Aug 29, 2013
4 packaged foods that are killing you
Packaged foods help in time-management, but experts say they are killing you slowly
Mornings are a rushed affair and to make life easy, you pour a glass of milk over the cereal that you picked from the supermarket. So you think you've had a wholesome meal, right? Not really.
Medical experts say that packaged food — even the cereal that you have been assured is healthy — the quick fix for the on-the-go generation is full of chemicals and, more often than not, 'completely devoid of nutrients'.
Mornings are a rushed affair and to make life easy, you pour a glass of milk over the cereal that you picked from the supermarket. So you think you've had a wholesome meal, right? Not really.
Medical experts say that packaged food — even the cereal that you have been assured is healthy — the quick fix for the on-the-go generation is full of chemicals and, more often than not, 'completely devoid of nutrients'.
While you may argue that you look for the reassuring words on packets — no-trans-fat, no preservatives, no monosodium glutamate (MSG), experts say that these boxes are full of other hidden ingredients that can pose serious health problems if consumed in the long-term.
Biscuits
Killer ingredients
Refined wheat flour, sugar, edible vegetable oil, milk solids, invert syrup, raising agents, salts, emulsifiers, vitamins and dough conditioner
What's hiding?
We already know the toxic effects of refined flour. However, what's scarier are the high levels of edible vegetable oil in these baked cookies, says macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal. "Edible vegetable oil is nothing but fat as its nutrients have been stripped. This loads up the liver, which reacts to fat that cannot be processed in the body, resulting in a fatty liver and slowing down your body," she explains. Besides, invert syrup, a mix of both glucose and fructose creates a sense of being full, and this sugar also make you crave more sugar — so while most products scream no sugar (they mean white sugar), they still add glucose, fructose, or for diabetics, chemical sweeteners, which actually have long-term effects. "Milk solids have also been linked to schizophrenia, autism, depression and multiple sclerosis (MS)," she adds.
Muesli
Killer ingredients
Invert syrup, strawberry crush (sugar, water, strawberry pulp, thickener), strawberry syrup, pineapple crush, mango crush, apple juice, concentrate, liquid glucose, soy lecithin
What's hiding?
The label says there's no added sugar, but the sugar rush you get from the various syrups added to make this a scrumptious breakfast, is perhaps why you probably have been hyperactive. If your blood sugar levels are going awry, blame it on your breakfast cereals. And the extreme sugar rush is not the only cause of worry.
Most packaged muesli contains soy lecithin, a by-product of the soybean oil production. Studies suggest some of the common sideeffects of soy lecithin — used to bind the various ingredients together — are change in weight (loss and gain), loss of appetite, occasional nausea, dizziness, vomiting and confusion. "Besides, if you have been advised by your doctor not to eat soya, you may just be consuming it unknowingly even in breads," shares eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi.
Ready-to-eat-meals
Killer ingredients
Dehydrated vegetables, water, edible vegetable oil, cashewnut, salt, sugar, butter, ginger paste
What's hiding?
Physician and cardiometabolic specialist, at Tardeo's Bhatia Hospital, Dr Hemant Thacker, says that ready-to-eat meals are full of dehydrated vegetables which are nutrient-empty. They are only fibre and calories. Worse, the process of reheating the vegetable kills whatever micronutrients are left in the food. He adds that it is impossible to preserve food for 12 months if they haven't added any additives or chemicals. "Those additives may be permissible for that much quantity of food, but if you keep eating it day in and day out, you are posing great danger to your kidney and liver," he says.
Packaged soups
Killer ingredients
Corn flour, edible vegetable oil, thickener, softening agent, sugar, salt, dehydrated vegetables, dried glucose syrup, edible vegetable fat, yeast extract powder, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, acidity regulator, flavour enhancer
What's hiding?
Prepare tomato soup using fresh tomatoes. Do this for a couple of days. Does the colour turn out the same every day? No. How then do the various soup manufacturers manage to keep the colour of packet soup uniform? It is thanks to the colouring agents which are sometimes disguised as 'flavour enhancers'. Dr Thacker says, "Colouring agents are toxic. They put the liver and kidney into overdrive, since these organs have to work extra hard to wash away chemicals from the system and make them safe for the body. This means that the overworked liver is unable to do its regular job — it handles the nutrients that have been absorbed by the gut from food, removes toxins from the blood, makes proteins like albumin and clotting factors, and secretes bile which helps digest fatty foods in particular — as efficiently." That apart, Sabherwal points out, hydrolyzed vegetable protein contains up to 30 per cent MSG, which is known to trigger headaches, rapid heart rate, chest pain and cause nausea. "Moreover, yeast extract powder only increases the bad bacteria (yeast) in the body. This causes problems with the pH levels and creates acidic blood condition, therefore decreasing immunity," she says.
Biscuits
Killer ingredients
Refined wheat flour, sugar, edible vegetable oil, milk solids, invert syrup, raising agents, salts, emulsifiers, vitamins and dough conditioner
What's hiding?
We already know the toxic effects of refined flour. However, what's scarier are the high levels of edible vegetable oil in these baked cookies, says macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal. "Edible vegetable oil is nothing but fat as its nutrients have been stripped. This loads up the liver, which reacts to fat that cannot be processed in the body, resulting in a fatty liver and slowing down your body," she explains. Besides, invert syrup, a mix of both glucose and fructose creates a sense of being full, and this sugar also make you crave more sugar — so while most products scream no sugar (they mean white sugar), they still add glucose, fructose, or for diabetics, chemical sweeteners, which actually have long-term effects. "Milk solids have also been linked to schizophrenia, autism, depression and multiple sclerosis (MS)," she adds.
Muesli
Killer ingredients
Invert syrup, strawberry crush (sugar, water, strawberry pulp, thickener), strawberry syrup, pineapple crush, mango crush, apple juice, concentrate, liquid glucose, soy lecithin
What's hiding?
The label says there's no added sugar, but the sugar rush you get from the various syrups added to make this a scrumptious breakfast, is perhaps why you probably have been hyperactive. If your blood sugar levels are going awry, blame it on your breakfast cereals. And the extreme sugar rush is not the only cause of worry.
Most packaged muesli contains soy lecithin, a by-product of the soybean oil production. Studies suggest some of the common sideeffects of soy lecithin — used to bind the various ingredients together — are change in weight (loss and gain), loss of appetite, occasional nausea, dizziness, vomiting and confusion. "Besides, if you have been advised by your doctor not to eat soya, you may just be consuming it unknowingly even in breads," shares eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi.
Ready-to-eat-meals
Killer ingredients
Dehydrated vegetables, water, edible vegetable oil, cashewnut, salt, sugar, butter, ginger paste
What's hiding?
Physician and cardiometabolic specialist, at Tardeo's Bhatia Hospital, Dr Hemant Thacker, says that ready-to-eat meals are full of dehydrated vegetables which are nutrient-empty. They are only fibre and calories. Worse, the process of reheating the vegetable kills whatever micronutrients are left in the food. He adds that it is impossible to preserve food for 12 months if they haven't added any additives or chemicals. "Those additives may be permissible for that much quantity of food, but if you keep eating it day in and day out, you are posing great danger to your kidney and liver," he says.
Packaged soups
Killer ingredients
Corn flour, edible vegetable oil, thickener, softening agent, sugar, salt, dehydrated vegetables, dried glucose syrup, edible vegetable fat, yeast extract powder, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, acidity regulator, flavour enhancer
What's hiding?
Prepare tomato soup using fresh tomatoes. Do this for a couple of days. Does the colour turn out the same every day? No. How then do the various soup manufacturers manage to keep the colour of packet soup uniform? It is thanks to the colouring agents which are sometimes disguised as 'flavour enhancers'. Dr Thacker says, "Colouring agents are toxic. They put the liver and kidney into overdrive, since these organs have to work extra hard to wash away chemicals from the system and make them safe for the body. This means that the overworked liver is unable to do its regular job — it handles the nutrients that have been absorbed by the gut from food, removes toxins from the blood, makes proteins like albumin and clotting factors, and secretes bile which helps digest fatty foods in particular — as efficiently." That apart, Sabherwal points out, hydrolyzed vegetable protein contains up to 30 per cent MSG, which is known to trigger headaches, rapid heart rate, chest pain and cause nausea. "Moreover, yeast extract powder only increases the bad bacteria (yeast) in the body. This causes problems with the pH levels and creates acidic blood condition, therefore decreasing immunity," she says.
FSOs have more tasks, but poorer infrastructure
Exactly two years after the implementation of the Food Safety and
Standards Regulations, 2011, across the country, Food Safety Officers
(FSOs), the personnel who make ensuring food safety possible by
conducting raids, collecting samples and enabling punishment or fine in
case of non-compliance, are a disillusioned lot.
While the FSOs admit that the regulations have given them more teeth compared to the predecessor - the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 – they make no bones about the fact that though their responsibilities have increased multifold under the new regime, their powers have been reduced and work is hampered by lack of infrastructure such as offices and vehicles and absence of adequate number of personnel. A look at some of the states where FSOs are trying to do their duties while facing such issues:
Bihar - Kosi
Arjun Prasad, FSO, Kosi district, said, “The process has been going on very smoothly since FSSA, 2006, was implemented, but being government employees, we have not been allotted four-wheelers by the government in order to conduct raids. We have to make our own arrangements for transportation, and as a result, are unable to conduct raids at many places. So if the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) wants to obtain better results from each state, they should provide the FSOs with a larger fleet of vehicles.”
Gaya
Ashok Kumar Sinha, FSO, Gaya district, informed, “FSSA, 2006, is stricter than PFA, 1954, and is definitely a good move by FSSAI. But for the proper implementation of the Act, FSOs should be provided with better facilities, which have been lacking. We have been provided with two-wheelers, whereas the Designated Officers (DOs) have been given four-wheelers. A DO's job is to look after such aspects as licensing and registration, and not to collect samples and conduct raids on the Food Business Operators' (FBOs') premises.”
“In order to take stringent action against FBOs, FSOs should be provided with four-wheelers, and more people should be recruited. FSOs are like one-man army, and hence it gets difficult. And sometimes FBOs use their influence in order to escape raids. It is not possible to collect enough samples on a two-wheeler.”
Goa - North Goa
On the condition of anonymity, North Goa's assistant local health authority and senior FSO, said, “For the last two years, FSSA has been in existence, but most of the powers continue to be vested in the Designated Officers, instead of being bestowed upon the Food Safety Officers. During the PFA Act, the power was with the Designated Officers, but it should have changed in favour of FSOs during the new Act, because it is us who are carrying out most of the tasks.”
She added, “Goa has sufficient number of vehicles to carry out the raids and tasks of sampling and testing, but we have shortage of manpower. An interview has been scheduled, and we expect the problem to be solved soon. One of the problems we are facing is that all the staff operates from only one office, which is based in the North Goa district. There is no office for the South Goa district. We have been demanding it for the last one year.”
South Goa
Sanjot Kudalkar, South Goa's assistant local health authority and senior FSO, said, “In South Goa, we conduct regular checks on FBOs. Sampling and testing is the everyday process here, and each day there are two or three samplings by the FSOs. As per the time-frame stipulated by the Act, the results of the tests are declared within 14 days, and if they turn to be negative, the case is filed with the authority concerned.”
When quizzed if there is a shortage of vehicles in the district, she said, “The availability of vehicles makes the collection of samples easier, but we are actually facing a shortage of staff. That is the reason the FSOs have to undertake multiple tasks. But an interview has been scheduled for the recruitment of FSOs, and the situation will change very soon.”
Haryana - Jind
N D Sharma, FSO, Jind, said, “Manpower is a major challenge for us. We have brought the issue to the notice of the higher authorities, but action is yet to be taken.”
Rohtak
Om Kumar, FSO, Rohtak, stated that the key difference between PFA and FSSA was that licensing had come under the purview of the latter. “We carry out sampling and testing at least thrice a month, collect the samples and send to state headquarters for testing,” he informed.
