கோடையில் அபாயம் ஏற்படுத்தும் கார்பைடு மாம்பழம், போலி குளிர்பானங்கள் - உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் எச்சரிக்கை

சேலம், ஏப். 2:

தமிழகத்தின் சராசரி வெப்பநிலையே 100 டிகிரி ஃபாரன்ஹீட் என்று சொல்லும் அளவுக்கு, மார்ச் கடைசி வாரத்தில் இருந்தே வெயிலின் தாக்கம் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. கொளுத்தும் வெயிலுக்கு இதமாக, ‘ஜில்’ என்ற பழச்சாறு, ஐஸ் கிரீம், கரும்பு ஜூஸ் கடைகளை தேடி மக்கள் நாடிச் செல்கின்றனர்.

கோடை துவங்கியதையடுத்து, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் போலி மற்றும் காலாவதியான குடிநீர், குளிர் பானம் விற்பனை ஜோராக நடக்கும். அதனை கண்டறிந்து, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் பணியில், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடியாக அனைத்து பகுதிகளிலும் ஆய்வு செய்து வருகின்றனர். சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் பழைய, புதிய பஸ் நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் ஆத்தூர், மகுடஞ்சாவடி, தலைவாசல், ஓமலூர் பஸ் நிலையத்தில் உள்ள கடைகளில் நடத்தப்பட்ட சோதனையில் மூன்று முதல் ஆறு மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பே காலாவதியான 7500 குளிர்பானம் பாட்டில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன.

இதை தொடர்ந்து தற்போது, கார்பைடு மூலம் பழுக்க வைக்கப்படும் பழங்கள்தான் இந்த சீசனில் மிகவும் அச்சுறுத்தக்கூடிய உணவுப்பொருள். அதற்கு காரணம், கார்பைடு கல்லில் இருக்கக்கூடிய அசிட்டிலீன் வாயு. ‘‘இந்த வாயுவின் மூலம் மா, வாழை போன்றவை 12முதல்24 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் பழுக்க வைக்க முடிகிறது. காய்களில் இயற்கையாக உள்ள எத்திலின் வாயு மூலம் அவை 48 முதல் 72 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் பழுத்துவிடும். எனினும், அவசர அவசரமாக கல்லா கட்டும் நோக்கத்தில் வியாபாரிகள் செயற்கையாக பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்கின்றனர்,’’ என்கிறனர், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள்.

இதுபோன்று செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்களை தொடர் ந்து உண்பதன் மூலம் நரம்பு மண்டலம் பாதிக்கும். கல்லீரல், குடல், இரைப்பை யும் பாதிக்கும். குழந்தைகள், முதியவர்கள் இதுபோன்ற பழங்களை அதிகம் உட்கொண்டால், அவர்களுக்கு கடும் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, ஒவ்வாமை ஏற்படலாம் என்றும் மாவட்ட உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலர் அனுராதா எச்சரிக்கிறார்.

மக்கள் நடமாட்டம் மிகுந்திருப்பதால் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்களை கொடுத்தாலும் குடித்து விட்டு சென்று விடுவார்கள் என்ற எண்ணம் எல்லா பஸ் நிலைய கடைக்காரர்கள் மத்தியிலும் நிலவுகிறது. அதனால்தான் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் முதலில் பஸ் நிலைய கடைகளை குறி வைத்து களம் இறங்கியுள்ளனர். இவர்களின் வேட்டையில் பல காபி பார், பேக்கரி கடைக்காரர்கள் சிக்கிக்கொண்டாலும், மக்கள் விழிப்புணர்வுடன் இருந்தால்தான் போலி மற்றும் காலாவதி பொருட்களிடம் இருந்து தப்பிக்க முடியும் என்பதும் உணவுப்பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

‘கார்பைடு’ பழம் கண்டறிவது எப்படி?

கார்பைடு கற்கள், வெல்டிங் பட்டறைகளில் பெரும்பாலும் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்த கற்களில் உள்ள அசிட்டிலீன் வாயு மூலம் பழங்கள் மிக விரைவாக செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்படுகிறது. பொதுவாக செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்கள் நல்ல கனமாக இருக்கும். தோல் பகுதி வெளிர் மஞ்சள் நிறத்தில் இருக்கும். தோலை நீக்கி பார்த்தால் உள்ளே காய்வெட்டாக இருக்கும். காம்பு பகுதியில் லேசாக கீறினால் புளிப்பு சுவைக்கான மணம் வீசும். இதன்மூலம் செயற்கையாக பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட பழங்களை கண்டறிய முடியும்.

ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை கட்டாயம்

பாலிதீன் பாக்கெட் மற்றும் பிளாஸ்டிக் பாட்டில்களில் அடைத்து விற்கப்படும் குடிநீருக்கு, கண்டிப்பாக ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை பெற்றிருக்க வேண்டும். ஹெர்பல் மற்றும் பிளேவர்டு வாட்டர் என்ற பெயர்களில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் குடிநீர் பாட்டில்களில் ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை இருப்பதில்லை. குடிநீர் பாட்டில் வாங்கும்போது அதில் ஐஎஸ்ஐ முத்திரை, இந்த முத்திரைக்கு மேல் பகுதியில் ஐஎஸ் எண், முத்திரைக்கு கீழ் பகுதியில் சிஎம்/எல் எண்கள் இருக்க வேண்டும். அதன்பின், பாட்டிலில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட தேதி, காலாவதி தேதி விவரங்கள் ஆகிய அம்சங்களை பார்த்து நுகர்வோர் வாங்க வேண்டும்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Food wing officials warn against adulteration in sago

Officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has warned manufacturers not to adulterate sago with tapioca starch.

District Designated Officer K. Tamil Selvan said that sago and starch was manufactured in Rasipuram, Vennandur, Namagiripettai, Sendamangalam, Sellappampatti, Metalla, Kalangani, Budhansandai and other areas.

Last year lot of manufactures were involved in adulteration activities and action was taken against them. Currently, tapioca cultivation is over in the district.

Hence there are chances that manufacturers may involve in adulteration.

They were warned against such practices.

He also said that all the units would be monitored and samples, if needed, taken.

All the units will be monitored and samples will be taken

VMC cracks down on mango, sugarcane juice vendors

VADODARA: Food safety officers of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) cracked down on outlets selling mango and sugarcane juice in the city. The step was taken in wake of the summer setting in and such outlets opening up across the city.

VMC officials checked such outlets across the city in a concerted drive. The drive was conducted in Tarsali, Makarpura, Manjalpur, Mujmahuda, Gotri Road, Makrand Desai Road, Vasna Road, Dandia Bazaar, Fatehgunj, Chhani, Karelibaug, Ajwa Road and other areas.

Designated officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, additional health officer Dr Mukesh Vaidya said that 23 outlets selling mango juice as well as 27 selling sugarcane juice were checked by the officers. He added that the drive would be continued in coming days.

The officers found colour being used widely in mango juice. They destroyed 230 kg of mango juice, 120 kg of sugar syrup laced with colour and 70 kg of mangoes that were not fit for consumption. The officials also disposed off 590 kg of ice and around three kilograms of colour.

The vendors were issued a warning and asked to maintain hygiene at their outlets. Sixteen members who were not registered were issued notices by the civic body asking them to get themselves registered.

FDA seals 4 water-bottling units for evading BIS norms

AURANGABAD: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sealed four units for running their business without a Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification in Waluj Bajajnagar on Monday in an attempt to tighten the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies. 

