MAALAI MALAR NEWS

738 booked this year for violating Food Safety Act

Jammu, December 10

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) claims to have booked 738 people, particularity owners of eateries in the city, for dumping solid waste in the open during 2012-13 under the Food Safety Act. 

As per the data, total challans produced by the Health and Sanitation Wing in the municipal court in the year (2012-13) was 617 and during this fiscal a fine of Rs 3,85,360 was imposed on 738 defaulters.

Meanwhile, a team of Sanitation Wing, under the supervision of Dr Vinod Sharma, Health Officer, visited various food Junctions and inspected premises. The team also inspected the Jammu Club, Press Club and Amar Singh Club and directed to them to improve the condition of their kitchens as per the new Food Safety and Standard Act before February 4 next year.

The team also visited Canal Road, Akhnoor Road and Roop Nagar for checking banned items like polythene bags. The team seized 8 kg polythene from 12 defaulters and fined them Rs 5,000.

Health Officer Dr Vinod Sharma said any person violating municipal laws regarding sanitation and encroachments would be challaned. To avoid such challans, residents are requested to keep their premises neat and clean and free of encroachments.

Dr Vinod Sharma said, "The Act says that in food business manufacturer has to ensure his premises free from the growth of mould, fungi and infection and workers should wear clean aprons, hand gloves, head wears and keep their nails trimmed, clean and wash their hands with soap and detergent before commencing their work."

The food business operators include small retailers, roadside food vendors, hawkers, stall holders, cottage industries relating to food business, meat/mutton/poultry business operators with the slaughtering capacity of two large animals or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds per day.

Artificial sweetener aspartame declared 'safe to drink'

London, Dec. 11 (ANI): European Food Safety Authority has ruled out any 'potential risk of aspartame', claiming that the artificial sweetener is safe and poses no threat to health. 

The EFSA said breakdown products of aspartame, which is used in many foods and soft drinks, are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure, the BBC reported. 

For most products containing aspartame, consumption would need to be exceptionally high and regular over a person's lifetime, in order to exceed the ADI. 

Dr Alicja Mortensen, who chaired the EFSA's aspartame review panel, said that this study is a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives.

Delhi to host three-day National Street Food Festival in December

New Delhi, Dec.10 (ANI): Promoting, professionalizing and branding street food, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) is organising a grand National Street Food Festival at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from December 20 to 22.

The theme slogan of this culinary carnival is 'Swad hai, Romanch hai, Street Food ki Baat hi kuchh aur hai'. 

NASVI has invited several union ministers, parliamentarians, development experts, industry representatives, culinary experts, food critics and civil society organizations to join the inaugural ceremony of the festival which would begin at noon on December 20. 

On the last day, an awards ceremony would be organized wherein master street food vendors would be awarded in categories of hygiene, nutrition, serving, customer relation, innovation and popularity by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. 

Every day the festival would be in running rhythm from noon to 10 p.m. at night 

Announcing this at the Press Club of India here today, NASVI national coordinator Arbind Singh said the winter delight is set to attract thousands of foodies over the three days, as master street food vendors of different regions of India would deliver their signature dishes.

More than 100 stalls of street foods of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Meghalaya would be on show at the festival. A stall from Sikkim is also expected. 

The entry would be by ticket only. One time per person entry would cost just Rs. 30. The entry would be from Gate no 14 of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex. 

Metro commuters can easily alight at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium metro station and come out from its gate no.3. 

Timescity, RED FM 93.5 and BuzzinTown have so far announced to be the online media and communication partners of the festival, he added.

"Not just a unique battle of tastes, the carnival will be an advocacy event with a difference wherein the executives and functionaries of tourism, food processing, health, labour and employment departments and boards, and representatives of culinary institutes, development agencies, media and academic institutions would join together to share, acknowledge and celebrate the potentials and the possibilities of street food vending sector", said Mr. Singh. 

"It will be an occasion to reassert that the grassroots street food entrepreneurs play a wonderful role in poverty reduction, employment generation and enterprise building, and they make cities charming for all", he said.

Street delights from across India at Delhi food carnival

Lip-smacking delicacies from the country's streets strewn across West Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim among other states are served up by street vendors at a festival here. 

"We are organising this fest for the public to experience street food and also to catch the eye of government officials and private enterprises to help professionalise street food vendors," Arbind Singh, national coordinator, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) said today. 

The three-day festival from December 20 themed "Swad hai, Romanch Hai, Street Foods ki Baat hi Kuch Aur Hai" scheduled at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has minimum Rs 30 entry ticket. 

"We try to bring in various delicacies and to participate every year we invent new varieties of the street food also. All participants have to undergo rigorous training on safety and hygiene," Vasudev Suneja a vendor from Patiala who had won "Most Popular Street food vendor" award at the 2012 festival. 

The fare ranges from mouth watering delicacies like Pav Bhaji, Golgappa, Chola Batura cuisines like Pitha from West Bengal, or lassun and Piaz ki Kheer (Garlic and Onion Kheer) from Uttar Pradesh or Lobsters and crabs from Odisha to the famous butter Palao from Punjab. 

"It will be an occasion to reassert that the grassroots street food entrepreneurs play a wonderful role in poverty reduction, employment generation and enterprise building and they make cities charming for all," Arbind Singh said. 

Special attractions like interactive competitions for children such as poster making, extempore speech, cooking without fire, sing your own food song, writing slogan on promotion of street food and other cultural programs have also been lined up. 

"A total of 120 vendors are putting up their stalls and We we will be giving awards and prizes in association with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to them," Singh said. 

Street food, across the world is widely recognised for being not just palatable, inexpensive and convenient, but also as a large source of employment generation for informal workers. 

NASVI, is a network advocacy platform of 740 street vendor bodies, trade unions and community groups across 23 states. 

It has started engaging with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to train and register street food vendors. In October this year, it organised a huge training of street food vendors on food safety and hygiene here. 

"The carnival will be an advocacy event where executives and functionaries of tourism, food processing, health, labour and employment departments and boards will team up with representatives of culinary institutes, development agencies, media and academic institutions to share, acknowledge and celebrate the potentials and possibilities of street food vending," Singh said

Sea Cherry Mackerel Sowkar (In brine) : Playing the 'Ban' and 'Lift' card Directorate, Secretariat differ on food safety rules

Imphal, December 10 2013: As far as implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act is concerned, the Health Directorate and Health Department Secretariat are not on the same footing.

The latter has allegedly threw down all the laid down rules and procedures in the gutter in this particular case.

Sea Cherry Mackerel Sowkar (In Brine) manufactured/packaged by M/S Sowkar Canning Company, Udyavara 574, Karnataka was banned on March 25 this year for not complying with the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and its rules and regulations.

The ban was lifted by an order issued by the Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) who is also the Food Safety Commissioner on November 30 .

An independent investigation conducted by The Sangai Express to study on what grounds the ban was lifted revealed differences in the perspectives of Health Directorate officials and Health Department Secretariat with regard to the rules and mandatory provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 .

Sea Cherry Mackerel canned fish put on sale at a store

The reason cited by the Food Safety Commissioner in the November 30 order for lifting the ban was not fully comprehensible within the gamut of the Act.

To check whether a food product is complying with the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Its Rules and Regulations 2011, it sample should be sent to NABL (Accredited Food Testing Laboratories) notified by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) .

According to this provision, samples of suspected food products should be sent either to the Mitra SK Private Limited, Kolkata or the Export Inspection Agency Lab, Kolkata.

