How legitimate is FSSAI’s product approval mechanism?

Companies have expressed unhappiness with FSSAI’s product approval procedures in the past

SC questioned the product approval process followed by the FSSAI.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the product approval process followed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), delivering the second judicial rebuke to the food safety regulator within a week.

Sure, companies have expressed unhappiness with FSSAI’s product approval procedures in the past. But this was probably the first time the apex court has questioned the authority, which suffered a setback on 13 August when the Bombay high court set aside the regulator’s ban on the sale of Nestle India Ltd’s Maggi noodles.

Here’s how the country’s food regulator goes about approving food products and declareing them safe for consumption.

The producer or marketer of a product needs to submit an application – electronically or manually – with supporting documents and analysis reports from accredited laboratoties, along with an image of the pack.

FSSAI’s product committee scrutinizes the documents and approves or rejects them or seeks further documentation. The scrutiny process is complicated and entails about a dozen steps, according to the FSSAI’s website.

“A company seeking approval for a particular product or a variant of a product does not require submitting the sample of the product. So, FSSAI does not conduct tests before giving approval to a particular product,” aid an executive at a multinational packaged foods company requesting anonymity.

“The approval comes based on the documents and reports from accredited laboratories that the company submits along with the application,” the same executive said.

FSSAI chief executive officer Y.S. Malik did not respond to emails seeking comment. Malik also did not respond to official requests for a meeting.

According to executives at multi-national food and beverages companies, typically product approval takes about 18 months. The fee for product approval is Rs25,000 for every variant of any product. And, if rejected, a company can reapply for approval any number of times. The company needs to pay an additional Rs25,000 in case the new product approval application requires intervention by FSSAI’s scientific panel.

FSSAI has only set 377 standards for food items. If it wants to change increase the number of notified standards, the regulator would have had to go to Parliament for approval to introduce the new standards, said a lawyer who has recently represented a company in a food safety related case.

According to the lawyer, FSSAI has taken the short-cut called ‘product approval’ route by way of issuing advisories so that it does not require to seek approval from Parliament.

Between January 2010 and May 2013, the regulator issued nine different advisories changing earlier prescribed rules, according to the FSSAI website.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Act, every proprietary product, especially packaged food items – existing or new, ingredients and additives for which FSSAI does not have any notified standards-- need to be approved by FSSAI to ensure food safety.

Even for already approved products, minor compositional changes in ingredients require product approval. Similarly, approved products with changed claims on the label require approval. However, traditional ethnic foods (like chiwda, halwa, jalebi, rasaogolla, idli and dosa batter) are not required to get product approval provided they contain only the permitted quantity of food additives.

According to information available on the FSSAI website, the regulator has evaluated 14,000-15,000 product approval applications since January 2012.

According to a presentation by the FSSAI, the regulator’s job is to ensure safety of more than 2 billion meals per day in the country, bring about 35 million food and beverages outlets under licence and surveillance, enforce the new safety regulations uniformly across the wide spectrum of registered food vendors across the country. Apart from this, FSSAI looks into imported food items, their standards and labeling.

And to perform these tasks, the FSSAI has just about 30 people working at its headquarter in New Delhi.

Besides manpower, there are other issues. FSSAI conducts inspections and surveillances help of the state-level food authorities to ensure food safety. Here, the inspectors pick up random samples, and test those at laboratories which is limited to a network of four referral and about 86 local ones that have the regulator’s approval. It also needs laboratories for testing of imported packaged food and ingredients that FSSAI seizes at ports and airports.

Importers are not happy. “There’s no set standard, and FSSAI seem to be either too lethargic, or horribly short of manpower. It takes months to get clearance for a consignment if it gets stuck at FSSAI door,” said the owner of a Kolkata-based packaged tea company.

The firm was importing jasmine flowers that were to be used in producing jasmine tea packs. “Since it was imported from a different country and not from the usual one, FSSAI seized the consignment of $50,000 for inspection. We followed it up for about eight months (while the flowers would have just a few weeks of shelf life) and then let it go,” said the official.

The experience was more painful for the owner of a Delhi-based cheese company who was importing cheese worth $2.5 lakh last year. “FSSAI simply does not have the capacity to handle these. Surveillance is fine, but they should do it quickly so that the business does not suffer. As the cheese consignment was not kept in a cold store, and FSSAI kept it at the port for months, it was a complete waste. And our business suffered,” said the cheese company owner.

Both the importers said FSSAI do not have the cold store facilities, and most of the consumable products go waste because of the time that FSSAI takes.

FSSAI was set up under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 that was passed by the Government in August 2011. The Act was brought in to create a single independent statutory body for food laws, standards and enforcement (that regulates standards for manufacturing, distribution, sale and import of all kinds of food in India),.

FSSAI asked the government for about Rs5,000 crore to scale up. But in the 12th five year plan (2012-17), the government allocated only Rs2,350 crore to it.

FDA again finds lead in Maggi packs

MUMBAI: Your bowl of noodles could be a cause for concern, after all. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found lead contamination in fresh batches of Nestle India's Maggi noodles tested over the last two months. Out of 46 samples randomly collected from across the state, four showed excess lead content. This lead content, expressed in 'parts per million' (or ppm) was in the range of 2.92 to 3.33. The permissible limit is 2.5 PPM.

The 46 samples had been collected in June at the instructions of the Food Safety Standard Association of India (FSSAI) that wanted FDAs of all states to conduct elaborate tests to ascertain the presence of lead.

Previously, a batch of 20 samples had been tested by the FDA in June before it embarked on scrutinizing of these additional 46 samples. In the previous batch, lead contamination was found in five of the 20 samples. It ranged between 2.59 ppm, running as high as 4.66 ppm in some samples. It was on the basis of this initial finding that the state government had banned the product in Maharashtra on June 3.

The new findings come a week after the Bombay high court struck down the nationwide ban on Nestle India's product. A senior FDA official said that they will share the findings with the FSSAI before deciding on the next step of action. FDA commissioner Harshadeep K amble refused to comment on the issue.

However, another FDA official told TOI on that the four contaiminated samples had been taken from Kolhapur whereas samples from Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Thane conformed to quality norms.

"The first round of tests was done on limited 20 samples as there was spotlight and speculation on the issue. To make the findings authentic, more tests were ordered by FSSAI," said the official. "In the wake of the high court order, we will seek legal opinion on what to do with the new results," the official added.

The fresh tests were carried out at Referral Laboratory in Pune, one of the foremost national testing centres where the earlier tests on 20 samples had also been partly conducted. The high court had, however, raised doubts about the accreditation of the lab and thereby the findings. Accreditation of the lab was also one of the grounds for overruling the ban imposed by FSSAI.

Besides Nestle's Maggi, FDA is testing noodles manufactured by other companies. At least 27 samples are currently under scrutiny. "We are checking several parameters besides lead and MSG, a test enhancer. The tests will take long," the FDA official said.

Abnormal lead exposure is associated with health problems including impaired neurological development. However, lead poisoning takes place only when one is exposed to too much of lead in a short time.

Safe Kerala drive to check hygiene in eateries

Notices served to 93 institutions

: The Health Department served notices to 93 institutions on Wednesday after the inspections it took out across the district as part of the Safe Kerala drive.

The raids were conducted as part of the programme to contain the spread of infectious diseases as well as a precaution for the festive season. “We have had many instances of food poisoning around Onam in the previous years and hence decided to take a precautionary measure this year,” District Medical Officer K. Narayanana Naik said.

The Health Department Officials in association with their counterparts from the food and safety department raided various restaurants, bakeries and other institutions that handled food. The officials divided themselves into 95 teams and inspected 400 restaurants, 281 cool bars, 263 bakeries, 9 catering units, 18 soda manufacturing units, 4 ice factories and 323 other institutions.

The 93 institutions were served notice for either functioning without a license, for cooking in unhygienic conditions, for not processing their waste in the right way, for facilitating spread of infectious diseases, for not destroying places where mosquitoes could breed and for not maintaining drains properly. They have been given a notice period to correct the situation or to be dealt with severe punishment.

A second stage of the drive will be held on Saturday.

உணவுப்பொருட்களில் நச்சு கண்டறிய தற்காலிக ஆய்வுக்கூடம் அமைத்த கேரளா

பாலக்காடு: வெளி மாநிலங்களிலிருந்து வரும் உணவு பொருட்களில், 'நச்சு இருக்கிறதா' என்று கண்டறிய, கேரள உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறையினர் அமைத்துள்ள தாற்காலிக ஆய்வுக்கூடம், வாளையார் மற்றும் மீனாட்சிபுரத்தில் செயல்பட தொடங்கியுள்ளது.

