Lack of equipment, workers hits analytical laboratories

The government analysts of the laboratory have admitted that labs lacked trained staff and proper equipment required for its smooth functioning, which was delaying the test results.

The food safety officials across the state said slow and crippled functioning of regional analytical labs in Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Eranakulam, was a cause for concern as they delayed the test results of the samples submitted at the laboratories.
The government analysts of the laboratory have admitted that labs lacked trained staff and proper equipment required for its smooth functioning, which was delaying the test results.
Adding to the miseries, a majority of the equipment currently available in the labs are partly broken down.
Further, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Care Providers (NABH) has not accredited any of the four labs in Kerala, which include the regional analytical labs in Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Eranakulam and Pathanamthitta.
The labs lack apparatuses such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and UV spectrophotometer, which are necessary for the diagnosis of pesticides, insecticides and for quantitative analysis of each parameter.
It is learnt that the safety officials were unable to initiate action against the traders who supply adulterated or contaminated food, mainly because of the poor test results from the labs that make it difficult for them to assess the level of organic or inorganic content present in the sample.
“When we give a food sample, they say that a particular organic or inorganic matter is present in the sample. They will refuse to comment on any further questions on it. Some contents are permissible to a certain level, but beyond which would be hazardous. For want of proper test result, we cannot exactly gauge the quantity of the content,” said food safety officials.
The officials said when they asked the lab authorities why they failed to come up with a detailed report of each food sample, they blamed it on poor facility and lack of trained staff in the testing rooms.
“Last time, we gave some mangoes to assess the level of insecticides and pesticides in them. But, I haven’t received the results even after one month of submitting the samples, the officials said.
“On an enquiry, they said, ‘A particular equipment meant to test the mangoes is not available with us’, and asked me to avail of the service of some private laboratory,” added the the officials.
At the Kozhikode Regional Laboratory a micro biologist post has been lying vacant for more than a year which makes the assessment of bacterial contamination in food items nearly impossible.
S T Thankachan, a government analyst in the laboratory, admitted that 50 per cent of the total staff are not trained.
Besides, fund was not available to buy equipment to conduct tests.

CITY WITNESSES OPEN VIOLATION OF BAN ON TOBACCO

Jammu, July 02 (TNI) : In the absence of effective implementation of the ban on tobacco in Jammu, the sale of tobacco products is on full swing defying governments order at large.
Pertinent to mention here that the government in its order in the month of March has put a blanket ban on all the chewable tobacco's production and its manufacturing besides transportation and stocking aiming to prevent the people from various diseases due to the use of these products.
In its order under notification HD/Drug/58/2012, the then commissioner has prohibited distribution of Gutkha by whatever name and pan masala or zarda containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by any name.
The notification further read that SRO-68, regulation, 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on sales) Regulations, 2011 made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006) prohibits articles of food, in which tobacco or nicotine are used as ingredients.
Sources maintained that the different brands of tobacco products are available in the market and are being purchased by the user openly
"There are number of tobacco products available in the market in pouches of rupees 2, 5, 10 and 20" said a tobacco user preferring anonymity.
"The state government should close all the manufacturing companies of tobacco products in the city and should take strict actions against them after that the production will be stop" said Jagat Singh a local.
"Various times the department has seized the loaded trucks of these products, but this practice is still going on widely" said an official.
Despite repeating attempts Controller, Drug & Food Organization J&K, Satish Gupta could not be contacted for his version.

68% of milk does not meet food norms: Centre tells SC

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that 68.4% of milk samples collected from rural and urban areas of all states failed to meet food safety standards.
 NEW DELHI: Common nutritional supplement milk you take may not be all that nutritious as an overwhelming majority of samples of milk supplied across the country failed to meet the food safety and standard norms.

The Centre on Tuesday dished out startling fact about the health of milk supplied both loose or in packets and informed the Supreme Court that 68.4% of the samples collected from rural and urban areas of all states failed food safety and standards (FSS).

A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was startled when additional solicitor general Rakesh Khanna informed that the 88% of the samples taken in Uttar Pradesh were found to be adulterated.

The bench said: "It's a very sensitive issue. It is happening all over the country no doubt about it. If 88% is adulterated, then officers need to be prosecuted. If it is still going on what action has been taken against the officers? There has to be some disciplinary action. We will grant three weeks for the six states to respond."

The bench listed for further hearing on July 31 a PIL by Swami Achyutanand Tirth, who had alleged that there was rampant adulteration/contamination of milk and milk products in various parts of the country. He had alleged that milk was being prepared by use of material like urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint. He had sought strict monitoring of milk quality and prosecution of delinquent suppliers.

