General Requirements of Food Labelling applicable to all products : Module 2

General Requirements of Food Labelling applicable to all products

The FSS Packaging and Labelling, Regulations intends, when a consumer buys any food product in pre-packaged containers, he gets all the necessary information about the food product on the label affixed on the container, so that the consumer can make his choice to buy it or not to buy it.

The information on the label should be clear, visible and in simple and understandable language to the consumer. To ensure that the labelling is not done just for compliance of the Regulations, but it actually serves its purpose to provide the necessary and correct information to the consumer, the Regulations prescribe the general requirement of labelling and manner of declaration on the labels to be followed by the concerned Food Business Operators.

2.1 General Requirements of Food Labelling

1. Every pre-packaged food shall carry a label containing the required information. The particulars of declaration on the label shall be in English or Hindi in Devanagari script.
2. The use of any other language in addition to English and Hindi languages is also allowed.
3. Pre-packaged food shall not be labelled in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character in any respect.
4. The Label in pre-packaged foods shall be applied in such a manner that they will not become separated from the container during transportage or other wise.
5. Contents on the label shall be clear, prominent, indelible and readily legible by the consumer under normal conditions of purchase and use.
6. Where wrapper covers the container, the wrapper shall carry the necessary information or the label on the container shall be readily legible through the outer wrapper.
7. As per the latest amendment, the license number has to be displayed on the principal display panel.
   
   

Manner of declaration:

1. Any information or pictorial device written, printed, or graphic matter may be displayed in the label, only if it is not in conflict with the requirements of these Regulations.

2. Every declaration, which is required to be made on package, shall be:

(i) definite, plain and unambiguous
(ii) the font size of the letters should be appropriate and in colour contrast with the background of the label.

3. No declaration shall be made so as to require it to be read through any liquid commodity contained in the package.

4. Labels should not to contain false or misleading statements: A label should not contain any statement, claim, design, device, fancy name or abbreviation which is false or misleading in any particular concerning the food contained in the package, or concerning the quantity or the nutritive value or in relation to the place of origin of the said food:

The established trade or fancy names of confectionery, biscuits and sweets, such as, barley, sugar, bull’s eye, cream cracker or aerated waters, such as, Ginger Beer or Gold-Spot or any other name in existence under the international trade practice are exempted from this clause.

5. The information required shall be given on the principal display panel /label of the package or container and such information may be grouped together and given at one place.

6.Area of the principal display panel or size of the label should be in proportion to the size of the packaging or the container.

(a) In the case of a rectangular container ,the area of principal display panel or the size of label shall not be less than forty percent of the product of height and width of the container.
(b) In case of cylindrical or , round or , oval or nearly oval container, , the area of principal display panel/ label shall not be less than twenty percent of the product of the height and average circumference of such container; or
(c) In the case of container of any other shape, it shall be not less than twenty percent of the total surface area of the container

7. The letters and numerals used in the label declaration should be of proper height and width in accordance to the size of the packaging. The minimum size of the letter prescribed for the smallest size of packaging of up to 50 g or 50 ml. is, height-1 mm. and minimum width 0.33 mm.

Overall purpose of this study is to make sure the information provided on the food label can easily be read and it is not too small to be properly recognized. No false or misleading claims are to be mentioned on the label.

Rs.14 lakh worth gutka seized

Food Safety officials of the GVMC on Wednesday seized two tonnes of gutka (chewing tobacco) sachets worth Rs.14 lakh from the One Town area of the city. The officials conducted raids in the Kobbarithota and Chaluvathota areas, seized the gutka, and booked cases against Yerribabu and Gowri.

Gutka, pan masala seized

The Static Surveillance Team (SST) on Wednesday seized banned gutka and pan masala items worth Rs. 4 lakh from a vehicle plying from Bangalore, on Keerambur Road here on Wednesday. The vehicle and the items were handed over to K. Tamil Selvan, District Designated Officer, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department. Officials said that if the items were to be sold in the State, they would be seized and action would be taken against the driver.

Albania's food safety boss sacked over 'moonshine' arrest

(Reuters) - Albania's prime minister sacked the country's food safety chief on Wednesday after it emerged that he had been arrested in 2012 for selling illicit home-made alcohol.

Aleksander Kalemaj was never prosecuted, but his arrest for involvement in a 'moonshine' operation has embarrassed Prime Minister Edi Rama.

"After checks requested by the prime minister, employee Aleksander Kalemaj has been relieved of his duties and no longer serves as Head of the Food Sector at the Risk Management Department of the National Food Authority," the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

Rama was forced to act after Albanian media revealed Kalemaj had been caught by police in October 2012 in possession of more than 500 litres of illicit alcohol including brandy and beer.

The interior ministry confirmed to Reuters that the arrest - 18 months before Kalemaj's appointment as food safety chief - had taken place.

The opposition said the affair showed weaknesses in the way the government appointed people to senior positions.

"Edi Rama talks at length about merit and professionalism and cites examples from Britain and France, but when it comes to delicate jobs with great public responsibility he lets the wolf guard the sheep," Democratic Party lawmaker Voltana Ademi told reporters. (Reporting By Benet Koleka; Editing by Matt Robinson and Robin Pomeroy)

Call for Ban on Consumption of Pan Masala, Gutkha in State

Taking a cue from the stand taken by Assam, which has banned consumption of harmful tobacco-based pan masala and gutkha products by law, a collective call has been made in the state for a similar legislation.

Kerala’s bureaucrats, health professionals, social activists and tobacco use victims, have made the call, reflecting popular sentiments and raising the point that the desired impact of the ban of reducing public health burden cannot be achieved unless consumption is also prohibited.

K Anil Kumar, Food Safety Department, the regulating authority for the effective implementation of the ban on pan masala and gutkha in the state, said, “Ever since our state banned these products in 2012, we have been taking stringent action against violators. However, the illicit smuggling of these products into our state has been a major challenge in implementing the effective ban of pan masala and gutkha containing tobacco and nicotine. As such, any positive step in addition to this ban order or strengthening this ban order would be highly desirable. This would also help in curbing use among children in their vulnerable ages.”

Kerala was the second state in the country after Madhya Pradesh to ban the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011. 

Superintendent, Regional Cancer Centre here, said that while oncologists and medical fraternity at large can treat and provide care to the cancer afflicted, a legislative reform, as has been effected in Assam, would have far-reaching positive implications.

“Chewing tobacco, whether it is pan masala or gutkha, is a major cause of cancers affecting the head and neck in Kerala. I have seen several youngsters who have lost their taste buds, parts of their tongue and jawbones due to use of these smokeless tobacco products. This sorry state can be corrected to a great extent if Kerala can also legislatively ban the consumption of chewing tobacco products,” Dr Ramadas said. K S Varghese, retired CI of Police , who is a tobacco-induced cancer survivor said, “I took to the habit of using chewing tobacco to keep away sleep during night patrolling, and its use made me a cancer patient. I am now disease-free but the cancer which afflicted me had shattered my wife and two children.”

“It is heartening that Assam has given us a worthy example to emulate and follow. As someone who has seen the suffering of cancer victims in palliative care, I feel that everything possible should be done to bring down cancer incidence in our state. Banning consumption of all forms of chewing tobacco products by law and imposing strict penalty on violators would be an effective move,” said Vimala Menon, social activist and Secretary, Cheshire Home here.

Assam has banned consumption of pan masala, gutkha, zarda etc containing tobacco and/or nicotine under the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutkha, pan masala, etc, containing tobacco and/or nicotine) Act, 2013. 

The Act prohibits ‘’consumption including possession of zarda, gutkha, pan masala etc., containing tobacco and/or nicotine and various types of smokeless and chewing tobacco or any of it derivatives in any form.’’ Further, the Act also makes specific reference to prohibiting ads of these products. Violators of the law are liable to be punished with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Consumption or possession of zarda, gutka and pan masala containing tobacco is punishable with a fine of Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for each subsequent offences.

