Jun 6, 2013
Soft drinks manufacturers playing with lives of consumers
Jammu ,June 5 – Taking cue from the consumer awareness campaigns of the Govt and the Consumer related NGOs particularly Jago Gharak Jago, a young engineering student Sourabh Anand has filed a consumer complaint against Pepsi Co India Limited and Jai Beverages Limited and has sought compensation to the tune of Rs 5 Lakhs.
In a press release issued to press said that the complaint was filed by Sourabh Anand son of Naresh Anand resident of New Plots Jammu under the J&K Consumer Protection Act before the Divisional (Consumer) Forum Jammu through Mr A K Sawhney Advocate with Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocate and Mr Pardeep Khajuria Advocates.
Worthwhile to mention that Sourabh a student of MIET College Jammu purchased some soft drink bottles from his college canteen and found that three bottles out of 14 bottles, he purchased were adulterated.
The bottle of Pepsi contained an insect, a bottle of Mountain Dew contained a metal earring which had corroded inside the bottle and Lehar 7UP contained a chewing gum wrapper.
In the complaint filed against Pepsi Co India and Jai Beverages Limited, Mr A K Sawhney and Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocates the complainant has sought compensation to the complainant to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs for the mental torture, humiliation, trauma, insult and attempted loss of life, health and injury due to negligence of the manufacturers and sought that the manufacturer Pepsi Co and Jai Beverages be directed to pay costs to the complainant and further a direction not to offer adulterated and hazardous cold drinks for sale.
It was alleged in the complaint by Mr A K Sawhney Advocate and associate lawyers that on 1.6.2013, Saturday, the complainant went to his college canteen being run in the MIET College campus and purchased beverages 14 in number which included six Lehar Mountain Dew, four Lehar 7Ups and 4 Pepsi.
The complainant made a payment of Rs 194/- for these cold drinks bottles.
The complainant- Sourabh Anand was offering his friends with the cold drinks/ beverages which included six Mountain Dews, four 7Ups and 4 Pepsi being a brand of respondent no. 1 when the complainant was shell shocked to notice that three bottles which include one Pepsi, one 7Up and one Mountain Dew were containing foreign matter in the sealed bottles. The said beverages' bottles which were company sealed were containing adulterated matter which was visible with a naked eye and the cold drinks, sold to the complainant were adulterated and hazardous for health.
It was submitted before the Consumer Court that the sealed 300 ML bottle of Pepsi has a manufacturing date of 30.4.2013 and having batch no. P86 contains foreign matter, which seems to be a decomposed insect or a reptile or some creature with leaves or fish but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
That the sealed 300 ML bottle of Mountain Dew has a manufacturing date of 14.5.2013 and having batch no. MD161 contains foreign matter, which seems to an ornament like an ear ring made of some metal but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.That if the metal has corroded, the said cold drink would turn into poison and could take the life of the complaint or any one who would have consumed the said drink. The corroded particles are visible in the sealed bottle, it was alleged in the complaint.
The sealed 300 ML bottle of Lehar 7UP has a manufacturing date of 1.4.2013 and having batch no. 7UP 08 contains foreign matter, which a floating chewing gum wrapper made up of non biodegradable polypropylene/ plastic material but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 the complaint further alleged in the complaint.
All the three bottles have the proper branding on its crown and the name and address of respondents no. 2 and 3 figure. As per the bottles the same have been manufactured by M/s Jai Beverages Limited having its manufacturing unit at SIDCO Industrial Complex, Phase I, Bari Brahmna Jammu and Regd office at 52, Janpath New Delhi.
Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocate for the complainant also alleged that a reputed multinational company like Pepsi Co- respondent no 1 who owns these brands and respondents no. 2 and 3 - Jai Beverages Private Ltd which is manufacturing these beverages are supplying adulterated food material/ beverages to the consumers. In their accelerated pace to reap profits in the summer season they have become so negligent, careless and callous that they have totally forgotten about the health of the consumers. The respondents have displayed sheer negligence towards the health of the consumers and if these adulterated cold drinks had been consumed, the consumers would have suffered worst of health problems even could have caused death of a person.
It was by sheer luck that the complainant- Sourabh Anand noticed these adulterated materials in the bottles in his purchased lot of bottles else there are several hotels, restaurants, dhabas, eateries, where these beverages are served in glasses and only God knows what poison is served to consumers on the name of these high branded beverages. Even the illiterate people who drink these beverages without even looking inside the bottles, too are being cheated by these respondents for making fast buck at the cost of the health of the consumers.
The complainant has been very hurt and his faith, taste, choice has been shattered to learn that these companies which promote their brands through advertisements on TV, newspapers, magazines, through cricketers, film stars are actually so negligent in their manufacturing that they are ready to sell what ever dirt, filth and garbage they can offer especially in the summer season when their sales are at peak.
In the complaint it was alleged that Complainant being a teenager/ youth; till date was an avid consumer of these high brands of cold drinks and there was craze in him for these brands, but after realizing that the manufacturers are so negligent in even manufacturing these bottles and beverages in the shape of cans, plastic bottles the complainant felt like puking and the filth in the bottles affected the heath of the complainant as to what all he was drink till date. On one side to maintain his health, the compliant like other youths visits gym and does exercises on the other side the youth is being administered such adulterated and filthy material on the name youth icons and using the advertisements exploiting the youth material. The complainant feels cheated on the name of the claims and false advertisements of the respondents, while reality is far away than truth.
The sale of the adulterated and hazardous cold drinks to the complainant has caused mental torture, agony, pain and has shattered the faith of the complainant. Besides the complainant also suffered a health phobia as to what all he drank till date was "sweet poison due to sheer negligence of the respondents". Same are hazardous for the health and if consumed the complainant or his friends to whom he was offering the drinks would have suffered a fatal loss to his/ their health.
The beverages are hazardous for the health of the complainant and are in contravention to the FSS Act 2006 which prescribes the standards of cold drinks/ beverages. The cold drinks bottles besides being defective are also adulterated. Further it was alleged that the cold drink manufacturers have violated good manufacturing practices, which ought to be adopted by the manufacturing companies besides have adopted unfair trade practices, manufactured cold drinks' bottles which are defective, and manufactured negligently.
Not only manufacturing is negligent but the entire chain of supply, inspections, transport, stocking and sale is negligent. Thus cheating the consumer and keeping his life at peril by issuing misleading advertisements and exploiting the sentiments of the youth.
Mr Sawhney submitted in the complaint that complainant has suffered through nausea, shock, mental torture, trauma, health phobia and tension. The complainant felt disparaged, humiliated and insulted in front of the friends to whom he was offering these beverages, therefore the complainant may be awarded compensation to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs so that the award may act as a deterrent for the respondents and they do not dare to play with the human health and lives in future through their callousness.
In a press release issued to press said that the complaint was filed by Sourabh Anand son of Naresh Anand resident of New Plots Jammu under the J&K Consumer Protection Act before the Divisional (Consumer) Forum Jammu through Mr A K Sawhney Advocate with Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocate and Mr Pardeep Khajuria Advocates.
Worthwhile to mention that Sourabh a student of MIET College Jammu purchased some soft drink bottles from his college canteen and found that three bottles out of 14 bottles, he purchased were adulterated.
The bottle of Pepsi contained an insect, a bottle of Mountain Dew contained a metal earring which had corroded inside the bottle and Lehar 7UP contained a chewing gum wrapper.
In the complaint filed against Pepsi Co India and Jai Beverages Limited, Mr A K Sawhney and Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocates the complainant has sought compensation to the complainant to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs for the mental torture, humiliation, trauma, insult and attempted loss of life, health and injury due to negligence of the manufacturers and sought that the manufacturer Pepsi Co and Jai Beverages be directed to pay costs to the complainant and further a direction not to offer adulterated and hazardous cold drinks for sale.
It was alleged in the complaint by Mr A K Sawhney Advocate and associate lawyers that on 1.6.2013, Saturday, the complainant went to his college canteen being run in the MIET College campus and purchased beverages 14 in number which included six Lehar Mountain Dew, four Lehar 7Ups and 4 Pepsi.
The complainant made a payment of Rs 194/- for these cold drinks bottles.
The complainant- Sourabh Anand was offering his friends with the cold drinks/ beverages which included six Mountain Dews, four 7Ups and 4 Pepsi being a brand of respondent no. 1 when the complainant was shell shocked to notice that three bottles which include one Pepsi, one 7Up and one Mountain Dew were containing foreign matter in the sealed bottles. The said beverages' bottles which were company sealed were containing adulterated matter which was visible with a naked eye and the cold drinks, sold to the complainant were adulterated and hazardous for health.
It was submitted before the Consumer Court that the sealed 300 ML bottle of Pepsi has a manufacturing date of 30.4.2013 and having batch no. P86 contains foreign matter, which seems to be a decomposed insect or a reptile or some creature with leaves or fish but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
That the sealed 300 ML bottle of Mountain Dew has a manufacturing date of 14.5.2013 and having batch no. MD161 contains foreign matter, which seems to an ornament like an ear ring made of some metal but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.That if the metal has corroded, the said cold drink would turn into poison and could take the life of the complaint or any one who would have consumed the said drink. The corroded particles are visible in the sealed bottle, it was alleged in the complaint.
The sealed 300 ML bottle of Lehar 7UP has a manufacturing date of 1.4.2013 and having batch no. 7UP 08 contains foreign matter, which a floating chewing gum wrapper made up of non biodegradable polypropylene/ plastic material but definitely can be concluded to be adulterated under the definition of adulteration as contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 the complaint further alleged in the complaint.
All the three bottles have the proper branding on its crown and the name and address of respondents no. 2 and 3 figure. As per the bottles the same have been manufactured by M/s Jai Beverages Limited having its manufacturing unit at SIDCO Industrial Complex, Phase I, Bari Brahmna Jammu and Regd office at 52, Janpath New Delhi.
Mr Aseem Sawhney Advocate for the complainant also alleged that a reputed multinational company like Pepsi Co- respondent no 1 who owns these brands and respondents no. 2 and 3 - Jai Beverages Private Ltd which is manufacturing these beverages are supplying adulterated food material/ beverages to the consumers. In their accelerated pace to reap profits in the summer season they have become so negligent, careless and callous that they have totally forgotten about the health of the consumers. The respondents have displayed sheer negligence towards the health of the consumers and if these adulterated cold drinks had been consumed, the consumers would have suffered worst of health problems even could have caused death of a person.
It was by sheer luck that the complainant- Sourabh Anand noticed these adulterated materials in the bottles in his purchased lot of bottles else there are several hotels, restaurants, dhabas, eateries, where these beverages are served in glasses and only God knows what poison is served to consumers on the name of these high branded beverages. Even the illiterate people who drink these beverages without even looking inside the bottles, too are being cheated by these respondents for making fast buck at the cost of the health of the consumers.
The complainant has been very hurt and his faith, taste, choice has been shattered to learn that these companies which promote their brands through advertisements on TV, newspapers, magazines, through cricketers, film stars are actually so negligent in their manufacturing that they are ready to sell what ever dirt, filth and garbage they can offer especially in the summer season when their sales are at peak.