"Earlier, the department had served notices to 19 units in the city for not abiding by the FDA Act," said Aurangabad division joint commissioner (Food) of FDA Chandrashekhar Salunke. "Many plants operating in the city are facing such action for avoiding BIS certification," he added. 

"In a raid launched by food safety officers on Monday, the FDA sealed four units in Waluj Bajajnagar. Officials collected 10 samples of water from these units and sent them for testing to the laboratory," informed FDA's assistant commissioner (Food), Aurangabad, M D Shah. 

"Though state governments issue permission to set up water-bottling plants, BIS grants product licences. The agency has the mandate to ensure quality of both packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water," said FSO R D Munde. 

"Many bottling unit owners invest up to Rs 2 lakh while a standard mineral water processing plant needs around Rs 20 lakh and many supply water without ISO certification. The demand for packaged water is so high that it hardly matters whether the contents are certified or not. People don't ask about the certification," said FSO Varsha Rode. 

"Consumption of packaged drinking water rises during summer. Most illegal plants fill the bottles with tap or ground water and sell it as processed drinking water," said another FSO, J V Kasar. 

Meanwhile, the president of Udyog Kranti Udyojak Sangh, Asaram Phulare said, "It is beyond the reach of small scale entrepreneurs to procure BIS certification. The unit owner will have to incur expenses of around Rs 2.5 lakh to get the certification. Moreover, every year the owner has to spend Rs 90,000 for renewal charges." 

Phulare added that as per BIS specifications, the unit has to employ two technicians. "Nowadays, a technician demands no less than Rs 25,000 as salary per month. If you consider the overall expenses, the unit owner has to incur around Rs 15 lakh per year, which a small businessman cannot afford," he said. 

"Before the FDA Act was executed in 2011, we were following all the Acts and made sure the products did not pose any health threats to people. With the new specifications, it has become very difficult for small scale entrepreneurs to survive," Phulare added. 

"The government implements Acts in favour of major industries that are against the survival of small scale entrepreneurs. Multinational and foreign companies require to seek licences just once in 45 days and do not have to apply for renewal," he claimed. 

Meanwhile, FDA officials said, "The expense to seek BIS certification comes to about Rs 2 lakh. This is compelling entrepreneurs to escape following the norms. But as per rules, the FDA will continue the drive and go after all such persons who violate the Act."

ORGANIC FOOD: NO RULES ON THE PLATE

Consuming organically-grown food is a popular trend. But with little regulation, we have to rely on what producers and suppliers claim. Regulatory body FSSAI says no rules yet!

Organic food is becoming a lifestyle choice for many in India. The organic market, worth Rs.1000 crores, is growing at a steady 20 per cent every year despite the fact that organic produce is 25 per cent costlier than its conventionally grown counterpart. To be categorized as ‘organic’, the produce must be cultivated or bred and packaged according to very exacting and tough practices. But, in India, not everything claiming to be ‘organic’ is truly organic. There are few prescribed standards and a regulatory framework that informs and protects consumers is absent.

In response to BOOM’s previous report, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is the statutory body for laying down the rules for food standards, said in an email response, “As of now, we do not have standards for Organic Food. However, we are in the process of formulation of standards for organic food products.”

So for now, consumers will need to rely on the claims made by farmers and suppliers. Hyderabad-based Sresta, which markets 24 Mantra that has been selling organic products for 10 years and supplies to over 1500+ outlets across India and abroad, says their self-regulatory processes are sound.

CEO N Balasubramanian says “We keep track of what the farmers are using for produce. We sign a formal contract with them and our people visit the farms regularly in order to make sure that they follow all organic practices. Then, we finally source from the farmers who are certified by the certifying agencies. We ensure the integrity because our own people work directly with the farmers.”

But Crop Care Federation of India, a body that represents the interests of fertilizer and pesticide companies, has charged 24 Mantra for misleading consumers in its packaging by claiming unproven benefits from organic food. Advisor to Crop Care Federation of India, S Ganesan says “Organic food standard stipulate that products should be packed in biodegradable material. The products we picked up from the market have been packed in plastic material. They have claimed ‘save your children from cancer causing pesticide’ on the pack which is a violation of labelling rules of Organic product.”

Reacting to this charge, Sresta’s CEO N Balasubramanian said, “The matter is still being investigated and discussed. However, we are very clear that whatever we have claimed we will substantiate that to the FSSAI. We have not claimed anything that misleads anyone. We are very clear that as of today we don’t contravene any law, food laws or FSSAI laws.”

BOOM has written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to know when the rules will be formulated but we have received no response yet. Clearly, when it comes to the quality of organic food, the onus will continue to be on the consumer.

WHO, Indian health ministry bat for food safety

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indian health ministry on Wednesday urged the nations of the world to make food safety a priority.

The institutions stated that due to the rising number of deaths caused by food-borne diseases, there was an immediate need for every government to partner with civil society, non-governmental organisations and private sector and consumers to ensure that safe food becomes everybody's business.

According to WHO statistics, food-borne and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases kill an estimated 2 million people, including many children, annually.

It also says that in the South East Asian region, diarrhoeal diseases continue to be one of the top three leading causes of deaths.

Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India said: "Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between the public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration."

"In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet initiative -- Swachh Bharat campaign -- that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing the socio-economic impact of food-borne illnesses," she said.

Menabde was speaking at the national consultation on "Food Safety 2015" -- which has been set as the theme for World Health Day.

Present at the consultation were Bhanu Pratap Sharma, health secretary and chairperson of Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI), Keshav Desiraju, secretary of department of consumer affairs and other senior dignitaries of both WHO and the health ministry.

The WHO also stated that in India, the full burden of food-borne illness is not known as most of the cases are unreported.

Surveillance data in the country from 2011-14 shows that food-borne outbreaks, together with acute diarrhoeal diseases, constituted nearly half of all reported outbreaks during this period.

In a message, WHO's South Asian director, Poonam Khetrapal, said that food safety is one of the key focus areas under the International Health Regulations -- IHR 2005 -- which include all public health emergencies of international concern that involve contaminated food and outbreaks of food-borne diseases.

She said that the WHO and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have established the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) to rapidly share information during food safety emergencies.

Highlighting the need for inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, India's health secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma said: "There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders and that's where the role of WHO is extremely important."

"The objective of World Health Day, this year, is to catalyse collective government and public action to put measures in place that will improve safety of food by aligning policies in agriculture, trade, health, education and social protection to provide a safe and healthy diet for all," he added.

Acknowledging the need to improve food safety systems, the institutions extensively deliberated on the issues of production, regulation, nutrition, unhealthy food and safety of street food.

It was announced on the occasion that state-level consultations on the theme food safety would also be held at Bengaluru, Kolkata, Patna and Raipur soon.

Safe food should be a priority: WHO

New Delhi: Ahead of World Health Day, the Health Ministry and WHO on Wednesday came together to seek stronger measures for promoting food safety saying awareness on the issue will help strengthen enforcement of food standards and prevent foodborne illnesses.

Speaking at the national consultation on food safety, Union Health Secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma highlighted the need for inter sectoral convergence and enforcement at all levels.

"There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders and that's where the role of WHO is extremely important," he said.

In her World Health Day message, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO, South-East Asia Region said, "Political awareness and consumer education on food safety will help to strengthen enforcement of food standards, improve hygienic practices, and prevent foodborne illnesses. The most pertinent of all the measures is creating awareness among people to ensure that their food is safe."

Speaking on the occasion, Nata Menabde,WHO Representative to India said, "Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration."

"In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with the Swachh Bharat initiative of the Prime Minister that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing socio-economic impact of foodborne illnesses," she said.