Quality Norms by Food Safety Authorities Curtail on Trading in Black Pepper

Mar 20, 

According to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), it requires that there shouldn’t be any mold (fungus) in the pepper stocks. As per trade sources, making completely mold-free pepper would involve additional costs which would come to Rs.10 -15 a kg. As per their view, even the US Asta allows 1 per cent mold in the pepper imports. So, traders activity reported declined due to strict quality guidelines.

Centre to issue final notification on use of plant stanols and sterols

Mar 20, 2014 

The Centre will issue the final notification on the use of plant stanols and sterols in foods. This is a move that is expected to give an impetus to the novel developments in the areas of nutraceuticals, functional foods and dietary supplements. 

A communiqué from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an agency of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, stated that under the fortification category of food product standards and food additives, phyto or plant stanol esters and sterols may be added to fat spreads, milk products, milk-based fruit drinks, fermented milk products, soy and rice drinks, cheese products, yoghurt products, spice sauces, salad dressings, juices and nectars. This would allow consumers to easily their consumption to a maximum of 3g per day. 

The draft guidance also stated that either one portion of 3g or three portions of one gram each would be added under Sub-regulation 48 of Regulation 2.4.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. 

Products containing phyto or plant stanols and sterols could be sold in single portions containing either maximum 3g or 1g of phyto or plant stanols or sterols, calculated as free phyto or plant stanols. If the products do not contain these, there should be a clear indication of what constitutes a standard portion of the food, expressed in grams or millilitres, and of the amount of phyto or plant stanols/sterols, calculated as free phyto or plant stanols, contained in such a portion. 

In the proposed notification, the addition of Trehalose (a non-reducing sugar found in plants, which is now permitted as an ingredient in foods like biscuits, bread, cakes, breakfast cereals, carbonated water drinks, carbohydrate-based and milk-based sweets like gulab jamun, rosogolla, peda, khoya burfi, macaroni products, noodles, pasta, confectionery, candies, icing, savouries and snacks) is underway. 

Label declaration under Sub-regulation 49 of Paragraph 2.4.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, for both these additives being permitted in specific categories of foods would also be notified to aid consumers with proper information.

Commenting on these regulatory developments, Dr D B A Narayana, member of FSSAI’s scientific panel, said that the final notification was likely to be mandated with a specific advisory label indicating the presence of plant sterols/stanols as well as Trehalose, as applicable, especially for a certain section of the population like nursing mothers and pregnant women who need to be cautious with the intake of such products in the interest of consumer information and safety.

Packaged food firms ignore salt display rule leaving customers in the dark

Three out of four packaged foods available across the country fail to display salt levels despite regulations put in place by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defining the minimum requirements for labelling the nutritional content of such products. 

A survey conducted by the George Institute for Global Health India has revealed that large numbers of packaged food products available in stores fail to display data on the amount of sodium present, thus preventing consumers from making informed choices. 

The survey covering 7,124 products available in Indian supermarkets revealed that only 26 per cent of packaged foods displayed sodium content on the label, thus making them noncompliant with the minimum labeling requirements of Codex – the international body governing food labeling. 

Guess work: Customers are not being advised as to their food's salt content in shops

The study is part of a larger project that is gathering evidence to initiate a national salt reduction programme in India.

"The preliminary findings of the study are a matter of great concern as consumers are eating progressively more processed foods generally containing higher levels of salt. This is not good for people in a country which is already projected to have an even larger noncommunicable diseases (NCD) burden in the future," said Dr Vivekanand Jha, executive director of George Institute for Global Health India. 

The average across all categories of products, ranging from bread and bakery products to snacks foods, was 73.2 per cent "unlabelled" for sodium. 

People are supposed to consume no more than 5 gm of salt, or sodium chloride, and 2,000 mg of sodium a day. If the content of salt or sodium in any product is unusually high, for example 2.5 gm, then it should ring alarm bells that tell the consumer that e is consuming half of his daily intake allowance in one portion of the food item. 

The ongoing project, being run by the George Institute for Global Health in collaboration with the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, will gather information on dietary salt intake levels among a sample of people in North and South India and collect nutrient information on packaged and other food available for purchase.

The George Institute for Global Health is an international medical research organization that has a wide-ranging programme of healthcare research and enterprise spanning over 50 countries.

ARORA SENT LEGAL NOTICE TO FOR STORING EXPIRED JUICE FOR CONSUMPTION BY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN

Chandigrh :

Advocate H.C.Arora demaned D-Registration of Navjivini School of Special Education, Sular (Patiala)

City Advocate seeks action against Navjivini School of Special Education, Sular (Patiala) for storing expired juice for consumption by mentally retarded children. Advocate H.C. Arora has today sent demand notices to (i) Chairperson, National Trust for welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, New Delhi (via e-mail); (ii) Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, and Deputy Commissioner, Patiala (Punjab),demanding de-registration of Navjivini School of Special Education, Sular (Patiala) with the “National Trust for Mentally Retarded”, and for recovering all the grants given to this School by “National Trust for Mentally Retarded”, with interest, for maltreatment of the mentally ill and mentally retarded children. Arora has referred to news reports of March 11th, published in almost all news papers to the effect that that on March 10TH, 2014, a team of District Health Department conducted a surprise raid at one of the organization registered with the ‘National Trust for Mentally Retarded”, namely Navjivini School of Special Education, Sular, District Patiala (Punjab) , and seized expired boxes of fruit juice from the store of the said School. As per news reports published in various newspapers, 150 cartons of expired juice were lying in the store. These cartons carried the date of manufacturing as June, 2013, and their expiry date had already lapsed about two months ago. Samples taken by the team have been sent to Chandigarh laboratory for testing. Remaining cartons of juice have been destroyed. It is worth noticing that, 175 students are studying, and 43 students stay in the Hostel, in this School. In a separate demand notice sent to DC, Patiala, and Civil Surgeon, Patiala, Arora has called upon them to take steps for prosecution of the Management of this School under the provisions of Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, for storing such huge quantity of unsafe food, for consumption by mentally ill and mentally retarded children. The aforesaid provision prescribes a sentence of imprisonment upto six months and also a fine of Rs. One lac for storing “unsafe food” by any person, for purpose of human consumption. Arora has stated in the demand notice that if the addressees do not take any appropriate steps for meeting his demand within 2 weeks, in that situation, he would be left with no other option except to file a PIL in the High Court, for redressal of his grievances.

Confused Food safety authorities have no policy against dry tobacco items

Srinagar, Mar 19: After becoming 15th state to ban Gutkha in 2012, food safety and security authorities have no policy against the dry tobacco items which are freely sold in market in other formats to disguise the order issued by department of Food Safety, Jammu and Kashmir.

Exercising powers vested under clause (a) of sub-section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act., Commissioner of Food Safety, Jammu and Kashmir issued a notification [HD/Drug/58/2012] and banned the sale, storage, manufacture and transportation of 'Gutkha' in 2012. However over the passages of at least two years, companies managed to doge the authorities and succeed in selling such products in the market in other forms like Khani which is a tobacco product.

Around 14% of Indian adults smoke cigarettes and "beedis" (hand-rolled cigarettes), but nearly 26% use smokeless tobacco, including chewing tobacco, according to the Government of India and World Health Organization Global Adult Tobacco Survey of 2009 - 2010.

India has the highest number of oral cancers in the world after a group of entrepreneurs known locally as "gutka barons" turned a 400-year-old tobacco product hand-rolled in betel leaves into a spicy blend sold for 2 cents on street corners from Bangalore to New Delhi. Sales of chewing tobacco, worth 210.3 billion rupees ($4.6 billion) in 2004, are on track to double by 2014, according to Datamonitor, a branch of the international research firm based in Hyderabad, India, now same is the sold in market from Kashmir to Kaniyakumari under new brands and as separate products other than food.

