Confusion reins over FSSAI's product approval regime

On Tuesday, its chairman, Ashish Bahuguna, said Patanjali noodles, from the stable of entities owned by yoga guru Ramdev, had not been approved

Just as it seemed the five-month battle over Nestle's Maggi brand of instant noodles was getting over, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has fuelled another issue on the need for product approval.

On Tuesday, its chairman, Ashish Bahuguna, said Patanjali noodles, from the stable of entities owned by yoga guru Ramdev, had not been approved. This is even as a Supreme Court order in August had said FSSAI's product approval guidelines for non-standardised food items such as noodles, pastas and macaroni had ceased to exist.

"There is no product approval system as per law (now)," said Zakir Merchant, partner, Khaitan & Co. Ashish Prasad from Economy Laws Practice felt likewise.

Bahuguna's internal note points to press reports about Patanjali having launched or in process of launching a new brand of noodles, "without obtaining approval for the same". Adding: "Please take appropriate action."

Yet, on August 26, following the SC order, the FSSAI had issued a notification that, "It is no longer possible for FSSAI to continue with process of Product Approvals...in view of the order dated August 19 (of the SC), whereby the judgment and order dated August 1, 2014, of the Bombay High Court has gained finality and the said Advisory has ceased to remain operative".

Following FSSAI's comments, a spokesperson of Patanjali said: "We categorically state that we have followed all FSSAI rules and guidelines, and committed no violation." Patanjali has been selling noodles under a licence for pasta. For licensing purposes, noodles and pasta are grouped together.

When asked, Bahuguna told Business Standard: "The licence is not for instant noodles, which require product approval." He did not, however, clarify the regulator's current stand on the product approval system.

Patanjali says its noodles followed food safety norms

Baba Ramdev-promoted Patanjali on Wednesday said it has followed all the guidelines and regulations of the Food Safety and Regulatory Authority of India (FSSAI) in the launch of its "atta" instant noodles and other products.

"We have followed all rules and guidelines by the FSSAI. We have not disobeyed any of them," said S.K. Tijarawala, spokesperson for Patanjali.

"The FSSAI has given us the licence of re-labelling under pasta category and on basis of which we have given contract to various companies to make noodles (for us)," he said in the statement.

The remarks come in the wake of a top FSSAI official claiming that Patanjali's instant noodles was launched without its product approval. The authority's chairman Ashish Bahuguna has also been quoted as saying that product approval for pasta cannot apply to noodles.

The chairman, however, was not available for comment. Following persistent calls, his office told an IANS correspondent that the chairman "cannot respond to individual queries" and that he had said what he wanted to.

The authority did not issue a statement either. But a set of questions was nevertheless forwarded over e-mail to the chairman's office on the subject.

Tijarawala said Patanjali had taken a product licence for pasta under the "central category" and that noodles, accordingly, fell under that.

Forwarding some documents to IANS purportedly from the food safety authority Tijarawala alluded that by virtue of Licence Number 10014012000266, renewed on October 15 this year and valid till February 21, 2019, a "modified licence" was also issued.

He said the pasta sold by Patanjali has already secured the modified licence; this also gave it the right to manufacture noodles as it was only a variant.

Patanjali had formally launched its wholewheat instant noodles on Monday.

FSSAI Chief seeks "appropriate action" on Ramdev noodles

MUMBAI: After Maggi, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's noodles may be in a soup. The chairman of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday sought "appropriate action" against Ramdev's brand of noodles, launched without the regulator's approval, given that such "product approvals were not taking place right now." 

Ashish Bahuguna the FSSAI chief, in a communication, said, "While our attention had been occupied by the Maggi case," the media has reported that "Patanjali have launched or are in the process of launching a new brand of noodles without obtaining approval for it." Bahuguna asked that "appropriate action" be taken on the matter. The communication was marked to three directors at the Delhi-based authority, who are in charge of enforcement, legal and product approval. 

Ramdev's FMCG venture Patanajali Ayurved had launched its noodles brand, aiming to take on Nestle's Maggi which just returned to the market last week after a 5-month ban. This followed the Bombay High Court lifting a ban on Maggi imposed by FSSAI and Maharathstra FDA. 

Bahuguna, who did not respond to a request for his comment on the action sought, however, told TOI that "product approvals are not taking place since the Supreme Court had quashed the product approval advisory issued by the FSSAI.'' 

He said that the FSSAI was "now in the process of framing new regulations. Once the regulations are in place and standards prescribed, product approvals could take place.'' 

It is learnt that the legal wing of the authority has asked for action to be taken, following Bahuguna's note. The legal director's remark to her AD was to proved with taking action since it was "impermissible" as "noodles are not standardised products under the regulation". 

Any non standardised product requires FSSAI approval. 

Patanjali executives when asked had said, "If we don't have approval how can we launch in market. This is a baseless question!" 

The noodle packet contains Fssai logo and licence number which is not a mark of product approval for the noodles but only means under the law that the company has a licence to manufacture food items. 

The SC in August had essentially upheld a Bombay high court judgment that had quashed the product advisory issued by the FSSAI to enforce food safety norms. The advisory issued in May 2013 required packaged food, beverage, health drink and supplement makers to disclose any ingredient or formulation change to FSSAI. 

The Bombay HC had last year held that the advisory lacked force of law and could not have been issued by FSSAI without it being ratified by the two houses of Parliament. The SC order had come as a relief to large manufacturers of health and food products. 

On Monday, the FSSAI moved the SC to be permitted to appeal against the Bombay HC order that had lifted the Maggi ban.

விஷப்பெட்டியாக மாறிவிட்ட ஃப்ரிட்ஜ்! ஷாக்கிங் தகவல்கள்... சமாளிக்க 10 கட்டளைகள்!அவேர்னஸ்

‘‘குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி (Refrigerator) என்பது இன்று எல்லா இல்லங்களிலும் அத்தியாவசியப் பொருளாகிவிட்டது. ஆனால், பலருக்கும் தெரியாது அதில் பொதிந்துள்ள ஆபத்துகள் பற்றி!’’ என்று அதிர்ச்சி கொடுக்கும் சென்னை, இ.எஸ்.ஐ மருத்துவமனையின் ஊட்டச்சத்து நிபுணர் பவானி, குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டதன் நோக்கம் தொடங்கி, அதன் பயன்பாடு திசைதிரும்பியதால் அதிகரித்துள்ள உடல்நலப் பிரச்னைகள், ஃப்ரிட்ஜுக்கான மாற்றுவழி வரை விரிவாகப் பேசுகிறார்...

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி... எதற்காக?

``மருந்தையும், சமைக்காத உணவையும் குளிர்படுத்தி பாதுகாத்து நீண்ட நாட்களுக்கு பயன்படுத்த கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட மின்சாதனமே, இயந்திர தொழில்நுட்ப வரலாற்றில் முக்கியக் கண்டுபிடிப்பான குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி. உணவுப் பொருட்கள் அதிகமாகக் கிடைக்கும் காலங்களில் அவற்றைப் பாதுகாத்து, குறிப்பிட்ட அந்த உணவுக்கு தட்டுப்பாடு வரும் காலத்தில் பயன்படுத்துவது, உணவுகளை உற்பத்தி இடங்களில் இருந்து வேறு இடங்களுக்கு பாதிப்படையாமல் எடுத்துச் செல்வது, மருந்துகளைப் பாதுகாக்கப் பயன்படுத்துவது, பால், காய்கறி போன்ற சமைக்காத உணவுகளைப் பாதுகாத்துப் பயன்படுத்துவது... இதெல்லாம்தான் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி கண்டுபிடிப்பின் நோக்கங்கள்.

இன்றோ, சமைத்த உணவுகளையும் ஃப்ரிட்ஜுக்குள் வைப்பது, பல வகையான உணவுப் பொருட்களையும் வைக்கும்போது சரியாக மூடாமலும், சரிவர பிரித்து வைக்காமலும் ஸ்டோர் செய்வது, போன வாரம் வாங்கிய காளான் முதல், மிகுந்துபோன குழம்பு வரை அடைத்து வைப்பது என... ஒவ்வொரு வீட்டிலும் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி, கண்ணுக்குப் புலப்படாத விஷப்பெட்டியாகத்தான் நின்றுகொண்டிருக்கிறது!

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி அவசியமா?

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டி அவசியம் இல்லை என்பதுதான் உண்மை. நம் முன்னோர் குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டியை அறியவில்லை; அவர்களின் ஆரோக்கியத்துக்கும் குறைவில்லை. அவர்களிடம் இருந்த சுறுசுறுப்போ, நேரமோ நமக்கில்லை என்பதால், நம் சோம்பேறித்தனத்துக்கு சாமரம் வீசும் ஃப்ரிட்ஜை சார்ந்து வாழப் பழகிவிட்டோம். முழுக்க முழுக்க, மேற்கத்திய நாடுகளில் உள்ளவர்களுக்காக கண்டிபிடிக்கப்பட்ட இந்த சாதனம், அவர்களின் சீதோஷ்ணம், வேலை, சூழலுக்குப் பொருந்தும். ஆனால், எல்லாவற்றிலும் ‘வெஸ்டர்னைஸடு’ ஆகும் நமக்கு, ஃப்ரிட்ஜும் விதிவிலக்கல்லாமல் போய்விட்டது. இதனால், அடிக்கடி காய்கறி வாங்க வேண்டிய வேலையும், மூன்றுவேளை சமைக்கும் வேலையும் குறையும் என்பதே பலரின் நினைப்பு. கொஞ்சம் மெனக்கெட்டால், இந்த சார்பை விலக்கலாம். இல்லையென்றால், அதில் பொதிந்துள்ள ஆபத்துகள் நம் ஆரோக்கியத்தையும், ஆயுளையும் குறைக்கும்.

செய்ய வேண்டிய விஷயங்கள்!