The consultation strongly advocated that governments must partner with civil society, NGOs, private sector and consumers, to ensure that safe food becomes everybody's business.

Perspectives on 'Serving Safe Food' were presented by Akshayapatra and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), emphasising the importance of safe food.

The theme for World Health Day, which falls on April 7, is safe food this year.

Intersectoral co-operation key to achieve goal of food safety : Sharma

Bhanu Pratap Sharma, secretary (health & family welfare), Government of India, and chairperson, FSSAI, has urged for an intersectoral convergence and enforcement at all levels to achieve the goal of food safety across the food chain. He was speaking at a national consultation organised on Wednesday to mark the upcoming World Health Day, which would be celebrated on April 7.

Sharma stated, “There is a need for greater awareness and giving correct information to all stakeholders along with intersectoral cooperation.”

The consultation was organised by ministry of health & family welfare (MoHFW) and World Health Organisation (WHO) for promoting food safety, the theme of this year’s World Health Day.

The consultation brought together all stakeholders, from farm to plate, to discuss integration of ‘food safety’ into the broader food policy agenda and informing producers and consumers about the vital importance of safe food, and its impact on public health.

Sharma felt that standards needed to be set up with awareness campaigns to make informed choices. He added that success lies in full public participation. 

Y S Malik, CEO, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), in his address said that the apex food regulator in its endeavour to achieve the goal of food safety had enabled 3.3 million licences and registration so far along with 19,000 Central licences. He said that while newer challenges emerged in recent past due to increased global food trade, there was need to place interventions in every level of the food trade.

“We have decided to increase the scientific panels to achieve development of vertical standards. Further to boost the food safety, the number of labs are being increased,” he said, while adding that lab facilities in states needed boost.

In her World Health Day message, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, World Health Organisation, South-East Asia Region, said, “Political awareness and consumer education on food safety will help to strengthen enforcement of food standards, improve hygienic practices, and prevent foodborne illnesses. The most pertinent of all the measures is creating awareness among people to ensure that their food is safe.”

Speaking at the national consultation, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India, said, “Food safety is an issue of growing public health concern. To achieve food safety, strong functional links must be built between the public health and other sectors to ensure effective cross-sectoral collaboration.”

“In India, food safety has obvious and direct linkages with the Swachh Bharat initiative of the prime minister that promotes cleanliness and hygiene, which are the key factors influencing food safety, thereby reducing the socio-economic impact of foodborne illnesses,” she added.

The objective of the World Health Day, this year, is to catalyse collective government and public action to put measures in place that will improve safety of food by aligning policies in agriculture, trade, health, education and social protection to provide a safe and healthy diet for all.

Addressing issues related to food safety and food control systems, the panel discussion at the national consultation saw active deliberations on the need for multisectoral collaboration from food production to consumption and cooperation from all sectors for compliance of food standards.

Acknowledging the need to further improve the food safety systems, the forum extensively deliberated on the issues of production, regulations, nutrition, unhealthy food, safety of street food, consumer awareness, animal-human interface of foodborne diseases and strengthening surveillance of these diseases in India.

The consultation strongly advocated that the governments must partner with civil society, NGOs, private sector and consumers, to ensure that safe food becomes everybody’s business. Perspectives on ‘Serving Safe Food’ were presented by Akshayapatra and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), emphasising the importance of safe food. 

On the occasion, the WHO Country Office for India awarded Public Health Champions for outstanding contribution to public health in India. These awards are an attempt to recognise and honour the best in the field in order to encourage them to press forward and others to emulate them.

The award winners were SEWA Rural; Community Health Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Biocon Foundation; and Dr Vinod K Paul, AIIMS; for sustained contribution to public health. In the category of innovation, the awardees were Narayana Health and Ekjut.

State-level consultations on the theme of World Health Day will also be held at Bangalore, Kolkata, Patna and Raipur. 

Present at the consultation were Keshav Desiraju, secretary, department of consumer affairs, Government of India; Dr Jagdish Prasad, director-general, health services, MoHFW; Anshu Prakash, joint secretary, MoHFW; Sudhanshu Pandey, joint secretary, ministry of commerce; Kumar Singh, joint secretary, ministry of agriculture; and Dr S Venkatesh, director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), MoHFW, amongst other eminent industry experts, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.

வெள்ளை உணவுகள் நண்பனா ? எதிரியா ?

“அரிசி, சர்க்கரை, பால் போன்ற வெள்ளை உணவுகளை விட்டால் சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கலாம்’’ என்பது சூப்பர் ஸ்டாரின் ஹெல்த் ஸ்டேட்மென்்ட். மருத்துவர்களைக் கேட்டாலும், “சில ஒயிட் ஃபுட்களை சாப்பிடாதீங்க” என அட்வைஸ் செய்கிறார்கள். உலகம் முழுவதும் அதிகரித்து வரும் வீகன் டயட் ஃபாலோயர்களும் வெள்ளை உணவுகளைக் கண்டால், தெறித்து ஓடுகிறார்கள். வெள்ளை உணவுகள் சாப்பிடலாமா? கூடாதா? சாப்பிட வேண்டாம் என்பதன் காரணம்தான் என்ன?

சர்க்கரை

வெள்ளை உணவுகளில் தொடவே கூடாத உணவு சர்க்கரைதான். சர்க்கரை முற்றிலும் வெண்மையாக இருக்க, பல்வேறு ரசாயனங்கள் சேர்க்கப்பட்டு, சுத்திகரிக்கப்படுகிறது. இந்தச் சர்க்கரையை அதி
கம் பயன்படுத்துவதால், கல்லீரல் நோய்கள், வளர்சிதை மாற்ற நோய்கள் ஏற்படுகின்றன. மேலும், பல் சொத்தை, எலும்பு மெலிதல் போன்ற பிரச்னைகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன. சர்க்கரை நோய் தாக்குவதற்கும், சீக்கிரமே முதுமை அடைவதற்கும் சர்க்கரை ஒரு முக்கியக் காரணம். சர்க்கரைக்குப் பதில் வெல்லம் மற்றும் உலர் பழங்களில் இருந்து எடுக்கப்படும் சர்க்கரையைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம்.

சமையல் உப்பு

கடலில் இருந்து கிடைக்கும் உப்பு, சற்றே பழுப்பு நிறத்தில் இருக்கும். ஆனால், அயோடின் உப்பு தயாரிக்கும்போது, அதிக வெப்பத்தில் உப்பை பிளீச் செய்கிறார்கள், இந்த முறையால், உப்பில் இயற்கையாக இருக்கும் பல்வேறு தாது உப்புக்கள் வெளியேறிவிடுகின்றன. அயோடின் அதிகளவு நிறைந்த, தூள் உப்பை அதிகம் உணவில் சேர்ப்பதால், இதயநோய்கள், ரத்த அழுத்தம், பக்கவாதம் போன்ற நோய்கள் எளிதில் வர வாய்ப்புகள் உள்ளன. எனவே, இயற்கையில் கிடைக்கும் கடல் உப்பு, இந்துப்பு போன்றவற்றைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். இந்துப்பில் பொட்டாசியம், மாங்கனீசு, அயோடின், இரும்புச்சத்து, துத்தநாகம் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு சத்துகள் இருக்கின்றன.