A campaign called 'Voices of Tobacco Victims' in 2008 advocates for more stringent tobacco control in India. The campaign empowers cancer survivors to tell their stories to influence policymakers and raise awareness among other tobacco users about the damaging effects of tobacco on health.

The campaign's greatest success has been to ban the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of "gutka," a form of chewing tobacco commonly consumed in India, including by children.

"Pure chewing tobacco and Paan Masala continue to be sold as two separate packets that users can mix themselves before consumption to disguise ban and they contains chromium, nickel, arsenic and lead as well as tobacco-related nitrosamines, all of which are known carcinogens. Tragically, 0.023% of orphans in Kashmir both girls and boys use such like products, which they usually call as gutka or Khani," Rao Farman Ali said, quoting his research carried on orphans of Jammu and Kashmir. 

An official in Food and Safety department whishing anonymity told early Times that after the ban in 2012, campiness manufacturing 'Gutkha' items have managed to disguise the department by changing the brand names while as the Gutkha continues to flood the market in other forms. "After PIL which later banned 'Gutkha' Companies just changed the brand names and are flooding the market with Khani name brand which is same as the Ghutka," he said.

What is Food Labelling? What guidelines a food business operator needs to follow?

Before we discuss Food Labelling, first we have to understand the definition of label. A Label is the printed information on the package/container of the product which comprises the Product Name, Company Name & Address, logo, ingredients etc. “Food Labelling” is the set of legal requirements regarding the information of a food product which is securely affixed on the container/package accompanying a food. Food Labelling has to be in compliance to the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. 

Food Labelling serves two purposes; one to sell a food product by informing the consumer to take decision whether to purchase or not and secondly to meet the legal requirements on Product name, Brand name, information about the manufacturer/importer, Batch No, Code No. Mfg. & Exp. Date, License No, Logo, Veg & Non-Veg marks etc. 

The information on the label has to be appropriately given for the convenience of the consumer. Any statement, claim, design etc., which is false or may mislead a consumer about the quality, nutrition value or quantity of a food product is strictly prohibited. Every food business operator dealing with the prepackaged food product has to follow the guidelines as per FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Food Labelling becomes critical when people buy Infant Food Products or while they buy products to fulfill their special dietary needs or they may be looking to avoid food products with allergen ingredients in it.

Banned gutka worth Rs 10 lakh seized from arrested duo

In a joint operation, the Thane police and officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized banned gutka worth Rs 10 lakh and arrested two drivers who were allegedly transporting it in two different tempos, late last evening, the Thane police said here today. 

Police said that the two tempos were intercepted after which the stocks of Baba Saffron Tobacco, Chetna Tobacco-131, Baba Premium-120, Pancharatna Kimam Supari, Usha Kimam Number 30 and Ritik Sweet Supari were seized. 

These were packed in ten gunny bags, the police said, ading that the two of them were caught below the Saket bridge. 

Names of those arrested are Prashant Narayan Gadkar and Mohammad Rafique Mehaboob Khan. 

They have been charged under various sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

DINAKARAN ARTICLE

WHO says 24g of sugar a day is the safe limit

DRAFT GUIDELINES ISSUED IN BID TO COMBAT OBESITY AND RELATED ILLNESSES

The next time you order lunch, you may want to pass up on the can of soda. Or think twice about dousing your fries in ketchup. According to the latest World Health Organisation draft guidelines, a can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar, and every tablespoon of ketchup 1 teaspoon of sugar, which pushes you over your recommended ‘sugar’ limit for the day. 

In a bid to combat obesity and related illnesses such as diabetes, WHO drafted ‘sugar intake’ guidelines, which recommend that the intake of free sugar in both adults and children not exceed 10% of total energy intake (around 50g or approx 12 tsp). And, says Francesco Branca, who presented the guidelines, a further reduction to less than 5% of total energy gives additional health benefits. Doctors recommend 12g or 3 tsp of sugar a day for children under 8, while pre-teens and teens can go up to 24g. 

WHO guidelines refer to the added sugar and the sugar naturally present in fruit juices, honey, syrup. Intrinsic sugar, present in fruit and vegetables, is not counted. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, say doctors, adding that the guidelines should have come sooner. 

Dr Nihal Tomas, Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore, believes this is perhaps one of the most important guidelines WHO has drafted, considering that an estimated 101.2 million people in India will have diabetes by 2030. 

“The average Indian consumes anything from 6 tsp to 10 tsp a day of sugar. But in young adults I would say the amount of sugar consumed is much higher, perhaps even double on average,” says Dr Thomas. “While people may count the number of teaspoons they put into their coffee or tea it is the hidden sugars that are never taken into account. In some places they use sugar in certain gravies like a shahi kurma or a tikka masala,” he says. 

Dietitian Dharini Krishnan says the changing dietary habits of young adults are a cause for concern. “Most Indians don’t usually exceed the 6 tsp of sugar a day limit if they stick to regular Indian food — idlis, dosas and chapatis — which do not have free sugars. But when you begin eating something like breakfast cereals or use flavouring agents in milk, that is when you can tip over,” she says. 

The intake is more worrying for children. “If you take the sugary flavouring or fortified powders one adds to milk, a tablespoon, which is actually 3 tsps, contains approximately 12g of sugar. Give the child this kind of milk twice a day and they have already doubled their daily quota,” says Krishnan.

In a study in ‘PLOS Medicine’, researchers suggested adding a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in India, estimating it could prevent 11.2 million cases of overweight/obesity and 400,000 cases of type 2 diabetes between 2014 and 2023. 

“A taxation on SSBs could reduce the buying capacity and that in turn could mean fewer people buying those beverages,” says Sutapa Agrawal, population scientist at the Public Health Foundation of India who co-authored the study. 

“Governments have seen consumption of tobacco reduce because of taxation, so why not do the same with sugar-sweetened beverages?” she says. In fact, Branca refers to sugar as perhaps being the new tobacco in terms of public health action.

Keralites want ban on pan masala and gutka

Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 (IANS) Taking a cue from Assam, which has banned consumption of harmful tobacco-based pan masala and gutka products, a cross section of people in Kerala have called for a similar legislation in the state.

People say the desired impact of the ban - of reducing the public health burden - cannot be achieved unless consumption is also prohibited.

"Since our state banned these products in 2012, we have been taking stringent action against violators," said K. Anil Kumar, commissioner for food safety, the regulating department for the effective implementation of the ban on pan masala and gutka.

"The smuggling of these products into our state has been a major challenge in implementing the effective ban on pan masala and gutka containing tobacco and nicotine.

"As such, any positive step in addition to this ban or strengthening this ban would be highly desirable. This would also help in curbing use among children in their vulnerable years," he said.

Kerala was the second state in the country after Madhya Pradesh to ban the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011.

K. Ramadas of the Regional Cancer Centre here said that while oncologists and the medical fraternity at large can treat and provide care to the cancer afflicted, a legislative reform, as has been effected in Assam, would have far-reaching positive implications.

"Chewing tobacco, whether it is pan masala and gutka, is a major cause of cancer in the head and neck in Kerala," he said.

"I have seen several youngsters who have lost their taste buds, parts of their tongue and jawbones due to use of these smokeless tobacco products. This sorry state can be corrected to a great extent if Kerala can also legislatively ban the consumption of chewing tobacco products."

Assam has banned consumption of pan masala, gutka etc under the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutka, pan masala, etc, containing tobacco and/or nicotine) Act, 2013.

Vimala Menon, secretary of charity organisation Cheshire Home here, said that as someone who has seen the suffering of cancer victims in palliative care, "I feel that everything possible should be done to bring down cancer incidence in our state".

