக விண்ணப்பித்து பெற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். இறக்குமதி, ஏற்றுமதி செய்யும் வணிகர்கள் டிசம்பர், 4ம் தேதிக்குள் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும்.

மேலும் விபரங்களுக்கு, மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை, நாட்டாண்மை கழக கட்டிடம், சேலம், டெலிபோன்; 0427 - 2450332, மொபைல்: 94435 - 20332 என்ற எண்ணில் தொடர்பு கொண்டு தகவல் பெறலாம்.

Food adulteration alarming in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: While Chhattisgarh has the dubious distinction of ranking at the top from among states with high rate of food adulteration with 40% samples found contaminated in 2010 by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the state's capital surpasses the figure with 50% of the samples failing the test this year.

In a nutshell, the figures literally suggest that 50% of food being consumed in Raipur is adulterated as the samples picked by the Food and Drug Administration Department during the year came from across the supply chain including retailers, suppliers, manufactures and processors. According to the available data of the 204 samples the department collected, nearly 102 were found adulterated between Sept 2011 and Sept 2012.

The adulterated samples included spices, khoya (used widely by sweetmeat shops), spices and edible oil. Officials said that the Food Safety Standard (FSS) Act was implemented in the state last year.

Interestingly, the state-wide figures for food adulteration is considerably less than the state capital and stand at 35%. Only 180 samples of the 510 collected in the same period were contaminated. This is more or less close to FSSAI's 2010 findings in which 40% of samples, highest in the country, in the state were adulterated.

The FSSAI had collected over 1.17 lakh samples of food articles throughout the country and 13% of them were found to be adulterated. A comparative analysis shows high adulteration of 40% in Chhattisgarh, 34% in Uttarakhand, 29% in Uttar Pradesh, 23% in Rajasthan and 20% in West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.

Besides, nearly 17% of the food samples tested in Bihar and Chandigarh, 16% in Nagaland, 15% in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, 14% in Haryana, 12% in Tamil Nadu and 10% in Maharashtra were found adulterated. However, adulteration rates in Delhi were low at 4% while in Karnataka it was just 5%.

According to officials, in Raipur the department has secured seven convictions so far and the violators have been fined between Rs 25,000 to Rs 80,000. Similarly, 25 convictions have been achieved state-wide and a fine to the tune of Rs 7.80 lakh was collected.

Health officials admit that during the ensuing festive season the number of adulteration cases go up with an increased demand for sweets. "Unscrupulous traders resort to adulteration to make a fast buck without bothering for the health of the consumers," said Food Safety Officer (FSO), Dr A Dewangan, adding that to meet the local demand, contaminated supplies come from all over the country including UP and MP.

Despite the fact that adulteration impacts the health of all consumers, the state government isn't seem to be doing enough to put stringent checks in place. The shortage of FSOs in the state makes this quite evident.

There are only 15 FSO covering 27 districts of the state and Raipur which has a population of 12 lakh, has only three. Sources reveal that 35 posts have been advertised and until they are filled, the resources with the department are limited.

FDA Maharashtra eases norms; asks FBOs to opt for licensing, registration

Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has proactively suggested all food business operators (FBOs) of Maharashtra to register or get licence under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

According to FDA, in this regard, if the FBOs want to hold camps in groups, they are free to do so and the officials concerned will help them in ensuring early registration and licensing.

Dilip Shrirao, joint commissioner (vigilance), FDA, Maharashtra, explains, “The system of registration and licensing has been made very transparent and any non-cooperation from any of the FDA officials by way of delay or corruption should be immediately referred to me.”

He added, “All FBOs seeking the change from manufacturers/importers require licence or registration including for transport vehicles that are for transporting foods. The instructions have already been given to officials to send the licences/registration certificates by post as early as possible.”

Shrirao stated, “Any FBO which did not receive registration certificate after applying and paying the fees within one month will be deemed to have been granted registration and any applicant who does not receive licence within two months from the date of registration and paying fees will be deemed to have granted licence.”