Notably, Sea Cherry Mackerels Sowkar (In Brine) was banned in Manipur in accordance with the sample test results given by the Mitra SK Private Limited, Kolkata.

However, the order for the lifting the ban was issued based on the test result given by the laboratory of College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University.

According to rules, for all products found suspect in Manipur, their samples are to be sent to the two Kolkata based laboratories.

As such, it is highly questionable why the particular food sample was sent to the Karnataka based laboratory for the particular food produced (canned fish) was manufactured by Karnataka based Sowkar Canning Company.

Before lifting the ban, the Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) wrote a letter to the Health Directorate on July 17, 2013 seeking the Directorate's opinion on the matter.

In its response sent on July 27, the Directorate maintained that the Sea Cherry Mackerel Sowkar manufactured by Sowkar Canning Company was not only unfit for human consumption but also did not comply with mandatory provision 2.2.2(8) of the Food Safety and Standard (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011 .

The Health Directorate's letter further pointed out that the particular brand of canned fish was manufactured in unhygienic manner with the sole motive of earning profit.

The canned fish when tested in a laboratory notified by FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was found containing excessive quantities of yeast and mould which are harmful to health.

The department cannot make any compromise on the matter for consumption of the particular brand of canned fish would be harmful to the people's health, asserted the director's letter.

However, in spite of the Directorate's succinct negative opinion, the Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) issued the order and allowed marketing of the particular brand of canned fish in Manipur.

For re-introduction of the canned fish after it was banned completely in Manipur, the manufacturer/company should first filed an application to the Health Directorate, Manipur along with an assurance that their food product fully complies with the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and its rules and regulations.

The company should also provide a sample for necessary laboratory test.

Then the Directorate should sent the sample to a qualified laboratory and its officials should also visit the company's units where the canned fish is manufactured.

Only when it is confirmed that the manufacturing unit and its product fully comply with the mandatory provisions of the Act, the ban may be lifted.

But what was done in the case of Sea Cherry Mackerel Sowker (In Brine) was not in line with the general procedure.

The ban was lifted after skipping all the laid down procedures.

Residents want action against soft drink firm

BOKARO: The recovery of huge stock of expired cold drinks and packaged drinking water from godowns of PepsiCo distributors, following massive raids conducted by administrative officials on Monday, has raised concern among the residents here. People are shocked to learn about the recent development in the district and demanded strict action against the company.

The stocks recovered is said to be of worth crores of rupees .The district administration found that the distributors in the town are involved in unethical practice of doling out famous brands of soft drinks like Pepsi, 7UP, Slice, etc after its expiry date.

Different teams led by sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Chas, Sanjay Singh conducted raids in half a dozen godowns in the district. Each of these distributers was found to have kept a huge stock of cold drinks and packaged drinking water which expired three-four months ago.

"However to find out the extent of harm these expired products could cause to the residents, the district health department has sent samples of the stock to State Food and Drug Laboratory, Ranchi for examination," said civil surgeon, Bokaro, Shashi Bhusan.

Meanwhile, the SDM on Tuesday submitted a detail report of the inquiry to Bokaro DC Uma Shanker Singh mentioning the provisions of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 that was violated.

The food safety officer of the district, B K Sinha has also sent a letter to chief executive officer of the bottling plant of PepsiCo India in Jamshedpur in this connection. The SDM said they have sought reaction of PepsiCo India in this regard.

"We have asked the company to tell who is supposed to recall the stock of cold drinks and packaged waters after expiry? We have also asked how long the expired stock can be considered safe for human consumption," said Sanjay Singh.

The administrative team, however, after conducting raids in the godown has also searched a retail shop in Sector-VIII where expired cold drink bottles were put on sale. This indicates that the distributors have stocked the cold drinks with an aim to circulate in market for money.

Investigating the matter, Singh came to know that these distributors lure retailers giving them lucrative officers to promote sale of cold drink bottles after its expiry date. The DC has appealed people to check the expiry date before consumption to avoid health problem.

The distributors and representatives of PepsiCo India were not available for comment. However, the political leaders, social workers and residents have appreciated the step taken by the administration in this regard and demanded strict action against the company in this connection.

Drastic reduction in malpractices by manufacturers of F&B, says Sankhe

Since the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, came into being on August 5, 2011, manufacturers and retailers of food and beverages in Maharashtra have become extremely careful, stated Kamlesh Sankhe, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, in an interaction with Abhitash Singh.

Excerpts:

There have been reports alleging that worms are present in certain foods and pieces of plastic floating in a soft-drink bottle. Could you throw some light on this? 

Reports of these kinds have become a thing of the past. Since the implementation of the Food and Safety Standards Act on August 5, 2011, the ambit of our activities has increased, and manufacturers and retailers of food and beverages in Maharashtra have become more than careful. 

The provisions of its predecessor, the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954, only made it possible for the FDA to play a monitoring role. 

What is the aim of FSSA?

FSSA aims at overall improvement in the hygiene of food. It is primarily a promotional act in terms of the quality of food that is being manufactured, distributed and ultimately consumed by the people.

How concerned is FDA Maharashtra about the hygiene of food and the health of people?

FDA Maharashtra is very concerned about the health of every resident of the state, and therefore, the thrust is on safe and hygienic food and beverages being consumed by the people. Right from the manufacturer to the street vendor, anybody dealing with food and beverages is covered under the FSSA.

Nobody can deal without a licence or registration. They have to guarantee that the food is hygienic and safe for consumption. In the last two years, we have noticed that instances of malpractices by food manufacturers and sellers have come down drastically.

What training is FDA Maharashtra imparting to the public?

Useful information to the public, industry and trade is disseminated by the state FDA on a regular basis through meetings, lectures, organisation of seminars, exhibitions, workshops and brainstorming sessions.

35-40 per cent FBOs licensed/ registered in M’rashtra; Kerala on track

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set February 4, 2014, as the final deadline for food business operators (FBOs) to obtain licences or get their establishments registered and many states seem to be on track thanks to methods such as creation of awareness over the issue, introduction of online licensing and registration, and impartation of training for the same.

However some states like Delhi and Punjab are still struggling to find solutions for problems such as lack of manpower thus putting a question mark on what would happen here if the process is not completed on time.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, home to approximately 15 lakh FBOs, about 3.5 lakh FBOs have either registered their establishments or obtained licences, either online or offline, according to Mahesh Zagade, the state FDA commissioner.
“The process is about 35-40 per cent complete,” he said, adding that the remainder would be completed on time, because food safety officers (FSOs) across the state are not only creating awareness about the importance of registration and licensing, but also imparting training on the process of applying for the same online.
Kerala
K Anil Kumar, joint commissioner, food, FDA Kerala, said, “The estimated number of FBOs is 5 lakh. We have already completed the registration and licensing of about 1,80,000 FBOs. Most of it has been offline so far, but we have recently started the online registration and licensing process. We are imparting training to the FBOs on the online licensing and registration process, and they are now comfortable applying online. We are sure that the process would be complete before February 4, 2014. If any of them failed to comply with the norms, they would be fined and imprisoned.”
Hitches in northern states
A regulatory source from the north, however, was not very optimistic, primarily due to the shortage of manpower. According to him, this was particularly the case in Delhi and Punjab. K J R Burman, Delhi’s food commissioner, said that the state had over 15 lakh FBOs, but to date, only 645 of them have acquired licences, because the state food regulator has been grappling with a shortage of manpower and inadequate infrastructure.
Burman explained, “We are lagging behind other states, because we have just started the process. We were not able to focus on the registration and licensing earlier, but now we have started the process online, and are confident that we would complete the registration and licensing of FBOs well before the deadline. Most FBOs in Delhi acquired their licences online.”
FDA Punjab’s food commissioner Hussan Lal said about 70,000 FBOs in the state have already registered or acquired licences, and efforts are on to get the rest to comply. He added there was no data about the number of FBOs in the state.
A state-wise statistical summary
In Maharashtra, 2,29,296 FBOs have registered and 1,21,484 have acquired licences. Tamil Nadu (with 2,03,869 registrations and 29,121 licences) is second, and Kerala (with 1,48,639 registrations and 26,910 licences) is third. Dr H G Koshia, food commissioner, Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, said, “Till date, we have registered 87,316 and licensed 31,266 FBOs. We would able to complete the process well on time. Since we were one of the first states to start the online registration and licensing process, FBOs have been cooperating with us.”