மைதா

முழு கோதுமையைப் பட்டைதீட்டி, நார்ச்சத்துகளையும் பிற வைட்டமின் சத்துக்களையும் அறவே நீக்கி, ரசாயனங்களைச் சேர்த்து ப்ளீச் செய்து, தயாரிக்கப்படும் பொருள் மைதா மாவு. இதில், கார்போஹைட்ரேட் சத்து மட்டுமே இருக்கும். நூடுல்ஸ், கேக், பீட்சா, பர்கர், பரோட்டா என, ஜங்க் உணவுகளில் பெரும்பாலும் மைதா மாவே பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்த உணவுப்பொருட்களில் சர்க்கரை மற்றும் எண்ணெய் அதிக அளவு சேர்க்கப்பட்டு இருக்கும். எனவே, இது அதிக கலோரிகள் கொண்டது. தொடர்ந்து மைதாவால் செய்யப்பட்ட உணவுகளைச் சாப்பிடும்போது, சர்க்கரை நோய் எளிதில் தாக்கலாம். மேலும், மலச்சிக்கல், குடல் புற்றுநோய் போன்றவை வருவதற்கும் மைதாவே காரணம் என்கிறார்கள் ஆய்வாளர்கள். எனவே, மைதாவுக்குப் பதிலாக முழு தானியமான கோதுமையை வாங்கி, அப்படியே அரைத்து, சமையலுக்குப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். சிறுதானிய மாவுகளைப் பயன்படுத்தும்போது, உடலுக்குத் தேவையான நார்ச்சத்து, வைட்டமின்கள் கிடைப்பதோடு,  சர்க்கரை நோய் வருவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகளும் குறையும்.

பால்

எளிதில் ஜீரணமாகாத ஒரு உணவு, பால். தற்போது, பசுக்கள் அதிகமாகப் பால் சுரக்க ஹார்மோன் ஊசிகள் போடுவதாலும், ஆன்டிபயாடிக் மருந்துகளை மாட்டுக்குத் தருவதாலும், பாலில் யூரியா கலப்பதாலும் பால்கூட விஷமாக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது. இதனால், பல்வேறு உடல்நலப் பாதிப்புகள் வருகின்றன. பாலில் இருக்கும் கேஸியீன் (Casein) என்ற புரதம், புற்றுநோய் வரக் காரணமாக இருக்கிறது என பல ஆய்வுகள் சொல்கின்றன. எனவே, பசும்பாலுக்குப் பதிலாகத் தேங்காய்ப் பால், சோயா பால், வேர்க்கடலைப் பால், பாதாம் பால் போன்றவற்றைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். பாலில் இருக்கும் கால்சியத்தைவிட எள்ளில் அதிக அளவு கால்சியம் இருக்கிறது. எனவே, எள்ளுச் சட்னி, எள்ளுப்பால், எள்ளு சாதம் போன்றவற்றைச் சாப்பிடலாம்.

அரிசி

உலக அளவில்,  சர்க்கரை நோயாளிகள் அதிகம் இருப்பது இந்தியாவில்தான். இதற்கு அரிசி உணவும் மிக முக்கியக் காரணம். அரிசி நன்றாகப் பட்டைதீட்டப்பட்டுத்தான் கிடைக்கிறது. சாதம், வெள்ளைவெளேரென இருந்தால்தான், உயர் ரக அரிசி என நினைத்து, மக்கள் வாங்கிப் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். பாலீஷ் செய்யப்பட்ட அரிசியில் அறவே நார்ச்சத்து கிடையாது. குறைவாகச் சாப்பிட்டாலும் திருப்தி ஏற்படாது. இதனால், அதிகம் சாப்பிடுவார்கள். அரிசியில் உள்ள மாவுச்சத்து, கொழுப்பாக மாறி உடலில் தங்கிவிடும். நாளடைவில் சர்க்கரை நோய் வர அரிசி ஒரு முக்கியமான காரணியாக இருக்கும். தவிடு நீக்கப்படாத பாலீஷ் செய்யாத பழுப்பு அரிசி, சிவப்பு அரிசியைச் சாப்பிடுவதே நல்லது.

- பு.விவேக் ஆனந்த்

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‘பழுப்பே’ பெஸ்ட்!

வெள்ளை நிற உணவுகள் உடலுக்குப் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடியவை என்பது உண்மைதான். அதற்காக, முற்றிலும் தவிர்த்துவிடுவதும் சாத்தியம் இல்லை. சர்க்கரையை ஒரு நாளைக்கு 30 கிராம் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளலாம். சர்க்கரைக்குப் பதில், பனை வெல்லம், பனங்கற்கண்டு போன்றவற்றைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். வெல்லம் பயன்படுத்துபவர்கள் மஞ்சள் நிறத்தில் இருக்கும் வெல்லத்தைத் தவிர்த்து, இளஞ்சிவப்பு நிறத்தில் இருக்கும் வெல்லம்தான் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். பழுப்பு நிறத்தில், பிளீச் செய்யப்படாமல் கிடைக்கும் சர்க்கரையை சிறிதளவு சேர்த்துக்கொள்ளலாம்.

அதேபோல், உணவில் உப்பும் அதிகம் சேர்க்கக் கூடாது. அயோடின் உடலுக்கு அவசியம் எனவே, கல் உப்பு, தூள் உப்பு  இரண்டையும் சரிவிகிதத்தில் சமையலுக்குப் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். மைதாவில் கார்போஹைட்ரேட் மட்டுமே உள்ளது. எனவே, முற்றிலும் அதைத் தவிர்ப்பதுதான் நல்லது. பாலுக்கு மாற்றாக கால்சியத்தை எள், கேழ்வரகு மூலம் பெற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியும் என்றாலும், குழந்தைகளை எளிதாகப் பால் சாப்பிடவைக்க முடியும். எனவே, குழந்தைகளுக்குப் பால் சிறிது அளவு கொடுக்கலாம். பெரியவர்கள் பால் சாப்பிடுவதற்குப் பதிலாக, கேழ்வரகை அன்றாடம் சேர்த்துக்கொள்ளலாம். வெள்ளை அரிசிக்கு மாற்றாக, பழுப்பு அரிசி, கைகுத்தல் அரிசியைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம்.

FSSAI CONFERENCE ON 1.4.15

The theme of World Health Day 2015

The theme of World Health Day 2015 would be “Food safety” 

With 5 keys; 

Key 1: Keep clean, 

Key 2: Separate raw and cooked food, 

Key 3: Cook food thoroughly, 

Key 4: Keep food at safe temperatures, 

Key 5: Use safe water and raw materials.

DINAMALAR NEWS

கோவையில் வீட்டில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட 2,500 கிலோ டீதூள் பறிமுதல் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் விசாரணை

கோவை, ஏப்.1:

கோவை சீரநாயக்கன்பாளையம் பாரதியார் வீதி பகுதியில் வாடகை வீட்டில் குடியிருப்பவர் பாலசுப்ரமணியம். இவரின் மனைவி தாரா. இவர்கள் கடந்த ஒரு வருடமாக 3 பேரை பணிக்கு அமர்த்தி வீட்டில் டீதூள் பேக் செய்து சென்னை போன்ற இடங்களுக்கு வினியோகித்து வந்தனர். இந்த டீ ஸ்டராங்காக இருக்க வேதிப்பொருள் ஒன்று கலக்கப்படுகிறது.

பொதுவாக இந்த வேதிப்பொருளை 200 கிலோ டீ தூளுக்கு 2 கிலோ தான் கலக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால், இவர்கள் அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக கலந்துள்ளனர். மேலும், போலியாக டீதூள் தயாரிப்பதாவும், கலப்பட டீதூள் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்வதாகவும் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு ரகசிய தகவல் வந்தது. இந்த தகவலின் பேரில் மாவட்ட நியமன அதிகாரி கதிரவன் உத்தரவின் பேரில் சக்திவேல், சண்முகம், அருண்ராஜ், கிருஷ்ணன், பிரவீன் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகள் சம்பவ இடத்திற்கு சென்று ஆய்வு செய்தனர்.

