DINAMALAR NEWS

“Food security law will be enforced strictly’’

A top food safety official inspects a sweet stall on Bharathi Street in Puducherry. 

“A tie-up is made with all municipalities and commune panchayats so that their licences will not be issued unless Food License Registration is done”

: Firm in implementation of provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, the Union Territory Government has reiterated that the Act will be enforced in larger public interest.

Food Safety Commissioner V.Candavelou said “All alcoholic beverages such as brandy, whisky, rum, wine, beer are covered under the category of food as per Section 3(j) of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. So food business operators involved in liquor business need to obtain food license in addition to license under Exercise Act.”

In an official press release, the Department of Food Safety said its online Licensing and Registration system was last January and FBOs whoever had obtained license/ registration for one year is due for renewal this month. The renewal process was activated 60 days before the expiry of license/ registration. Hence, they are requested to renew their licenses/ registrations one month before the expiry of license failing which a penalty of Rs.100 and Rs.30 per day will be imposed from 31 day to 60 day for licence and registration.

As the entire process was computerised, FBOs defaulting renewal between 31 and 60 day cannot renew their license/registration unless penalty is paid. Hence, the FBOs are advised to renew their licence/ registration one month before expiry to avoid the fines.

The Food Safety Commissioner said that mutton/ chicken stalls, marriage halls, temples offering annadanams, vehicles transporting food items, hotels, restaurants, mobile vendors need to apply for license/ registration.

The department is also taking efforts to issue identity cards to eligible registration certificate holders.

Warning the traders to desist from selling banned products, Dr. Candavelou also said, “The manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka, panmasala and other food products, containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients are banned in whole of the Union Territory of Puducherry. Hence FBOs are advised to desist from selling these banned products failing which a maximum penalty of Rs.five lakh will be imposed.”

The commissioner also said that all packaged food items should carry proper labelling system including date of manufacture, expiry, batch number, as regulations. All food packaging should carry the license number and FSSAI logo with effect from January 2, 2015 onwards. Violations of labelling regulation will attract penalty of Rs two lakh. Dr. Candavelou said, “A tie-up is being made with all municipalities and commune panchayats so that their licenses will not be issued unless Food License Registration is done in the first place.”

50% of ghee adulterated, say food safety officers

COIMBATORE: Food safety officers in the city said close to 50% of the ghee samples they collected in the last one week are found to be of 'substandard' quality. 

"It means they have been adulterated. In the case of ghee, it's mainly vanaspathi," said the designated food safety officer R Kathiravan. "At least two of the four samples tested last week were found to be substandard," he said. 

Vanaspati, which is basically hydrogenated vegetable oil, is known to be high in trans fatty acids. "Unsaturated fat is converted into saturated fat during processing, that's how it becomes solid," said Radhaisri S, associate professor, department of nutrition and dietetics at PSG College of Arts and Science. "It is often used as a substitute for ghee because it is cheaper, but it delays digestion and demands more antioxidants," she added. 

Most of the substandard samples collected were found to be made by small time players functioning out of small houses in various parts of the city. "They do not supply to bigger brands," confirmed Kathiravan. "They mainly bottle it themselves and retail it from petty shops in the neighbourhood," he added. They are usually booked for misbranding too, because their font is unreadable. 

While some manufacturers do mention that their ghee is not for consumption, others don't even provide the nutritional value of their product, said another food safety officer. 

"They claim their ghee is specially made for temple donations, especially for Sabarimala pilgrims. But shop owners rarely ask the customer for what purpose the ghee is going to be used," said the officer. 

Permanently sealing such adulterated ghee manufacturers is also close to impossible, say officers. "The biggest challenge we face is that, every time we seal the unit, they spring up again in another location with another brand name," added the officer. 

The problem of adulteration extends to cooking oil too, said Kathiravan. "Of the 12 samples we have taken in the past one month, two were found to be substandard," he said. "They often sell rice bran oil in the guise of groundnut or gingelly oil. Since they are the same color and many people can't identify the difference in flavor these manufacturers get away," he said. 

Officers advise people to buy oil and ghee retailed by well-known brands and in closed packets. "Now, big brands have also come up with 100 ml and 200 ml sachets, so it is easier for customers to buy in small quantities," he added. 

The food safety office is likely to start cracking down on the manufacturers of the adulterated samples over the next one week. "We will collect legal samples from manufacturers and then file legal cases and seal them," said an officer.

The good food guide

Consumers must educate themselves about what’s good for them and not

India, one of the strongest emerging economies of the world, isn’t far behind when it comes to disseminating information to its consumers regarding food quality and safety.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India promotes stringent regulations and standards for all the food products in the market. Hence, it becomes mandatory for food companies to display detailed nutritional labelling on the product. This information protects consumers from getting cheated and helps them make informed decisions.

However, several questions arise. Are Indian consumers aware of the labels on food packages? If yes, are they able to understand the displayed information in a simple and effective manner?

A nutritional label is not an ancient manuscript that is difficult to decipher. Consumers just need to educate themselves about the requirement of their body and understanding labels becomes as easy as ABC. Take fruit beverages. Whether in bottles or cartons, they display a chart of ingredients and nutrients present.

Consumers must read these labels to make sure these beverages meet their daily dietary requirement and consumption criteria.

Serving size is a measurement of quantity, be it in litres or millilitres. It gives information about the calories and amount of nutrient in the beverage. For example, if one serving gives you 100 calories, then two servings obviously mean the double of what you get with one. Per serving of 1 cup (200 ml) means 100 calories, total fat-14 g and cholesterol-15 mg Double serving is two cups (400 ml), 200 calories, total fat-28 g and cholesterol-30 mg. Therefore read before you consume any fruit drink.

Counting calories

Calories depict the amount of energy we get from this serving. Sometimes, we consume more calories than nutrients in our recommended dietary allowances (RDA). The number of servings is directly proportional to the number of calories. A precise calculation on this can help you control your weight.

Watch out!

As per the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/2009-2011/2012 the sugar intake of an average person in Britain is almost 700g a week, which amounts to 140 teaspoons. And 500 ml of cold drink has 17 cubes of sugar.

Fruit beverages are broadly classified into drinks, nectars and juices.

Fruit drinks: Fruit drink or ready-to-serve fruit beverages are calorically sweetened beverages with the least content of fruit juice. These are prepared from juice or pulp or puree or concentrated juice or pulp of sound mature fruit. The ingredients that may be added to fruit juice or pulp are water, peel oil, fruit essences and flavours, salt, sugar, invert sugar, liquid glucose, milk and other ingredients appropriate to the product and processed by heat.

Sometimes, fortifiers like calcium or vitamin C are also added. Beverages under this category are inexpensive and sold the most.

Fruit nectars: These have an average 20-40 per cent of fruit content, added sugars/sweeteners and aromas. Most nectars, other than orange and pineapple (40 per cent of fruit juice) contain 20 per cent fruit juice.

Fruit juices: These have 100 per cent fruit content with no additives or preservatives and are an excellent addition to the health regime, providing vitamins and minerals. These contain natural ingredients present in fruits and vegetables, such as fruit pulp, natural flavours, juice concentrate and water.

These are the healthiest among the three categories owing to the 100 per cent fruit content. Always check the date of manufacture and expiry. The MFD written on the labels means manufacture date (that date when the fruit juice was produced and packaged). Expiry date mentioned on the label makes clear the date after which the fruit juice is not good for consumption and must be discarded.

Juice versus whole fruit: During the process of juice extraction, many water-soluble vitamins are lost. Moreover, the whole fruit is a source of dietary fibre, fruit juice actually contains little to no fibre; 100 per cent fruit juice can have fibres but in less quantity.

For instance, a cup of apple juice has 0.2 gm of fibre, while a whole apple contains 3.3 gm. One cup of orange juice has 0.5 gm of fibre while a cup of fresh raw orange has 4.3 gm. If you need to choose, whole fruit should be your choice.