பெரியவர்கள், குழந்தைகள் உள்ள வீடுகளில் வயிற்றுவலி, பேதியில் இருந்து, ஒபிஸிட்டி எனப்படும் உடற்பருமன் வரை ஃப்ரிட்ஜ் உணவுகள் ஏற்படுத்தும் பாதிப்புகள் பல. ‘இவ்வளவு பாதிப்புகளா?! ஆனாலும், ஃப்ரிட்ஜ் இல்லாமல் இருக்க முடியாதே?’ என்பவர்களுக்கு... 10 கட்டளைகள்... இதோ!

1. 5 டிகிரி செல்சியஸ் முதல் 60 டிகிரி செல்சியஸ் வரையிலான டெம்பரேச்சரில் பாக்டீரியாக்கள் மிக வேகமாக வளரக்கூடும் என்பதால், -15 டிகிரி செல்சியஸ் முதல் 5 டிகிரி செல்சியஸ் அளவுக்குள் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியின் டெம்பரேச்சரை செட் செய்ய வேண்டியது மிக முக்கியம். முடிந்தவரை 4 டிகிரி செல்சியஸ் அளவில் எப்போதும் வைத்துப் பயன்படுத்துவது நல்லது.

2. மின்சாரம் தடைபட்டால் இரண்டு மணி நேரம் மட்டுமே குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டியில் உள்ள உணவு கெடாமல் இருக்கும். அதற்குப் பின்னும் மின்சாரம் இல்லையெனில், உடனடியாக ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் உள்ள உணவுகளை வெளியே எடுத்து, சூடுபடுத்தி சாப்பிட்டுவிட வேண்டும். வெயில் காலத்தில், ஒரு மணி நேரத்துக்கு மேல் மின்சாரம் இல்லாமல் இருந்தாலே, உணவுகளை வெளியே எடுத்துப் பயன்படுத்திவிட வேண்டும்.

3. காய்கறி, பழங்கள், கீரைகள், உணவுகள், அசைவ உணவுகள் இப்படி அனைத்தையும் சரிவரப் பிரித்து ஸ்டோர் செய்ய வேண்டும். அதாவது, ஃப்ரீஸரில் அசைவ உணவுகள், டிரேயில் பால் பாக்கெட்டுகள், டோர்களில் கூல்டிரிங்ஸ், கீழ் டப்பாவில் காய்கறிகள், பழங்கள் போன்ற சமைக்காத உணவுகள், நடுத்தட்டில் மாவு உள்ளிட்ட உணவுப் பொருட்கள், மேல்தட்டில் சமைத்த உணவு... இப்படி ஒவ்வொன்றையும் அதற்கான இடத்தில் வைக்க வேண்டும். ஒவ்வொன்றையும் முறையாக இறுக்கமாகப் பேக் செய்து/ மூடி வைக்க வேண்டியது மிக அவசியம். ஒரு பொருளுக்கும் இன்னொரு பொருளுக்கும் இடையில் இடைவெளி இருக்க வேண்டியது மிக முக்கியம்.

செய்யக் கூடாத விஷயங்கள்!

4. என்னதான் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியில் வைக்கப்பட்டாலும், உணவில் மாற்றம் நிகழத்தான் செய்யும். உதாரணமாக, பிரெட் உள்ளிட்ட மைதா சார்ந்த பொருட்களில் உருவாகும் பூஞ்சை, மற்ற உணவுப் பொருட்களையும் பாதிக்கும் என்பதால் நீண்ட நாட்களுக்கு எந்தப் பொருளையும் ஸ்டோர் செய்ய வேண்டாம்.

5. ஆட்டுக்கறி, கோழிக்கறி, வடித்த சாதம் போன்றவற்றில் பாக்டீரியா வளர்ச்சி அதிகமாக இருக்கும், அது மற்ற உணவுகளுக்கும் எளிதில் பரவக்கூடும் என்பதால் இவற்றை ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் ஸ்டோர் செய்வதைத் தவிர்க்கவும்.

6. அதிக சூடான உணவுப் பொருட்களை ஒருபோதும் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டிக்குள் வைக்கக்கூடாது. அது அதிக மின்சாரம் செலவாக வழிவகுப்பதுடன், அந்த வெப்பம் ஃப்ரிட்ஜின் மொத்த டெம்பரேச்சரையும் தொந்தரவு செய்து, உணவுப் பொருட்களை பாதிக்கும்.

7. பொதுவாக, குறைந்த டெம்பரேச்சரில் இருந்து அதிக டெம்பரேச்சருக்கு உள்ளாகும்போது, அந்தப் பொருட்களில் பாக்டீரியாவின் வளர்ச்சி அதிகரிக்கும். எனவே, குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டியில் இருந்து எடுக்கும் காய்கறிகள், உணவுகளை அவற்றிலிருக்கும் குளிர் தன்மை குறைந்ததும் சமைத்தோ, சூடுபடுத்தியோ பயன்படுத்தாவிட்டால் ஆபத்து.

8. சமைத்த உணவுகளை ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் ஸ்டோர் செய்வது பரிந்துரைக்கத்தக்கதல்ல. காரணம், அதில் நுண்கிருமிகள், பாக்டீரியாக்கள் உருவாகி பாழாவதோடு, மற்ற உணவுப் பொருட்களையும் பாதிக்கும். இதில் சிலர் சமைத்து, உள்ளே வைத்து, வெளியே எடுத்து சூடுபடுத்தி, மீண்டும் உள்ளே வைத்து என்று பயன்படுத்தினால் அது உணவாக இருக்காது, விஷமாகிவிடும். 

9. கர்ப்பிணிப் பெண்கள், குழந்தைகள், வயதானவர்கள், நோயாளிகள், நுண்சத்து குறைபாடு உள்ளவர்கள் குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டியில் வைக்கப்பட்ட உணவுகளை முற்றிலும் தவிர்ப்பதே நல்லது. 

10. குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியில் வைக்கும் உணவுகளில் புரதச்சத்து, மாவுச்சத்து, கொழுப்புச்சத்து போன்றவற்றில் பெரிதாக மாற்றம் ஏற்படாது என்றாலும், சுவை, விட்டமின் சத்து குறைவதுடன், போனஸாக பாக்டீரியா, பூஞ்சைத் தொற்று கிடைக்கும். எனவே, எச்சரிக்கை தேவை!

ஃபிரிட்ஜ்... உணவுப் பொருட்களை ஃப்ரெஷ்ஷாக எடுத்து சாப்பிடத்தானே அன்றி, அழுகும் நிலைக்கு முன்வரை வைத்திருந்து சாப்பிட அல்ல என்பதை நினைவில் கொள்க!’’

- விழிப்பு உணர்வும் எச்சரிக்கையும் தந்து நிறைவு செய்தார், பவானி! 

சா. வடிவரசு

என்னதான் மாற்று?!

காய்கறிகளை வாரக் கணக்கில் வாங்கி வைக்காமல் அதிகபட்சம் இரண்டு, மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு என வாங்கிப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். தேவைக்கும் அதிகமாகச் சமைத்து, மீகுந்துவிட்டது என ஃப்ரிட்ஜுக்குள் திணிக்காமல் அளவாகச் சமைத்து அன்றன்றே சாப்பிட்டுவிடலாம். சாதம் மிகுந்துவிட்டால், வடகம் போடலாம். மீன், நண்டு போன்ற அசைவ உணவுகள், கடலில் இருந்து பிடிக்கப்பட்டு பல நாட்கள் கழித்தே நம்மை வந்து அடைகின்றன. அவற்றை மேலும் வீட்டில் ஃப்ரீஸரில் ஸ்டோர் செய்தால் கிருமித் தொற்று நிச்சயம். அது மற்ற உணவுகளுக்கும் பரவும் ஆபத்தும் உள்ளது.

ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் எவ்வளவு காலம் வைக்கலாம்? 

ஃப்ரிட்ஜ் பராமரிப்பு!

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியை பராமரிக்கும் முறைகளைச் சொல்கிறார், சென்னை, ‘ஜே.கே. எலெக்ட்ரிகல் அண்ட் எலெக்ட்ரானிக்ஸ்’ உரிமையாளர் ராமகிருஷ்ணன்...

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியை எப்போதும் காற்றோட்டமான, சூரியஒளி படாத இடத்தில் வைக்க வேண்டும்.

சிலிண்டரில் இருந்து கசியும் வாயு, குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியில் இருந்து வரும் சிறு தீப்பொறியுடன் சேர்ந்து விபத்து ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புள்ளது என்பதால், அடுப்பில் இருந்து ஃப்ரிட்ஜை தூரமாக வைக்கவும்.

குளிர்சாதனப் பெட்டியிலேயே குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கும் அந்தந்த பருவநிலைக்கு ஏற்ற கூலிங் அளவைப் பின்பற்ற வேண்டும். அடிக்கடி திறந்து மூடினால், அதிக மின்சாரம் செலவாகும்.

ஃப்ரீஸரில் ஐஸ் சேர்ந்துவிட்டால் ‘டிஃப்ராஸ்ட்’ ஆப்ஷனை பயன்படுத்த வேண்டுமே தவிர, கூர்மையான பொருட்களைக்கொண்டு குத்தி எடுப்பது கூடாது.

பழைய மாடல் ஃபிரிட்ஜில் பின்புறம் இருக்கும் டிரைனேஜ் வாட்டரை மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு ஒருமுறை சுத்தம் செய்யவும்.

இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்கு ஒருமுறை உட்புறம் உள்ள கிளாஸ் டோர்களை வெளியே எடுத்துத் துடைக்கவும்.

வாரத்தில் ஒருநாள் சோப் பவுடர் கலந்த தண்ணீரில் மிருதுவான துணியை நனைத்துப் பிழிந்து உட்புறம், வெளிப்புறம் துடைத்து, நன்றாகக் காயவிட்டுப் பயன்படுத்தலாம். எலுமிச்சைப் பழத்தை கட் செய்து அல்லது கரித்துண்டுகளை இரண்டு மூலைகளில் வைத்தால், துர்நாற்றம் வீசாமல் இருக்கும்.