கேரளாவில், 28ம் தேதி ஓணம் பண்டிகை கொண்டாடப்படுவதை முன்னிட்டு, வெளி மாநிலங்களில் இருந்து உணவுப்பொருட்கள் கொண்டு வருவது அதிகரித்துள்ளது. அவற்றில், 'நச்சு கலந்திருக்கிறதா' என்று ஆய்வு செய்ய மாநில அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. அதன்படி மாநில உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத்துறையினர், எல்லையில் அமைந்துள்ள வாளையார், மீனாட்சிபுரம் சோதனைச்சாவடிகளில், தற்காலிக ஆய்வு கூடங்களை அமைத்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:-

மீனாட்சிபுரம் வணிக வரி சோதனைச்சாவடியிலும், வாளையார் வணிக வரி சோதனைச்சாவடி அருகேயுள்ள வாடகை கட்டடத்திலும், தற்காலிக ஆய்வுக்கூடங்கள் நேற்று முன்தினம் முதல் செயல்பட துவங்கியுள்ளன. பால், பால் பொருட்கள், எண்ணெய் கொண்டு வந்த நான்கு வாகனங்களில் சோதனையிடப்பட்டது. அவற்றில் நச்சுத்தன்மை இல்லை என்பது தெரியவந்தது.

ஓணம் பண்டிகையை முன்னிட்டு அதிகப்படியான உணவு பொருட்கள் வருவதையொட்டி இந்த தற்காலிக ஆய்வுக்கூடம் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

செப்.,1 வரை, இந்த ஆய்வு தொடரும். பால் பொருட்களை சோதனையிடும் பணியில், பால் பண்ணை மேம்பாட்டு துறை ஊழியர்கள் ஈடுபடுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர். நச்சுத்தன்மை கண்டுபிடித்தால் உணவு பொருட்களை திருப்பி அனுப்புவது மட்டுமல்லாமல் தொடர்புடைய நிறுவனங்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. காய்கறி, பழ வகைகளில் இருந்தும் மாதிரிகள் எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. அவை, சோதனை செய்வதற்காக, கோழிக்கோடு ஆய்வகத்துக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

உத்தரவை வாபஸ் பெற வேண்டும்

இது குறித்து கேரள தமிழ் பாதுகாப்பு இயக்க தலைவர் பேச்சிமுத்து கூறுகையில்,

''உணவுப்பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் பேரில், சோதனை சாவடிகளில் காய்கறி வாகனங்களை தேவையில்லாத சோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்துகின்றனர். விவசாயிகள், நுகர்வோர் பாதிக்கப் படுவதை தவிர்க்கும் வகையில், சோதனை உத்தரவை கேரள அரசு வாபஸ் பெற வேண்டும்,'' என்றார்.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு ஆணையத்துக்கு சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் கடும் கண்டனம்

புதுடில்லி: மும்பை ஐகோர்ட் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவை எதிர்த்து, மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய ஆணையமான, எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ., சார்பில் தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட மனுவை, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் தள்ளுபடி செய்தது.

'உடல் நலத்தை பராமரிக்கும் வகையிலான உணவுகள், உள்ளிட்ட, சில உணவுப் பொருட்களை தயாரிப்பதற்கு முன், அதற்கான அனுமதியை பெற வேண்டும்' என, 2013ல், எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ., தரப்பில் ஆலோசனை தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. இது தொடர்பான வழக்கு, மும்பை ஐகோர்ட்டில் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தபோது, எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ.,யின் ஆலோசனை தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்பட்டது. 'இந்த ஆலோசனை, சட்டரீதி யான அங்கீகாரம் பெற்றதல்ல' என, மும்பை ஐகோர்ட் தெரிவித்து விட்டது. இதை எதிர்த்து, எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ., தரப்பில், சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் மேல் முறையீடு செய்யப்பட்டது. இந்த மனு, ஜெ.எஸ்.கேஹர், நாகப்பன் ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய, 'பெஞ்ச்' முன், நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.

அப்போது, நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டதாவது:

'எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ.,யின் ஆலோசனைக்கு எந்தவிதமான சட்ட அங்கீகாரமும் இல்லை' என்ற, மும்பை ஐகோர்ட்டின் உத்தரவு சரியானதே. இந்த விஷயத்தில், கோர்ட்டின் அதிகார வரம்பிற்குள் தலையிடுவதற்கு, எப்.எஸ்.எஸ்.ஏ.ஐ.,க்கு எந்த அதிகாரமும் இல்லை. இந்த மனு, தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

2 tonnes of tobacco products burnt

Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan inspecting the seized tobacco products before they were burnt in the compost yard at Vallankumaranvilai near Nagercoil on Wednesday.

Officials attached to the Food Safety Department burnt about two tones of banned tobacco products at the municipal compost yard in Vallankumaranvilai village near here on Wednesday.

The tobacco products in over 100 packets, seized from different places in Kottar area, were burnt in the presence of Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan, said Designated Officer of the Food Safety Department Dr. W. Salodeesan.

He told The Hindu that the samples of the seized products were sent to the laboratory of the Food Safety Department in Palayamkottai. Based on the report that the seized tobacco products were unsafe, the department decided to burn them.

Nearly 2.5 tonnes of banned tobacco products, seized in the western part of the district, were burnt in a public place in the recent past, he added.

The officials had broken open a locked godown in Kottar area and seized banned tobacco products worth Rs. 30 lakh a month ago.

கலெக்டர் முன்னிலையில் 3 லட்சம் போதை புகையிலை, பாக்கு தீயிட்டு அழிப்பு

நாகர் கோ வில், ஆக. 20:

நாகர் கோ வில் கோட்டார் பகு தி யில் ஒரு கடையை ஒரு வர் வாடகை எடுத்து, அதில் போதை பாக்கு, புகை யிலை போன் ற வற்றை பதுக் கி வைத்து மாவட்டத் தில் உள்ள பிற கடை களுக்கு விநி யோ கம் செய்து வரு வ தாக கடந்த சில நாட் களுக்கு முன்பு மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் பு துறை நிய மன அதி காரி சாலோ டீ ச னுக்கு தக வல் வந் தது. உடனே உண வு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அந்த கடைக்கு சென்று சோதனை மேற் கொண் ட னர். அப் போது கடை பூட்டப் பட்டு இருந் தது.

இதனை தொடர்ந்து போலீ சார் முன் னி லை யில் அந்த கடை யின் பூட்டு உடைக் கப் பட்டு, உள்ளே இருந்த சுமார் ரூ.3 லட் சம் மதிப் பி லான போதை பாக்கு, புகை யி லை களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து எடுத் துச் சென் ற னர். பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை, பாக் கு களின் மாதி ரி கள் அரசு உண வு ப குப் பாய்வு கூடத் திற்கு அனுப் பப் பட்டது. அங்கு ஆய்வு செய் த போது அது தடை செய் யப் பட்ட உணவு பொருட் கள் என வந் தது. அதனை தொடர்ந்து அந்த புகை யிலை, பாக் கு களை அழிக்க அதி கா ரி கள் முடிவு செய் த னர்.

உண வு பா து காப் பு துறை நிய மன அதி காரி சாலோ டீ சன், நாகர் கோ வில் உண வு பா து காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் குமா ர பாண் டி யன், சங் க ர நா ரா ய ணன், நகர் நல அதி காரி கிங் சால், சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளர் சத் தி ய ராஜ் மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை, பாக் கு களை வலம் பு ரி விளை உரக் கி டங் கிற்கு எடுத் துச் சென் ற னர். பின் னர் உரக் கி டங் கில் குழி தோண்டி குழிக் குள் புகை யிலை, பாக் கு களை போட்டு, கலெக் டர் சஜ்ஜன் சிங் சவான் முன் னி லை யில் தீயிட்டு அழித் த னர்.

பழக் க டை யில் திடீர் சோதனை

உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அதி காரி சாலோ டீ சன் மற் றும் நாகர் கோ வில் உணவு பா து காப் பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் குமா ர பாண் டி யன், சங் க ர நா ரா ய ணன் ஆகி யோர் பீச் ரோடு பகு தி யில் உள்ள ஒரு கடை யில் சோதனை மேற் கொண் ட னர். பழங் களில் அழு கிய பகு தி களை அகற் றி விட்டு மீதி யுள்ள பகு தியை குளிர் சா தன பெட்டி யில் வைத்து இருப் பதை பார்த் த னர். பின் னர் அதனை அகற்ற உத் த ர விட்ட னர். மேலும் இது போன்று பழங் களை வைக் க கூ டாது என கூறிச் சென்ற னர்.