State	FBO licensed	FBO registered
Maharashtra	1,21,484	2,29,296
Tamil Nadu	29,121	2,03,869
Kerala	26,910	1,48,639
Gujarat	31,266	87,316
Punjab	8,931	57.263
Rajasthan	55,382	1,52,649
Uttar Pradesh	30,957	1,29,619
Andhra Pradesh	22778	51,657
Bihar	6,965	14,815
Goa	1,751	12,691
Madhya Pradesh	17,352	61,456
West Bengal	8,788	26,476
Delhi	645	Nil

Tobacco ban across India

Gutkha and similar other food products containing nicotine and tobacco have been banned across the country as per Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The laid down regulation 2.3.4 states that-- “Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products”.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday, union minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, so far 33 States/UT’s have issued orders for implementation of the Food Safety Regulations banning manufacture, sale and storage of Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco or nicotine. 

The states are-- Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Assam , West Bengal, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Puducherry.

Enforcement and implementation of the regulation lies with the commissioners of Food Safety under the state governments, as per the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act 2006.

SC had earlier directed all health secretaries of 28 States/UT’s who had till then issued orders for implementation of the Food Safety Regulations, to file affidavits on the issue of compliance of ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine.

JMC inspects various food junctions

Jammu, Dec 9 : The team of Health and Sanitation (H&S) wing of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) inspected Jammu Club, Press Club and Amar Singh Club, and directed to them to improve their conditions of kitchen as per new Food Safety & Standard Act before 4th Feb. 2014. The team also visited the Jammu city and seized 8 Kg polythene from 12 defaulters and fined Rs. 5,000. 

A total of 617 persons were challaned in the year for violating the provisions of Municipal Act for creating nuisance or throwing garbage in the Municipal lanes / drains and the total compounding fee charged an amounting Rs. 3,03,575. In the current year 2013-14 total number of challaned produce 738 and fee charged Rs. 3,85,360. 

Please wash your hands, Mr Street food vendor

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and National Association of Street Vendors of India are giving lessons on hygiene to street food vendors across the country

Even though the city fumes over the unhygienic practices of street food vendors, some say the ones in Koramangala can set an example for the rest to follow

Remember "Emploice Muswasands" from Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator? Well, street food vendors in India have been told to do just that: must wash hands. While hard core street food lovers would agree that cheap, roadside fast food doesn't taste the same in a hygienic food court without the street dust and grime, the next-gen Indian is becoming increasingly conscious of the hygiene levels. 

India has sported a long history of street food peddlers where a weekend outing for children would be to the nearest pani puri wallah. So the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) have begun training sessions for street food vendors in the country to help them become more hygienic. 

At the first session in New Delhi in October, vendors were asked to not pick their noses and or scratch their ears while on the job. The situation in Bangalore, though, is apparently better than Delhi and Mumbai. 

Sangeeta Singh, street food program manager, NASVI, said, "Even though Bangalore was late in catching up on the street food culture, hygiene lessons were in place. The younger generation is conditioned to look for signs of good hygiene when scouring for roadside snacks. For most, the gloves and cap are assurance enough."

Karnataka to bring legislation to control adulterated milk production

BANGALORE: The state government is all set bring in a legislation to punish the guilty dealing with adulterated milk supply. 

Following Supreme Court's observation on December 5, the law and health are meeting on Thursday to discuss the modalities and set the ball rolling for the legislation. Law minister TB Jayachandra told reporters on Monday that necessary amendments to the existing or a fresh law would be introduced. "Milk coming from other states, supplied in border areas are reported of adulteration. Government will strictly deal with this," he said. 

The SC has asked state governments to make necessary amendments to their laws to make production and marketing of adulterated milk, which is injurious to human consumption, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

The observation by an apex court bench of Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice AK Sikri came after taking note of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha having made the sale of adulterated milk, contaminated with synthetic material, an offence punishable with life imprisonment. 

Asking the states to make the law to deal with production and sale of milk which is harmful to human beings more stringent, the court observed that the maximum punishment of six months for such offences under the Food Safety and Standards Act was grossly inadequate. 

The court was hearing a public suit which said samples collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2011 revealed large-scale sale of adulterated milk across the country.

The FSSAI survey had warned that 70% of milk sold in the country is adulterated. The survey said the milk samples collected from rural and urban areas of all states failed to meet the norms of food safety and standards (FSS). It included both packaged and lose milk. 

FDA: ‘GMOs food safe, requires no labeling’

December 8, 2013: PROPONENTS of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as safe-to-eat gained the upper-hand as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement on Friday it will not require labeling of GM products.

GMOs virtually has no difference from conventional food, is not cancer-causing, and has been proven safe for human health under numerous tests, the FDA statement said.

According to the food authority, packaged products containing GM crops like the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn and those that are not yet in the market, the Bt eggplant and the Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice, have no verifiable difference from any other conventional crops, adding that labeling is only mandatory if there are safety issues.

“These are as safe as the usual crops in the market. The nutrition contents too are substantially equivalent compared to usual farmers’ produce, so why GM food should be labeled?” Oscar Gutierrez Jr., chairman of the FDA Policy Planning Office, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Controversies

ON May 17, the Special 13th Division of the Court of Appeals issued a ruling to permanently stop confined field trials of Bt eggplant because these allegedly pose risks to human health and the environment.

The appellate court said the field trials of Bt talong (Bt eggplant) are unsafe to humans and environment and that the government of Philippines has failed to adopt sufficient biosafety protocols, as well as feasibility studies on GMOs to protect the environment and people’s health.

The groups Masipag (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and other advocates against GMOs contend that Bt eggplant is genetically modified to produce its own toxin to kill the eggplant fruit and shoot borer.

According to these groups, genetic engineering disrupts the precise sequence of genetic codes, disturbing the functions of neighboring genes, and that when consumed; GM foods may give rise to potentially toxic or allergenic molecules or even alter the nutritional value.

Concerns were also raised over genetic contamination, wherein a GMO crop reproduces once released in the open via pollination and interacts genetically with natural varieties of the same crop. Bt corn has contaminated the indigenous varieties of corn in Oaxaca, Mexico, a rich gene pool for maize varieties, according to a study published in academic science journal Nature.

In an earlier interview, Masipag said that prospects of export for Philippine organic corn, and eventually rice, might be affected once contamination is proven.

Last month the Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Operations Dante S. Delima said the country has already shipped out 350 metric tons of organic rice to several countries.

Biotechnology was identified by the agriculture department as one of the strategies of the government to pursue its food staples sufficiency program in improving the production of staple foods to feed the burgeoning population.