அப்போது, டீதூள் பேக்கை ஆய்வு செய்தனர். அதில், சென்னை விழுப்புரம் என்ற முகவரி போடப் பட்டு இருந்தது. மேலும், அதில், வேதிப்பொருள் அதிகமாக இருந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதனை தொடர்ந்து அங்கு இருந்த 2,500 கிலோ டீ தூள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இதன் மதிப்பு 5 லட்சம் இருக்கும் என அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர். டீ தூள் தயாரிக்க பயன்படுத்திய பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு வீடு சீல் வைக்கப்பட்டது. பிடிப்பட்ட கணவன், மனைவியிடம் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் தொடர்ந்து விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

Adulterated tea seized

Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) officials seized more than 2,500 kg of adulterated tea from a house on Bharathiar Street at Seeranaickenpalayam here on Tuesday.

A team of five Food Safety Officers led by Designated Officer R. Kathiravan conducted inspection.

They had mixed chemical products that gave a darker colour to the tea. The total value of the seized products was estimated to be around Rs.50,000.

Samples taken

The officials have taken samples of the product. It would be tested at the Government Food Safety Laboratory here. Once the tests confirm that the seized items were adulterated products, it would be destroyed at the Corporation Compost Yard at Vellalore.

Food poisoning: 7 hospitalised

Seven persons aged between 21 and 28 years were hospitalised here on Monday after an incident of food poisoning.

According to sources, they had consumed a mushroom dish at a snack stall in a prominent retail outlet at Kuniamuthur on Sunday evening. After taking the dish, they found worms in the dish and picked up a quarrel with the vendor and left the place.

However, they suffered from severe abdominal pain and vomiting and were admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where the doctors confirmed of food poisoning.

The hospital officials alerted the Food Safety Wing, which went to the retail outlet. However, they had closed down the snacks stall.

As no complaint had been filed, the officials said that they had not initiated any action.

DINAMALAR NEWS

தாம்பரம் கடைகளில் குட்கா பறிமுதல்

தாம்பரம், ஏப்.1:

தாம்பரம் கிழக்கு மற்றும் மேற்கு பகுதியில் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான்பராக், ஹான்ஸ் உள்ளிட்ட குட்கா பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறைக்கு தொடர்ந்து புகார்கள் வந்தன.

இதையடுத்து, தாம்பரம் நகராட்சிக்கு உட்பட்ட கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் தாம்பரம் வேலவன், பம்மல் ரவிச்சந்திரன், மறைமலைநகர் பாலசுப்பிரமணி, அனகாபுத்தூர் செந்தில், ஆலந் தூர் அமுதா, உள்ளகரம் தீபா ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய குழுவினர், நேற்று திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

அப்போது, சுமார் 15 கிலோ கொண்ட 12 ஆயிரம் மதிப்பிலான குட்கா பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். மேலும், விற்பனை செய்த கடைகளுக்கு விளக்கம் கேட்டு நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கினர். தொடர்ந்து சோதனை நடத்தப்படும் எனவும், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் வைத்திருப்பது கண்டறியப்பட்டால், கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதுடன், அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும் என்றும் அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

15% of food samples tested in last fiscal unfit for consumption: FDA

PUNE: Use of artificial colour in spices and dry snacks and artificial ripening of mangoes are among the food safety and quality norm violations recorded in the last financial year.

According to the latest report of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 15% of the food samples drawn between April 2014 and March 2015 were either unsafe or did not comply with the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The officials drew 934 food samples to check if they were fit for consumption and found 27 unsafe and 114 that failed to meet the standard criteria. "We drew samples of edible oil, milk, jaggery, sugar boiled confectionery, chilli powder and other grocery and prepared food items for testing. Of these, 141 samples accounting for 15% of the total samples drawn, failed safety and quality standard tests," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food) of FDA, Pune. While 650 samples cleared the test, lab reports of 143 samples are yet to come.

Officials have filed criminal cases against food manufacturers who were found selling unsafe food items.

Food samples found unsafe for consumption included mangoes that were artificially ripened with calcium carbide, and green peas and Indian spices that contained artificial colour. Use of colour is prohibited in these food items. Edible artificial colours exceeding the permissible limit were also found in sweets and farsan. Artificial colour was also found in a sample of prepared 'chilli paneer'. A sample of packaged drinking water with higher bacterial count than the permissible limit was also found, Kekare said.

As per section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, punishment for selling unsafe food item includes a penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and six months to seven years' jail term and even life imprisonment, if consumption of a food item that has been found unsafe in the laboratory test has caused a death.

FDA has started allocating licences and registrations to food business operators to bring them on its monitoring radar since August 2011. Food business operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 lakh must possess a licence and those who earn less than Rs 12 lakh a year must get a registration certificate, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

"So far, we have covered over 65 % of the operators doing food businesses in Pune division. We have given licences to 38,698 operators and registration to 1,60,407 of them. We have collected Rs 32.49 crore towards granting licence, registration and renewal to food business operators," said Shivkumar Kodgire, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.

Bunk the junk food in school canteens, blanket ban needed, parents say

The Delhi high court’s recent order, directing schools to follow new guidelines on junk food, has revived the debate on what children should eat in schools.

The guidelines, framed by a court-appointed committee under the aegis of the Food Safety & Standards Authority (FSSAI) of India, identify certain category of food and drinks as harmful for children and advocate these be "regulated or restricted".

However, many parents and schools in Mumbai are wondering whether such guidelines are enough to stop children from consuming junk food.

The guidelines say that "making available quality and safe food in schools, foods high in fat, sugar and salt that must be limited by schools in canteens and restricted within 50 metres of it”. The guidelines were framed after the panel examined harmful effects of junk food on children.

“The guidelines are scientific, comprehensive and establish the harmful effects of junk food. The essence throughout the document is to not allow the availability of such food items in schools,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Narain said they would have liked a complete ban on the sale of junk food in schools, but what the Delhi high court has ordered is also very significant. “Restriction is an important step in recognition of the fact that this kind of food is bad for children, and must not be allowed in schools,” she said.

However, parents and activists are not convinced that this will stop schools from serving junk food. “My son eats junk food every day in his school canteen, even though I give him home-cooked food for tiffin,” said a resident of Borivli, on the condition of anonymity. “We have raised the issue with the school authorities several times, but they have not bothered to take any action.”

Schools continue to serve junk food because it is cheap and easy, said activists. “Schools receive cutbacks from vendors, and canteen contractors also prefer such items because it boosts their sales,” said Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education, a parents-teachers body.

Even education officials admitted they do not check whether schools serve junk food as there is no regulation against it so far. "We cannot stop a school from serving junk food, as there is no official ban in place. We can at best advise them to opt for healthier choices," said BD Phadtare, deputy director of education, Mumbai division.

Schools also said it will be difficult to restrict junk food in its vicinity. “Our school is near a college that is surrounded by hawkers. It is hard to stop junk food sale, because these are not places you can shut down easily,” said Kavita Aggarwal, principal, DG Khetan International School, Malad.

What do the junk food guidelines recommend?

Common junk food that is high in fat, salt and sugar, such as chips, fried food, sugar sweetened carbonated beverages, sweetened non-carbonated beverages, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, potato fries and confectionery items, should be restricted in schools and also in the vicinity of 50 metres around the school.

Advertisement and promotion of such foods targeted at children is to be regulated through a framework.