Uttarakhand - Dehradun
Ramesh Singh, FSO, Dehradun, said, “FSSA came into force on August 5, 2011. Since then, most FBOs have been using fair means to do business, fearing action. FSSAI officials have lots of expectations from us, but we have a huge workload and inadequate facilities. We do not have a force with us to undertake inspection, and we have only a few vehicles at our disposal. Since FSSA came into force, I have personally collected 21 samples in 2011 and 68 in 2012, and this year, I have collected 85 so far.”
However, he said, “During PFA, I personally collected 32 samples in 2010 and 25 in the year 2009. The reason for collecting less samples during that period was that both food inspectors and officials from nagar nigam (civic body) were involved in raids and samples collection. But after FSSA, FSOs were loaded with more responsibility, their area of operations was expanded and they had to face increased expectations. In the new regime, even laymen are aware and inform us when they find anything wrong thus entailing more occasions for taking action.”
While the FSOs admit that the regulations have given them more teeth compared to the predecessor - the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 – they make no bones about the fact that though their responsibilities have increased multifold under the new regime, their powers have been reduced and work is hampered by lack of infrastructure such as offices and vehicles and absence of adequate number of personnel. A look at some of the states where FSOs are trying to do their duties while facing such issues:
Bihar - Kosi
Arjun Prasad, FSO, Kosi district, said, “The process has been going on very smoothly since FSSA, 2006, was implemented, but being government employees, we have not been allotted four-wheelers by the government in order to conduct raids. We have to make our own arrangements for transportation, and as a result, are unable to conduct raids at many places. So if the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) wants to obtain better results from each state, they should provide the FSOs with a larger fleet of vehicles.”
Gaya
Ashok Kumar Sinha, FSO, Gaya district, informed, “FSSA, 2006, is stricter than PFA, 1954, and is definitely a good move by FSSAI. But for the proper implementation of the Act, FSOs should be provided with better facilities, which have been lacking. We have been provided with two-wheelers, whereas the Designated Officers (DOs) have been given four-wheelers. A DO's job is to look after such aspects as licensing and registration, and not to collect samples and conduct raids on the Food Business Operators' (FBOs') premises.”
“In order to take stringent action against FBOs, FSOs should be provided with four-wheelers, and more people should be recruited. FSOs are like one-man army, and hence it gets difficult. And sometimes FBOs use their influence in order to escape raids. It is not possible to collect enough samples on a two-wheeler.”
Goa - North Goa
On the condition of anonymity, North Goa's assistant local health authority and senior FSO, said, “For the last two years, FSSA has been in existence, but most of the powers continue to be vested in the Designated Officers, instead of being bestowed upon the Food Safety Officers. During the PFA Act, the power was with the Designated Officers, but it should have changed in favour of FSOs during the new Act, because it is us who are carrying out most of the tasks.”
She added, “Goa has sufficient number of vehicles to carry out the raids and tasks of sampling and testing, but we have shortage of manpower. An interview has been scheduled, and we expect the problem to be solved soon. One of the problems we are facing is that all the staff operates from only one office, which is based in the North Goa district. There is no office for the South Goa district. We have been demanding it for the last one year.”
South Goa
Sanjot Kudalkar, South Goa's assistant local health authority and senior FSO, said, “In South Goa, we conduct regular checks on FBOs. Sampling and testing is the everyday process here, and each day there are two or three samplings by the FSOs. As per the time-frame stipulated by the Act, the results of the tests are declared within 14 days, and if they turn to be negative, the case is filed with the authority concerned.”
When quizzed if there is a shortage of vehicles in the district, she said, “The availability of vehicles makes the collection of samples easier, but we are actually facing a shortage of staff. That is the reason the FSOs have to undertake multiple tasks. But an interview has been scheduled for the recruitment of FSOs, and the situation will change very soon.”
Haryana - Jind
N D Sharma, FSO, Jind, said, “Manpower is a major challenge for us. We have brought the issue to the notice of the higher authorities, but action is yet to be taken.”
Rohtak
Om Kumar, FSO, Rohtak, stated that the key difference between PFA and FSSA was that licensing had come under the purview of the latter. “We carry out sampling and testing at least thrice a month, collect the samples and send to state headquarters for testing,” he informed.
Uttarakhand - Dehradun
Ramesh Singh, FSO, Dehradun, said, “FSSA came into force on August 5, 2011. Since then, most FBOs have been using fair means to do business, fearing action. FSSAI officials have lots of expectations from us, but we have a huge workload and inadequate facilities. We do not have a force with us to undertake inspection, and we have only a few vehicles at our disposal. Since FSSA came into force, I have personally collected 21 samples in 2011 and 68 in 2012, and this year, I have collected 85 so far.”
However, he said, “During PFA, I personally collected 32 samples in 2010 and 25 in the year 2009. The reason for collecting less samples during that period was that both food inspectors and officials from nagar nigam (civic body) were involved in raids and samples collection. But after FSSA, FSOs were loaded with more responsibility, their area of operations was expanded and they had to face increased expectations. In the new regime, even laymen are aware and inform us when they find anything wrong thus entailing more occasions for taking action.”
Food was contaminated
20 students had fallen ill after breakfast at Adi-Dravidar hostel
Microbiological tests have confirmed the presence of
bacterial organisms in food consumed by students on July 31 at the
Government Adi-Dravidar hostel in Pollachi near here. Twenty students
had fallen sick immediately after consuming breakfast at the hostel.
Official
sources said on Wednesday that the samples of cooked food and raw food
materials were taken from the kitchen immediately after the students
complained of stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, and dysentery.
The
source of these bacterial organisms was likely to be flies and insects,
which were indicative of open air defecation near the kitchen, the
sources said.
After the students took ill, all noon
meal centres in Government schools were asked to improve hygiene in and
around kitchens and ensure safe food.
The cooked food
was tested at Microbiology laboratory of the Coimbatore Medical College
Hospital whereas the testing of raw material standards was performed at
the Government Food Analysis Laboratory here run by the Tamil Nadu Food
Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing). Sources
in the Food Safety Wing said that the raw food material was found to be
safe and fit for consumption.
When contacted,
Director of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes D. Venkatesan,
who had visited the hostel on July 31, told
The Hindu
over phone from New Delhi that an action-taken report had been sought from the State Government on this issue.
The
commission had submitted a set of recommendations to the State
Government requesting a directive to all district administrations to
check the raw food material supplied to the State Government hostels for
Adi Dravida students.
Microbiologist
The sources added that a microbiologist has been posted at the Government Food Analysis Laboratory in Coimbatore.
This
post had been lying vacant for more than four years and had prevented
the Food Safety Wing officials from taking samples of cooked food from
Integrated Child Development Service Centres (ICDS) and noon meal
centres in all government and aided schools despite a circular issued to
this effect by the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayanth on
July 19.
86% milk sold adulterated in State
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 28
INDIA’S top food standards authority has ranked Nagaland the sixth
among 28 states and 7 Union Territories in the country that have
high-adulterants in milk. The central government today released details
of the national survey conducted recently by the Food Safety and
Standards of Authority of India (FSSAI). “The
survey was to ascertain the quality of milk throughout the country,”
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said in
the Rajya Sabha on August 27, according to a Press Information Bureau
(PIB) press release. The release listed the culpable states, among them
Nagaland, in his information about the survey to the Parliament.
The survey has found that that the degree of adulteration in Nagaland’s milk is 86%. Adulteration of milk in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Mizoram are 100%, the survey.
To the happiness of citizens in Nagaland, the FSSAI’s findings definitely brushes away the righteous claims of a Dimapur-based diary group who had vehemently mounted a witch-hunt in March this year when a concerned citizen found detergents, nitrate and pond water in locally-produced milk products.
Dimapur District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd (DIMUL) had responded days after a local veterinarian tested samples of milk products and found them highly adulterated.
DIMUL simply slammed the test results as an event “without intimation of the intention to have the food article so analyzed” and washed their hands off the matter.
The FSSAI survey has found that the quality of milk throughout the country is highly adulterated. 68.4% of milk samples were found to be ‘non-conforming’ to Food Safety and Standards Regulations of 2011. State-wise ranking (in descending order) where the ‘non-conforming’ milk was prevalent are seen in the chart.
No data is maintained centrally by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the union health minister told the Rajya Sabha. ‘The nodal agencies do not main data for the purpose of regulating, manufacturing, storing, distributing, selling or importing articles of food, and to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption,’ the government said.
Food safety enforcement is state’s onus
When the DIMUL findings went public in Nagaland, the state’s Health and Welfare department virtually stayed away from the issue. Several days after the story broke a brief response appeared in the media and disappeared – after passing the buck while the milk producers’ union denied that there were any adulterants in the milk products.
The central government has made it clear that the state government authorities are the agencies that ought to enforce food safety standards. “The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests with state/UT governments,” the union minister told the parliament.
“Random samples of food items including milk are drawn by the State Food Safety Officers and sent to the designated food testing laboratories for analysis. Penal action is taken against the offenders, in case samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the FSS Act and Regulations made thereunder,” the minister said. “There is an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan to strengthen the food regulatory system at the State level,” the PIB release added.
The survey has found that that the degree of adulteration in Nagaland’s milk is 86%. Adulteration of milk in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Mizoram are 100%, the survey.
To the happiness of citizens in Nagaland, the FSSAI’s findings definitely brushes away the righteous claims of a Dimapur-based diary group who had vehemently mounted a witch-hunt in March this year when a concerned citizen found detergents, nitrate and pond water in locally-produced milk products.
Dimapur District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd (DIMUL) had responded days after a local veterinarian tested samples of milk products and found them highly adulterated.
DIMUL simply slammed the test results as an event “without intimation of the intention to have the food article so analyzed” and washed their hands off the matter.
The FSSAI survey has found that the quality of milk throughout the country is highly adulterated. 68.4% of milk samples were found to be ‘non-conforming’ to Food Safety and Standards Regulations of 2011. State-wise ranking (in descending order) where the ‘non-conforming’ milk was prevalent are seen in the chart.
No data is maintained centrally by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the union health minister told the Rajya Sabha. ‘The nodal agencies do not main data for the purpose of regulating, manufacturing, storing, distributing, selling or importing articles of food, and to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption,’ the government said.
Food safety enforcement is state’s onus
When the DIMUL findings went public in Nagaland, the state’s Health and Welfare department virtually stayed away from the issue. Several days after the story broke a brief response appeared in the media and disappeared – after passing the buck while the milk producers’ union denied that there were any adulterants in the milk products.
The central government has made it clear that the state government authorities are the agencies that ought to enforce food safety standards. “The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests with state/UT governments,” the union minister told the parliament.
“Random samples of food items including milk are drawn by the State Food Safety Officers and sent to the designated food testing laboratories for analysis. Penal action is taken against the offenders, in case samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the FSS Act and Regulations made thereunder,” the minister said. “There is an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan to strengthen the food regulatory system at the State level,” the PIB release added.
Milk samples fail to conform to standards
More than 68 percent of milk samples tested across the country by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) failed to conform to recommended standards, parliament has been informed.
The FSSAI conducted a national survey to ascertain the quality of milk
throughout the country, in which 68.4 percent samples were found to be
non-conforming to food safety and standards regulations, 2011, Health
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Tuesday in reply to a written question in
the Rajya Sabha.
The FSSAI is the nodal agency which regulates manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items.
The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, rests with state governments.
Random samples of food items, including milk, are taken by the state
food safety officers and sent to the designated laboratories for
analysis.
Azad said penal action is taken against offenders in case the samples
are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the food safety act.
The 12th five year plan has made an outlay of Rs.1,500 crore to strengthen the food regulatory system at the state level.
Adulteration of Milk
In the National
Survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standards of Authority of India
(FSSAI) to ascertain the quality of milk throughout the country, 68.4%
samples were found to be non-conforming to Food Safety and Standards
Regulations, 2011. State-wise details of non-conforming samples in the
descending order of percentage with respect to the total samples
collected in different States / UTs are annexed.