“If any demand is made by the concerned registering/licensing authority or by anyone on their behalf may be promptly reported to FDA,” stated Shrirao.

The registration fee is Rs 100 per year and licensing fees is Rs 2,000 per year for all the FBOs in Maharashtra.

Shrirao pointed out, “It is an offence to conduct food business without registration or licence. If anyone is conducting business without licence he is liable for 6 months imprisonment and fines upto Rs 5 lakh and without registration it will be compounding upto Rs 1 lakh.”

“Usually there will be no inspection before granting registration/conversion/renewal. Renewal can be done upto five years from the day of conversion. No fees will be charged for which it has been paid earlier. All the FBOs are assured that they will be given registration and licensing certificate in due time unless some major discrepancies/ violation are found. The manufacturer/importer/distributor shall buy and sell food products only from or to licensed/registered vendors and maintain record thereof,” informed Shrirao.

Registration is required for all petty food manufacturers like temporary and permanent stall-holders, hawkers, home-based canteen, dabbawallas, petty retailers of snacks, tea shops, petty manufacturers/processors/re-packers, petty stall-holders in religious gatherings, fairs and so on, all milk producers who are not members of dairy co-operative societies, milk vendors, fish/meat/poultry shop and sellers and others.

While licensing is required for manufacturing/processing including sorting, grading and so on, milk collection/chilling, slaughter house, solvent extracting unit, solvent extracting plant equipped with pre-cleaning of oil seeds or pre-expelling of oil, solvent extracting and oil refining plant, packaging, re-labelling (manufactured by third party under own packing and labelling), importing, storage/warehouse/cold storage, retail trade, wholesale trade, distributor/supplier, transporter of food, catering, dhaba or any other food vending establishment like club/canteen, hotel and restaurant.

Milk adulteration Rampant in district

Milk adulteration scenario in the district is mired in cover-ups, inaction by the administration and greed. Even as almost 50 per cent of the milk coming from commercial dairies, most of which are situated at the Jamsher Dairy Complex, in Jalandhar is said to be adulterated, the number of samples failing in the district is mysteriously low, because inside sources say the guilty are often let off the hook. Half of the milk coming from dairies in Jamsher, Bulandpur, Sekhe village and Nala village is said to be adulterated. Water, skimmed milk powder, ararot powder (starch), refined oil, urea, etc., are commonly mixed with the milk. On an average, 300 dairies of the Jamsher Dairy Complex have a yield of 12,000 quintal milk per day, half of which, sources say, is adulterated. Cattle are also commonly injected with the banned ‘oxytocin’ injections to boost the yield of the milk. The milk from about 250 to 300 cooperative societies in the district is said to be relatively safer because the inherent checks in these are stringent. Of the 101 samples taken in the district in the past three years (2010 to 2012), 37 have failed. Of the total 20 milk samples taken from both urban and rural milk vendors by the Health Department in 2012 (January to September), five have failed. Of the five milk samples taken from milk vendors in August alone, two have failed. In 2011, the Health Department took a total of 62 milk samples, out of which 22 failed. In 2010 (between March 15, 2010, and August 18, 2010), 19 samples were taken by the health and dairy development board food inspectors, out of which 10 failed. As many as nine of these milk vendors (seven from Jamsher Dairy Complex and the rest from the city) were taken to court by the Dairy Development Board after their samples failed. The sources say the law was later tweaked to facilitate the dairy owners. “A complaint was registered against the erring milk vendors by food inspectors of the Health and Dairy Departments in the Sessions Court in 2010, but ironically, some dairy owners got their samples rechecked later and they were mysteriously declared passed. Currently, a case is on against only one of the said milk vendors, while the rest were let off,” said an official. While the Health Department has been operating as per the Food Safety Standard Act (FSSA), 2006, (implemented in Punjab in August 2011), before the implementation of the FSSA, the Dairy Department was working in tandem with the Health Department under the Food Adulteration Act, 1954. Confirming this, Deputy Director, Dairies, Surinder Pal Singh, said: “After the implementation of the FSSA, our department is no more authorised to check dairy samples. It is now directly under the purview of the Health Department.” Sources say since the implementation of the FSSA, the law is being soft on offenders and most samples which are even unfit for human consumption are let off by being labeled merely substandard. Blaming the Health Department-dairy owners’ nexus for rampant milk adulteration in the district, the sources say under the FSSA, the DC or the SDM delegates a food inspector to look into the matter and offenders are simply challaned even when they should be taken to court.