கோவை சிக்கன் கடைகளில் சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட மாதிரிகளின் ஆய்வு முடிவுகள் 30 ம்தேதி வெளியாகும்

கோவை, ஆக.20:

கோவை மாவட்டத் தில் உணவு பாது காப் பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ஆகஸ்ட் முதல் வாரத் தில் அவி னாசி சாலை யில் அமைந் துள்ள பிர ப ல மான சிக் கன் கடை யில் இருந்து சிக் கன் மாதி ரி களை சேக ரித்து ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப் பி னர். தற் போது இதன் முடி வு கள் வரும் 30ம் தேதி வெளி யா கும் என அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் துள் ள னர்.

பேக் கிங் செய்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டும் சிக் கன் பொருட் கள் தொடர் பாக ஆய்வு செய்ய மாநில உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை உத் த ர விட்டுள் ளது.

அதன் படி, கேஎப்சி, எம் புரோ டக்ட், மேரி ப்ரௌ வுன் மற் றும் ஹெவன் சிக் கன் ஆகி ய வற் றின் மாதி ரி களை எடுத்து பரி சோ தனை செய்ய கூறப் பட்டுள் ளது. இதனை தொடர்ந்து கோவை மாவட்டத் தில் உணவு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கடந்த 4 மற் றும் 5 ஆகிய தேதி களில் அவி னாசி சாலை யில் அமைந் துள்ள பிர பல சிக் கன் கடை மற் றும் மற் றொரு பிர ப ல மான கடை களில் இருந்து சிக் கன் மாதி ரி களை எடுத்து ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப் பி னர்.

இது குறித்து மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி காரி கூறு கை யில் “மாவட்டத் தில் சிக் கன் மாதி ரி களை எடுக்க உத் த ர வி டப் பட்டது.

அதன் படி, கடந்த 4 மற் றும் 5ம் தேதி இரண்டு இடங் களில் இருந்து சிக் கன் மாதி ரி கள் எடுக் கப் பட்டு ஆய் விக்கு அனுப் பட்டுள் ளது. இதன் முடி வு கள் வரும் 30ம் தேதி தெரி ய வ ரும். இந்த அறிக்கை மாநில பாது காப்பு உண வுத் து றைக்கு அனுப் ப டும் எனத் தெரி வித் த னர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

Food regulator draws apex court fire for food supplement ban

FSSAI Told It's Exceeding Authority

After the Bombay high court lifted the ban imposed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Maggi noodles, the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the regulator for exceeding its authority in imposing a virtual ban on food and health supplements through a 2013 advisory making prior approval mandatory .

A bench of Justice J S Khehar and Justice N V Ramanna dismissed an appeal by FSSAI challenging a Bombay HC order quashing the advisory issued by the body and called it unlawful. The advisory required that those marketing or manufacturing nutraceutical (nutrition plus pharmaceutical) products must obtain prior approval even for those food and health supplements licensed and existing in the market.

According to this advisory FSSAI required manufacturers to take approval for a broad spectrum of food products including “novel foods, functional foods, food supplements, irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, foods for special dietary uses or extracts or concentrates of botanicals, herbs or of animal sources“.Vital Nutraceuticals Pvt Ltd and Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) had challenged the advisory on the ground that the FSSAI did not have power or authority to issue it under Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The advisory had put 37 products under the scanner, 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. NOC of Nutrilite Salmon Omega 3, Nutrilite CH Balance and Nutrilite Fiber had expired, still they were being sold.

The bench repeatedly asked the FSSAI counsel to show from the Food Safety Act how it had the authority to issue the advisory . Instead, the FSSAI counsel narrated how difficult it was for the body to enforce strict safety standards in India.

“There are several new food products entering the market on a daily basis. The manufacturers juggle parameters prescribed in various food products and produce a certain variety for which there is no delineated safety standard. It makes the task of the regulator difficult. That is why the advisory for prior permission,“ he said. “Nutraceuticals as a food product had not been tested for its safety anywhere in the world,“ he said and informed the court that India was very lenient compared to countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan .

Does apex court verdict on food product approval impact Maggi? (To go with: Food watchdog found exceeding mandate on product approvals)

Does the ban on Maggi noodles get impacted by the Supreme Court order of Wednesday? It agrees with the Bombay High Court's verdict that an advisory by the food safety watchdog on product approvals for some categories of food was without legal sanction.

This question is being raised as Maggi Oats Noodles with Tastemaker version falls under one of the eight product categories over which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued the advisory in May 2013, calling for prior product approvals before launch.

And this category is proprietary food. The other seven are irradiated food, organic foods, foods for special dietary uses, functional foods, neutraceuticals and health supplements. Even the ministry of food processing was opposed to proprietary food being part of the advisory.

The apex court bench of Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice N.V. Ramana on Wednesday upheld the order of theBombay High Court that had struck down this advisory, saying if the watchdog wanted to add some more products under its wing, it ought to have sought a fresh government notification.

The high court order had come after a company Vital Nutraceuticals, and the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) challenged the May 2013 advisory of the regulator.

Nestle's contention has been that the food safety regulator did not have the powers to issue such an advisory. It has also maintained that the product had been launched when there was a stay imposed on the advisory.

It has also said it had reverted within the stipulated time to the food safety authority's letter, asking for some details. "We responded within 30 days with the required clarifications, and our letter of March 24, 2015 was acknowledged by FSSAI," the company spokesperson said.

But both the government and the food safety authority have faulted this interpretation.

In its June 5 order, banning all variants of the noodle brand, the food safety authority had said that since Maggi Oats variant was "proprietary food", a product approval was necessary. Even if Nestle were to go by the stay order, it had no sanction to launch the product in the first place, the authority said.

The government, in its Aug 11 petition before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, also made a similar case.

"Despite being fully aware of such an advisory, the opponents (Nestle) began the manufacturing and selling Maggi Masala Oat Noodles in July 2014 with utter disregard for the rules and regulations as prescribed, with the sole objective of reaping profits," its petition said.

"On Aug 27, 2014, after the Maggi Oats Noodles was launched, the opponent company sought product approval of the product from the FSS Authority. For this act alone, the opponent company ought to be burdened with heavy costs."

SC deals body blow to FSSAI

Says product approval advisories invalid; regulator said to be working on fresh approval process to govern proprietary foods

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of food companies in a case questioning the product approval advisories issued by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The matter, from last year, has a far-reaching implication for packaged food majors, as it clears the air on product approvals pertaining to proprietary or non-standardised food items.

The present ruling also has a bearing on Nestle’s Maggi noodles, whose 10th variant, Maggi Oats, was recalled because it had no product approval. The ruling, say sources in the know, could give Nestle the confidence to challenge FSSAI’s “arbitrary” product-approval process.

Packaged food companies and FSSAI have been at loggerheads over product approvals pertaining mainly to proprietary foods. At least 700 product approvals are said to be held up for over a year and a half, as FSSAI has issued repeated clarifications and advisories to companies — most of those for product approvals sought for proprietary foods.

The matter had reached a head when a Mumbai-based company, Vital Neutraceuticals, approached the Bombay High Court last year challenging FSSAI’s powers to issue product-approval advisories. These advisories were issued on the basis of arbitrary guidelines, Vital said in the court, prompting the latter to rule it as illegal.

The Supreme Court, which was hearing an appeal filed by FSSAI in this case, upheld the Bombay High Court verdict, and lifted the interim stay given in the matter earlier.

According to Ashish Prasad, partner at solicitor firm Economic Laws Practice, today’s order implies “there is no requirement of a product approval system sought to be implemented by FSSAI. This does not mean FSSAI does not have powers under law to act in case of unsafe food, etc”.

Anticipating a negative verdict, the food safety regulator is believed to be working on draft regulations governing proprietary foods in India.

There are detailed food product standards specified under regulations put in place by FSSAI in 2011. These, however, cover only 377 food items.

Everything outside this regulatory framework is non-standardised or proprietary in nature for approvals to which FSSAI depends on guidelines framed by it. Proprietary foods include noodles, mayonnaise, sauces, syrups and many more items of common consumption.