Roadside versus packaged fruit juices: Packaged fruit juices undergo mild pasteurisation before packaging to prevent growth of micro-organisms. Fruit juices packaged in cartons do not even need refrigeration or preservatives for up to one year. Further, before filling the beverages, the outside package is sterilised using ultra-high temperature process, preventing any kind of contamination within. Thus, juices available in packages are healthier than the street variants.

Puffed packages: Swollen or puffed cartons are the result of microbial action that leads to fermentation and contamination of the fruit beverage. The puffiness is due to this chemical reaction inside that leads to production of gas, and thus the fruit beverage must not be consumed.

Often, the food consumer is guided more by brand and taste rather than the health criterion. But since food labelling policies and regulation ensure that we know what we are eating, it is in our hands to choose nutrition over other factors.

Vitamin C is a weekly dose of consumer empowerment

Consumers must educate themselves about what’s good for them and not The writer is Senior Vice President, Consumer Product Services, TUV SUD South Asia

Check adulteration of sago: farmers

Demanding that a reasonable price be fixed for tapioca, and the government immediately conduct a tripartite meeting to solve various problems faced by them, members of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association on Thursday staged a demonstration outside the SAGOSERVE office on Salem — Bangalore National Highway here.

Led by P. Shanmugam, State general secretary of the association, members said that tapioca was cultivated as main crop in 18 districts in the State. A 70 kg bag of tapioca was earlier sold for Rs. 800, whereas it is currently being sold for Rs. 250.

“The price fall has affected lakh of farmers,” they said.

They said that the steep fall in price was because of the planned maneuver of the sago traders. The Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Cooperative Society Limited (SAGOSERVE) should buy sago at a reasonable price. Also, mill owners should have the infrastructure facilities for storing the sago in godowns and also the loan facilities, they added.

Since over one lakh small and medium farmers were involved in the trade and it was the only source of livelihood for them, the State Government should conduct meeting and solve the issue, they said.

There were about 200 units functioning in Salem and Namakkal districts, each crushing about one lakh bags of tapioca and producing sago. Traders insist that the sago be whitened using chemicals before selling in the market.

Hence sago manufacturers are forced to use banned chemicals.

“The government should regulate it as the life of people are in danger, if banned chemicals are used,” they added.

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

ஆன்லைன் மூலம் உணவு விற்பனை உரிமம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு ஆணையர் தகவல்

புதுச்சேரி, டிச. 11:

புதுவை மாநில உணவு பாதுகாப்பு ஆணையர் கந்தவேலு வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்தி குறிப்பு:

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை 3.1.2014 முதல் இணையம் மூலம் உணவு உரிமம் மற்றும் பதிவு வழங்கி வருகிறது. வணிகர்கள் ஒரு ஆண்டிற்கு உரிமமோ, பதிவோ பெற்று இருந்தால், அதை இந்த மாதம் முதல் புதுப்பிக்க வேண்டும். ஒவ்வொரு உரிமம்/பதிவும் காலாவதி தேதிக்கு 60 தினங்களுக்கு முன்னதாக புதுப்பிக்க தகுதி வாய்ந்தது. 31வது நாளில் இருந்து 60வது நாட்களுக்குள்ளாக புதுப்பிக்கும் போது ஒவ்வொரு நாளுக்கும் ரூ.100 மற்றும் ரூ.30 உணவு உரிமத்திற்கு மற்றும் பதிவிற் கும் அபராத தொகையாக வசூலிக்கப்படுகிறது.

அனைத்து புதுப்பித்தல் பணி இணைய தளம் மூலம் கட்டுப்படுத்தப்படுவதால், 31வது நாளில் இருந்து 60 நாட்களுக்குள்ளாக உரிமம், பதிவு புதுப்பித்தலின்போது அபராத தொகை கட்டாமல் புதுப்பிக்க இயலாது. எனவே, காலாவதி தேதிக்கு ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு முன்பே உரிமத்தை புதுப்பித்து கொள்ளுமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்படுகிறது.

பிராந்தி, விஸ்கி, ரம், ஒயின், பீர் போன்ற மதுபானங்களும் உணவு பாது காப்பு மற்றும் தரங்கள் சட்டத்தின் படி உணவு பொரு ளாக கருதப்படுகிறது. எனவே, மதுபானங்களை கையாளும் உணவு வணிகர்கள் அனை வரும் கலால் உரிமம் பெறு வது மட்டுமில்லாமல் உணவு உரிமம் பெறுவதும் கட்டாயமாகிறது. இறைச்சி கடைகள், திருமண மண்டபங்கள், அன்னதானம் வழங்கும் இறை தலங்கள், உணவு எடுத்து செல்லும் போக்குவரத்து வாகனங் கள், உணவகங்கள், தள்ளு வண்டிகள் போன்ற அனைவரும் உணவு உரிமம் மற்றும் பதிவு எடுப்பது அவசியமாகிறது. தகுதி படைத்த பதிவு சான்றாளர்களுக்கு அடையாள அட்டை இத்துறை மூலம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

குட்கா, பான்மசாலா மற் றும் நிக்கோட்டின் அல் லது புகையிலை பொருட் களை உணவு பண்டங்களில் சேர்த்து தயாரிப்பது, சேமிப்பது, விநியோகம் மற்றும் விற்பனை செய்வது முற்றிலும் தடை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. தடை செய்யப்பட்ட இத்தகைய பொருட் களை கையாள வேண்டாம் என உணவு வணிகர்கள் அறிவுறுத்தப்படுகிறார்கள். மாறாக சட்டத்தை மீறுபவர்கள் மீதும் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதோடு, அதிகபட்சமாக ரூ.5 லட்சம் வரை அபராதம் விதிக்க வழியுண்டு என்று எச்சரிக்கப்படுகிறது.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்ட விதிகளின்படி பொட்டலத்தில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் அனைத்து உணவு பண்டங்களின் மீது உற்பத்தி தேதி, காலாவதி தேதி, தொகுதி எண் போன்ற விபரங்கள் குறிப்பிட வேண்டும். மேலும், 2.1.2015க்கு பின்பு அனைத்து பொட்டலங்களிலும் உரிம எண் குறிப்பிட்டு இருப்பது அவசியம். உரிமம், பதிவு பெற கடைசி நாளான 4.2.2015 வரை காத்திராமல், அனைத்து உணவு வணிகர்களும் உரிமம் மற்றும் பதிவு பெற முன்வருமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்படுகிறது.

எந்தவொரு உணவு வணிகரும் நகராட்சி அல் லது பஞ்சாயத்து உரிமம் பெறுவதற்கு முன் உணவு உரிமம், பதிவு பெறுவது கட்டாயமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரங்கள் சட்டம் 2006 வழக்கம் போல் நடைமுறையில் உள்ளது.

இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

Comprehensively reviewing food safety act, government tell SC

New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) The central government Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it was engaged in the exercise of giving a comprehensive relook to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in light of its orders and the representation received from the public.

Allowing the government six weeks more to complete the exercise it has undertaken, a bench of Justice M.Y.Eqbal and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh told it to do it seriously and expeditiously.

The court said this as counsel Anurag Tomar appearing for the petitioner Swamy Achyutanand Tirth told the court that the orders for a review of the FSSA was passed a year ago but things are moving at snail's pace.

As counsel Indira Sahni appearing for the government told the court about the efforts that are being made, the court said they should also look into making penal provision that would have deterring effect on those indulging in adulteration.

The government in its affidavit before the court said that the parliamentary standing committee on Health and Family Welfare too has recommended taking immediate measures to deal with the incidents of rampant adulteration of food items in the country.

The committee has also urged the government to give more teeth to the FSSA, 2006, and the Food Authority constituted under it to tackle these incidents.

The court in the last hearing of the matter on Nov 11 had said: "We hope and trust that in the coming winter session of parliament, government will take appropriate steps in this direction (of amending FSSA, 2006)."