In the complaint it was alleged that Complainant being a teenager/ youth; till date was an avid consumer of these high brands of cold drinks and there was craze in him for these brands, but after realizing that the manufacturers are so negligent in even manufacturing these bottles and beverages in the shape of cans, plastic bottles the complainant felt like puking and the filth in the bottles affected the heath of the complainant as to what all he was drink till date. On one side to maintain his health, the compliant like other youths visits gym and does exercises on the other side the youth is being administered such adulterated and filthy material on the name youth icons and using the advertisements exploiting the youth material. The complainant feels cheated on the name of the claims and false advertisements of the respondents, while reality is far away than truth.
The sale of the adulterated and hazardous cold drinks to the complainant has caused mental torture, agony, pain and has shattered the faith of the complainant. Besides the complainant also suffered a health phobia as to what all he drank till date was "sweet poison due to sheer negligence of the respondents". Same are hazardous for the health and if consumed the complainant or his friends to whom he was offering the drinks would have suffered a fatal loss to his/ their health.
The beverages are hazardous for the health of the complainant and are in contravention to the FSS Act 2006 which prescribes the standards of cold drinks/ beverages. The cold drinks bottles besides being defective are also adulterated. Further it was alleged that the cold drink manufacturers have violated good manufacturing practices, which ought to be adopted by the manufacturing companies besides have adopted unfair trade practices, manufactured cold drinks' bottles which are defective, and manufactured negligently.
Not only manufacturing is negligent but the entire chain of supply, inspections, transport, stocking and sale is negligent. Thus cheating the consumer and keeping his life at peril by issuing misleading advertisements and exploiting the sentiments of the youth.
Mr Sawhney submitted in the complaint that complainant has suffered through nausea, shock, mental torture, trauma, health phobia and tension. The complainant felt disparaged, humiliated and insulted in front of the friends to whom he was offering these beverages, therefore the complainant may be awarded compensation to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs so that the award may act as a deterrent for the respondents and they do not dare to play with the human health and lives in future through their callousness.
Jun 5, 2013
Toxins for lunch
While the State government is bending over backwards in its efforts to ensure safe produce under the Food Safety Scheme, the results of the recent research conducted by the Kerala Agricultural University’s Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory, Vellayani, point out that it could be a herculean task.
“The research was conducted over the past five months with each sample tested for the presence of nearly 120 compounds. Since it costs Rs 6000 for testing one sample, the research was carried out only in Thiruvananthapuram as an initial phase. It will be extended to other districts in the coming months to prepare a detailed state-wide report,” says Dr Thomas Biju Mathew, who led the research process at the Vellayani Lab.
The research tested 1024 samples, out of which 226 tested positive for pesticide residue. Seventy eight of these samples and nearly 15 types of vegetables exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit. Most of the produce is imported from other states and hence imposing regulations would be difficult say authorities. “We are now planning a two step awareness and prevention campaign at the producer and the consumer levels. The consumer level campaign has already begun and we are providing directions for removing pesticide residue in a home environment. We are also planning on providing a safe-to-eat tags for vegetables to help consumers. However, it would be difficult to implement it on a large scale in a time bound manner,” adds Dr Thomas.
Recently on a television show, Raj Kalesh, popular TV show host, declared emphatically, “80 per cent of our youth are going to die of cancer due to consumption of adulterated food.” He argues that most of the produce are crammed with chemicals, many of them carcinogenic.
“Fruits are ripened using fumes, the colour of pulses and cereals are enhanced using chemicals like zinc oxide, potassium carbonates, lead chromate, Sudan dyes and so on. Even the matta rice that we buy are coloured using a mix of rice bran oil and zinc oxide,” he says. According to Kalesh, bug and pest ridden produce available in local shops and ration stores though we despise them, are safer than their polished and packaged counterparts. He says that the presence of pests indicates that the produce is organic and natural, unlike most products in the market today which do not decay for weeks because of chemical preservatives.
“Many practises like the use of wax on apples and the use of many dangerous gases for ripening of fruits were identified and banned. However, one adulterant seems to be replacing the other in the market. Consuming some of these adulterants in large quantities or for a long period of time is likely to severely affect health and can lead to ulcers, tumours and cancers,” says Dr Anjali, a nutritionist in Kochi.
Though the Food Safety Department in Kerala acts as a mechanism to curb such malpractices and adulteration, it has its limitations. “We currently have only three Food Safety Laboratories and one laboratory to check foodstuff in Sabarimala. We need better infrastructure and better laboratories where adulteration can be properly monitored,” says Mohammed Rafi, Food Safety Officer, Kozhikode.
There are numerous government initiatives like the Farm to Fork scheme that is in effect, but the implementation part is wanting. Shortfall in manpower poses a major problem. “The licensing part of the Food Safety Procedure’s responsibility was transferred from boards like the TSA, MFPO and SPO to the Food Safety Department. But the manpower of the department remains the same. Additional staff is urgently required for the effective implementation of such schemes,” points out Mohammed Rafi.
Despite ban in 23 states, illegal gutkha sale rampant; FDA seizures on
Although gutkha has been banned in 23 Indian states, its illegal sale
continues. Moreover, it is now sold at much higher rates. The Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra recently seized gutkha worth Rs 27
lakh from Navi Mumbai.
Its counterpart in Uttar Pradesh followed suit, raiding a adulterated gutkha factory in the Barra area of Kanpur. About Rs 20 lakh worth of raw material, besides machines and other things which are used to make the products were seized from the place. Six people named Ravi Jaiswal, Hari Shankar Gupta, Bablu, Arvind and Rahul Jaiswal were nabbed from the premises.
The rampant illegal sale of gutkha in these states highlights the fact that the implementation of the ban is not strict. It is often seen that on long-distance trains, packets of gutkha worth Rs 2 are sold at Rs 10. There is no one to check the sale of illegal gutkha on the trains.
Mahesh Zagade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, said, “Maharashtra is the only state in the country to destroy gutkha worth Rs 10 crore. In other states, the implementation has not been done strictly. The seizure of gutkha worth Rs 27 lakh on the Sion-Panvel highway confirms that the contraband is still being sold in the market.”
He informed, “This was the third big seizure of the contraband in two months on the highway. It is believed that the contraband is generally transported from Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and sold here at four or five times the price.”
Gutkha has been banned in Bihar for a year now, but it is still sold there illegally without any action against the culprits. In fact, it was the third state in the country to ban the sale, distribution and manufacture of gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine.
However, while the administration gears up to put a system in place to effectively implement the order, these products are still being sold in a clandestine manner in the state.
Sanjay Kumar, food safety commissioner and health secretary, Bihar FDA, said, “The implementation is not being followed strictly because of the shortage of manpower. But soon, there would be 22 state food safety officers and teams with police personnel as members would be formed. They would conduct raids in their respective areas across the state to stop both the organised and unorganised sector from manufacturing, storing, selling or distributing pan masala and gutkha.”
Its counterpart in Uttar Pradesh followed suit, raiding a adulterated gutkha factory in the Barra area of Kanpur. About Rs 20 lakh worth of raw material, besides machines and other things which are used to make the products were seized from the place. Six people named Ravi Jaiswal, Hari Shankar Gupta, Bablu, Arvind and Rahul Jaiswal were nabbed from the premises.
The rampant illegal sale of gutkha in these states highlights the fact that the implementation of the ban is not strict. It is often seen that on long-distance trains, packets of gutkha worth Rs 2 are sold at Rs 10. There is no one to check the sale of illegal gutkha on the trains.
Mahesh Zagade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, said, “Maharashtra is the only state in the country to destroy gutkha worth Rs 10 crore. In other states, the implementation has not been done strictly. The seizure of gutkha worth Rs 27 lakh on the Sion-Panvel highway confirms that the contraband is still being sold in the market.”
He informed, “This was the third big seizure of the contraband in two months on the highway. It is believed that the contraband is generally transported from Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and sold here at four or five times the price.”
Gutkha has been banned in Bihar for a year now, but it is still sold there illegally without any action against the culprits. In fact, it was the third state in the country to ban the sale, distribution and manufacture of gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine.
However, while the administration gears up to put a system in place to effectively implement the order, these products are still being sold in a clandestine manner in the state.
Sanjay Kumar, food safety commissioner and health secretary, Bihar FDA, said, “The implementation is not being followed strictly because of the shortage of manpower. But soon, there would be 22 state food safety officers and teams with police personnel as members would be formed. They would conduct raids in their respective areas across the state to stop both the organised and unorganised sector from manufacturing, storing, selling or distributing pan masala and gutkha.”
20,000 gutka sachets seized
BANGALORE: Two days after the gutka ban in Karnataka was enforced, health and family welfare department officials conducted a raid in the city.
The team seized over 20,000 sachets from a wholesale dealer in City Market area on Tuesday afternoon. "No complaint has been filed against the dealer so far. On Wednesday, we will brief the court on the seizure," said Basavaraj Huded, designated officer of the health and family welfare department, Bangalore South, for implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Before this, the team visited a production unit in Singasandra where they only found raw materials and packaging material. "We can't seize raw materials like cardamom, betel nut and tobacco. But we seized the packing material. The packing machines have been sealed by the central exercise department. The premises was shut down voluntarily by the proprietor on May 30," said officials.
As of now, the seized material has been stored in one of the departments' offices, but there are no clear guidelines on how to go about destroying the seized products. "As per Pollution Control Board norms, we are not supposed to burn the tobacco products. On Wednesday, we will be seeking legal opinion on this," Dr Basavaraj said.
The team seized over 20,000 sachets from a wholesale dealer in City Market area on Tuesday afternoon. "No complaint has been filed against the dealer so far. On Wednesday, we will brief the court on the seizure," said Basavaraj Huded, designated officer of the health and family welfare department, Bangalore South, for implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Before this, the team visited a production unit in Singasandra where they only found raw materials and packaging material. "We can't seize raw materials like cardamom, betel nut and tobacco. But we seized the packing material. The packing machines have been sealed by the central exercise department. The premises was shut down voluntarily by the proprietor on May 30," said officials.
As of now, the seized material has been stored in one of the departments' offices, but there are no clear guidelines on how to go about destroying the seized products. "As per Pollution Control Board norms, we are not supposed to burn the tobacco products. On Wednesday, we will be seeking legal opinion on this," Dr Basavaraj said.
CM rules out withdrawing gutka ban
BANGALORE: Two opposition parties - JD(S) and BJP - used two issues to take on the government in both Houses on Tuesday.
While principal opposition party JD(S) insisted that the government delete certain remarks related to Cauvery water in the governor's address, BJP sought to move an adjournment motion against the government for its decision to ban gutka in the state, but it was rejected by speaker Kagodu Thimmappa.
When it was allowed for discussion, BJP demanded immediate withdrawal of the government notification, asserting that it will hit arecanut growers. But chief minister Siddaramaiah ruled out withdrawing the notification as the government had complied with a Supreme Court directive.