The friction between food companies and FSSAI is growing because most of the applications the latter receives are for non-standardised products. Food companies have maintained that a proper regulatory framework should be in place to cover these food items.

Food dept raids grocery shop, seizes 2.5 quintal of expired edibles

MEERUT: The Food and Safety Drugs Administration (FSDA) raided a grocery shop in Lisari Gate's Ahmed Nagar Colony late on Monday evening and seized 'expired' food items weighing as much as 2.5 quintals, following a tip off from a local resident. The edibles past their use by date included biscuits, flour, spices and condiments, rice and dalia. 

A case under section 27(3)(a) of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 was filed against the owners of the shop on Tuesday. If they are found guilty, the accused will have to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh. 

"A local resident informed us about this grocery shop, following which we sent a team to the spot. But I guess, the shopkeepers got to know about our move well in advance and hid the expired items being sold. It was after a raid that the stock was located," said J P Singh, chief food safety officer. 

"The sellers mainly targeted poor and illiterate people who hardly check the expiry date of the items before purchasing them," Singh also said. 

The accused, Sajid and Saeed, residents of Lisari Gate, and Islamuddin, a resident of Ajrara village have confessed to purchasing expired food items from Delhi at prices lower than market rates and selling them to poor people in Meerut. 

Meanwhile, notices are being sent to the manufacturers of the expired edibles - most of which are based in south India, Singh also informed.

35 eateries asked to pull down shutters

Raids conducted by Health Department officials, notices served

The Health Department on Tuesday ordered closure of 35 eateries and served notice to another 2,144 in the State for violation of public health polices.

The closure order and serving of notices were on the basis of raids conducted by the department in hotels, bakeries, catering centres, soda manufacturing units and ice factories across the State.

During the raids, the department collected Rs.1.09 lakh as penalty under section 69 of the Food Safety Act.

A sum of Rs.58,750 was collected from hotels alone for violating public health parameters.

The raids conducted as part of the Safe Kerala, an initiative to check infectious diseases and promote public health, found 980 teams drawn from various wings of the Health Department inspecting as many as 12,785 eateries in the district, an official release here said.

The raids were conducted to ensure steps were taken to provide a clean and healthy environment where food was cooked and served to public.

The team carried out checks in the eateries to establish the hygiene, including personal hygiene of cooks; quality of water; facility for dumping waste; and drainage facility.During the raid, the team imposed fine on 55 persons who were found smoking at public places, the release said.

Officials collect Rs.1.09 lakh as penalty

Rs.58,750 has been collected from hotels alone

HC exposes food regulator's farce

"The FSSAI tests were vitiated and the results, unreliable."

The Bombay High Court’s revocation of the ban on Nestle’s Maggi noodles exposes the utterly casual attitude and worse of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the testing of food articles and taking action based on the tests. The court’s order and observations are an indictment of the food regulator on many counts, as it found that the FSSAI action was unjustified, its methods were illegal and the procedures wrong. The FSSAI, headed by CEO Y S Malik, had banned the popular snack on the claim that it was “hazardous and unsafe for human consumption’’, as some tested samples allegedly had high levels of lead. But the court has found that the FSSAI action violated the principles of natural justice, because Nestle was not issued a notice or given a 

hearing. It turns out the action was unilateral. 

Worse, the court found that the tests done by the FSSAI were vitiated and the results were unreliable. It noted that the samples were not collected in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and the due procedure prescribed in the Act was not followed. The testing was not done at accredited laboratories. In fact, there was wide variation and even a contradiction in the results with tests in some states finding the samples safe and others finding them unsafe. The court also questioned the FSSAI why all variants of Maggi were banned when the tests found only three variants unsafe, and why it went in for the ban when Nestle had recalled the packets from the market. The answers and explanations were not convincing.

It is a matter of serious concern that the national food regulator could act so irresponsibly. If it banned a food item on the basis of unreliable tests and following wrong procedures, it could also allow unsafe food to be sold and distributed. It should be noted that Maggi produced in India was found safe in Singapore, the UK, the US and other countries where the standards are more rigorous, and by CFTRI in Mysuru. The controversy showed that there are no uniform standards of testing in the country. The government, which allowed the FSSAI to take the drastic action, should also share the blame for the scandalous affair. It has damaged the country’s reputation. The shabby treatment of Nestle did not show that the ease of doing business in India has improved in any way. While Maggi has to face the tests ordered by the court, it is the FSSAI which has failed the public and judicial tests for now.

Just 2 Officials Manning Food and Safety Dept

VISAKHAPATNAM : The Food and Safety Department which is supposed to protect people from adulterated food in the district, has just two officials. One carries out field inspections while the second official is a supervision officer. As a result, in the absence of strict vigilance and enforcement, wholesalers and retailers of fruits liberally use carbide for early ripening of fruits.

In fact, there is a ban on the use of carbide for fruit ripening but wholesalers are using the chemical freely and selling the fruits in the market, at the cost of people’s health.

There is a good demand and market for fruits in Visakhapatnam district. According to the information, over 60 per cent of all varieties of fruits are imported to Visakhapatnam from the Rajahmundry, Ravulapalem and Tuni centres of East Godavari district. Wholesalers purchase fruits from the farmers during harvesting and use carbide for ripening them before they hit the market through the retailers.

In fact, the agriculture market committees are also responsible to check the carbide usage at the godowns itself. Except on a few occasions, there are no raids or preventive measures from the agriculture market committees.

Though the market committees have good knowledge and information, no steps are being taken to arrest carbide usage as the market committee members belong to the local areas.

“The use of carbide for fruit ripening is not a new thing. In fact, for the last three-and-a-half decades, we have been using it for ripening fruits. If we wait for natural ripening, there is no guarantee that the fruits will ripen evenly, leading to 75 per cent loss in business. No wholesaler will be able to stay in business if they rely on natural ripening. I don’t understand why the government suddenly raised such a hue and cry, confusing people,” said Bandreddi Appala Raju, a wholesaler.

However, he said that there were no cold storage godowns and other infrastructure support from the government and the present methods had been in use for the last several decades.

However, the officials of the Food and Safety department are only doing a perfunctory job.

The officials, on suspicion or on a tip-off, collect samples and send them to the testing laboratories in Hyderabad. The labs are supposed to send reports within 14 days of receiving the samples. If the samples belong to highly perishable goods, it is common for wholesalers to request the reports at the earliest.

But, according to the information from the department, reports take at least a week’s time, by when the fruits are sold.

“We can’t ask the retailers to stop selling fruits till the reports arrive. We are only two officers for the whole district. However, we collect samples from various places and send them to State Food Laboratory in Hyderabad,” said Shiekh Ghouse Mohiddin, designated officer in the Food and Safety Department, Visakhapatnam rural.

Though fruits and vegetables in the region are being chemically ripened, the food safety department does not have the facilities to detect the presence of calcium carbide and other chemicals.

Unless the department is strengthened with district-level labs, vehicles and sufficient manpower, food and fruit adulteration cannot be stopped, a senior official from Hyderabad felt.

“Not only seasonal fruits like mango, all regular fruits like banana and pomegranate are also ripened by carbide. It is impossible to rely on nature in fruit business. Some people suggest several ways for easy ripening, but ultimately the cost of the fruit will increase. Corporate companies use ethylene gas for manually ripening fruits for their outlets, so as to meet demand. They also have cold storages and other facilities, which we do not,” said Rothu Suryanarayana, a leading fruit wholesaler.

Food safety is a grey area in India and a few of us think about it

Fried samosa and lemon-soda from a roadside stall or a sandwich made in front of you using allegedly freshly baked or toasted bread or packaged noodles or branded ketchup or soft drinks or fancy high-priced meals at a 5-star hotel or the food being used at home – do you have any idea of the supply chain that brought it to your palate?

Especially, but not only, the cooking mediums we use. Vanaspati, edible oils, ghee or butter. How did they reach you, are the conditions of carriage in letter and spirit the same as they would be in other countries, especially with the international brands? Or is everybody on par with the roadside stall at the end of the day?

The recent noodles with MSG controversy has opened this subject to supply chain audits from farm to food-store by not just the government agencies but by many of the players themselves. And having had experience of carrying food grade products both dry and liquid, bulk and unitised, as also co-ordinating the earliest movements of refrigerated food product exports from India, I speak from practical experience as well as knowledge.

International movement of food grade and potable products like grains, lentils, edible oils, potable liquids and similar are carried by ships under extremely stringent conditions. It starts from there.