A canteen policy should be implemented based on colour coding. Green category items — the healthy food options — should constitute about 80% of available foods, while red category — most common junk foods high in fat, salt and sugar — shouldn’t be sold or served in schools.

Suggested, healthy menu options should include fruits, paneer / vegetable cutlets, khandvi, poha, uthapam, upma, idlis and kathi rolls, low fat milk shakes, fresh fruit juice, fresh lime soda, badam milk and lassi.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) should fix limits of unhealthy ingredients such as certain kinds of fat to 5% at the earliest.

Schools should promote nutrition education and awareness for children. A well-structured curriculum on balanced diet and its impacts should be introduced.

How guidelines were framed

The PIL by Uday Foundation through its founder Rahul Verma had sought an immediate ban on junk food and carbonated drinks in all unaided and private schools. After preliminary hearings, Delhi HC had set up a panel to examine dietary habits of schoolchildren on the question of banning sale of junk food in and around educational institutions.

Make food safety a priority: World Health Organization

Prior to World Health Day on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon nations, policy makers, farmers, food handlers, families and individuals to make food safety a priority.

Prior to World Health Day on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon nations, policy makers, farmers, food handlers, families and individuals to make food safety a priority.

An estimated 7,00,000 children die of diarrhoea in WHO's south-east Asia zone, which includes India, every year.

"Bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals and other contaminants in our food can cause over 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer. New and emerging threats - such as climate change and its impact on food production; emerging biological and environmental contamination; new technologies; new food-borne infections and diseases; and antimicrobial resistance through food chain – all pose challenges to the safety of our food," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia.

"These existing and emerging threats call for urgent action. Countries must put in place comprehensive food safety policies matched by legislation and robust food safety strategies, and they must be stringently implemented across the food chain. This requires a trained workforce and an informed and empowered consumer" she added.

Make food safety a priority: WHO

The World Health Organisation(WHO) on Tuesday urged each nation in the South-East Asia region to make food safety a priority.

It stated that over 700,000 children die in the South-East Asia region every year due to diarrhoea and several other diseases caused by the impure food and water.

"Bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals, and other contaminants in our food can cause over 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer. New and emerging threats such as climate change and its impact on food production; emerging biological and environmental contamination -- all Apose challenges to the safety of our food," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia in a statement.

She said the countries must put in place comprehensive food safety policies and stringently implement it across the food chain.

Food safety has been set as the theme for the upcoming World Health Day.

Khetrapal said food safety is one of the key focus areas under the International Health Regulations -- IHR 2005 -- which includes events of all public health emergencies of international concern that involve contaminated food and outbreaks of food borne diseases.

She informed that the WHO and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have established the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) to rapidly share information during food safety emergencies.

"WHO supports countries to prevent, detect and respond to food borne disease outbreaks using the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice.

"Codex provisions concern the hygienic and nutritional quality of food, including microbiological norms, food additives, pesticides and veterinary drug residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, and methods of sampling and risk analysis -- covering all the main foods and processes," she said.

10 Facts WHO Wants You To Know On Food Safety

10 facts WHO wants you to know on food safety

“Food safety: from farm to plate, make food safe” is the theme of World Health Day 2015. The day focuses on demonstrating the importance of food safety along the whole length of the food chain in a globalised world, from production and transport, to preparation and consumption.

Over the past half century, the process by which food gets from the farm to the plate has changed drastically. Food contamination that occurs in one place may affect the health of consumers elsewhere. This means that everyone along the production chain, from producer to consumer, must observe safe food handling practices.

As per Dr Poonam Khetrapal, Regional Director, WHO SEARO, “Food safety is critical for public health as foodborne diseases affect people’s health and well-being. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, the elderly and the sick. Foodborne diseases impede socio-economic development by straining health care systems and adversely impacting national economies, tourism and trade.”

Here are ten important facts that everyone should know about food safety.

1. More than 200 diseases are spread through food.

Millions of people fall ill every year and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Diarrhoeal diseases alone kill an estimated 1.5 million children annually, and most of these illnesses are attributed to contaminated food or drinking water. Proper food preparation can prevent most foodborne diseases.

2. Contaminated food can cause long-term health problems.

The most common symptoms of foodborne disease are stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea. Food contaminated with heavy metals or with naturally occurring toxins can also cause long-term health problems including cancer and neurological disorders.

3. Foodborne diseases affect vulnerable people harder than other groups.

Infections caused by contaminated food have a much higher impact on populations with poor or fragile health status and can easily lead to serious illness and death. For infants, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly, the consequences of foodborne disease are usually more severe and may be fatal.

4. There are many opportunities for food contamination to take place.

Today’s food supply is complex and involves a range of different stages including on-farm production, slaughtering or harvesting, processing, storage, transport and distribution before the food reaches the consumers.

5. Globalization makes food safety more complex and essential.

Globalization of food production and trade is making the food chain longer and complicates foodborne disease outbreak investigation and product recall in case of emergency.

6. Food safety needs multisectoral and multidisciplinary action

To improve food safety, a multitude of different professionals are working together, making use of the best available science and technologies. Different governmental departments and agencies, encompassing public health, agriculture, education and trade, need to collaborate and communicate with each other and engage with the civil society including consumer groups.

7. Food contamination also affects the economy and society as a whole.

Food contamination has far reaching effects beyond direct public health consequences – it undermines food exports, tourism, livelihoods of food handlers and economic development, both in developed and developing countries.

8. Some harmful bacteria are becoming resistant to drug treatments.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry, in addition to human clinical uses, is one of the factors leading to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in animals may be transmitted to humans via food.

9. Everybody has a role to play in keeping food safe.

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, industry, producers, academia, and consumers. Everyone has a role to play. Achieving food safety is a multi-sectoral effort requiring expertise from a range of different disciplines – toxicology, microbiology, parasitology, nutrition, health economics, and human and veterinary medicine. Local communities, women’s groups and school education also play an important role. You can keep food safe in your kitchen by applying the five keys to food safety: keep kitchen, utensils, hands clean while cooking, separate raw from cooked food, cook food thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, use safe raw materials.

10. Consumers arm yourself with information on how to keep your food safe!

People should make informed and wise food choices and adopt adequate behaviors. They should know common food hazards and how to handle food safely, using the information provided in food labelling.

Safe food, from the farm to the plate

SNACK ON THE ROAD: “Street food is emerging as an important source of food for a large proportion of the population in urban and peri-urban settings.” Picture shows Mohammad Ali Road in Mumbai.

Food safety is critical for public health as food-borne diseases affect people’s well-being,strain health-care systems, and adversely impact national economies, tourism and trade

How often do we ask ourselves if the food we are eating is safe? Do we know if it is free of bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals, other contaminates, additives and adulterants which can cause over 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer? Every year, diarrhoea caused by contaminated food and water kills 2.2 million people, including 1.9 million children, globally. Unsafe food and water kills an estimated 7,00,000 children in the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Region every year. Access to safe food remains a challenge in the region. Whether as individuals, families, farmers, contributors to and handlers of the food chain or policymakers, we need to make food safety our priority.

Food safety is critical for public health as food-borne diseases affect people’s health and well-being. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, the elderly and the sick. Food-borne diseases impede socio-economic development by straining health care systems and adversely impacting national economies, tourism and trade.

Multisectoral collaboration

Since food passes through multiple hands from the farm to reach our plates, ensuring food safety requires multisectoral collaboration. The approach needs to be preventive — to improve food safety and quality through application of good farming practices by using agro chemicals or veterinary drugs only in the prescribed amount. Good storage, transportation, retail and restaurant practices are equally important to make food safe.