Fact file

- Of the 101 samples taken in the district in the past three years (2010 to 2012), 37 have failed.

- Of the total 20 milk samples taken from both urban and rural milk vendors by the Health Department in 2012 (January to September), five have failed.

- Of the five milk samples taken from milk vendors in August alone, two have failed.

- In 2011, the Health Department took a total of 62 milk samples, out of which 22 failed.

- In 2010 (between March 15, 2010, and August 18, 2010), 19 samples were taken by health and dairy development board food inspectors, out of which 10 failed.

Spurious ghee seized from govt canteen

LUCKNOW: The food safety and drug administration department intercepted a consignment of 15,000 kg of spurious ghee from a government canteen in the Bulandshahr's district collectorate office. Delivery of the 'mild fat' product was being made to the canteen on Monday morning, when the food safety officials intercepted the consignment and found multiple violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Speaking to TOI, Food Safety Officer, Bulandshahr, SK Pandey, said, "The FSS Act was being violated on various grounds. While one kg packs were certified by an agency not recognised under FSS Act, the name of the product was not mentioned on the two kg packs."

Pandey confirmed that the product was seized and samples sent to an undisclosed government laboratory for testing. He also said letter from the district magistrate will be dispatched to the food commissioner, apprising him of the violations. The spurious products were manufactured under the name of 'Tapan Mild Fat', a product that had been seized in raids conducted in Agra last year.

This time, Pandey said, the same products were being allegedly manufactured under the brand name of RK Food Industries, which was carrying out its operating from Moradabad's court premises.

Bilateral meeting between Health & Family Welfare Minister of India and New Zealand Minister of Conservation & Food Safety

A bilateral meeting between Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Ms Kate Wilkinson, New Zealand Minister of Conservation & Food Safety was held in New Delhi today.

In his welcome address, Shri Azad said India is a member of World Trade Organization and committed to comply with the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Standards (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreements. The representatives of the New Zealand High Commission had met the Chairperson, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India on 27th September 2012. In line with that discussion, India would await the draft MoU Agreement to strengthen cooperation in the area of Food Safety and inspections for mutual benefit.

Senior officers of the Ministry assisted Shri Azad in the bilateral meeting.

DINAKARAN NEWS

நீரில் பரவும் நோய்களில் இருந்து மக்கள் பாதுகாத்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்  உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி அறிவுரை

நாகை, அக். 22:

மக்கள் சுற்றுப்புறத் தூய்மையை பராமரித்து, நீரில் பரவும் நோய்களில் இருந்து தங் களை பாதுகாத்து கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்று உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி அன்பழகன் அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளார்.

நாகை மாவட்டம் திருமருகல் அரசு மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளியில் டெங்கு மற்றும் வைரஸ் காய்ச்சல் பரப்பும் கொசு புழு ஒழிப்பு பணியை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அன்பழகன், பேரூராட்சி செயல் அலுவலர் பொன்னுசாமி ஆகியோர் நேற்று பார்வையிட்டனர். பின்னர் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அன்பழகன் கூறியதாவது:

பகலில் கடிக்க கூடிய, நல்ல தண்ணீரில் இனப்பெருக்கம் செய்து டெங்கு காய்ச்சலை பரப்பும் டெங்கு கொசு குறித்து பொதுமக்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. எனவே டெங்கு கொசு பரவாமல் தடுக்கும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள திட்டச்சேரி பேரூராட்சி மற்றும் பொது சுகாதாரத் துறை அலுவலர்களுக்கு பொதுமக்கள் அனைவரும் முழு ஒத்துழைப்பு தர வேண்டும்.