குழந்தைகளுக்கு ஆகாது... குளிர்சாதனப் பொருட்கள்!

இன்றைக்கு பெரும்பாலான குழந்தைகள் வீட்டில் ஃப்ரிட்ஜில் ஸ்டோர் ஆகியிருக்கும் சாக்லேட், குளிர்பானங்கள், ஐஸ்க்ரீம் வகைகளைத்தான் ஆசையாகச் சாப்பிடுகின்றன. இந்தப் பொருட்களில் உள்ள சர்க்கரையின் அளவு, குளிர்படுத்தப்படும்போது இன்னும் அதிகமாகி, குழந்தைக்கு வயிற்றுவலியில் இருந்து ஒபிஸிட்டி வரை பிரச்னைகளைத் தரும். ‘ஃப்ரிட்ஜ்ல இருந்து கூல்டிரிங்க்ஸ், சாக்லேட்ஸ் சாப்பிடக் கூடாது’ என்று குழந்தைகளை கண்டிப்பது அல்ல தீர்வு. அதை வாங்கி ஸ்டோர் செய்யாமல் இருப்பதே நிரந்தரத் தீர்வு!

மருந்துகள் பத்திரம்!

குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியில் மருந்துகளை ஸ்டோர் செய்யும் முறைகளைச் சொல்கிறார், சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்த, ஓய்வுபெற்ற குழந்தைகள்நல மருத்துவப் பேராசிரியர் செல்வராஜ்...

‘‘இன்சுலின் போன்ற கட்டாயம் குளிர்சாதனப்பெட்டியில் வைத்தே பயன்படுத்த வேண்டிய மருந்துகளுக்கு, ஓர் இடத்தை ஒதுக்கிக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். இதன் அருகில் உணவுப் பொருட்கள், பூக்கள் வைப்பது கூடாது. மருந்து இருக்கும் சமயத்தில் அசைவ ஸ்டோரேஜ் கூடாது. மருந்தால் உணவும், உணவால் மருந்தும் பாழாகக்கூடும்.’’

Maggi again: Food regulator wants its honour back

FSSAI is not seeking a ban on Maggi this time. But they want adverse remarks made by the Bombay HC expunged 




National food regulator FSSAI, which came into prominence some five months ago with its ban on Maggi noodles, is back in news. Within days of the 2-minute snack getting relaunched across 100 cities and towns, FSSAI had moved the Supreme Court.
With little clarity on what the appeal was all about, several news reports said the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India had challenged the Bombay High Court order allowing Swiss food major Nestle to relaunch Maggi noodles. Had that been true, it would have turned into a major development—the food regulator, which falls under the Union health ministry, was once again taking on a multinational while the government was out to attract international investors.
But a few phone calls later, the script of the story had changed completely on Monday evening. FSSAI had indeed moved the apex court, but not to challenge the Bombay High Court order allowing lifting of the ban. As a government official pointed out, the FSSAI petition in the Supreme Court was linked to the Maggi case, but not linked to its relaunch. In other words, the food regulator was not asking for yet another ban on Maggi noodles.
Why then did FSSAI choose another court outing, after fighting Nestle in the Bombay High Court for some months and then losing to the largest food company of the world? ‘’The food regulator’s appeal in the Supreme Court is out of a sense of honour,’’ pointed out an official tracking the matter. FSSAI wants the SC to quash certain imputations in the Bombay High Court order about the motives behind the ban, the official explained. Technically speaking, the regulator has moved Supreme Court on two counts—to seek expunging of certain adverse remarks made by the Bombay High Court against FSSAI officials on their ability to test food products; and to appeal against the move to de-accredit food testing labs.
Among the Bombay HC remarks that FSSAI may have seen as adverse was ‘’in fact, the entire sequence culminating in imposition of ban on June 5, 2015, by respondent no. 2 (then FSSAI CEO Yudhvir Malik) shows that there is something more than meets the eye….’’ Also, ‘’it appears that respondent no. 2 is also influenced by extraneous considerations….’’ The court also said ''principles of natural justice'' and procedures were not followed before imposing the ban. The respondent no. 2 (Malik) has since been shifted from the FSSAI to Niti Aayog.
As courts routinely make observations, many of which are adverse, FSSAI’s fight to reclaim its honour is getting more than noticed. Perhaps, as much as it was noticed when it had ordered pan-India ban on Maggi noodles in June over the presence of monosodium glutamate and excessive lead content even before half the states of India had submitted the results of sample tests. The controversy only got larger when many of the international food regulators gave a clean chit to the product in their respective countries while FSSAI stuck to its ban.

BBMP Cancels Eatery's Licence, Courts Trouble

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has come under fire from the High Court for withdrawing the trade licence issued to a non-vegetarian restaurant in Jayanagar 4th Block.
The licence, given to Coastal Biriyani Paradise on 7th Main, Jayanagar 4th Block, on November 2, was withdrawn within seven days, allegedly at the instance of the local MLA. The reason given was the lack of adequate parking space and the neighbours’ complaints about serving non-vegetarian food in that area.
The BBMP (South) Health Officer cancelled the hotel’s licence on November 9. Vijendra, the restaurant’s owner, claimed his eatery was being singled out, and challenged the health officer’s order in the High Court.
After hearing his petition on Tuesday, Justice Ravi Malimath stayed the order and issued notices to the BBMP commissioner, the joint commissioner (south) and the health officer.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, K B Monesh Kumar, said his client had invested `1.5 crore in the hotel. Though Vijendra had obtained the Trade License Certificate from the BBMP and the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India, the Palike had cancelled the license unilaterally, he argued.
He also contended that the health officer had based his order on an anonymous complaint and the recommendation of the local MLA. The petitioner claimed that the anonymous complaint might have come from a business rival.
PETITIONER’S CONTENTIONS

• There are several commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, including a non-vegetarian one, in the locality that don’t have parking facility.
• On November 2, the restaurant was granted licence under the Food Safety and Standards
• Act of 2006, five months after the BBMP had issued it trade licence.
• The said MLA had inaugurated a non-vegetarian restaurant adjacent to Coastal Biriyani Paradise just six months ago.

‘Verify quality of products before buying’

B.L. Pravinkumar, Deputy Commissioner (in-charge), underlined the need for consumers to verify the quality of products before purchasing them.
Speaking after inaugurating the workshop on consumer awareness, organised by the district administration, the district consumer grievance redressal forum, and Karuna Development Society here on Tuesday, Mr. Kumar said that as per the law, it was the duty of producers to manufacture and supply quality products. Yet, consumers should accord priority to verify the quality of products before purchasing them. Forums were established to protect consumers from being duped and to redress their grievance in case the product was of inferior quality.
He also stressed the need for the consumers to give up the tendency of tolerating injustice and inculcate the attitude of fighting for their rights by having a proper understanding of consumer protection laws in force.
Vasant Prema, Deputy Director Women and Child Development; H.D. Ekta, president of the forum; and M. Hanumanth Rao, advocate, spoke on consumer protection Acts and the various orders passed in favour of consumers. Savitri Mujumdar, advocate, spoke on the role of women in consumer awareness movement, while Umesh of Food Safety and quality Authority, spoke on adulteration and the penal laws against it.
Workshop on consumer awareness begins

Ramdev's Atta Noodles in soup, FSSAI says no approval granted

Ramdev launched Patanjali Atta Noodles a week after Nestle's Maggi made a comeback to retail shelves after a 5-month ban imposed on it by the food-safety regulator.

Days after yoga guru Baba Ramdev made his debut in the instant noodles business with Patanjali Atta Noodles, Food Safety and Regulatory Authority of India officials said the noodles have not been approved by the agency.
Ramdev launched Patanjali Atta Noodles a week after Nestle's Maggi made a comeback to retail shelves after a 5-month ban imposed on it by the food-safety regulator.
Baba Ramdev's spokesperson AK Tijarawala said, "According to the rules notified by FSSAI itself in August this year, there is no legal binding to take separate licence for launching noodles." "We will react to it with proper documents shortly," he added.
Patanjali Atta noodles is priced at Rs 15 and reportedly bears an FSSAI licence number.
Another product Patanjali plans to introduce sometime soon is Powervita, a health drink for children that will compete with brands like Complan, Horlicks and Bournvita.

Statement for media queries on "“FSSAI moving the Hon’ble Supreme Court against Nestle India Ltd. and Others"

November 17, 2015: Nestle India Ltd has informed BSE that there have been news reports that FSSAI is moving the Hon’ble Supreme Court against Nestle India Ltd and Others.
In this regard, below statement will be used in case of any media queries:
"In full compliance with the orders of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court on August 13, 2015, Nestle India re-launched MAGGI Noodles on Dhanteras day, November 09, 2015.
The efforts to restart and bring MAGGI Noodles back to the market involved many thousands of people working across our factories, suppliers, agencies, distributors, and numerous small and large business entities. These entities and individuals had been adversely impacted during the last over 5 months that Maggi was not being produced.
The return of MAGGI Noodles, already available in over 100 towns and sold by about 100,000 small and large shopkeepers, has delighted consumers. At Nestle India, we reiterate that quality and food safety are non-negotiable and that MAGGI Noodles has always been safe for consumption.
It has been brought to our attention that the Hon’ble Supreme Court website has posted that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has filed a case against Nestle India Ltd and Others. We have not been served a notice about this and are not yet aware of its content. However, we would like to reiterate that Nestle India is confident of the quality and safety of MAGGI Noodles and so we will defend ourselves vigorously.”