No such data is maintained centrally by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the nodal agency for the purpose to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of articles of food, and to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests with State/UT Governments. Random samples of food items including milk are drawn by the State Food Safety Officers and sent to the designated food testing laboratories for analysis. Penal action is taken against the offenders, in case samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the FSS Act and Regulations made thereunder. There is an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan to strengthen the food regulatory system at the State level.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
No such data is maintained centrally by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the nodal agency for the purpose to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of articles of food, and to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests with State/UT Governments. Random samples of food items including milk are drawn by the State Food Safety Officers and sent to the designated food testing laboratories for analysis. Penal action is taken against the offenders, in case samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the FSS Act and Regulations made thereunder. There is an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan to strengthen the food regulatory system at the State level.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Magic portions for slimming have free reign
COIMBATORE:
Though most of us are well aware that there is no magic portion to lose
weight, we easily fall prey to the barrage of advertisements on weight loss
drugs making tall claims. Most claim to make the excess fat disappear
in an unbelievably short time span without having to endure the pains of
physical exercise. Presently, the dietary supplements industry has a
free reign, allowing firms to invade the market without essential checks
and curbs. However, the industry will soon be brought under the control
of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and manufacturers
and suppliers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain a valid
license from the authority. Until then, these products, many of them
unsafe and some of them even lethal, will continue to be sold in the
market, putting consumers at risk.
D Kumar, a resident of Ganapathy, is one victim of this free reign. He found the supplements prescribed for his wife and daughter by the obesity clinic at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, were unfit for consumption as per the norms of the Food Safety and Security Act. The product, sold at a very high price, was found to be misbranded and the slimming powder itself was found to have traces of fat content. "I was shocked when I got the results from the government approved laboratory. The fact that a doctor from a renowned hospital in the city had prescribed an unsafe product to my family is disconcerting," said D Kumar.
Dr Tamilselvi Periasamy had prescribed the dietary supplement called Slim Drink Starter Level 1 and Slim Drink Ultra Level -2 for the mother daughter duo. The product priced at Rs 850 (Level1) and Rs 750 (Level2) for 750 grams was purchased from the hospital pharmacy. When a sample was tested at the government approved laboratory, it was found to be just a mixture of wheat, ragi and cereal. But what is shocking is the fact that the samples were found to contain yeast and mould fungus, making it unsafe for consumption.
"We have sent the samples to the referral laboratory in Kolkata for final tests and the results are awaited," said R Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (Coimbatore).
An even more startling revelation is the collusion of doctors and manufacturers in selling these dubious drugs to the unsuspecting public. The Slim Drink prescribed by Dr Tamilselvi is manufactured and supplied through the label Slim and Trim owned by the doctor herself. When contacted, Dr Tamilselvi confirmed that she owned the firm but she said she has been prescribing the supplements to numerous patients and she has not received any complaint so far.
Speaking on behalf of KMCH, TC Dinamani, General Manager (human Resource) confirmed the incident, saying the product has been 'temporarily' withdrawn from the hospital pharmacy. "We have stopped selling the product at the moment although we continue to get queries from patients taking the supplement," Dr Tamilselvi claimed.
This multi crore industry classified as 'nutraceutical products' exists in the grey zone between regular food products and pharmaceutical drugs. There also seems to be a nexus between certain medical practitioners, officials and dietary supplement manufactures involved in this industry.
"First of all these dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are exempt from the drug price regulatory norms and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority norms. So they have a free reign in product pricing," said G Selvaraj, Former Director, Drug Control Department Tamil Nadu.
According to Kathiravan, Designated Officer Food Safety and Drug Administration, not even a single license or No Objection Certificate has been issued to any dietary supplement being sold in Coimbatore. Manufacturers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain license for their products but special prohibitory orders could be issued from the office of Commissioner of Food Safety Office whenever specific complaints arise.
"Not even a single manufacturer or Food Business Operator involved in the sale of dietary supplements have approached us for NOC and product approval. The product license will be given only after we issue the initial NOC and product approval," Kathiravan added.
D Kumar, a resident of Ganapathy, is one victim of this free reign. He found the supplements prescribed for his wife and daughter by the obesity clinic at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, were unfit for consumption as per the norms of the Food Safety and Security Act. The product, sold at a very high price, was found to be misbranded and the slimming powder itself was found to have traces of fat content. "I was shocked when I got the results from the government approved laboratory. The fact that a doctor from a renowned hospital in the city had prescribed an unsafe product to my family is disconcerting," said D Kumar.
Dr Tamilselvi Periasamy had prescribed the dietary supplement called Slim Drink Starter Level 1 and Slim Drink Ultra Level -2 for the mother daughter duo. The product priced at Rs 850 (Level1) and Rs 750 (Level2) for 750 grams was purchased from the hospital pharmacy. When a sample was tested at the government approved laboratory, it was found to be just a mixture of wheat, ragi and cereal. But what is shocking is the fact that the samples were found to contain yeast and mould fungus, making it unsafe for consumption.
"We have sent the samples to the referral laboratory in Kolkata for final tests and the results are awaited," said R Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (Coimbatore).
An even more startling revelation is the collusion of doctors and manufacturers in selling these dubious drugs to the unsuspecting public. The Slim Drink prescribed by Dr Tamilselvi is manufactured and supplied through the label Slim and Trim owned by the doctor herself. When contacted, Dr Tamilselvi confirmed that she owned the firm but she said she has been prescribing the supplements to numerous patients and she has not received any complaint so far.
Speaking on behalf of KMCH, TC Dinamani, General Manager (human Resource) confirmed the incident, saying the product has been 'temporarily' withdrawn from the hospital pharmacy. "We have stopped selling the product at the moment although we continue to get queries from patients taking the supplement," Dr Tamilselvi claimed.
This multi crore industry classified as 'nutraceutical products' exists in the grey zone between regular food products and pharmaceutical drugs. There also seems to be a nexus between certain medical practitioners, officials and dietary supplement manufactures involved in this industry.
"First of all these dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are exempt from the drug price regulatory norms and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority norms. So they have a free reign in product pricing," said G Selvaraj, Former Director, Drug Control Department Tamil Nadu.
According to Kathiravan, Designated Officer Food Safety and Drug Administration, not even a single license or No Objection Certificate has been issued to any dietary supplement being sold in Coimbatore. Manufacturers have been given time till February 2014 to obtain license for their products but special prohibitory orders could be issued from the office of Commissioner of Food Safety Office whenever specific complaints arise.
"Not even a single manufacturer or Food Business Operator involved in the sale of dietary supplements have approached us for NOC and product approval. The product license will be given only after we issue the initial NOC and product approval," Kathiravan added.
Quality of packaged drinking water to be tested
Samples will be lifted from all the 32 manufacturing units in the district
High demand during the last several months has led to many units selling poor quality water
Following directives from the National Green Tribunal,
officials from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)
and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have started taking
samples from packaged drinking water units across the district.
The
team including T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu
Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, and K. Sumithra Bai,
Assistant Engineer, TNPCB has so far collected 19 samples from units in
Mettur, Salem, Attur, and Omalur.
“Samples will be
collected from all the 32 units in the district and will be sent to Food
Analysis Laboratory in Guindy, Chennai, for microbiological and
chemical analysis,” said Ms. Anuradha.
She said that
the collection of samples would be completed by August 30 and a report
would be submitted to the Commissioner of Food Safety by September 4. Of
the 32 units, five units manufacture flavoured water. She said that
based on the report, units would be categorised as A (safe), B
(substandard, not unsafe, and not harmful to health), C (substandard,
unsafe, and harmful to health), and D (unsafe and harmful to health).
About 3.5 lakh litres of water was processed in the units in the district and distributed to consumers.
Because
of higher demand in the last several months, many units were found
selling water without meeting the quality norms. Hence samples were
taken from five units and were sent to the laboratory in Guindy. Two
samples met with the norms and were found to be ‘standard’ while three
samples were found to be ‘substandard.’
Those companies were asked to rectify the deficiencies.
300 women from SHGs enlightened on food safety
FDA's Mission Safe Food held at Rajiv Gandhi E-learning school in Sahakarnagar
Star chef Shailendra Kekade, the brand ambassador of Mission Safe Food
With the country is witnessing a large number of food poisoning cases among students having mid-day meals, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) organised a meeting and training session of over 300 women from self-help groups at the Rajiv Gandhi E-learning school in Sahakarnagar, last weekend.
On Tuesday evening, Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (FDA), along with Guruvinder Bindra, chairman of Bindra’s Hospitality and celebrity style chef, Shailendra Kekade, addressed a press conference to enlist the programmes undertaken under the Mission Safe Food campaign started by FDA.
The mission envisages to ensure that all food business operators in the city are well trained on sanitary and hygienic practices, with respect to handling food.
“For our first programme, we have got an amazing response. With the innumerable instances of food poisoning happening all across the nation, this has been a step in eradicating the problem from the root. We will be organising a programme every week, which will gradually take us closer to our aim of educating each and every food handler in the city to main sanitation and hygiene, right from the time of acquiring raw materials to the time of storage and consumption,” said Kekare.
The women were taught how to pick up good quality vegetables and grains to ensure that the school children get good quality food. Besides, the basic things like how to wash hands before handling the food so that there is no chance of getting the food contaminated were taught. “While interacting with these women, we also realised that most of the times, it is not the hygiene aspect of the people making the food that results in food poisoning. Instead, the water available in the schools or such things could cause poisoning,” said Bindra, adding that they will also be training the office bearers and principals of the schools to ensure that these aspects are taken care of.
Star chef to promote the campaign
The conference also formally announced that it will rope in star chef Shailendra Kekade as the brand ambassador of the Mission Safe Food campaign. “This will help boost the campaign. Having such a brand ambassador will make us reach the targeted lot,” Kekare added.
Star chef Shailendra Kekade, the brand ambassador of Mission Safe Food
With the country is witnessing a large number of food poisoning cases among students having mid-day meals, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) organised a meeting and training session of over 300 women from self-help groups at the Rajiv Gandhi E-learning school in Sahakarnagar, last weekend.
On Tuesday evening, Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (FDA), along with Guruvinder Bindra, chairman of Bindra’s Hospitality and celebrity style chef, Shailendra Kekade, addressed a press conference to enlist the programmes undertaken under the Mission Safe Food campaign started by FDA.
The mission envisages to ensure that all food business operators in the city are well trained on sanitary and hygienic practices, with respect to handling food.
“For our first programme, we have got an amazing response. With the innumerable instances of food poisoning happening all across the nation, this has been a step in eradicating the problem from the root. We will be organising a programme every week, which will gradually take us closer to our aim of educating each and every food handler in the city to main sanitation and hygiene, right from the time of acquiring raw materials to the time of storage and consumption,” said Kekare.
The women were taught how to pick up good quality vegetables and grains to ensure that the school children get good quality food. Besides, the basic things like how to wash hands before handling the food so that there is no chance of getting the food contaminated were taught. “While interacting with these women, we also realised that most of the times, it is not the hygiene aspect of the people making the food that results in food poisoning. Instead, the water available in the schools or such things could cause poisoning,” said Bindra, adding that they will also be training the office bearers and principals of the schools to ensure that these aspects are taken care of.
Star chef to promote the campaign
The conference also formally announced that it will rope in star chef Shailendra Kekade as the brand ambassador of the Mission Safe Food campaign. “This will help boost the campaign. Having such a brand ambassador will make us reach the targeted lot,” Kekare added.
Aug 28, 2013
Meeting on artificial fruit ripening held in food safety dept of Delhi
Delhi's department of food safety held a meeting on artificial fruit ripening recently. K J R Burman, the state food safety commissioner, chaired the meeting, which was attended by K K Aggarwal, president, Heart Care Foundation of India; the Indian Agricultural Research Institute's (IARI) Ram Asrey; R K Sarin of Delhi's forensic department; S K Manocha of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI); Sanjay Rajput and J S Chauhan from Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR) and officials from the food safety department.
“To meet the demand, about 90 per cent of the fruit sold in the market nowadays have been ripened using artificial methods. Ripening agents allow many fruit to be picked prior to full ripening, which is useful, since ripened fruit do not ship well. For example, bananas are picked when green and artificially-ripened after shipment after being treated with ethylene. Catalytic generators are used to produce ethylene gas simply and safely. Ethylene sensors can be used to precisely control the amount of gas,” a source, on condition of anonymity, stated.