At the other end, the customer is told something like – store in dry and cool conditions. Or, needs refrigeration at all times. Consume in 2 hours after being opened. So on and so forth.

Look carefully at the laws pertaining to colas (sweetened carbonated coloured waters), for example – they need to be transported and stored in temperature controlled conditions, not stored out in the open next to highways or moved around in open trucks. No where else in the reasonable world will you see crates of soft drinks lying exposed to the sun and heat – very simple reason why, the chemical changes that occur make them very carcinogenic. And the plastic packaging leaches into the soft drink.

Point one – the complete supply chain has to be under temperature fetyand pressure controlled conditions. And stored in shade. Do any of us leave our vegetables and food out in the open in the sun (except to dry)? Even the footpath vendors will place an umbrella over the fresh food and sprinkle water on it while perspiring themselves. But we educated people will buy processed food that has traveled across deserts and mountains and sea-ports in open trucks!

And the quality of those trucks.

A ship carrying edible oils, for example, not only has to provide pressurised and temperature controlled stainless steel or specially lined tanks, but can also for the rest of its natural life as a ship never carry a grade of any liquid cargo which is higher in rating than the most inferior cargo carried unless the owners are ready to spend a huge sum of money getting every square centimetre of tank space, every running centimetre of piping and every valve thoroughly cleaned by independent facilities ashore.

Many of these liquid cargoes have very complex instructions as a part of the seller-buyer contracts which have to be followed to the last dot on the i. These instructions, as far as the ship is concerned, end at the valve on the ship connecting to the pipeline from ashore. 

What happens after that?

Typically, in an Indian seaport, the better importers and exporters have their facilities on par with the best worldwide. Their tank farms and tank containers for onward transportation by road and/or rail are maintained to global best practices.

But there are others who take short-cuts right from the moment the liquid edible cargoes leave the ship for imports into India. Seaports in India are not open for public scrutiny, but the signs of all sorts of short-cuts are visible on our roads and off our highways as well as at storage facilities up-country, Food Corporation of India go downs and silos are just one example but by no means are they alone or are some of the private players paragons of virtue.

And then there are tanker-trucks. One way they will carry, say, edible oils. On the return leg they will carry, say, molasses. Cleaning between cargoes is done, if at all, manually using laundry soaps and human beings using brooms and mops. The question of temperature and pressure control simply does not exist, and very often the tanks used are not even insulated. As a result, the liquid edible oils and food grade products which would move from, say, a Gujarat port to a factory in a North Indian state, would go through a few weeks on the road during which they would absorb not just traces of previous cargoes and cleaning agents but also experience temperature changes from ultra cold nights to hot days as they drive through the plains.

It is time we started asking the corporates who sell us packaged food, especially liquids, how do they move their products across the country?

Especially, but not only, the cooking oils and the soft drinks.

And if they don’t answer, then please ask FSSAI.

DINAMANI NEWS

காய்கறிக்கு அடுத்து பால் கேரளாவின் புதிய ‘செக்’

கூட லூர், ஆக. 19:

தமி ழ கத் தில் இருந்து கேர ளா வுக்கு தின மும் லட் சக் க ணக் கான லிட்டர் பால் கொண்டு செல் லப் ப டு கி றது. இந்த பால் கெடா மல் இருக்க பார் ம லின் என்ற வேதிப் பொ ருள் கலக் கப் ப டு வ தாக கூறப் ப டு கி றது. கேர ளா வில் ஓணம் பண் டி கையை (ஆக. 28) முன் னிட்டு தமி ழ கத் தி லி ருந்து வழக் கத் திற்கு அதி க மான அளவு பால் அனுப்பி வைக் கப் ப டு கி றது. இதில் கலப் ப டம் இருப் ப தா கக் கூறி ஆய்வு நடத்த, கேரள அரசு அதி கா ரி களுக்கு உத் த ர விட்டுள் ளது.

இதை ய டுத்து எல் லைப் ப கு தி க ளான குமுளி, பாலக் காடு, களி யக் கா விளை உட் பட ஆறு இடங் களில் பால் வண் டி களை, கேரள உணவு பாது காப்பு அம லாக் கப் பிரி வி னர் சோதனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். இதற் காக எல் லைப் ப குதி சோத னைச் சா வ டி களில் தற் கா லிக ஆய் வ கம் அமைக் கப் பட்டுள் ளது. ஓணம் பண் டிகை முடி யும் வரை பால் கலப் ப டம் தொடர் பான ஆய்வு தொடர்ந்து நடத் தப் ப டும் என அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் துள் ள னர். தமி ழ கத் தில் இருந்து வரும் காய் க றி க ளைத் தொடர்ந்து தற் போது பாலுக் கும் கேரள அரசு ‘செக்’ வைத் தி ருப் பது அதிர்ச் சியை ஏற் ப டுத் தி யுள் ளது

கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் திடீர் ஆய்வு முதல் எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத்தனர்

பொள் ளாச்சி, ஆக. 19:

பொள் ளாச்சி அருகே நெக மத் திற் குட் பட்ட பகு தி யில் செயல் ப டும் பேக் கரி உள் ளிட்ட கடை களில் சுகா தா ர மான உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றதா என்று உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று திடீர் என்று ஆய்வு நடத் தி னர். இதில் குறிப் பிட்ட சில கடை களுக்கு முதல் எச் ச ரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத் த னர்.

பொள் ளாச் சியை அடுத்த நெக மம் மற் றும் அதனை சுற் றி யுள்ள பகு தி யில் செயல் ப டும் பேக் கரி, ஓட்டல் களில் சுகா தா ர மின்றி உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி களுக்கு புகார் வந் தது.

இதை ய டுத்து நேற்று, பொள் ளாச்சி வடக்கு பகுதி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் சனா வுல்லா, செந் தில் கு மார் மற் றும் சுப் பு ராஜ், கோவிந் த ராஜ் உள் ளிட்டோர் அங் குள்ள கடை களில், சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட்டுள் ளதா என நேரில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

நெக மம் பஸ் நி லைய பகுதி, பல் ல டம் ரோடு உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி களில் செயல் ப டும் ஓட்டல், பேக் கரி மற் றும் டீக் க டை கள் என சுமார் 40க்கும் மேற் பட்ட கடை களில் ஆய்வு மேற் கொண் ட னர்.

அப் போது, பல கடை களில் விற் ப னைக் காக வைக் கப் பட்டி ருந்த பொருட் கள் சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் திறந்த வெளி யில் வைக் கப் பட்டி ருப் ப தை ய றிந் த னர். இது தொடர் பாக இரண்டு பேக் கரி உரி மை யா ளர் களுக்கு அதி கா ரி கள் முதுல் எச் ச ரிக்கை நோட்டீஸ் கொடுத் த னர். மேலும் ஓட்டல் அறை யில் உணவு பொருட் கள் தயா ரிக் கும் பகு திக்கு சென்று ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

இதை தொடர்ந்து சில கடை களில் ஆய்வு மேற் கொள் ளும் போது அங்கு புகை யிலை போதை பொருட் கள் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட்டி ருப் பது தெரி ய வந் தது. இதை ய டுத்து அந்த புகை யிலை, போதை பாக்கு பொருட் களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த து டன் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் த னர். மேலும் ஓட்டல், பேக் க ரி களில் விற் ப னைக் காக வைக் கப் பட்டி ருக் கும் பொருட் கள் சுகா தா ர மான முறை யில் வைத் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். இது முதல் எச் ச ரிக் கை யா கும், இது போன்று செயல் தொடர்ந் தால் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என்று கடை உரி மை தா ர ரி டம் அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் த னர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் உணவு தரம் குறித்து சோதனை

 

கட லூர், ஆக. 19:

கட லூர் நக ரில் தனி யார் மருத் து வ ம னை கள் கேன் டீ னு டன் செயல் ப டு கி றது. உணவு தரம் அதன் தயா ரிப்பு மற் றும் விநி யோ கம் செய் யும் முறை யில் போதிய சுகா தார தன்மை கடை பி டிக் க வில்லை என மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு துறைக்கு தொடர் புகார் கள் வந் தது. இதை ய டுத்து நெல் லிக் குப் பம் சாலை யில் உள்ள பிர பல மருத் து வ மனை கேன் டீ னில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் ராஜா தலை மை யில் அலு வ லர் நந் த கு மார் உள் ளிட்ட அதி கா ரி கள் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

உணவு வகை களை சோத னை யிட்ட அவர் கள் சமை யற் கூ டம் தூய் மை யாக வைக்க அறி வு றுத் தி னர். மேலும் பரி மா றப் ப டும் உண வு கள் சூடாக வழங்க வலி யு றுத் தி னர். உணவு விற் ப னை யில் கூடு தல் விலை இருக்க கூடாது என வும் எச் ச ரிக் கை செய் யப் பட்டது.