Khanna informed the court that the Food Safety and Standards Authority on coming to know of news reports about adulteration of milk had conducted a snap survey covering many states and Union Territories (UTs). It had collected 1,791 samples of milk from 33 states and UTs with a good mix of rural and urban areas which included milk sold loose or in packets.

"After analysis 565 (31.5%) of samples were found to be conforming to FSS standards whereas 1226 (68.4%) samples of milk were non-conforming. The non-conforming samples in rural areas were 381 (31%) out of which 64 (16.7%) were packet samples and 317 (83.2%) were loose samples," the Centre said.

The milk supplied in urban areas was found to be worse. 'In urban areas the total non-conforming samples were 845 (68.9%) of which 282 (33.35) were packed and 563 (66.6%) were loose samples," it said.

"In the state of Uttar Pradesh, the total samples taken were 136 of which only 17 were found conforming to the FSS norms and the non-conforming samples accounted for 88%. The deviations observed may be due to addition of water to milk," the Centre said.

"Addition of water not only reduces the nutritional value of milk but if contaminated water is used, it may also pose health risk to the consumers," it said and added, "the study also indicated traces of detergent in some cases. Milk with detergent is unsafe for consumption."

The UPA government said the findings of the study had been communicated to all the Food safety Commissioners in all states and UTs with an advice - "appropriate measures be taken specifically to check the quality of milk and take appropriate legal action as prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and its Rules and Regulations".

புகையிலை புற்று நோயால்நகரங்களில் மரணம் அதிகரிப்பு

"புகையிலை புற்றுநோயால் நகரப்பகுதியில் தான், 63 சதவீதம் பேர் பலியாகின்றனர்,'' என, மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா தெரிவித்தார்.மேட்டூரில் நேற்று உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மற்றும் நுகர்வோர் அமைப்பு சார்பில் புகையிலை ஒழிப்பு விழிப்புணர்வு பேரணி நடந்தது. மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் அனுராதா, நகராட்சி பொறியாளர் (பொ) சுகுமார் முன்னிலை வகித்தனர்.மேட்டூர் சதுரங்காடியில் இருந்து புகையிலை உபயோகத்துக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிக்கும் பேனர்களுடன் மாணவ, மாணவியர் முக்கிய வீதிகள் வழியாக பேரணியாக நகராட்சி அலுவலகத்துக்கு சென்றனர். டாக்டர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:இந்தியாவில் புகையிலை புற்றுநோய்க்கு ஆண்டுக்கு, 10 லட்சம் பேர் பலியாகின்றனர். இதில், நகரப்பகுதியில் மட்டும், 63 சதவீதம் பேர் பலியாகின்றனர். புகையிலை, பான்பராக், குட்கா விற்பனைக்கு இந்தியாவில், 25 மாநிலங்களில் தடை செய்யப்பட்டுளளது.தமிழகத்தில் கடந்த, 22ம் தேதிக்கு பின், பான்பராக், குட்கா விற்க தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. சட்டவிரோதமாக விற்பனை செய்வது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டால், குற்றவியல் வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டு, 5 லட்சம் வரை அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.பேரணியில் மேட்டூர் அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் பள்ளியை சேர்ந்த, 300க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் பங்கேற்றனர்.

பழநியில் குட்கா விற்பனை "ஜோர்'

பழநி:பழநி பெட்டிக்கடைகளில் தடைசெய்யப்பட்டுள்ள குட்கா,பான்மசாலா விற்பனை அதிகளவில் நடக்கிறது. இதுவரை 5 முதல் 8 ரூபாய்க்கு விற்ற, குட்கா,பான்மசாலா பாக்கெட்டுகள், தற்போது 15 ரூபாய் வரை மறைத்து வைத்து விற்கப்படுகிறது.இவற்றை விற்பவர்கள் மீது, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் முன்வர வேண்டும்.

பழநி உணவு கட்டுப்பாடு அதிகாரி மோகனரங்கன் கூறுகையில், சென்னையில் வியாபாரிகள் சங்கத்தினர் கேட்டுகொண்டதால், குட்கா, பான்மசாலா விற்க ஒரு வாரம் அனுமதி தரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதில் தொய்வு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. மறைத்து வைத்து கூடுதல் விலைக்கு விற்பவர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்,'' என்றார்.

குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரிகள் பரிசோதிக்க தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவு

சென்னை: "தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில், மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து தரப் பரிசோதனை நடத்தி அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும்' என, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. தர பரிசோதனையில் தேறிய, 29 நிறுவனங்களை திறக்கவும் அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது.

