Legal opinion: The sleeping FSSAI giant awakes from its slumber as Maggi tumbles

Kunal Kishore talks food

As the Indian food safety regulator has just announced that it would finally draft new norms for maximum lead and other heavy-metal content in foods, Advocate Kunal Kishore explains why food regulation has been neglected for far too long.

The whole controversy surrounding Maggi has caught everyone’s attention on two issues. First, Nestle and second the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). People now realise that a government organisation exists that is supposed to ensure the safety of the food we consume. FSSAI has been in the news for quite some time now in relation to imported food items, but its name has now reached the common man with the Maggi controversy.

FSSAI was established under section 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). It consists of a chairperson and 22 members. Members are appointed from various ministries related to food and also include representatives from the food industry, consumer organisations, food scientists/technologists, farmer’s organisations and retailer’s organisations. FSS Act also provides for the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer who is the legal representative of FSSAI, responsible for day-to-day administration and various other works. There is also a central advisory committee, scientific panels and a scientific committee.

The duty of FSSAI is to regulate and monitor the manufacture, processing, distribution, sale and import of food so as to ensure safe and wholesome food for public consumption. Under the FSS Act, FSSAI is, inter alia, empowered to make regulations prescribing standards for food items including limits on food additives, crop contaminants and pesticide residue. However, FSSAI can only come out with these regulations after receiving the approval of the Central Government and each house of parliament.

The mandate of the FSS Act is enforced by both FSSAI and state food safety authorities. State food safety authorities consist of food safety officers, designated officers and commissioners of food safety.

Food Product Standards and Food Additives Regulations

FSSAI came out with various regulations including the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations (the regulations). These regulations provide standards for different kinds of food articles and additives that are allowed to be used in food products. It also provides tables wherein different kinds of food items are mentioned, along with the additives that are allowed to be used.

This suggests that only those food items and additives that are specifically mentioned under the regulations are allowed. However, interestingly under the regulations an entry of “Proprietary Food” is defined to mean a food that has not been standardized under the regulation. Further, it provides that in addition to the labelling requirements provided under these regulations, a proprietary food shall also conform to the following:-

Conform to the labelling requirements specified under these regulations (it appears that the expression “these regulations” refers only to Food Product Standards and Food Additives Regulations” and it does not refer to labelling regulation) Name of the describing shall be as clearly as possible Nature or composition of the food shall be mentioned on the label The food shall comply with all other regulatory provisions specified in these regulations and appendices A and B (Appendix A provides tables wherein permissible usage of food additives are mentioned and Appendix B specifies micro-biological requirements) 

But why are only 377 food items standardised? Are 377 food items sufficient to cover all categories of food items? What happens to those food items that are not mentioned under Appendices A and B? How will the additives used therein be regulated? How are food items that existed at the time of the implementation of the regulations, and fall within the definition of “Proprietary Food”, regulated? How are food items that are standardised food but use extra additives treated?

To date most of the legal issues and disputes have arisen due to the term“Proprietary Food”. From the definition one cannot conclude that non-standardised foods are not allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold. However, at the same time it also cannot be concluded that all the non-standardised food items are allowed to be manufactured, imported or sold. Only 377 food items are standardised, with all remaining food items falling under the term “Proprietary Food”. Given this background, the following questions arise:-

There are many questions like these that leaves us to wonder how they can be allowed to crop up in the first place and where does the answer lie. These questions arose because, at the time of transition from the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) to FSS Act, the regulations were imported without serious review.

So today what we have are old regulations which were adopted some 40 to 50 years ago. Different countries across the world have included at a minimum 5000 to 10,000 standards in their food safety laws, yet we are stuck with only 377. Now, if FSSAI wanted to correct this mistake they would have to go to parliament for their approval as per section 93. So instead they came out with a short-cut called product approval scheme (the scheme) .

Product approval scheme

The scheme was launched through an advisory process not through regulation which ideally should have been the case. Through the scheme, FSSAI have tried to achieve three objectives.

First, they improved their financial situation by fixing the fee for each product approval to Rs 25,000. As only 377 products were standardised, FSSAI was soon flooded with product approval applications and much needed money.

Second, they started collecting data on different kinds of foods through the applications. India had probably never had this information before and it didn’t cost them anything. In fact, they were getting money for it.

Third, they tried correcting their gravest mistake of not updating the standards at the time of transition from PFA to FSS Act.

The scheme also suited the industry as it allowed them to continue their business, which otherwise might have shut down or would have been highly susceptible to corruption. This arrangement suited both the regulator and the regulated until Vital Neutraceuticals decided this before the Bombay high court. Bombay high court held the scheme as ultra vires because the procedure laid out in section 92 and 93 was not followed, because it was not placed before the parliament and approval was not obtained.

In appeal, FSSAI approached the Supreme Court and the judgment of the Bombay high court was stayed and the matter is pending final hearing. So, to date, the product approval scheme is running and FSSAI does not allow anyone to manufacture, import or sell non-standardised food products without product approval.

It is because of this stand that Nestle was forced to withdraw Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker. But one very important thing went unnoticed, being the nature of the product approval scheme.

Analysing product approval systems existing in different countries, such a system generally exists only for novel food items or ingredients. Meaning from a particular date, FSSAI notifies the list of food articles, ingredients and additives that are known to have been used in food and are considered safe.

If a food business operator seeks to include any food item, ingredient or additive they will have to apply for product approval and pay a fee. The fee would be utilised to analyse the safety of the particular food item. However, our FSSAI did not bother to come out with any such updated list of known food items, ingredients and additives. Instead they asked everyone to apply for product approval, even for those food items, ingredients and additive that were already in use at the time of implementation of the regulations.

The purpose of doing this could have been to create a database at the cost of manufacturers, importers and sellers of food items. However, through this scheme, FSSAI is unduly enriching themselves at the cost of food business operators.

Under Appendix A of the regulations, the usage of additives has been specified by food category. In the same manner, FSSAI should update the list of accepted additives. However, they are not doing so and instead are asking every manufacturer and importer to obtain approval separately for the same additive used in similar products. The reasoning given is that the food product is said to be exclusive to the applicant and the food authority is restrained from sharing information.

Prima facie, it might look convincing but the logic is incorrect. The job of FSSAI is to specify whether a particular ingredient or additive is allowed to be used in a particular kind of food or not. And if yes then in what quantity.

Here, first, FSSAI is not specifying to food business operators what ingredients and additives are allowed. Rather they are taking advantage and must be earning money for approving the same ingredient or additive for possibly 10 or even 100 different food business operators.

Maggi Fiasco

Given this background, we will now look at the much discussed case of the present day, Nestle’s Maggi case. Here, we analyse some of the issues which went unnoticed:-

Effect of registration/licensing

Each packet of Maggi contained the FSSAI license number along with its logo. Does this not give an impression to the consumer that this food business operator is under the purview of the food safety authorities? Can consumers not assume that food safety authorities would have taken due inspection to ensure the quality?

During the whole Maggi episode, not even once did the FSSAI come out with a statement explaining how violations were allowed to take place at such a large scale. Forget about the explanation, even a future course of action has not yet been announced. This may mean that FSSAI is going to cancel Nestle’s license or it may mean that after a few months everyone will forget about it and Nestle will carry out its business as usual or with some improvement.

Non-identification of the source

Nestle never came out with a list of particular units where violations took place. Such a declaration would have helped them in restricting food recall to the Maggi manufactured in only such units and saved them to a great extent. At the same time, in the absence of any such declaration, inference can be drawn against them that violations took place at all units.

Food recall procedure

In the past weeks, print and electronic media has been flooded with news of the recall and it is being projected as one of the largest recalls ever. It may surprise readers to know that FSSAI has not implemented any food recall procedure to date.

The draft regulations in this regard were circulated for public discussion only 2-3 days prior to this Maggi fiasco. In the absence of these regulations how will FSSAI ensure the proper recall of the sub-standard Maggi packets? They might have to rely solely upon the declaration made by Nestle, which has already been widely published. Let’s hope they do not rely solely on media reports, and instead try and verify the data themselves.