The party's floor leader in the assembly chief minister Jagadish Shettar took exception to the government not taking the House into confidence before issuing the May 30 notification. He charged the government with taking a hasty decision and not thinking about its impact on arecanut farmers.
Visweshwara Hegde Kageri (BJP) said Karnataka accounts for 60% of the country's arecanut production and maintained there's nothing to suggest that arecanut is harmful. Kageri, a former minister who hails from Uttara Kannada district, a key producer of arecanut, alleged that a powerful lobby is behind the government's decision. What's needed is removal of harmful substances such as tobacco and nicotine from gutka, he felt.
In the council, opposition leader DV Sadananda Gowda said he doesn't oppose the ban but the government should have suggested alternatives to farmers before banning it. "Karnataka contributes a major share to the country's total arecanut output," he said.
While principal opposition party JD(S) insisted that the government delete certain remarks related to Cauvery water in the governor's address, BJP sought to move an adjournment motion against the government for its decision to ban gutka in the state, but it was rejected by speaker Kagodu Thimmappa.
When it was allowed for discussion, BJP demanded immediate withdrawal of the government notification, asserting that it will hit arecanut growers. But chief minister Siddaramaiah ruled out withdrawing the notification as the government had complied with a Supreme Court directive.
The party's floor leader in the assembly chief minister Jagadish Shettar took exception to the government not taking the House into confidence before issuing the May 30 notification. He charged the government with taking a hasty decision and not thinking about its impact on arecanut farmers.
Visweshwara Hegde Kageri (BJP) said Karnataka accounts for 60% of the country's arecanut production and maintained there's nothing to suggest that arecanut is harmful. Kageri, a former minister who hails from Uttara Kannada district, a key producer of arecanut, alleged that a powerful lobby is behind the government's decision. What's needed is removal of harmful substances such as tobacco and nicotine from gutka, he felt.
In the council, opposition leader DV Sadananda Gowda said he doesn't oppose the ban but the government should have suggested alternatives to farmers before banning it. "Karnataka contributes a major share to the country's total arecanut output," he said.
Jun 4, 2013
HOW SAFE ARE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WE EAT ?
FRUITS WE EAT –HOW ARE THEY SAFE ON HEALTH GROUNDS
Since ancient time Fruits are the important meal or refresher nutrient of Human as it is easily available most natural food without any toxicity or harm to our body beside its easy availability,no need of processing before eating and in rarest place like ‘VAN OR FOREST’ where human race use to live and walk around for day to day activities and lifehood without any price or economical burden.In modern times as cities and town formed at cost of deforestation ,fruits and vegetables the most wanted non animal Biological food product beame commercially cultivated and preserved beside its occasional presence in some households particular in villages or their farm House or Bagans or courtyard.
Now a days,as science and health awareness progress with economical developments fruits and vegetables are consumed more frequently and markets are flooded with them.As Modern Human nature,he wants to eat the things which are newly arrived or Fruits and vegetables which are unseasonale as Mango,Licchi in month of FEB-JUNE,Grapes in june to September beside this he wants to take fruits as many Indian like fruits from from Italy,Japan,Usa,china etc rather that Indian Variety is alco available.These unseasonale fruits and vegetables are available as preserved packed food from last year in COLD STORAGE,BIG FREEDZES OR COLD CHAIN or mostly unripe fruits plucked from trees much before thei ripening time.
There are two types of fruits,one fruit ripe only on plants or trees another are Climacteric fruits like mango, banana, papaya, sapota and custard apple are often harvested in a mature but unripe condition and then subsequently allowed to ripen by natural release of ripening hormone by commercial using Ethylene Gas or by use of Calcium Carbide or smoking in each box /container of fruits commercially. However, natural ripening in some fruits is a slow process, which leads to high weight loss, desiccation of fruits and uneven ripening.
Use of Calcium Carbide:-
It is mostly used method for ripening of fruits like Mango,Bananna,Licchi,Pappaya,Apples,Grapes,oranges etc.In small box a packet of 50-100gs of calcium carbide is kept along with food and box is closed,calcium carbide will absorb water from environment and will produce Acetylene gas which causes artificial ripening of food by producing heat inside box.Some traders ripen fruits like banana in enclosed chambers where large quantities of calcium carbide is put and water sprinkled before sealing the chambers. Though the released acetylene triggers ripening process in fruits, it is an inflammable gas involving risk of fire hazards.However, calcium carbide contains chemical impurities such as arsenic hydride and phosphorus hydride that are highly carcinogenic compounds. Improper use of calcium carbide can therefore cause chemical contamination of fresh produce. Further fruits ripened with calcium carbide though develop attractive surface colour, are inferior in taste, flavour and spoil faster.These fruits are soft as starch turns into sugar by heat ,often uniform in color,may have black patches or multiple colors or completely yellowish(Mangoes and Bannanss ),Some time usually rotten from inside ,apply few drops of iodine if it remains yellow means food is rotten as starch or fresh fruit will turn it blue from yellw.Government of India has banned the use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits under PFA Act 8-44 AA, 1954.
But inspite of every good warning we are so much eager to eat Fruits and vegetables pretimely and prematurally that we donot mind whether these are asfe for our helath or not,Arsenic phosphorus ,calcium carbide beside producing ill effects on our Gastro Intestinal tract,Liver,Kidneys and skin can produce cancer of lung,liver etc.
Alternatives safe method of ripening fruits;
Ethrel or ethaphon (2-chloroethane phosphonic acid) is a commercially available plant growth regulator, which is a source of ethylene similar to that naturally released by fruits during ripening process. Although dipping of fruits in diluted ethrel solution is recommended for enhancing ripening, it is a cumbersome process and may cause some problems if commercially available ethrel contains chemical impurities. Further, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in its advise issued during May 2010 permits only the use of ethylene in gaseous form for artificial ripening of fruits.
To overcome such expensive artificial ripening which is mostly adapted in developed nations like USA,UK,CANADA,JAPAN etc, An alternative simple method is standardized for enhancing the ripening process by exposing the fruits to ethylene gas released from ethrel/ethephon solution. This is a simple method wherein small quantity of alkali is added to ethrel to release the ethylene gas and the fruits are exposed to this liberated gas in air-tight portable plastic tents. In this method the fruits are placed in ventilated plastic crates inside air-tight plastic tents of known volume. Required/calculated quantity of ethrel is taken into a container and placed inside the tents to which required quantity of alkali (Sodium hydroxide) is added for releasing the ethylene gas from ethrel solution and the tents are sealed air tight immediately. A small battery operated fan can be placed inside the tent for uniform circulation of released ethylene gas. After 18-24 hours of exposure the fruits are taken out for completing the ripening process at room temperature or 18-24°C especially for Robusta banana. Using dessert coolers during ripening at room temperature would help to reduce the temperature and increase the relative humidity thereby reducing the weight loss.Mango fruits exposed to 100 ppm ethylene gas for 24 hrs can be ripened in 5 days as compared to 10 days in non-treated fruits without adversely affecting the quality. Similarly banana bunches/hands exposed to 100 ppm ethylene gas for 18 hours can be ripened in 4 days at RT and 6 days at 20°C. Papaya fruits exposed to ethylene gas ripened with uniform surface colour and uniform firmness in 4 days at ambient temperature. Therefore, use of ethylene is suggested as a safe alternative to calcium carbide for ripening of climacteric fruits.
But even use of ethylene gas commercially used in modern ripening chambers as written above and widely practiced in developed nations which requires huge investment and is not economical for farmers or small traders so in our country most of farmers,marketing people and Sabji Mandi and Fruitsellers and even road side hawkers and feriwala all use Calcium carbide for ripening of fruits(one kg of calcium carbide cost Rs.25/- and can ripe 10 tons of Fruits) as regulating authorities,Food safety,hygiene departments and analysts hardly work on ground and all kept mum for bribes and kickbacks so use of such contaminated fruits are widely prevalent in society and have acquired almost in legal daily business of crore,causing so open day light Health hazards to mass and every affluent,middle and poor class of our country equally and SELF AWARENESS and CONTROLof taking such Fruits and vegetables pretimely and prematurally in unseason period ,now a days conscious people even donot use fruits and vegetables grown using manures and fertilizers mixed with spray of insecticides and pesticide,they simple use fruits and vegetables either grown in their field or from a known company where fruits and vegetables are neither riped nor grown by use of fertilizers that is called ORGANIC PURE NATURL FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.SO WE SHOULD NOT EAT SUCH UNSEASONAL FRUITS AND EVEN EATING THEN WASH IT 2-3 TIMES IN PURE TAP WATER OR COOLED BOILED WATER BEFORE EATING.It is high time that our government should lay high standard of food hygiene and toxicity standards with repeated cinspections,raids and catching blackmarketers but all are sleeping in corruption pushing HUMAN RACE TO SUCH FATAL OUTCOMES
Since ancient time Fruits are the important meal or refresher nutrient of Human as it is easily available most natural food without any toxicity or harm to our body beside its easy availability,no need of processing before eating and in rarest place like ‘VAN OR FOREST’ where human race use to live and walk around for day to day activities and lifehood without any price or economical burden.In modern times as cities and town formed at cost of deforestation ,fruits and vegetables the most wanted non animal Biological food product beame commercially cultivated and preserved beside its occasional presence in some households particular in villages or their farm House or Bagans or courtyard.
Now a days,as science and health awareness progress with economical developments fruits and vegetables are consumed more frequently and markets are flooded with them.As Modern Human nature,he wants to eat the things which are newly arrived or Fruits and vegetables which are unseasonale as Mango,Licchi in month of FEB-JUNE,Grapes in june to September beside this he wants to take fruits as many Indian like fruits from from Italy,Japan,Usa,china etc rather that Indian Variety is alco available.These unseasonale fruits and vegetables are available as preserved packed food from last year in COLD STORAGE,BIG FREEDZES OR COLD CHAIN or mostly unripe fruits plucked from trees much before thei ripening time.
There are two types of fruits,one fruit ripe only on plants or trees another are Climacteric fruits like mango, banana, papaya, sapota and custard apple are often harvested in a mature but unripe condition and then subsequently allowed to ripen by natural release of ripening hormone by commercial using Ethylene Gas or by use of Calcium Carbide or smoking in each box /container of fruits commercially. However, natural ripening in some fruits is a slow process, which leads to high weight loss, desiccation of fruits and uneven ripening.