"Banning consumption of all forms of chewing tobacco products by law and imposing strict penalty on violators would be an effective move," Menon said.

KUMUDAM ARTICLE

DINAMALAR NEWS

Anti-adulteration drive targets sweet shops in Noida

NOIDA: The district food safety department has launched a drive against sweet shops selling adulterated food items on the eve of Holi. Department officials have been asked to conduct surprise checks at such shops across the city.

"Officials will conduct raids at shops selling adulterated food items. Samples collected will be sent to Lucknow for investigation and strict action will be taken against the guilty," said Ajay Kumar, chief food safety inspector.

Buyers can also lodge complaints related to food adulteration on the department's emergency numbers.

The department officials warned people that bright-coloured sweets could contain harmful chemicals that cause food poisoning, stomach ache, vomiting and infection.

Adulterated food items seized

INDORE: Food department under the direction of district administration raided three shops in Palda and Aerodrome areas on Saturday. During the raid, 1,000 packets of adulterated 'namkeen', which were to be sold in the wholesale market, were seized.

The administration had received a complaint against Ganesh Namkeen for preparing snacks using poor quality of raw material in unhygienic environment. "Utensils used for preparation were not up to the mark. The product had no batch number and packing date. Samples have been taken and appropriate action will be taken following lab reports," said food safety officer, Manish Swamy.

The team also raided Sai Kripa Dairy and Sneh Sweets in Aerodrome area. Two samples each were taken from both the shops, though no major lapses were found.

‘Food Safety Act will affect livelihood of small traders’

Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangh, the organisation of traders in the State alleged that the norms of Food Safety and Standards Act if implemented would lead to drastic affect on livelihood of small traders.

Leaders of the traders’ Mahasangh such as its general secretary Sudhakar Panda and its working president C. Rabindranath, who were present during the 46th annual general meeting of Ganjam Chamber of Commerce held in the city on Sunday said the norms of the Food Safety and Standards Act seemed to be aimed at promoting large business houses and multi-national companies involved in retail trading in the country. Mr. Panda and Mr. Rabindranath as well as members of Ganjam Chamber of the Commerce were of the opinion that if implemented this Act would give rise to corruption as it favours the MNCs involved in retail business. As per the Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangh, there are around six lakh retail traders in Odisha who would be affected by this Act, which may lead to monopoly of MNCs and large trading houses involved in retail business. They said most small time traders were not in a position to get all their products tested.

Sweet shops raided, three samples sent to laboratory

Mussoorie, March 16

The Food Safety Department, Dehradun, carried out a drive against adulterated food items in Mussoorie yesterday. The department officials raided sweet shops in the Library Bazaar area and collected three samples from two shops. They sent the samples for testing to a laboratory at Rudarpur. 

Food Safety Officer Rachna Lal, who led the team of officials, told mediapersons that the sweet shops were raided to check the sale of adulterated food items during the festival season. She said the samples of sweets and gujias collected from two shops had been sent for testing to the Rudarpur laboratory.

Rachna directed the restaurant and sweet shop owners to maintain quality and hygiene in their products. She said more raids would be conducted in the near future to check the sale of adultrated food items.

செயற்கை வண்ணம் கூட்டப்பட்ட உணவுகளால் புற்றுநோய் ஏற்படும் கருத்தரங்கில் அதிர்ச்சி தகவல்

சேலம், மார்ச் 16: 

செயற்கை வண்ணம் சேர்க்கப்பட்ட உணவுகளால் உணவுக்குழல் புற்று நோய் ஏற்படும் என நுகர்வோர் உரிமைகள் விழாவில் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறினார். 

தமிழ்நாடு நுகர்வோர் மற்றும் மக்கள் உரிமைகள் புலனாய்வுக் கமிட்டி சார்பில் உலக நுகர்வோர் உரிமைகள் தின விழா அரசு தொழிற்பயிற்சி நிலையத்தில் கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. அமைப்பின் தலைவர் செல்வம் நிகழ்ச்சிக்கு தலைமை வகித்தார். தொழிற்பயிற்சி நிலையத்தில் துணை இயக்குனர் ராஜேந்திரன், உதவி இயக்குனர் சுப்ரமணி, நுகர்வோர் அமைப்பின் இக்பால் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலை வகித்தனர். நாட்டுநலப்பணித்திட்ட அலுவலர் விஜயமுருகன் வரவேற்றார். 

மாவட்ட வழங்கல் மற்றும் நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அருணாச்சலம் கருத்தரங்கை துவக்கி வைத்து போட்டியில் வென்ற மாணவ, மாணவியருக்கு பரிசு வழங்கினார். மாவட்ட தொழிலாளர் ஆய்வாளர் வெங்கடேசன் எடை அளவு மோசடி குறித்துப் பேசினார். டீத்தூள், பருப்பு, மிளகாய்ப்பொடி உள்ளிட்ட உணவுப் பொருட்களில் செய்யப்படும் கலப்படத்தை கண்டறிவது குறித்து மாணவர்களுக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலு வலர் அனுராதா செயல் விளக்கம் அளித்தார். மேலும் இவர் பேசியதாவது: 

மக்கள் அன்றாடம் பயன்படுத்தும் டீத்தூள், மிளகாய்ப்பொடி மற்றும் பருப்பு வகைகளிலும் செயற்கையாக நிறம் ஏற்றப்படுகிறது. பல்வேறு பொருட்களில் எடையைக் கூட்ட கலப்படம் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இனிப்பு வகைகள், சிப்ஸ், சில்லி சிக்கன், சில்லி காலிபிளவர் போன்ற உணவுகளில் மக்களைக் கவர்வதற்காக செயற்கை வண்ணம் சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது. தொடர்ந்து இது போன்ற உணவுகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி வந்தால் உணவுக்குழல் புற்று நோய் உருவாக வாய்ப்புள்ளது. மேலும் பல்வேறு கலப்படப் பொருட்களை தொடர்ச்சியாக உட்கொள்வதும் உடல் நலத்துக்கு எதிரானது. 

பொருள் வாங்கும் பொது அதனைப் பற்றிய முழு விவரமும் பேக்கின் மேல் பகுதியில் உள்ளதா என்பதைப் பார்த்து வாங்க வேண்டும். கோடை காலத்தில் பெயர் இல்லாத போலி குளிர்பானங்கள் பயன்படுத்துவதைத் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். புகையிலைப் பொருட்கள் விற்பது தெரிந்தாலோ, பொருட்களின் கலப்படம் குறித்தோ 94435 20332 என்ற எனது செல்போன் எண்ணில் தொடர்பு கொண்டு தகவல் தெரிவிக்கலாம். இவ்வாறு அனுராதா பேசினார். 

தமிழ்நாடு நுகர்வோர் மற்றும் மக்கள் உரிமைகள் புலனாய்வுக் கமிட்டி நிர்வாகிகள் கலந்து கொண்டு பேசினர். சேலம் அரசு தொழிற்பயிற்சி நிலைய மாணவ, மாணவியர் நிகழ்ச்சியில் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

Food-related traders asked to register with FSSAI before August 4

Panelists at a discussion on Food Safety and Security Act at the Puducherry University on Friday.