Differences

ACCORDING to the FDA, the difference between GM and non-GM crops is the presence of recombinant DNA or the protein gene that is present in GM crops.

However, in the process of cooking the GM crop, the protein is destroyed or denatured, the FDA said.

“Once cooked, it’s no longer there. The food no longer carries the verifiable recombinant DNA. So what is there to label?” Gutierrez said, adding that in processed products like corn oil or corn syrup which are by-products of both GM and non-GM crops, nutritional content is practically the same in all aspects.

Bt corn, which contains the Bt protein, cannot harm humans because it will need an alkaline environment to be activated, and human guts are acidic, Antonio A. Alfonso said in an interview.

Alfonso, director of DA’s Crop Biotechnology Center, added that the human body does not have receptors in their cells to receive the insecticidal protein.

Guidelines

IN its “Draft Guidelines on Labeling of Prepackaged Foods Derived from or Containing Ingredients from Modern Biotechnology,” the food and drug agency indicated that it will not require labeling for GM packaged foods.

“Special labeling shall not be required for prepackaged food products derived from modern biotechnology that is highly processed as to eliminate the verifiable presence of recombinant DNA [rDNA] or its resulting protein. [These] are substantially equivalent compared with its conventional counterpart or as safe,” it added.

The regulation is in accord with the food safety standards Codex Alimentarius listed in the “Compilation of Codex Texts Relevant to Labelling of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology.”

Special labels will only be required when there is safety concern about food, according to the guidelines, and this only in instances that “significant change in composition, level of toxin, toxicity, allergenicity, nutritional value, or intended use of the food product as compared to its comparator.”

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization in 1963 to develop harmonized international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices. The commission also promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations like European Food Safety Authority and International Life Science Inc. The Sanitary Phytosanitary Agreement of the World Trade Organization ensures that internationally traded food meets the standards based on the scientific principles set by the CAC.

Advisory

IN its Advisory 2013-014 on “Safety of GM Food Produced through Modern Biotechnology” dated June 24, 2013, the FDA stated that food-safety assessment of biotechnology products “is more rigorous,” compared to other conventionally bred crops.

“For the GM food crops that have undergone food-safety assessment and approval process, the consensus of scientific opinion and evidence is that the application of GM technology introduces no unique food safety concerns and up to this time there is no single case of evidence of harm in man,” the FDA said.

The FDA also said with GM crops, Filipino farmers who do not want to plant biotech crops may use conventional seeds that are widely available. Farmers planting corn have chosen to plant the GM Bt corn which as of 2012 occupied 719,446 hectares. This area was up from 685,372 hectares in 2011 and was a steady increase from around 10,000 hectares when it was first planted in 2003, it noted.

Tobacco Ban in the Country

Gutkha and similar other food products containing nicotine and tobacco have been banned across the country vide Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The said Regulation 2.3.4 lays down as under: 

“Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products”. 

So far, 33 States/UT’s have issued orders for implementation of the Food Safety Regulations banning manufacture, sale and storage of Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco or nicotine. These are- Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, Assam , West Bengal, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Puducherry. 

Enforcement and implementation of this regulation lies with the Commissioners of Food Safety under the state governments, as per the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act 2006. 

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is aware of incidents of sale of tobacco and pan masala in separate pouches thereby circumventing the provisions under Food Safety Regulation. The said matter has been brought to the notice of the Supreme Court of India by the Ld ASG representing Union of India in the matter of Ankur Gutka vs. Indian Asthma Care Society & Ors. [SLP No.16308/2007,]. The Apex Court during its hearing on 03.04.2013 directed the Health Secretaries of 28 States/UT’s who had till then issued orders for implementation of the Food Safety Regulations, to file affidavits on the issue of compliance of ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine. 

Gutkha and other similar food products containing nicotine and tobacco are prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 dated 1st August 2011, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The said regulation lays down that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products. 

Other forms of tobacco including cigarette and bidi etc., are regulated by the cigarettes and other tobacco products (Prohibitions of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA), which regulates consumption, production, supply and distribution of tobacco products, by imposing restrictions on advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; prohibiting smoking in public places; prohibiting sale to and by minors, prohibiting sale within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions and through mandatory depiction of specified pictorial health warnings on all tobacco product packs. 

National Level Public Awareness campaign is a very important activity under National Tobacco Control Programme which is aimed at educating people about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. A variety of media like electronic (Government and private Channels and FM/radio), outdoor billboards, bus panels, exterior train wrap-up, news-paper advertisement etc. have been used to reach a wide set of audience. Dedicated spots have been developed as well as adapted from global best practices. 

Health spots relating to harmful effects of tobacco use are also displayed by films and TV Programmes displaying tobacco products or their use, as per the Rules notified under COTPA, 2003. 

This was stated by Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

மக்கள் உடல் நலம் பாதிக்கும் அபாயம் கலப்பட டீ தூள் பயன்பாடு அதிகரிப்பு விரைந்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வலியுறுத்தல்

ஊட்டி, டிச.9: 

மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில் கலப்பட தேயிலை தூள் பயன்பாடு அதிகரித்துள்ளது. இதனை கட்டுப்படுத்த உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என பொதுமக்கள் வலியுறுத்தி வருகின்றனர். 

நீலகிரியில் உற்பத்தி செய்யப்படும் தரமான தேயிலை தூளுக்கு இந்தியா மட்டுமின்றி சர்வதேச அளவில் நல்ல மார்க்கெட் உள்ளது. பாகிஸ்தான், ரஷ்யா போன்ற வெளிநாட்டு வியாபாரிகள் நீலகிரிக்கு வந்து தேயிலை தூளை வாங்கி செல்கின்றனர். இதேபோல் சுற்றுலா வரும் பயணிகளும் தரமான தேயிலை தூளை மொத்தமாவோ அல்லது சில்லரையாகவோ வாங்கி செல்கின்றனர். 

இதனால் பொதுமக்கள் பலர் தொழிற்சாலைகளில் இருந்து மொத்தமாக தேயிலை தூளை வாங்கி சில்லரையாக பயணிகளுக்கு விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில் சமீபகாலமாக மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள சில டீ கடைகளில் சாயம் கலந்த கலப்பட தேயிலை தூளை பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர். தரமான தேயிலை தூளை வாங்கி அதில் மரத்தூள், புளியங்கொட்டை போன்றவற்றை அரைத்து கலந்து விடுகின்றனர். சிலர் டிக்காஷன் வருவதற்காக சாயப்பொடிகளை கலந்து டீ தயாரிக்கின்றனர். இதனை தொடர்ந்து அருந்தினால் உடல் கோளாறுகள் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புள்ளது. குறிப்பாக ஊட்டி பஸ் நிலையம், ஏ.டிசி.மற்றும் சுற்றுலா தலங்களில் உள்ள டீ கடைகளிலும், ஊட்டி நகரில் உள்ள ஒரு சில ஆவின் பூத்களிலும் டீ தயாரிக்க கலப்பட தேயிலை தூள் தாராளமாக பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது. கலப்பட தேயிலை தூளை கட்டுப்படுத்த தேயிலை வாரியம் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து வரும் நிலையில் தேயிலை உற்பத்தி செய்யும் மாவட்டத்திலேயே கலப்பட தேயிலையின் பயன்பாடு அதிகரித்துள்ளது. 

கலப்பட தேயிலை பயன்பாட்டை முழுமையாக கட்டுப்படுத்த தேயிலை வாரியமும், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையும் கை கோர்த்துள்ளன. ஆனால் இதுவரை இருதுறையும் இணைந்து கடைகளில் ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்ளும் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை. 