மழைக்காலம் துவங்கி விட்டதால் பொதுமக்கள் சுற்றுப்புற தூய்மை மற்றும் தன் சுத்தம் ஆகியவற்றை பராமரித்து நீரில் பரவும் நோய்களில் இருந்து தங்களை பாதுகாத்து கொள்ளவேண்டும்.

கடைத்தெருவில் வியாபாரம் செய்பவர்கள் கண்ட இடங்களில் குப்பைகளை போடக்கூடாது. பேரூராட்சி குப் பை வண்டியில் மட்டுமே போட வேண்டும்.

தேவைப்பட்டால் பேரூராட்சி அலுவலகத்திற்கு தகவல் தெரிவித்தால் அவர்களே வந்து குப்பைகளை அள்ளி சுத்தம் செய்வார்கள். இவ்வாறு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அன்பழகன் கூறினார்.

No complaints on weekends about ‘bad sweets’: Health department

CHANDIGARH: If a sweetmeat leaves you sick during a weekend, don't rush to the UT health department to lodge a complaint. For, you will find no one to listen to your grievance. And even the tollfree number of Food Safety and Standards Authority, India, (FSSAI) will not offer you any solace.

The health department grievance cell remains closed on Saturday and Sunday and FSSAI tollfree number remains non-functional all through the week.

"We have just three food safety inspectors for different zones of the city, while Panchkula has only one. And they take an off on weekend. In case of an adulteration allegation, we should receive a written complaint within 24 hours. But not on a Saturday or a Sunday," said Dr Satbir Singh, local health authority and designated officer for Food Safety Act, UT health department. The cell receives complaints from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

During the festival season, shops make sweetmeats in abundance, often compromising with their quality. "We will conduct surprise checks on shops. Most of the times, "khoya" is kept in unhygienic conditions in places like Bapudham, Mauli Jagran and Manimajra. To make big bucks, they manufacture more than their capacity," Dr Singh added. "Even consumers can visit the government lab in Sector 11 with their sample after we receive a written complaint from them," he said. The season also sees hospitals receiving many cases of diarrhoea and food poisoning.

"Eating "mithais" from substandard shops causes stomach infections. Milk and its products allow bacteria to proliferate when the storage conditions are not proper," said Dr R S Bedi, president of the Indian Medical Association.
Doctors have another word of advice: avoid colourful sweets, as these might contain adulterated colours. The recently-revised Food Safety Act is more stringent and has been reframed to speed up penalty in case of an adulteration.

PAPER NEWS

மக்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் பாலில் 68 சதவீதம் கலப்படம் : மத்திய அரசு தகவல்

புதுடில்லி:பொதுமக்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் பாலில், 68 சதவீதம், கலப்படமாக இருப்பதாக, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் மத்திய அரசு தெரிவித்து உள்ளது.

உத்தரகண்ட்டை சேர்ந்த, சுவாமி அச்சியுதானந்த் தீர்த் உள்ளிட்ட சில சமூக ஆர்வலர்கள், சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் தாக்கல் செய்திருந்த பொதுநல மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்ததாவது:பொதுமக்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் பாலில், கலப்படம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. செயற்கை முறையிலும் பால் தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதை பயன்படுத்துவோருக்கு பாதிப்பு ஏற்படும் என்பதால், இதை தடுக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது.இந்த மனுவுக்கு பதில் அளிக்கும்படி, மத்திய அரசுக்கு சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பியிருந்தது.