Use of Calcium Carbide:-
It is mostly used method for ripening of fruits like Mango,Bananna,Licchi,Pappaya,Apples,Grapes,oranges etc.In small box a packet of 50-100gs of calcium carbide is kept along with food and box is closed,calcium carbide will absorb water from environment and will produce Acetylene gas which causes artificial ripening of food by producing heat inside box.Some traders ripen fruits like banana in enclosed chambers where large quantities of calcium carbide is put and water sprinkled before sealing the chambers. Though the released acetylene triggers ripening process in fruits, it is an inflammable gas involving risk of fire hazards.However, calcium carbide contains chemical impurities such as arsenic hydride and phosphorus hydride that are highly carcinogenic compounds. Improper use of calcium carbide can therefore cause chemical contamination of fresh produce. Further fruits ripened with calcium carbide though develop attractive surface colour, are inferior in taste, flavour and spoil faster.These fruits are soft as starch turns into sugar by heat ,often uniform in color,may have black patches or multiple colors or completely yellowish(Mangoes and Bannanss ),Some time usually rotten from inside ,apply few drops of iodine if it remains yellow means food is rotten as starch or fresh fruit will turn it blue from yellw.Government of India has banned the use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits under PFA Act 8-44 AA, 1954.
But inspite of every good warning we are so much eager to eat Fruits and vegetables pretimely and prematurally that we donot mind whether these are asfe for our helath or not,Arsenic phosphorus ,calcium carbide beside producing ill effects on our Gastro Intestinal tract,Liver,Kidneys and skin can produce cancer of lung,liver etc.
Alternatives safe method of ripening fruits;
Ethrel or ethaphon (2-chloroethane phosphonic acid) is a commercially available plant growth regulator, which is a source of ethylene similar to that naturally released by fruits during ripening process. Although dipping of fruits in diluted ethrel solution is recommended for enhancing ripening, it is a cumbersome process and may cause some problems if commercially available ethrel contains chemical impurities. Further, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in its advise issued during May 2010 permits only the use of ethylene in gaseous form for artificial ripening of fruits.
To overcome such expensive artificial ripening which is mostly adapted in developed nations like USA,UK,CANADA,JAPAN etc, An alternative simple method is standardized for enhancing the ripening process by exposing the fruits to ethylene gas released from ethrel/ethephon solution. This is a simple method wherein small quantity of alkali is added to ethrel to release the ethylene gas and the fruits are exposed to this liberated gas in air-tight portable plastic tents. In this method the fruits are placed in ventilated plastic crates inside air-tight plastic tents of known volume. Required/calculated quantity of ethrel is taken into a container and placed inside the tents to which required quantity of alkali (Sodium hydroxide) is added for releasing the ethylene gas from ethrel solution and the tents are sealed air tight immediately. A small battery operated fan can be placed inside the tent for uniform circulation of released ethylene gas. After 18-24 hours of exposure the fruits are taken out for completing the ripening process at room temperature or 18-24°C especially for Robusta banana. Using dessert coolers during ripening at room temperature would help to reduce the temperature and increase the relative humidity thereby reducing the weight loss.Mango fruits exposed to 100 ppm ethylene gas for 24 hrs can be ripened in 5 days as compared to 10 days in non-treated fruits without adversely affecting the quality. Similarly banana bunches/hands exposed to 100 ppm ethylene gas for 18 hours can be ripened in 4 days at RT and 6 days at 20°C. Papaya fruits exposed to ethylene gas ripened with uniform surface colour and uniform firmness in 4 days at ambient temperature. Therefore, use of ethylene is suggested as a safe alternative to calcium carbide for ripening of climacteric fruits.
But even use of ethylene gas commercially used in modern ripening chambers as written above and widely practiced in developed nations which requires huge investment and is not economical for farmers or small traders so in our country most of farmers,marketing people and Sabji Mandi and Fruitsellers and even road side hawkers and feriwala all use Calcium carbide for ripening of fruits(one kg of calcium carbide cost Rs.25/- and can ripe 10 tons of Fruits) as regulating authorities,Food safety,hygiene departments and analysts hardly work on ground and all kept mum for bribes and kickbacks so use of such contaminated fruits are widely prevalent in society and have acquired almost in legal daily business of crore,causing so open day light Health hazards to mass and every affluent,middle and poor class of our country equally and SELF AWARENESS and CONTROLof taking such Fruits and vegetables pretimely and prematurally in unseason period ,now a days conscious people even donot use fruits and vegetables grown using manures and fertilizers mixed with spray of insecticides and pesticide,they simple use fruits and vegetables either grown in their field or from a known company where fruits and vegetables are neither riped nor grown by use of fertilizers that is called ORGANIC PURE NATURL FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.SO WE SHOULD NOT EAT SUCH UNSEASONAL FRUITS AND EVEN EATING THEN WASH IT 2-3 TIMES IN PURE TAP WATER OR COOLED BOILED WATER BEFORE EATING.It is high time that our government should lay high standard of food hygiene and toxicity standards with repeated cinspections,raids and catching blackmarketers but all are sleeping in corruption pushing HUMAN RACE TO SUCH FATAL OUTCOMES
Post-ban, demand for grandpa’s favourite chew shoots up
DEMAND AND SUPPLY:Paan shop owners believethat the prices of betel
leaves, nuts and other ingredients are likely to go up in the lightof
gutka ban
Gutka consumers now turn to ‘desi paan’ to get their daily fix
Even as those ubiquitous festoons of gutka sachets
hanging at roadside shops have begun disappearing after they were banned
by the State government last week, many consumers of smokeless tobacco
in the city appear to have switched to what their grandparents used to
chew.
The demand for “desi paan”, a simple
combination of betel nut smeared with white lime, areca and, crucially, a
smidgeon of tobacco, has spiked, many paan shop owners say.
Doctors
caution that consumption of tobacco in any form is harmful. Smokeless
tobacco consumption is more injurious to health than smoking as chewing
of tobacco directly affects the oral cavity and enters into the system.
Hansraj
Singh, a paan shop owner on Infantry Road, said that he would not risk
stocking gutka now. He added that he would stop selling all smokeless
tobacco products in the wake of the ban. However, he said that many
addicts had migrated to “desi paan” and other traditional paan because
gutka is either not available or is being sold in black.
While
many shop owners claim that they have exhausted their stock, some shops
were indeed still found selling gutka, but with only a few brands with
no fresh stocks coming in.
More time
M.
Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), said that
it would take a couple of days for the department to enforce the gutka
ban effectively.
“We have issued guidelines on
enforcement and today, our officials have started raids. They have
seized stocks from different parts of the State. It is just a beginning
and we will soon crack down on the sale of gutka in all forms,” he said.
In some areas, the police have warned paan shop owners not to stock or sell gutka, shop owners told
The Hindu
.
Not that this has cured addicts of their cravings.
“It is difficult now to procure gutka since most shops have run out of
the stock. I need a particular brand, which is not available in the
market, so I have shifted to another,” said Ram Gogio, who works on M.G.
Road.
“Many people whom I know have shifted to ‘desi paan’,” he added.
This
was confirmed by Kamal Singh who said that he had stopped buying gutka
as it has become very expensive after the ban. “I have shifted to ‘desi
paan’, which is cheaper.”
The ban has come as a
relief for gutka consumers like Shabeer Ahmed, a pet shop owner in
Shivajinagar, who has decided to quit altogether. “The government’s
decision to ban gutka encouraged me to stop consuming it. I am sure many
may have quit like me,” he said.
Price hike likely?
Meanwhile,
paan shop owners believe that the prices of betel leaves, nuts and
other ingredients are likely to go up in the light of gutka ban,
following which many have started consuming “desi paan” and other
regular paan. “Many paan shop owners are likely to increase the price of
paan to offset their loss after the gutka ban. We are seeing an
increase in the number of consumers of ‘desi paan’,” said Subash, a paan
shop owner in Shivajinagar.
Dinamani News
பான்மசாலா, குட்கா விற்பனையைத் தடை செய்வதற்கான சோதனையை செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை முதல் தீவிரப்படுத்த மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.
பான்மசாலா, குட்கா விற்பனையைத் தடை செய்வதற்கான சோதனையை செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை முதல் தீவிரப்படுத்த மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.
பான்மசாலா குட்கா தடைச் சட்டம் தொடர்பாக, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறையின்
மாவட்ட அளவிலான குழுவின் ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டம் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அன்சுல் மிஸ்ரா
தலைமையில் திங்கள்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது.
உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை மாவட்ட அதிகாரி சுகுணா, சுகாதாரத் துறை துணை
இயக்குநர் செந்தில்குமார், மாநகராட்சி உதவி நகர்நல அலுவலர் பிரியாராஜ்
மற்றும் வணிகவரி, காவல்துறை உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு துறைகளின் அலுவலர்கள் இக்
கூட்டத்தில் பங்கேற்றனர்.
தமிழகத்தில் பான்மசாலா, குட்கா விற்பனைக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்ட தடைக்கு
அரசாணை பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதையடுத்து, அதற்கான தடை உடனடியாக அமலுக்கு
வந்துள்ளது. இந்த அரசாணையைச் செயல்படுத்துவது தொடர்பாக ஆலோசனைக்
கூட்டத்தில் விவாதிக்கப்பட்டது.
இதன்படி, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் மாவட்ட முழுவதும்
செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை முதல் சோதனையைத் தீவிரப்படுத்துவது எனவும், பான்மசாலா,
குட்கா போன்றவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்வது எனவும் முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.
தேவைப்பட்டால் மாநகராட்சி, காவல், வணிகவரி உள்ளிட்ட துறையினரையும் சோதனையில் இணைத்துக் கொள்ளுமாறு அறிவுறுத்தினார்.
உத்தங்குடி, ஒத்தக்கடை உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி
சுகுணா தலைமையிலான அலுவலர்கள் திங்கள்கிழமை மாலை திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டு,
சில கடைகளில் விற்பனைக்கு இருந்த பான்மசாலா, குட்கா பாக்கெட்டுகளை பறிமுதல்
செய்தனர்
TNFS Dept. - Cuddalore Dist. News
கடலூரில் விநியோகிக்கும் டேங்கர் லாரி குடிநீர் சுகாதாரமற்றது - ஆய்வில் அதிர்ச்சி தகவல்
கடலூர், ஜூன் 4:
கடலூர்
நகரில் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் வினியோகம் செய்யப்படும் தண்ணீர் சுகாதாரமற்ற
நிலையில் வினியோகம் செய்யப்படுவது ஆய்வில் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இதுதொடர்பாக 50
டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையினர் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பியுள்ளனர்.
மாவட்டத்தின் தலைநகராக உள்ள கடலூரில்
வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள், ஓட்டல்கள், திருமண மண்டபங்கள் அதிகம் உள்ளன.
இவற்றுக்கு அடிப்படை தேவையான குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் வினியோகம்
செய்யப்படுகிறது.
நாள்தோறும் 50 டேங்கர்
லாரிகளில் சுமார் 2.5 லட்சம் லிட்டர் குடிநீர் வினியோகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இதற்காக கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் தனியார் போர்வெல் மூலம் தண்ணீர்
எடுக்கப்படுகிறது.
தற்போது குடிநீர்
தட்டுப்பாடு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள சூழ்நிலையில் பொதுமக்களும் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஒரு
குடம் நீரை 5 ரூபாய் கொடுத்து வாங்கி பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். ஆனால் இந்த
குடிநீர் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளதாக புகார்கள் வந்தன.