He added that there are two kinds of fruit – climacteric fruit (such as papaya, bananas and mangoes) and non-climacteric fruit (such as grapes, jamun, kinnow, lemons and other varieties of citrus fruit). Explaining the difference between the two, he said, “Owing to the use of ethylene gas to accelerate the process, climacteric fruit are able to continue ripening after they have been picked. Non-climacteric fruit are those who ripen only on the plant, and thus, have shorter shelf lives if harvested when they are ripe.”
“Natural ripening of fruit occurs from the inner layer to the outer layer, while artificial ripening occurs from the surface to the inner areas. Therefore, naturally-ripened mangoes would be sweeter at the centre, while artificially-ripened ones would be sweeter on the surface,” the source explained.
Calcium carbide
Calcium carbide is also used to ripen fruit artificially. It reacts with water to produce acetylene, which acts as an artificial ripening agent.
The source said, “Industrial-grade calcium carbide may contain traces of arsenic and phosphorus, which makes it a human health concern. The use of this chemical for this purpose is illegal in India. Calcium carbide releases phosphine gas, arsine gas and acetylene gas. All these gases are toxic to the body.”
Iodine
Iodine is used to determine whether the fruit is ripening or rotting.
An experiment is conducted to determine whether the starch in the fruit has turned into sugar. If a drop of iodine (which is yellow) is put on a slightly rotten part (but not the skin) of an apple, it will turn dark blue or black, because starch is present in the sugar. If, upon application, the iodine takes two or three seconds to change colour, the process has begun, but is not complete. If it stays yellow, most of the starch has converted into sugar.
CIPC-treated potatoes
“Storage of potatoes at temperatures ranging between 10 and 12 degrees Centigrade with Chlorpropham (CIPC) treatment is helpful in providing consumers potatoes that do not taste sweet in summer and during the monsoon,” the source said.
Ethylene
The source stated that ethylene – which is also a gaseous plant hormone – was used by the ancient Egyptians to gash figs to enhance the ripening response. Another early example of the human utilisation of ethylene to stimulate fruit ripening is the ancient Chinese practice of burning incense in closed rooms with stored pears (ethylene is a by-product of the combustion of incense). He added that the ethylene produced by the injured fruit tissue triggers a broader ripening response.
“Strategies to minimise the exposure of the fruit to external sources of ethylene and treatments to manage the internal ethylene concentration are the keys to commercial optimisation of the shelf life and quality of many fruits,” the source said.
Low temperatures modulate the ripening of kiwifruit or bananas in an ethylene-independent manner, suggesting that fruit ripening is inducible by either ethylene or low-temperature signals.
Ethylene gas ripening can be detected by the phenolphthalein test.
[In fact, the English expression, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch” (which means, “The wrongdoings of one person can affect a whole group of people”) is said to be based on the effect of the ripening or rotting of an apple, which emits ethylene, which in turn accelerates the ripening and senescence of the fruit that is stored with it.]
Respiration
Respiration is the process of oxidative breakdown – also known as catabolism – of complex molecules into simpler molecules that yield energy, water and carbon dioxide and simpler molecules which are needed for other cellular biochemical reactions required for ripening.
The respiration rate per unit of fruit weight is (as a general rule) the highest in immature fruit, and it declines with age. Thus the respiration rate of fruit is an indicator of its overall metabolic activity level, the progression of ripening and the potential storage life of the fruit. A low respiration rate means that the energy reserves will take longer to be consumed, and the fruit can be stored for longer.
“To meet the demand, about 90 per cent of the fruit sold in the market nowadays have been ripened using artificial methods. Ripening agents allow many fruit to be picked prior to full ripening, which is useful, since ripened fruit do not ship well. For example, bananas are picked when green and artificially-ripened after shipment after being treated with ethylene. Catalytic generators are used to produce ethylene gas simply and safely. Ethylene sensors can be used to precisely control the amount of gas,” a source, on condition of anonymity, stated.
He added that there are two kinds of fruit – climacteric fruit (such as papaya, bananas and mangoes) and non-climacteric fruit (such as grapes, jamun, kinnow, lemons and other varieties of citrus fruit). Explaining the difference between the two, he said, “Owing to the use of ethylene gas to accelerate the process, climacteric fruit are able to continue ripening after they have been picked. Non-climacteric fruit are those who ripen only on the plant, and thus, have shorter shelf lives if harvested when they are ripe.”
“Natural ripening of fruit occurs from the inner layer to the outer layer, while artificial ripening occurs from the surface to the inner areas. Therefore, naturally-ripened mangoes would be sweeter at the centre, while artificially-ripened ones would be sweeter on the surface,” the source explained.
Calcium carbide
Calcium carbide is also used to ripen fruit artificially. It reacts with water to produce acetylene, which acts as an artificial ripening agent.
The source said, “Industrial-grade calcium carbide may contain traces of arsenic and phosphorus, which makes it a human health concern. The use of this chemical for this purpose is illegal in India. Calcium carbide releases phosphine gas, arsine gas and acetylene gas. All these gases are toxic to the body.”
Iodine
Iodine is used to determine whether the fruit is ripening or rotting.
An experiment is conducted to determine whether the starch in the fruit has turned into sugar. If a drop of iodine (which is yellow) is put on a slightly rotten part (but not the skin) of an apple, it will turn dark blue or black, because starch is present in the sugar. If, upon application, the iodine takes two or three seconds to change colour, the process has begun, but is not complete. If it stays yellow, most of the starch has converted into sugar.
CIPC-treated potatoes
“Storage of potatoes at temperatures ranging between 10 and 12 degrees Centigrade with Chlorpropham (CIPC) treatment is helpful in providing consumers potatoes that do not taste sweet in summer and during the monsoon,” the source said.
Ethylene
The source stated that ethylene – which is also a gaseous plant hormone – was used by the ancient Egyptians to gash figs to enhance the ripening response. Another early example of the human utilisation of ethylene to stimulate fruit ripening is the ancient Chinese practice of burning incense in closed rooms with stored pears (ethylene is a by-product of the combustion of incense). He added that the ethylene produced by the injured fruit tissue triggers a broader ripening response.
“Strategies to minimise the exposure of the fruit to external sources of ethylene and treatments to manage the internal ethylene concentration are the keys to commercial optimisation of the shelf life and quality of many fruits,” the source said.
Low temperatures modulate the ripening of kiwifruit or bananas in an ethylene-independent manner, suggesting that fruit ripening is inducible by either ethylene or low-temperature signals.
Ethylene gas ripening can be detected by the phenolphthalein test.
[In fact, the English expression, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch” (which means, “The wrongdoings of one person can affect a whole group of people”) is said to be based on the effect of the ripening or rotting of an apple, which emits ethylene, which in turn accelerates the ripening and senescence of the fruit that is stored with it.]
Respiration
Respiration is the process of oxidative breakdown – also known as catabolism – of complex molecules into simpler molecules that yield energy, water and carbon dioxide and simpler molecules which are needed for other cellular biochemical reactions required for ripening.
The respiration rate per unit of fruit weight is (as a general rule) the highest in immature fruit, and it declines with age. Thus the respiration rate of fruit is an indicator of its overall metabolic activity level, the progression of ripening and the potential storage life of the fruit. A low respiration rate means that the energy reserves will take longer to be consumed, and the fruit can be stored for longer.
Some fruit show a significant variation to the pattern of declining respiration rate during their ripening. They exhibit a distinct increase in respiration rates (a respiratory climacteric) of varying intensity and duration, commensurate with ripening. Fruit that exhibit this characteristic increase in respiration rate are classified as climacteric, whereas fruits that follow the pattern of steadily declining respiration rate through ripening are classified as non-climacteric.
To find out whether a fruit is respiring or not, one can either use a respirometer (an instrument that measures the carbon dioxide outcome) or put a fruit in a polythene bag, tighten it and look for the presence of vapours on its surface after one hour.
Notes
Arsine and phosphine gas can be deposited on the surface of the fruit.
Other natural ripening methods are by putting them in rice, straw (bhusa), wheat, etc.
Everyone should know that gases produced by ripening can either cause or worsen asthma in children.
Gamma radiation technology is used in fruit, either to disinfect them or delay their ripening process, so that they can be exported.
To find out whether a fruit is respiring or not, one can either use a respirometer (an instrument that measures the carbon dioxide outcome) or put a fruit in a polythene bag, tighten it and look for the presence of vapours on its surface after one hour.
Notes
Arsine and phosphine gas can be deposited on the surface of the fruit.
Other natural ripening methods are by putting them in rice, straw (bhusa), wheat, etc.
Everyone should know that gases produced by ripening can either cause or worsen asthma in children.
Gamma radiation technology is used in fruit, either to disinfect them or delay their ripening process, so that they can be exported.
திருமலைக்கு வரும் பக்தர்களுக்கு தரமான உணவு : ஓட்டல் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு உத்தரவு
திருப்பதி: திருமலைக்கு வரும் பக்தர்களுக்கு, தரமான உணவு வழங்க, தேவஸ்தான சுகாதார நலத்துறை அதிகாரி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார். திருமலையில் உள்ள, ஓட்டல் நிர்வாகிகளுடன், தேவஸ்தான சுகாதார நலத்துறை அதிகாரி வெங்கட்ரமணா கலந்துரையாடினார். பின்னர், அவர் கூறியதாவது:
ஓட்டல்களில், அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தெரியும் வகையில், ஓட்டல் உரிமம் நகலை, சுவரில் மாட்ட வேண்டும். அனைத்து ஓட்டல்களில் விலைப் பட்டியல் வைக்க வேண்டும். ஓட்டலுக்கு வரும் அனைவருக்கும், தூய்மையான குடிநீரை, குழாய்கள் மூலம் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டும். தரமான மளிகைப் பொருட்களை, பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். ஓட்டல்கள், சுத்தமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். எப்பகுதியிலும், பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்கள் இருக்கக் கூடாது. ஈக்கள் வருவதைத் தடுக்க, "பெஸ்டோபிளாஷ்' வைக்க வேண்டும். அனைத்து பகுதிகளிலும், ஈக்கள், பல்லிகள், கரப்பான் பூச்சிகள், எதுவும் இருக்கக் கூடாது. அனைத்து ஓட்டல்களிலும், தீயணைப்புக் கருவிகள் வைக்கப்பட வேண்டும். அதிகாலை, 5:00 மணியில் இருந்து, இரவு, 11:00 மணி வரை மட்டுமே, ஓட்டல்கள் திறந்திருக்க வேண்டும். பின்னர், மூடப்பட வேண்டும். தேவஸ்தானத்தால், நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட இடங்களைத் தவிர, பிற இடங்களில் கடை வைத்தால், அவர்களின், உரிமம் ரத்து செய்யப்படும். இவ்வாறு, கலந்துரையாடலில், முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டதாக, வெங்கட்ரமணா தெரிவித்தார்.
Punjab forms food, drug commissionerate
The Punjab government has constituted a commissionerate of food and drug administration for the regulation of food standards and safety, drugs and cosmetics as per provisions of the relevant Acts and rules.
Stating this here on Tuesday, Madan Mohan Mittal, health and family welfare minister, said the state government had issued orders that the commissionerate would be headed by an officer designated as commissioner, food and drug administration.
The minister said the commissionerate would function under the administrative control of the administrative secretary of the department of health and family welfare. He said various posts of the headquarters and the field under the directorate of health and family welfare, dealing with the subjects of drugs, food safety and related issues, would stand transferred to the commissionerate.
Mittal stated that by constituting the commissionerate, proper rate and quality etc. of drugs and food articles would be ensured. He added that registration and licensing for selling food articles would also be necessary under the Food Safety Act.
MC awaits funds for mobile testing labs, adulteration continues
Jammu, August 27
The failure of the government to release funds for the purchase of mobile testing laboratories to check milk adulteration has scuttled efforts of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC) to start a major drive against the influx of poor quality products in the city. Consumers are being exposed to contaminated and poor quality milk products due to the delay.