சென்னையில், குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து, விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் குடிநீர், பாதுகாப்பற்றது என, தெரிய வந்ததால், தென்மண்டல தேசிய பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம், தானாக முன் வந்து, வழக்கு பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகிறது. சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், அனுமதியின்றி செயல்பட்ட, 92 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டன. இதில், தர பரிசோதனையில் தேறிய, 51 நிறுவனங்கள் மீண்டும் திறக்க அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டன. மீதமுள்ள, 41 நிறுவனங்களில், இரண்டாம் கட்டமாக குடிநீர் மாதிரி எடுத்து, தர பரிசோதனை செய்யவும், மாநிலம் முழுவதும் அனுமதியின்றி செயல்படும் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு, "நோட்டீஸ்' அளிக்கவும், பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது. இந்த வழக்கின் விசாரணை நேற்று நடந்தது. பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில், மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம், இரண்டாவது முறையாக எடுத்த குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களின் தர பரிசோதனை முடிவுகளையும், மாநிலம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் குறித்த ஆய்வறிக்கையை சமர்பித்தது.

அதன் பின், தீர்ப்பாய நீதிபதி ஜோதிமணி, உறுப்பினர் பேராசிரியர் நாகேந்திரன் ஆகியோர் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு: மாசுக்கட்டுபாட்டு வாரியம் அளித்த ஆய்வறிக்கையின்படி, தீர்ப்பாயம் மறு ஆய்வு செய்ய உத்தரவிட்ட, 41 நிறுவனங்களில், மூன்று நிறுவனங்கள், இயங்குவதை நிறுத்திக் கொண்டுள்ளன. 29 நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் மாதிரி, பாதுகாப்பானது என, தெரிய வந்து உள்ளதால், அவற்றை செயல்பட அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். நான்கு நிறுவன மாதிரி பாதுகாப்பற்றதாகவும், ஐந்து நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரி, உடலுக்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்கும் வகையிலும் உள்ளதால், இந்த நிறுவனங்களுக்கு, மாசுக்கட்டுபாட்டு வாரியமும், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையும் ஆலோசனை வழங்கி, பாதுகாப்பான, தரமான குடிநீரை தயாரிக்கச் செய்து, அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்யவேண்டும். தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள, 997 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில், வாரிய அனுமதி பெறாத, 855 நிறுவனங்களில், 753 நிறுவனங்களுக்கு, "நோட்டீஸ்' தரப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மாநிலம் முழுவதும், வாரிய அனுமதி பெறாத அனைத்து நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை மூலம் ஆய்வு செய்து, ஆகஸ்ட், 26ல், அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு உத்தரவில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணை, ஆக., 26ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டது.

கோவில்பட்டியில் 20 டன் மாம்பழம் பறிமுதல்

தூத்துக்குடி: கோவில்பட்டியில், கார்பைடு கற்களால் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட, 20 டன் மாம்பழங்களை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புதுறை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். கோவில்பட்டி கடைகளில், கார்பைடு கற்களால், செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்கள், விற்கப்படுவதாக, தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்ட உணவுபாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் ஜெகதீஷ் சந்திரபோஸிற்கு புகார் வந்தது. அவரது தலைமையில், அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று, புது பஸ்ஸ்டாண்ட் அருகில் உள்ள, பழ வியாபாரி கருப்பசாமியின் குடோனில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அங்கிருந்து, கார்பைடு கற்களால் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட, 20 டன் மாம்பழங்களை பறிமுதல் செய்து, அழித்தனர். உடல்நலனிற்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்கும், கார்பைட் கல் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்களை விற்கக்கூடாது என வியாபாரிகளுக்கு, அதிகாரிகள் அறிவுரை கூறினர்.

Sesame paste sparks Salmonellosis worry

Hyderabad: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has warned Tahini (sesame paste) users and sellers against use and sale of the consumable after it caused an outbreak of Salmonellosis in the United States.
Codex India (FSSAI) director Vinod Kotwal has sent an alert against the possible outbreak of Salmonellosis. In a communication to the State Food Safety commissioner, she mentioned that several cases of Salmonellosis had been reported in the US and New Zealand.
“Sesame paste is also used in Indian cuisine and is being imported. That’s why we are cautioning the public,” Kotwal said.
Tahini imported from Turkey and distributed by Krinos Foods is found to be the source of the outbreak of Salmonellosis. A total of 16 persons infected with the strains of Salmonella Montevideo or Salmonella Mbandaka have been reported from as many as nine states in the US and and one of them has died.
“Imported tahini had arrived in India in December 2012. Most of these samples are now past their expiry date,” said Kotwal. As a result, several expired packets had reached Indian homes as well as hotel, officials said. 