இதையடுத்து
நகராட்சி சேர்மன் சுப்பிரமணியன், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி
ராஜா தலைமையில் நகர்நல அலுவலர் குமரகுருபரன் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள்
நந்தகுமார், சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் கடலூர் வண்டிப்பாளையம்
சாலையில் நேற்று டேங்கர் லாரிகளை மடக்கி திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர். அப்போது
சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீர் வினியோகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது.
இது தொடர்பாக 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பப்பட்டது.
மேலும் கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் உள்ள போர்வெல்களையும் குழுவினர்
பார்வையிட்டு ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
இதுகுறித்து
உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜாவிடம் கேட்டபோது, தினந்தோறும் லாரிகளில்
கொண்டு செல்லப்படும் தண்ணீர் பிளீச்சிங் பவுடர் போடாமல் கொண்டு
செல்லக்கூடாது.
வாரம் ஒருமுறை இதுதொடர்பான அறிக்கை வழங்க வேண்டும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
கேப்பர்
மலையில் உள்ள போர்வெல்கள் விவசாய பயன்பாட்டுக்கு இல்லாமல் குடிநீர்
விற்பனைக்காக டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஏற்றிச்செல்வதும் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து விசாரணை நடத்த உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது என்றார்.
கடலூர்
கடலூர் நகரில் டிராக்டர்கள் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலக்காததை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் கண்டுபிடித்து, டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு கடும் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தனர்.
குடிநீர் வினியோகம்
கடலூர் நகரில் ஒரு லட்சத்து 73 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் வசிக்கிறார்கள். இவர்களுக்கு நகராட்சி மூலம் நாளொன்றுக்கு 10 மில்லியன் லிட்டர் குடிநீர் வினியோகிக்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால் இது மக்களின் குடிநீர் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்ய போதுமானதாக இல்லாததால் கேப்பர்மலையில் இருந்து டிராக்டர் டேங்கர்களில் கொண்டு வரப்படும் குடிநீரை பேரல் ஒன்றுக்கு 30 ரூபாய் வீதம் மக்கள் வாங்கி பருகுகிறார்கள். இவ்விதம் நகரில் நாளொன்றுக்கு சுமார் 100 டிராக்டர் டேங்கர் குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இந்த குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா? என்பதை கண்டறிவதற்காக நகரசபை தலைவர் சி.கே.சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமையில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா, அதிகாரி நல்லதம்பி, நகர்நல அலுவலர் டாக்டர் குமரகுருபரன் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று காலையில் கேப்பர் மலையில் இருந்து குடிநீர் ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு வண்டிப்பாளையம் ரோட்டில் வந்த டிராக்டர்களை நிறுத்தி ‘குளோரோஸ்கோப்’ என்ற கருவி மூலம் குடிநீரை பரிசோதித்தனர். இந்த ஆய்வில் குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலந்திராதது தெரியவந்தது. இதனால் டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசுகளை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா வழங்கினார்.
இது பற்றி அவர் கூறியதாவது:–
குளோரின் கலக்காமல்...
குடிநீர் மூலம் காலரா, வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, டைபாய்டு போன்ற நோய்கள் பரவுவதை தடுப்பதற்காக குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலந்து வினியோகிக்க வேண்டும். அதாவது ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் குடிநீரில் 5 கிராம் குளோரின் கலக்க வேண்டும், இதை விட குறைவாக குளோரின் கலந்தால் கிருமிகள் சாகாது, அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக கலந்தால் அதை குடிப்பவர்களுக்கு வயிற்றுபோக்கு ஏற்பட்டு விடும். எனவே சரியான அளவில் குளோரின் கலக்க வேண்டும் என்று டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தி இருக்கிறோம்,
இது பற்றி இன்றைக்கு(அதாவது நேற்று) ஆய்வு செய்ததில் டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்கள் குளோரின் கலக்காத குடிநீரை கொண்டு வந்து விற்பனை செய்வது தெரியவந்துள்ளது, அவர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு கொடுத்திருக்கிறோம், இதே தவறை மீண்டும் செய்தால் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று எச்சரித்திருக்கிறோம்.
இவ்வாறு டாக்டர் ராஜா கூறினார்.
கடலூர் நகரில் டிராக்டர்கள் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலக்காததை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் கண்டுபிடித்து, டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு கடும் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தனர்.
குடிநீர் வினியோகம்
கடலூர் நகரில் ஒரு லட்சத்து 73 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் வசிக்கிறார்கள். இவர்களுக்கு நகராட்சி மூலம் நாளொன்றுக்கு 10 மில்லியன் லிட்டர் குடிநீர் வினியோகிக்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால் இது மக்களின் குடிநீர் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்ய போதுமானதாக இல்லாததால் கேப்பர்மலையில் இருந்து டிராக்டர் டேங்கர்களில் கொண்டு வரப்படும் குடிநீரை பேரல் ஒன்றுக்கு 30 ரூபாய் வீதம் மக்கள் வாங்கி பருகுகிறார்கள். இவ்விதம் நகரில் நாளொன்றுக்கு சுமார் 100 டிராக்டர் டேங்கர் குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இந்த குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா? என்பதை கண்டறிவதற்காக நகரசபை தலைவர் சி.கே.சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமையில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா, அதிகாரி நல்லதம்பி, நகர்நல அலுவலர் டாக்டர் குமரகுருபரன் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று காலையில் கேப்பர் மலையில் இருந்து குடிநீர் ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு வண்டிப்பாளையம் ரோட்டில் வந்த டிராக்டர்களை நிறுத்தி ‘குளோரோஸ்கோப்’ என்ற கருவி மூலம் குடிநீரை பரிசோதித்தனர். இந்த ஆய்வில் குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலந்திராதது தெரியவந்தது. இதனால் டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசுகளை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி டாக்டர் ராஜா வழங்கினார்.
இது பற்றி அவர் கூறியதாவது:–
குளோரின் கலக்காமல்...
குடிநீர் மூலம் காலரா, வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, டைபாய்டு போன்ற நோய்கள் பரவுவதை தடுப்பதற்காக குடிநீரில் குளோரின் கலந்து வினியோகிக்க வேண்டும். அதாவது ஆயிரம் லிட்டர் குடிநீரில் 5 கிராம் குளோரின் கலக்க வேண்டும், இதை விட குறைவாக குளோரின் கலந்தால் கிருமிகள் சாகாது, அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக கலந்தால் அதை குடிப்பவர்களுக்கு வயிற்றுபோக்கு ஏற்பட்டு விடும். எனவே சரியான அளவில் குளோரின் கலக்க வேண்டும் என்று டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தி இருக்கிறோம்,
இது பற்றி இன்றைக்கு(அதாவது நேற்று) ஆய்வு செய்ததில் டிராக்டர் டிரைவர்கள் குளோரின் கலக்காத குடிநீரை கொண்டு வந்து விற்பனை செய்வது தெரியவந்துள்ளது, அவர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு கொடுத்திருக்கிறோம், இதே தவறை மீண்டும் செய்தால் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று எச்சரித்திருக்கிறோம்.
இவ்வாறு டாக்டர் ராஜா கூறினார்.
டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் தரமற்ற குடிநீர் விநியோகம்: 50 லாரிகளுக்கு நோட்டீஸ்
கடலூர் நகரில் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் விநியோகம்
செய்யப்படும் தண்ணீர் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் இருப்பது ஆய்வில்
தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இதுதொடர்பாக 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு
துறை அதிகாரிகள் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பியுள்ளனர்.
கடலூர் நகரில் வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள், ஹோட்டல்கள், திருமண மண்டபங்கள் அதிகம் உள்ளன. இவற்றுக்கு அடிப்படை தேவையான குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் விநியோகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. நாள்தோறும் சுமார் 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் சுமார் 2.5 லட்சம் லிட்டர் குடிநீர் விநியோகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இதற்காக கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் தனியார் போர்வெல் மூலம் தண்ணீர் எடுக்கப்படுகிறது. தற்போது குடிநீர் தட்டுப்பாடு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள சூழ்நிலையில் பொதுமக்களும் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஒரு குடம் நீரை 5 ரூபாய் கொடுத்து வாங்கி பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். ஆனால் இந்த குடிநீர் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளதாக புகார்கள் வந்தன.
இதையடுத்து மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜா தலைமையில் நகர்நல அலுவலர் குமரகுருபரன் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் நந்தகுமார், சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் கடலூர் வண்டிப்பாளையம் சாலையில் டேங்கர் லாரிகளை நிறுத்தி திங்கள்கிழமை திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
அப்போது சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீர் விநியோகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது. இதுதொடர்பாக 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டது. மேலும் கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் உள்ள போர்வெல்களையும் குழுவினர் பார்வையிட்டு ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜாவிடம் கேட்டபோது, தினந்தோறும் லாரிகளில் கொண்டு செல்லப்படும் தண்ணீர் பிளீச்சிங் பவுடர் போடாமல் கொண்டு செல்லக்கூடாது. வாரம் ஒருமுறை இதுதொடர்பான அறிக்கை வழங்க வேண்டும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடப்பட்டது. கேப்பர் மலையில் உள்ள போர்வெல்கள் விவசாயப் பயன்பாட்டுக்கு இல்லாமல் குடிநீர் விற்பனைக்காக டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஏற்றிச் செல்வதும் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து விசாரணை நடத்த உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது என்றார்.
கடலூர் நகரில் வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள், ஹோட்டல்கள், திருமண மண்டபங்கள் அதிகம் உள்ளன. இவற்றுக்கு அடிப்படை தேவையான குடிநீர் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் விநியோகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. நாள்தோறும் சுமார் 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் சுமார் 2.5 லட்சம் லிட்டர் குடிநீர் விநியோகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இதற்காக கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் தனியார் போர்வெல் மூலம் தண்ணீர் எடுக்கப்படுகிறது. தற்போது குடிநீர் தட்டுப்பாடு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள சூழ்நிலையில் பொதுமக்களும் டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஒரு குடம் நீரை 5 ரூபாய் கொடுத்து வாங்கி பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். ஆனால் இந்த குடிநீர் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளதாக புகார்கள் வந்தன.
இதையடுத்து மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜா தலைமையில் நகர்நல அலுவலர் குமரகுருபரன் மற்றும் அலுவலர்கள் நந்தகுமார், சுப்பிரமணியன் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் கடலூர் வண்டிப்பாளையம் சாலையில் டேங்கர் லாரிகளை நிறுத்தி திங்கள்கிழமை திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
அப்போது சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீர் விநியோகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது. இதுதொடர்பாக 50 டேங்கர் லாரிகளுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டது. மேலும் கேப்பர் மலை பகுதிகளில் உள்ள போர்வெல்களையும் குழுவினர் பார்வையிட்டு ஆய்வு நடத்தினர்.
இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரி ராஜாவிடம் கேட்டபோது, தினந்தோறும் லாரிகளில் கொண்டு செல்லப்படும் தண்ணீர் பிளீச்சிங் பவுடர் போடாமல் கொண்டு செல்லக்கூடாது. வாரம் ஒருமுறை இதுதொடர்பான அறிக்கை வழங்க வேண்டும் என எச்சரிக்கை விடப்பட்டது. கேப்பர் மலையில் உள்ள போர்வெல்கள் விவசாயப் பயன்பாட்டுக்கு இல்லாமல் குடிநீர் விற்பனைக்காக டேங்கர் லாரிகளில் ஏற்றிச் செல்வதும் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து விசாரணை நடத்த உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது என்றார்.
Two gutka factories closed
Chikodi (Belgaum dist), June 3, 2013
Officers of the Food Safety and Standards
Authority locked up two gutka and paan masala manufacturing factories in
the taluk on Monday, after they found raw materials used in the
manufacturing of the banned products.
“Of the three gutka factories in the taluk, two have been locked up following an inspection. The third factory too will be inspected soon,” explained the Authority’s senior official in Belgaum,
Dr Jagadeesh Nuchin.
“Of the three gutka factories in the taluk, two have been locked up following an inspection. The third factory too will be inspected soon,” explained the Authority’s senior official in Belgaum,
Dr Jagadeesh Nuchin.
Parliamentary Committee constituted for food and drugs quality control to visit Raipur on June 4-5
Raipur, 3 June 2013
Parliamentary Committee, constituted by Rajya Sabha Secretariat for food and drugs quality control, will visit capital city Raipur on June 4-5.
During the visit, Committee members will convene meetings at Hotel Babylon to discuss the issues related to quality of food products and medicines. Secretary, State Health and Family Welfare Department and Controller, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Chhattisgarh will mark their presence in these meetings, while representatives of Chamber of Commerce, food and drugs manufacturers, chemists and drugists along with the representatives of consumer forum will also participate.
According to the information received from Controller, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Parliamentary Committee will reach Mana Airport on June 4 at 8.30 am. They will reach Hotel Babylon by 9.15 am. There, the committee members will convene meeting of the concerned petitioners from 11.30 am to 1 pm to discuss the petitions related to amendments in Meat Export Policy and Information Technology Act 2000 for prevention of cyber porn material. On June 5 also, members of Parliamentary Committee will address two more meetings at Hotel Babylon between 10.30 am and 1 pm. In the first meeting, Drug Controller, Health and Family Welfare Department and representatives of Medicine Department along with the representatives of drug manufacturers will participate. In this meeting, committee will focus the discussion on the petitions against manufacture of counterfeit medicine and other related cases. In the second meeting, representatives of NGOs and consumer organizations along with Food Security Commissioner, State Health and Family Welfare Department will participate. This meeting will be held to discuss the ways to stop food adulteration and to promote the consumption of safe food products in the country.
The six-member Parliamentary Committee constituted by Rajya Sabha Secretariat included Dr Ashok Giri, Commissioner, Drugs and PFA Nagpur Government of Maharashtra, Dr Tomar, Commissioner Drugs and PFA Raipur Government of Chhattisgarh, Dr Arun Panda, Joint Secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Delhi, Dr Ishwar Reddy, Deputy Drugs Controller General Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Delhi, Mr CR Dalal Director Food Safety and Standard Authority of India New Delhi and Mr Praveen B Jain, Revti Apartment CIDCO Nagpur.
Parliamentary Committee, constituted by Rajya Sabha Secretariat for food and drugs quality control, will visit capital city Raipur on June 4-5.
During the visit, Committee members will convene meetings at Hotel Babylon to discuss the issues related to quality of food products and medicines. Secretary, State Health and Family Welfare Department and Controller, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Chhattisgarh will mark their presence in these meetings, while representatives of Chamber of Commerce, food and drugs manufacturers, chemists and drugists along with the representatives of consumer forum will also participate.
According to the information received from Controller, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Parliamentary Committee will reach Mana Airport on June 4 at 8.30 am. They will reach Hotel Babylon by 9.15 am. There, the committee members will convene meeting of the concerned petitioners from 11.30 am to 1 pm to discuss the petitions related to amendments in Meat Export Policy and Information Technology Act 2000 for prevention of cyber porn material. On June 5 also, members of Parliamentary Committee will address two more meetings at Hotel Babylon between 10.30 am and 1 pm. In the first meeting, Drug Controller, Health and Family Welfare Department and representatives of Medicine Department along with the representatives of drug manufacturers will participate. In this meeting, committee will focus the discussion on the petitions against manufacture of counterfeit medicine and other related cases. In the second meeting, representatives of NGOs and consumer organizations along with Food Security Commissioner, State Health and Family Welfare Department will participate. This meeting will be held to discuss the ways to stop food adulteration and to promote the consumption of safe food products in the country.
The six-member Parliamentary Committee constituted by Rajya Sabha Secretariat included Dr Ashok Giri, Commissioner, Drugs and PFA Nagpur Government of Maharashtra, Dr Tomar, Commissioner Drugs and PFA Raipur Government of Chhattisgarh, Dr Arun Panda, Joint Secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Delhi, Dr Ishwar Reddy, Deputy Drugs Controller General Ministry of Health and Family Welfare New Delhi, Mr CR Dalal Director Food Safety and Standard Authority of India New Delhi and Mr Praveen B Jain, Revti Apartment CIDCO Nagpur.
Jun 3, 2013
Govt to upgrade 2 food testing labs
Will equip all districts with mobile labs; 36 additional posts created in DFCO
Srinagar, June 2
With the high court seized of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to upgrade existing food testing laboratories in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to national-level standards.
The government is also planning to equip other districts with mobile food testing labs.
On April 7, the state health authorities in their compliance report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had stated that they have acquired a project report on mobile food testing laboratories from the Gujarat Government and are actively considering setting up the same in the state to check adulteration of milk and milk products.
The government has decided to set up mobile food testing laboratories in all districts besides upgrading the existing food testing laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar cities to check food adulteration.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting of health officials here in Srinagar on Friday chaired by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan.
During the meeting, it was decided that food testing labs in Srinagar and Jammu cities would be upgraded to national-level standards at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
Khan informed the meeting that the government has already decided to create 36 posts of different categories to provide the required staff in the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), which is tasked with implementing food and safety standards in the state.
Directing the authorities concerned to intensify efforts to check the food adulteration in the markets, Khan said market checking squads of the DFCO have been asked to impose heavy penalties on the persons indulging in food adulteration with directions that their licences should be cancelled without any discrimination.
Concerned over the increased adulteration in food items, the high court had earlier ordered continuous testing of milk being sold in the market and directed the authorities concerned (DFCO market checking squads) to take samples of eatables from markets and factories in all districts of the state on a weekly basis for testing and initiate action against the defaulters.
The high court is hearing a PIL seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration in the state.
What the PIL says
The PIL had sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011
It had been submitted that the non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government was a grave issue and the matter required to be dealt with seriously to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
Srinagar, June 2
With the high court seized of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to upgrade existing food testing laboratories in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to national-level standards.
The government is also planning to equip other districts with mobile food testing labs.
On April 7, the state health authorities in their compliance report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had stated that they have acquired a project report on mobile food testing laboratories from the Gujarat Government and are actively considering setting up the same in the state to check adulteration of milk and milk products.
The government has decided to set up mobile food testing laboratories in all districts besides upgrading the existing food testing laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar cities to check food adulteration.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting of health officials here in Srinagar on Friday chaired by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan.
During the meeting, it was decided that food testing labs in Srinagar and Jammu cities would be upgraded to national-level standards at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
Khan informed the meeting that the government has already decided to create 36 posts of different categories to provide the required staff in the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), which is tasked with implementing food and safety standards in the state.
Directing the authorities concerned to intensify efforts to check the food adulteration in the markets, Khan said market checking squads of the DFCO have been asked to impose heavy penalties on the persons indulging in food adulteration with directions that their licences should be cancelled without any discrimination.
Concerned over the increased adulteration in food items, the high court had earlier ordered continuous testing of milk being sold in the market and directed the authorities concerned (DFCO market checking squads) to take samples of eatables from markets and factories in all districts of the state on a weekly basis for testing and initiate action against the defaulters.
The high court is hearing a PIL seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration in the state.
What the PIL says
The PIL had sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011
It had been submitted that the non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government was a grave issue and the matter required to be dealt with seriously to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
Ice creams face the heat
Ice creams are vulnerable to microbial growth when they meltWater used
in ice creams should not exceed 0.2 ppm of residual chlorine
The comfort dessert becomes a victim to raging power cuts
When a 20- year old student from the city started
experiencing severe abdominal pain, nobody expected a scoop of ice cream
to be the culprit. As mercury levels shoot up, people consume ice
creams believing that these provide relief from the heat.
But
health experts say it might not be all that safe, considering the
frequent power cuts. When temperatures vary, it results in a cycle of
melting and refreezing.
“Ice creams with a high
nutrient value are vulnerable to microbial growth when they melt. This
causes food poisoning affecting the gastrointestinal system,” says V.G.
Mohanprasad, a gastroenterologist.
R. Kathiravan,
Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration
Department (Food Safety Wing), says it is important for consumers to be
aware of such issues and protect themselves from unhealthy fares.
“If
we receive complaints (which can be emailed to dofssacbe@gmail.com), we
will take appropriate action and the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) will do everything to help the public,” he
says.
The FSSAI is the regulatory body established
under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Chapter VII, Section 40
of the Act empowers consumers to analyse food purchased with an
authorised food analyst. This should be done after informing the food
business owner.
If the sample is found not to be
adhering to the specified standards, consumer will be entitled to
reimbursement. Further, the food business owner will be prosecuted.
Coimbatore is one of the six districts to have a laboratory accredited
to FSSAI.
Pravin Kumar, a franchisee of a leading ice
cream shop, says that the firm has specific operating procedures with
regard to maintaining temperature. “All ice creams are stored at -18
degrees to maintain quality and ensure safety,” he adds.
R.
Damodaran, Deputy Director of Public Health, says the problem begins at
the grass root level. Many ice cream manufacturers don’t follow the
specifications with regard to water used in the process. While drinking
water can contain 0.5 parts per million (ppm) of residual chlorine,
water used in ice creams should not exceed 0.2 ppm.
If it exceeds this level, it causes adverse reactions with certain additives, he adds.
Safe-to-eat tag for vegetables
The Hindu
The KAU is working on an initial plan to produce and provide
pesticide-free vegetables at a premium price for quality-conscious
consumers.
KAU bid involves food safety certification, promotion of homestead horticulture
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has embarked on an
initiative aimed at ensuring that vegetables and fruits consumed in the
State are safe to eat and free of pesticide residue.
The
programme, funded by the Department of Agriculture, involves food
safety certification, promotion of homestead horticulture, and creating
awareness of the hazards of pesticide residue.
The
KAU is working on an initial plan to produce and provide pesticide-free
vegetables at a premium price for quality-conscious consumers. The
Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory at the College of
Agriculture, Vellayani, will play a key role in the programme.