இதையடுத்து, மத்திய அரசு தாக்கல் செய்த, பதில் மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது: இந்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய ஆணையமான, எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ., சார்பில், இந்தியாவில் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் பால் குறித்து ஆய்வு நடத்தப்பட்டது. இதில், பல முக்கியமான விஷயங்கள் தெரியவந்தன.இதன்படி, நகர்ப்புறங்களில், தற்போது மக்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் பாலில், 60 சதவீத பால், கலப்படமாக உள்ளது. எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ., நிர்ணயித்துள்ள தர விதிமுறைகளை, பூர்த்தி செய்யும் வகையில், இந்த பால் இல்லை. ஆய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்ட சில மாதிரி பால்களில், குளுகோஸ், தண்ணீர் உள்ளிட்டவை, சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. பாலில் உள்ள அழுக்கை நீக்குவதற்காக, டிடெர்ஜென்ட் பவுடர்கள் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன.இவ்வாறு, மத்திய அரசின் மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

Bitter pills sold as pricey food items

What if you are told that the tablet prescribed to you by the doctor  and brought from the medical store was not a medicine at all? Strange but true, and the Drugs Control Department is grappling with the phenomenon.
A number of products have flooded the market, packaged like tablets,  sold in conventional medical stores and  produced by established pharmaceutical companies. But when it comes to the licences, they do not have drug licence at all. Instead, they are licensed under the category of food items under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), thereby giving the pharmaceutical companies  freedom from all price controls and the quality standards that medicines are subjected to.
Drugs Control Department officials say that it was after  the FSSA notification in 2011, that there was a boom in this trend resulting in skyrocketing drug prices.
“The Drugs Control Department  has 61 cases pending against such drugs in the Kerala High Court. In each case, immediately after we seize the medicines, the  company concerned will obtain a stay from the court and continue to sell the medicine. This is largely because of the immunity that the FSSA has provided. It is now easy for companies to label essential medicines as food supplements and dilute quality standards and price control,” said C S Satheesh Kumar, Drugs Controller and Licensing Authority.
Moreover,  since the majority of the hundreds of pharmaceutical companies produce one or two products under this category, it is also practically impossible to track each of them,”  says an Intelligence Officer from the Drugs Control Department in Ernakulam.
The Drugs Control Department is trying to bring in an amendment to its Drugs and Cosmetics Act making it mandatory for all products to obtain a certification that they are not drugs from the department if they are to get a licence under the FSSA, said the Drugs Controller and Licensing Authority.
But the All-India Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry said that if such practices are going on it was the onus of the government to take action. “There are a few companies which are resorting to this and there are a number of grey areas when one looks at this category. It is for the government to make appropriate Acts if this is done to avoid price controls on essential items or to dilute quality,”  said A M D Namboodiri, Co-Chairman, All-India Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry.

Beware-There Might Be A Lizard In Your Soft-Drink! Pepsico Pays Hefty Compensation For Dead Lizard In Mountain Dew.

Do the Dew…err…lizard!?
Lizard in food items is the stuff urban legends thrive on!
Nobody really believes them. Yet every college mess would have at least one professedly true story about finding a lizard, dead or alive, in a curry which was definitely meant for human consumption as per the mess owners (in most instances, the human consumption part is highly disputed with most of the patrons of the mess insisting otherwise most days…but that is a story for another day).
But imagine if the legend comes alive in your very cola bottle!
It is almost like staring into Bloody Mary’s eyes in your bathroom mirror. But the good thing is, you can’t really claim compensation from..err..Mary but you can definitely do so from the soft drink manufacturers.
An unsuspecting consumer from Kanpur found a dead lizard in his bottle of Mountain Dew right when he was about to break open the seal. Despite the horror, the consumer sensibly sought to return the bottle to the retailer who refused saying it was Pepsico’s mistake as manufacturer.
The matter landed in a consumer forum and mirroring every soft drink lover’s indignation, the forum ordered Pepsico India Holding Private Ltd, Jainpur, Kanpur Dehat to pay Rs 25,000 as damages to complainant Syed Sikandar Alam within 30 days, holding them guilty of supplying adulterated soft drink.