Uttarakhand government seeks clarification on Maggi ban

Asks Centre to clarify if there is any ban on the production and sale of Maggi Noodles
The Uttarakhand government has sought clarification from the Centre on the status of the ban imposed on the production and sale of Nestle's Maggi Noodles in the country.
"We have asked the Centre to clarify if there is any ban on the production and sale of Maggi Noodles," Om Prakash, state food safety commissioner and principal secretary for health, told Business Standard.
In his letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Prakash said: "Is the ban imposed on the aforementioned product (Maggi Noodles) on June 5, 2015, still active or not? If not, then please make us available the orders mentioning the same."
Meanwhile, Nestle India has withdrawn its petition in the Uttarakhand High Court in view of the Bombay High Court's order lifting the ban imposed by food safety regulators on its product, which was banned for allegedly containing lead beyond the permissible limit. When asked about the status of the petition pending before the Uttarakhand High Court, Prakash said Nestle India had withdrawn it.
Despite the ban being lifted in some states, the Uttarakhand government is treading cautiously over lifting the ban in the state, where the product's largest manufacturing facility is located at Pantnagar. Nestle enjoys a host of tax incentives at the Pantnagar facility. The plant has been closed since the ban.
The state's food safety department had imposed a blanket ban on the production, marketing and sale of Maggi Noodles at its Pantnagar plant in June, after samples of the product failed tests. Following the ban, Nestle had moved the High Court seeking revocation of the ban.
According to the notification issued by the Food Safety Department commissioner, the ban was to remain in force for 90 days.
Meanwhile, the product was being sold in some stores in the state despite the ban. "We are verifying reports regarding the sale of Maggi Noodles in some stores in Dehradun," health department officials said.

FDA Releases New Food Safety Rules

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States just released new food safety rules for both produce farms and imported food. The said rules aim to modernize and strengthen the food safety system within the country.
In order to prevent the country from foodborne illnesses, FDA finally finalized a new set of safety rules that implement the bipartisan of Food Safety Modernization Act. The Act is said to implement groundbreaking rules for the safety of produce farms and imported foods, making the importers accountable to their foods if it will not meet the safety food standards of the U.S.
Aside from that, the U.S. federal agency also circulated a decree called the Accredited Third-Party Certification. It establishes a new program for the accreditation of third-party organization also called as auditors. It is then the duty of the auditors to perform food safety inspection to the overseas food resource.
With these set of statutes, produce farmers and importers of food are expected to apply the necessary steps to prevent some complication before it happens.
In a statement, Michael R. Taylor explained the necessity of implementing the new set of safety rules in the U.S.
"The FDA is working with partners across the government and industry to prevent foodborne outbreaks. The rules will help better protect consumers from foodborne illness and strengthen their confidence that modern preventive practices are in place, no matter where in the world the food is produced," stated by the FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.
Taylor cited the example of the recent outbreak of Salmonella which was caused by some imported cucumbers. The incident resulted to the death of four Americans and the hospitalization of 157 individuals. According to the commissioner, the new rules will help to prevent the said type of outbreaks.
FDA is a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One of the primary responsibilities of the said agency is to ensure the safety and security of the country's food supply.

Urgent curbs needed on food adulteration

HYDERABAD: First it was the fruits and now it is the vegetables and spices that are being under 'attack'. With the law-enforcing agencies unable to curb the massive adulteration of the food chain across the city, more and more Hyderabadis are likely to fall prey to serious diseases, including slow death in the near future.
Last week, the police busted a massive racket of using adulterants such as black oxide, varnish, paint and glue to make low-quality spices worthy of selling to unsuspecting buyers in the Old City.
Astonishingly, 20 men along with their leaders had been mixing various adulterants in spices in rented godowns right under the cops' nose.
From mixing low-quality semolina in poppy seeds, to adding paint and glue to increase weight, the miscreants were putting labels of local companies on sacks of poisonous spices and shipping it to various corners of the city.
While the cops have claimed a major breakthrough, big worries remain about the identity of the people behind the racket, who in collusion with the merchants could be carrying out similar activities elsewhere.
All the cops have managed to do is identify a broker who liaised between the adulterators and the merchants. Experts say the Old City crackdown assumes great significance in context of the magnitude of the massive adulterated food market in Hyderabad, especially due to its serious health implications.
It also comes two months after the Hyderabad High Court sought strong action against fruit traders for using carcinogen calcium carbide to ripen fruits. While the court described the traders as `worse than terrorists', authorities sealed some fruit markets and seized cartons of fruits, ripened with calcium carbide.
But, clearly the effort hasn't been effective enough, as the markets are again found flooded with such fruits and the cops, after initial hullabaloo have gone back to their ignoring ways.
So every fruit one picks up in the market could be injected with chemicals.
Not just the aam aadmi in Hyderabad, even people staying at big resorts and five-star hotels, are falling prey, with absolutely no way to conclusively confirm that the water melons have not been injected with erythrosine to give a darker red look or whether the grapes have not been sprayed with pesticide and ripened by highly concentrated chemicals.
Some of the bigger hotels, however, are careful and source their fruits from organic farms, but not all follow the same rules.
More worrisome has been the government's poor reaction to curb adulteration of vegetables, the staple food for millions of people.
With most of the green vegetables laced with copper sulphate and chemical dye, food safety officials admit they have been helpless about it despite being aware about the high levels of chemicals used in vegetables.
Coloured dyes are being issued to make insect affected cauliflowers and cabbages look greener. In view of the HC rapping the government in its knuckles, authorities' promise to crackdown on vegetable markets turned out to be a hollow one.
Experts have called for more research to prove the huge impact of chemicals on the human body. Some research done in the past has shown how adulterants in mustard seeds and edible oil cause glaucoma and cardiac arrest and the same in tea is likely to cause cancer.Similarly, mercury-contaminated fish and seeds grains can cause brain damage and slow death.

Anti-dengue operations at sago units conducted

With the onset of monsoon, officials from Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department have taken up anti-dengue operations in sago units across the district.

A team led by District Designated Officer T. Tamil Selvan along with food inspectors and supervisors during their raids in sago units found many obsolete tyres dumped on the premises.

Officials immediately asked the workers to drain the water from the tyres as they were found to be breeding place for mosquitoes.

The unit owners were also asked to clean the water storage containers regularly and also remove all unwanted materials on the premises. Broken plastic materials dumped in many sago units were also removed during the inspection.

Officials also distributed pamphlets containing awareness messages on preventing dengue. Unit owners were also asked to whitewash the tanks periodically and take all precautionary measures for the monsoon.

FSSAI moves SC against lifting of ban on Maggi noodles

Just as instant noodles Maggi is readying for a comeback and hit retail stalls this month, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday moved the Supreme Court against Bombay High Court''s order lifting the ban on the popular instant noodles brand.

The High Court had sought to wipe the smear off the Swiss giant Nestle by revoking the ban on the noodles in August this year. Food authorities had earlier deemed Maggi products unsafe for consumption and Maharashtra government had accused the company of not complying with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The High Court held the FSSAI orders to be "arbitrary, unjust and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution". But keeping in mind public interest and health, it had ordered the re-testing of Maggi samples within six weeks in three accredited labs.

Subsequently, earlier this month, Nestle had informed that tests done on fresh Maggi samples provided to government approved labs were found safe and retail sales would start shortly.

But FSSAI challenged the High Court order as erroneous and questioned in the Supreme Court the “sanctity” of the samples provided to the government-approved labs for the re-test, sources with the top food regulator said.

They said the FSSAI petition has contended that the High Court erred by asking the company itself to provide the fresh samples instead of asking a neutral authority to do so. They said it was like asking a person under suspicion to give evidence against himself. Further, they said that the element of surprise was also lost.

The High Court had lifted the ban on a petition filed by Nestle India for quashing an order of FSSAI declaring the food product to be unsafe for consumption. The ban had forced Nestle to destroy over 25,000 tonnes of Maggi.

Maggi Return Challenged By Food Safety Regulator in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or FSSAI has moved the Supreme Court against Nestle's instant noodles Maggi, challenging a Bombay High Court order that had lifted a ban on the popular snack. Maggi had been banned in June after reports that some packets contained unsafe levels of lead.

In its petition, regulator FSSAI said the High Court should have appointed a neutral authority to select the Maggi samples for test but the court allowed Nestle to pick up samples on its own.

The move violated "principles of natural justice", FSSAI said, adding that Maggi should be banned until a neutral agency picks up the samples and performs tests.

Nestle, which had always maintained the product was safe to eat and continued to sell it in other countries, had resumed selling its Maggi noodles again in India after getting the green light to do so from government laboratories, the company said on Monday.

The Indian unit of the Swiss food giant Nestle SA has been grappling with its worst public relations crisis after local regulators reported in May that some packets of the Maggi noodles contained unsafe levels of lead.

"Following tests by government accredited labs in India showing Maggi noodles are safe to eat, Nestle India has announced that it has started selling the product again," the company said in a statement.

The regulator's findings in May led to a nationwide ban on its Maggi instant noodles and the company had to order a recall of the product a month later, which cost it more than Rs. 440 crores.

In August the Bombay High Court overturned the ruling, calling it "arbitrary" and ordered fresh tests.

Last month Nestle said the laboratory tests had found that Maggi noodles were safe to eat. The company later announced it had restarted production at three plants in India and last week said those had also passed laboratory tests.

Experts unsure of grounds for Maharashtra move to challenge Maggi in Supreme Court

Legal experts are pondering the basis for the MaharashtraFood and Drug Administration (FDA)'s decision to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order quashing the ban on Nestle's Maggi noodles.

The popular snack re-entered the market on November 9, on the back of the Bombay High Court order dated August 13 and after clearing new safety tests.

According to Zakir Merchant, partner, Khaitan & Co, although the case had been disposed of by the division Bench of the Bombay High Court, the scope for legal arguments is not over. While Maggi noodles cleared the safety tests, the samples used for the tests were drawn from Nestle India and not from the authorities. This is a point of disagreement between the state regulator and the company.

In its order, the Bombay High Court judges had observed, "We are constrained to give directions for testing of food samples which have been preserved by the Petitioner (Nestle India)." Legal experts point out that the question over the credibility of samples taken from the company, whose own quality standards were in question at that point in time, could become crucial in the apex court.