சுற்றுலா மாவட்டமான நீலகிரியில், தற்போது பெருகி வரும் கலப்பட தேயிலை தூளின் தாக்கத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்த விரைந்து உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். மேலும் கலப்பட தேயிலை தூள் பயன்படுத்துவோர் மீது கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதுடன், கடைகளின் உரிமத்தையும் ரத்து செய்ய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என பொதுமக்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர். தவறும்பட்சத்தில் மக்கள் மத்தியில் நீலகிரி தேயிலைக்கு அவப்பெயர் ஏற்படும் அபாயம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்பு சங்கம் சார்பில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிக்கு விருது

கிருஷ்ணகிரி, டிச.9: 

கிருஷ்ணகிரியில் நடந்த மக்கள் விழிப்புணர்வு கூட்டத்தில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிக்கு, நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்பு சங்கம் சார்பில் விருது வழங்கப்பட்டது. 

கிருஷ்ணகிரியில் சமூக நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்பு நலச்சங்கம் சார்பில், மக்கள் விழிப்புணர்வு கூட்டம் மற்றும் சாதனையாளர்களுக்கு விருது வழங்கும் விழா நடந்தது. சமூக நுகர்வோர் நலப்பாதுகாப்பு சங்க மாநில பொதுச்செயலாளர் சந்திரமோகன் தலைமை வகித்தார். கவுரவ தலைவர் சக்தி மனோகரன் முன்னிலை வகித்தார். மாநில செயலாளர் சதீஸ் வரவேற்றார். 

கூட்டத்தில் சிறந்த முறையில் அரசு பணியாற்றி வரும், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்துகள் கட்டுப்பாட்டு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் கலைவாணி, தர்மபுரி உதவி தொடக்க கல்வி அலுவலர் நாகராஜன், தர்மபுரி கூடுதல் உதவி தொடக்கக் கல்வி அலுவலர் துளசிராமன், நீதித்துறை ஓய்வுபெற்ற அலுவலர்கள் சங்க மாவட்ட தலைவர் ராஜாமணி, ராஜேஷ் ஆகியோருக்கு சிறந்த சேவைக்கான விருது வழங்கப்பட்டது. 

இந்த விருதை, இந்திய அரசின் உணவுக்கழக உறுப்பினரும், நுகர்வோர் சங்க தேசிய செயலாளருமான சாரதி வழங்கி வாழ்த்தி பேசினார்.

அதிகரித்து வரும் பாஸ்ட்புட் கலாச்சாரத்தால் நோய் தாக்கும் அபாயம்

சிவகங்கை, டிச. 9: 

அதிகரித்து வரும் பாஸ்ட்புட்(ஜங்க் புட்) உணவு கலாச்சாரத்தால் பல்வேறு நோய் தாக்குதல் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பு உள்ளதாக மருத்துவர்கள் எச்சரித்துள்ளனர். 

சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தை பொறுத்தவரை சிவகங்கை, காரைக்குடி, திருப்பத்தூர், காளையார்கோவில், மானாமதுரை, தேவகோட்டை, இளையான் குடி உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் தனியார் மற்றும் அரசு கல்லூரிகளில் படிக்கும் மாணவர்கள், மற்றும் விடுதிகளில் தங்கியிருக்கும் மாணவர்க ளை குறிவைத்தே இது போன்ற பாஸ்ட் புட் கடை கள் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. 

சென்னை போன்ற பெரு நகரங்களில் மட்டுமே இருந்து வந்த இக்கடைகள் கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாக சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்திலும் ஏராளமாக திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. மாவ ட்டம் முழுவதும் பாஸ்ட் புட் ஓட்டல்கள் தவிர, சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் உள்ள சாலையோர கடை களின் எண்ணிக்கை மட்டும் 500க்கும் மேல் உள்ளன. இங்கு தயாரிக்கப்படும் பாஸ்ட்புட் உணவில் சுவை மற்றும் வாசனைக்காக பல கெமிக்கல் கலந்த பொரு ட்களை உணவோடு கலக்கின்றனர். கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் மட்டுமின்றி சிறு வயது குழந்தைகளும் இதன் சுவைக்கு மயங்கி இந்த உணவை தொ டர்ந்து சாப்பிடும் நிலைக்கு தள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளனர். 

தற்போது அதிகமாகி வரும் நோய் தாக்குதலுக்கு உணவு பழக்க வழக்கங்களில் மாற்றம் ஏற்பட்டதே காரணம் என கூறப்படுகிறது. இந்நிலையில் பாஸ்ட்புட் உணவால் பல்வேறு நோயை நாமே விலை கொடுத்து வாங்குகிறோம் என மருத்துவர்கள் எச்சரிக்கை செய்கின்றனர். இது குறித்து அரசு சுகாதாரத்துறை இயக்குனர் ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், 

நம்முடைய பாரம்பரிய உணவு வகையில் உள்ளதை போன்று ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மடங்கு கலோரி பாஸ்ட்புட் உணவு வகைகளில் உள்ளது. இந்த உணவில் கலக்கப்படும் பொருட்களினால் கொழுப்புச்சத்து அதிகரிக்கும். இதை தொடர்ந்து சாப்பிடும் போது மாரடைப்பு, ரத்த அழுத்தம், அல்சர், டயரியா, ஆண்மைக்குறைபாடு, சர்க்கரை நோய் போன்றவை ஏற்படும். நூடுல்ஸில் வழு வழுப்பு தன்மைக்காக சேர்க்கப்படும் மெழுகு பொருள் எளிதில் ஜீரணமாகாது. இதனால் குடல், இரைப்பை, உணவுக்குழாய் கேன்சர் வர வாய்ப்புள்ளது. இந்த வகை உணவை சாப்பிட்டால் பெண்களுக்கு மலட்டுத்தன்மை, குழந்தை பேறு பிரச்சினை மற்றும் கர்ப்பிணிகளின் வயிற்றில் உள்ள குழந்தைகளுக்கும் நோய் தொற்று ஏற்படும். எனவே இந்த உணவை அறவே தவிர்க்க வேண்டும் என்றார்.

சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் இறைச்சி விற்பனை 50 கிலோ இறைச்சி பறிமுதல்

கோவை, டிச.9:கோவை 

மாநகராட்சி பகுதிகளில் பல இடங்களில் சாலையோரம் திறந்த வெளியில் இறைச்சி விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகின்றன. சாலையோரம் 3 கம்புகளை நட்டி அதில் ஆடு, கோழி இறைச்சிகளை தொங்க விட்டு விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர். 

சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் இறைச்சி விற்பனை செய்வதற்கு மாநகராட்சி தடை விதித்துள்ளது. மாநகராட்சி அனுமதி பெறாமல் இறைச்சி விற்பனை செய்தால் அவற்றினை பறிமுதல் செய்யப்படும் என மாநகராட்சி எச்சரிக்கை செய்தும், அதனை பொருட்படுத்தாமல் பிராதன சாலைகளின் ஓரத்தில் திறந்த வெளியில் இறைச்சிகள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகின்றன. 

இதை தொடர்ந்து மாநகராட்சி கால்நடை மருத்துவரும், மிருகசாலை இயக்குநருமான டாக்டர் அசோகன் தலைமையில் மேற்பார்வையாளர் ஸ்ரீராம் மற்றும் துப்புரவு பணியாளர்கள் 5 பேர் நேற்று கவுண்டம்பாளையம் முதல் துடியலூர் வரை சாலையோரங்களில் திறந்த வெளியில் இறைச்சி விற்பனை செய்த கடைகளில் அதிரடி சோதனை மேற்கொண்டனர். 