The proposal on mobile testing laboratories was mooted last year after an alarming report by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012 that 83 per cent of the milk being sold in urban areas and districts of the state was not safe for consumption.
The FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that the most common adulteration in the state was of glucose and skimmed milk products, which were being mixed with the intention of earning profit at the expense of the heath of the common man.
“We are dependent on the laboratory, which takes days for the outcome of results, including finding the use of synthetic products. Mobile testing laboratories can provide us a tool for on-the-spot checking,” said a municipal officer.
MC Health Officer Vinod Sharma said, “The government has told us that funds will be released and are at final stage of approval. We are lifting samples and sending those to the laboratory.” He said modern equipment was necessary to curb adulteration.
A senior MC official said the civic body had been fighting a losing battle against adulteration in the city as it did not have the facility and equipment required to test milk and milk products.
“We are launching a regular campaign, but it takes weeks to get test reports, resulting in a delay in starting prosecution. There is a need for mobile laboratories and trained manpower to deal with the menace of adulteration,” he said.
TÜV SÜD, Assocham to host meet on food safety
PUNE: TUV SUD in collaboration with industry body Assocham, is organizing a summit, 'Safe Future Now,' on food safety in Gurgaon on September 5. The summit will bring together market leaders and regulators on the same platform to discuss, learn and exchange experiences and insights on food safety along the value chain.
'Safe Future Now' on food safety, is a day-long event that involves panel discussions and expert presentations on the topical issues to discover a collaborative approach for a sustainable future.
The summit on food safety aims to incite discussions that help develop a sustainable road map to overcome the safety challenges in the Indian food industry. It will provide a platform for businesses to address pertinent issues and discuss factors that will help them attain a competitive edge to grow their market share.
Niranjan Nadkarni, chief executive officer, TUV SUD South Asia, said, "Safe Future Now is a global annual property of TUV SUD. This knowledge and experience-sharing platform is designed and dedicated to explore and examine new initiatives and best practices in areas that impact us as an industry and as an individual. This year's focus is on food safety along the complete value chain." Nadkarni said, "Globalization has made the entire food processing landscape highly complex. Today, India is witnessing a collaborative approach by key stakeholders to upscale the quality and safety standards in order to secure a larger pie of the global food and domestic market This event is an effort to highlight the initiatives undertaken and areas of improvement which will catapult the growth trajectory of the Indian food processing sector."
Aug 27, 2013
A mere 4 food inspectors for Hyderabad’s 20,000 eateries
Jurisdiction: 625 sq. km. Population: 78 lakh plus. Eateries: 20,000 plus. And the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has just four officers to ensure food safety under its jurisdiction.
Under the Food Safety & Standards Act, the city administration should have adequate number of food safety officers to monitor all food establishments, draw samples for analysis and surveillance, act against unsafe food and ensure that food poisoning or similar such episodes do not occur.
However, against a team of officials with the required assisting staff and other paraphernalia, the GHMC has just four officers. According to Corporation estimates, there are more than 20,000 eateries of varying scope, from roadside pushcart vendors to star hotels. Add to them, other facilities such as school and college hostel canteens, working men and women hostels and canteens at government offices, and the list goes on.
“We are expected to monitor all these facilities and ensure that food and water are proper, that there is no contamination or poisoning, that kitchens and serving areas are clean and hygienic, and that no stale food is being dished out,” says a senior official.
He asks, “Yes, we have to do all of this. But can only four officials with little or no support staff do it?”
The Corporation has been looking forward to having more food safety officers on its rolls. It was also decided to have an officer each for its 18 circles. Even staff strengthening seems a distant possibility, say senior officials.
“It might take a year, two years or more also. We do not know,” says a health and sanitation wing official.
The shortage of staff is obvious from the fact that though the city has such a large number of eateries, Food Inspectors could book only 45 cases in 2010, 54 in 2011 and 135 in 2012. Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation) L.Vandan Kumar concedes staff shortage and says that the Corporation is hoping to get 18 Circle-wise officers soon.
“For now, we are focusing on areas with heavy concentration of eateries. Weekly targets are given to our officers, and review held at the weekend,” he says.
Canteens at school and college hostels have been listed out for inspection next week.
“We have some complaints, and we intend acting on them,” Mr. Kumar says.
Incidentally, the civic administration of a happening city like Hyderabad does not even have a laboratory of its own to test food samples collected during raids, forcing it to depend on other institutions.
Notices issued to 15 'thattukadas'
KOCHI: The food safety department on Monday issued notices to 15 roadside eateries in the city for violating various rules and operating in unhygienic conditions. The notices were issued during a special drive conducted in the city as part of the statewide drive by the district food safety officials following a direction from the food safety commissioner, Biju Prabhakar.
The drive focused on eateries at Ernakulam south and High Court Junction, among others. Violations revealed during the drive include keeping food uncovered, operating without valid licences from the food safety department, use of colours, unhygienic surroundings and lack of personal hygiene. According to the food safety department, the commissioner had received several complaints about roadside eateries recently. Though no written complaints were received from Kochi, officials admitted that they were informed by public about violations by roadside eateries over the phone. The drive was conducted from 5pm to 8pm.
"No fines were imposed on eateries as this was the first stage of the drive. But we will levy fines if they are found violating the law again," said V N Sasikumar, food safety inspector. He added that the drive would continue in the coming days also. The food safety department had recently issued notices to seven model 'thattukdas', which were introduced as part of a Kochi corporation project to ensure hygiene at eateries. "They were given certain guidelines for operating, including hygiene, use of potable water for cooking. But many were found violating those norms," said Sasikumar.
The drive focused on eateries at Ernakulam south and High Court Junction, among others. Violations revealed during the drive include keeping food uncovered, operating without valid licences from the food safety department, use of colours, unhygienic surroundings and lack of personal hygiene. According to the food safety department, the commissioner had received several complaints about roadside eateries recently. Though no written complaints were received from Kochi, officials admitted that they were informed by public about violations by roadside eateries over the phone. The drive was conducted from 5pm to 8pm.
"No fines were imposed on eateries as this was the first stage of the drive. But we will levy fines if they are found violating the law again," said V N Sasikumar, food safety inspector. He added that the drive would continue in the coming days also. The food safety department had recently issued notices to seven model 'thattukdas', which were introduced as part of a Kochi corporation project to ensure hygiene at eateries. "They were given certain guidelines for operating, including hygiene, use of potable water for cooking. But many were found violating those norms," said Sasikumar.
சீர்காழி பகுதியில் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை ஜோர் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படுமா?
சீர்காழி, ஆக.27:
நாகை
மாவட்டம் சீர்காழி, கொள் ளிடம், புதுப்பட்டினம், வைத்தீஸ்வரன்கோயில்,
திருவெண்காடு, பொறை யார் உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் தமிழக அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட
பான்பராக், குட்கா போன்ற போதை பொருட்கள் அமோகமாக விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு
வருகிறது.
அரசால் தடை செய்வதற்கு முன்
ஹான்ஸ் புகையிலை ரூ.4க்கும், பான்பாராக் ரூ.3க்கும், குட்கா ரூ.5க்கும்
விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வந்தது. தற் போது ஹான்ஸ் புகையிலை பாக்கெட்
ரூ.10க்கும், பான் பாராக் 8 ரூபாய்க்கும், குட்கா ரூ.10 ரூபாய்க்கும்
விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. தமிழக அரசு பொதுமக்கள் நலன் கருதி போதை
பொருட்களான பான் பாராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் போன்ற பொருட்களை தடை செய்தது.
ஆனால் பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில் இந்த பொருட்கள் கூடுதல் விலைக்கு விற்பனை
செய்யப்படுகிறது. போலீசார் பெயரளவில் மட்டும் ஒரு சில கடைகளில் சோதனை
யிட்டு பான்பாராக், குட்கா, ஹான்ஸ் போன்ற பொருட் களை பறிமுதல் செய்து
அழிக்கின்றனர். ஆனால் புற்றீசல்போல் மீண்டும் பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில் போதை
பொருட்கள் விற்பனை அமோகமாக நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.
எனவே
மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் அனைத்து கடைகளிலும் சோதனை நடத்தி போதை பொருட்கள்
விற்பனையை தடுக்க கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்பதே அனைவரின்
எதிர்பார்ப்பாக உள்ளது.
Consumer finds metal rod inside soft drink bottle
The31-year-old,workingasarecoveryofficer with a finance firm, said, “I was having dinner at a bar-and-restaurant at BTM Layout, I Stage. WhenIwasservedthebeverage.Iwasshockedto see a six-inch metal rod inside the sealed 300 ml bottle. If I had consumed it without checking, I wouldhavehurtmyselforfallensick.Therestaurant owner said he had nothing to do with it as the bottles are supplied by the manufacturer. The shock has put me off all kinds of beverages. I am even afraid of eating out. I am scared of buying packaged food products.”
KumarsentalegalnoticetoCoca-Cola’smaker, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, through his advocate on August 15 demanding a compensation of Rs 5 lakh failing which he has threatened to drag the company to court.
The notice alleges that manufacturing date andotherparticularsonthebottleoftheneckare not clearly visible. It says that if Kumar had consumed the beverage without noticing the ‘metal rod’, the damages could not have been compensated in terms of money.
The notice adds, “The negligence on the part of your company in inserting a steel rod inside a bottle and supplying it to the general public for consumption is against the principles and guidelines for food industry issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.”
In reply to an email by BANGALORE MIRROR, a spokesperson for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd said, “We have received the notice and will respond to it after examining the facts. We take this opportunity to reiterate that beverages produced by us adhere to world class standards.”
The Coca-Cola bottle with a metal rod inside
Food Safety Officers register 13,682 units in Tuticorin
Registration certificates, licences given to 2,622 State-run units
Food Safety Officers have registered 13,682 establishments in the district so far.
Out of the 15,259 food business establishments, including government units, 13,682 units were registered under the Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA), M. Jagadis Chandrabose, District Designated Officer, FSSA, said here on Monday. Totally, 12,917 registration certificates were given to operators with an annual turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh and licences were given to 771 operators with an annual turnover of more than Rs.12 lakh.
Among the 3,963 State-run food business operators, registration certificates and licences had been given to 2,622 units so far.
The government units included fair price shops, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation facilities, IMFL godowns, government hostels and noon meal centres, he said.
Dr. Chandrabose said the Food Safety Officers inspected the noon meal centres and the cooks were asked to maintain hygiene.
At Vilathikulam, the officers collected sample of a misbranded gutkha with ‘zero percent tobacco and nicotine’ printed on its pouch and forwarded it to a laboratory for testing and it was declared unfit for consumption. The officers referred the case to District Revenue Officer R. Muthu to levy penalty on the seller.
Banned gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine were being seized at regular intervals during surprise raids in district. Over 10 lakh pouches of the banned items had been seized and destroyed so far. Many shopkeepers were stashing the banned gutkha and pan masala at isolated locations.
Such acts of violations were largely reported in Kovilpatti and Vilathikulam, the officer said.
Investigations revealed that gutkha was transported from Madurai and being concealed in isolated godowns at Nalli, a place bordering Tuticorin and Virudhunagar districts.
Adulterated tea leaves were mostly sold in shops at Kovilpatti, Dr. Chandrabose added.
Out of the 15,259 food business establishments, including government units, 13,682 units were registered under the Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA), M. Jagadis Chandrabose, District Designated Officer, FSSA, said here on Monday. Totally, 12,917 registration certificates were given to operators with an annual turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh and licences were given to 771 operators with an annual turnover of more than Rs.12 lakh.
Among the 3,963 State-run food business operators, registration certificates and licences had been given to 2,622 units so far.
The government units included fair price shops, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation facilities, IMFL godowns, government hostels and noon meal centres, he said.
Dr. Chandrabose said the Food Safety Officers inspected the noon meal centres and the cooks were asked to maintain hygiene.