Labelling violations

One of the reasons for banning Maggi was because “No Added MSG” was mentioned on the packet label. As per the FSSAI, this is mis-leading and they have relied upon a document of the US Food and Drug Administration to support their argument.

We appreciate the hard work that the FSSAI officials have put in to make a case against Nestle. However, it would have been appreciated more, had the guidelines been issued by FSSAI in advance. On the one hand, FSSAI maintains a view that what is permitted under Codex Alimentarius and other countries cannot be ipso facto regarded allowed in India, and on the other hand they themselves rely on foreign literature to make a case against a food business operator working in India.

Conclusion

FSSAI has been lethargic and inefficient in the past and it can be for many reasons including financial constraints and untrained manpower. Now they have started to pick up, however, they first need to put their house in order and then can expect everyone to follow them.

In their overenthusiasm, they might harm the industry and may jeopardise the jobs of many. In the last 2 to 3 months, one can definitely see a change in the workings of FSSAI. Its website appears more active and seems to be giving more clarity to the industry and consumers.

Despite this, there is lot more to improve. We hope that FSSAI soon starts quoting their own advisories in their orders rather than relying upon that of another country. 

Kunal Kishore is an advocate and he can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">kunal@jlfs.in

Now, Food Served by Railways too Chugs Into Wrong Track

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Maggi Noodle fiasco, it has come to light that even the food supplied by the Railways contains harmful and poisonous substances.

Giving credence to the fact, the sample reports from the Government Analyst’s Laboratory, here, reveal that around 30 food samples collected from various trains running across Kerala contain harmful and carcinogenic elements. But this is just a tip of the iceberg. The samples were collected in a period of three years - 2012-’14.

The numbers will be even higher, said sources in the Railways on condition of anonymity.

Last month, a woman and two children on Kerala Express were hospitalised at Palakkad due to food poisoning after they consumed a paneer dish.

The report which is with the ‘Express’ says the food samples contained harmful elements such as added synthetic colours - sudan dye 1 and 1V, (Sunset yellow FCF colour index 15985), (Carmoisine with colour index 14720), (Tartrazine with 19140), Brilliant Blue FCF - colour index 42090, Metanil yellow which were prohibited under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006).

Some products did not have company labels while some do not conform to the food safety standards (Packaging and Labelling 2011) and is therefore misbranded. These harmful ingredients were found in chilli powder, turmeric, chilli and tomato sauce, curd and bottled water.

Though, the defaulters were penalised, they get away easily, Railways sources pointed out.

“A meagre amount of Rs 2,500- Rs 3,000 is charged by way of fine. Because the catering agencies take contract for crores of rupees from the Railways,” they said.

Besides, the defaulters also make advantage of the loophole existing in the system, they clarified.

“The health inspectors who collect samples are not vested with more powers. They could levy a fine of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. On the contrary, the food safety officers who can take the matter to prosecuting the defaulters are less in number. Shockingly, for Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions, there are only one food safety officer. Less number of food inspectors will lead to poor implementation,” the Railways sources said.

Things were well and good when the Railways was directly in charge of it.

“But everything went topsy-turvy once it started assigning the job to outside agencies. Most of the caterers are big north Indian companies,” said sources.

KFC says claims of germs in food untrue, "malicious intent" to damage brand

The NGO, Balala Hakula Sangham, had claimed that the samples picked up from five KFC outlets in Hyderabad were unsafe on the basis of the findings of Telangana State Food Laboratory (SFL).

KFC logo

Fast food chain KFC on Friday challenged claims that its products are unsafe for consumption due to the presence of harmful bacteria inside its food articles.

Reacting to claims of a Hyderabad-based NGO which alleged that the company's products contained harmful pathogens-- salmonella and E.Coli bacteria--KFC said that it was a case of "malicious intent" on the part of some individuals.

"We believe that this is a case of malicious intent on the part some individuals trying to damage our brand reputation," a KFC spokesperson said in a statement.

The NGO, Balala Hakula Sangham, had claimed that the samples picked up from five KFC outlets in Hyderabad were unsafe on the basis of the findings of Telangana State Food Laboratory (SFL).

"We have no knowledge of the sample being collected from any of our stores and have not received any intimation or notice from any authority in this regard," the spokesperson said adding that the company got to know of this report from the media only.

According to KFC, its products are freshly cooked and are perishable food items meant for immediate consumption.

"In any case, there is no possibility of any microbial development in our food which is freshly cooked at 170 degrees celsius," KFC said.

The statement further said the name of the supplier mentioned in the report by the NGO is not even in the poultry business and there is no KFC outlet in three out of the five locations shared by the organisation.

"We are not sure if this alleged sample was actually picked from a KFC store, what is the condition in which this was stored or transported," it added.

Food safety has come under the scanner in the country after Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directed Nestle to withdraw its instant noodles Maggi from the market.

Pathogens found in KFC food samples; food chain rejects report

The report, dated June 24, filed by SFL food analyst AV Krishna Kumari states: “I am of the opinion that the samples contains E.Coli and salmonella, which are pathogens and injurious to health. It is, therefore, unsafe.” The SFL is a part of the Hyderabad-based Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM).

HYDERABAD: Five samples from five outlets of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have been found to contain harmful pathogens, salmonella and E.Coli bacteria. The Telangana State Food Laboratory (SFL), which conducted the test on the bidding of NGO Balala Hakula Sangham, called the samples "unsafe" even as KFC rejected the findings and denied any knowledge of the samples being collected in the first place. 

The report, dated June 24, filed by SFL food analyst AV Krishna Kumari states: "I am of the opinion that the samples contains E.Coli and salmonella, which are pathogens and injurious to health. It is, therefore, unsafe." The SFL is a part of the Hyderabad-based Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM). 

"We took the samples from Himayatnagar, Vidyanagar, Chikkadpally, Nacharam and ECIL X Road on June 18 and sent it to the state food laboratory the same day in packed and sealed condition in the original KFC snack box," said Anuradha Rao, president of the NGO. 

The US fast food giant in turn questioned the conditions under which the samples were transported for the test. In a written statement, it said: "This alleged report is a case of false allegation. We have no knowledge of the sample being collected from any of our stores and in what condition it has been transported for this alleged test. This is a perishable food item meant for immediate consumption." It added: "We have not received any intimation from any authority in this regard."

The NGO, at a press conference on Thursday morning, quoted from the report in which FSL food analyst AV Krishna Kumari specifically sought to clear doubts of any tampering by stating: "Sample received in sealed and labelled card box kept in brown colour paper." 

While the NGO sought an immediate ban on KFC products, K Balaji Raju, the designated food safety officer (DFSO) in charge of central zone of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) clarified that his department cannot take action if food samples are tested independently by an NGO. "Only when the food samples lifted by our department turns out to be positive in food safety lab for any contamination, it can result in an action against the defaulter from our side," he said. 

On its part, KFC claimed that it maintains the highest standards of hygiene. "There is no possibility of any microbial development in our food, which is freshly cooked at 170 degrees Celsius," the KFC spokesman said.

Food safety a big hazard for global brands

Put to the test: Maggi noodles being examined at the Assam State Public Health Laboratory

Bad water quality and erratic cold storage facilities make business a risky affair

At a McDonald’s plant outside Mumbai, 200 workers walk through air dryers and disinfectant pools, then get to work making the day’s 25,000 patties from chicken painstakingly sourced in a country with one of the world’s worst food safety records.

To safeguard its multibillion-dollar brand, McDonald’s says more than 100 checks it applies across its international operations are then carried out after that.

India’s tainted water, patchy cold storage network and a retail sector made up of tiny local grocers present a major risk for international food brands, whose reputation can suffer globally from one local slip.

This can mean educating hundreds of small, often illiterate, farmers — critical in a fragmented farming sector that in some cases still uses “night soil”, or human faeces, for composting.

“There are thousands of farmers you need to reach out to, each with maybe an acre, two acres of land,” said Vikram Ogale, who looks after the supply chain and quality assurance for McDonald’s India.