10 இறைச்சி கடைகளில் நடைபெற்ற இச்சோதனையில் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் விற்பனை செய்த 50 கிலோ இறைச்சியை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். கடைகளுக்கு ரூ.17,000 அபராதம் விதிக்கப்பட்டது. இது போன்ற சோதனை தொடர்ந்து நடத்தப்படும் என மாநகராட்சி கால்நடை மருத்துவர் அசோகன் தெரிவித்தார்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Midnight raids expose supply of banned tobacco products

Food Safety Wing zeroes in on lorry booking offices that supply the products to places in southern districts

During intensive raids conducted across the city in the last three days, the Food Safety Wing has detected an illegal network through which banned tobacco products were being supplied to various southern districts from here.

The inspection teams stumbled upon a major supply chain which has been operating by using lorry booking offices as supply points thereby evading the food safety officials who normally carry out raids in retail and wholesale shops.

Large cartons of banned tobacco products such as ‘pan parak’ were seized at lorry booking offices situated on East Veli Street in the city and also some quantities from houses at Villapuram, Kaithari Nagar and T.Kallupatti, official sources told The Hindu on Sunday.

Food safety inspectors led by J.Suguna, Designated Officer for Food Safety, undertook inspection in 20 lorry parcel booking offices at East Veli Street from 12’o clock midnight till 3 a.m. on Friday. At least, four lorry offices were actively involved in transporting huge boxes containing consumable tobacco products despite the ban imposed by the State Government.

“We have seized tobacco products worth Rs.5 lakh from lorry godowns but the staff there was not forthcoming to provide details on who booked the parcel. The modus operandi to supply banned tobacco needs more investigation,” she said.

After informing District Collector L.Subramanian about the seizure, the food safety inspectors destroyed the tobacco products.

The lorry parcel connection was traced to Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Ponamaravathi, Salem and Kanyakumari.

Inspecting teams suspect that large stocks of ‘pan parak’ and other such chewable tobacco products might have been stocked in the houses of retail shop owners in the city’s outskirts.

Dr.Suguna has said that the district administration had already formed a coordination committee comprising representatives from various departments, including the police, to implement the ban and take the violators to task.

Milk dealers urge govt. to sort out adulteration issue

The Milk Dealers Welfare Association wants the government to call the dealers for a dialogue to address the issue of adulteration.

The association, which met here on Sunday, has sought government support to form a four-member committee to inspect milk production units.

The meeting was held following a Supreme Court’s decision to take stringent action against milk producers and distributors for adulteration.

The State consumes around 1.5 crore litres of milk. While Aavin produces around 25 lakh litres, private companies provide the rest of it.

A national survey on milk adulteration done two years ago found that an estimated 12 per cent of milk sold in the State does not conform to parameters set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Association president S.A. Ponnusamy said, “It is difficult for each dealer to ensure the quality of milk we sell. Dealers must pay Rs. 5,000 for each sample for the tests and only King Institute, Guindy does the tests. Since each producer offers at least four varieties of milk, we could end up paying Rs. 20,000 for these tests.”

At present, milk samples are taken for testing from the dealers’ end by officials of Food Safety and Aavin.

“We never know the result of these tests as officials inform the company who are expected to set right the anomaly. Since the court has said that we would also be punishable, we suggest that the committee include an IAS officer, a representative from the milk producers’ federation, a citizen and a member of our association,” Mr. Ponnusamy added.

SC’s directions on spurious milk

Sir,

As per news reports, The country’s apex court has urged the state governments to make amendments in laws to curb adulteration in milk with a provision of life imprisonment. This direction of the apex court is indicating the fact that adulteration in milk going on at a massive scale in our country remains a tedious problem to tackle with the existing laws. Most of the samples of milk collected by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) revealed in 2011 massive adulteration . We in Jammu see checking and testing of the milk being given a secondary importance and the result is that milk continues to be adulterated with urea, detergents, water, and other substances and sold in the market. Worst are the milk products like cheese, curd etc; not to speak about the sweets sold. Symbolic testing on festivals is an eye wash . Politics and other types of pressures including corruption are some other problems in the way of checking of this anti human practice. It is important direction by the Supreme court which the state government must respect by proper legislation.

மெய்யாலுமா?

ஏ.டி.எம்.., மன்னிக்கவும். ஏ.டி.எம். பிரச்னையில் மட்டுமா காவல்துறை மெத்தனமாக இருக்கிறது. பான்பராக் குட்கா விவகாரத்திலும்தான். பான்பராக், குட்காவுக்கு அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ள நிலையில் அந்த ஒரு "பிராண்ட்' பான்பராக் மட்டும் பரவலாக விற்பனையாகிறதே எப்படி என்று கேட்கிறார்கள், இப்போது தொழில் இழந்து வெங்கட்ரமணா, கோவிந்தா என்று அலறும் ஏனைய பான்பராக் விநியோகஸ்தர்கள். கும்மிடிப்பூண்டியில் இந்த பான்பராக்கைத் தயாரிக்கும் நிறுவனத்துக்கும் ஒரு அமைச்சருக்கும் தொடர்பாமே. அவரது உத்தரவின் பேரில்தான், இந்த "பிராண்ட்' பான்பராக் விற்கும் கடைகளில் சோதனை இடப்படுவதில்லையாமே, மெய்யாலுமா?

5000 pouches of Gutka/Khaini seized in Shimla

Shimla, Dec 7 (PTI) About?5000 pouches of Gutka/Khaini, were seized from a store in Shimla during a joint raid conducted by the police and health wing of Shimla Municipal Corporation today.

Sale and storage of Gutka/Khaini is banned in Himachal Pradesh under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Earlier, three persons, who were caught with Gutka/Khaini in their stores in Shimla, were fined Rs one lakh each under the same law.

Milk safety sinks amid dearth of food officers

The Supreme Court might have prescribed punishment of life imprisonment to people indulging in production and marketing of adulterated milk, Jharkhand is apparently not in a position to catch the real culprits when it comes to implementing the order.

As against 24 Food Safety Officers required to be appointed in the State, on one each in every district, to collect food samples including milk, which is quite vulnerable to be adulterated, just nine such authorities are on the job here. The officers are also doing multi-tasking. Worst is the lone presence of Food Analyst who is often overburdened with the samples collected and test those to certify their edibility.

The situation is so when the Government under the Jharkhand Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 says Food Safety Officer shall be a whole time officer and even Jharkhand High Court had taken suo-motto cognizance on the basis of the report published in The Pioneer on January 11, 2012.

“We have been able to collect five samples related to milk and milk products since September. In one case of October, conviction has been made. But considering the spread of the area and quantum of supply more and more samples should be collected. It is because the State does not have sufficient man power in place,” said Director, Food Safety of the State Health Department TP Burnwal. Food samples coming for testing remained just two in September, one in October and again two during the presiding month.

Jharkhand figures among top in the list of States consuming vegetable diets more as per the National Sample Survey Organisation data released recently. This left Jharkhandis depending heavily on milk and related products. Though the reality puts alarm bell ringing in light of milk samples the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) had collected last time. Report of FSSAI had reveled in 2011 that not a single sample of milk collected from the State was up to the food safety standards. Things have not changed much thereafter in Jharkhand.