கட லூ ரில் தனி யார் மருத் து வ மனை கேன் டீ னில் உணவு தரம் குறித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி காரி ராஜா ஆய்வு செய் தார்.

TNAU to get integrated lab to test farm produce

By the end of this academic year, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will have a state-of-the-art laboratory to test fruits, vegetables and even end products made out of farm produce.

The products will be tested for quality, toxicity, microbial contaminants and nutritional value apart from testing pesticide residue.

The laboratory is being established at a total cost of Rs. 23.8 crore on 32,000 sq.ft. and construction has started. Funds have been allotted for procuring equipments for Rs. 18 crore.

“The problem we are facing is concerning tests for pesticide residues as per the Food Safety and Standards Act norms. The upcoming laboratory is established with futuristic plans to conduct tests to be carried out as per international standards, for export and for domestic consumption,” Vice-Chancellor of the university K. Ramasamy told The Hindu .

The facility will have two sets of equipment. The first set will be to render services to farmers and those who want to get agricultural produce and products tested. “The parallel laboratory will be established for giving hands-on training to students to ensure that the required manpower is made available,” he said. Students will be trained to collect samples, process them and analyse the value with international permissible limits. This will help the students become entrepreneurs to set up laboratories, when more certification laboratories would be required for certifying and labelling food products for export. The laboratory will also identify items that are not matching the food safety standards.

Products will be tested for toxicity, microbial contaminants and nutritional value

Panel mulls major changes in food safety rules

New Delhi: India's Food Safety and Standards Act may be amended after an expert committee suggested sweeping reforms in the process of granting licences to food product manufacturers.

The move coincides with the Maggi row which has put under limelight the role of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in regulating the food sector and the level of compliance by FMCG companies.

Constituted in December 2014, the expert committee reviewed the FSS Act and has recently submitted its final report to the Health Ministry.

What may come as a major relief for the Food Business Operators (FBOs), the committee suggested easy and faster product approvals. If license is not issued within two months from the date of making the application or in case the application is not rejected, the company will be allowed to commence business, it said.

After the Maggi controversy, the product recall procedure and provisions have been questioned by the companies as the FSS Act has no provision for recall. Although the draft product recall regulation has been put on public domain for stakeholders comments, the committee has recommended that the food business operators are allowed to recall the food product from the market in case they have reasons for the food manufactured and distributed in unsafe.

Amendments in packaging and labeling have been another recurring consideration taken by FSSAI. The committee has suggested that industries should be given time to implement the changes and amendments in the rules for labeling and packaging should not be implemented with immediate effect as it leads to loss of the already distributed consignments in the market.

Shifting the onus of misbranding and mislabeling solely on the manufacturers and marketer and importers, the report suggests that retailers and sellers cannot be held liable for any damage to public health.

In an attempt to promote exports, the committee has recommended introduction of requisite provision in the Act or in Regulations, given the fact that the Act does not have one.

கிரில்டு ஃபுட் சாப்பிடலாமா?

கிரில்டு ஃபுட் சாப்பிடலாமா?

அசைவ உணவகங்களில் ஆவி பறக்க... சுடச்சுட... தட்டில் வைக்கப்படும் பச்சை, மஞ்சள், சிவப்பு நிற இறைச்சிகளின் சுவையும் நிறமும் நம்மைச் சுண்டி இழுக்கும். தீயில் நேரடியாகச் சுட்டும், தந்தூரி அடுப்புகளில், தணலில் காட்டப்பட்டும் தயாரிக்கப்படும் இந்த இறைச்சிகள், எண்ணெய் பளபளப்புடனும், எலுமிச்சை, வெங்காயம், வெள்ளரிக்காயால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டு கொண்டுவரப்படும்போதே நாவில் எச்சில் ஊறும். தந்தூரி ரொட்டி, சிக்கன் மட்டும் அல்ல. இப்போது, பல்வேறு கிரில்டு உணவுகள் எல்லா நகரங்களிலும் கிடைக்கன்றன. எண்ணெயில் பொரிக்காமல், நெருப்பில் வாட்டிச் சாப்பிடுவது நல்லது என்ற கருத்தும் பரவலாக உள்ளது. உண்மையில், இது சரியா?

கிரில்டு உணவுகள் எப்படித் தயாராகின்றன?

இறைச்சியில் மசாலா தடவி, ஒருநாள் முழுவதும் அல்லது குறைந்தது ஆறு மணி நேரமாவது ஊறவைக்கின்றனர். இதனுடன், சாஸ், பதப்படுத்திகள், சுவையூட்டிகள் போன்ற அனைத்தையும் கலந்து , கிரில்டு பாக்ஸ் அல்லது தந்தூரி அடுப்பில் வேகவைக்கின்றனர். தீயில் 20 நிமிடங்களாவது சுட்டுஎடுக்கின்றனர். இறைச்சியை மட்டும் தீயில் சுட்டால், மோசமான விளைவுகள் அதிகம் இருக்காது. இறைச்சியுடன் எண்ணெய், மசாலா பொருட்கள், சுவை மற்றும் நிறத்துக்காகச் சேர்க்கப்படும் ரசாயனங்கள் நெருப்பில் வாட்டப்படும்போது, பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்துகின்றன.

இறைச்சிகள் தரமானவையா?

குறைவான விலையில் கிடைப்பதால், வெளிமாநிலங்களில் இருந்து முறையாகப் பதப்படுத்தப்படாத இறைச்சியைக்கூட வாங்கிப் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். மீதமாகும் இறைச்சியை ஃப்ரீஸரில் வைத்துப் பயன்படுத்துகின்றனர். ஃபிரஷ்ஷான இறைச்சியை வாங்கிச் சமைக்கும்போது பாதிப்பு இல்லை. ஆனால், முறையாகப் பதப்படுத்தப்படாத இறைச்சிகளால் பாதிப்புகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன. அசைவ ஹோட்டல்களில் 10, 15 முழுக் கோழிகள் கம்பியில் குத்தப்பட்டு கிரில் பாக்ஸில் சுழன்றுகொண்டே இருக்கின்றன. தவிர, மசாலாக்கள் தடவப்பட்ட நிலையில் இன்னும் நிறையக் கோழிகள், உள்ளே ஃப்ரீஸரில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. இவை அனைத்தும் ஒரே நாளில் தீர்ந்துவிடுவது இல்லை. எப்போது வெட்டப்பட்டது எனத் தெரியாத இறைச்சியைத்தான், நாம் வாங்கிச் சாப்பிடுகிறோம்.

என்னென்ன பாதிப்புகள் வரலாம்?

விதவிதமான சுவைகளில் உணவை ருசிப்பது தவறு இல்லை. ஆனால், இத்தகைய உணவுகள் முழுக்க முழுக்க சுவைக்காக மட்டுமே தயாரிக்கப்படுகின்றன. இதனால், உடலுக்குக் கேடு விளைவிக்கும் செயற்கை உப்பு மற்றும் நிறங்கள், சுவையூட்டிகள் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. இதைச் சாப்பிடுவதால், முதலில் அல்சர் வரும். ரசாயனங்கள் கலக்கப்பட்டு பழைய இறைச்சியை சாப்பிடும்போது வயிறு தொடர்பான புற்றுநோயாக மாறுவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகரிக்கின்றன. எப்போதேனும் ஓரிரு முறை சாப்பிட்டால், பிரச்னை இல்லை. தொடர்ந்து ஆண்டுக்கணக்காக சாப்பிடும் பழக்கம்இருந்தால், அவர்களுக்குப் புற்றுநோய் வரலாம். இதயம், இதயக் குழாய்களில் அடைப்பு ஏற்படலாம். வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, ஒற்றைத் தலைவலி, வயிற்றுவலி மற்றும் எரிச்சல், புற்றுநோய் செல்கள் அதிகமாதல் போன்ற பிரச்னைகள் உருவாகும்.

தீயில் சுட்ட சோளம் நல்லது!