Wormy Troubles! Max Hypermarket Pays Fine For Selling Worm Infested Buns.

Complaint Against Max Hyper Market, To Pay 5K As Fine For Selling Wormy Buns

While the love Walmart, hate Walmart debate continues in the country, the other retail chains are quietly doing what they do best–being a good trouble for the consumers.
Food adulteration is a serious issue. It is not just a matter of in convenience or mental harassment, it actually has a direct bearing and impact on the health and well being of the consumers.
And yet, these issues continue unbated, in most instances brushed aside casually by the Brands in question…unless of course some consumer loses and raises a storm.
This is precisely what happened with Max Hyper Market outlet in Bangalore. One consumer’s 12 year old fell seriously ill after consuming ‘worm’ infested buns sold by the retailer. When the consumer demanded explanation, the retailer agreed with the fact that the buns had worms but was most unapologetic and refused to take them back .
A very miffed consumer dragged them to a consumer forum which held the retailer guilty of stalking stale and dangerous food item, unfit for human consumption despite retailer’s plea that consumer should have checked the item before buying. The retailer was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 5000 to the consumer for the mental and physical agony he had to undergo.

Insufficient manpower to ensure food safety this Puja

BHUBANESWAR: Apart from shopping and pandal hopping, eating out during Durga Puja is considered a must. However, one must be careful as the food being served outside comes with its own set of risks. But to make the situation worse, the government does not have sufficient staff to do a quality check this festive season.
There are only ten food safety officers (FSOs) for the 30 districts. As each FSO has to take care of at least three districts, the food quality check would remain highly ineffective, sources believed.
Government authorities said despite the manpower crunch, they are trying their best to manage the situation by asking officers to concentrate more on areas which will be inviting the largest of crowds.
"I understand we don't have sufficient staff to undertake effective quality control during the festive rush. However, we have asked officers to concentrate more on cities such as Cuttack and Bhubaneswar where the turnout of people is huge. Special squads have been constituted to check random checks of food samples during the festive season to ensure that these adhere to minimum quality standards," said director public health Dr Alekh Sahoo said.
Sahoo said the staff crunch problem would be over by the end of this year. "We have started the process to recruit 28 more officers. Scrutiny is on. All formalities would be over by the year-end," he said.
After Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations 2011 was notified on August 1, 2011 by the Food Safety Standardization Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory body under the Union health ministry to handle food related issues, the government re-designated the food inspectors as FSOs. However, because of their dwindling numbers, implementation of the regulations remains almost a non-starter in the state. "As per the notification, we have time till February 2013 to comply with the various provisions," another senior government officer said.
There were 26 posts of food inspectors in state, 16 of which were lying vacant. The government named them FSOs and increased the number of posts to 38. Besides 30 FSOs for the 30 districts, 12 major towns will have one FSO each, government sources said

High mercury level found in people of Sonbhadra in UP

Lucknow: High levels of mercury have been detected in the environment and bodies of the people in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, according to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment.

"The study, which was initiated after some residents of Sonbhadra approached the CSE in May last year, reflects signs of mercury poisoning among the people," Director General Sunita Narain told reporters while releasing the study in Lucknow.

She said people from the district had approached the CSE to study pollution and health problems in their locality.

Deputy Director General Chandra Bhushan said samples of water, soil, cereals, fish as well as blood, nails and hair of people living in the district were collected for the survey at CSE's pollution monitoring laboratory.

"The area selected for the study was Dhudi sub-division, which has the largest concentration of thermal power plants, coal mines and other polluting agencies," he said.

The samples were tested for presence of mercury and other heavy metals like arsenic, while fish were tested for methyl mercury, the most poisonous form of mercury, he said.

"During the study, mercury was found in 84 percent of the blood samples at a very high level an average level of 34.3 parts per billion. Though India does not have a standard, the safe limit as per the US Environment Protection Agency is 5.8 ppb," he said.