“Think of a situation where you have 1,000 farmers and ... you have to educate them, convince them.”

But even that is sometimes not enough.

Swiss food group Nestle is currently battling India’s biggest food scare in a decade and an unprecedented branding crisis in the country, after regulators reported some packets of its noodles contained excess lead, a finding the company disputes.

Its woes have laid bare the risks of operating in a country where it is difficult to build a watertight supply chain, and where state food safety infrastructure is minimal, at best.

Nestle, like other major brands conscious of the damage a food scare can create, says it carries out extensive testing and manages parts of its procurement processes electronically so ingredients, milk for example, are tagged and traceable.

It steam sterilises spices and transports edible oil in stainless steel tankers to avoid metal contamination.

It uses external audit firms to check suppliers.

Wal-Mart, which operates as a wholesaler in India, says its checks mean rejecting 10-11 per cent of produce daily.Trace elements

While all major international firms producing packaged food or fast food say they use trusted suppliers, most acknowledge their suppliers often rely on other providers, who then sub-contract to others and so on, making it a daily struggle to control the source of every last ingredient.

Nestle, for example, buys much of its spices from a supplier that itself sources spices from over 10,000 farmers. Spices such as turmeric and chilli powder have in the past been connected to lead poisoning, though there is no evidence that is the source of Nestle’s woes this time.

McDonald’s imported its French fries from the US until about seven years ago, while it sought out farmers and educated them on hygiene and best practice.

But not all ingredients can be easily imported, and the need to keep costs low inevitably pushes firms to source locally, forcing them to constantly educate and check standards of suppliers, and suppliers’ suppliers.

McDonald’s says it can trace all its ingredients, but for many, that is a challenge in a country where one in five food samples tested by the government is found to be contaminated, adulterated or mislabelled.

“International brands have standards, but what they can really control is from when they have access to the raw materials,” said Umesh Kamble, a supplier in Mumbai, who sells his products to restaurants in the country.

Nestle is now pushing ahead with India’s first ever national recall, pulling some 27,400 tonnes of its popular Maggi noodles off India’s shelves, a process that will take at least 40 days.

But India’s understaffed and under-resourced government infrastructure has left it in bureaucratic limbo.

It is still awaiting the full results of government tests and details on how they were carried out before it can fix any glitch or rebuild its brand. At Nestle’s plant in Moga, food analysts at its best-equipped lab in the country are unable to explain the discrepancy between internal tests and those run by the government that found high quantities of lead. “We are in the dark ... We are not privy to how they (the government tests) were done,” Satish Srinivasan, the 49-year-old head of Nestle’s Moga factory, told Reuters.

Karaikal officials crack down on artificial ripening of mango

M. Ravichandran, Food Safety Officer, inspecting the food items at a shop in Karaikal on Thursday as part of a drive to check food adulteration.

A large number of mango fruits ripened with carbide were seized and destroyed at various shops in and around Karaikal on Thursday.

A team of officials from the Food Safety Department conducted a raid at different restaurants, fruit stalls, provisional stores, snack bars, and seized refreshments, coloured jaggery and packed snacks which were found unsafe for health.

The seizure formed part of the arrangements made by the district administration for the smooth conduct of ‘Mangani festival’ scheduled to commence at Sri Kailsanathaswamy Temple here on June 29, said M. Ravichandran, Food Safety Officer, Puducherry, who conducted the raid.

As a large number of mangoes and huge volume of jaggery would be offered by the devotees, the authorities conducted the search at a number of fruit stalls and provisional stores. “Baskets of mangoes found ripened with carbide and the extra colour used to polish the jaggery were seized and destroyed,” he said.

He said that strict action would be taken against those found adulterating the jaggery with extra colours. Apart from imposing fine, criminal proceedings would be initiated against them, he added.

No free packets

No free food packet should be distributed at Tirunallar during festival days without prior permission. He has advised the donors to obtain permission from the authorities.

E. Vallavan, District Collector said steps had been taken to ensure quality fruits during Mangani festival.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Dதடையை மீறி விற்பனை புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

விழுப் பு ரம், ஜூன் 26:

தமி ழக அர சின் உத் த ரவை மீறி விழுப் பு ரம் கடை களில் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் களை காவல் து றை யி னர் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

புகை யிலை பொருட் களுக்கு தடை விதித்து தமி ழக அரசு ஏற் க னவே உத் த ர விட்டுள் ளது.

தடை உத் த ரவை மீறி பல் வேறு இடங் களில் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை ஜரூ ராக நடந்து வரு கி றது. இதனை மாவட்ட உண வு பா து காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் மற் றும் போதைப் பொ ருள் ஒழிப் பு பி ரிவு காவல் து றை யி னர் முறை யாக சோதனை நடத்தி பறி மு தல் செய்ய வேண் டும்.

ஆனால் அதி கா ரி கள் பெய ர ள வில் சோதனை நடத் து வ தால் விற் ப னையை முழு மை யாக தடை செய்ய முடி ய வில்லை.

விழுப் பு ரத் தில் நேரு ஜி வீதி, பாகர்ஷா வீதி உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி யில் செயல் பட்டு வரும் சில கடை களில் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை நடந் து வ ரு கி றது.

இது குறித்து உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கா த தைத் தொ டர்ந்து நேற்று காலை சிறப்பு தனிப் படை இன்ஸ் பெக் டர் ஜெரால்டு தலை மை யி லான போலீ சார் கடை களில் அதி ரடி சோதனை நடத்தி ஆயி ரக் க ணக் கான புகை யிலை பண் டல் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். மேலும் கடை உரி மை யா ளர் களுக் கும் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் த னர்.

விழுப் பு ரத் தில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் களை, போதை பொருள் தடுப்பு பிரிவு போலீ சார் இரு சக் கர வாக னத் து டன் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

வாடிக்கையாளர் கடும் அதிர்ச்சி உணவுப் பொருட்களில் தொடரும் அபாயம் பார்லே பிஸ்கட்டில் இரும்பு துகள்கள்

சேலம், ஜூன் 26:

நெஸ்லே நிறு வ னத் தின் மேகி நூ டுல்ஸ் தயா ரிப் பு களுக்கு தடை விதிக் கப் பட்ட தன் எதி ரொ லி யாக பால், பாக் கெட் குடி நீர், பிஸ் கட், டீத் தூள், பஜ் ஜி மாவு, மசாலா ெபாருட் கள், பருப்பு, ஜவ் வ ரிசி, வெல் லம், குளிர் பா னங் கள், எண் ணெய் போன்ற பல் வேறு பொருட் களின் மாதி ரி களை சேக ரித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப்பி உள் ள னர்.

இந் நி லை யில் பார்லே நிறு வ னத் தின் தயா ரிப் பான குழந் தை கள் விரும்பி சாப் பி டும் ‘ஹைடு அண்டு சீக்’ பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட்டுக் குள் இரும் புத் து கள் கள் இருந் தது வாடிக் கை யா ளர் மத் தி யில் அதிர்ச் சியை ஏற் ப டுத்தி உள் ளது.

சேலம் கருங் கல் பட்டியை சேர்ந் த வர் சிவ சண் மு கம் (35). தனி யார் நிறு வன ஊழி யர். மார் கெட் பகு தி யில் உள்ள ஒரு பேக் க ரி யில் இருந்து 5 பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட்டு களை உற வி னர் கள் வாங்கி வந் துள் ள னர். இதில் பார்லே நிறு வ னத் தின் ‘ஹைடு அண்டு சீக்’ பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட்டும் ஒன்று.

ேநற்று காலை அந்த பிஸ் கட் பாக்ெ கட்டை தனது 3வயது குழந் தைக்கு கொடுப் ப தற் காக சிவ சண் மு கம் பிரித் துள் ளார். அதில் இருந்த பிஸ் கட்டு களில் இரும் புத் து கள் கள் ஓட்டி யி ருப் பதை கண்டு அதிர்ச் சி ய டைந் தார்.