The apex court by its February 2014 order had said: "Considering the gravity of the situation as well as in larger public interest it is highly necessary that Union of India should think of making appropriate amendments in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, so that such type of crimes could be curbed to a large extent."

The court had said this taking into consideration a report by the Dehradun based Himalayan Institute of Medical Science which said that milk samples which were tested indicated that all the milk samples including double toned milk collected from different places showed presence of urea and detergents as common adulterants.

Swamy Achyutanand Tirth has moved the apex court seeking its intervention to curb the large scale adulteration of milk including production and sale of synthetic milk.

Food Safety Soon in School Syllabus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister V S Sivakumar told the Assembly on Wednesday that a decision on including food safety in school syllabus will be taken after holding consultations with the Education Minister.

“The Health Department is of the view that food safety should be included in the syllabus. A decision can only be taken after discussing the matter with the Education Minister,” he said during the question hour.

Stating that food safety offices have been opened at all the 140 constituencies, Sivakumar said that 57 vacancies had to be filled in these offices. Once the posts are filled, the offices would have a greater role in ensuring safety of food, he said.

On a question regarding chemicals used in fish for preserving it, Sivakumar said that the government was aware that certain chemicals were used in fish for preservation.

However, no action has been taken against such activities, he added. He said that the government was aware that formalin was used as a preservative.

Sivakumar also said that no study has been conducted on the harmful effects of using such chemicals. The Minister said that the Analytical Labs at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode and the Central Lab at Kochi had facilities for testing chemical contents in fish samples.

On increasing reports of pesticide-laden vegetables and fruits, he said that the tests on vegetable and fruit samples did not show pesticides above the levels envisaged by the food safety standards.

And, as such, no case has been registered against any wholesale or retail dealer in the state. The Minister said that steps have been taken to conduct tests on more vegetable and fruit samples.

Two Food Safety Labs to be Modernised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hamstrung by inadequate facilities for analysing food samples, the Commissionerate of Food Safety is looking to equip two of its laboratories with advanced equipment.

Tenders have been floated for procuring the equipment for performing GC-MS/MS analysis at the labs in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama said.

‘’We are procuring the equipment through the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL). The equipment will cost around Rs 1 crore,’’ Anupama said.

‘’Now we don’t have such facilities in our labs, but the equipment that we are procuring will serve our purposes in detecting major health hazard-causing residues in fruits and vegetables and other food items,’’ she said.

Recently, the State Government had decided to form an authority by the Food Safety Commissioner to ensure that pesticide-ridden fruits and vegetables do not get imported into the state. In the light of this decision, the Commissionerate had also decided to step up inspections.

At present, the Commissionerate depends on the lab of the Kerala Agriculture University (KAU) in Vellayani here for testing food samples.

However, the cost is prohibitive - Rs 8000 per sample.

The Commissionerate has requested Kerala Agricultural University to reduce the rate to around Rs 4000, but even that is considered too high for getting a single sample analysed.

Guidelines for bakeries for Christmas

The Food Safety Commissioner has issued guidelines for food business operators in view of the spurt in demand for bakery items during the forthcoming Christmas season.

An official pressnote quoting the commissioner on Wednesday said many bakeries were using spurious raw materials and unpermitted additives and colours to make cakes, chips, and other food items. This, it said, was a criminal offence inviting punishment of six months imprisonment and up to Rs.5,00,000 as fine.

The guidelines specify the use of good quality raw materials and permitted preservatives and colours. Newspapers are not be used in the manufacture of cakes and other items and employees are to maintain cleanliness.

Violation of the guidelines would invite prosecution, the pressnote said.

Licence seekers prefer cyber cafes

REGISTRATION UNDER FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT

Bathinda, December 10

A number of shopkeepers selling food items are facing difficulties in getting themselves registered online under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Besides the registration, the shopkeepers have to get the licence issued under the Act following which they have to spend money for filling the online forms at cyber cafés.

Mandatory under the Act, about 750 shopkeepers have got themselves registered in the city, while many others are in the process of registration and to get the requisite licence issued.

The fee of the licence under the Food Safety and Standard Authority of Indian (FSSAI) has to be submitted by the applicant.

For online registration and filling of forms for the licence, officials of the department concerned have been filling the forms but due to the rush of the applicants, many residents prefer private cyber cafés to get the licences issued as soon as possible.

For the online facility, applicants can log on to the designated website foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in, where they will have to register as users after furnishing details of the business. After that a requisite fee has to be paid as per the government order.

Then the applicant has to fill up the form to seek the registration and get the licence issued and upload scanned copies of the required documents on the website.

Even after the online facility, the applicants have to send documents and receipt through registered post to the office of District Health Officer. After getting the application through online mode, health workers visits the shops or manufacturing units for verification of the premises.

Operators involved in the food bussiness with an annual turnover above Rs 12 crore must have a licence and those who earn less than Rs 12 crore a year must get a registration certificate, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

“The process is complicated on internet following which the shopkeepers and other applicants approach cyber cafe owners who demand an amount of Rs 1,000 for filling the forms. Due to the shortage of staff and computers at government offices, many residents opt to go to private shops to get themselves registered as the deadline has crossed,” said Mohan Lal, a shopkeeper.

The eateries, roadside fast food shops, joints, hotels, stall holders, restaurants, canteens, dhabas, food carts, sweetshops, tea stalls, grocery stores, meat and milk sellers besides other shops dealing with eatables in the district have to get themselves registered.

Antibiotics in chicken: MPs question government on action taken after CSE study

Animal husbandry department issues a new advisory on antibiotic use in chickens

 On the pretext of preventing diseases, poultry farmers use antibiotics in feed to fatten the birds. There is no way to differentiate between disease prevention and growth promotion (Photo: Vikas Choudhary)

The study by Delhi non-profit Centre for Science and Environment that found antibiotic residues in chicken found mention in the current session of Parliament when Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh sought some answers from the Union Ministry of Agriculture on December 5. Singh asked about the action taken by the ministry after CSE research revealed that 40 per cent of chicken samples tested in Delhi-NCR contained residues of antibiotics.

Union agriculture Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh said, in a written statement, that an advisory had already been issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) on June 3 this year, discouraging the use of antibiotics in animal feed and maintaining of withdrawal periods.

Another circular was issued by the DADF on December 2 to the heads of the animal husbandry departments in states and Union Territories. It acknowledges the presence of residues of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline in poultry meat. The same antibiotics were detected in the chicken samples in the CSE study.

The December circular says antibiotics should not be allowed for use in feed/feed supplements. It also suggests limiting antibiotic use in food-producing animals through measures such as encouraging strict biosecurity measures and alternate growth promoters, registration and licensing of antibiotics, and education of veterinarians and poultry farmers on the ill effects of indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

The circular, however, has a major loophole. It states that antibiotics for prophylaxis/metaphylaxis (prevention of disease) may be used under the supervision of veterinarians. The CSE report suggests that the practice of using antibiotics for mass disease prevention (one of the non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics; the other is growth promotion) contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance (ABR) and all non-therapeutic use of antibiotics should be banned. A policy paper published by the National Academy of Sciences also acknowledges the grave threat to human and animal health due to the transfer of ABR via the environment.

According to CSE, ABR, as a public health concern, is not limited to the presence of antibiotic residues in meat. It also relates to the creation of reservoirs of resistant bacteria from the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Resistant bacteria can be transferred from food-producing animals to humans through food, direct contact and through the environment.

While the advisory issued by DADF asks the state animal husbandry departments to limit ABR resulting from antibiotic use in food-producing animals, it has left the implementation of measures to them.

No standards for antibiotic use in poultry and cattle

On November 28, Vinod Kumar Boianapalli and Kambhampati Hari Babu, MPs from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively, raised a question on chemical and antibiotic residues in animals in the Lok Sabha (as an unstarred question). The question sought details of regulation and monitoring mechanisms to monitor these residues in poultry and other cattle reared for meat. In reply, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda mentioned the limits for antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances for fishery products instead.