Don't venture on 'sesame street', FDA tells consumers

 The FDA is probing if eateries and citizens are using a paste from the herb, which has led to an epidemic in some nations
Tahini sesame paste from Turkey used in dishes like hummus, shawarma, sandwich spreads, soups, and some Chinese recipes have led to a Salmonellosis (a food borne bacterial infection) outbreak in the US and New Zealand. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory to not use this paste and has sent inputs to various health departments, FDA and other departments.



Just checking: The FDA is on an overdrive to ensure no one consumes sesame paste by a Turkish company that has led to a Salmonellosis epidemic in the US and New Zealand.
Sesame is widely used in India and in most Middle Eastern dishes. “FSSAI has found the source of outbreak of Salmonellosis is Tahini Sesame Paste distributed by KRINOS foods, LLC of Long Island City, New York. The concerned authority has also asked not to use recalled Krinos sesame paste,” said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner, FDA (Food).
The advisory was issued last month to all concerned authorities, and the FDA has carried out inspections of Krinos brand Tahini Sesame Paste imported from Turkey. “We checked for imported sesame paste in all stores. We are advising people not to use it if it is imported from that brand,” Sangat added.
The FSSAI has recalled Tahini paste with expiry date from January 1, 2014 to June 8, 2014 and from October 16, 2014 to March 15, 2015.
Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that are a major cause of food borne illness throughout the world. The bacteria are generally transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated milk.
The symptoms of Salmonella infection usually appear 12–72 hours after infection, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. The illness usually lasts 4–7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in the very young and the elderly, and in cases when the bacteria enters the bloodstream, antibiotics may be needed.
Ban on dairy from China persists
The FSSAI has banned imported milk and milk products from China after a meeting of concerned departments and ministries of India. The ban was earlier imposed after melamine, an industrial chemical, was found in the products. According to the FDA, strict action will be taken if any one is found selling dairy products from China like candies and confectionary. The ban will be implemented for one year from June 23, 2013.

Supreme Court asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it.
"It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue.
The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk.
It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk.
On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Centre, in its submission, had referred to a survey conducted by FSSAI, which had found that over 68 per cent of the "non-conforming" milk was found in urban areas, 66 per cent of which was loose milk.
According to the FSSAI's 2011 survey, the most common way of adulteration was found to be the addition of water, and the main reason for deviation from the standards was addition of glucose and skimmed milk powder. It had also found that some samples contained detergent.
The Centre's affidavit had also stated that over 83 per cent of the non-conforming milk in rural areas was found to be loose milk.
The affidavit was filed in response to the notice issued by the apex court on May 9, 2012.

SC asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it. "It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue. The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk. It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk. On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

SC asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it.
"It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue.
The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk.
It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk.
On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

TNFS DEPT. - SALEM DIST. NEWS

Is your baby having the right food?

Is your baby having the right food?

Research has suggested that cow's milk, given its lack of nutrients and protective antibodies as well as low iron content may not be the healthiest of drinks for your baby.

Given its lack of nutrients and protective antibodies as well as low iron content, cow's milk is inappropriate and unsafe for fast-growing babies.

In the days of yore, many nursing mothers in India breastfed their babies for a longer period of time. But with changing times, women have begun weaning babies off breast milk much earlier. Data from the National Family Health Survey 3 report indicates that many mothers stop exclusive breastfeeding prematurely, with only 69% infants less than two months of age being breastfed exclusively. By 2-3 months of age, the number falls to 51% and by 4-5 months, breastfeeding plummets to 28% only.

Declining rates in breastfeeding are mainly due to supplementation with plain water in the early months, followed by cow's milk in subsequent months. Additionally, there exists the practice of introducing top feeds early in the form of diluted cow's milk. All this flies in the face of expert advice, which recommends avoiding cow's milk for the first year of the baby's life because it is inappropriate, unsafe and inadequate in terms of nutrient content.

Healthcare practitioners stress that the first two years are critical for the growth and development of babies, due to which they need to be nourished exclusively on breast milk. This is why, the WHO and UNICEF, including national and international guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding, advise exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.

In the first six months especially, exclusive breastfeeding is emphasized to curb the possibility of food contamination from impure water or malnutrition due to over-diluted bovine milk (cow or buffalo).

Mother's milk is widely recommended because it is enriched with nutrients, vitamins and minerals, including antibodies that safeguard infants from life-threatening diseases. Besides minimizing risks of diarrhoea, breast milk protects babies from allergic reactions such as eczema.

Nutrition experts caution against the use of cow's milk in the first two years of a child's life because, unlike mother's milk, it lacks adequate nutrients, contains no antibodies that protect against infections and is a poor source of iron.