இதை ய டுத்து உற வி னர் கூறிய சம் மந் தப் பட்ட கடைக்கு சென்று விளக் கம் ேகட்டுள் ளார். கடை ஊழி யர் கள் இங்கு வாங் கி ய தற் கான பில் ஏதா வது உள் ள தா?, வாங் கி ய வரை வரச் சொல் லுங் கள் என் றெல் லாம் கேட்ட தால் விரக் தி ய டைந்த சிவ சண் மு கம், இது குறித்து உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி களி டம் புகார் ெதரி விக்க முடிவு ெசய் துள் ளார்.

இது கு றித்து சிவ சண் மும் கூறி ய தா வது: பார்லே நிறு வ னத் தின் ‘ஹைடு அண்டு சீக்’ பிஸ் கெட் சாக் லெட் வாசம் வீசும். விலை ரூ.25. இதில் 20 பிஸ் கட்டு கள் இருக் கும். இந்த பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட் குழந் தை களுக்கு மிக வும் பிடிப் ப தால் தொடர்ச் சி யாக அதை வாங் கிக் கொடுத்து வரு கி றோம். கடந்த ஞாயிற் றுக் கி ழமை சென் னை யில் இருந்து சேலம் வந்த உற வி னர் கள், கருங் கல் பட்டி காய் மார்க் கெட் பகு தி யில் உள்ள பேக் க ரி யில் இந்த பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட்டை (பிகேசி 18-5-15 பேட்ஜ், 138ஏ3) வாங் கி யுள் ளார். இந்த பிஸ் கட் பாக் கெட்டுக் குள் எப் படி இரும்பு துகள் கள் வந் தது என்று தெரி ய வில்லை. பொது ந லன் கருதி இது குறித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி களி டம் புகார் செய்ய உள் ளேன் என்றார்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

குளுக்கோஸ் பவுடரில் வண்டு

சிதம் ப ரம், ஜூன் 26:

கட லூர் மாவட்டம் சிதம் ப ரம் பச் சை யப் பன் பள்ளி தெருவை சேர்ந் த வர் ரமேஷ். இவர் கடந்த இரு தினங் களுக்கு முன்பு சிதம் ப ரம் காசுக் கடை தெரு வில் உள்ள பெரிய மளிகை கடை ஒன் றில் ஆரஞ்ச் சுவை யு டைய குளுக் கோஸ் பாக் கெட் ஒன்று ரூ26 கொடுத்து வாங் கி யுள் ளார். அதில் 2015ம் ஆண்டு பிப் ர வரி மாதம் தயா ரிக் கப் பட்ட தாக உள் ளது. நேற்று காலை அந்த குளுக் கோஸ் பவு டரை தண் ணீ ரில் கலந்து தனது மகளுக்கு கொடுத் துள் ளார். குடிக் கும் போது தொண் டை யில் ஏதோ சிக் கி யுள் ள தால் வாந்தி எடுத் துள் ளார். குளுக் கோஸ் தண் ணீரை பார்த்த போது அதில் வண்டு கிடந் துள் ளது. சந் தே கப் பட்டு குளுக் கோஸ் பாக் கெட்டை கொட்டிய போது மேலும் சில வண் டு கள் வெளியே வந் துள் ளது. உட ன டி யாக அவர், வாங் கிய கடை யில் கொடுத்து விட்ட னர்.

தக வல் அறிந்த சிதம் ப ரம் நக ராட்சி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் பத் ம நா பன், சம் பந் தப் பட்ட கடைக்கு சென்று குளுக் கோஸ் பவு டரை கைப் பற்றி அதனை கிண்டி ஆய் வ கத் துக்கு அனுப் பி னார். இந்த சம் ப வம் சிதம் ப ரத் தில் பர ப ரப்பை ஏற் ப டுத்தி உள் ளது.

Why stars can’t be in Maggi soup

Food safety and celebrity endorsement became a subject of debate when a few days ago “Maggi” noodles’ brand ambassadors including Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta were warned of legal action by a government agency for misleading representations. Related to the same issue, a criminal case against these celebrities was instituted in a district court of Bihar. The issue has raised an interesting legal debate with regard to advertisements, celebrity endorsements, their representations and their liabilities especially in regard to food products.

Indian law does not recognise an “endorser” or “brand ambassador” as any particular legal entity and also does not distinguish between a celebrity as an endorser and a “well-known person” as an advertising artist. Hence whether these celebrities will have a greater liability then a paid actor in law is a subject of debate.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guide of USA (15 Code of federal regulation Part 255) defines endorsement as “any advertising message (including verbal statements, demonstrations, or depictions of the name, signature, likeness, or other identifying personal characteristics of an individual or the name or seal of an organization) that consumers are likely to believe reflects the opinions, beliefs, findings, or experiences of a party other than the sponsoring advertiser, even if the views expressed by that party are identical to those of the sponsoring advertiser.”

Section 3 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 of India (hereinafter FSS Act) defines “advertisement” as “any audio or visual publicity, representation or pronouncement” made through “print, electronic media, Internet or website, and… any notice, circular, label, wrapper, invoice or other documents”. Surely the definition is wide enough to cover all forms of promotions and publicity aimed at advertising a product for sale.

According to Section 23 (1) of the FSS Act, “no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or expose for sale… any packaged food products which are not marked or labeled” as per regulations. The labels “shall not contain any statement, claim, design or device which is false or misleading in any particular”. It adds. “Every food business operator shall ensure that the labeling and presentation of food… and the information which is made available about them… does not mislead consumers.”

The expression “no person” used in the section may have a larger connotation. However any interpretation that considers a brand ambassador as a person who may be held responsible for sale “or expose for sale” will be beyond reasonability. The section that focuses on proper packaging and labeling fixes liabilities only on persons who are directly responsible for manufacturing, selling or distributing a food product in regard to the proper packaging and labeling of such food product.

A brand ambassador is not directly involved in manufacturing, selling or distribution and has no control on packaging and labeling of the food products. Therefore he or she cannot be identified as a responsible person for the purpose of this section.

Section 24 (1) of the FSS Act prohibits making of any advertisement “of any food which is misleading or deceiving or contravenes the Act, the rules and regulations under it.” The expression “no advertisement shall be made” creates a very sweeping liability which may extend to advertisement producer, ad agency, and may be even to a brand ambassador or an endorser too, although this is not explicitly stated.

Further, sub section 2 of this section may bring liability on any brand ambassador or endorser if he falsely represents that the foods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity or grade-composition. But it requires a deliberate false representation. In the present case any claim of “false representation” may not hold much ground when it is government agencies that have given all required certifications. Only after believing these to be proper did celebrities agree to endorse the product.

A brand ambassador does not have any means of more credible satisfaction about the food product then certification by government agencies, presumed to have been granted after proper tests.

The same sub section also fixes liability for making a false or misleading representation in regard to the need for the product or its usefulness, or giving a public guarantee of efficacy that is not based on adequate or scientific justification. Any representation with such guarantee may make the brand ambassador liable for unfair or deceptive trade practices. If such a claim is made by the ambassador, the burden of proof will lie on the person defending the claim to show that the guarantee was indeed based on scientific justification. In the Maggi case, though, no such claims have been made by these celebrities.

The expression “Unfair Trade Practice” used in the FSS Act has not been defined. However it has been defined under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and includes any trade practice used for the purpose of promoting sale, use or supply of any goods by making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation, which falsely represents that the goods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity, grade, composition…. or any misleading representation concerning the need for or the usefulness of any goods. But the Consumer Protection Act fixes liabilities and allows complaints only against a trader in case of any goods and a service provider in case of any service; a brand ambassador or endorser will hardly fall in either category.

Section 53 (1) of the FSS Act may pose a problem for brand ambassadors. It makes liable for a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh “any person who publishes, or is a party to the publication of an advertisement, which falsely describes any food, or is likely to mislead as to [its] nature or substance or quality… or gives false guarantee”. Exercising powers under the Act, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011 had issued an advisory in regard to misleading claims.