"Perhaps the government is aggrieved by the fact that the samples that were tested were procured from Nestle and not the ones which were in their possession... The tests are clear but an argument may be made by the government that the results could have varied if their samples were called upon and therefore, a re-testing should be the way forward. Secondly, it could be that there is a divergence in the interpretation of a particular regulation on the standards laid down for testing and applying the prescribed benchmarks. This may be made out to be a ground for challenging the test results," Merchant explained.

While there is no safety limit that has been laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for monosodium glutamate (MSG). It can be found in packaged foods as it originates from natural sources used in products. This was accepted by the FSSAI. However, mis-labelling on Maggi noodle packs could be brought up in the apex court. This is despite Nestle agreeing in the Bombay High Court that the 'no added MSG' tag would be removed from the packs. The company has corrected the issue on new packs released in market.

"Although not a sound argument pressed into service earlier, on technical grounds, mis-labelling may be raised again before the Supreme Court in spite of the fact that MSG is found naturally in several food sources," said Merchant.

It was the Uttar Pradesh food regulatory authority that first brought up the issue in public regarding presence of MSG and lead in Maggi noodles.

However, Ashish Prasad, partner, Economic Laws Practice, has a different take on the matter. "The issue, in my view, is over, with Maggi back on the shelves. The FDA is free to conduct tests and act (accordingly). It does not need to seek any further ratification of its powers and duties under the (Food Safety & Standards) Act, 2006 from any court of law - if that's what it is seeking."

NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET

• Maggi re-entered the market on November 9, on the back of the Bombay High Court order dated August 13 and after clearing safety tests
• While Maggi noodles cleared the safety tests, the samples used were drawn from Nestle India and not from the authorities
• Legal experts say that the question of credibility of samples taken from the company could become crucial in the apex court

Adulteration of milk and food safety regulation

Adulteration of milk and food safety regulation

Food Adulteration is Social evil, fight it out…

The conservation of the public health is a duty which is not peculiar alone to the medical profession. Among many factors which have a great influence upon the health of the individual there is none more potent than food. Eating is the chief industry of the human race. In our state of Jammu and Kashmir there are about four million wage earners, drawing about sixty four million Rupees a day. Of this vast sum fully three-fourths are applied to the purchase of food and its preparation. It seems to me therefore that a subject which monopolizes three-fourths of the energies of the human race is one which is well worth of discussion, and especially among a body of physicians, Food Safety Professionals (Food Safety Officers & Designated officers) who have banded themselves together. Not particularly for the curing of disease, but for the more beneficent purpose of conserving the public health.

Food adulteration has become a very common practice in our country particularly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and we are consuming these foods almost every day, which have numerous harmful effects to our health.

Some common test that can done at home to check quality of milk

S.No Adulterant Method of detection

1. WATER

The presence of water in milk can be detected by putting a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. The drop of pure milk either or flows slowly leaving a white trail behind it, whereas milk adulterated water will flow immediately without leaving a mark.

2. Starch

Add a few drops of tincture of Iodine or Iodine solution. Formation of blue colour indicates the presence of starch.

Note: Iodine solution is easily available in the medical stores.

3. Urea 

Take a teaspoon of milk in a test tube. Add ½ teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder. Mix up the contents thoroughly by shaking the test tube. After 5 minutes, dip a red litmus paper in it. Remove the paper after ½ a minute. A change in colour from red to blue indicates the presence of urea in the milk

4. Synthetic milk 

Synthetic milk has a bitter after taste, gives a soapy feeling on rubbing between the fingers and turns yellowish on heating

5. Detergent 

Shake 5-10 ml of milk with equal amount of water. Lather indicates presence of detergents

6. Test for Glucose/inverted sugar

Milk does not contain glucose /invert sugar, if test for glucose with urease strip found positive. It means milk is adulterated

Milk is an especially touchy subject at moment with prices more than double than 2008, when a liter cost an average of Rs 16/= compared to Rs 35 /=today. The adulteration of milk and milk products is of greater importance, because milk is consumed from a new born , to a patient at death bed. A glass full of milk a day is healthy for overall health but what if it is adulterated? Milk adulteration is increasing day by day and many people are not even aware that they are having adulterated milk.

Milk is most commonly diluted with water and this common adulterant of milk which is often added to increase the quantity of milk by scrupulous milk dealers to earn easy money. Addition of water to milk reduces the nutritive value of milk but if contaminated, it poses a health risk to consumers. Contaminated water can cause infective diarrhea in children which may hamper their growth and development besides providing them fewer calories. Water used for diluting milk is usually obtained from an unsafe inexpensive source of water supply and can be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals and other microorganisms. If such samples of milk are consumed as milk, it poses a serious risk to its consumers after affecting their overall health.

The other adulterants used are mainly starch, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), sugar, urea, hydrated lime, sodium carbonate, formalin, detergent and ammonium sulfate. Adulterated milk is a sweet poison which though does not kill at once but it slowly makes the body a fertile ground for diseases. It proves deadly for pregnant women and patients suffering from conditions of heart ailment and high blood pressure. It is extremely poisonous for small children. Milk adulterants have hazardous health effects. The detergent in milk can cause food poisoning and other gastrointestinal complications. Its high alkaline level can also damage body tissue and destroy proteins. Other synthetic components can cause impairments, heart problems, cancer or even death. While the immediate effect of drinking milk adulterated with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis, the long-term effects are far more serious. Urea can lead to vomiting, nausea and gastritis. Urea is particularly harmful for the kidneys, and caustic soda can be dangerous for people suffering from hypertension and heart ailments. Formalin can cause more severe damage to the body like liver damage. The health impact of drinking milk adulterated with these chemicals is worse for children. Caustic soda harms the mucosa of the food pipe, especially in kids. The chemical which contains sodium, can act as slow poison for those suffering from hypertension and heart ailments.

From the view point of protecting the health of the consumer, the Government of India promulgated the ‘Food Safety& Standards Act 2006 & Rules/regulation 2011’. The Act came into force from 5th August 2011. It prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of not only adulterated foods but also foods contaminated with toxicants.

Under Section 29 of the FSSA 2006, Commissioner Food safety, designated officers and Food Safety Officers are responsible for the enforcement of the Act. The Act under section 40 & 42 empowers the purchaser to get food sample analyzed from public health laboratory Kashmir /Jammu and in case the sample founded adulterated , the purchaser is entitled refund of the testing fee and designated officer/Food Safety Officers are duty bound to initiate the legal action as warranted under the Act against the violators.

The Food Safety & Standards Act under section 51 and 59 provide the quantum of penalty /punishment for supplying sub-standards and unsafe milk to the consumers.

Section 51: Penalty for Sub-Standard Food.

Any person who whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes any article of food for human consumption which is sub-standard, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to five lakh rupees

Section 59: Punishment for unsafe food.

Any person who, whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes any article of food for human consumption which is unsafe, shall be punishable,– shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to ten lakh rupees and life imprisonment in case of death.

The authorities of Jammu and Kashmir Government particularly Gazanffar Husain (IAS) Commissioner Food Safety Jammu and Kashmir is very much proactive in curbing the menace of food adulteration in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and have initiated a process to establish Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety organization which is demand of circumstances. The recent de-notification of Health officers and their replacement by more technical persons of the relevant field is the basic mandate of the Act. To covers the technical aspects of the public health, Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 & rules/ Regulations thereunder provide the qualifications for all the statutory authorities and the Act mandates the establishment of vibrant food safety organization. To treat a disease is different but to understand the complex matrix of food is more technical and enforcement of laws regulating the foods is best implements by person with technical expertise in the field than a doctor.

Reduction test for synthetic milk

Boil some milk on a slow heat while moving it with a spoon till it becomes solid (khoya). Take it off the heat and wait for 2-3 hours. If the produced solid is oily, the milk is of good quality; if it's not, it means the milk is synthetic.

வாழைத்தாரில் ரசாயன மருந்து தெளித்து பழுக்க வைக்கும் விபரீதம் அதிகாரிகள் கண்காணிப்பு அவசியம்