At Vilathikulam, the officers collected sample of a misbranded gutkha with ‘zero percent tobacco and nicotine’ printed on its pouch and forwarded it to a laboratory for testing and it was declared unfit for consumption. The officers referred the case to District Revenue Officer R. Muthu to levy penalty on the seller.
Banned gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine were being seized at regular intervals during surprise raids in district. Over 10 lakh pouches of the banned items had been seized and destroyed so far. Many shopkeepers were stashing the banned gutkha and pan masala at isolated locations.
Such acts of violations were largely reported in Kovilpatti and Vilathikulam, the officer said.
Investigations revealed that gutkha was transported from Madurai and being concealed in isolated godowns at Nalli, a place bordering Tuticorin and Virudhunagar districts.
Adulterated tea leaves were mostly sold in shops at Kovilpatti, Dr. Chandrabose added.
Eateries fined Rs 5,000
Jammu, August 26
The Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC) today imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on eateries found not to be maintaining cleanliness in preparation of food products during an anti-adulteration drive today. The MC had launched the fortnight-long drive.
A team led by Health Officer, Municipal Corporation, Dr Vinod Sharma, along-with a team of Food Safety Officers and Assistant Sanitation Officers, conducted a tour of areas like New Plot, Amphalla, Gangyal, Trikuta Nagar, Bahu Fort, Gandhi Nagar, Indira Chowk, Vikram Chowk and Nanak Nagar to check the quality of commonly used food items.
They inspected various food establishments and imposed the fine.
Samples of milk and curd were taken from different parts of Jammu and sent to the Public Analyst for ascertaining standard of purity.
Citizens were advised not to smoke in public places. A fine of Rs 200 would be imposed to those not adhering to the norm. All food establishment owners dealing in sale of sweetmeats and other milk products would have to adhere to terms of the food Act 2006 and keep their premises clean.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC) today imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on eateries found not to be maintaining cleanliness in preparation of food products during an anti-adulteration drive today. The MC had launched the fortnight-long drive.
A team led by Health Officer, Municipal Corporation, Dr Vinod Sharma, along-with a team of Food Safety Officers and Assistant Sanitation Officers, conducted a tour of areas like New Plot, Amphalla, Gangyal, Trikuta Nagar, Bahu Fort, Gandhi Nagar, Indira Chowk, Vikram Chowk and Nanak Nagar to check the quality of commonly used food items.
They inspected various food establishments and imposed the fine.
Samples of milk and curd were taken from different parts of Jammu and sent to the Public Analyst for ascertaining standard of purity.
Citizens were advised not to smoke in public places. A fine of Rs 200 would be imposed to those not adhering to the norm. All food establishment owners dealing in sale of sweetmeats and other milk products would have to adhere to terms of the food Act 2006 and keep their premises clean.
JMC drive against food adulteration continues
JAMMU: Continuing the drive against the menace of adulteration, the Health Officer Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr. Vinod Sharma along with a team of Food Safety Officers, Assistant Sanitation Officers, Sanitary Inspectors and other field staff conducted a tour in the areas like New Plot, Amphalla, Gangyal, Trikuta Nagar, Bahu-Fort, Gandhi Nagar, Indira Chowk, Bikram Chowk and Nanak Nagar of Jammu City on Monday to check the quality of commonly used food items.
Team inspected various food establishments and compounding fee of Rs. 5,900 was also realised from defaulters and about 17 kg of polythene was seized.
Moreover two food samples of milk and curd were also lifted from different parts of Jammu city and sent to Public Analyst Jammu for ascertaining their standard of purity, especially keeping in view of the festival of Janamashthami.
Citizens were also advised not to smoke in the public places as it is injurious to health, a fine of Rs. 200 would be imposed to those not adhering to the norms.
Dr Vinod strictly instructed the food establishment owners particularly Halwais to adhere to the terms and conditions of FSS Act 2006 and to mention the ingredients used for manufacturing cooked food and sweetmeats on the eve of Janamashtmi. The drive will continue and the general public is requested to co-operate with the Jammu Municipal Corporation to make the ongoing drive a success and to make Jammu city free of polythene in this summer season.
Green tribunal threatens PCB officials with hefty fine
Pollution Board Fails To File Report on Water Units
Chennai: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for failing to file a comprehensive report on the status of private packaged drinking water units in the state. It threatened to impose fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh on erring officials, if they didn’t submit the report in the next hearing.
In March, the Tribunal initated suo motu proceedings against private drinking water units, after complaints poured in about substandard quality of water being supplied in cans, bottles and sachets. It passed interim orders to close many units in neighbouring districts, when they failed repeatedly in sample tests for human consumption.
The bench, comprising justice M Chokkalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the board on July 2 to inspect all 997 packaged drinking water units in the state and conduct sample tests with support of the food safety and drug administration department. It ordered the board to submit the report on August 26.
When the case came up for hearing on Monday, the bench found to its dismay thatthe reportwas not ready. “In our previous hearing, we directed the PCB to direct the district environmental engineers to find out units in each district. But there is no such report forthcoming, despite a lapse of three months. If such a report, as called for by the Tribunal, is not placed before the next hearing, we will view the matter seriously,” Justice M Chokkalingam said adding that action would be taken against the officials.
The report, a copy of which is available with TOI, said that of the 144 samples lifted from Ambattur, Chennai, Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur, 23 samples were foundtobesub-standard and unsafe. In Maraimalai Nagar and Tiruvannamalai, 10 samples were unfit for consumption.
The bench directed the pollution control board member-secretary, H Malleshappa to be present next time. “You should see the seriousness of the issue… water is sold everywhere. How many are with or without consent from the board, we want to know,” it observed.
Advocate M R Gokul Krishnan, appearing for food and drug safety administration said the departmentcould not actindependently in lifting samples. “Only PCB officials can do the job, and food safety officialswill analyzeit,” hesaid. The bench posted the case for further hearing on September 4.
Chennai: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for failing to file a comprehensive report on the status of private packaged drinking water units in the state. It threatened to impose fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh on erring officials, if they didn’t submit the report in the next hearing.
In March, the Tribunal initated suo motu proceedings against private drinking water units, after complaints poured in about substandard quality of water being supplied in cans, bottles and sachets. It passed interim orders to close many units in neighbouring districts, when they failed repeatedly in sample tests for human consumption.
The bench, comprising justice M Chokkalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the board on July 2 to inspect all 997 packaged drinking water units in the state and conduct sample tests with support of the food safety and drug administration department. It ordered the board to submit the report on August 26.
When the case came up for hearing on Monday, the bench found to its dismay thatthe reportwas not ready. “In our previous hearing, we directed the PCB to direct the district environmental engineers to find out units in each district. But there is no such report forthcoming, despite a lapse of three months. If such a report, as called for by the Tribunal, is not placed before the next hearing, we will view the matter seriously,” Justice M Chokkalingam said adding that action would be taken against the officials.
The report, a copy of which is available with TOI, said that of the 144 samples lifted from Ambattur, Chennai, Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur, 23 samples were foundtobesub-standard and unsafe. In Maraimalai Nagar and Tiruvannamalai, 10 samples were unfit for consumption.
The bench directed the pollution control board member-secretary, H Malleshappa to be present next time. “You should see the seriousness of the issue… water is sold everywhere. How many are with or without consent from the board, we want to know,” it observed.
Advocate M R Gokul Krishnan, appearing for food and drug safety administration said the departmentcould not actindependently in lifting samples. “Only PCB officials can do the job, and food safety officialswill analyzeit,” hesaid. The bench posted the case for further hearing on September 4.
கேன் தண்ணீர் விவகாரம் மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் கண்டனம் செப்.4ல் அறிக்கை தர உத்தரவு
கேன்
தணணீரில் மாசு கலந்துள்ளதா என்பது குறித்த அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்யாத
மாசுகட்டுப்பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு நீதிபதிகள் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்தனர்.
தனியார்
நிறுவனங்கள் சார்பில் வீடுகளுக்கு வழங்கப்படும் கேன் தண்ணீரில் மாசு
கலந்து காணப்படுவதாக குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்தது. இதனால் கடந்த மே மாதம் கேன்
தண்ணீர் உரிமையாளர் வேலைநிறுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர். ஒரு கேனின் விலை
75 முதல்100 வரை விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டது.
இந்நிலையில்
தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் தானாக முன்வந்து இப் பிரச்னை யில் வழக்கு
தொடர்ந்தது. தமிழ்நாடு மாசு கட்டுப் பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு பதில் தருமாறு
தீர்ப்பாயம் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பியது. கேன் தண்ணீரில் மாசு கலந்து காணப்படுவது
தொடர்பாக ஆகஸ்ட் 26ல் அறி க்கை தாக்கல் செய்யவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டது.
இந்த
வழக்கு தேசிய பசுமை தர்ப்பாயத்தில் நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. நதிபதி
சொக்கலிங்கம், மற்றும் உறுப்பி னர் நாகேந்திரன் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலையில் நடந்த
இந்த விசாரணை யில், தர்ப்பாயஉத்தரவின்படி மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரியம்
தமிழகம் முழுவதும் கேன் தணணீரில் மாசு கலந்துள்ளதா என்பது குறித்த
அறிக்கையை நீதிமன்றத்தில் தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை. இதையடுத்து தீர்ப்பாயம்
மாசுகட்டுப்பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு கண்டனம் தெரிவித்தது.
கடந்த
ஜூலை 22ல் தீர்ப்பாயம் வழங்கிய உத்தரவின்படி மாவட்ட தலைமை சுற்றுச்சூழல்
அதிகாரிகள், தண்ணீர் தயாரிக்கும் நிறுவனங்களில் ஆய்வு நடத்த வேண்டும்.
பி.ஐ.எஸ் தர சான்றிதழ் பெற்று இயங்கும் நிறுவனங்கள், சான்றிதழ் பெறாத
நிறுவனங்கள் குறித்த அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும் என தீர்ப்பாயம்
உத்தரவிட்டது. இது குறித்த எந்த அறிக்கையும் நீதிமன்றத்தில் அதிகாரிகள்
தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை. இதுகுறித்து நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம் கூறுகையில், வழக்கு
தொடர்பாக அடுத்த விசாரணை யில் கண்டிப்பாக அதிகாரிகள் அறிக்கை தாக்கல்
செய்ய வேண்டும் என உத்தரவிட்டார். அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்யாத பட்சத்தில்,
தமிழ்நாடு மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரிய உறுப்பினர் செயலருக்கு 1 லட்சம், மாவட்ட
அளவிலான மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாடு வாரிய அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அபராதமாக தலா 50 ஆயிரம்
செலுத்த உத்தரவிட்டார். விசார ணையை செப்டம்பர் 4ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்திவைத்தார்.