There are no judicial precedents in India in regard to celebrity endorsements and representations made by them in advertisements. However there is American case law. In FTC vs. Garvey (2004), decided by the US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, the FTC had instituted proceedings against a celebrity baseball player, Steve Garvey for a false and misleading advertising for dietary supplements that claimed to be helpful in weight loss. The appellate court held that to hold him liable, the FTC had to prove that Garvey had actual knowledge of the material misrepresentations, was recklessly indifferent to the truth or falsity of a representation, or had an awareness of a high probability of fraud along with an intentional avoidance of the truth. The court held that the FTC failed to meet its burden. Similarly in the Cooga Mooga, Inc.(1978) case too, celebrity endorsement become the subject matter of litigation.

It must be noted that while determining any legal liability of celebrities in the Maggi case, the prosecuting agency will have to take into consideration the fact that two among the three had already stopped endorsing the product many years ago.

An argument to fix some tortuous liability may be extended on the ground that statements made by brand ambassadors cajole consumers to use the product creating a direct link between their representation and increased consumption. However in case of a food product involving the taste ingredient, it does not seem logical to contend that upon endorsement by a celebrity somebody would change his tastes or like a new taste.

Clearly, legal liabilities of endorsers in general, and in case of food products in particular, are ambiguous where the endorser’s role and responsibilities are unclear in law. Any interpretation of extant laws to bring celebrity endorsers within their ambit would be disproportionate and inappropriate.

But surely the present “Maggi” issue provides sufficient reason for lawmakers to amend laws to fix explicit and proportionate legal liability of celebrity brand ambassadors and endorsers. The difference between a paid actor taking part in an advertisement and an endorser or brand ambassador may also be made clear to determine the extent of liability as in American law.

In America, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has provided a guide concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising (15 Code of federal regulation Part 255), which says that if a celebrity is in fact an endorser then in such a case, endorsement must “reflect the honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experience of the endorser”. While not required to become an expert on a product or industry, the celebrity, if reading from a script, may have an obligation to make reasonable inquiries of the advertiser to confirm that there is an adequate basis for assertions made in the script. This may include requesting substantiation for product claims made in the advertising campaign and requesting samples of the product for personal use.

In essence, the celebrity should not ignore signs that claims made about a product appear to be false or misleading. If an advertisement represents that the celebrity uses the endorsed product, then the endorser must be or have been a bona fide user at the time the endorsement was given. Once an endorsement is secured, it can be run only so long as the opinion of the endorser remains the same while remaining the bona fide user of the product.

On the principle of caveatemptor, some disclosures such as “I personally have not verified in terms of specific purity and quality of the product” may be made mandatory. Further it may also be made mandatory to disclose in public the amount received for a specific advertisement or endorsement.

The writer is an ICSSR Doctoral Research fellow at National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

HC allows FSSAI to recall Amway products

Nagpur: After Maggi, it's now the turn of network marketing major Amway Enterprises to withdraw its products from the market. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) to go ahead with its action of recalling seven Amway products.

A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Gavai and justice Indira Jain tersely asked FSSAI what was preventing them from taking action when products were found unfit for consumption in their scientific studies. The court then adjourned hearing of PIL filed by social workers Sachin Khobragade and Jammu Anand through their counsel Nihalsingh Rathod by eight weeks.

Earlier, FSSAI filed an affidavit through senior counsel Mehmood Parasher and Rohan Malviya that as many as 37 products of the chain marketing major were put under the scanner. Of these, seven were found to contain more than permissible quantity of minerals and vitamins as per studies conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute for Nutrition (NIN). All these products were found without mandatory licenses and no-objection certificates (NOC) or product approvals from the food authority.

Out of 37 products were under the scanner, seven including Nutrilite Natural B tablets, Calcium Magnesium D, Nutrilite Iron Folic tablets, Nutrilite Bio C, Positrim Vanilla, and Nutrilite Kids Drink in mixed fruit flavour had been rejected by the food authority. NOC of Nutrilite Salmon Omega 3, Nutrilite CH Balance and Nutrilite Fiber had expired, still they were being sold.

The main reason for rejection of NOC was that ingredients such as protein and minerals exceeded beyond permissible limit in the products. Some products contained protein powder that had been denied NOC, approval or license by FSSAI, whose product approval committee had rejected all such products. However, even after warnings, the company failed to withdraw them from the market. The petitioners alleged that despite being directed by FSSAI to recall them, the company is still selling them openly in the market.

Citing provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the petitioners prayed for directives to FSSAI to recall all Amway products which are being sold without valid license/approval/NOC, and investigations from an independent body into entire episode. They also demanded conducting audit of FSSAI.

AMWAY PRODUCTS WITH EXPIRED NOC

Nutrilite Salmon Omega 3

Nutrilite CH Balance

Nutrilite Fiber

PRODUCTS UNFIT FOR HUMANS

Nutrilite Natural B tablets - Excess vitamins

Nutrilite Calcium Magnesium-D - Excess minerals, vitamins

Nutrilite Iron Folic tablets - Excess minerals, vitamins

Nutrilite Bio C - Excess vitamins

Positrim Vanilla - Excess vitamins

Nutrilite Kids Drink in mixed fruit flavour - Can't be given without doctor's recommendation

83% of food samples on Char Dham yatra fail food safety test: Survey

DEHRADUN: Almost 83% of food samples tested on the Char Dham yatra route were found to be adulterated, according to a recent survey carried out by the Dehradun-based Society of Pollution & Environmental Conservation (SPECS) scientists.

The body, which has been conducting food adulteration sample surveys along the Char Dham routes annually since 2005, surveyed 1685 samples of food stuff which were being sold at various points on the yatra. It found that of the 1685 samples, 1405 were adulterated. Mustard oil had adulteration levels of 97-100%, chilli powder 85-94% and milk products 50 to 62%.

Vinegar was found to be 100% adulterated while 70% of adulteration was found in sweets, 91% in coriander powder and 59% in ghee. Out of the 390 samples of iodized salt tested, 323 samples were found to be without iodine. Out of 243 samples of tea, 197 samples were found adulterated. 

On the Kedarnath-Badrinath route, 461 out of 561 samples (82%) and on the Yamunotri-Gangotri route, 387 out of 469 samples (82%) were found to be adulterated. The minimum adulteration level found on the Kedarnath-Badrinath route was 62% at Chopta and Chamoli, while the highest - 100% -- was recorded on the Yamunotri-Gangotri route at Kaudiyala,Gangori ,Bhatwari and Gangnani. 

Adulteration levels seemed to be increasing each year on the Char Dham trail, as per SPECS officials. In the first survey in 2005, they point out, adulteration levels were 76% which rose to around 82% in 2008. 

Brij Sharma, secretary SPECS said that the rising adulteration levels were a matter of great concern. "Adulteration is a criminal act of the highest order, since it plays with the lives of the people and causes life-threatening diseases. We are advocating the strictest action for those who indulge in such practices," he said.

Food Safety Wing to Unleash 'Op Ruchi'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food Safety wing is planning to take out state-wide raids under ‘Operation Ruchi’ for checking the use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables and adulterants in other food items. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will also convene an inter-state co-ordination committee meeting on pesticide-ridden fruits and vegetables in Thiruvananthapuram on July 21, Health Minister V S Sivakumar has said.

The July 21 meeting will review the status of pesticide presence in agricultural produce against the backdrop of various preventive measures taken by the state government, Sivakumar said. ‘Operation Ruchi.’ will cover vegetable shops, bakeries, restaurants, super markets and hyper markets. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting on Wednesday. Packaged food items, edible oils, milk and packaged drinking water will come under the scanner. The government is also planning to hold district-level awareness camps before July 10 and at the Assembly constituency level, headed by MLAs, during July and August.

The report submitted by a Food Safety fact-finding team from Kerala which visited farm lands in Tamil Nadu had been submitted to the Central Advisory Committee, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, on June 4. At the same meeting, the committee had asked the Food Safety Commissioner, Tamil Nadu, to submit a report. Health Secretary Dr K Elangovan, Food Safety Commissioner (in-charge) K Anil Kumar, Health Department director Dr S Jayasankar and other officials were present at Wednesday’s meeting.