வாழப் பாடி, நவ.15:
வாழப் பா டி யில் ஏலத் திற் காக கொண்டு வரப் ப டும் வாழைத் தார் க ளில், ரசா யன மருந்து தெளித்து செயற் கை யாக பழுக்க வைக் கும் விப ரீ தம் தொடர் க தை யாக உள் ளது. இதனை தடுக்க அதி கா ரி கள் கண் கா ணிப்பு பணியை முடுக்கி விட வேண் டு மென சமூ க நல ஆர் வ லர் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.
வாழப் பாடி மற் றும் சுற் றுப் ப கு தி க ளில் பர வ லாக வாழை சாகு படி செய் யப் பட் டுள் ளது. தோட் டங் க ளில் விளைச் ச லுக்கு வரும் வாழைத் தார் களை வெட்டி எடுத்து, மொத் த மாக வாழப் பா டிக்கு கொண்டு வரு கின் ற னர். பின் னர், அங் குள்ள தனி யார் மண் டி க ளில் ஏலத் தின் மூலம் விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இவ் வாறு கொண்டு வரப் ப டும் தேன் வாழை, பூவாழை குலை களை ஏலத் தில் எடுப் ப வர் கள், அதனை சில் லரை கடை க ளுக் கும் மற் றும் பல் வேறு நிகழ்ச் சி க ளுக் கும் மொத் த மாக அனுப்பி வைக் கின் ற னர்.
அப் போது, வாழைக் கு லை க ளில் உள்ள காய் கள் விரை வாக பழுக்க வேண் டும் என் ப தற் காக ஒரு வித ரசா யன கல வையை தெளிக் கின் ற னர். அப் படி செய் தால், அந்த தார் உரிய இடத் திற்கு சென்று சேரும் போது காய் கள் அனைத் தும் நன் றாக பழுத்து விடு வ தாக தெரி விக் கின் ற னர். அந்த ரசா யன கல வை யின் பெயர் என் ன? எங் கி ருந்து கிடைக் கி ற து? என விசா ரித் தால் தக வல் தெரி விக்க மறுத்து விடு கின் ற னர். இந்த ரசா யன கல வை யால் அவர் க ளுக்கு நல்ல வரு மா னம் கிடைத் தா லும், அப் பாவி பொது மக் க ளின் உடல் ந ல னில் விளை யாடி வரு வ தாக குற் றச் சாட்டு எழுந் துள் ளது.
இது கு றித்து பொது மக் கள் கூறி ய தா வது:
ஏலத் திற் காக கொண்டு வரப் ப டும் பெரும் பா லான வாழைத் தார் க ளின் இந்த ரசா யன கல வையை தெளித்து விடு கின் ற னர். இதன் மூ லம் ஒரே நா ளில் பழுக்க வைக் கப் பட்ட பழங் களை சாப் பிட் டால், பல் வேறு உடல் உபா தை கள் ஏற் ப டு கி றது. வாந்தி, மயக் கம், குமட் டல், வயிறு உப் பு சம் உள் ளிட்ட பாதிப் பு க ளால் அவ திக் குள் ளாகி வரு கி றோம். சேலம், வாழப் பாடி, ஆத் தூர், தலை வா சல் உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி க ளி ருந்து வரு ப வர் க ளும், உள் ளூ ரைச் சேர்ந் த வர் கள் இந்த வாழைத் தார் களை ஏலத் தில் எடுத்து விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர்.
இது பற்றி அறி யாத சில் லரை வியா பா ரி க ளும் கடை க ளில் வைத்து விற் கின் ற னர். அந்த பழங் களை அப் பாவி மக் கள் வாங்கி உண் ப தால் அவ திக் குள் ளாகி வரு கின் ற னர். எனவே, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட அதி கா ரி கள் கண் கா ணித்து உடல் ந லத் திற்கு கேடு விளை விக் கும் வகை யில் செயற்கை முறை யில் பழங் களை பழுக்க வைக் கும் முறையை கட் டுப் ப டுத்த நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும்.
இவ் வாறு அவர் கள் கூறி னர்.

Sago units at Puduchatram inspected

Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department carried out inspection in sago units in Puduchatram areas and took away samples of the products here recently.
A team led by District Food Safety Officer T. Tamil Selvan along with officials from Sagoserve, Commercial Taxes department inspected three units in the area while the other nine units were closed. Samples were taken from these units and 101 bags of sago were kept in rooms and locked. Officials said that the samples would be sent to Government Food Laboratory in Salem and after obtaining the results, further action will be taken. The owners of the units were also informed not to sell or use the bags until the laboratory results confirm that the products were not adulterated.

Lesson abound from Nestle’s Maggi crisis

Packets of Maggi noodles hang on display at a roadside stall, in Ahmedabad. Maggi noodles are back on shelves five months after the popular snack was found to contain lead above permissible limits.

Multinational corporations are no saints deserving of hagiography. Corporate history is littered with instances of blunders, misrepresentations and violations by MNCs in markets across the world.
Some of these are harmless, titter-inducing bloopers such as when US package delivery company UPS expanded into Germany in the mid-1970s and realised that the colour of its staff uniforms had to be changed because, er, brown shirts were not really popular in that country after World War II.
And Coors beer found to its chagrin that when its slogan ‘Turn it loose’ was translated into Spanish, it could mean ‘Get diarrhoea’. Or when a British-licensed Iranian razor brand tried to market its shaving products in Qatar and found that its brandname in Arabic slang meant ‘buttocks’.
But MNCs also get embroiled in not so harmless controversies. In India, in recent memory, one such roiled Cadbury when worms emerged from its chocolates; and Pepsi and Coca Cola, traditional archrivals, were both at the receiving end of accusations that their beverages contained very high levels of pesticides.
In the end, all three, Cadbury, Pepsi and Coke, paid dearly for what had happened, losing out with their consumers, slipping in the marketplace, and taking hefty financial hits. But sometimes such hits can be uncalled for. As in the case of Switzerland’s Nestlé, the world’s largest food company measured in terms of revenue. This Diwali, Nestlé re-launched its instant noodle brand Maggi five months after it was forced to withdraw the popular product from the Indian market when tests by various states found lead in the product beyond permissible limits.
The Maggi controversy began in March 2014 when a district food inspector in Uttar Pradesh routinely sent samples of the noodles to a state food-testing lab. The lab found presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG), which enhances the flavour of food by adding an umami taste. MSG was not listed as an ingredient on Maggi packs and Nestlé was served a notice.
After the company appealed, samples were sent for testing to the Central Food Laboratory in Kolkata where the analysis not only confirmed the presence of MSG but also lead in quantities that surpassed “safe” levels.
That’s when things started falling over like a row of dominoes, at least for Nestlé: This summer, various states started testing Maggi, some giving it a clean chit but others blacklisting it and asking for a ban on its sales.
In early June, based on reports from various states, India’s apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned Maggi and ordered Nestlé to stop making, selling or exporting the product and all its variants.
The company withdrew Maggi and had to burn 30,000 tonnes of the noodles. Nestlé took a hit of Rs 450 crore; its quarterly profits fell 60%; sales 32%; and it went to court insisting that its noodles were safe, but so did India’s food ministry, which filed a class action suit against Nestlé on behalf of consumers, seeking damages of nearly Rs 640 crore. Two months ago, the Bombay High Court lifted the ban on Maggi noodles. And, after mandatory re-testing, Maggi is now on the way back to shop shelves.
The Maggi case has created ripples. And raised questions: Did the Indian food regulator act in haste when it ordered the ban? How good are India’s food labs, several of which blacklisted Maggi even though food regulators in Britain, Canada and Singapore tested and found Indian samples of Maggi to be fit for consumption?
And, what about the curious instance of a government department filing a class action suit, which is normally filed by consumers seeking damages? Answers to these questions could provide important lessons from the Maggi imbroglio.
As Nestlé readies to re-introduce its popular noodles in India and launch an accompanying marketing blitz that will try and rebuild Maggi’s brand equity, the fate of the class action suit — the first of its kind in India — that is in court will be watched keenly.
Besides, Maggi’s may become a celebrated affair: The Harvard Business School is believed to be working on a case study — one that they may like to name (and I borrow liberally from Lemony Snicket), A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Sanjoy Narayan is Editor-in-chief, Hindustan Times.

What we can learn from #MaggiWapsi

General public is so callous or gullible that they will believe anything that those in authority say.

1. Bullying works – shout out with or without shoddy reports and you can ban what you want in this country.
2. You might be right and the world may say so but you will still have to go around proving that you are right. If anyone raises a doubt.
3. Be prepared to spend time, money energy, and suffer loss of reputation if even a few individuals scream out against y
4. India is about “Bhed chaal”, if one says no, the others will surely follow. So one state says no to Maggi, other states, where it even tested OK, decided to ban it. The typical “I-Do-Too” syndrome.
5. People pulling you down have other intentions than what meets the eye.
6. We love to pull down a success. Be it a brand or a person. We are most happy when somebody finds fault with a successful product, even if we have trusted it for a good 30 years.
7. Trust is easily lost. Time spent with a tradition, habit or culture is meaningless then. So a shoddy report and false rumour can break trust even if you have lived with a tradition for centuries and used a product for three decades. In this country, co-existence even for ages together does not count!
8. General public is so callous or gullible that they will believe anything that those in authority say and be happy to criticise what they’ve trusted all along. The public seldom takes a stand because the public is fickle minded! Mind use is rather taxing and asking questions bothersome!
9. Polluted air is fine. Let’s breathe it because the government does nothing to change our environment for the better. Untreated water causing illness to fellow countrymen is fine because the government turns a blind eye to it. But hell, no, how do we allow a foreign company to continue when faced with a mere doubt! Mischief-makers stay away! Desi dhoka is better than videshi vishwas!
10. Sub-standard ad hoc testing methods are better to continue with rather than raise the bar to meet international standards.
11. Lungpower tops! Democracies must depend on who shouts the loudest and the longest!
12. If you stand your ground the bullies will relent.
13. If you know you are right then stand by it and prove it to the world that you are right.
14. You can’t keep a good thing down and out for too long.
15. Secret ballot is people’s strength. Power is found in numbers. People will go all out to support products when the choice appears. So Maggi is flying off shelves ever since it reappeared in our daily lives!
Baba Ramdev can wait longer to provide us with his version of healthier and happier Maggi as he had promised. For now, we are celebrating Nestle’s big bang comeback! Maggi’s ghar wapsi is a Diwali cracker to cheer for!

Crunchy toast could give you cancer, FSA warns

New study finds high level of cancer-causing chemical in home cooked roast potatoes, chips and toast
A new study has warned that eating crunchy toast could increase your risk of cancer
 

Beware the crispy roast potato and the crunchy slice of toast. Both contain worryingly high levels of a cancer-causing chemical.
A new study by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Government’s food safety watchdog, measured the amount of acrylamide - a cancer-causing toxin - in roast potatoes, chips and toast cooked in the home.
The FSA’s chief scientific adviser said the new research showed the need for roast potatoes and chips to be cooked to only “a light golden colour” and that bread should be toasted to “the lightest colour acceptable”.
Researchers with the FSA discovered that the crispier the roast potato or chip, the higher the levels of acrylamide they contained. The same went for toast.
The chemical, which is a proven carcinogen, is formed from a reaction between amino acids and the sugars and water found in potatoes and bread when they are subjected to temperatures above 120C.
The problem is the roast potatoes and chips that appeared the most mouth-watering - which were darkest in colour and crispiest in texture - contained the highest levels of acrylamide.
The official research, published last week, showed huge variations in levels of acrylamide depending on how long the potatoes or bread was cooked for.
In a batch of chips cooked for longest, scientists recorded 1,052 microgrammes of acrylamide per kilogramme - 50 times higher than in the batch with the lowest levels of the chemical.
In roast potatoes, the FSA recorded 490 micro grammes of acrylamide per kg in the crispiest and most cooked batch - 80 times higher than the levels contained in the palest batch of roast potatoes cooked.
The same was true of toast. The palest, least cooked toast contained just 9 microgrammes per kg while the crispiest toast contained 167 microgrammes - almost 19 times more.
Professor Guy Poppy, the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser, said in a report accompanying the study: “The risk assessment indicates that at the levels we are exposed to from food, acrylamide could be increasing the risk of cancer.”