KAU
Vice-Chancellor P. Rajendran said the laboratory had detected pesticide
residue in 226 out of 1,024 samples, with 78 samples exceeding the
maximum residue limit (MRL). “We are developing and popularising
protocols to remove pesticide residue from high-risk vegetables and
fruits based on already identified techniques,” he said.
Dr.
Rajendran said efforts were afoot to equip the laboratory with more
sophisticated instruments to cater to the analytical needs of the Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Departments of
Agriculture, Health and Family Welfare, Ground Water Directorate and
other research agencies.
S. Nazeemabeevi, who heads
the laboratory at Vellayani, said alarming levels of pesticide residue
had been detected in cardamom, the key export commodity of the State.
“All the samples showed residue and in most cases, the levels exceeded
the MRL also. Pesticide residue above the MRL were seen in cabbage,
cauliflower, cowpea, and bitter gourd. At least seven common pesticides,
including endosulfan, were detected,” she said.
Dr.
Nazeemabeevi said the case of curry leaves was a matter of grave
concern. “Of the 64 samples analysed, residue was detected in 39. Of the
242 vegetables tested, residue were detected in 79, of which five
exceeded the MRL.
Jun 2, 2013
'Gutka contains carcinogen magnesium carbonate'
Mumbai: Gutka packets on average contain seven per cent magnesium
carbonate, which is a chemical used in fire extinguishers, according to
The Food And Drug Administration. The news is alarming as 206 million
Indians use some form of smokeless tobacco.
The World Health
Organisation estimates that 26 per cent of adults in India, use some
form of smokeless tobacco and 40 per cent of them die because of this
habit.
Dr Prakash Gupta, Director of Healis Institute for Public
Health, said, "Magnesium carbonate itself has very specific health
effects but when it is added to gutka and gutka is consumed, it has far
more serious health effects because then it is a carcinogen. It has lots
of toxins and produces many fatal and non-fatal diseases in an
individual so taken as a whole when Magnesium Carbonate is added to
gutka, it is a very very serious."
Added to increase the shelf life of the product, the worst is that no chronic side effects of the compound are known because there are not enough medical studies. The Maharashtra FDA is now planning to carry out surprise raids to seize gutka packets and ban companies that have been using magnesium carbonate as a preservative.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Surgical Oncologist, Tata Memorial Hospital, said, "What I would urge is that rather than banning, seizing and forfeiting those products under the pretext of magnesium carbonate what would be logical to follow the food safety standards act of India and ban gutka altogether."
Added to increase the shelf life of the product, the worst is that no chronic side effects of the compound are known because there are not enough medical studies. The Maharashtra FDA is now planning to carry out surprise raids to seize gutka packets and ban companies that have been using magnesium carbonate as a preservative.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Surgical Oncologist, Tata Memorial Hospital, said, "What I would urge is that rather than banning, seizing and forfeiting those products under the pretext of magnesium carbonate what would be logical to follow the food safety standards act of India and ban gutka altogether."
Now the BMC plans to revoke the licences of shops selling tobacco products in the vicinity of schools.
குட்கா, பான்மசாலா தடை தீவிரமாக அமல்படுத்தப்படுமா?
புகையிலையில் 3,000 வகையான நச்சுப் பொருட்கள் உள்ளன. போதையை
ஏற்படுத்தும், "நிகோட்டின்' இதில் ஒன்று. மது, கஞ்சா போன்ற போதை பொருட்களை
விட, கடுமையான பாதிப்பை, புகையிலை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. ஆண்டுக்கு, 10 லட்சம்
பேர், புகையிலையால் ஏற்படும் புற்றுநோய்க்கு பலியாகின்றனர். புற்றுநோய்
பாதிக்கப்பட்டோரில் 43 சதவீதம் பேர், சென்னை போன்ற பெருநகரங்களில் உள்ளனர்.
இந்நிலையில், குட்கா, பான்மசாலா போன்றவற்றை தடை செய்தது வரவேற்கத் தக்கது.
புகையிலை பொருட்களை, பள்ளி, கல்லூரி வளாகங்களிலிருந்து, 100 மீட்டர்
தூரத்துக்கு அப்பால் விற்க வேண்டும் என, சட்டம் உள்ளது. ஆனால், இச்சட்டத்தை
யாரும் பின்பற்றுவதில்லை. இதனால், இளைய சமூகத்தினர் கைகளில், புகையிலைப்
பொருட்கள் எளிதாகக் கிடைக்கின்றன. சிறு வயதிலேயே, புகையிலைப்
பழக்கத்துக்கு, இளைஞர்கள் உள்ளாகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில், எதிர்கால சந்ததிகளை
பாதுகாக்கும் வகையில், குட்கா, பான்மசாலா பொருட்களுக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டு
உள்ளது. இத்தடையை முழுமையாக அமலுக்குக் கொண்டு வரவேண்டும். ஆனால், சட்ட
அமலாக்கம் பெரும் சவாலாக இருக்கும் என, கருதுகிறோம். சட்டம் வந்த சில
நாட்களுக்கு அதை அமல்படுத்திவிட்டு, அதன்பின் விட்டுவிட்டால், தடை செய்த
பொருட்களின் விற்பனை, கள்ள சந்தையில் அதிகரித்துவிடும். சட்ட அமலாக்கம்
சோடை போனால், தடை விதித்ததற்கு பலன் கிடைக்காது. தடை செய்த நோக்கமும்
நிறைவேறாது. எனவே, குட்கா, பான்மசாலா தடைச் சட்டத்தை துவக்கம் முதலே,
தீவிரமாக அமல்படுத்த வேண்டும். அப்போது தான், புற்றுநோயிலிருந்து வருங்கால
சமூகத்தை காக்க முடியும்.
விதுபாலா, இணை பேராசிரியர், அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனை
வாய்
வழியாக உட்கொள்ளும் பொருட்கள் எதுவும், உடலை பாதிக்கக் கூடாது. அப்படி
பாதிப்பு ஏற்படுத்தும் பொருட்களை தடை செய்யலாம் என, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்
உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. இந்த உத்தரவுப்படி, உடல்நிலையை பாதிக்கக் கூடிய,
"நிகோட்டினை' உருவாக்கும் புகையிலைப் பொருட்கள் தடை செய்யப்படுகின்றன. இந்த
அடிப்படையில் தான், குட்கா, பான்மசாலா ஆகியவற்றை, தமிழக அரசு, தடை
செய்துள்ளது. ஒரு பொருளை தடை செய்யும் போது, அதைப் பயன்படுத்துவது சட்ட
விரோதம் என்ற எண்ணம், மக்கள் மத்தியில் ஏற்படுகிறது. இதனால், அப்பொருளை
உபயோகிக்க அச்சப்படுவர். இதுவே, தடை செய்ததன் நோக்கத்தை வெற்றியடையச்
செய்கிறது. அதேபோல், இளைஞர்கள் மத்தியில் இதன் புழக்கம் வெகுவாகக்
குறையும். சிகரெட் குடிப்பதை ஹீரோயிசமாக இளைஞர்கள் நினைக்கின்றனர். போதை
வஸ்துகளை பயன்படுத்தும்போதும், ஹீரோயிசம் தான் அவர்கள் மனதில் ஏற்படுகிறது.
இதனால், தடை என்பது மனதில் அச்சத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும். அதேவேளையில், ஒரு
பொருளை தடை செய்ததும், முற்றிலும் ஒழிந்து விடாது. படிப்படியாக புழக்கம்
குறையும். வெளி சந்தையில் எளிதாகக் கிடைத்த பொருள், திருட்டுத் தனமாக விற்க
வேண்டும் என்றால் பயப்படுவர். அபராதம், சிறை போன்றவற்றை விற்பனையாளர்கள்
விரும்பமாட்டார்கள். மேலும், சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், புகையிலை உடல்
நலத்துக்கு கேடு ஏற்படுத்தும் என, விளம்பரம் செய்யப்பட்டது. இப்போது,
புற்றுநோய் ஏற்படும், என, விளம்பரம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதனால்,
குறிப்பிட்டளவு தாக்கம் புகையிலை பயன்பாட்டில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. எனவே, தடைச்
சட்டத்தை தொடர்ந்து அமலாக்கும் போது, குட்கா, பான்மசாலா பயன்பாடு
முற்றிலும் ஒழிக்கப்படும்.
பிரசன்னா கண்ணன், மாநில ஆலோசகர், தேசிய புகையிலை கட்டுப்பாட்டு திட்டம்
குட்கா,
பான்மசாலா தடை சட்டம் அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ள நிலையில், அதன் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள்,
முகவர்கள், கிடங்கு பராமரிப்பாளர்கள் ஆகியோருக்கு நோட்டீஸ் அளிக்க
உள்ளோம். இதில், தடை செய்துள்ள குட்கா, பான்மசாலா போன்றவற்றை உற்பத்தி
செய்யக்கூடாது; இருப்பு வைக்கக் கூடாது. தற்போது, வைத்திருக்கும் இருப்பை
ஜூலை 29ம் தேதிக்குள் மாநிலத்தை விட்டு வெளியேற்றி விட வேண்டும். இல்லையேல்
அழித்துவிட வேண்டும் என, அறிவிக்கிறோம். இந்த கால அவகாசம்
உற்பத்தியாளர்களுக்கு அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதையும் மீறி உற்பத்தி செய்தாலோ,
இருப்பு வைத்திருந்தாலோ, உணவு பாதுகாப்புப் பிரிவு அலுவலர்கள் சென்று,
அவற்றை அழிப்பர். இதேபோல், சிறு வணிகர்களுக்கும் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பப்படும்.
ஒருமாத காலத்துக்குப் பின்பு தான், வணிக இடங்களை ஆய்வு செய்து, குட்கா,
பான்மசாலா பொருட்களை அழிப்போம். வெளி மாநிலங்களிலிருந்து தடை செய்யப்பட்ட
பொருட்கள் வராமல் தடுக்க, சுங்க சாவடிகளுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல்களை
அனுப்புகிறோம். மேலும், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் தலைமையில், மாவட்ட வருவாய்
அலுவலர், கோட்டாட்சியர், மாவட்ட காவல் கண்காணிப்பாளர், வட்டார போக்குவரத்து
அலுவலர் உள்ளிட்ட, எட்டு அலுவலர்கள் கொண்ட குழுவை அமைக்க உள்ளோம்.
இக்குழு, மாவட்டங்களில் உள்ள வணிக இடங்கள் மற்றும் வாகனங்களில் உரிய
சோதனைகளை மேற்கொண்டு, குட்கா, பான்மசாலா பொருட்கள் மாநிலத்துக்குள் வருவதை
முழுமையாகத் தடுக்கும். குட்கா, பான்மசாலா பொருட்களைப் பயன்படுத்துவதால்,
உயிரை கொல்லும் புற்றுநோய் ஏற்படும் என்ற விழிப்புணர்வு, மக்கள் மத்தியில்
ஏற்பட வேண்டும். எனவே, விழிப்புணர்வுக்கு தான் முதலிடம். தண்டனைக்கு அடுத்த
இடம் தான்.