Moreover, cow's milk is usually processed and transported in environments that are simply not hygienic enough to prevent contamination from food-borne bacteria. National surveys as well as published studies have repeatedly shown cow's milk sold loose as well as in packets have high levels of adulteration with detergents and toxic substances such as urea, all of which could especially endanger the lives of babies who possess delicate immune systems.

To safeguard infants from such dangers, the Food Standards and Safety Association of India mandates an upper limit for certain microorganisms, such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella and Salmonella, as well as yeast and moulds, among others, in pasteurized milk. These norms are necessary because even milk from healthy cows and buffaloes that contains few bacteria can be liable to hundred-fold bacterial contamination once it is stored for some time at normal temperature.

Besides minor skin infections, some bacteria can cause life-endangering diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. In spite of milk being heated or pasteurized to protect it from bacterial contamination, it is still susceptible to recontamination, even under refrigeration.

"Cow's milk is susceptible to spoilage by yeasts and moulds and may even trigger allergic reactions in infants. At least two percent of infants across the world are said to be afflicted with cow's milk allergy, which can cause rashes, eczema, colic, vomiting and diarrhoea, among other ailments. contamination of cow's milk, including recontamination of pasteurized milk, is among the many reasons why Infant and Young Child Feeding recommendations state that infants should be exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life. Nutritionally, feeding with cows milk may lead to iron depletion in infants. Lactose in milk can diarrhea and gas. Infants could later be given appropriate complementary feeds with continued breastfeeding till two years of age or beyond," said Dr Geeta Dharmatti - IDA Pune Chapter President & Chief Dietitian, Aditya Birla Hospital, Pune.

More worryingly, all practices connected with cow's milk deprive babies of proper nutrition as the nutrient composition of cow's milk is not suited for human infants, especially since it contains high levels of protein unsuitable for infants' immature kidneys. While boiling and diluting with water destroys its nutritional content, the household practice of removing the fat layer in milk also deprives infants of essential nutrients.

In the words of Dr Jagmeet Madan - IDA Mumbai Chapter President, Mumbai: "Although feeding infants cow's milk is more than a thousand-year-old tradition in India, it brings in additional concerns of contamination, adulterants and allergens thus making it unsafe . In the first six months, therefore, it is preferable to nurse the infant exclusively on mother's milk since this boosts resistance to disease. Additionally breast milk is designed naturally to address the nutrient and assimilation ability of the infant for mothers unable to nurse because of health reasons, it's best to consult the family physician about a safe alternative."

There is little doubt that few nursing mothers, if any, would dispute such sage advice and risk the lives and well-being of their babies.

Food consumption commercialized: Azad

Addressing the Inaugural programme of the 36th Session of Codex Alimentarius Commission on the occasion of 50 years of the Commission’s Sessions, Azad said gone are the days when each country and local populace confined themselves to food produced domestically.

 "But shrinking of the world due to faster means of travel and communications has led to globalization and commercialization of all sectors including food production, processing and consumption. Whatever is produced in one part of the world is available in other parts due to improved means for import and export today," he said.

"It is a matter of satisfaction that the Codex Alimentarius has achieved several milestones since its inception in meeting the challenges of health of consumers and fair practices in the trade of food products.The membership of the Commission has grown from 30 countries to 150 countries over the last 50 years. This is on account of the keen interest and trust evinced by the developing countries in the Codex process, making Codex a truly international food standards-setting organization of the United Nations.

"Another achievement is that Codex has expanded its role into a variety of products and subject matters to address quality, safety and nutrition issues. The science-based framework adopted by Codex gives this institution a pre-eminent position in the area of safety of human health and fair trade practices."

He said time has come to create more awareness about Codex in different countries so that the benefits of the important work done by Codex Alimentarius is further spread among all countries, especially in the developing countries that comprise almost 70% of the world population.

On the occasion of 50th Anniversary of Codex, India has made a small contribution by developing an exhaustive set of Frequently Asked Questions on Codex and has provided the same to the Codex Secretariat as part of communication strategy for greater global awareness, said Azad.

Since Codex has developed several standards and guidelines for various kinds of food products, all countries should harmonize their national standards with those of the Codex to implement food safety systems and good agricultural and manufacturing practices, he said.

"There is a need to set up appropriate food testing laboratories and put in place certification procedures for facilitating availability of safe food to the consumers. FAO and WHO have already taken several initiatives in this direction. The benefits of Codex Trust Fund are available to eligible countries since 2003," he said.

"This is a helpful initiative which has supported countries in their participation in Codex meetings so that Codex is able to create truly international standards.The Fund has also been useful in capacity building activities in the developing countries," he said.