“Vendors simply have to declare that they are running a food-based business”
Although the Food Safety Standards Act has been in place for several years now, and it is now mandatory for all food-related businesses, including street food vendors, to register with the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, many restaurants and smaller vendors hesitate to apply for the licenses.
All food related businesses have been asked to register with the FSSAI before August 4 this year.
Since the experience in the past of many of these food vendors has been bad when it came to licensing and policing by the officials, many people have refused to apply for their unique identity cards.
The FSSAI, however, is very different since the emphasis is not on policing from outside, but on self regulation, Member of the scientific committee of the FSSAI J.S. Pai said on the sidelines of the One day workshop on Food Safety Act: “Know the Act & Regulations” here on Friday.
The intentions of this Act are good, and through its provisions, there is very little scope of harassment and problems. It is up to the State government and universities to raise awareness among the people, he said.
Even though the procedure is very simple, the vendor simply has to fill a form to declare that he is running a food-based business, many do not apply. The onus is on State government to ensure this happens, since it will make the vendors accountable, Senior Scientist of the National Institute of Nutrition R.V. Sudershan said.
Through their unique identity numbers, the name and location of the vendor as well as contact details will be available to the consumer. This will make them answerable, he said.
In terms of the consumers, there is a section of the FSSAI website that invites whistleblowers. These people will be working with the Centre or State governments to help ensure the quality of food is maintained, Aruna Kumar from the Central Food Technology Research Institute said.
The one-day workshop organised by the Food Science and Technology Department was aimed at educating business people in the food industry on the Act.

Study on convenience food released

CHENNAI: The Consumers Association of India (CAI) along with the Centre for Consumer Education, Research, Teaching, Training and Testing (CONCERT) has released a study on convenience food.

Director of CAI G Santhanrajan said convenience food comprised heat and eat, ready to eat and ready to cook products.
It provides a vast array of choices like rice preparations, chapattis, desserts and non-vegetarian food. Such food items have to be tested for packaging and labelling, quality along with health and safety.
While the quality parameters included nutritional label claims verification results and chemical characteristics verification, health and safety meant a test for microbiological characteristics, said Santhanrajan
CONCERT secretary general G Rajan said quality and safety of food products was being regulated by Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FS&SAI). However "at present, standards for ready to eat food products of 'heat and eat type' had not been prescribed either by FS&SAI or Bureau of Indian Standards ( BIS)."

WORLD CONSUMERS DAY 2014

Chandigarh:To Celebrate the World Consumers Day A seminar on Food Safety Act was organized by Consumers Association Chandigarh (CAC) at Community centre Sector 21, Chandigarh. Hon’ble Shri Harphool Chander Kalyan, Mayor Municipal Corporation Chandigarh presided over the function. Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Food Safety Officer Health Department Chandigarh Administration gave a talk on the topic. He apprised the gathering that Food borne illnesses are major health problems in our country. Food borne illnesses are prevalent in all parts of the world, and the toll in terms of human life and suffering is enormous. Contaminated food contributes to 1.5 billion cases of diarrhea in children each year, resulting in more than three million premature deaths according to the WHO. Accidental or intentional adulteration of food by toxic substances also can result in serious health incidents. Food safety remains a critical issue in India with frequent reports of outbreaks of food borne illnesses every year resulting insubstantial costs to individuals, health care system and the country. To regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food item, and ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have been constituted which will lay down science-based standards for food items. This new Food Safety and Standards Act has repealed different Act and orders such as, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, 1955, the Meat Food Products Order, 1973, the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) order, 1947, the edible oils packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998, the Solvent Extracted Oil, De Oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 and any other order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955) relating to food.
Shri Harphool Chander Kalyan, the Chief Guest appreciated the role of Consumers Association Chandigarh in awarieng the consumer about their rights and settling the Complaints. Emphasizing the need for educating more and more people about the Food Safety Act., he said that this will certainly help in improving the health of the people. Annual-2014 of the Association was also released on the occasion.Earlier in the day Shri R.K. Kaplash Chairman of the CAC briefed about the activists of the Association. CAC is working in the Chandigarh since 1979, much before the enactment of Consumer Protection Act, is also brain behind the Apni Mandi Concept. It operated consumer awareness cum sale counters in different sectors of Chandigarh to sell good quality daily need items at competitive rates in directly controlling the price line. Shri R.K. Sharma, President Complaints, CAC apprised the participants about the procedure of handling the consumer complaints. He told that more than 10,000 complaints have already been settled by the association till date and that too without charging any fee out of court settlement.The Chairman presented the memento to Chief Guest and. Food Safety Officer. Sh. H.S. Aulakh was honored with a Life Time Achievement Trophy for his sincere honest and continuous services for over twenty years. Sh. A.S Ahuja Convener Sector 23 was also honoured. Brig. J.S. Phoolka, Advisor to the Chairman CAC passed a vote of thanks. He also thanked the media, Health Department U.T. Chandigarh, media and participants for making the World Consumer Day a great success.

Consumer policy expert urges Odisha to frame legislation

Advocating a robust regulatory framework for the protection of genuine direct selling companies, noted consumer policy expert Bejon Misra today asked the Odisha government to frame a legislation.
A member of the first constituted central Consumer Protection Council, member of Food Safety & Standards authority of India (in 2008) and Quality Council of India, Misra had recently been inducted into the national Task Force on Direct Selling by FICCI as an advisor.
In that capacity, Misra has been advocating the need of direct selling across states including Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam.
"We submitted a memorandum to the Odisha government urging it to have a separate legislation to deal exclusively with direct selling companies," said Misra, who was here to attend a function.
"There is an urgent need to protect direct selling industry especially in a state like Odisha which is the highest growing state in the country in direct selling," he said.
They are able to find a gainful employment out of accessing good quality products, they are also being able to get into an engagement or fruitful employment and making them an entrepreneur, Misra said.
There are 20 Direct selling companies like Amway, Avon, Oriflame who are members of direct selling association in India, he said.
Stating that 60 per cent of direct selling people are women, the advisor to FICCI Direct Selling Task Force said, "Direct selling provides employment opportunity to 14 million to people in India in the organized sector only. In the unorganised sector it could be 5 million or 10 million people employed and 3000 direct selling companies who are operating across the country."
Rajat Banerjee, Co-Chair, FICCI National Task Force on Direct Selling, said: "As per National industry classification, it is classified as internal trade and internal trade is a state subject. Therefore we are talking to states. Legislation will help distinguish genuine companies from fake companies and also protect consumers.