It is important to note that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has no such standards for poultry or cattle meat. Standards are in place only for seafood. Moreover, FSSAI, in 2010, notified tolerance limits for only four antibiotics—tetracycline, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim and oxonilic acid—in fish and fishery products.

Unregulated access to antibiotics

The same day, Raksha Nikhil Khadse and Prem Singh Chandumajra, MPs from Maharashtra and Punjab respectively, asked in the Lok Sabha (as a starred question) the total quantity and value of antibiotics imported from China and other countries during the current year and the last three years. They also asked about the mechanisms put in place by the government to ensure the quality of imported drugs.

In the statement laid on the table of the Lok Sabha, minister Nadda provided data on the import of bulk drug (antibiotics). According to this data, it is understood that the quantity of bulk drug (antibiotics, in kg) imported from China comprised more than 90 per cent of the total bulk drug imported by India in 2014 (up to November 20, 2014).

CSE, during its field research, obtained antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and doxycycline in kilograms without a prescription. They were unlabelled and had no expiry date, which means they could have been manufactured in India or imported from another country. It exposed the lacunae in the implementation of governmental regulations on the import and sale of antibiotics.

Top Questions From Discussion Forums Answered By FoodSafetyHelpline Experts

FoodSafetyHelpline experts replied to the recent queries:

Q. What is difference between FSSAI/State FDA Registration & License?

A. FSSAI is the apex food regulator in India for the manufacture, sale, distribution, import of the food article. FSSAI is the central licensing authority for regulating & implementing the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The state food authorities work under the FSSAI regulations. The criteria for state/central license & registration will depend upon various factors like production capacity, annual turnover etc.

Please go through the below links for your better understanding:

Criteria for Registration

Criteria for Central License

Criteria for State License

Q. I want to know that for sale of Nutritional Health Supplement, which license should I take?

A. You have to obtain a license under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. If you are not a manufacturer or the brand owner of the Nutritional Health Supplement, then you can apply online for the license as now there is an online procedure for the same. If you are the brand owner of the product then first you have to apply for the Food Product Approval as per Section 22 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and then you can apply for the license.

Q. As per notification 4/15015/30/2011 Dt 23.06.14 – time to comply with license logo display on label is up to 1st Jan’2015.

But if one FBO is issued the license number by FSSAI on 1st Jan’2015, by when he has to display it on Label. Is there any notification in this regard giving timelines. Draft amendment issued on 29.12.2011 specified a provision of 6 months from date of issue of license which in is not there in Gazatte notification – PL PROVIDE CLARITY.

A. As on date, the latest advisory has superseded the earlier communications by the food authority in this regard and every food business operator has to abide by the contents of the latest advisory which says that from January 1, 2015, FSSAI logo and License number should be mentioned on the label of a food product. Also, we would like to add here that the specified provision of 6 months was ‘from the date of issue of the notification’ and not ‘from date of issue of licensee’, that period too has expired.

Q. Want to know what is the last amended date to put licence no. on prepackaged foods?

A. As per the latest advisory issued by the food authority, from January 1, 2015, every prepackaged food article should bear FSSAI logo and License number on the label.

Food Safety Bill Withdrawn From RS for Further Amendments

The government today withdrew from the Rajya Sabha a bill related to food safety and standards which it wants to amend further taking into account recent court judgments.

The Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was withdrawn by Minister of State for Health Shripad Yasso Naik.

The previous UPA government had proposed amendments to the Act to expand the composition of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and dispense with certain conditions in public interest while making regulations on food.

The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February 19, this year.

However, the move to withdraw the bill was objected by P Rajeeve (CPI-M), who said it was under consideration of a Standing Committee.

"On the basis of this statement, the House has no legislative competence," Rajeeve said, referring to papers apparently provided to him by the government.

PJ Kurien, who was in the Chair, said the objection is "pertinent" and if the bill is with the Committee, the House cannot withdraw it.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi then told the House that a report had been received from the Committee.

Following Naqvi's intervention, Kurien said that it is very clear that a report had come from the Committee and it is on record with the Minister also having said so.

The motion was then adopted and the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill 2014 withdrawn.

An official statement released last month said the bill needs to be further amended after taking into account judgements of the Supreme Court, Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, and representations received by the government and other recent developments.

Food safety bill withdrawn from RS for further amendments

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday withdrew from the Rajya Sabha a bill related to food safety and standards which it wants to amend further taking into account recent court judgments.

The Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was withdrawn by Minister of State for Health Shripad Yasso Naik.

The previous UPA government had proposed amendments to the Act to expand the composition of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and dispense with certain conditions in public interest while making regulations on food.

The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February 19, this year.

However, the move to withdraw the bill was objected by P Rajeeve (CPI-M), who said it was under consideration of a Standing Committee.

"On the basis of this statement, the House has no legislative competence," Rajeeve said, referring to papers apparently provided to him by the government.

PJ Kurien, who was in the Chair, said the objection is "pertinent" and if the bill is with the Committee, the House cannot withdraw it.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi then told the House that a report had been received from the Committee.

Following Naqvi's intervention, Kurien said that it is very clear that a report had come from the Committee and it is on record with the Minister also having said so.

The motion was then adopted and the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill 2014 withdrawn.

An official statement released last month said the bill needs to be further amended after taking into account judgements of the Supreme Court, Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, and representations received by the government and other recent developments.

HC Tells TDB to Ensure Adherence to Food Safety Norms

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure that the standards prescribed by the Food Safety Commissioner are strictly followed in the preparation of ‘appam’ and ‘aravana’ at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala. The Division Bench also held that if any batch of the ‘prasadam’ is not prepared in conformity with the standards it should not be distributed to devotees.

The Bench, comprising Justice P N Raveendran and Justice P B Suresh Kumar, passed the order based on a report by the Special Commissioner on the preparation of appam and aravana.

In 2012, the court had directed the TDB to follow the suggestions of the Commissioner on the production, packaging and handling of aravana and appam at the Sabarimala temple.

The court also observed that the laboratory on the temple premises should be functional during the monthly poojas and in the ‘mandalam makaravilakku’ season. There should be a complete regulatory mechanism in place with regard to the procurement of materials, as well as the production and packaging of aravana and appam.

The Bench held that the District Collector and the Sabarimala Special Commissioner should ensure the compliance of the order.

Ensure quality of Sabarimala ‘prasadom,’ court tells TDB

A Division Bench of the High Court on Tuesday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure that Appam and Aravana at Sabarimala are prepared in accordance with the standards prescribed by the Food Safety Commissioner.

The Bench comprising Justice P.N. Ravindran and Justice P.B. Suresh Kumar ordered that if the ‘prasadom’ had not been prepared as per the prescribed standards, it should not be distributed to devotees.

The court asked the District Collector, Pathanamthitta, and the District Police Chief to ensure compliance.

The court also recalled that the Bench had already issued directives to supply quality food at Sabarimala during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. The Bench said it had ordered steps to ensure the quality of ‘prasadom’ ingredients

Plea of accused dismissed

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by four accused seeking to quash the case registered in connection with the sale of substandard shawarma in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Crime Branch had registered cases under the provisions of the Food Safety Act and under section 304 of Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The prosecution case against Abdul Khadar and others was that after having shawarma prepared and sold from their shop, on July 7, 2012, ten customers were admitted to various hospitals for treatment of food poisoning. Besides, a youth who had eaten shawarma from the shop died in Bangalore.
The court said that the petitioners were not entitled to get the case quashed.

Traders selling milk directed to keep testing machines

Jammu, December 9The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has directed shopkeepers dealing with milk distribution to keep milk testing machines on their premises.

The corporation has directed shopkeepers dealing with milk to place cow, buffalo and mixed milk separately on their premises.

Trying to stop the influx of adulterated milk in the city, the JMC has also decided to deploy teams of food safety officers at points from where the milk vendors enter city.