Azad said as the Codex Trust Fund is coming to an end in 2015, efforts should be made to ensure the continuity of the mechanism to support countries that need Codex the most. Development of science-based standards requires sufficient funds.

"For this reason, FAO and WHO have to consider providing higher allocation of funds for this activity which is the very basis of Codex standards. An alternative means for mobilization of resources should also be explored while ensuring transparency and avoiding any conflict of interest. It will be helpful if countries come forward to support this common cause," he said.

Talking about India, Azad said India is playing an active role in all Codex meetings and working groups. India has received support from FAO, WHO and some of trading partners in capacity building in the area of food safety management.

"The Government of India is going to make unprecedented investments, both at the federal and provincial levels, to strengthen the food regulatory systemduring 12th Five Year Plan(2012-17). He congratulated all for their contribution for the health of the people across the world," he said.

The Codex Commission is shouldering the responsibility of laying down the global parameters of quality and safety of food products for human consumption. This ensures the health of the consumers and fair practices in the export and import of food products.

Licence of five eateries cancelled

The special squads engaged by the Commissioner of Food Safety continued inspections at various food business operations, including 118 eateries across the State on Saturday, as part of an intensive drive to ensue food safety and hygiene standards.

Following inspections, the Food Safety wing has suspended the Food Business Operation licence of five establishments, which were found to be operating in extremely unhygienic situations, in violation of the mandatory 30-point food safety and hygiene standards introduced by the Commissioner of Food Safety.

Improvement notices were issued to 55 hotels while a fine amount to the tune of Rs.1.02 lakh was collected from 17 hotel owners.

After the launch of the State-wide raids, food safety officials have so far visited 982 eateries and issued improvement notices to 530 of them.

Eighty three eateries have so far been issued closure notices.

Three hotels shut, 38 get notices in food safety drive

Guidelines include a 30-point agenda for maintaining hygiene

Three hotels have bee issued closure notice and 38 others have been put on notice for improvement in week-long raids on hotels and bakeries in Ernakulam district by Food Safety and Standards officers.

The hotels that have been shut are: Lavanya at Kaloor, Rajadhani at Tripunithura and Your Choice at Irimpanam.

The authorities realised a fine of Rs. 1.80 lakh during the drive in which 73 hotels were inspected.

Fines ranged up to Rs.10,000, said an official. The hotels that have been fined include repeat offenders and the fines are based on the seriousness of the offences.

An official said that there were repeat offenders and compliance level was around 50 per cent. Hotels found guilty of violating the norms for hygiene and food standards are issued notices and they acknowledge the receipt of the notices, said the official.

The official said that this week’s raids were a follow-up action on the guidelines issued by FSSA in August last year. The guidelines included a 30-point agenda for maintaining hygiene in hotels and eateries.

The places where raids were conducted include Ernakulam, Aluva, Kalamssery, Tripunithura, Perumbavoor, Thirvankulam, Koothattukulam, Vazhakkulam, Moovattupuzha and Kothamangalam.

The official said that no fines were imposed on erring hoteliers during the raids and inspections three months in view of the shift from old food safety regime under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act to the new regime. No cases have been taken up for prosecution so far under the FSSA in the district.

Food safety officers had raided ice-making plants last month resulting in the closure of three ice plants after many of the samples tested positive for formalin and ammonium. The closed ice plants were allowed to reopen only after they were fined.

Official says there are repeat offenders and compliance level is 50 per cent.

Notice to 38 hotels for serving stale Food

 
Kochi Corporation health standing committee chairman T K Ashraf (Left) along with officials of the Health Department displaying the stale food itemss

The officials of the Food Safety Department have conducted raids in 73 hotels in the city during the past one week. As many as 38 hotels were served notice, while three hotels were shut down.
According to officials, three hotels were closed down after unhygienic conditions were reported from there. The department also have collected Rs 1,80,000 as fine from various hotels.
“Three of the hotels were located in Kaloor, Thripunithara and Hill Palace, respectively. During the raid we found that food was prepared in very unhygienic conditions. Plates were not washed, waste was dumped without care, and workers were wearing dirty clothes. The checking would continue as per the food safety act,” an official said.
Officials said that people should be wary of eating food from hotels as most hotels add synthetic colour to the food. “Even though there are natural colours available in the market, hotels use synthetic colours. About 70 per cent of the non-vegetarian food and 40 per cent of the vegetarian food are prepared using colours. This is very harmful, since chances of cancer and infertility occurring are very high. These colours were so sticky that we had to wash our hands several times after collecting samples from the hotels,” officials said.
Food safety officials also found that several bakeries and hotels were using milk which was two to three days old, which actually gets expired in a day.