Prof Poppy added: “We do not advise people to stop eating particular foods but... when making chips at home, they are cooked to a light golden colour.”
He said that “bread should be toasted to the lightest colour acceptable”.
Scientists are still unclear about what constitutes a safe level of acrylamide and the European Commission is currently considering introducing maximum levels.
There is a regulatory limit of just 0.1 microgrammes per litre for the amount of acrylamide that can be present in drinking water in the EU - a quantity far lower than found in cooked potatoes, toast or other substances including coffee.
The FSA study took samples of cooked potatoes and toast from 50 households, bagging up the samples and then measuring the levels of acrylamide in the laboratory.
Researchers found that none of the householders were aware of the possible dangers of acrylamide lurking in cooked potatoes or toast - and had no idea that prolonged cooking caused the chemical to be produced in higher volumes.
The researchers gave a series of tips on how to reduce the amount of acrylamide in roast potatoes and chips.
Researchers recommended:
Parboiling potatoes first before roasting them - considered the best method for producing crispy ‘roasties’ anyway - because the process reduces the free sugars that generate acrylamides
Storing potatoes in a cupboard rather than fridge. Low temperatures can increase the amount of sugar and sweetness in the potato , leading to more acrylamide when cooked
Cooks should not ‘fluff up’ parboiled potatoes before roasting them because in doing so it increases the surface area which in turn increases levels of acrylamide
The official recommendation to avoid ‘fluffing’ up parboiled potatoes - usually by shaking them in the pan before roasting - will appal professional and amateur cooks alike.
It is widely recognised that the best roast potatoes involve ‘fluffing’ before roasting.
But the report states: “For roast potatoes, the deliberate fluffing up (shaking parboiled potatoes in a pan) that was witnessed on a few occasions is a deliberate attempt to increase surface area. Participants’ aim for this process is for cooked potatoes to be crispier (i.e. through more oil or fat being absorbed). The increased surface area may lead to greater acrylamide generation.”

போதிய அதிகாரம் இல்லாத தர நிர்ணய நிறுவனம்: விதிமீறும் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதில் சிக்கல்

இந்திய தர நிர்ணய நிறுவனத்திடம் (பிஐஎஸ்) போதிய அதிகாரம் இல்லாததால் விதிமீறல் நிறுவனங்கள் மீது உடனடி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க முடியாத நிலை இருந்து வருகிறது.
தமிழகத்தின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் குடிநீர் மாசடைந்து வரும் நிலையில், பெரும்பாலானோர் குடிப்பதற்காக கேன்கள், பாட்டில்களில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட குடிநீரையே நம்பியுள்ளனர் இந்நிலையில் சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு பாக் கெட், பாட்டில் மற்றும் கேன்களில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட குடி நீரை விற்பனை செய்ய இந்திய தர நிர்ணய நிறுவனம் (பிஐஎஸ்) வழங்கும் ஐஎஸ்ஐ தரச் சான்று கட்டாயம் என்று தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து தமிழகத்தில் இயங்கி வந்த 100-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டன. பின்னர் ஐஎஸ்ஐ தரச் சான்று பெற்றே இயங்கத் தொடங்கின.
அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து ஐஎஸ்ஐ குறியீட்டை தவறாக பயன்படுத்தி வரும் குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களை கண்டுபிடித்து, நீதிமன்றத்தின் மூலம் தண்டனை பெற்றுத் தரும் பணியை பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவனம் மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறது.
கடந்த சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பு காஞ்சிபுரம் மற்றும் திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில் சோதனை நடத்திய பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவனம், காலாவதியான ஐஎஸ்ஐ தரச்சான்றை புதுப்பிக்காமலும், வேறு நிறுவனத்தின் ஐஎஸ்ஐ தரச்சான்று எண்ணை பயன்படுத்தியும் சில நிறுவனங்கள் குடிநீர் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்ததை கண்டுபிடித்தது.
அந்த நிறுவனங்களிலிருந்து சில குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு, முறைப்படி ஆவணங்களை தயாரித்து சில தினங்களுக்கு பிறகு, நீதிமன்றத்தில் தாக்கல் செய்தனர். நீதிமன்றத்தில் குற்றம் நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டு தண்டனை வழங் கினால் மட்டுமே, நிறுவனத்தின் மீதும், உரிமையாளர் மீதும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் நடைமுறை அமலில் உள்ளது.
தமிழகத்தில் மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியமோ, வருவாய்த்துறையோ நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதாக இருந்தால், முதலில் நிறுவனத்தின் மின் இணைப்பைத் துண்டித்து, நிறுவனத்துக்கு சீல் வைக்கும். இது போன்ற நடவடிக்கைகளை பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவனங்கள் மேற்கொள்வதில்லை. இதனால் வழக்கை சந்தித்து வரும் நிறுவனங்கள், தீர்ப்பு வரும் வரை தங்கள் உற்பத்தியை தொடர்ந்து மேற்கொள்ள அதிக வாய்ப்புகள் உள்ளன.
குற்றம் செய்திருப்பதற்கான முகாந்திரம் உள்ள நிலையில், அந்நிறுவனத்துக்கு சீல் வைக்காதது தொடர்பாக பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவன அதிகாரி ஒருவரிடம் கேட்டபோது, நீதிமன்றத்தில் குற்றம் நிரூபிப்பதற்கு முன்பாக, ஒரு நிறுவனத் துக்கு சீல் வைக்கும் அளவுக்கு எங்களுக்கு மத்திய அரசு அதிகாரம் வழங்கவில்லை என்றார்.
இது தொடர்பாக மாநில குடிமைப்பொருள் வழங்கல் மற்றும் நுகர்வோர் விவகாரங்கள் துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவரிடம் கேட்டபோது, “அந்தந்த மாவட்ட வாருவாய்த் துறை அலுவலர்கள், வழங்கல் அலுவலர்கள் உதவி செய்ய தயாராக உள்ளனர். பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவனம் எங்களை அணுகினால், நாங்கள் விதிமீறல் நிறுவனத்துக்கு சீல் வைப்போம்” என்றார்.
இது தொடர்பாக மீண்டும் பிஐஎஸ் நிறுவன அதிகாரியிடம் கேட்டபோது, “மாநில அரசுடன் இணைந்து நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்வது பற்றி நாங்களே முடிவெடுக்க முடியாது. அதற்கான வழிகாட்டுதலை மத்திய அரசு வழங்கினால் மட்டுமே செய்ய முடியும்” என்றார்.

Fear of adulteration , made most prefer biscuits to traditional sweets

Though the festival of lights - Diwali is synonymous with sweets, fear of spurious ingredients being used in their preparation to meet the festive demand is keeping consumers at bay, highlighted a just-concluded analysis by apex industry body ASSOCHAM.
“If trends are anything to go by, there is a considerable rise of about 30 per cent in demand for assorted cookies, low-cal premium biscuits and bakery products this Diwali as consumers shift away from sweets amid fears of adulteration,” noted a sector-specific analysis aimed at asserting prevailing market trends this Diwali conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
“Growing suspicion about adulteration together with rise in preference for healthy and low-fat products has hit the demand for traditional sweets which has fallen by over 50 per cent especially those made from milk,” said D S Rawat, secretary-general, ASSOCHAM, while releasing the chamber’s analysis.
“Considering there is an emotional value attached to traditional sweets, branded sweets market is doing a brisk business,” he added.
India's traditional sweets market which is worth over Rs 50,000 crore remains largely unorganised and constantly faces threats from rising prices of key raw materials like milk, butter, sugar and dry fruits, therefore, many resort to the use of inferior or adulterated ingredients and in some cases, they may even use chemicals to keep the costs down.
Biscuit hampers are selling like hot cakes and have even surpassed demand for chocolates and fruit juice packs owing to their growing acceptance amid varied Indian palates and are affordable, highlighted the analysis done by the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation.
ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation had interacted with about 100 leading sweet shops countrywide to seek details on demand for traditional sweets during the festive season in past two weeks.
Majority of sweet shop-owners/representatives reported drastic dip in demand for sweets to the extent of about 25-50 per cent.
Most of the sweet shop-owners said they have started using more of dry fruits and less of mawa and other dairy products which has increased their costs by about 15-20 per cent.
Many of the traditional sweet shop-owners said that considering the growing demand for biscuits/cookies, they have started selling the same under their own brands and are selling other popular biscuit brands to lure customers.
Some of them said there is more demand for branded biscuits compared to chocolates this year.