This has been decided as one of the steps to check the quality of milk before it reaches consumers. The corporation has also given its telephone numbers — 2571308 and 18001807034 (toll free) — in case of any complaint against shopkeepers.

“Officials have also been instructed to check licences of all milk vendors entering the limits of the Municipal Corporation and should not allow any milk vendor without licence to enter. They should also check the quality of milk sold by vendors who possess licence,” said a municipal official.

A senior municipal official said the civic body was fighting a losing battle against the adulteration in the city as it did not have required facility and equipment to test milk and its products.

Drive to stop adulteration

• The Municipal Corporation has directed shopkeepers dealing with milk to place cow, buffalo and mixed milk separately on their premises
• Trying to stop the influx of adulterated milk into the city, the MC has also decided to deploy teams of food safety officers at points from where the milk vendors enter the city
• The MC has also given its telephone numbers —2571308 and 18001807034 (toll free) — in case of any complaint against shopkeepers

“To curb adulteration of milk, FDA Maharashtra to make plans”: Bhapkar

Milk adulteration is one of the key challenges faced by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, and plans would be chalked out to curb it and sell quality, hygienic milk. This was stated by state FDA commissioner Dr Purushottam Bhapkar while speaking on Monday. 

In this regard, FDA Maharashtra is currently in talks with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumer organisations like Mumbai Grahak Panchayat for coming up with initiatives in curbing the malpractice. 

Shubhada Chaukar, member, managing committee, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, said, “We have started a campaign called Pure Milk - Our Right to educate consumers about various types of milk adulteration and the ill-effects of the malpractice.” 

“We would encourage them to file complaints against those found indulging in adulteration,” she added. 

“But that is not enough to completely end adulteration. We need the help of state FDA and police officials, who would act against the culprits. We met Bhapkar, and sought his assistance,” she explained. 

Since the month of August, when Bhapkar was appointed state FDA chief, a great deal of emphasis has been put on food safety and the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011. 

Further, raids have been carried out in the state in the past two to three months in ensuring sale of safe and hygienic food at shops, eateries, restaurants and other places.

Commenting on the raids, Bhapkar stated, “As a recent appointee, the major concern for me is to provide safe and hygienic food to public during the festive season.” 

“Thus, with strict vigilance maintained by officials throughout the season, a huge Diwali campaign was carried out all over Maharashtra, wherein 1,695 samples of food specially made for the season were collected, and goods worth Rs 1,51,62,077 were seized all over the state,” he added. 

“Another prime concern for the state was governance and implementation of the ban of tobacco and gutkha, which came into effect on July 20, 2012,” Bhapkar said. 

“In the last two years, FDA Maharashtra seized gutkha and allied products worth Rs 44.33 crore. So far, 1,078 cases have been registered against them,” he added. 

“It must be noted that only scented gutkha and tobacco have been banned, and their raw forms haven’t,” he signed off.

மினரல் வாட்டரில் மினரலே இல்லை! தேவை அதிக கவனம் கேன் வாட்டரில் வைரஸ்தான் உள்ளது!

பயணங்களின் போது கவுரவத்துக்காகவோ, தவிர்க்க இயலாமலோ பேக்கேஜுட் வாட்டரை பயன்படுத்த ஆரம்பித்த நாம், இன்று வாட்டர் கேன் வராவிட்டால் குடும்பம் நடத்த முடியாது என்ற நிலைமைக்கு வந்துவிட்டோம். 20 லிட்டர் தண்ணீர் கேன் 40 ரூபாய் என்று விற்கப் படும் அளவுக்கு, ஆயிரக்கணக்கான கோடிகள் புழங்கும் மிகப்பெரிய வர்த்தகமாக இது உருவாகியிருக்கிறது.

அத்தியாவசியப் பொருளான தண்ணீர், விலைப் பொருளாக மாறிய கொடுமை ஒருபக்கம் இருக்கட்டும்... ‘சுகாதாரமானது’ என்று நாம் நம்பி வாங்கும் இந்த வாட்டர்உண்மையிலேயேபாதுகாப்பானதுதானா என்ற சந்தேகமும் மறுபுறம் விவாதத்துக் குரியதாகவே இருக்கிறது. சுற்றுச்சூழல் பற்றி நிறைய ஆய்வுகள் செய்துவரும் பேராசிரியர்ரஹ்மானிடம் இதுபற்றிப் பேசினோம்...

‘‘இயற்கையாகக் கிடைக்கும் தண்ணீரை கவர்ச்சியான ஒரு பெயரை வைத்து பணம் சம்பாதிக்கும் மோசடிதான் நடந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது’’ என்று தடாலடியாக ஆரம்பிக்கிறார். 

‘‘இந்தக் குற்றச்சாட்டை நான் மேலோட்ட மாக சொல்லவில்லை. பேக்கேஜுட் டிரிங்கிங் வாட்டர் எப்படி தயாராகிறது என்று தெரிந்தால் நான் சொல்வதன் அர்த்தம் புரிந்துவிடும். இந்த நிறுவனங்கள் லட்சக்கணக்கான லிட்டர் தண்ணீரை ஏதேனும் ஒரு நீர் ஆதாரத்திலிருந்து மொத்தமாக எடுக்கிறார்கள். 

இந்தத் தண்ணீரில் படிந்திருக்கும் நுண்துகள்கள், பாக்டீரியா, வைரஸ் போன்ற நுண்கிருமிகளை அகற்ற வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக, சில வேதிப்பொருட்களைக் கலந்து சுத்திகரிக்கிறார்கள். தண்ணீரின் அமிலத்தன்மை, காரத்தன்மையை நீக்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காகவும் சுத்திகரிக்கிறார்கள். இந்தத் தண்ணீர் சுத்திகரிக்கப்பட்ட பிறகு, கண்ணாடி போல சுத்தமாகத் தெரியும். இப்போது மேலே சுத்தமாக இருக்கும் தண்ணீரை மட்டும் பாட்டில் / கேன் வாட்டர் தயாரிக்க எடுத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள். 

சுத்திகரிப்பின் போது மாசுகள் அகற்றப்படுவது நல்ல விஷயமாக இருந்தாலும், தண்ணீரில் இயற்கையாகவே இருக்கும் சில உப்புச்சத்துகளும் சேர்ந்து இதனுடன் வடிகட்டப்பட்டுவிடுவதால் வெறும் தண்ணீராகவே நமக்குக் கிடைக்கிறது. இதனால், தண்ணீர் மூலம் நமக்குக் கிடைக்கும் கால்சியம், பொட்டாசி யம், மக்னீசியம் போன்ற தாது உப்புகள் கிடைக்காமலே போய்விடுகின்றன.

மூன்று புறமும் தண்ணீர் இருக்கிற இந்த பூமியில் தண்ணீர் பஞ்சம் இருப்பது எத்தனை வினோதமானதோ, அதேபோல மினரல் வாட்டர் என்ற பெயரில் விற்கப்படும் தண்ணீரில் மினரல்களே இல்லை என்பதும் ஒரு வினோதமான உண்மை. இருக்கிற தாதுச்சத்துகளையும் வடிகட்டி விட்டுக் கொடுப்பதற்கு பெயர் மினரல் வாட்டரா? 

பெரிய நிறுவனங்கள் சுத்திகரிக்கும் வாட்டரில் தாது உப்புகள் இல்லை என்றால், சரியாக சுத்திகரிக்கப்படாத தண்ணீரில் நச்சுத்தன்மை மிக்க கனிமங்கள், பாக்டீரியாக்கள், வைரஸ்கள் போன்றவை அதிகமாக இருக்கின்றன. இந்த சுகாதாரமற்ற தண்ணீரால் சரும நோய்கள், கால்சியம் சத்துப் பற்றாக்குறையால் எலும்புகள் பலவீன மாவது என்று பல சிக்கல்களும் கூடவே வருகின்றன.