“We have cases of water mixing more in numbers. But have found samples which have been unfit for consumption. If more samples come for testing I guess the cases of adulteration would certainly go up,” said JK Singh, the lone Food Analyst Jharkhand has thus far. Though there are brands like Sudha, Dairy Fresh, Medha and Shayam who deal in packaged milk, considerable amount of supply is dependent on gwalas (milkmen) making merry of the provisions made.

“In the case of milk, instances of water being mixed are more that lower fat content. It is also important to note that most of the milk business is in unorganised sector and it is very difficult to rein the milkmen,” KP Singh, Food Safety Officer for Ranchi. Singh revealed that in last one year about 100 cases of food adulteration had been detected out those 55 were educative in nature and thus fined while 44 considered unsafe and sent to the CJM for prosecution

“Mixing is there but not so dangerous to health to consumers. It is because milkmen here do not use substances like Urea to make synthetic milk. In most of the cases water and starch is mixed to befool the lactometer tests. But we have our own test labs where milk coming from the registered farmers gets tested before being packed and supplied,” said Saif Khan of Dairy Fresh.

The brand is supplying about 10,000 liters of milk in Ranchi and around daily. Khan also admits that after the Food Safety Act coming into force mentality for adulteration has gone down, at least at organised level. Cases of fatal adulteration in milk products go up during festival seasons and marriages which make life of consumers in danger even further.

Eatery licence a must for canteens in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Canteens across the city catering exclusively to "in-house clients" in schools, colleges, offices or hospitals will have to acquire a licence like commercial establishments. The little-known rule, though mandated under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act of 2011, is gradually being implemented in the city.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found out that the canteen of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies was operating without a licence. The institute's canteen was served a notice, besides being pulled up for glaring hygiene violations.

"The canteen will be allowed to operate again only after they have made the necessary rectification and get a licence," FDA's joint commissioner (food) Suresh Annapure said. "The FSS Act mandates that any and every kind of eatery will have to function with a licence. It does not matter if they are catering only to their own staffers," he said. He added that hospital canteens have been most proactive in adhering to this new rule. "Almost all hospital canteens have acquired the licence from us barring a few, who have just initiated the process," he said. Though the FDA's priority remains commercial outlets, they act as and when there are complaints about any particular establishment. Educational institutions come under the surveillance, only after there are complaints.

In the JBIMS case, the FDA officials acted on a tip-off. The in-charge director, Kavita Laghate, said the canteen manager had claimed that they did not received any notice from the FDA. "We are already discussing with Mumbai University's engineering department for the building's maintenance. There have been no major complaints from the students in the past and the contractor is with the institute for the last three years," said Laghate.

Last year, the FDA had conducted surprise checks on two canteens in the varsity's Kalina campus and found that they were operating without a health licence. The check was conducted after students complained of unhygienic food served to them on the campus. Unhygienic canteens across institutions are increasingly becoming a concern among students and parents. The premier IIT-B's campus was no exception to the rule, when around 600 students took to bed after they consumed Chinese food from their canteen in 2011.

Existing law enough to punish guilty: Officials

JAIPUR: The Supreme Court's (SC) decision on life imprisonment for people indulging in production and marketing of adulterated milk may have been welcomed by the public, but Rajasthan, the second largest producer of milk in the country, seems unconcerned about framing stringent laws against it. Officials claim that the existing law has enough provisions to punish the guilty. 

The SC has asked all the states to amend their laws as it felt that punishment of six months behind bars under Food Safety Act is not adequate. The court also asked the states to present a report on what actions they are taking to eliminate the menace of adulterated milk. 

Rajasthan which contributes nearly 12.5% of the total milk production in the country is, however, pressing for the enforcement of existing law under Food and Safety Act. "There are clear guidelines for punishment up to one year and six years along with a heavy fine of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 6 lakh. There are also provisions for life imprisonment in case of someone dies due to adulteration. We will study the order and see what exactly has been asked," said BR Meena, food safety commissioner, Rajasthan. 

In a report submitted to the apex court in July, the Central government stated that 68.4% of the milk samples collected from rural and urban areas of all states failed to meet the norms of food safety and standards (FSS). It included both packaged and loose milk. Rajasthan's production of milk for the year 2013 is expected to be nearly 15 million tonne. The daily consumption of milk in the state stands at 20 lakh litre out of which branded milk is nearly 18 lakh litre and the rest is loose milk. 

Experts have already raised their concerns over the quality of milk in view of the statistics presented in the Supreme Court. "It is a situation of great worry. We have to be more cautious as our stakes are high in this sector," said Ajay Kumar Gehlot, vice-chancellor, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. 

However, officials assert that fears are unwarranted. "Since August 2012 when law became effective, we have collected almost 8,000 samples, out which 60% are of milk. Not a single case of unsafe adulteration has been found. There are instances of mixing like addition of water in pure milk which make it substandard. It should also be dealt with strictly but unlike other states in Rajasthan we do not get milk mixed with urea," added Meena.

Amul Dairy receives CII national food safety award

VADODARA: The Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Limited (KDCMPUL) popularly known as Amul Dairy has received the CII National Award for Food Safety 2013 for its outstanding performance in the dairy sector manufacturing, large food business category. 

The award was received by Dr K Rathnam, general manager (operations) of Amul Dairy in a recently held function at New Delhi in presence of national and international dignitaries. 

The national award for food safety was instituted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to promote internationally benchmarked best practices on food safety.

Old Perambur abattoir very pathetic: TNPCB

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Friday said the condition of the existing slaughterhouse in Perambur was ‘very pathetic’ and blamed the Chennai Corporation for the delay in commissioning the modern abattoir constructed recently.

K. Karthikeyan, joint chief of environmental engineering of TNPCB, made this submission in a reply affidavit filed before the National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench, which heard a petition filed by G. Arun Prasanna, trustee of People for Cattle in India, that sought to ban illegal slaughtering.

The TNPCB official said the modernisation of the existing abattoir in Perambur had been carried out by Hind Agro Industries Limited under the design-build-operate-transfer system. ‘Consent to operate’ had been issued to the slaughterhouse.

However, during an inspection last month, the modern slaughterhouse was found to be unoccupied while slaughtering continued in the conventional ‘unhygienic’ manner, said the TNPCB.

The TNPCB official said, “In the existing house, slaughtering of animals is done on the floor and there are no arrangements for collecting blood, offal. Solid and liquid wastes are discharged into the sewer line and stormwater drain, located at the entrance, which run into Buckingham Canal.”

“The butchers also indulge in practices inimical to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and rules and regulations of Food Safety and Standards Act, and supply unhygienic meat to customers,” said TNPCB.

The TNPCB official said despite issuing show-cause notice to the Corporation, for discharge of untreated effluents from its slaughterhouse in Perambur, the civic body had not furnished a reply.

TNPCB also said such notices were issued to the Corporation for discharge of effluents from slaughterhouses in Saidapet and Villivakkam in 2012. The deputy commissioner informed TNPCB that action had been taken to rectify the defects in the effluent treatment plants installed in those facilities. Necessary orders would be issued to the Chennai Corporation for compliance.

The Bench, comprising its judicial member, Justice M. Chockalingam, and expert member, Prof. R. Nagendran, expressed dissatisfaction with the reply filed by the Chennai Corporation and directed its counsel to file a detailed reply in the next hearing.

The Perambur slaughterhouse has been modernised but slaughtering continues in the old facility

Indian Olive Association writes to ASCI claiming 'non compliance' by Marico

The Indian Olive Association (IOA) complained to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Thursday that Saffola, Marico's flagship edible oil brand, hadn't stopped disparaging olive oil.