Experts highlight R&D in dietary supplement and nutra to control aging

Global research and development (R&D) labs are now focussing on the development of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals that could keep aging cells at bay.
Although the consumption of red and orange fruits is seen to be as beneficial as that of green leafy vegetables, and Gac fruit is a great source of lycopene. But people are not seen to consume these on a regular basis.
This has led global nutraceutical companies like Amway to enhance their research investments and develop products to control cell aging.
A panel of experts highlighted the R&D innovations in functional foods and dietary supplements at the Ninth Nutra India Summit, which concluded in Bengaluru on Friday.
The session was chaired by Dr D B A Narayana, chairman, Herbal Products Committee, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).
Dr Deepa Shenoy, senior research scientist, open innovation, Amway Global R&D, USA, led the discussion on the topic, ‘A 360º Approach to Innovating Functional Foods And Dietary Supplements for the Healthy Aging Consumer’.
She stated that there has been considerable focus on the research of nutraceutical products.
Although Amway’s first product was detergents, and it gradually expanded to offer numerous health products and dietary supplements.
Currently, almost 50 per cent of Amway’s global business is driven out of nutrition products such as protein powder and other health supplements. Amway's science and technology has a worldwide presence.
Amway's has invested $81 million in a production plant for pharma and nutraceutical tablets. The company, which produces protein at this facility under the brand name Nutralite, has a range of options for optimum health.
“We are designing a protein food for health benefits like aging of skin and muscle. The product is a protein for the protection of skeletal muscle which approximately comprises for about 42-50 per cent of the total body mass,” she said.
“The aging disease, referred to as sarcopenia, is caused due to the loss of muscle under the skin which can be controlled by correcting nutritional habits, aiding metabolism and altering lifestyle of an individual,” stated Dr Shenoy.
“The intake of a protein-rich diet improves muscle mass that significantly improves cell proliferation under the skin that gradually helps to cure/improve the condition. We need to look at the problem scientifically and understand the problem only then able to find a solution,” she added.
Speaking on nutrition and human cell growth (the new frontier for new products), Prof Dr Helmut Weidlich, chairman, Institut Prof Dr Georg Kurz GmbH, Germany, said that one of the steps to tackle aging in cellular level was to make the cell fight by itself against any harmful substance like virus or other protein substances.
Cell debris and other undesired cell growth should be prevented and to suppress the mutation at a cellular level.
“It is possible for the human body to generate new cells naturally by making alterations at the cellular level with minute alterations. The food that helps cell proliferation is a chemical compound known as caratinocyte which helps in rejuvenating the skin cells,” Dr Weidlich said.
“There is need to increase the consumption of red and orange fruit or those that are in the citrus category. Further, amino acid found in beverages like green tea can help in cell proliferation and prevent aging,” he added.
“In the coming years, there would be software solutions to predict which particular compound can help a cell and this helps to devise a formula to come up with new and better solutions for the benefit of all,” Dr Weidlich stated.
Dr Priti Vaidyanathan, senior manager, technical service, Sami Labs Ltd, said that the company has commenced the cultivation of Gac fruit (whose botanical name is momordica cochinchinensi), which has adapted positively to the Indian soil conditions.
This plant is part of the cucurbitacae family, commonly known as baby jackfruit. The pulp of the fruit is very rich in fatty acids that aid in the absorption of caratenoids.
Gac fruit contains lycopene which is an amino acid. This content is 70 times more than that of tomatoes. In humans, absorption of lycopene is in the liver and kidneys among other glands.
Now, lycopene is that it is an anti-cancer agent, and is beneficial to treat different types of this disease. In addition, it is also acts as an antioxidant and use to treat osteoporosis.
However, factors affecting the absorption of lycopene in humans include aging, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Therefore, in order to prevent many aging and age-related disorders, it is vital to include red and orange vegetables along with green leafy varieties.
Integrated approach & ethical marketing critical for nutra: Dr Prakash Integrated approach and ethical marketing are critical to the success of the nutraceutical industry.
This was stated by Dr V Prakash, distinguished scientist, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) India; vice-president, International Union of Nutritional Science (IUNS), director, research and development (R&D) and innovation, JSS MVP, Mysore, and chairman, Ninth Nutra India Summit.
“Advanced science is the key for business safety in the field of nutrition and food industry. The phase from concept to product development of nutraceuticals is complicated, because of the lack of defined regulations which makes these products difficult to be approved,” he said.
“Therefore, the Indian nutraceutical industry needs to adopt an integrated strategy and ethical marketing route to ensure high-quality systems are in place,” said Dr Prakash.
Speaking on the topic, ‘The Sculptured Future of Health through Nutra with the Background of 5,000 years of Rich Epidemiology in India,’ he said that there were 12 key technology areas globally, and in this space the pharmaceutical sector topped with 23 per cent, followed by computer technology with 15 per cent.
The market for nutraceuticals could increase only with a rise in standard of living in India, as this was the main potential to drive the growth. The R&D investments in nutraceuticals are poised to touch $400 million by 2025, which would be key to industrial growth.
“An integrated approach is the key to success, and ethical marketing is critical in nutraceutical industry,” he stated.
In August 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, which came into effect five years after it was passed in Parliament, subsumed various central Acts like the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954; the Fruit Products Order (FPO), 1955; the Meat Food Products Order, 1973; the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; the Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order of 1988; the Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967; the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992, and any order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food. It would ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may mislead or harm the consumer, and unsafe, contaminated or sub-standard food.
“This law will give a fillip to the nutraceutical industry, because prebiotic food, probiotic food, novel food, unani, ayurveda and siddha also come under its purview. The approval of products is a complex process, and there are hundreds of brands of vitamin with biotin, where some are below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) range, some are above the RDA range and some which are equal to the RDA range. We need to have some new standards and refine the approval process,” Dr Prakash said.
He added that customer acceptance and safety are more important than the profit of the industry. The infrastructure should match the market for the supply of the raw materials and the Ayur-nutraceutical industry is a $300-million-market, and is a growing sector.

Despite nationwide ban, calcium carbide used by traders to ripen fruit

Traders continue to use calcium carbide to ripen such fruit as mangoes, bananas, chikoos, oranges and watermelon, despite the ban by the Centre on the use of the chemical. They are undeterred by the fact that state food and drug administrations (FDA) conduct raids every mango season.

According to a trader from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, the state FDA seize between 1,000 and 2,000 boxes of mangoes that have been artificially ripened, with the sole objective of making a quick buck.

“Until the rules are enforced with utmost strictness, traders would continue to be fearless and use calcium carbide to ripen the fruit,” he added. Alam Khan, another fruit trader at the market, stated that artificial ripening was rampant because of the manner in which the market was structured. 

“The mangoes that enter the market before the commencement of the actual season are sold at higher prices. To take advantage of this, traders ripen the fruit using chemicals and sell the fruit as early as possible,” he added.

Khan stated that calcium carbide was banned owing to its carcinogenic properties, and explained the procedure traders follow to ripen the fruit. “Acetylene gas, a by-product of calcium carbide, creates heat,” he said.

“It is mainly used as a fuel and in welding, and contains toxic impurities that affect the nervous system. When acetylene is filled amidst the fruit in a box, it heats the fruit on the outside, and thus the mangoes and oranges turn yellow or orange, as the case may be.”

H G Koshia, food and drug commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat said, “In 2013, FDCA’s food safety officers destroyed over 30 tonne mangoes ripened using calcium carbide.” 

“In February 2014, we seized over 100 boxes of mangoes ripened using it. Despite knowing about it, most traders are still using it, although stringent action has been taken against on them on a number of occasions,” he added. 

“Since the mango season is approaching, we would be doing regular checks on both retailers and wholesalers of mangoes to find out whether they have stopped using calcium carbide or not,” Koshia said.

Mahesh Zagade, food commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, said, “In 2012, our officials seized over 1,000 dozen mangoes ripened using calcium carbide from all over Maharashtra.”

“In May 2013, the officials seized 706 dozen mangoes, worth Rs 1.23 lakh from Pune’s Kasba Peth area. The use of calcium carbide is banned because it contain the traces of arsenic and phosphorus, which pose a serious threat to human health,” he added.

“Earlier we issued directives to the traders and warned them that they would be prosecuted if they continued to use calcium carbide. However, it is still being used in Maharashtra and across the country,” Zagade said. 

“In order to curb the use of calcium carbide to ripen fruit, we need to create awareness among the masses. We need to make the traders aware that instead of calcium carbide, they could use ethylene gas to ripen mangoes and other fruit,” he added.

DINAKARAN NEWS

979 ration shops operating without FDA registration

PUNE: Of the 1,800 ration shops in the district, 979 shops are operating without obtaining the mandatory licence or registration from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner of FDA, Pune.

Of the total, as many as 800 ration shops are in the city, whereas the remaining shops are located in the rural parts of Pune. Kekare said ever since the new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011 came into force from August 2011, about 747 ration shops in Pune district have sought registration, whereas 74 ration shops have applied for licences from the FDA.

Under the new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, food business operators with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and above have been directed to apply for licences. Those with a lesser annual turnover are required to register with the FDA.

"We often organize camps for ration shop owners, where they can apply for licences or register with the FDA easily. Most of them have sought fair price shop licence. Efforts are on to motivate others to get themselves registered as soon as possible," said Jyoti Kadam, district supply officer of Pune.

As per the conservative estimates, there are around 15 lakh food business operators in the state. FDA grants licences and registrations to big hoteliers, small canteens, roadside vendors, wholesalers, retailers, stockists and people selling food-item sellers including groceries as per their turnover.