குடிநீர் பரிசோதனை ஆய்வு அறிக்கையை தாக்கல் செய்யாவிட்டால் மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்துக்கு ரூ.1 லட்சம் அபராதம் பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் எச்சரிக்கை
சென்னை, ஆக.27-தமிழகம்
முழுவதுமுள்ள குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீரை ஆய்வு
செய்து செப்டம்பர் 4-ந் தேதிக்குள் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை என்றால்
மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்துக்கு ரூ.1 லட்சம் அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்
என்று தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளது.வழக்குசென்னை
மற்றும் புறநகர் பகுதிகளில், பாட்டில் மற்றும் பாக்கெட் குடிநீர் விற்பனை
செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதியின்றியும், தரம் குறைந்த குடிநீரை
பொதுமக்களுக்கு விநியோகம் செய்வதாகவும் செய்தி வெளியானது. சென்னையிலுள்ள
தென்மாநிலத்துக்கான தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம், இந்த செய்தியின்
அடிப்படையில், தாமாக முன்வந்து (சூமோட்டோ) வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்தது.பின்னர்,
தமிழகம் முழுவதுள்ள குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்களில் உள்ள
குடிநீரை பரிசோதனை செய்து, ஆய்வு அறிக்கையை தாக்கல் செய்யும்படி, தமிழ்நாடு
மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டது.6 மாவட்டங்களின் அறிக்கைஇந்த
நிலையில், தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயத்தின் நீதிபதி எம்.சொக்கலிங்கம்,
தொழில்நுட்ப உறுப்பினர் பேராசிரியர் ஆர்.நாகேந்திரன் ஆகியோர் முன்பு இந்த
வழக்கு நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.அப்போது மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்தின்
சார்பில், 6 மாவட்டங்களில் உள்ள குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனத்தில்
நடந்த ஆய்வுகளின் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டது.இதையடுத்து நீதிபதி
சொக்கலிங்கம், பேராசிரியர் நாகேந்திரன் ஆகியோர் கூறியதாவது:-தமிழகத்தில்
உள்ள அனைத்து மாவட்டங்களில் செயல்படும் குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும்
நிறுவனங்களில் உள்ள குடிநீரை பரிசோதனை செய்து, அந்த அறிக்கையை இன்று
தாக்கல் செய்யவேண்டும் என்று இந்த தீர்ப்பாயம் ஏற்கனவே உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்ஆனால்,
தமிழ்நாடு மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் அனைத்து மாவட்டங்களிலும் ஆய்வுகளை
மேற்கொண்டு, அறிக்கையை தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை. எனவே இந்த வழக்கை செப்டம்பர்
4-ந் தேதிக்கு தள்ளிவைக்கிறோம். அன்று மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்தில்
உறுப்பினர் செயலாளர் நேரில் ஆஜராகி, ஆய்வு அறிக்கையை தாக்கல்
செய்யவேண்டும்.அவ்வாறு தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை என்றால், மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு
வாரியத்துக்கு ரூ.1 லட்சம் அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும். மேலும், மாவட்ட அளவில்
பணியாற்றி வரும் மாவட்ட சுற்றுச்சூழல் என்ஜினீயர்களுக்கு தலா ரூ.50 ஆயிரம்
அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு இருவரும் கூறினர்.
மாசு கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரி நேரில் ஆஜராக உத்தரவு:பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் கண்டிப்பு
சென்னை: போதிய அவகாசம் கொடுத்தும் குடிநீர் மாதிரி பரிசோதனைகள்
முடிக்காதது குறித்து, அதிருப்தி தெரிவித்த பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம், "மாசுக்
கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய உறுப்பினர் - செயலர் நேரில் ஆஜராகி, விளக்கம் அளிக்க
வேண்டும்' என, உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து அனுப்பும் குடிநீர், தரமாக இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், சென்னையில் உள்ள தென்மண்டல பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம், தானாக முன் வந்து, வழக்கு பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகிறது. சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், அனுமதியின்றி செயல்பட்ட, பல நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டு, தர பரிசோதனைக்குப் பின், செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டன. இது போன்று, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில், மாதிரி எடுத்து பரிசோதிக்க உத்தரவிடப்பட்டிருந்தது. "ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் தொடர்பான வழக்கில், அனுமதியில்லாத அனைத்து நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் விற்பனைக்கு, இடைக்கால தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒரு வாரத்தில், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையில் அனுமதி கோரி விண்ணப்பிக்கவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டிருந்தது. இந்த வழக்குகள், நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தன. மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரிகள் ஆஜராகி, மூன்று மாவட்டங்களில் மட்டுமே, குடிநீர் மாதிரி பரிசோதனை செய்ததாக தெரிவித்தனர். போதிய அவகாசம் கொடுத்தும், பரிசோதனைகளை முடிக்காதது குறித்து, தீர்ப்பாய நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம், உறுப்பினர் நாகேந்திரனும், அதிருப்தி தெரிவித்தனர். மேலும், "செப்., 4ம் தேதிக்குள், குடிநீர் பரிசோதனை குறித்த தெளிவான விவரங்களை, சமர்ப்பிக்க வேண்டும்; இல்லாவிட்டால், அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்; மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய உறுப்பினர் - செயலர், செப்., 4ம் தேதி நேரில் ஆஜராகி விளக்கம் அளிக்க வேண்டும்' என, உத்தரவிட்டனர். "எங்கள் விண்ணப்பத்தை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை ஏற்கவில்லை' என, "ஹெர்பல்' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் சார்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. "அனுமதி கோரி மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையில் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதால், நாங்கள் ஏற்கவில்லை' என, மாநில உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர். அனுமதி பெறுவது தொடர்பான விதிமுறைகள் குறித்து, மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரி, செப்., 4ம் தேதி, நேரில் விவரங்கள் தர வேண்டும் என, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. மேலும், வழக்கின் விசாரணை, செப்., 4ம் தேதிக்கு தள்ளி வைக்கப்பட்டது.
Aug 26, 2013
தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரிகள் முடிவு இன்று தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் சமர்ப்பிப்பு
சென்னை
: தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள, குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் எடுத்த மாதிரிகளின்
பரிசோதனை முடிவுகள், இன்று பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் சமர்பிக்கப்படுகிறது.
"ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் குறித்த வழக்கு விசாரணையும்
நடக்கிறது. குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து அனுப்பப்படும்,
குடிநீர் தரமாக இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், சென்னையில் உள்ள தென்மண்டல பசுமை
தீர்ப்பாயம், தானாக முன் வந்து, வழக்கு பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகிறது.இதில்
சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ., அனுமதி
பெறாமலும், மாசு கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அனுமதி பெறாமலும் செயல்பட்ட பல
நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டு, தர பரிசோதனைக்குப் பின், செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு
உள்ளன. இதுபோன்று, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள்
அனைத்தையும் ஆய்வு செய்யவும், குடிநீரின் மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து
பரிசோதிக்கவும், பசுமைத்தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. அனுமதியின்றி இயங்கும்,
"ஹெர்பல்', "பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் உள்ளிட்ட, எல்லா விதமான குடிநீர்
நிறுவனங்களிலும், குடிநீர் உற்பத்தி, மார்க்கெட்டிங், விற்பனைக்கு, தடை
விதிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால், தடையை மீறியும், இத்தகைய குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள்
செயல்பட்டு வருவதாக, குற்றச்சாட்டு இருந்து வருகிறது. இந்த நிலையில்,
குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் தொடர்பான வழக்கு, சென்னையில் உள்ள பசுமைத்
தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் (தென்மண்டலம்), இன்று மீண்டும் விசாரணைக்கு வருகிறது.
இதில், தமிழகம் முழுவதும் எடுக்கப்பட்ட, குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளின் பரிசோதனை
முடிவுகளை, மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் இன்று தாக்கல் செய்கிறது.
"ஹெர்பல்', "பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் குறித்த வழக்கும், இன்று
விசாரணைக்கு வருகிறது. இதன் முடிவுகள் தூய்மையான தண்ணீர் வழங்குவதில்,
உரிய நடைமுறைகள் பின்பற்றப்படும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது.
Banned tin fish worth Rs 13 lakhs seized
Imphal, August 24 2013 :
Fourteen thousand five hundred and twenty pieces of Sea Cherry Mackerel,
a brand of tin fish, worth around rupees 13 lakhs, which have been
banned for sale in the market by the State Government, were seized by a
team of Food Safety Officers from ABC godown at Khuyathong during a
drive today.
Sea Cherry Mackerel tinned-fish is a product of MS Sowkar Canning Company, Karnataka.
The seizure belonged to M/S Meitei Traders, Masjid Road, which is an agent of the manufacturing company.
Talking to media persons in this regard, Y Satyajit, Food Safety Officer, Imphal West stated that a special drive was launched to check the sale of Sea Cherry Mackeral, which has been banned by the State Government as this particular brand of tin fish was found unfit for human consumption.
Following specific information, a team of Food Safety Officers conducted a drive at ABC Godown, Khuyathong today and recovered 4520 pieces of Sea Cherry Mackeral cans, which would be worth around Rs 13 lakhs.
The Food Safety Officer also appealed to all concerned and the general public to stop selling and use of this particular brand of tin fish.
Th Sunil Kumar, Food Safety Officer, Churachandpur, who was also present during the drive, informed that team had earlier recovered tin fish under the brand name of 'Sardines in brine and oil', without proper labeling, which is against the rules of the Food Safety and Standard Act, from a shop (M/S Piyus) at Masjid Road.
The 'Sardines in brine and oil' tin fish is a product of Scattath Canning Company, Goa.
The agent of the product in Manipur is still not known but the proprietor of M/S Piyus has been instructed to make available the name of the agent to the Food Safety Officers within two days' time, he added.
Sea Cherry Mackerel tinned-fish is a product of MS Sowkar Canning Company, Karnataka.
The seizure belonged to M/S Meitei Traders, Masjid Road, which is an agent of the manufacturing company.
Talking to media persons in this regard, Y Satyajit, Food Safety Officer, Imphal West stated that a special drive was launched to check the sale of Sea Cherry Mackeral, which has been banned by the State Government as this particular brand of tin fish was found unfit for human consumption.
Following specific information, a team of Food Safety Officers conducted a drive at ABC Godown, Khuyathong today and recovered 4520 pieces of Sea Cherry Mackeral cans, which would be worth around Rs 13 lakhs.
The Food Safety Officer also appealed to all concerned and the general public to stop selling and use of this particular brand of tin fish.
Th Sunil Kumar, Food Safety Officer, Churachandpur, who was also present during the drive, informed that team had earlier recovered tin fish under the brand name of 'Sardines in brine and oil', without proper labeling, which is against the rules of the Food Safety and Standard Act, from a shop (M/S Piyus) at Masjid Road.
The 'Sardines in brine and oil' tin fish is a product of Scattath Canning Company, Goa.
The agent of the product in Manipur is still not known but the proprietor of M/S Piyus has been instructed to make available the name of the agent to the Food Safety Officers within two days' time, he added.
Rajasthan's salt goes sour; 22% samples from state fail to meet set food standards
Twenty-two per cent of the salt samples collected from across the state
have failed to meet the standards set by the health department. The
development is very significant as Rajasthan is the third largest
salt-producing state in the country.
There is also no mechanism to check and stop the packets which have
already been dispatched. According to reports compiled by the health
department, a total of 152 samples were collected from January till
August from across the state.
Of this, reports of 125 samples were tested and 28 samples have been
found substandard and do not meet the standards under the Food and
Safety Act.
During inter-departmental meeting two months ago, there were
discussions that the salt manufacturers in Nawa, Rajas, Phalodi and
Kuchaman City were not maintaining the proper standards.
After this, a seven-member team collected around 45 samples from these
cities. According to the report, from these samples, eight samples were
also found sub-standard.
This shows the apathy of the department which reveals that the samples
of the manufacturers whose products were substandard. The health
department has no mechanism to check those dispatched salt products
which have already been sold in the markets.
Food safety commissioner and director (Public Health) Dr BR Meena informed dna,
“This year, a total of 152 samples were collected of which 28 samples
were found substandard out of the 125 samples tested. Of the reports
from 45 samples collected from Nawa, Phalodi, Rajas and Kuchaman City,
eight samples did not meet the standards.”
Lizard found in cold drink
Khanna, August 25
In a shocking incident at a function in Khanna, a lizard was spotted in a bottle of a cold drink. The function of an opening of a new Chamber of Advocate Deepak Sahota was in progress, when the organisers of the show opened a box of cold drinks and found the reptile in a bottle which was half-filled.
Some social activists of Khanna area, including Advocates Jaspreet Singh and Narinder Sharma, had earlier demanded that the cold drinks and other materials should be checked properly before they are used for the consumption by the public.
The District Health Officer, Ludhiana, Dr Avinash, said, “I can initiate an action only after a written complaint is given to me in this regard.” While Chief Medical Officer, Ludhiana, was unavailable.
In a shocking incident at a function in Khanna, a lizard was spotted in a bottle of a cold drink. The function of an opening of a new Chamber of Advocate Deepak Sahota was in progress, when the organisers of the show opened a box of cold drinks and found the reptile in a bottle which was half-filled.
Some social activists of Khanna area, including Advocates Jaspreet Singh and Narinder Sharma, had earlier demanded that the cold drinks and other materials should be checked properly before they are used for the consumption by the public.