Street foods are emerging as an important source of food for a large proportion of the population in urban and peri-urban settings. Street food as a source of food-borne diseases therefore assumes public health significance.

Also, new threats to food safety are constantly emerging — the impact of climate change on food production, distribution and consumption; emerging biological and environmental contamination of the food chain, new technologies, new and emerging pathogens; antimicrobial resistance.

Countries need to have a comprehensive food safety policy, legislation and national food safety programmes encompassing all the sectors and aspects for food safety.

Though most countries in the region have food safety policies, enforcement remains a challenge. Food quality and safety standards are usually strictly followed for exportable food commodities, but not always enforced for food destined for the domestic market. Food safety and quality should be ensured through stringent control and inspection mechanisms for export as well as the domestic market.

Adulteration of food is another problem as informal food production and distribution systems are deeply entrenched at the community level in the region. Contamination of mustard oil with argemone oil in 1998 and contamination of imported milk and infant formula with melamine in 2008 are among the few events that raised food safety concerns among consumers and policymakers in the region and globally.

Five keys to good safety

The most pertinent of all the measures is creating awareness among individuals to ensure that their food is safe. In this context, ‘five keys’ to food safety need to be promoted — maintain cleanliness, separate raw and cooked food, cook thoroughly, keep food at correct temperature and use safe water and raw materials.

As food supply becomes increasingly globalised, there is an urgent requirement to strengthen food safety systems in and between all countries. Establishment of a network for food safety authorities in partnership with countries can help promote the exchange of food safety information and improve collaboration among food safety authorities at national and international levels.

There is also need to help countries prevent, detect and respond to food-borne disease outbreaks using the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice covering all the main foods and processes.

In addition, food safety should be adequately incorporated in national disaster-management programmes and emergencies. Access to safe water and quality food is a major problem during flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters. There is a likelihood of food in the affected areas getting contaminated and causing outbreaks of food-borne disease.

As part of its Regional Food Safety Strategy, countries in the region need to initiate, develop and sustain multisectoral approaches and measures for promotion of food safety among all population groups. Some countries have taken novel and notable initiatives such as the mobile food courts in Bangladesh, the establishment of a Food Standard and Safety Authority in India, and certification of street food vendors with a “Clean Food, Good Taste” logo in Thailand. This year’s World Health Day theme focuses on food safety. Food safety must be an essential component of national health, food, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, water, sanitation and environment-related programmes. Food safety is a shared responsibility. Let us work together to make our food safe and to contribute to better health of people.

Vets to inspect animal products' hygiene, standards

KATHUA, MARCH 30- Deputy Commissioner Kathua,Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, taking a serious note of non-compliance of public health standards by animal products' outlets has directed the expert veterinary doctors to carry out extensive market inspections and check the standard of hygiene and public health observed.

Chief Animal Husbandry Officer and District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Kathua, have been asked to provide the services of expert veterinary professionals and Veterinary Assistant Surgeons for inspection of milk, milk products, poultry and meat products being sold in market and in case of sub-standard or adulterated material being found report the cases of defaulters to Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua Dr Mushtaq Ahmed who will initiate further proceedings against the defaulters under law.

The DC also asked departments of Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, CA & PD, Legal Metrology, Rural Development and Urban Local Bodies to carry out extensive awareness campaign through all means and also sensitize the business community regarding veterinary public health and legal provisions. He called upon officers to also run regular information strip on local cable channels on this issue and create awareness among masses.

Chief Animal Husbandry Officer and District Sheep Husbandry Officer will notify the veterinary doctors for various municipalities and rural areas, complaint cell for general public has been established to report any case of adulteration or quality compromise as well as selling of sub-standard products. Joint teaof Vets, CAPD, Legal Metrology and Municipality staff will carry out inspections.

The DC stressed upon highlighting the consumer affairs and according highest priority to it. A core committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner and comprised of Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Assistant Director CAPD, Asst Director Legal Metrology, CEO Municipal Council, Tehsildars and Executive Officers shall monitor the progress on fortnightly basis for ensuring standards of food safety, public health and hygiene.

TOBACCO PRODUCTS SEIZED

Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) officials seized over 700 kg of tobacco products from a shop at Ukkadam here on Monday. The total value of the seized products was estimated to be around Rs. 1.40 lakh. The officials have taken samples of the product.

உக்கடம் பிளாஸ்டிக் விற்பனை கடையில் 700 கிலோ தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

கோவை, மார்ச் 31:

உக்கடம் பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்கள் விற்பனை கடையில் விற்பனைக்கு வைத்திருந்த 700 கிலோ தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

கோவை உக்கடம் அய்யாசாமி கோயில் வீதியை சேர்ந்தவர் ஷேர்சிங்(32). வடமாநிலத்தை சேர்ந்த இவர் குடும்பத்துடன் கோவையில் தங்கி உக்கடம் காய்கறி மார்க்கெட் அருகே பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்கள் விற்பனை கடை நடத்தி வருகிறார். இவரது கடையில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் மறைத்து வைத்து விற்கப்படுவதாக கோவை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு நேற்று தகவல் கிடைத்தது.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு நியமன அதிகாரி கதிரவன் உத்தரவின் பேரில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு அதிகாரிகள் சுருளி, வேலுசாமி, சக்திவேல் உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று தகவல் கிடைத்த கடையில் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அதில் கடையின் உட்புறத்தில் உள்ள அறையில் விற்பனைக்காக 300 கிலோ புகையிலை பொருட்கள் மற்றும் கடைக்கு சொந்தமான குடோனில் 400 கிலோ புகையிலை பொருட்கள் என மொத்தம் 700 கிலோ புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது தெரியவந்தது.

ஹான்ஸ் புகையிலையில் 3 வகைகள், பான்பராக் புகையிலையில் 3 வகைகள் என விற்பனைக்காக மறைத்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த மொத்தம் 700 கிலோ தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். இவற்றின் மதிப்பு ரூ.3 லட்சம் ஆகும்.

இதுதொடர்பாக கடை உரிமையாளர் ஷேர்சிங்கிடம் அதிகாரிகள் விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர். இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில்,இந்த புகையிலை பொருட்கள் எங்கிருந்து வாங்கப்பட்டது, இதில் யார் யாருக்கு தொடர்புள்ளது என்பது குறித்து விசாரிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது, என்றனர்.

Worm found in food, 7 suffer food poisoning

COIMBATORE: Seven people from Kuniamuthur, in Coimbatire, were admitted in the government hospital, Coimbatore, with complaints of food poisoning on Sunday. All seven of them say they had gone together to a chaat outlet where a worm was found in a plate of mushroom fry. The food safety department raided the chaat outlet on Monday afternoon.

The seven of them, claimed that they had been suffering from severe diarrhea and bouts of vomiting since Sunday evening. "We went to the chaat outlet, attached to a departmental storethat sells products at lower prices, at around 7 am and ordered mushroom fry and cauliflower fry," said M Ilyas, a goldsmith from Kuniamuthur. "We found a worm in our plate of mushroom fry and pointed it out to the chaat stall staff," he said.

The manager of the stall reportedly apologized and offered to replace the plate with another dish. "He however kept insisting that the worm could not have come from his materials or from his stall," said M Shahjehan. "He then told us that we could take back our money and go, but he did not admit that his materials were inhygienic," he added.

The men claimed that hardly one-and-half hours after they consumed the dish, a few of them began suffering from diarrhea and nausea. "We are only feeling better now," said Ilyas.