NEW DELHI: The battle over health claims between olive oil brands such as Leonardo and Borges and Marico's Saffola refuses to die down. 

The Indian Olive Association (IOA) complained to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Thursday that Saffola, Marico's flagship edible oil brand, hadn't stopped disparaging olive oil. 

"This is in continuation to the complaint made by the Indian Olive Association regarding misleading claims published by Marico in newspaper ads, online media and product labels," said the letter addressed to ASCI secretary general Alan Collaco, which ET has reviewed. 

IOA had written to ASCI in October against Saffola's ads and the complaint had been upheld. 

"However, Saffola is continuing to advertise using the misleading claims," IOA said. 

Ads for Saffola Total say it offers better protection than olive oil on parameters such as absorption, multi-seed content and that it is better for Indian cooking. 

That's ruffled feathers at IOA. 

"Various healthy oils make claims and highlight benefits of their brands, but don't attack each other directly in ads. It's not professional ethics," IOA president VN Dalmia said. "It should be left to consumers to judge which oil is better for them." 

Saffola Total is fortified with ingredients such as antioxidants that have various health benefits, according to Marico. 

"Our ad is following the ASCI guidelines," a company spokesman said. "Our product claims are backed with strong scientific research and proof of claim. We have always had responsible communication and will continue to do so." 

Olive oil is an emerging category worth Rs 500 crore and companies such as Dalmia Continental, which sells Leonardo, and Spain's Borges have been positioning their brands on the health platform, besides saying that olive oil is suitable for Indian cooking. 

ASCI, on its part, declined to comment on the latest skirmish between the two sides. "In case there is noncompliance, we will take it forward with the concerned ministry," Collaco said. 

Dalmia said IOA planned to bring the issue to the attention of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the regulatory body under the ministry of health that oversees food quality, hygiene, advertising claims and claims on product labels. 

India has seen several examples of competing brands disparaging each other through advertising. 

This summer, consumer goods giants Hindustan Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser were involved in a bitter ad war. Reckitt Benckiser's commercial for its Dettol Kitchen dishwashing and kitchen cleaning gel took on HUL's Vim dish washing detergent. Two years ago, HUL's ads for Rin detergent had attacked Procter & Gamble's Tide. The complaints ended up in court.

தமிழகத்தில் 33 சதவீதம் பாலில் கலப்படம் இருப்பது ஆய்வில் தெரியவந்துள்ளது என்ற அதிர்ச்சித் தகவலை தமிழக பொது சுகாதாரத்துறை முன்னாள் இயக்குநர் எஸ்.இளங்கோ தெரிவித்தார். யூரியா, சீன பவுடர், மைதா மாவு போன்றவற்றை பாலில் கலப்பதால், குழந்தைகள் உயிருக்கே ஆபத்தாக முடிகிறது என்றும் அவர் கூறினார். 

இந்தியாவில் மேற்கு வங்கம், உத்தரப்பிரதேசம், ஒடிசா ஆகிய மாநிலங்களில் பாலில் கலப்படம் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. இதையடுத்து, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் பொது நல மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இந்த மனுவை விசாரித்த உச்ச நீதிமன்றம், பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும். அதற்கேற்றபடி சட்டத்தில் திருத்தங்களை மாநில அரசுகள் கொண்டுவர வேண்டும் என உத்தரவிட்டது. 

இதுதொடர்பாக இந்திய பொது சுகாதார சங்கத்தின் தமிழகக் கிளை தலைவரும் சுகாதாரத்துறை முன்னாள் இயக்குநருமான எஸ்.இளங்கோ கூறியதாவது: 

உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு தரநிர்ணயச் சட்டம்-2006-ல், உணவில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு 6 மாதம் சிறை தண்டனை அல்லது ரூ.1,500 அபராதம் என்று மட்டுமே உள்ளது. இதனால், குற்றவாளிகள் அபராதத் தொகையை கட்டிவிட்டு எளிதாக வெளியே வந்துவிடுகின்றனர். 

அதன்பின், மீண்டும் உணவில் கலப்படம் செய்யும் வேலையைத் தொடர்கின்றனர். இந்நிலையில், உணவில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும். அதற்காக மாநில அரசுகள் சட்டத்தில் திருத்தங்களை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்று உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. முதல்கட்டமாக பாலில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு ஆயுள் தண்டனை வழங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. இது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது. 

உணவிலேயே மிகவும் முக்கியமானது பால். குழந்தைகள், சிறுவர்கள், முதியவர்கள் மற்றும் நோயாளிகளுக்கு பால் கட்டாயம் தேவைப்படுகிறது. 

எங்கள் சங்கம் நடத்திய ஆய்வில், நாட்டில் 65 சதவீத மக்கள் பாலை ஏதாவது ஒரு வகையில் உணவாக பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். மேற்கு வங்கம், உத்தரப்பிரதேசம் மற்றும் ஒடிசாவில் 57 சதவீதம் பாலில் கலப்படம் உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் தனியார் நிறுவனங்களின் பாலை ஆய்வு செய்தபோது, அதில் 33 சதவீதம் கலப்படம் இருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. 

கலப்பட வகைகள் 

பாலில் தண்ணீர் ஊற்றி கலப்படம் செய்கின்றனர். மேலும் பாலில் உள்ள கொழுப்புச் சத்துக்களை மட்டும் அகற்றிவிடுகின்றனர். இதனால், பாலின் கெட்டித் தன்மை போய்விடுகிறது. கெட்டித் தன்மைக்காக பாலில் கிழங்கு மாவு, மைதா மாவு மற்றும் அரிசி மாவை கலக்கின்றனர். இது தவிர, சீனாவில் இருந்து இறக்குமதி செய்யப்படும் வெள்ளை மாவை பாலில் கலக்கின்றனர். சீன வெள்ளை மாவு கலந்த பால், சென்னைப் புறநகர் பகுதிகளில் பரவலாக விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதைவிடக் கொடுமையானது பாலின் கெட்டித் தன்மைக்காக யூரியாவை கலப்பது. 10 லிட்டர் பாலுக்கு 5 கிராம் யூரியா கலக்கப்படுகிறது. 

தயிரின் தரம் 

தண்ணீர் கலந்த பாலை தயிராக்கும்போது, பால் தனியாகவும் தயிர் தனியாகவும் இருக்கும். மாவு கலந்த பாலை தயிராக்கினால் தயிர் தனியாகவும் அதில் கலக்கப்பட்ட மாவு கட்டிக் கட்டியாக தனியாக இருக்கும். மேலும் புளிப்பும் அதிகமாக இருக்கும். யூரியா கலந்த பாலை தயிராக்கும்போது, அந்தத் தயிரில் எண்ணெய் அதிகமாக இருக்கும். 

கலப்பட பாலை உட்கொள்வதால் குழந்தைகள் அதிகம் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர். இதன்மூலம் டைபாய்டு, வயிற்றுப் போக்கு, மஞ்சள் காமாலை, ஊட்டச்சத்து குறைபாடு, உடல் வளர்ச்சி தடைபடுதல், நிமோனியா காய்ச்சல் போன்ற பாதிப்புகள் ஏற்படும். யூரியா கலந்த பாலினால் சிறுநீரகம், கல்லீரல் பாதிக்கப்படும். ஒரு சில நேரங்களில் குழந்தைகள் இறப்பதற்கும் வாய்ப்புள்ளது. இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.