இந்தியர்களுக்கு எப்போதுமே மேற்கத்திய விஷயங்கள் மீது ஈடுபாடு அதிகம். அவர்கள் என்ன செய்தாலும், அதை அப்படியே பின்பற்றுவதுதான் நம் பழக்கம். அதே வழியில்தான் வெளிநாட்டினர் தண்ணீரை சுத்திகரிக்கப் பயன்படுத்துகிற Reverse Osmosis என்கிற ‘எதிர்ச்சவ்வூடுப் பரவல்’ தொழில்நுட்பத்தையும் பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். மேற்கத்திய நாடுகளின் சீதோஷ்ண நிலை வேறு, அவர்கள் அருந்தும் தண்ணீரின் அளவு வேறு, வெளியேறும் சிறுநீரின் அளவு வேறு, உடலமைப்பு வேறு போன்ற அடிப்படையான விஷயங்களை நாம் கவனிக்க மறந்துவிடுகிறோம். 

உண்மையில், தெருக்குழாய்களின் மூலமும் நகராட்சிகளின் மூலமும் அரசாங்கம் கொடுக்கும் குடிநீரே போதுமானதுதான். இந்தத் தண்ணீரை வடிகட்டிக் காய்ச்சிக் குடித்தால், அதைவிட பாதுகாப்பானது எதுவும் இல்லை. தண்ணீரில் இருக்கும் தாது உப்புகளும் நமக்கு முழுமையாகக் கிடைக்கும். ஆனால், இயற்கையாகக் கிடைக்கும் தண்ணீரையோ, குளோரின் மூலம் சுத்திகரித்து அரசாங்கம் கொடுக்கும் தண்ணீரை யோ நாம் நம்புவது இல்லை’’ என்கிறார் வருத்தத்துடன்! 

உண்மையில், தெருக்குழாய்களின் மூலமும் நகராட்சிகளின் மூலமும் அரசாங்கம் கொடுக்கும் குடிநீரே போதுமானதுதான். இந்தத் தண்ணீரை வடிகட்டிக் காய்ச்சிக் குடித்தால்,  அதைவிட பாதுகாப்பானது எதுவும் இல்லை!

மருத்துவர் அர்ச்சனாவிடம் மினரல் வாட்டரால் ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புகள் பற்றியும், அதற்கான மாற்று வழிமுறைகளையும் கேட்டோம்...‘‘இந்தியாவைப் பொறுத்த வரை போதுமான கழிவறை வசதிகள் இல்லாதது, சுற்றுப்புறச் சூழலில் இருக்கும் அலட்சியம் போன்ற சில காரணங்களால் தண்ணீர் மாசுபடுவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகமாக இருக்கின்றன. இந்த சூழலில்தான் சுத்தமான, சுகாதாரமான தண்ணீர் என்ற வாசகங்களுடன் வரும் மினரல் வாட்டர் நம்மைக் கவர்ந்துவிடுகிறது. 

உலக சுகாதார நிறுவனத்தின் பரிந்துரைப்படி, சாதாரணமாக நமக்குக் கிடைக்கும் தண்ணீரை 10 முதல் 15 நிமிடங்கள் வரை கொதிக்க வைத்துக் காய்ச்சிக் குடித்தாலே போதுமானது. தண்ணீரைக் கொதிக்க வைப்பதோடு அந்த தண்ணீரை சரியாக மூடி வைக்க வேண்டும், தண்ணீரைக் கையாள்பவர்களின் தனிநபர் சுத்தம், பயன்படுத்தும் டம்ளரின் சுத்தம் என்று மற்ற விஷயங்களிலும் அக்கறை செலுத்த வேண்டும். வாட்டர் ப்யூரிஃபையர் பயன்படுத்த விரும்பினால் அந்த நிறுவனத்தைப் பற்றி நன்கு தெரிந்துகொண்டு வாங்க வேண்டும். 6 மாதங்களுக்கு ஒருமுறை தவறாமல் ப்யூரிஃபையரை சுத்தம் செய்வதும் அவசியம்.

இன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில் மினரல் வாட்டரை தவிர்க்க முடியாது. அதனால், மினரல் வாட்டரால் நமக்குக் கிடைக்காமல் போகும் சத்துகளை சமன்படுத்த காய்கறிகள், பழங்கள், நல்ல சத்தான உணவுகள் எடுத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். தண்ணீரால் மட்டுமே நமக்கு எல்லா சத்துகளும் கிடைத்துவிடுவதில்லை என்பதையும் உலக சுகாதார நிறுவனம் கூறியிருக்கிறது. சுகாதாரமற்ற மினரல் வாட்டரால் மட்டும் அல்ல, பொதுவாகவே சுகாதாரமற்ற தண்ணீரால் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, காய்ச்சல், கல்லீரல் பாதிப்பு, ஹெபடைட்டிஸ் போன்ற நோய்கள் வருகின்றன என்பதால் தண்ணீர் விஷயத்தில் கவனமுடன் இருக்க வேண்டும்!’’

கேன் வாட்டரை தவிர்க்க முடியாதவர்களுக்கு நாலு விஷயங்கள்!

*கேன் வாட்டர் தயாரிப்பாளர்களில் அரசு அங்கீகாரம் பெற்றவர்களை விட, குடிசைத் தொழில் போல் அங்கீகாரம் இல்லாமல் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்து வருபவர்கள்தான் அதிகம். அதனால், நீங்கள் யாரிடம் தண்ணீர் வாங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறீர்கள் என்பதை சரிபார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள். 

*நுண்கிருமிகள் நீக்கப்பட்ட (Sterilize) கேன்களில்தான் தண்ணீர் நிரப்பி விற்க வேண்டும். பல இடங்களில் அழுக்கடைந்த கேன்களிலேயே தண்ணீர் நிரப்பி மீண்டும் வீட்டில் கொண்டு வந்து இறக்கிவிடுகிறார்கள். தண்ணீர் நிரப்பும் கேன் சுத்தமாக இருக்கிறதா என்பதை கவனியுங்கள். 

*சீல் உடைக்கப்பட்ட வாட்டர் பாட்டில், கேன் ஆகியவற்றை எவ்வளவு சீக்கிரம் பயன்படுத்துகிறோமோ அந்த அளவுக்கு நல்லது. அதிக நாட்கள் திறந்து வைத்திருக்கும் போது அந்தத் தண்ணீரில் நுண்கிருமிகள் தானாகவே வந்துவிடும் வாய்ப்பு உண்டு. 

*வெளியிடங்களுக்குச் செல்வதாக இருந்தால், முடிந்த வரை வீட்டிலிருந்தே தண்ணீர் எடுத்துச் சென்று பழகுங்கள்.

அவசியமா ஆர்.ஓ.?

ஆர்.ஓ. என்பதன் பொருள் ரிவர்ஸ் ஆஸ்மாசிஸ். ஆர்.ஓ. ட்ரீட்டட் செய்யப்பட்ட தண்ணீரில் உப்புச் சுவை இருக்காது. இந்த முறையில் தண்ணீரில் இருந்து உப்பு பிரிக்கப்பட்ட பிறகு கிடைக்கிற ரிஜக்டட் தண்ணீரையே நாம் உபயோகிக்கிறோம். தண்ணீரில் டிடிஎஸ் எனப்படுகிற டோட்டல் டிசால்வ்டு சாலிட்ஸ் அளவானது 2,100 மில்லிகிராம் - ஒரு லிட்டருக்கு இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பது மாசுகட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் குறிப்பிடுகிற அளவு. சில தண்ணீரில் இது கூடவோ குறைவாகவோ இருக்கும். 

ஆர்.ஓ. ட்ரீட் செய்யப்பட்ட தண்ணீரிலோ உப்புச் சத்து அறவே இருக்காது. நம் உடலில் உள்ள உப்பானது வியர்வை மற்றும் சிறுநீரின் வழியே வெளியேறும். அதை ஈடுகட்ட சாதாரண தண்ணீரை குடிக்க வேண்டும். ஆர்.ஓ. ட்ரீட்டட் செய்யப்பட்ட தண்ணீரையே குடிப்பதால் இந்த உப்பு இழப்பு ஈடுகட்டப்படாது. உடலுக்கு தேவையான உப்புச் சத்து இல்லாவிட்டால் களைப்பாக உணர்வோம். சாதாரண தண்ணீரில் ஓரளவு கால்சியம் சத்தும் இருக்கிறது. 