The District Health Officer, Ludhiana, Dr Avinash, said, “I can initiate an action only after a written complaint is given to me in this regard.” While Chief Medical Officer, Ludhiana, was unavailable.
Efforts on to control adulteration in tea
Adulteration of tea, especially colour adulteration, is
an issue that the Tea Board and the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) are addressing through a series of measures.
Apart
from taking action on those who make poor quality teas or mix
adulterants, the Tea Board and the FSSAI are also creating awareness
among the buyers on the quality of tea.
They conducted one such workshop here on Wednesday for tea auctioneers and small bakery owners.
R.
Ambalavanan, Executive Director of the Tea Board, said that the aim of
the workshop was to create awareness on the rules and regulations.
To
give strong colour, adulterated tea is used in many shops. Even if
approved food colour is used, it can lead to health problems if consumed
daily.
Efforts on to control adulteration in tea
A cup of chai from a tea shop on the roadside or a bus
stand may not be healthy. Adulteration of tea, especially colour
adulteration, is an issue that the Tea Board and the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are addressing through a series of
measures.
Apart from taking action on those who make
poor quality teas or mix adulterants, the Tea Board and the FSSAI are
also creating awareness among the buyers on the quality of tea.
They conducted one such workshop here on Wednesday for tea auctioneers and small bakery owners.
According
to R. Kadiravan, the designated officer of FSSAI here, owners of small
bakeries and tea shops, especially those in rural areas and bus stands,
need to know the adulteration problem.
To give strong
colour, adulterated tea is used in many of these shops. Even if
approved food colour is used, it can lead to health problems if consumed
daily.
First, the tea buyers need to be educated on
the problems of using adulterated tea. Then the officials will start
taking action on those who continue to use the adulterated tea. They
started with the manufacturers and are now working with the buyers.
R.
Ambalavanan, Executive Director of the Tea Board, said that the aim of
the workshop was to create awareness on the rules and regulations, the
ill-effects of using adulterants, and the need to serve quality tea.
To
give strong colour, adulterated tea is used in many shops. Even if
approved food colour is used, it can lead to health problems if consumed
daily.
Washing chicken before cooking 'more deadly than healthy'
Washington, August 25 (ANI): A new research has broken the common belief that washing raw chicken before cooking is safe, or even prevents food-borne illness, claiming that the rinse can actually be doing more harm than good.
Food safety researchers have released four short video stories to promote the "Don't Wash Your Chicken" campaign.
In each of the campaign's mini-drama videos, a knowing family member -
wife, granddaughter, daughter and mother - explains to a
well-intentioned home cook that the common practice of rinsing raw
poultry before cooking is actually unsafe.
An animated "Germ-Vision" graphic then shows that washing chicken
only risks splattering and spreading bacteria that then can
cross-contaminate other foods and kitchen surfaces.
Food safety researcher Dr.
Jennifer Quinlan, an associate professor at Drexel University, who
helped develop the campaign, said that you should assume that if you
have chicken, you have either Salmonella or Campylobacter bacteria on it, if not both.
These two bacteria, she noted, are the leading causes of food-borne illness.
Quinlan said that if you wash the chicken, you're more likely to
spray bacteria all over the kitchen and yourself and rinse water is not
hot enough to kill bacteria anyway.
The study was published in the Journal of Food Protection. (ANI)
Seized tobacco products destroyed in Kodungaiyur
The food safety and drug administration department on
Saturday destroyed 2.6 tonnes of tobacco products confiscated in various
parts of the city in the past few weeks.
The banned products seized from areas such as Wall
Tax Road and Ayanavaram were destroyed following guidelines of Tamil
Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) after permission from Corporation
commissioner Vikram Kapur.
TNPCB had given guidelines
on the safe disposal of the products in a 12-foot-deep pit filled with
urea and cow dung. The plastic packaging of the products was removed
earlier.
However,16 tonnes of
chewable tobacco products seized from Central Railway Station on August 3
by the food safety and drug administration department is yet to be
destroyed. The seized products stored in Central Railway Station are
likely to be destroyed at the dumping yard next week.
Food safety officials plan to intensify an awareness drive among food business operators and disseminate information on the ban.
Aug 25, 2013
Check quality of meat: HC Authorities directed to lift samples from open market, file status report within 4 weeks
Srinagar, August 24
Observing that the supply of meat or mutton in the state is an important issue as it is consumed in large quantities, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take samples of the raw meat sold in the open market.
After lifting the samples of raw meat from the open market, the authorities concerned have been asked to submit a report in this regard to the court within four weeks.
The High Court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check food adulteration in the state.
In the wake of adulteration of various food items and reports of unhygienic conditions in the food processing and manufacturing units, earlier on January 6, the High Court had sought details of the slaughter houses in all the districts of the state.
“The supply of meat in the state is an important issue because its consumption is high,” a Division Bench of the High Court observed in its orders passed this week and made available today.
The High Court had earlier issued directions to constitute a committee to suggest how to provide quality meat to the consumers. Te Bench observed that the committee submitted its report, recommending checking of sheep or goat on entry points and maintenance of hygiene in slaughter houses.
“The recommendations have been forwarded to the agency concerned. However, no report whether the recommendations by the committee in its form submitted or some modification were required to be incorporated, has not been stated,” the Bench said in its orders while directing the authorities concerned to file a status report in this regard by or before next hearing.
“Regarding samples of raw meat which is sold in open shops, no report has been filed. Accordingly, we direct that a separate status report be filed after lifting samples of raw meat which is sold in open shops and specification as laid down in the Act and the rules be kept in view,” the High Court said.
Similarly, a status report regarding private and public sector abattoirs should be filed before the court, the court said while directing the authorities concerned to file a status report in this regard within four weeks.
The High Court has also revealed that in the status report by the Chief Secretary filed on August 20, it has been highlighted that the Controller (Drug and Food Control Organisation) who was also appointed the Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K, has now been replaced by appointing Administrative Secretary of the Health and Medical Education as Commissioner in addition to his own duties.
“The respondents have expressed their inability to appoint an independent officer as Food Safety Commissioner,” the High Court observed in its orders while referring to the submission made in the status report.
In respect of the Food Safety Tribunal replacing the mechanism adopted by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1994, the status report states, the matter has been taken up with the Finance Department for creation of the post of Presiding Officer of the rank of district and sessions judge and the allied staff.
“It is assured that the matter is given priority and it is under active consideration,” the court said.
Seized tobacco products destroyed in Kodungaiyur
The banned products seized over the past few weeks were disposed in a 12-foot-deep pit.
The food safety and drug administration department on
Saturday destroyed 2.6 tonnes of tobacco products confiscated in various
parts of the city in the past few weeks.
The banned
products seized from areas such as Wall Tax Road and Ayanavaram were
destroyed following guidelines of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
(TNPCB) after permission from Corporation commissioner Vikram Kapur.
TNPCB had given guidelines on the safe disposal of the products in a
12-foot-deep pit filled with urea and cow dung. The plastic packaging of
the products was removed earlier.
However, 16
tonnes of chewable tobacco products seized from Central Railway Station
on August 3 by the food safety and drug administration department is yet
to be destroyed. The products were transported by a train from
Nizamuddin. Ever since the ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution
and sale of carcinogenic chewable forms of tobacco such as gutka and
pan masala was announced in May, trains and buses have been used to
smuggle these products into the State. Recently, several banned tobacco
products found their way into retail outlets in the city.
Following
crackdowns on commercial establishments across the city, the sale of
gutka and pan masala has reduced considerably. However, many wholesalers
continue to store them in residential complexes, selling them to
regular customers.
The seized products stored in Central Railway Station are likely to be destroyed at the dumping yard next week.
Food safety officials plan to intensify an awareness drive among food business operators and disseminate information on the ban.
JMC lifts milk, cheese samples for quality check
The health wing of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today raided several milk and cheese shops in the Dogra Hall and Canal Road areas of the city and lifted several samples for testing.
Officials said they had received several complaints from residents about adulteration of milk and its products and so, they had decided to conduct a surprise check.
A team led by Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma checked these products on various parameters. These were found to be below the standards marked by the civic body.
City residents have been concerned about the poor quality of milk and its products, which leads to various health issues.
Though in the absence of modern equipment and manpower, the fight against adulteration is becoming a losing one for JMC officials, but in the recent months, a number of dairy owners have been penalised for playing with the health of people.
Sharma said, "Samples have been sent for analysis and shopkeepers have been warned against violating rules. We are waiting for results so that action can be taken."
Dr Sharma said despite the shortage of technical manpower, priority would be given to getting the samples tested as soon as possible.
Officers also inspected various eateries in the Jewel Chowk, Dogra Chowk areas. The move was aimed at checking the hygiene level of the premises ahead of Janamashtami. Besides the inspection, the team spread awareness regarding the Food Safety & Standard Act, 2006, to restaurant owners and visitors at these eateries.
"They (owners) were directed to maintain proper hygienic conditions at their eateries. The food business operators assured the authorities that irregularities, if any, would be removed within a short span of time and there would be no lapse from their side in the future," said Food Safety Officer Parmod Kumar.
A survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India in 2012 had found that 83 per cent of milk sold in various districts of the state was not safe for consumption. The study had found that most common adulteration in the state was in glucose and skimmed milk products.
High Court seeks status report on quality of raw meat
Can’t Appoint Separate Commissioner For Food Safety: Govt
Srinagar, Aug 24: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the government to file status report on raw meat sold in open shops after lifting samples in keeping with prevention of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and justice D S Thakur asked the government to file a report in this regard after it observed with dismay the government’s failure to file a report on raw meat sold in open shops.
The Court also directed the government to file status report within four weeks with regard to private and public sector abattoirs.
Earlier, in its order the court had directed the government to constitute a committee to suggest how to provide quality meat to the consumers till an abattoir was established in Kashmir.
In its status report the government has stated that the committee has submitted its report, recommending checking of sheep/goat on entry points, maintenance of hygiene in slaughter houses saying the recommendations have been forwarded to the concerned state agency.
The court, however, said no report on the recommendations by the committee or any requirement of modification, if required, has been pointed out in the report.
The government in its status report has said the Controller (Drug and Food Control Organization) who was also appointed Commissioner Food Safety J&K has now been replaced by Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department as Commissioner in addition to his own duties.
The government has however expressed its inability to appoint an independent officer as Food Safety Commissioner viewing that there were number of issues common under the Food Safety Act and the rules within the Health Department. With regard to Food Safety Tribunal replacing the mechanism adopted by the prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1994, the government in its status report said the matter has been taken up with Finance Department for creation of post of Presiding Officer of the rank of District and Sessions Judge with the allied staff. The report said the matter was under active consideration of the government.
Srinagar, Aug 24: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the government to file status report on raw meat sold in open shops after lifting samples in keeping with prevention of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and justice D S Thakur asked the government to file a report in this regard after it observed with dismay the government’s failure to file a report on raw meat sold in open shops.
The Court also directed the government to file status report within four weeks with regard to private and public sector abattoirs.
Earlier, in its order the court had directed the government to constitute a committee to suggest how to provide quality meat to the consumers till an abattoir was established in Kashmir.
In its status report the government has stated that the committee has submitted its report, recommending checking of sheep/goat on entry points, maintenance of hygiene in slaughter houses saying the recommendations have been forwarded to the concerned state agency.
The court, however, said no report on the recommendations by the committee or any requirement of modification, if required, has been pointed out in the report.
The government in its status report has said the Controller (Drug and Food Control Organization) who was also appointed Commissioner Food Safety J&K has now been replaced by Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department as Commissioner in addition to his own duties.
The government has however expressed its inability to appoint an independent officer as Food Safety Commissioner viewing that there were number of issues common under the Food Safety Act and the rules within the Health Department. With regard to Food Safety Tribunal replacing the mechanism adopted by the prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1994, the government in its status report said the matter has been taken up with Finance Department for creation of post of Presiding Officer of the rank of District and Sessions Judge with the allied staff. The report said the matter was under active consideration of the government.
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