Kerala to set up mobile labs to test quality of food products

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerned over increasing instances of food adulteration, Kerala is gearing up to set up a string of mobile testing laboratories at check posts, claimed to be a first such initiative in the country. 

The plan is to examine the quality of food articles, including milk, milk products, oil and water, in view of increasing concerns on the flood of adulterated food articles from neighbouring states. 

Tender procedures in this regard were almost complete and negotiations were on with a company to finalise the standards and conditions, a senior food safety official said. 

In the initial phase, three mobile lab units would be set up in selected check posts in the state. 

State food safety joint commissioner K Anil Kumar said, "This is the first time that any state is setting up such mobile labs at check posts to test quality of edible goods." 

"By setting up mobile test labs, Kerala is actually showcasing a model for other states in the drive against adulterated articles. We are planning to open them at selected check posts in the state, but the exact locations are yet to be decided," he told PTI. 

The state-owned Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd has been entrusted with the selection of the company to set up the mobile labs. 

"KMSCL has now zeroed in on a company and negotiations are going on," he said.

He said the state was already carrying out regular checks and strict monitoring to ensure the quality and safety of food articles and the drive has been intensified after the Maggi noodles controversy. 

The government had also stepped up its vigil at check posts to prevent the arrival of vegetables and fruits, having high pesticide residue, from neighbouring states.

Food safety wing to intensify inspection

The food safety wing will intensify inspections across the State to regulate and restrict the use of food additives, colours, and flavouring agents as part of the initiative Operation Ruchi, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar said while chairing a meeting of Food Safety officials here on Wednesday .

As part of Operation Ruchi, junk or fast food, packed food products, ready-to-eat food, edible oils, milk and packaged drinking water will all be brought under the scanner and checked for quality as well as the presence of food additives or other harmful chemical ingredients. Vegetables and fruits will also be sampled for the presence of excessive levels of insecticides. Inspections will be carried out in vegetable stalls, bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets.

Coordination meeting

An inter-State coordination meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on the issue of checking the excessive amounts of pesticides used in vegetables and fruits brought in to the State from other neighbouring States will be held here on July 21.

Regular inspections are being held to monitor if the levels of pesticides in fruits and vegetables have come down.

The report filed by the State Food Safety officials, who had visited the farmlands in Tamil Nadu on a fact-finding mission to assess the practices of using pesticides, had been presented by the Commissioner of Food Safety before the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s Central committee on June 4.

The Central committee, following discussions on the report, had asked the Food Safety Commissioner in Tamil Nadu to report on the steps that had been taken by that State to regulate the use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.

The details of the meeting are available on the website of the FSSAI. The allegation by CPI leader Binoy Viswam that the State had not presented the facts before the FSSAI was baseless, the meeting pointed out.

Food Safety Act decoded

Awareness programme for food business operators

With pressure building up on food business operators (FBO) to adhere to the norms set by the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the Malabar Chamber of Commerce On Wednesday organised an awareness programme for those in the business on the nuances of the Act. District Food Safety Officer P.K. Aleyamma explained to the businessmen the important areas of the Act that may make a difference in the food business sector in the country.

Same platform

Ms. Aleyamma said that the purpose of the Act was to bring all the laws pertaining to food safety on the same platform to avoid any confusion. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will be the single appellate authority with reference to any issues pertaining to food in the country. The Act helps the vendors with information regarding what is to be done to make their products safe. The penalisation in case of non-compliance of the Act ranges depending upon the severity of the offence, she said.

The Act will put a check on manufacturers that make tall claims regarding their food products.

There are strict regulations regarding licensing and registration for food business. Come July, food product manufacturers are expected to print the FSSAI emblem as well as their Food licence number on every food packet, Ms. Aleyamma explained.

She also explained what to do and what not to do when it comes to safety of food and explained the difference between safe food and unadulterated food. She said that a person would have to face six months to life time imprisonment as well as fine ranging from Rs.5 lakh to 10 lakh for serious offences of the act that may result in harm to human life. Around 50 businessmen took part in the programme.

Food product manufacturers are expected to print FSSAI emblem and their food licence number on every food packet from July

FSSAI starves market of food launches

At least 700 food products awaiting approval from food safety regulator

This festive season could see no new food and beverage products hitting the market. Pending product approvals to the tune of about 700 in the last year and a half by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), companies are left with no new products in the pipeline. The result is that food and beverage companies will have to count largely on old products for sales during the crucial festive season.

“Nothing is moving in the market. Consignments that are being imported are held up at ports. If you apply for product approvals, that process, too, is getting delayed. A launch requires more than a product approval. It takes at least six to eight months after the approval for a product to hit the market. A delay there sets off a domino effect,” said Amit Lohani, convener of the Forum of Indian Food Importers. Lohani is also managing director of Delhi-based Max Foods, which imports packaged food products. He is also not the only one articulating these concerns.

A senior executive at a multinational food processing company confirmed the festive season this year would be dry for firms in the sector. “While launches vary from company to company, on an average at least three to four products are launched every year by the F&B players. During the festive season, the pace of launches goes up since the propensity to spend is high. This year, there is unlikely to be any action on that front since there is already an enormous backlog of approvals,” he said. He declined to specify which products from his firm were awaiting approval. 

Some other companies whose “files have been closed” for at least some products in 2015 by FSSAI include Merck, Britannia, Danone Foods, Amway, Dabur, Abbott, Hersheys, Heinz, Cadbury, Venky's, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Piramal Healthcare and Kellogg, data on the food safety regulator's website show.

“Closed files” refer to applications for approvals closed because of "non-submission of satisfactory response to the clarifications sought”, according to the FSSAI website. Companies said repeated clarifications sought by the regulator were resulting in delays.

Kellogg said on its Oats & Honey, the regulator had questioned the company's claim of the product being a weight-management cereal. A Kellogg India spokesperson had said, "As a routine part of the product approval process, we have received a query from FSSAI and have provided specific scientific explanation.”

Tata Starbucks and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) have gone a step ahead and recalled ingredients and products, pending approval from the regulator. HUL had said recently it had decided to stop production and sale of its Chinese range of instant noodles till such time its application was not approved by FSSAI.

Tata Starbucks said it was suspending the use of ingredients not approved in certain products served at its Indian outlets.

CLOGGED PIPELINE

• Across the spectrum, firms are caught in the vortex of pending product approvals
• No new product launches in the coming months, notably, the festive season, which kicks off end-August
• Companies include Merck, Britannia, Danone Foods, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Starbucks, Amway, Dabur, Abbott, Hersheys, Heinz, Cadbury, Venky's, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Piramal Healthcare and Kellogg
• Some of the products on the closed file list include Tata Starbucks' sea salt and caramel sauce; Kellogg's Hot Chinese Oats; GlaxoSmithKline's Actigrow and Horlicks Coated Oats; Piramal's Nicoveg; Hershey's ice breakers breath freshening mints; Heinz's phased modified oil; and Hindustan Unilever's tomato ketchup with modified starch

Food safety regulator suggests limits for metals in food

The proposed amendments follow the controversy over the detection of lead in Nestle India’s Maggi noodles

New Delhi: India’s food safety regulator on Wednesday released a draft of proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, relating to the presence of metal contaminants such as lead, arsenic, tin and mercury in food products and beverages.

The proposed amendments follow the controversy over the detection of lead in Nestle India Ltd’s Maggi noodles, which prompted an order to the company to withdraw the product from the market this month.

The amendments proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and put up on its website lay down permissible limits for metal contaminants in key product categories, including edible oils, packaged drinking water, milk, wine, assorted and canned eatables, juices, meats and fish, among others. The regulator sought feedback on the proposed changes. Companies and consumers can submit their views on the proposals within 60 days from the date the notification is made public, it said. While the date on the notification is 5 June, FSSAI made the draft available to the public on Wednesday.