சோளத்தை சுட்டு விற்பார்கள். அதில் ரசாயனங்களோ, நிறங்களோ, செயற்கை உப்புகளோ, எண்ணெயோ சேர்ப்பது இல்லை. சோளத்தைச் சுட்ட பிறகுதான், சுவைக்காக உப்பு மற்றும் எலுமிச்சைச் சாறு சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. எனவே, இவற்றைச் சாப்பிடுவதால் எந்தவிதப் பாதிப்பும் ஏற்படாது.

FSSAI reviewing court's order, to decide on future course

The Bombay High Court had on August 13 quashed the orders of FSSAI and Maharashtra FDA banning nine variants of Maggi noodles in the country.

Food safety regulator FSSAI is reviewing the Bombay High Court order that last week quashed its order to ban Maggi, and has not yet decided if it will challenge the order in Supreme Court. 

The Bombay High Court had on August 13 quashed the orders of FSSAI and Maharashtra FDA banning nine variants of Maggi noodles in the country. 

The court had provided a conditional relief to the popular snack's manufacturerNestle India as it ordered a fresh test of samples in three independent laboratories across India.

"Nothing has been decided so far on approaching Supreme Court. As of now we are reviewing the court's order," a senior FSSAI official said. 

The court had said that if the fresh tests show that lead content was below permissible limit, then the company will be allowed to manufacture and sell Maggi again in the country.

When contacted a health ministry official said, "We are studying the order and will go by the rule book." Following the court's order, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairman Ashish Bahuguna had said "Supreme Court option is neither ruled in nor ruled out."

Bahuguna also said that if he finds that the court had not taken regulator's submissions only then he will think of going to Supreme Court. FSSAI and FDA in first week of June had ordered the recall of Maggi noodles saying the samples of noodles tested by them contained 'lead beyond permissible limit'.

FSSAI may not appeal against Bombay High Court's order on Maggi

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned the product on June 5 because of excessive lead content and mislabelling.

NEW DELHI: India's food regulator isn't likely to appeal against the Bombay High Courtdecision setting aside the ban on Maggi noodles, a top government official told ET, thus allowing the process stipulated by the division bench to proceed. In its ruling on August 13, the court said the Nestle India product has to be tested for lead content over the next six weeks at accredited laboratories in Hyderabad, Mohali and Jaipur. If the samples are found to be safe, Nestle can put Maggi noodles back on shelves.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned the product on June 5 because of excessive lead content and mislabelling.

The order led to fierce criticism by some sections of the government, the most vocal of whom was food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on the grounds that such moves would lead to a climate of fear and uncertainty and a freeze on investment.

This view appears to be holding sway, going by the statement of the official cited above. "The general view is that this decision should not be appealed against in the higher court," the official said. Another senior official said the high court order was a neutral one and therefore there was not much for appeal. "It's a neutral order...All it says is ban can be lifted only after the tests give an all-clear," the second official said. The final decision rests with FSSAI.

Desisting from an appeal will allow the case to be settled quickly, bringing to a close an issue that has brought negative publicity to the country's food administration regime, if the tests show the product is safe. Various overseas regulators have said Maggi noodles made in India is fit for consumption.

The Bombay High Court ruling was made on a petition filed by Nestle against the regulatory order.

The court said the regulator hadn't given the company enough opportunity to present its stand, which was a violation of natural justice. Some in government were of the view that effecting a ban was not the right way forward, especially in the manner in which it was carried out. The ban on Maggi noodles prompted many packaged food producers to withdraw similar products from the market fearing that they would be next. Food processing minister Badal said that an "inspector raj" had led to concerns among companies, stalling investment and threatening the government's Make-in-India programme.

The high court said any nationwide ban by FSSAI had to be justified by the regulator. The division bench said a showcause notice had not been issued before the ban and neither were samples tested at accredited laboratories, raising doubts over the results.

"We are very concerned with the public health and safety and hence those three laboratories will check, whether the lead content is within the permissible limits and will give its report to FSSAI within six weeks," the bench had said. "If the lead content is within the permissible limit of 2.5 ppm (parts per million), only then the company will be allowed to sell the product in the market."

The Narendra Modi government is seeking to drum up investment as it looks to generate jobs and boost economic growth. The Prime Minister is currently in the United Arab Emirates where he's seeking to encourage investors to put their money into India.

The government has said that it's trying to move away from the adversarial role adopted by the previous administration. Earlier this year, the government decided not to appeal against the transfer pricing case it lost to Vodafone in the Bombay High Court.

The ban on Maggi noodles and the voluntary withdrawal of other packaged food products are seen as having had an economic impact - in the index of industrial production data for June, the instant food category showed a decline of 42%. Meanwhile, a separate case against Nestle got underway at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on Monday. The consumer affairs ministry is seeking damages of Rs 639.95 crore from the Swiss company for selling a "defective and hazardous" product.

Officials had said the Bombay High Court ruling wouldn't prevent the ministry from going ahead with its case. They said the basis of the case was different from the one in the high court. "We are fighting the case on grounds of unfair trade practices, sale of defective goods and sale of Maggi oats noodles to the public without product approval," said a Department of Consumer Affairs official.

தின்பண்டங்கள் விற்பனை ஜோர் தயாரிப்பு தேதி இல்லாத கடைக்காரர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை

பழநி, ஆக.18:

பழநி பகு தி யில் தயா ரிப்பு தேதி இல் லாத தின் பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை ஜோராக நடந்து வரு கி றது.

பழநி கோயி லில் வரு டம் முழு வ தும் திரு விழா காலங் களில் லட் சக் க ணக் கான பக் தர் கள் வரு வது வழக் கம். இவ் வாறு வரும் பக் தர் களி டம் விற் பனை செய் வ தற் காக அடி வார பகு தி களில் ஏரா ள மான இடங் களில் தற் கா லிக சாலை யோர கடை கள் அமைக் கப் பட்டு விளை யாட்டு பொருட் கள், சிப்ஸ், கற் கண்டு, பேரீட்சை, அல்வா போன் றவை விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன.

சில கடை களில் கலப் பட மற் றும் தர மற்ற தின் பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன. இது பற்றி பழநி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் மோக ன ரங் கம் கூறி ய தா வது, பக் தர் களுக்கு தர மான, பாது காப் பான, கலப் ப ட மில் லாத, காலா வ தி யா காத உணவு பொருட் க ளையே விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும். உண வுப் பொ ருட் களை கையாள் வோ ருக்கு தொற் று நோய் எது மில்லை என உடல் ந லத் தகுதி சான்று கட்டா யம் பெற் றி ருத் தல் வேண் டும்.

உண வுப் பொருட் களை தயா ரிக்க பாது காக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீ ரையே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். அனு ம திக் கப் பட்ட இயற்றை அல் லது செயற்கை நிறங் களை சரி யான அள வில் மட்டுமே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். காலா வ தி யான எண் ணெய் கள் மற் றும் அனு ம திக் கப் ப டாத செயற்கை நிறங் களை பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூடாது. உண வுப் பொருட் களை தயா ரிக்க பயன் ப டும் நெய், வனஸ் பதி மற் றும் எண் ணெய் வகை களை வாடிக் கை யா ளர் கள் அறி யும் வகை யில் அறி விப்பு பல கை யில் தெரி யப் ப டுத்த வேண் டும்.

விற் ப னைக் கான உண வுப் பொ ருட் களை மூடிய நிலை யில், ஈக் கள், பூச் சி கள் மற் றும் தூசி கள் விழா த வாறு முறை யாக கண் ணாடி பெட்டி யி னுள் வைத்து விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும். தயா ரிப்பு தேதி, நிகர எடை, காலா வதி தேதி மற் றும் உண வுப் பொருட் களில் கலந் துள்ள கல வை கள் விப ரங் கள் குறிப் புச் சீட்டு வைத் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். எச் ச ரிக்கை ஏதா வது இருந் தால் அது கு றித்த விப ரங் களை குறிப் பிட வேண் டும்.

உண வுப் பொருட் களை சாக் க டை யின் மேல் வைத்து பொது மக் களுக்கு விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. மின ரல் ஆயில் போன்ற எண் ணெய் களை பேரிட் சை யில் தடவி விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. நகர்ப் ப கு தி யில் உண வுத் தொழில் செய் வ தற்கு உண வுப் பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா கத் து றை யி ன ரி டம் பதிவு அல் லது உரி மம் பெறு வது அவ சி யம். இவ் வி தி மு றை களை பின் பற் றாத கடைக் கா ரர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும். இவ் வாறு அவர் கூறி னார்.

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DINAMALAR NEWS

FSSAI CEO on Nestle’s Maggi: If their product was safe, why did they destroy it?