Manufacturers cash in on loopholes, sell nicotine products openly

The ban on the storage, manufacture and sale of gutka and other tobacco and nicotine products - implemented in almost all parts of the country - aimed at protecting public health and reducing the cases of oral cancer in the country.

The ban comes under the regulation 2,3, 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Act, 2011. But a visit to a pan shop punctures all the tall claims of the government as manufacturers and vendors, taking advantage of the loopholes in the ban, are selling the banned products.

A distributor of pan masala and tobacco says, “Gutka was banned but we are selling pan masala (a mouth freshener) and zarda (chewable tobacco) in separate sachets; it is not at all illegal. It is a good complementary for gutka and the demand for it is also high.”

How can the government frame a policy so blindly that the manufacturers are able to flout it openly right under their nose?

Gutka is a mixture of 10 percent tobacco and 90 percent beetle-nut. And the ban was imposed on a food product (gutka), which contains nicotine. Although beetle-nut independently is carcinogenic, defective and addictive still it is not banned because it does not contain nicotine, and is sold freely in the form of pan masala. And the chewable tobacco (zarda), which again contains nicotine, can also be sold separately as tobacco is an agricultural product and cannot be banned when sold separately.

 Were the laws to ban gutka just a show-off? There are many such questions that are being raised on this issue. When this citizen journalist asked about this issue to VB Patil, Food and safety commissioner, Karnataka, he said, “We are sensitizing people on this issue, and our field officers are working on this issue.”

The government is taking minimal interest in framing and implementing such laws, which are meant for public welfare. Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck surgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital, and a anti-tobacco activist, said, “The ban on gutka was largely for the vulnerable group like children and ladies. The hardcore addicts of gutka cannot be stopped, they somehow manage to take get it. They almost pay double or triple the amount to get it.”

He claimed the consumption has decreased as the prices have gone up after manufacturers started selling pan masala and zarda in two different sachets.

All the banned and prohibited items are being supplied, just with a small change. This is all because of the laws that are not being implemented properly. The current laws on Food safety regulation and Food safety act of India are not correctly framed. There is a need to amend these laws, and to implement the ban on gutka in an effective manner.

The ban on the storage, manufacture and sale of gutka and other tobacco and nicotine products - implemented in almost all parts of the country - aimed at protecting public health and reducing the cases of oral cancer in the country.

The ban comes under the regulation 2,3, 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Act, 2011. But a visit to a pan shop punctures all the tall claims of the government as manufacturers and vendors, taking advantage of the loopholes in the ban, are selling the banned products.

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A distributor of pan masala and tobacco says, “Gutka was banned but we are selling pan masala (a mouth freshener) and zarda (chewable tobacco) in separate sachets; it is not at all illegal. It is a good complementary for gutka and the demand for it is also high.” How can the government frame a policy so blindly that the manufacturers are able to flout it openly right under their nose?

- See more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/manufacturers-cash-in-on-loopholes-sell-nicotine-products-openly/15887399.shtml#sthash.2foaXzGA.dpuf

The ban on the storage, manufacture and sale of gutka and other tobacco and nicotine products - implemented in almost all parts of the country - aimed at protecting public health and reducing the cases of oral cancer in the country.

The ban comes under the regulation 2,3, 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Act, 2011. But a visit to a pan shop punctures all the tall claims of the government as manufacturers and vendors, taking advantage of the loopholes in the ban, are selling the banned products.

Advertisement

In Focus

A distributor of pan masala and tobacco says, “Gutka was banned but we are selling pan masala (a mouth freshener) and zarda (chewable tobacco) in separate sachets; it is not at all illegal. It is a good complementary for gutka and the demand for it is also high.” How can the government frame a policy so blindly that the manufacturers are able to flout it openly right under their nose?

- See more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/manufacturers-cash-in-on-loopholes-sell-nicotine-products-openly/15887399.shtml#sthash.2foaXzGA.dpuf