FSSAI will also come up with a draft notification laying down standards for alcoholic beverages, such as whisky, beer, vodka and gin in two months, seeking comments from public, Press Trust of India reported.

Meanwhile, FSSAI is also stepping up for stringent checks for packaged drinking water, milk and milk products and edible oil across the country.

FSSAI’s move follows concern expressed by the standing committee of Parliament for consumer affairs over reports of milk adulteration. The issue was first discussed in January during the 13th meeting of the Central Advisory Committee of FSSAI.

On 19 June, FSSAI said it would constitute an expert group to regulate salt, sugar and fat in food products following a Delhi high court order. With this, several food categories such as noodles, burgers and carbonated drinks will come under the regulator’s scrutiny.

FSSAI for fixing lead content limit in fruits, pulses & juices

New Delhi: After the Maggi fiasco, central food safety regulator FSSAI has proposed fixing limits of permissible lead content in a wide range of products including salt, fruits, juices, vegetables, pulses and meat products.

The latest notification has been issued following the FSSAI ban on Nestle's instant noodles Maggi earlier this month after it was termed 'unsafe and hazardous' as tests found presence of lead and monosodium glutamate above permissible limits.

Lead is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. Its poisoning can cause severe mental and physical impairment.

The regulator has also brought more food items ranging from mineral water, salt, jam, fish and meat, among others, under the mandatory compliance of maximum limits of heavy metals - tin, arsenic and cadmium.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to amend the existing regulations and has come out with draft norms seeking public comments within 60 days, FSSAI said in a notification.

As per the draft norms, lead content for food items such as milk, salt, fruits and vegetables, including canned fruit juices, fish, poultry, meat and pulses, among others, has been specified.

To ensure Arsenic content in food items is maintained within permissible limits, the regulator has brought mineral water, fish, salt, olive oil, edible fats and oils, under its ambit.

Similarly, the maximum level of tin has been specified for cooked cured chopped meat products, including ham, pork shoulder and beef.

In case of cadmium, the regulator has fixed the limit in potatoes, wheat, rice, cereal grins, pulses, salt and mineral water, among others.

The FSSAI has also brought more food products to comply with permissible limits for mercury.

Prior to this, the FSSAI had come out a regulation in August 2011, specifying maximum permissible limits of heavy metal contaminants, toxins and residues in food items.

FSSAI had also ordered testing of noodles, pastas and macaroni brands such as Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai sold and manufactured by seven companies, to check compliance with the norms.

Maggi effect: More items under lens

Coimbatore:

Probe In Many Cases Still On, Experts Say They Can't Stand In Court Of Law

There has been a rise in food safety complaints since the Maggi controversy erupted in the country. The number of complaints has surged nearly four times since reports in the media appeared that Nestle's Maggi noodles contained lead beyond permissible limits.The rise could also be attributed to the marked increase in awareness among consumers, though there are possibilities that a few of the complainants may have been motivated to derive publicity .

Food safety department in Coimbatore has received 11 complaints between May 28 and June 23, compared with only three it usually gets every month. The complaints range for a number of products -from spurious milk peda and powder to spoilt bread and appalam. “In the last one week, we have received four formal complaints,“ said Coimbatore's designated food safety officer Dr R Kathiravan.

On Tuesday , a consumer i registered a complaint alleging that he found insects in a t packet of appalam bought f from a local store.

“Inquiries into these complaints are still on. Some of t the products have been sent to the lab for testing of their quality . In other cases, samples from the same batch of he product in question have been collected for testing,'' said a food safety officer.

“One complaint was about milk peda bought from a cooperative milk society without manufacturing date and max mum retail price, while another was about a loaf of bread bought exactly on the expiry date that got spoilt soon after,“ he said. People have also complained about nstant chapattis allegedly made using wrong preserva ives and milk powder, manu actured by a top FMCG company , containing worms.

These complaints were ei her made directly to the food safety officer, to the grievance cell at the collector's office or the chief minister's cell.

Food safety officers say many of these complaints are unlikely to stand in a court of law. “For example, in the case of the spoilt loaf of bread, the shop has a right to sell the product till the date of expiry.The consumer can't buy it on that day and bring it to us five days later,“ said a food safety official. “Similar was the case when a contaminated milk powder packet was brought to us 10 days after opening it,“ he added. State food safety commissioner Kumar Jayanth said the number of complaints have surged in Chennai too, though cities like Madurai have not witnessed a similar trend. (with inputs from Christin Mathew Philip)

Other brands of Noodles have higher Lead Content: TN Lab

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தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

ஆரணி, ஜூன் 25:ஆரணியில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களை அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

திரு வண் ணா மலை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அழ கு ராஜ் தலை மை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அலு வ லர் கள் பி.எம்.ரவி, கே.சீனி வா சன், எம்.கோட்டீஸ் வ ரன் உள் ளிட்ட குழு வி னர் நேற்று பிற் ப கல் ஆரணி பழைய பஸ் நி லை யம், புதிய பஸ் நிலை யம் உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி களில் உள்ள கடை களில் திடீர் சோதனை மேற் கொண் ட னர். சோத னை யின் போது தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் க ளான பான் ப ராக், குட்கா மற் றும் காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை என்று ரூ.10 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் பி லான பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். பின் னர் இந்த பொருட் களை ஆரணி க மண் டல நாக நதி ஆற் றில் கொட்டி தீ வைத்து எரித் த னர்.

ஆ... நூடுல்ஸ்...மாட்டிக்கொண்டது மேகி மட்டும்தான்!

தற்போது எல்லா ஊடகங்களிலும் பரபரப்பாக விவாதிக்கப்படும் விஷயம்... மேகி நூடுல்ஸ். மனித குலத்தை அச்சுறுத்தும் ஒரு மாபெரும் ஆரோக்கியப் பிரச்னை என்ற பனிப்பாறையின் நுனிதான் இது. பயங்கரமான பல்வேறு விஷயங்கள் இதற்குள்ளே புதைந் திருக்கின்றன!

மேகி நூடுல்ஸில் அப்படி என்னதான் கெடுதல் இருக்கிறது? ஒன்று... ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ என சுருக்கமாக அழைக்கப்படும் ‘மோனோ சோடியம் குளுட்டாமேட்’ (MSG - Monosodium glutamate). இரண்டு... காரீயம் (Lead).

நாம் தற்போது உண்ணும் 80% பதப்படுத்தப் பட்ட துரித உணவுகளில் எம்எஸ்ஜி வேதிப் பொருள் கலந்திருக்கிறது. இது ஒரு கொடிய விஷம் என்று சமீபத்திய ஆராய்ச்சிகள் கூறுகின்றன. இது தரும் சுவை அலாதியானது. நாம் குறிப்பிடும் அறுசுவைகளில் இருந்து வேறுபட்ட இன்னொரு புதிய சுவை சீனாவில் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. அது யுமாமி. துவர்ப்பு, காரம், புளிப்பு கலந்த சுவை இது. 1908-ல் இக்கிடா என்ற ஜப்பானியர், இந்த யுமாமி சுவையை உலகுக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார். இரண்டாம் உலகப் போருக்குப் பின், அமெரிக்க ராணுவ அதிகாரிகள் மேலும் இதை பிரபலப்படுத்தினர். யுமாமி சுவைக்கு மூலகாரணம், ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’் என்று விரைவில் கண்டறியப்பட்டது. மீன், இறைச்சி, காளான், உருளைக்கிழங்கு, முட்டைகோஸ், சோயா, தக்காளி மற்றும் தாய்ப்பாலில்கூட இந்த அமிலம் இருக்கிறது.

‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’யின் புனைபெயர்கள்!

குளுட்டாமிக் அமினோ அமிலம், உண்மையில் உடலுக்கு நல்லது. அதில் சோடியம் சேர்க்கும்போது, மோனோசோடியம் குளுட்டாமேட் என்றாகிறது. உணவைப் பதப்படுத்து வதற்கும், யுமாமி சுவை கூட்டு வதற்கும் இது பயன்படுகிறது. இங்கேதான் சிக்கல். இயற்கையாக உணவுப் பொருட்களில் உள்ள குளுட்டாமிக் அமிலம், உணவைப் பதப்படுத்தும் போது ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ ஆக மாறுகிறது. அதாவது, பதப்படுத்தப்படும் அத்தனை உணவுகளிலும் இருக்கிறது.