Maggi samples given clean chits were from factory that manufactures largely for exports, says FSSAI.

The Bombay High Court’s order in favour of Nestle’s Maggi noodles, and the clean chit by countries including the US, the UK, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand notwithstanding, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has maintained that the ban on the product was done after thorough tests and “these clean chits have been given to samples primarily drawn from Nestle’s Bicholim factory in Goa, which manufactures the noodles largely for exports”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Yudhvir Singh Malik, CEO, FSSAI, said, “There are eight facilities of Nestle and all the samples which went for CFTIR Mysore were from Bicholim, Goa, which are meant for exports. The US, Australia and New Zealand may have given clean chits but the samples were all drawn from the export facility. We have already requested the UKFDA, which has called India’s Maggi safe, to share with us the details such as when and where the samples were drawn from, the batch of the samples, what factors were considered, what testing protocol was followed and the test results. However, despite three reminders they have not replied.”

It is to be noted that earlier the FSSAI had rubbished all-clear reports from two of its own empanelled labs, saying there were lapses in the tests. It had rejected the findings of the Food and Drugs Laboratory of Goa as well as the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, over test discrepancies.

“We asked Nestle that since they are claiming to have got clean chit from the UKFDA, do they have the reports for the same and asked them to share it with us. However, they have gone on record claiming that they don’t have it. How can they not have it? If their product was safe why did they destroy it? We ordered only recall of the product and offered that if the product was safe for consumption they should export it. However they destroyed it,” Malik said while emphasising that the FSSAI is focussing on its prime responsibility of ensuring safe food to people. According to an official, the FSSAI had ordered recall of Maggi noodles on June 5 after testing 78 samples of Maggi from Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and other states, of which 30 samples were found carrying excess lead.

The official said that the sample was fairly large to take action on. Following the order, Nestle India had moved Bombay High Court. Last week the court set aside the order though it asked the company to get its noodle samples tested at three FSSAI accredited labs — Hyderabad, Mohali and Jaipur — to check lead contents.Explaining the ban on the product, Malik said that while FSSAI regulations don’t prescribe that MSG is unsafe, it explicitly mentions that it should not be in products meant for children below 12 months old.

“They said that they have not added MSG in Maggi and it is naturally present. Even if it is naturally present, why did they write No MSG added? We are not getting into whether it is safe for consumption. We have just said that it was falsification under the FSSAI regulations. They could have said that it contains natural MSG,” he said.

With regards to lead, which is bad for health as it accumulates in the system, the CEO said, “It can even be transferred from the placenta to babies. It will never have an immediate impact but you will never be able to relate it to consumption of lead on account of Maggi… Once it is a section 22 food, we don’t test it and go 100 per cent by what the company writes.”

As far as tests are concerned, the FSSAI CEO emphasised that the tests were done on the basis of CODEX document which was attached to the application of Nestle and hence no objections can be raised by the company on the testing protocol followed.

“Approval is granted on the basis of the content of the application. Nestle told us that they were confused about the testing protocol followed by us. But we have done it according to the CODEX document which was attached to their application, which says that the cake and masala will be tested separately and that is what we did. Now they are questioning our test. It is their protocol that was agreed to and now they can’t go back on it,” Malik stressed.

Maggi ban: NCDRC issues notice to Nestle India against class action suit

The suit alleges unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements of Maggi instant noodles

The suit filed by the department of consumer affairs seeks `640 crore for damages.

New Delhi: India’s top consumer court National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on Monday issued notice to Nestle India Ltd on a class action suit filed by the department of consumer affairs (DCA) seeking `640 crore in damages.

The suit filed in public interest on 11 August alleges unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements of Maggi instant noodles by the Indian unit of the Swiss packaged foods company Nestle SA.

The damages sought from Nestle India are for manufacture and sale of variants of Maggi noodles that contained exceess levels of lead and monosodium glutamate that allegedly harmed consumers.

At the hearing, a division bench of NCDRC comprising justices V.K Jain and B.C Gupta, while deciding upon the maintainability of the suit, repeatedly questioned DCA about the “specific standard” that had been prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 or any other rules on the permissible lead content.

“In the complaint, you have alleged that as per the tests conducted in various laboratories across the country, it was found that variants of Maggi noodles contain levels of lead beyond the 0.015 ppm (parts per million). Regarding this, I wish to ask if there is any specific standard on the basis of which such claims are being made. Further, in the absence of a set standard, which provision would apply?” Jain asked.

“It is the domain of the food authority and would be their decision while deciding such matters in the absence of a fixed standard,” argued additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain.

This argument was set aside by the bench as it would amount to extending arbitrary power to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

“At this moment, what material evidence do you have to show that the lead content exceeds the permissible levels?” the bench asked the Additional Solicitor General (ASG).

It also raised doubts about the procedure that had been followed for sending the samples for testing (whole packets or part of the noodles) to the various labs; the 13 August Bombay high court judgment that called for another test was silent on this issue.

The Bombay high court set aside the food regulator’s nationwide ban order on the sale of Maggi noodles and said it had not been able to “substantiate” its “tall claim” of the food product being unsafe, and told the manufacturer it will be allowed to resume production and sales once the popular snack is retested and cleared for consumption by government-approved laboratories.

The court also slammed the regulator for “lack of transparency” and passing orders in an “arbitrary manner”.

The bench also directed the complainant to submit sealed samples of Maggi Masala and Maggi Oats Noodles that it had brought to the court, to be sent for re-testing to an accredited lab.

The DCA told the NCDRC that the pivot of the complaint was not the test reports but the interest of the consumers who had been misled by unfair trade practices and assertions made by Nestle on the presence of MSG and lead levels in their products.

The department also claimed that Nestle India had begun sale of their Maggi Masala Oats Noodles without obtaining the requisite product approval from the food authority.

The court has sought a reply to the notices in a month and has marked 30 September as the next date of hearing.

Nestle India officials when contacted by Mint declined to comment upon the matter.

Consumer court allows Nestle to go for fresh Maggi tests

The apex consumer court on Monday sought Nestle India's response on the government's Rs.640-crore unfair trade practice class action suit related to Maggi noodles, allowed fresh tests in approved labs and fixed Sep 30 as the next date of hearing.

A bench of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, comprising Justice V.K. Jain and Justice B.C. Gupta, directed Nestle to respond to the notice by Sep 30 and allowed the government to send samples of Maggi noodles to an accredited laboratory for tests on lead content and MSG.

"The court has accepted to hear the case for unfair trade practice and misleading consumers through advertisements and packaging," Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain said after the preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, the bench expressed doubt over the government's cause of action, saying the Bombay High Court's judgment in the matter had dealt with the issue of lead content.

It said since the high court had rejected the government's current reports on lead content -- for not being from an accredited laboratory -- there was no report to prove the government's contention that Nestle was selling hazardous products.

The government's counsel, Sanjay Jain, replied that the government had approached the consumer forum on a "broader issue".

The central government was dealing with the question of whether Nestle had "all this while" sold a product which did not meet India's food safety standards, he said.

Jain said later: "The court has sought fresh, sealed samples to be tested by accredited labs. Further course of action will be decided by the ministry (of consumer affairs)."

After a 30-minute hearing, the forum agreed to the petitioner's request to have Maggi samples tested at an accredited lab, and issued the notice to Nestle to respond to the government's accusations.

No specific mention was made on which laboratories the samples would be sent.

The Department of Consumer Affairs had alleged that Nestle by its "unfair trade practices" vis a vis Maggi instant noodles, by selling "defective and hazardous products" has caused injury to millions of consumers, which called for this class action suit.

"It is now apparent that Maggi and its variants are neither healthy nor enjoyable. Quite the contrary, they are far from the quality and standard what even the opponent company had claimed them to be, while seeking approval," the government had said in its petition.

The petition said: "The department is keen to safeguard against companies selling defective foodstuff or other products in utter disregard of the existing laws."

Last week, Nestle India had got a significant respite with the Bombay High Court lifting the ban on the sale of nine instant noodle brands and ordering fresh tests in three separate labs to ascertain that the products complied with the country's food safety norms.

The conditional relief came following a petition filed by Nestle challenging the regulatory order of June 5 for the withdrawal and recall of nine variants of "Maggi Instant Noodles" and "Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker".

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the industry watchdog, had said in its ban order of June 5 that tests conducted on a batch of Maggi were found to contain more-than-permissible levels of lead and high quantities of mono-sodium glutamate (MSG).