The act ensures

* Prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may mislead or harm the consumer

* Prevention of unsafe, contaminated or sub-standard food being used

* Regulation of manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption

Public distribution system

* Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Union and state/union territory (UT) governments

* The Union government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of food grains to the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India

* The operational responsibilities for lifting and distributing the allocated food grains within the state/UT governments. They are also suppose to identify families below poverty line (BPL), issue ration cards to them and supervise distribution of allocated food grains to eligible card-holders through the fair price shops (FPS).

* The total number of fair price shops in the country as reported by states/union territories (UTs) up to 2011 are 5.05 lakh. Of the total, 50,555 ration shops are in Maharashtra

புளியந்தோப்பில் குட்கா, ஆட்டோவுடன் பறிமுதல்

பெரம்பூர், மார்ச் 14: 

புளியந்தோப்பு நாச்சாரம்மன் தெருவில் உள்ள ஒரு குடோனில், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட குட்கா பொருட்கள் பதுக்கி வைத்திருப்பதாக புளியந்தோப்பு போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. போலீசார், நேற்று மதியம் அங்கு சோதனையிட்ட போது, சரக்கு ஆட்டோ ஒன்றில் நிறைய மூட்டைகளைள ஏற்றிக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். 

இதுகுறித்து அங்கிருந்த ஊழியர்களிடம் கேட்டபோது, தாம்பூலத்தில் வைக்கும் பாக்கு என கூறினர். ஒரு மூட்டையை பிரித்து பார்த்தபோது, குட்கா பாக்கு இருப்பது தெரிந்தது. இதையடுத்து, அந்த குடோனில் இருந்த 64 மூட்டைகளில் வைக்கப்பட்டு இருந்த குட்கா, ஆட்டோவுடன் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. அதன் மதிப்பு 6.5 லட்சம். 

இதுதொடர்பாக, அதே பகுதியை சேர்ந்த செந்தில் (37), தாஸ் (47), சிவகுமார் (32) ஆகியோரை கைது செய்து, சிறையில் அடைத்தனர். தலைமறைவாக உள்ள குடோன் உரிமையாளர் சசிகுமாரை தேடிவருகின்றனர்.

What is Food Packaging? What are the general requirements for packaged food materials?

Food Packaging is the packaging of the food product, to protect from contamination & damage besides conserving taste & quality during the shelf lifeof a food product.

The food packaged material should be made of high quality and it should be free from any chemical contamination. As per FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011, the following type of containers shall deemed to be unfit for human consumption:

Containers with Rust.

Enameled containers which have become chipped or have turned rusty.

Containers made of Copper or Brass are not properly tinned.

Containers made of Aluminium not conforming in chemical composition to IS-20 specifications for the Cast Aluminium & Aluminium Alloy for utensils or IS-21 specification for Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy for utensils.

Plastic Material Containers being used for food packaging should follow the following Indian Standards Specifications:

a) IS : 10146 (Specification for Polyethylene in contact with Foodstuff.

b) IS : 10142 (Specification for Styrene Polymers in contact with Foodstuffs)

c) IS : 10151 (Specification for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in contact with foodstuffs)

d) IS : 10910 (Specification for Polypropylene in contact with Foodstuffs)

e) IS : 11704 (Specification for Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) copolymer.

f) IS : 12252 (Specification for Polyalkylene Terephadthalates (PET)

g) IS : 12247 (Specification for Nylon 6 Polymer.

h) IS : 13601 (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)

i) IS : 13576 (Ethylene Metha Acrylic Acid (EMAA)

j) Tin and plastic containers once used, shall not be re-used for packaging of Edible oils and fats.

For Canned Food Products, the following general requirements have to be followed:

a) All containers shall be securely packed and sealed.

b) The exterior of the cans shall be free from major dents, rust, perforations and seam distortions.

c) Cans shall be free from leaks.

FSS Regulations have also defined product specific requirement of the packaged materials which are applicable to certain category of food products.

Centre set to ban sale of junk food, aerated drinks in schools

The junk is being taken out of children's lives across the nation. The Centre is set to ban the sale of junk food in school canteens and around school premises across the country soon. In its final guidelines submitted to the Delhi High Court on Wednesday on regulating the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools, the Centre's expert committee has said it wants to restrict the availability of junk food items such chips, fries, colas, chocolates, etc. inside schools and up to within 50 m of their boundaries.

It was in September last year that the high court had directed a 13-member expert committee to review and modify the Centre's draft guidelines on the issue.

The guidelines that the committee finalised earlier this week mention that schools must regulate the sale of junk food items such as burgers, pizzas, chips, samosas and colas to rein in obesity and hypertension among children. Schools have also been asked to discourage binge eating among students and develop a canteen policy to provide nutritious, wholesome food in schools.

The revised and final guidelines focus on "nutrition levels, health standards and on regulating such consumption in accordance with a child's nutritional and health needs. Among other things, the guidelines prescribe a uniform policy that includes labeling food items with reference to their ingredients, calorie contents and nutrition levels in three categories viz. Red, Yellow and Green with Red including popular HFSS (high fat, sugar and salt) food items, yellow consisting of some baked goods or dairy items whose ingredients can be tweaked to increase their nutrition levels and green consisting of healthy fresh food such as fruits, fresh juices, salads, etc," said committee head Sunita Narain, from the Centre for Science and Environment.

"The idea here is not to deny a child any food item entirely. During an earlier hearing, the High Court too had observed that no food is without some nutritional value and a child cannot be made to give up packaged or fried food entirely. However, the committee is keen on regulating such consumption in accordance with a child's nutritional and health needs," Narain said.

The guidelines are meant to be implemented across the country and hence, have a section dedicated to varied needs of each state in the country. For instance, as one of the measures to restrict access to junk food for students in Delhi, the committee recommends that school management authorities in the Capital must ideally "put restrictions on the movement of students outside the school and hence, naturally restrict the availability of junk food irrespective of whether such stalls or vendors exist near schools or not".

In August last year, the Centre had submitted its draft guidelines to regulate the sale of junk food in and around schools across the country. However, at the time, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the All India Food Processors' Association, had opposed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) draft guidelines, saying that private agency AC Nielsen could not be allowed to frame guidelines that would affect the entire nation. AC Nielsen ORG-MARG had been assigned the work of framing the guidelines by FSSAI. Responding to the same, Additional Solicitor General Rajeev Mehra, appearing for the Centre had told the court that the Centre already had an expert committee in place that could review the same. Following the court's permission and its suggestion, public health and industry experts were then roped in. The committee decided to take the draft guidelines made by AC Nielsen ORG-MARG as a "starting point".

"The problem of obesity among children is on the rise mainly due to reckless dietary habits. Based on a study conducted by the health ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, we can say that junk food items such as burgers, pizzas, chips, fries, samosas, biscuits etc. sold rampantly in school and college canteens contain no vitamins or proteins and are instead high on salt, sugar and saturated fat. The committee largely wants to restrict the access of junk food to children in and around schools. Not much can be left to the canteens or to the children assuming that they will make the right choices. Instead, we wish to restrict the sale of unhealthy food," a committee member said.

The high court is to take cognisance of the report in the coming week.

Officials to launch drive against artificial ripening of mangoes

With the summer season having set in and mangoes slowly flooding the market, Food Safety Wing officials in the district are gearing up to launch a drive against the practice of artificial ripening of mangos.

The demand during peak season is estimated to exceed 10 tonnes every day in the district.

Supply

With the supply not always keeping up with the demand and given the high profit margins involved, some food businesses operators resort to artificial ripening, a senior Food Safety Wing official told The Hindu here on Wednesday.

Artificial ripening can be detected upon close examination of the mangos. Such mangoes will have uniform yellow colour across their surface with no traces of green.