‘இந்த உணவில் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ சேர்த்திருக்கிறோம்’ என்று எவரும் வெளிப்படையாகச் சொல்வ தில்லை. மேகி நூடுல்ஸ் ‘நெஸ்லே’ நிறுவனம்கூட, ‘நாங்கள் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ சேர்க்கவில்லை’ என்று தான் சொல்கிறார்கள். ஆனால், மேகி நூடுல்ஸ் கவரில் அச்சிடப்பட்ட பட்டியலில் முதல் பெயரே ‘ஹைட்ராலைஸ்டு பீநட் புரோட்டீன்’ என்பதுதான். இது சாட்சாத் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’! இதேபோல் சுமார் 40 வெவ்வேறு புனைபெயர்களில், அஜினமோட்டோ உட்பட, ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ நம் அன்றாட உணவில் நிறைந்திருக்கிறது. லேபிளில் இல்லாவிட்டாலும், ‘இதில் கலந்துள்ள பொருட்கள்’ என்று நீளும் பட்டியலில், வேறு ஏதோ ரசாயனப் பெயரில் இது இருப்பது நிச்சயம்.

‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ உடலில் என்னதான் செய்கிறது?

‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ கலந்த உணவை உண்ட பின் சுமார் 4 - 6 மணி நேரம் கழித்து தலைவலி, படபடப்பு, மயக்கம், அலர்ஜி அறிகுறிகள் தோன்றுவது பலரின் கவனத்துக்கு வந்தது. இதற்கு ‘சைனீஸ் ரெஸ்டாரன்ட் வியாதி’ என்று பிரபல ஆங்கில மருத்துவ இதழ் ‘நியூ இங்கிலாந்து ஜர்னல் ஆஃப் மெடிசின்’ பெயரிட்டது. இன்னும் பல்வேறு வியாதிகள் வருவதற்கும், ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’தான் காரணம் என்று பின்னர் கண்டறியப் பட்டது.

காரீயம் எனும் கொடிய விஷம்!

நூடுல்ஸ்களின் கெடுதல் களுக்கு இரண்டாவது காரணம், காரீயம். இது அதிக அளவில் நூடுல்ஸில் இருப்பதைத்தான் முதலில் கண்டுபிடித்தார்கள். பிறகுதான் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ பற்றித் தெரிய வந்தது. உணவுப் பொருட்களில் 2.5 பீபீஎம் அளவு காரீயம் இருக்கலாம். நூடுல்ஸ்களில் 17 பீபீஎம் காரீயம் இருக்கிறது. காரீயம் மூளை, நரம்பு மண்டலங்கள், இதயம், சிறுநீரகங்கள் எல்லாவற்றையும் தாக்கும் கொடிய விஷம்.

காரீயம் செயற்கை யாகக் கலக்கப்படுவது தவிர, உணவுப் பொருட்கள் வைக்கும் பாத்திரங்களில், பிளாஸ்டிக் பேப்பரில், அல்லது பழுதடைந்த தண்ணீர்க் குழாய்களின் மூலம் நம் உணவில் கலக்கிறது. தொழிற்சாலைக் கழிவுகள் கலந்த ஆற்றுத் தண்ணீரில் நிறைய காரீயம் உண்டு. அதில் விளையும் காய்கறிகளிலும் காரீயம் நிறைய உண்டு. போதாததற்கு ரசாயன உரங்களும், பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளும் காய்கறிகளில் கலக்கின்றன.

கோகோ கோலாவில் நிறைய காரீயம் இருக்கிறது என்ற பிரச்னை எழுந்தபோது, ‘அமெரிக்க கோகோ கோலாவில் காரீயம் கிடையாது. இந்திய கோகோ கோலாவில்தான் இருக்கிறது. ஆகவே, உங்கள் ஊர் தண்ணீர்தான் மோசம்’ என்று கூறி அவர்கள் தப்பித்துக்கொண்டார்கள்.

தீர்வு என்ன?

சத்துக்கள் நிறைந்த இயற்கை உணவுப் பொருட்களை பதப்படுத்தும் பெயரில் சிதைத் துச் சின்னாபின்னமாக்கி விஷமாக்குகிறார்கள். முடிந்தவரை, உணவை இயற்கையாக, அஜின மோட்டோ, ரெடிமேட் சுவையூட்டிகள் எல் லாம் தவிர்த்து, பண்டைய முறையில் சமைத்துச் சாப்பிடுவதுதான் சிறந்தது. பதப்படுத்தப்பட்ட உணவுகள், டின்னில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட உணவுகள், துரித உணவுகள் எல்லாவற்றையும் அறவே ஒதுக்க வேண்டும்.

ஆழ்ந்த உறக்கத்தில் இருந்த உணவுப் பொருட் கள் பாதுகாப்புக்கான அரசு நிறுவனங்கள், இப்போது மேகி நூடுல்ஸ் விவகாரத்தில் விழித்திருக்கின்றன. மாட்டிக்கொண்டது மேகி மட்டும்தான். இதுபோல் இன்னும் நூற்றுக்கணக்கான உணவுப் பொருட்கள் இருக்கின்றன. அதனால்தான், பெரிய பனிப் பாறையின் நுனியைத்தான் பார்க்கிறீர்கள்’ என்கிறேன்.

மக்கள் விழித்துக்கொண்டால் மட்டுமே விமோசனம்!

எதில் எல்லாம் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ ஆபத்து இருக்கிறது?

குழந்தைகளுக்குக் கொடுக்கும் பால் பவுடர், குழந்தைகளின் நொறுக்குத் தீனிகள் பிஸ்கட், சாக்லேட், பாக்கெட் சிப்ஸ், ஜாம், சீஸ், சாஸ், கெட்சப், நூடுல்ஸ், பீட்சா, பர்கர், கிரீன் டீ, இத்தியாதி... இத்தியாதி!

என்னென்ன வியாதிகள் வரும்?

முக்கியமாக, பார்க்கின்ஸன், அல்சைமர், மூளைப்புற்று உள்ளிட்ட மூளையைத் தாக்கும் சில கொடிய நோய்கள். இரைப்பை கேன்சர், உடல்பருமன், சர்க்கரை நோய், இதய நோய், ஆஸ்துமா, ஆண்மைக் குறைவு, குழந்தையின்மை, மன அழுத்த நோய் என இதன் விளைவுகள் பலப்பல.

சுகர்ஃப்ரீ ஜாக்கிரதை!

‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’ போலவே எல்லா கெடுதல்களையும் செய்யும் இன்னொரு பொருள்... அஸ்பார்டேம் (Aspartame). இது சீனிக்குப் பதிலாக அறிமுகப் படுத்தப்பட்ட செயற்கை இனிப்பு - சுகர்ஃப்ரீ. உலகெங்கும் கோடிக்கணக்கான மக்களால் உபயோகப் படுத்தப்பட்டு வரும் இந்த வேதிப்பொருள், சர்க்கரையை விட மோசமான விளைவுகளை உண்டு பண்ணும் என்பது நிரூபணமாகி உள்ளது. ஜாம், குளிர்பானங்கள் போன்றவற்றில் சீனிக்குப் பதிலாக இது தாராளமாகக் கலக்கப்படுவது ஊரறிந்த உண்மை. அஸ்பார்டேமும் ‘எம்எஸ்ஜி’யும் சேர்ந்து பல உணவுகளில் கலப்பதால் பக்க விளைவுகள் பல மடங்கு பெருகும். சர்க்கரை நோய், ரத்தக் கொதிப்பு, மாரடைப்பு, மூளை பாதிப்புகள், புற்றுநோய் போன்ற கொடிய நோய்கள் ஏற்படும்.