லட்சுமி நாராயணன், நியமன அலுவலர், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு
புகையிலை
பொருட்கள் மனிதனுக்கு கேடு விளைவிப்பதால், அதை, தமிழக அரசு தடை
செய்துள்ளது. இதை, வணிகர்கள் வரவேற்கிறோம். அரசு தடை செய்துள்ள புகையிலை
பொருட்களை விற்க வேண்டாம் என, எங்கள் சங்கத்தின் சார்பில், எங்களது
உறுப்பினர்களுக்கு தெளிவாகக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளோம். இதேநேரத்தில், குட்கா,
பான்மசாலா பொருட்களுக்கு, தமிழகத்தில் தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அண்டை
மாநிலங்களில் தடையில்லை. இதனால், இப்பொருட்கள் தமிழகத்துக்குள் நுழைவதற்கு
வழியுண்டு. எனவே, மாநில எல்லைகளில் உள்ள சுங்க சாவடிகளில், கடுமையான
தணிக்கையை, அரசு மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். இல்லையேல், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை
பொருட்கள் மாநிலத்துக்குள் நுழையும். இதனால், வணிகர்கள் பாதிக்கப்படுவர்.
குட்கா, பான்மசாலா தடை சட்டத்தை, சுகாதாரத் துறை தான் அமல் செய்கிறது,
என்றாலும், போலீசார், உள்ளாட்சி துறை அதிகாரிகள் என, ஆள் ஆளுக்கு வணிகர்களை
நாட்டாண்மை செய்யும் நிலையும் ஏற்படும். இதனால், வணிகர்கள்
துன்புறுத்தப்படுவதோடு, லஞ்சம் பெருக வழி ஏற்படும். எனவே, தடை செய்த
பொருட்களை மாநிலத்துக்குள் நுழையாமல் தடுக்க, அரசு தீவிர நடவடிக்கைகளை
எடுக்க வேண்டும். பீடி, சிகரெட், மது வகைகள் விற்பனையில் குழப்பமான
கொள்கையை மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் பின்பற்றுகின்றன. உடலுக்கு கேடு
விளைவிக்கும் இப்பொருட்களை பயன்படுத்தினால், தீங்கு ஏற்படும் என,
விளம்பரப்படுத்த, பெரும் பணத்தை செலவிடுகின்றனர். ஆனால், அவற்றை தடை செய்ய
முன்வராமல் உள்ளன. உடலுக்கு தீங்கு ஏற்படும் பொருட்கள், என, உறுதி செய்த
பொருட்களை, நாடு முழுவதும் தடை செய்ய, அரசு முன்வரவேண்டும். இதற்கு,
தெளிவான கொள்கையை உருவாக்க வேண்டும்.
விக்கிரமராஜா, தலைவர், தமிழ்நாடு வணிகர்கள் சங்க பேரமைப்பு
‘Ban on tobacco products will be enforced strictly’
The ban imposed by the State Government on the
manufacture and sale of tobacco products like pan parag, pan masala and
ghutka would be strictly enforced said R.V.Ravi, Designated Officer,
Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department here on
Saturday.
Pointing out that a committee headed by the
District Collector is in the process of being formed to enforce the ban
and ensure that it is not violated, he said that stringent action will
be taken against those who defy the ban.
Efforts will
also be made to enhance awareness about the ill effects of tobacco
among the traders and consumers. Complaints relating to violations can
be sent to the Designated Officer, Food Safety, Tamil Nadu Food Safety
and Drug Administration Department, near Government Arts College, Stone
House Hill. The people can also call 0423 2450088.
Dentists welcome ban on gutka
The dentists’ fraternity has wholeheartedly welcomed the State government’s decision to ban gutka in Karnataka.
Lauding
the government for its “bold decision”, dentists said that the decision
has come at the right time, considering the increasing number of oral
cancer cases. “The dentists’ association has been demanding a ban on the
sale of gutka but none of the previous governments responded positively
to the demand,” said Gopalkrishna Bhat, State president of the Indian
Dental Association (IDA).
According to Dr. Bhat, about 90 per cent of the oral cancers were caused by the consumption of tobacco and gutka.
“The
alarming news is that these patients of cancer are aged between 15 and
25 ,” he said, adding that oral cancer had become a bigger problem than
AIDS in India. Refuting arecanut growers’ argument that banning gutka
would adversely affect their earnings, Dr. Bhat said gutka contained
only a small quantity of arecanut. And, while welcoming the ban on
gutka, farmers’ associations have urged the government to help arecanut
growers. Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha State president Maruti Manpade
said that arecanut growers do not have to be dependent on the gutka
industry.
“Compared to arecanut, gutka has not been
around for very long. Growers should not oppose the ban, but ask for
better prices and an increase in the import price of arecanut,” he said.
Experts
feel that the government should encourage growers to dabble in
horticulture instead of sticking to arecanut as a long-term solution.
Madan Gopal, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, told
The Hindu
that the government had appointed 210 food safety officers to look out for the production and sale of gutka.
He
said violators of the ban would be prosecuted under the Food Safety and
Standards Act (FSSA), and face fines of up to Rs. 2 lakh and six
months’ imprisonment.
‘Oral cancer has become a bigger
problem than AIDS’
Violators of ban to face fine up to Rs. 2 lakh
and six months imprisonment
Consignment containing tobacco products detained
The lorry carrying tobacco products which was detained by the
Saravanampatti police on Friday morning.
Saravanampatti Police on Friday morning detained temporarily a consignment containing tobacco products.
According
to the police, during a vehicle checking operation in the small hours
of Friday, the police personnel stopped a truck containing goods. While
checking the contents of the goods, the police found 6,395 kg chewable
tobacco products in 5,000 boxes. The cost of the consignment was
estimated to be around Rs. 3 lakh.
The police said
that driver Nagaraj of Kannampalayam of Nanjappa Nagar, Sulur, was
carrying the consignment from Sowcarpet in Chennai to a shop on Range
Gowda Street in the city. The police initially said they would register a
case against the driver and send the consignment to the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India’s designated officer in Coimbatore.
But
after consultation with the legal officers, the police along with the
FSSAI officers, Food Cell policemen and others escorted the truck to the
State-border in Sathyamangalam saying that the consignment should not
be brought back into the State.
The police’s move comes following a ban the State Government imposed on tobacco products.
Guidelines issued for implementing gutka ban
Officials deployed to enforce the ban across the State
The Health and Family Welfare Department on Saturday
issued guidelines for officials to implement the ban on gutka in the
State. It will be based on the model adopted by Maharashtra, one of the
first States to ban the tobacco product.
M. Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), who issued a circular to this effect, told
The Hindu
that it would take at least a week for the enforcement to take shape.
“We
are working on building strong mechanisms to enforce the ban. As a
first step, we have appointed more than a 100 food safety officers, who
will be responsible for enforcing the ban at the grassroot level,” he
said.
The State government, which has been directed
by the Supreme Court to submit a compliance report and an affidavit on
tobacco control and gutka ban by June 23, banned the sale and
manufacture of gutka and paan masala under the regulation 2.3.4 of the
Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales)
Regulations, 2011. These regulations have been framed by the Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India.
“Sections 57, 58
and 59 of the Act clearly specify that anyone who manufactures, sells,
stores or distributes products with an adulterant that is injurious to
health shall be slapped with a penalty of up to Rs. 10 lakh. If the
adulterant is not injurious to health, the penalty is Rs. 2 lakh. Also,
the person is liable to a jail term of seven years or even life-time if
anyone who consumes the product dies,” Mr. Madan Gopal said.
He said district surveillance officers had been redeployed as district designated officers to supervise the enforcement.
The
seized products would be tested at the food safety laboratories in
Mysore, Bangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum, Mr. Madan Gopal added.
It will be based on the model adopted in Maharashtra
Regulations framed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Food business operators, traders excluded from filing returns
PUNE: In a huge reprieve to traders, restaurant owners and distributors, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to exclude them from filing annual returns.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had earlier directed all the licenced food business operators with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above to submit their annual returns by May 31, failing which a fine of Rs 100 a day will be levied.
The FSSAI, the national food regulatory body, conveyed the decision to us on Friday, said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food) of FDA, Pune. "Hence, no fine will be imposed on traders, restaurateurs and distributors for not filing annual returns. Only food manufacturers, packers, re-packers, labellers and re-labellers will come under the purview of filing the annual returns and will face fine of Rs 100 per day for failing to do so," he said.
Ajit Setiya, president of Poona Merchants Chamber, said, "The traders have been facing a lot of problems ever since the new Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in August 2011. We have been following various issues pertaining to traders and filing annual return has been one of them. Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had held a meeting with FSSAI officials on March 7 following which the food regulators decided to make certain amendments to resolve the issue. The present decision is a fall out of our long struggle."
"For the first time food business operators have been asked to submit annual returns of their transactions made till March-end since the new Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in August 2011," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
There are over 9,000 licensed food business operators in the city with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above. They include food manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, recyclers, processors, transporters, restaurants, hotels and catering business operators.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act and Regulations 2011 (licensing and registration), the business operators have to submit the returns in the particular format (form D-1). Only owners of milk businesses have been asked to submit the returns in half yearly format as given in form D-2.
Who is a food manufacturer?
Manufacturer means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing any article of food for sale and includes any person who obtains such article from another person and packs and labels it for sale or only labels it for such purposes
(Source: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006)
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had earlier directed all the licenced food business operators with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above to submit their annual returns by May 31, failing which a fine of Rs 100 a day will be levied.
The FSSAI, the national food regulatory body, conveyed the decision to us on Friday, said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food) of FDA, Pune. "Hence, no fine will be imposed on traders, restaurateurs and distributors for not filing annual returns. Only food manufacturers, packers, re-packers, labellers and re-labellers will come under the purview of filing the annual returns and will face fine of Rs 100 per day for failing to do so," he said.
Ajit Setiya, president of Poona Merchants Chamber, said, "The traders have been facing a lot of problems ever since the new Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in August 2011. We have been following various issues pertaining to traders and filing annual return has been one of them. Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had held a meeting with FSSAI officials on March 7 following which the food regulators decided to make certain amendments to resolve the issue. The present decision is a fall out of our long struggle."
"For the first time food business operators have been asked to submit annual returns of their transactions made till March-end since the new Food Safety and Standards Act came into force in August 2011," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
There are over 9,000 licensed food business operators in the city with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above. They include food manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, recyclers, processors, transporters, restaurants, hotels and catering business operators.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act and Regulations 2011 (licensing and registration), the business operators have to submit the returns in the particular format (form D-1). Only owners of milk businesses have been asked to submit the returns in half yearly format as given in form D-2.
Who is a food manufacturer?
Manufacturer means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing any article of food for sale and includes any person who obtains such article from another person and packs and labels it for sale or only labels it for such purposes
(Source: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006)
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