Bhushan said mercury was found in 58 percent samples of human hair, with the average level at 7.39 parts per million.

"According to Health Canada, 6 ppm is considered safe. The highest amount of mercury found in the study was 31.3 ppm - five times the safe limit," he said.

He said mercury has contaminated groundwater in Sonbhadra. "The highest concentration of mercury was found in the hand pump water sample of Dibulganj (0.026 ppm) which is 26 times the standard of .001 ppm set by the Bureau of Indian Standards," he said.

Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir was also contaminated with mercury, he said.

"The fish in the area were found to be contaminated with mercury. Fish near Dongiyanallah had 0.447 ppm of methyl mercury, which is almost twice the standard set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India," he said.

Tackle milk adulteration problem with urgency

The bulk of milk supplied by vendors across the country could be either contaminated or adulterated

Once again, the issue of milk adulteration has reared its head.
In the course of an ongoing public interest litigation in the Supreme Court, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has given details of a survey it had done on adulteration of milk.
As suspected, it found a large number of samples it had collected from all over the country to be sub-standard or adulterated.

Mixing of water with milk to dilute it has been going on for ages, as we know.
This practice may be relatively harmless since adulteration with water does not make milk unsafe or unhealthy.
However, it reduces its nutrition value and might affect those who solely depend on milk for supply of nutrients.
If the water added is contaminated it could even be dangerous and cause water-borne diseases.
More sinister is the practice of adulteration with detergent and soda particularly during summertime to prevent coagulation of milk when it is boiled.
Bacterial growth during storage could also have harmful health effects.
So, what's the solution?
Clearly the food safety authority must get cracking to check the practice round the year, and not wake up only when there is public hue and cry.
This apart, awareness and education campaigns should be taken up right away among those in the dairy business to promote hygienic conditions for collection and transport of milk.
At the same time, instances of adulteration and contamination should not be used to argue for banning the sale of loose milk altogether and replacing it with packaged milk.
Remember, the bulk of the dairy industry in India is still unorganised and the size of an average dairy is very small.
And most of the milk produced is consumed in rural areas.
Any solution should not overlook these ground realities.

Ministry in tizzy over who will crack whip

Even as the gutkha manufacturers have launched a media blitzkrieg claiming that chewing tobacco is safe, the Union Health Ministry is still scratching its head to determine which of its agencies is empowered to impose penalties against the defaulters for violation of court directions as well as food safety laws.
“We are contemplating legal action against the smokeless tobacco firms for spreading false and misleading information through ads about food safety aspects of the gutkha in violation of the Food and Safety Standards Act 2006. The Act prohibits sale and advertisements of tobacco products.
“But we are yet to decide which department is empowered to take action against such violation,” said Director of National Tobacco Control Programme in the Ministry, Amal Pushp. He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by anti-tobacco groups to counter misinformation by the gutkha firms through ads by questioning the legality of gutkha ban by 14 States.
Initiating contempt of court proceedings against the gutkha lobby including Smokeless Tobacco Association, All India Kattha Factories Association and the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative is another option that the Ministry is planning. It says that the “misleading” advertisements violate the High Courts’ and Supreme Court directions which have both ruled that gutkha is a food product as it is consumed.
“As per the amended FSSA 2006, misleading information against the food products such as gutkha invites penalty between `5 lakh and `10 lakh. We have to see if the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) can take action against the misleading ads information,” Pushp said.
The ban on the smokeless tobacco products came on the directions of the Supreme Court which had taken cognizance of a Health Ministry’s report on the ill-effects of chewing tobacco which contains 3095 hazardous chemicals including 28 cancerous one causing oral cancer.
So far, at least 14 States/UTs have banned the manufacture, sale, distribution and storage of gutkha and other such products containing tobacco or nicotine under the FSS Act.
Maharashtra has taken a step further by not only banning gutkha and related products but also arecanut, an ingredient in gutkha and paan masala. “All States must ban them as they are being used at dangerously epidemic levels by many including children and women in the country,” said Mahesh Jagde, Food Commissioner, Maharashtra.