ஆர்.ஓ ட்ரீட்டட் தண்ணீரில் இந்த கால்சியமும் நீக்கப்படும். வயதானவர்களும் பெண்களும் தொடர்ந்து ஆர்.ஓ. ட்ரீட்டட் தண்ணீரை குடிப்பதால் கால்சியம் பற்றாக்குறைக்கு ஆளாகிறார்கள். அவர்களது எலும்பு ஸ்பாஞ்ச் போல மிருதுவாகும். லேசாக அடிபட்டால் கூட எலும்புகள் நொறுங்கிப் போகலாம். 

ஒருசில மினரல் வாட்டரை பருகும் போது லேசான இனிப்புச் சுவையுடன் இளநீர் போல இருப்பதை உணரலாம். அவர்கள் அதில் சேர்க்கிற ஒருவிதமான கெமிக்கலே அதற்கு காரணம். கொதிக்க வைத்து வடி கட்டிய தண்ணீரே ஆரோக்கியமானது. ஆர்.ஓ. ட்ரீட்டட் தண்ணீர் அனாவசியமானது.

வெளி மாவட்டங்களில் இருந்து விற்பனைக்கு வரும் கறிக்கோழிகள் அதிகாரிகள் கூட்டாய்வு

பெரம்பலூர், டிச,9:

பல்வேறு நாடுகளில் பறவை இனங்களில் கடுமையான தாக் கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி வரும் பறவை காய்ச்சல் நோய் தற் போது கேரள மாநிலத்தில் வாத்துகளில் உள்ளதாக கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளது. வைரஸ் கிருமிகளால் உண்டாகும் இந்நோய் பறவைகள் மற்றும் கோழி இனங்களில் கடுமையான பாதிப்பையும் இறப்பினையும் ஏற்படுத்தக் கூடி யது. மேலும் இந்நோய் பறவை மற்றும் கோழிகளிலிருந்து மனிதர்களுக்கும் பரவி ஆபத்தினை ஏற்படுத்தக் கூடியதாகும்.

தற்போது இந்நோய் தமிழகத்தில் இல்லை என்றாலும் அண்டை மாநிலமான கேரளாவில் இந்நோயின் தாக்கம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதால் பெரம்பலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் கலெக்டர் தரேஸ்அஹமது உத்தரவின்பேரில், பறவைக்காய்ச்சல் நோய்குறித்து 4 வட்டாரங்களிலும் தலா 8 பேர் என மொத்தம் 32 பேர்களைக் கொண்ட தீவிர கண்காணிப்புக்குழு ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டு நோய்கண்காணிப்பு தொடர்பான நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப் பட்டு வருகிறது. இதன்படி, பெரம்பலூர் மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் புஷ்பராஜ், கால் நடை பராமரிப்புத்துறை மண்டல இணை இயக்குநர் சந்திரசேகரன், தமிழக அரசின் விரிவான மருத்துவக் காப்பீட்டுத்திட்ட மாவட்ட ஒருங்கிணைப் பாளர் டாக்டர் அரவிந்தன், கால்நடைத்துறை சிறப்பறிஞர் மோகன் ஆகியோர் ரோவர் வளைவுப் பகுதியில், நாமக்கல்லில் இருந்து நேரடியாக கறிக்கோழி கொள்முதல் செய்திடும் மொத்த விற்பனையாள ரான ஒருவரது கடையில் கூட்டாய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.

அப்போது உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் புஷ்பராஜ் தெரிவித்ததாவது : தமிழகத்தில் பறவைக்காய்ச்சல் பாதிப்பு இன்றும் கண்டறியப்படவில்லை. இதனால் யாரும் அச்சம் கொள்ளத் தேவை யில்லை. பொதுமக்கள் கறிக் கோழிகளையும் வேக வைத்து சாப்பிட்டால் எந்தப் பாதிப்பும் வராது.

பெரம்பலூர் மாவட்டம், மலையாளப்பட்டி பகுதியில் உள்ள முட்டை உற்பத்தி செய்யும் 8 கோழிப்பண்ணைகள் தொடர் கண்காணிப்பில் உள்ளது. இதர 140 கறிக்கோழி கடைகளும் கால்நடை மருத்துவர்களால் தொடர் சோதனையில் உள்ளது. எங்காவது 50க்கும் மேற்பட்ட கோழிகள் மொத்தமாக இறப்பது தெரிய வந்தால், அந்தக் கோழிகளின் ரத்த மாதிரிகள் சேகரிக்கப்பட்டு போபாலிலுள்ள ஆய்வகத்திற்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படும்.

அந்த ஆய்வில் பறவைக் காய்ச்சலுக்கான அறிகுறியாக பாசிட்டிவ் ரிசல்ட் இருந்தால், அங்கிருந்து கலெக்டருக்கு நேரடியாக தகவல் அனுப்பப்பட்டு, பாதிக்கப்பட்ட கோழிகள் கலெக்டர் உத்தரவுப்படி மொத்தமாக அழிக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் எனத் தெரிவித்தார்.

Kozhikode farmers to grow organic veggies to counter pesticide effects

Amidst discussions about the harmful effects of pesticides (whose residues were found in the vegetables brought to Kerala from neighbouring states), a group of farmers in Kozhikode and the district administration have found a way to counter the challenge - cultivating organic vegetables in urban areas.

While Kerala Agricultural University conducted the study, the state food and drug administration conducted tests, which revealed the presence of pesticides in the vegetables. There was a political row and campaign in favour of cultivating chemical-free vegetables. 

To encourage the same, Green View, a farmers’ organisation in the aforementioned district, initiated a project named Haritholsavam (which means ‘green festival’). The district administration, the city corporation and collector C A Latha are involved in its implementation.

The district administration allowed farmers to use the unused government lands and property to cultivate the vegetables, which would be available for domestic and commercial use. A green cart was flagged off recently. It would be supplying vegetable saplings in the city limits.

The institutions would provide agricultural knowledge and training in different parts of the city. The project would also impart training in the right usage of pesticides, and provide information about the types of soil and methods to be adopted in roof-top cultivations.

An official of the district administration said, “The collector and the district administration were encouraged by the enthusiasm of farmers and fellow citizens. The unused spaces under the administration would be given to farmers a few days after they request.” 

“There is a constant threat of residues in vegetables from neighbouring states. Increased domestic production and organic vegetables are the steps that would be taken to overcome the challenge. The administration is committed to checks of the quality of products entering its limits,” he added.

M P Rajul Kumar, president, Green View, said, “Kozhikode is a rapidly-growing city, and the area available for cultivation is limited. Heavy business opportunities have brought in pesticide- and chemical-laden vegetables from neighbouring states. Sadly, we cannot stop the flow, lest it affect Kerala’s food security and create social imbalances.” 

“To counter this challenge, we need strong quality checks along the borders as well as in the markets. But the constant supply of organic vegetables is the only solution for this issue in the long run. We need to develop the culture of domestic cultivation of organic vegetables in large quantities,” he added. 

“It is very hard to create agricultural knowledge among the urban people due to the lack of awareness. Green View would encourage the cultivation mentality in urban areas, which may take some time. The city corporation and the district administration have given it their full support and encouragement to the initiatives of farmers,” Kumar stated.

Food poisoning scare grips Guwahati after KFC report

GUWAHATI, December 7: The report of food poisoning in a KFC restaurant in Delhi has stirred up the hornets’ nest in Guwahati with people questioning the safety of food being served by the numerous restaurants, including roadside ones, in the city.