ஆய்வுக்கு அனுப்பி வைப்பு சேகோ ஆலைகளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு; 140 மூட்டை ஜவ்வரிசி முடக்கம்

நாமக் கல், நவ.14:
நாமக் கல் அருகே சேகோ ஆலை க ளில் அதி கா ரி கள் நடத் திய திடீர் ஆய் வில் 140 மூட்டை ஜவ் வ ரிசி முடக் கப் பட் டது. அவற் றின் மாதிரி ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.
நாமக் கல் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை மாவட்ட நிய ம ன அ லு வ லர் தமிழ்ச் செல் வன், சேகோ சர்வ், வணிக வரித் துறை மற் றும் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் ராம சாமி, சிவ நே சன், ராமச் சந் தி ரன், நர சிம் மன் ஆகி யோர் அடங் கிய கண் கா ணிப் புக் குழு, புதுச் சத் தி ரம் மற் றும் நாமக் கல் பகு தி யில் இயங்கி வரும் ஜவ் வ ரிசி உற் பத்தி செய் யும் 12 சேகோ தொழிற் சா லை க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். புதுச் சத் தி ரம் பகு தி யில் உள்ள 8 சேகோ ஆலை க ளில் ஆய்வு செய் யப் பட் டது. செல் லப் பட் டி யில் உள்ள 2 சேகோ ஆலை க ளில் 2 உண வு மா தி ரி கள் தனித் த னி யாக எடுக் கப் பட்டு சேலம், உணவு பகுப் பாய்வு கூடத் துக்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் பட் டது.
மேலும் அந்த சேகோ ஆலை யில் தயா ரித்து விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த 101 மூட்டை ஜவ் வ ரிசி தனி அறை யில் வைத்து பூட் டப் பட் டது. உணவு மாதிரி அறிக்கை வரும் வரை, பூட்டி சீல் வைக் கப் பட்ட ஜவ் வ ரிசி மூட் டை களை விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது என அறி வு றுத் தப் பட் டது.
இதே போல ஆவல் நாய்க் கன் பட் டி யி லுள்ள ஒரு சேகோ ஆலை யி லும் உணவு மாதிரி எடுக் கப் பட்டு ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் பட் டது. அங்கு விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த 40மூட்டை ஜவ் வ ரி சியை தனி அறை யில் வைத்து பூட் டி ய து டன், அதை பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூ டாது என அதி கா ரி கள் அறி வு றுத் தி னர். ஆய்வு செய் யப் பட்ட ஆலை க ளில் இருந்து எடுக் கப் பட்ட உணவு மாதி ரி யின் ஆய்வு அறிக்கை கிடைத் த வு டன், உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை மூலம் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என மாவட்ட அதி காரி தமிழ்ச் செல் வன் தெரி வித் தார். நாமக்கல் மாவட்ட உணவுபாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதி காரி தமிழ்ச் செல் வன் தலை மை யி லான அலு வ லர் கள், புதுச் சத் தி ரம் பகு தி யில் உள்ள சேகோ ஆலை க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற் கொண் ட னர்.

Adulteration takes ‘spice’ out of your life

HYDERABAD: Think twice before you 'spice' up your dishes as spices being sold by your local grocer may be adulterated. Liberal doses of red and black oxide, varnish, paint, glue and other chemicals are being added to low-grade spices to make them attractive before they are packaged, branded and sold by wholesale outlets at Begum Bazaar and other places.
These startling and disturbing details came to light when police started digging deep into the spices adulteration racket being operated from Hussainialam area of Old City. Police came to know that the kingpin of the racket, Rajesh Gupta, had been selling tonnes of spices adulterated with harmful chemicals like red oxide, varnish, glue and wall paint to scores of wholesale merchants, including those operating from wholesale hub Begum Bazaar. Down the supply chain, they then pack these 'spices' under various labels, terming them 'top quality' 'nature fresh' products and sell it to retailers across the state.
"Adulteration of food material with chemicals such as iron oxide, paint and glue may cause cancer as these contain carcinogens. The digestive system gets affected leading to various gastrointestinal disorders," GHMC food safety officer G Vinod Dayal told TOI.
The Hussainialam police along with the Central Zone team of Task Force had raided two godowns at Chandrikapuram and Golla Khidki, operated by Gupta, 60, of Shajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, two days ago.
Police seized 80 sacks of adulterated spices, including poppy seeds, black pepper and cumin from the two godowns.
Cops also found several chemicals at the godowns and 20 workers mixing the spices with the chemicals, drying them and re-packing them in sacks.
Police then interrogated Rajesh Gupta and the workers. On interrogation, Gupta confessed that he mixed low-quality semolina (suji) in poppy seeds, applies a select shade of popular paint along with a mix of glue to increase its weight and make the final product visually attractive.
After questioning Gupta, police also caught one Bhajrangi Agarwal, who specialises in selling adulterated cardamom.
With the leads given by Gupta and his workers, police so far found five wholesale merchants of Begum Bazaar, who had been purchasing the adulterated spices, packaging them under various labels with fancy descriptions and selling them to retailers across the state.
Cops were now trying to identify people who were selling the harmful chemicals to the adulterators of spices. They have identified a broker who liaises between adulterators and merchants to know the size and scale of the operations and the markets, where the adulterated spices were being sold.
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), South Zone, V Satyanarayana said they were conducting a thorough probe into the spices adulteration racket and soon details would be put in public domain to educate citizens about the fraud.

FDA Finalizes New Food Safety Rules

Farms, importers will be responsible for preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness


FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- In the wake of wide-ranging outbreaks of foodborne illness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday finalized new rules to help keep contaminated food out of American kitchens. 

These food safety regulations for fruit and vegetable farms and food importers were developed as a result of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011.
"These rules, for the first time, establish enforceable safety standards of production and harvesting of produce, and make importers accountable for the safety of the food they bring into the United States," Michael Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, said during a Friday morning news conference.
This is the first time that produce farmers and food importers have fallen directly under FDA regulations, he said.
Taylor said that outbreaks caused by leafy greens, cantaloupes, cilantro and other produce underscore the need for the new requirements.
"A recent outbreak of salmonella in imported cucumbers killed four Americans and sent more than 157 to the hospital," he said. "These outbreaks are just the kind of food safety problems today's rules are meant to prevent."
The establishment of regulations changes the FDA's mission from reacting to outbreaks of foodborne illness to making the food industry responsible for preventing them, Taylor said.
The new farm rule sets requirements for water quality; employee health and hygiene; wild and domesticated animals; compost and manure; and equipment, tools and buildings, the FDA said.
Also, food importers must verify that foreign suppliers are producing foods that meet U.S. safety standards. And the suppliers' facilities must achieve the same level of food safety as domestic farms and food facilities.
The FDA will also empower accredited independent auditors to conduct food safety inspections of foreign food facilities. In some cases, the FDA can require certification that imported food is safe.
To fund the agency's expanded role, the budget currently before Congress requests an additional $109 million, Taylor said. "Without this money, implementation of these rules will be seriously interrupted and delayed," he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 19 percent of the food eaten in the United States is imported. More than half of fresh fruits and 22 percent of fresh vegetables come from other countries, according to an FDA news release.
Two more rules will be finalized next year, Taylor said. One deals with food transportation and the other with intentional contamination of food, he said.
Each year some 48 million Americans -- one in six -- are sickened by foodborne diseases. About 128,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 die from contaminated food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More information
For more on food safety, visit Foodsafety.gov.

Maggi Needles

Maharashtra won’t pay heed to the clean chits to Maggi from both accredited labs and consumers
Maharashtra’s decision to challenge the Bombay High Court order lifting the ban on Nestle India’s instant-noodles brand, Maggi, in the Supreme Court seems unwarranted and serves to reinforce a negative perception of India’s conduciveness for doing business. What is curious, though, is that news reports a few weeks back suggested that the chief minister didn’t favour challenging the ban. Given that the noodles was cleared for lead and MSG content by three labs (in Jaipur, Hyderabad and Mohali) accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)—in keeping with the high court’s order—there is no reason why the ban should continue. The Maharashtra government, however, believes that since only certain batches have been tested, the rest could still be “potentially dangerous”. A similar, poorly-reasoned stand led to the hasty banning of the product in the first place. Despite many states like Kerala and Karnataka—and countries like the UK and Singapore—clearing the noodles, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ordered the ban, based on tests carried out by non-accredited labs.
With the ban, Nestle India’s net profits tanked by 60% in the third quarter of its fiscal year. To address the damage done to the Maggi brand by the controversy, Nestle India also ended up spending R40 crore on an ad campaign to reassure the consumer; for perspective, the entire annual advertising expenditure the company incurred in 2014 was just over R440 crore. Given how the relaunched Maggi sold faster than hot cakes just days back—a flash sale on the e-commerce website, Snapdeal, saw 60,000 Maggi “Welcome Kits” clearing out in under five minutes—Maharashtra seems not to have factored in the fact that the consumer stands convinced of the noodles’ safety.

Centre backs Maharashtra attempt to ban Maggi once again

Maharashtra government to challenge Bombay High Court order on Maggi in Supreme Court to seek a ban again.

Maggi might be back in the market setting the sales through e-commerce on fire, but the legal troubles for Maggi seem to worsen with the Centre backing the Maharashtra govt decision to challenge the Bombay High Court order in the Supreme Court.

Government sources tell India today that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has been consulted and will be representing the state of Maharashtra at the apex Court seeking to reinforce the ban on Nestle's most popular product.

The Maharashtra govt had been mulling over a challenge to lifting of ban on Maggi. After clean chit by HC appointed labs, Nestle re-launched Maggi on Nov 9.

All laboratories that conducted earlier tests approved the product. According to the test reports, there was no question of doubting veracity of reports on lead, MSG content.

However, the Bombay High Court refused to consider that lead content was beyond permissible limit. It virtually reviewed its own Maggi order, not permissible.

What are the legal trouble for Maggi according to government sources:

• Maharashtra govt consults Attorney General, Law Ministry over challenge to Maggi.
• Maharashtra govt seeks to reimpose ban on Maggi
• Attorney General, Law Ministry back Maharashtra govt over challenge to Maggi.
• Attorney General likely to appear for Maharashtra govt's challenge to Maggi.
• Maharashtra govt likely to file plea in SC by next week.

Maharashtra govt petitions in Supreme Court:

• Maharashtra govt to seek re-enforcing of Ban on Maggi
• Maharashtra govt to seek stay on Bom HC order quashing ban.
• Maharashtra govt defends powers under Food Safety Act to enforce ban.
• Maharashtra govt to cite lab reports relied on by FSSAI, says veracity can't be questioned.
• Nestle had alternative legal remedy available under Food Safety Act
• Plea before Bombay HC was not maintainable
• Maharashtra govt erred in holding that Nestle right to natural justice had been violated.
• Scope of powers under Food Safety Act allows for ban orders
• Provisions of Food Safety Act not considered in right perspective by Bombay HC.