Food safety experts find adulterants like detergent, urea and soda in 68% of milk

The glass of milk that you consider to be the epitome of nutrition and good health may not be all that pure. In fact it can be harmful when unscrupulous vendor s use adulterants like detergent, urea and soda.

The government has made the shocking admission that the bulk of milk supplied by vendors across the country is either contaminated or adulterated. Even packaged milk in some parts of the country is below standard. The admission comes in an affidavit filed by the Centre in an ongoing public interest litigation in the Supreme Court. Over 68 per cent of the samples of milk available across the country examined by food safety authorities have been found to be of substandard quality.

The admission comes in an affidavit filed by the Centre in an ongoing public interest litigation in the Supreme Court. Over 68 per cent of the samples of milk available across the country examined by food safety authorities have been found to be of substandard quality.

These samples did not conform to standards fixed for different types of milk such as skimmed, toned and double toned.

The analysis by the authorities revealed traces of detergent in some samples. This was apart from the use of water, glucose and skimmed milk powder, the most commonly used adulterants. Experts said dilution took away from the nutritive value of milk.

"While packaged milk producers are governed by government standards, there is practically no check on non-packaged milk sold by vendors," said Dr Vinod Kansal, a leading dairy expert who was formerly with the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal.

The study was conducted across India

Usually, he said, milk is collected by vendors in unhygienic conditions and then stored for long durations. "All this increases the chances of lowering milk quality and results in bacterial contamination," Kansal said. In order to prevent milk from getting spoiled in summer season, milkmen add urea or soda, which are very harmful for humans.

Dejon Mishra, consumer rights activist, said: "The food safety authority must mandate a system for tracking all milk products so that contaminated products could be traced. In the long run, steps should be taken to see that all milk sold in the country is packaged."

The government analysis revealed that over 66 per cent of samples not conforming to standards were non-packaged samples while 33 per cent were packaged milk.

The government said in its affidavit to the court that water was the most common adulterant and the addition of water reduced the nutritional value and posed a danger to health if water was contaminated. "Milk with detergent is unsafe for drinking," the government added.

There is a better chance of getting quality milk if one buys packaged milk than nonpackaged milk available in the market.

The study was conducted across India. It was found that the worst place to buy milk is Uttar Pradesh where 88 per cent of 136 samples collected were found to be not conforming to standards. The situation in Delhi, however, was not as bad.

The affidavit, filed on behalf of the Centre by the assistant director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Kamal Kumar, stated that the government had fixed standards for different types of milk under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations of 2011 and had taken a total of 1,791 samples from all over the country for the snap shot survey.

Of the 1,791 samples, only 565 were found conforming to the standards fixed by it and 1,226 samples failed the test. The government said the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 permitted the public to take samples for testing in laboratories. Based on the result of the test, prosecution can be launched by the food safety officer.

The FSSAI study has only confirmed the findings of earlier studies in different parts of the country which point to milk contamination, including coliform bacteria.

An insurance against adulterated milk is the common Indian habit of boiling milk before consumption. "All bacteria are killed once milk is thoroughly boiled", Kansal said.

The affidavit had been filed in response to a notice on a petition alleging rampant milk adulteration with harmful substances. Swami Achyutanand Tirth had filed a PIL earlier this year alleging that the government had failed to check adulteration in milk which was prepared with materials like urea, detergent, refined oil and caustic soda.

The Supreme Court had on May 9 issued notice to the Centre and several state governments on the PIL highlighting the need for putting an end to the malpractice by formulating a comprehensive policy on the production, supply and sale of milk.

The petitioners had claimed that a recent survey by the FSSAI had revealed that harmful adulterated milk was being sold in various parts of the country.