The food safety department, suspect the food poisoning to have been triggered due to the use of spoilt mushroom or cauliflower, raided the canteen and the store. The stall in the canteen was reportedly shut down on Monday. "The chaat stall was shut down and wiped clean, not giving us an opportunity to collect samples of their raw materials," said designated food safety officer R Kathiravan. tnn"The patients admitted have also chosen not to file a complaint with the police or the food safety department," he said.

However, there is another suspicion that the whole incident might be motivated. " The chances of that big a worm being found in a dish, which involves cutting the vegetable into such small pieces and frying it, is small," said a food scientist Srijanani Sundararajan.

காளான் சாப்பிட்ட 7 பேர் அரசு ஆஸ்பத்திரியில் அனுமதி

கோவை, மார்ச் 31:குனியமுத்தூர்

திருவள்ளுவர் நகரை சேர்ந்தவர்கள் செரீப்(28), ரகமத்துல்லா(28), ஷாஜகான்(28), ரியாஸ்(28), சமீர்(21) உள்பட 7 பேர். இவர்கள் நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு கரும்பு கடை பகுதியில் உள்ள ஒரு காளான் கடைக்கு சென்றுள்ளனர். அங்கு பானிபூரி, காளான் வாங்கி சாப்பிட்டனர். இந்நிலையில், நேற்று காலையில் அனைவருக்கும் வாந்தி, மயக்கம், தொடர் வயிற்றுபோக்கு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இதை தொடர்ந்து உடனடியாக அவர்கள் கோவை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டனர். மருத்துவமனையில் 7 பேருக்கும் சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

பாக்கெட்டில் விற்பனை செய்யும் ரெடிமேடு உணவு பொருட்களுக்கு தடை விதிக்க கோரிக்கை

கோவை, மார்ச் 31:

கோவை மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் அலுவலகத்தில் மக்கள் குறைதீர்க்கும் கூட்டம் கலெக்டர் அர்ச்சனா பட்நாயக் தலைமையில் நேற்று நடந்தது. இதில் சமூக விழிப்புணர்வு இயக்கத்தின் நிறுவனர் சாக்ரடீஸ் தலைமையில் அதன் நிர்வாகிகள் மனு அளித்தனர். அம்மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது:

கடைகளில் ரெடிமேடு சப்பாத்தி, பரோட்டா, பூரி போன்ற உணவுப் பொருட்கள் கவர்ச்சிகரமான வண்ண பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைக்கப்பட்டு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.

இந்த உணவுப் பொருட்கள் கெட்டுப்போகாமல் இருக்க பென்சாயிக் ஆசிட் உள்ளிட்ட வேதிப்பொருட்கள் சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த வேதிப் பொருட்கள் 0.60 சதவிதம் மட்டும் சேர்க்க வேண்டும். ஆனால் இந்த வேதிப் பொருட்கள் 20 சதவீதம் அதிகமாக சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது. இது பொதுமக்களின் உடல் நலத்திற்கு தீங்கானது. எனவே உணவு பொருட்களை ரெடி மேடாக தயாரித்து பாக்கெட்டில் விற்பனை செய்ய தமிழக அரசு தடைவிதிக்க வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு அம்மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

MAALAI MALAR NEWS

Fungus found in adulterated prasad

Guwahati: Sample analysis of the adulterated prasad that claimed three lives in Barpeta district last week revealed the presence of fungal growth in the grams and moong beans used in the preparation.

Analysts and health experts, however, said the presence of fungal growth alone cannot be treated as a direct cause of death as forensic analysis of the viscera and organs of the deceased is yet to be undertaken.

Two kinds of samples were sent for analysis. One comprised grams and moong beans and the other, the traditional payakh or rice pudding. The Barpeta district administration received the report from the state public health laboratory on Thursday.

Over 500 people, including women and children, fell sick after consuming the adulterated prasad at a religious ceremony held early last week in Nasattra, a village in the district. The devotees complained of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ailments and dehydration.

"The payakh sample didn't reveal any trace of fungus. There was no presence of pesticides either. Even the water sample was tested and found to be without any trace of fungal growth. The grams and the beans, which showed fungal growth, didn't come from one particular source," said Jayanta Das, food safety officer of Barpeta district.

An analyst at the public health laboratory, Anupam Gogoi, said the samples did not show any toxic or harmful content. "The samples were collected by the district administration from whatever was left of the prasad. The presence of fungus alone cannot be the cause of death. More forensic analysis is required. There has been a considerable gap between the time of preparation of the prasad and the time of testing of the samples," he said.

The Barpeta district administration on March 19 prohibited the sale and distribution of different varieties of grams and moong beans across the district.

‘Scrap FSSA to protect small and retail traders’

T. Vellaiyan, president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai, addressing a meeting in Palayamkottai on Saturday.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, (FSSA) 2006 is detrimental to small and retail traders and hence the Central government should scrap the FSSA immediately to safeguard the interests of traders, T. Vellaiyan, president of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai said here on Saturday at a programme organised by Traders Association, Tirunelveli.

IMA to sensitise doctors on food safety, Dengue and Malaria

To earmark World Health Day and World Malaria Day, Indian Medical Association will be sensitising 2.5 lakh doctors in the country through SMS and emails, about Food Safety and prevention of Vector Borne Diseases.

IMA would celebrate April 7 as World Health Day and it will be dedicated to food safety while April 20 will be celebrated asWorld Malaria Day and will be dedicated to invest in future and to defeat malaria. 

Giving the details, Dr KK Aggarwal, Secretary General, IMA said that more than 3 lakh children in the age group of 0 to 5 years die every year because of food and water related diseases.

The core message of the five keys to safer food are, (1) keep clean, (2) separate raw and cooked, (3) cook thoroughly, (4) keep food at safe temperatures and (5) use safe water and raw materials.

One should not keep food at room temperature for more than two hours.

Vector Borne Diseases specially Dengue are likely to increase this year. Therefore, mass sensitisation of doctors is required to check the disease. IMA has decided to enter into an understanding with the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Govt. of India to work in this area.

IMA is the only representative, national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as well being of the community at large.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Review of Regulations on; FSSAI wait for full-time chairperson not over

It’s been two months and FSSAI- the apex food regulator of the country - has no full-time chairperson to oversee its functioning. And according to sources, it is unlikely that the apex body gets chairperson in the next one month at least. 

Interestingly, currently, Bhanu Pratap Sharma, who is secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, has been given additional charge of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) for a period of two months.

When asked about the post lying vacant since two months on the sidelines of a programme here recently, J P Nadda, Union minister for health and family welfare, replied that the ministry was looking into the matter. “No decision was taken on this issue (of chairmanship),” he remarked. 

It is pertinent to mention here that in a recent bureaucratic reshuffle by the Union government, Bhanu Pratap Sharma replaced Lov Verma as secretary, Union ministry of health, on February 2. 

The position of chairperson, FSSAI, was vacated upon retirement of K Chandramouli on January 23 earlier this year, while Sharma was given additional charge of the chairperson of FSSAI for a period of two months. 

Meanwhile, the ministry of health is reviewing the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations, 2011. Experts feel that a full-time chairperson may have been an asset during the deliberations as post-review, the chairperson has to take it forward when it comes to regulations, advisories and so on as per the deliberations.

With regard to the review, Sharma stated that the work was on. “Soon the Task Force will submit the report on all the aspects including product approval and we’ll examine the report and take appropriate action,” he replied. 

The health minister, in the winter session of Parliament, had announced that the ministry of health will form a Task Force to review the FSS Act and Regulations. Verma was a key person involved in the reviewing of the Act since it was first conceived during the then health minister Harshvardhan.