The mangoes that ripe naturally will have traces of green and yellow and will not be uniform in colour.

Further, all mangoes in a batch will have the uniform colour.

Despite having yellow skin, the mango will be hard and not have the softness of ripe mangoes, the official said.

Artificial ripening was mostly done using calcium carbide, which was widely available at low costs and was predominantly used in arc welding.

When mixed with water, it emitted acetylene gas which caused the chlorophyll (green pigment) to change colour. However, none of the other processes involved in ripening takes place.

As calcium carbide was an industrial grade product, it contained arsenic and lead participles.

These toxic impurities affect the neurological system and reduce the oxygen supply to the brain. Consuming artificially ripened mangoes could result in sleeping disorders and headaches, memory loss, seizures, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, renal problems and possibly, even cancer, the official warned.

List

A list of the fruit shops had already been prepared. Inspections would be taken up soon in all the 12 blocks of Coimbatore district and the three municipalities, besides the Corporation limits.

South Goa chilly powder manufacturer fined

PANAJI: The adjudicating officer, South Goa, appointed and notified under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, imposed a punishment penalty fine of 25,000 on Sahyas Spice, Benaulim, for manufacturing, distributing and selling misbranded chilly powder.

Anthony K D Kunnapally of Sahyas Spice has been penalized under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulation, 2011.

The chilly powder packets for sale did not contain the stipulated label declaration which was in contravention of Section 26(2)(ii), Section 26(2)(v) and Section 27(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 52 of the said Act with penalty only.

Samples of misbranded food articles were drawn by food safety officer Shivdas Naik of the Food and Drugs Administration, on April 9, 2012.

Thereafter, civil proceedings were filed by him before the district collector/adjudicating officer, South Goa.

Junk food high in fat, sugar and salt: panel

An expert group has suggested restricting the availability and consumption of junk food or food high in fat, sugar and salt in schools and in a 50 metre radius around them. It has also called for increasing the availability of wholesome food to schoolchildren across the country.

The committee has identified chips, fried foods, sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages, sugar-sweetened non-carbonated beverages, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, potato fries and confectionery items as the common foods containing fat, sugar and salt in high quantities.

It gave this suggestion in draft guidelines for making available quality and safe foods in schools. A copy of the guidelines was on Wednesday submitted to the Delhi High Court.

The Court has been hearing a petition by non-government organisation Uday Foundation in the matter. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had set up the expert committee on a direction by the Court to advise the Central Advisory Committee to develop guidelines for making available quality and safe food in schools.

The guidelines further state that steps should be initiated to develop a nationwide programme for identification of more foods based on the criterion and inform the schools accordingly.

Another category of concern is the non-standardised deep fried foods such as samosa, chana-bhatura, etc that are available in school canteens and nearby areas. The guidelines state that the school managements must ensure regulation of such foods through canteen policies that promote consumption of healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods alone.

Canteen in schools should not be treated as commercial outlets; they carry a social responsibility towards inculcating healthy eating behaviour, the guidelines noted. The canteens can be used to motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food.

The guidelines also stress the need to regulate `the exposure and power of advertisements and promotional activities’ that are targeted at children.

``It is recommended that the government may advise the Advertising Standards Council of India or any other relevant body to consider developing such a framework for (1) regulating advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (2) limiting reach of such advertisements in the electronic media where the school children are the key audience (3) restricting celebrity endorsements for such foods and (4) regulating promotional activities of such foods targeted at the children,’’ the guidelines pointed out.

It has also been stated that FSSAI should ensure that the labels on all food packets should carry information on the type and quantity of various nutrients and how much the serving size contributes to the total daily requirement.

Experts shy from ban on junk food

NEW DELHI: A report submitted by an expert group on junk food has recommended regulation of such food items in school canteens but shied away from pushing for a total ban. 

The expert group, formed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, on Wednesday informed HC about the guidelines on the subject of "making available quality and safe food in schools" and suggested food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) be restricted in schools and "within 50 metres" radius as opposed to the demand for a total ban within 500 yards made by the petitioner. 

On being told that the guidelines have been framed, a bench comprising acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul asked FSSAI to file them within two days with advance copies to the petitioner NGO Uday Foundation and the amicus curiae (senior advocate N K Kaul) who can then come up with their response. The report argues children are not "the best judge of their food choice" and admits that schools are not the right place for promoting HFSS foods. 

It termed "chips, fried foods, sugar sweetened carbonated beverages" etc as HFSS foods and suggested "the school management must ensure regulation of such foods through canteen policies that promote healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods". The panel has also suggested a canteen policy to provide nutritious food in school be developed to ensure that such canteens are not treated as "commercial outlets". 

"A school health team or a similar unit could be set up in each school comprising teachers, parents and school canteen operators which will coordinate, implement and monitor the canteen policy to make available quality and nutritious food to students in schools," the report, says. 

TOI, which published extracts of the report, had on Wednesday highlighted how the panel is split on the need to ban junk food completely from school premises. HC is hearing the PIL filed by Uday Foundation seeking an immediate ban on junk food and carbonated drinks in all unaided and private schools. The NGO has also sought a direction to initiate measures to discourage availability of fast food within 500 yards of schools in Delhi, apart from a canteen policy.

HC asks FSSAI to file guidelines on junk food in schools

The Delhi High Court today asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to file the draft guidelines on regulation of sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around school premises in the country. 

The expert group, formed by FSSAI, has come out with a slew of guidelines on the subject of "making available quality and safe food in schools" and suggested the availability of food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) be restricted in schools and area "within 50 meters". 

The report said the kids are not "the best judge of their food choice" and moreover, the schools are not the right place for promoting HFSS foods. 

It termed "chips, fried foods, sugar sweetened carbonated beverageas" etc as HFSS foods and suggested "the school management must ensure regulation of such foods through canteen policies that promote healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods...". 

It also suggested there are food items such as 'samosa' and other fried food and a nationwide propgramme can be started to find out as to which can be termed as HFSS food. 

The panel has also suggested a canteen policy to provide nutritious food in school be developed to ensure that such canteens are not treated as "commercial outlets". 

"A school health team or a similar unit could be set up in each school comprising teachers, parents and school canteen operators which will coordinate, implement and monitor the canteen policy to make available quality and nutritious food to students in schools," the report said. 

On being told that the guidelines have been framed, the bench, headed by acting Chiief Justice B D Ahmed, asked FSSAI to file them within two days with advance copies to the petitioner and the amicus curiae. 

The court is hearing the PIL filed by Uday Foundation seeking an immediate ban on junk food and carbonated drinks in all unaided and private schools. 

The NGO has also sought a direction to initiate measures to discourage availability of fast food within 500 yards of schools in Delhi, apart from a canteen policy.

Registration, licensing under FSSAI go online

Bathinda, March 12

The Health Department today started the online registration of food business operators under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act. 

Under the project, the department issued the first licence to Kewal Chand Sharma, a shopkeeper at Bhagu Road. District Health Officer and Nodal Officer under the FSSAI Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said the online facility will limit food operator’s visit to the health authorities.

“From the time of applying for registration or licence, till the inspections are conducted, the business operators will have to visit our office just once to give a hard copy and collect his licence or registration number,” he said.

Dr Randhawa said the business operator will have to register online through the website www.foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in Thereafter, he would be given a self-generated password and a login account using which he can see the status of his application. Within 15 days of applying online, hard copies will have to be submitted at the nodal officer’s office.

In the meantime, the district nodal officer will be informed about the application filed through the online system.

For the issuance of registration number, the food safety officer will conduct inspection and issue the number. However, for issuing licence, the inspection report will be verified by the nodal officer.

Since its introduction around two years ago, 620 licences and 4,000 registration numbers have been issued in the district.