The question arose after food inspectors collecting food samples from the KFC Restaurant at Lachit Nagar in the city yesterday. The food inspectors reportedly said that if any poisoning substances are detected in the samples collected, they might take steps to close the restaurant.

Food poisoning, according to experts, is acute, often severe gastro–intestinal disorder characterized by vomiting and diarrhoea and caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, especially bacteria of the genus Salmonella, or the toxins they produce or poisoning caused by ingesting substances, such as certain mushrooms, that contain natural toxins.

The situation in Guwahati, according to allegations, is alarming. First, the exact number of restaurants in Guwahati is not known. What is, however, seen is that there is mushroom growth of restaurants in the city and the situation of most of them, from the hygienic point of view, is pathetic. 

Allegations galore that tomato sauce is manufactured in far–flung areas in the city, and generally stale materials like rotten yellow pumpkin, tomato and pepper etc., are used for the purpose. What, according to sources, even more serious is that such sauce is collected randomly by the restaurant owners in recycled bottles that are collected from the city by ragpickers. There are also allegations that the restaurant owners keep paying money to food inspectors regularly to keep their business running. If this is the situation food outside is not safe in Guwahati.

A KFC spokesperson, in a press release issued yesterday, said: “As a responsible brand, KFC is committed to following international standards and serving the highest quality products to all our customers across all our restaurants. The products served across our restaurants are sourced from best in class, state–of–the–art manufacturing facilities that are compliant with rigorous food safety standards and are audited regularly.”

“The recent news report on KFC rice being unsafe is a case of misinformation. We only use the natural colour (beta carotene) which is sourced from highly reputed international suppliers, in our Rizo rice meals,” the release said, and added: “The recent rice sample collected by FSSAI has also been analysed from an NABL accredited independent laboratory at the same time and it confirms that Tartrazine or any other synthetic colour is not present in the product. We are confident of our product quality and are working closely with the regulatory authorities in this matter who have assured that the sample is safe for consumption and no proceedings have been initiated against KFC.”

Antibiotic-resistant bacterium found in waterbodies, fish

Bacterium resistant to antibiotics was found in fish samples and aquatic environments of Kochi.

Research carried out by the Microbiology Fermentation and Biotechnology Division of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, reported the presence of Methicillin-Resistant-Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in fish and aquatic environments of Kochi. The bacterium might have reached the waterbodies through untreated hospital waste. The contaminated materials from hospitals, including untreated cotton and waste water, persons carrying the MRSA in their wounds, abscesses and sputum might have contributed to the spread of the bacterium, said K.V. Lalitha, Head of the Department.

Run-off from land, including hospital refuse, may be reaching the aqua farms and discharges from hospitals in coastal water bodies. Presence of pathogens would be less in deep seas, she said.

Pathogens were found in farmed fish and fish samples from the market. The presence of the pathogens was also found in mud, and water samples collected from the coastal waters. The study team consisting of Dr. Lalitha, V. Murugadas and Toms.C. Joseph had screened around 150 samples of fish, shellfish and water samples collected from different fish markets in Ernakulam district. The CIFT studies revealed that MRSA isolate from fish belonged to the Bay of Bengal clone, which was reported in many parts of India in hospital-associated cases. These pathogens are capable of infecting human beings. Mostly, the MRSA was resistant to many antibiotics commonly used for treatment, said a communication from the institute. C.N. Ravishankar, director of the institute, said the public needed to be aware of the situation. Fish handlers with open wounds, abrasions and abscess should take hygienic measures while handling fish, he said.

It would be difficult to control or contain infections in persons infected with MRSA and doctors are left with only few choices of antibiotics. Fishers and those working in the sector are mostly exposed to the risk as they could be infected through open wounds, Ms. Lalitha said.

Pathogens found in fish would be destroyed while cooking and may not pose risk to those consuming it. However, more studies need to be held, she said.

Bacterium might have reached the waterbodies through untreated hospital waste

Pathogens found in fish will be destroyed while cooking

Health ministry to spend Rs 1,750 cr on FSSAI, state regulatory system

The health and family welfare ministry recently issued a notice inviting suggestions on two schemes under the Food Safety Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, to strengthen food safety regulatory system of the country. They are the Central scheme for strengthening of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), for which Rs 850 crore was set, and the Central scheme for the strengthening of state regulatory system, for which the outlay was Rs 900 crore. 

The ministry stated that it was being done to ensure the effective enforcement of the FSSR. Further, the enforcement structure (both manpower and equipment) at the Centre and in the states and Union Territories (UT), need to be strengthened and upgraded. 

“The Central scheme for the strengthening of FSSAI with allocation of Rs 850 crore, and the scheme for the strengthening of the state food regulatory system, with an estimated cost of Rs 900 crore (excluding the states’ share), under the Centrally-sponsored scheme of the National Health Mission (NHM) of the health and family welfare ministry are proposed to be implemented during the residual period of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan,” said the ministry.

But sources added that it was partly because of the various litigations which were filed with the various courts over the years with respect to adulteration in food items and other regulatory issues, and partly because there wasn’t much information amongst the masses about the food safety and regulatory system in the country. Moreover, people’s participation has been poor.

With the Rs 850-crore scheme, the ministry aims to strengthen the FSSAI at the headquarters and in its regional or field offices, e-governance and food safety surveillance. It also plans to strengthen the central-level laboratories and establish the National Food Science and Risk Assessment Centre (NFSRAC). 

Under the Central scheme for states, the ministry wants to strengthen the food safety infrastructure at the state level, like the state laboratories, besides creating awareness, imparting training, capacity building and educational programmes under both the schemes.

FSSAI would be the implementing agency for these schemes, while funds to the states would be released after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between the respective state government and FSSAI regarding the objectives, the timelines for completion of the activities, etc.

“The schemes also aim at strengthening the food testing laboratories, building manpower capacity of the states, organising training camps, creating awareness for the public and food business operators (FBO) and setting up a robust surveillance system, considered essential to effectively meet the aims of reducing food adulteration, and making available wholesome food to the consumers,” the ministry said.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் ஆய்வு

பண்ருட்டி, டிச. 8:

அண்ணாகிராமம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் கந்தசாமி, கடலூர் ரவிச்சந்திரன், புவனகிரி குணசேகரன், சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் ரமேஷ் ஆகியோர் கொண்ட குழுவினர் சாத்திப்பட்டில் உள்ள தேனீர் கடைகள், ஓட்டல்கள், ரைஸ் மில்கள், முந்திரி பருப்பு பதப்படுத்தும் தொழிற் கூடங்கள் ஆகிய இடங்களில் ஆய்வு செய்தனர். இதில் மளிகை கடைகளில் இருந்த காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்பட்டன.

மேலும் தமிழக அரசால் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை, உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யக்கூடாது என்ற நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டன. மளிகை கடை ஒன்றில் உப்பு மாதிரி எடுத்து ஆய்வு கூடத்திற்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டது.

Rs 80,000 fine slapped

Indore : The court of Additional District Magistrate Dilip Kumar slapped a fine of Rs 80,000 on to two firms after proving the samples fake.

Orders to this effect were issued on December 6 by the court after the completion of hearing of the both the cases.

The penalised firms – M/s Mahendra Kumar Biharilal Jain, 43 Subhas Marg and M/S Harsh Foods at 14 Marothia Bazar – are prominent sellers of dry fruits. As per the case, food safety officer had taken the samples of buttermilk spices from the shop on 19 May this year. The spices were selling with fictitious brand names and the samples were failed in lab testing. Following the positive report of the lab, ADM Kumar imposed the fine on the firm.

Similarly, food safety officer Jitendra Singh Rana had taken the samples of fake Chirag brand refined soya oil pack from M/S Ramdas Vedprakash, 38 Udyog Nagar, Musakhedi on July 13, 2013.The samples were also foud positive in the state food testing lab, Bhopal. Accepting the report of the lab, the ADM imposed fine of Rs 30,000 on the firm. The fines are imposed under the Section 62 of the food safety and standard Act 2006.