Dinamalar News

Dinakaran Article

Dinakaran News

Dinakaran & Dinamalar News

TNFS Dept. - Sivagangai Dist. News

Eateries near hospitals serve low quality food

KOZHIKODE: Be more cautious while eating out at hotels and restaurants operating near hospitals, bus stands and railway stations.
According to the food safety department, hotels targeting the floating population are least concerned about the quality and hygiene aspects.
A 'hot spot list' of hotels was prepared as part of the on-going monsoon special food safety drives in the district following the special directive issued by the food safety commissioner.
The list was prepared after collecting information on the operation of hotels. "Most of the hotels listed fall in the regions near bus stands, hospitals and railway station," said Muhammed Rafi, designated officer Kozhikode.
The eateries near hospital and bus stands show lapse in keeping hygiene as they do not depend on regular customers for their business, he added.
The food safety officials had listed more than 50 hotels in the list. According to officials not less than 70 per cent of the hotels in the list were found violating food safety norms. Eateries near education institutions also are included in the list, according to officials.
The special squad started the raids in the district on June 25 and have completed the inspection of over 30 hotels in the list.
Of the total number of inspected hotels 18 were found violating food safety standards.
Attesting the opinion, a food safety official said that hotels operating in rural areas are more conscious of customer satisfaction and health as they would lose their business if some health problems are caused. The hotels near hospitals are exploiting the hapless patients and bystanders by providing low quality food, he added.
While five hotels, two at Moffussil Bus Stand, Canteen at Kozhikode Medical College and two hotels at Cheruvannoor were asked to close down.
The hotels can resume operation only after re-inspection by the officials with the food safety authority, said the designated officer.
Besides, 12 hotels were served notice by the department officials citing lapses on maintaining hygiene. "In most of the cases the serving boys, cooks and other staff of the hotel were not having medical certificates to prove their fitness," said food safety official.
Preservation of cooked and raw meet in the same refrigerator, which would cause cross contamination, absence of lids for cooked food, use of polluted water for cooking were found in hotels those were served notice.
"We have also charged fine on some hotels on reviewing the gravity of their offences," said Muhammed Rafi.The raids will continue in the coming days and all hotels will be inspected, he added.

Pizza, delivered with a side of attempted rape

There’s one thing that an Indian household has always had: trustworthy strangers. Home delivery may be a modern term, but it’s been part of the average Indian home for decades. Thanks to people like the vegetable and fruit seller, the person who brings the ironed clothes and the domestic help, an Indian household is an ecosystem composed partially of strangers. In it, the food delivery man is a recent entrant, but he has quickly become entrenched in the daily routine of urban Indian households. Especially the pizza delivery boy.

According to a report by the National Restaurant Association of India, around 80% of consumers order in food at least twice a month at the minimum. Italian cuisine — which in home delivery terms consists mainly of pizza – is the most popular cuisine to be ‘ordered in’ in India. The pizza delivery boy is someone most people wait for anxiously and greet with a grin. He isn’t someone from whom we expect to need protection.

It’s this assumption that led to a young woman being assaulted and almost raped by a pizza delivery boy. A 17-year-old delivery boy returned after making an initial delivery on some pretext, and after attempting to rape the woman, bashed her head in, and then ran away.

Turns out, there is no official vetting process to decide delivery boys. Amar Jhunjhunwala, 46, who owns a fast food joint in Chembur that enjoys enthusiastic patronage from families in the neighbourhood, said, “I’ve never done a background check on a delivery boy, I have to admit. Why would I feel the need? And none of the other restaurant managers I know have done it either. It’s the most basic function of a restaurant.”

But can’t delivery boys at least be vetted as those who have been in the restaurant’s employ for a while? “It actually works the other way,” says Jhunjhunwala, who ran a burger joint in Andheri (East) for five years before starting his second restaurant in Chembur. “Boys work in delivery, and slowly make their way up to the kitchen and managerial roles. Of course, with this incident, I’m sure all restaurant owners are going to be very careful.”

Someone who won’t have a chance to be careful is the owner of Chovisum, the outlet whose delivery boy is guilty of assault and attempted rape. The owner, Swapnil Parab, has seen his business disappear since the incident. “The boy was a dropout who usually never makes deliveries,” Parab insisted in media reports in the Mumbai Mirror and the Hindustan Times. “It was just this time…he’s ruined my business.”

Is there any hope for a regulatory process to be enforced in the restaurant delivery business? According to a member of the National Restaurant Association of India, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, it’s almost impossible. “There are many neighbourhood restaurants which are not accounted for by us,” he said. But he admitted that more can be done to ensure a consumer’s safety. “An in-house vetting process should be non-negotiable.”

At present, the Food Safety and Standards regulations are the only rules by which Indian restaurants have to abide. These regulations cover aspects like salary and training of restaurant employees, but do not touch upon home deliveries, which are an increasingly important part of the Indian food industry.

Till then? Recently, after reading the report of the 25-year-old woman being assaulted by the Chovisum employee, a friend of mine and I tried to reconfigure the logistics of accepting home delivery.

“Should we keep the door-chain latched and pass the money through it?” she suggested.

“But a pizza won’t fit through the chain-gap,” I pointed out.

“I guess we could ask them to leave it outside, and take it when the delivery guy is done,” she said triumphantly.

So this could soon be the new guideline to prevent rape: skulk behind your door when receiving a delivery, wait till the sound of steps has faded away, then dart out quickly, grab your food and run back in.