NHRC notice to FSSAI over reports on pesticides in food items

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to food regulator FSSAI over reports of pesticides being found in food items more than the prescribed limit, Health Minister J P Nadda today said.
"NHRC has taken suo-moto cognisance of a news report published in the Times of India on October 5 titled 'Pesticides-soaked food samples double in 6 years'.
"In its notice, NHRC directed Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to submit its within eight weeks from the date of receipt of notice," the Union Minister said in a reply to Lok Sabha.
Maximum Residual Levels of pesticides in fruits and vegetables and other food products have been fixed under the Food Safety and Standards (Contamination, Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011.
"Presence of pesticides residues beyond these levels in food products including food, vegetables and meat is treated as a violation of the said regulations, which attracts penal action under the Act," he said.

Health risk of eating french fries is severe!

Health risk of eating french fries is severe!
French fry lovers, beware! A chemical in your favourite snacks - more commonly associated with heavy industry than crispy fried potatoes - may put you at severe health risk in the long run.
French fries contain acrylamide, a chemical that poses a risk for several types of cancer in rodents.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers the chemical a "probable human carcinogen".
Led by researcher Yi Wang from the University of Idaho, the team assessed more than 140 potato varieties.
The goal was to identify potatoes that make great French fries and form less acrylamide.
Researchers planted 149 potato breeds in five potato-growing regions across the US.
Upon harvesting, they sent some of the raw potatoes to labs.
There, the potatoes were stored in conditions similar to commercial potatoes.
After storage, the labs tested the potatoes for their levels of reducing sugars and asparagine - an amino acid that is a known precursor of acrylamide.
Researchers then fried some of the potatoes and observed how much acrylamide the potatoes formed.
The team found that it is fairly achievable to identify potato breeds that produce less acrylamide, especially when compared with the industry standard potato breeds.
"The real challenge is to find the varieties that not only have those characteristics, but also yield finished products with desirable processing quality that meet the stringent standards of the food industry," Wang explained.
According to him, the team hopes to identify genes that are related to lower acrylamide in certain fried potatoes.
The study shows a strong relationship between the genetics of a raw potato and its potential to form acrylamide.
If researchers are able to identify the specific genes, they may be able to eliminate them in the future. Scientists first began paying attention to the unwanted chemical's presence in food more than a decade ago.
Trace amounts of acrylamide are present in many foods cooked at high temperatures.
Relatively high levels are found in fried potatoes, including French fries and potato chips.
The research was published in the journal Crop Science.

Make food safety a public health priority: WHO

MUMBAI: WHO's first ever report on the estimated burden of foodborne disease shows that over 150 million people fall sick and 175000 die every year after consuming contaminated food in the south-east Asia region. Three in ten under-5 children suffer from diarrhoea, which continues to be a major killer.
The report has underlined the urgent need to make food safety a public health priority. "South-east Asia accounts for more than half of the global infections and deaths due to typhoid fever or hepatitis A. Foodborne diseases account for a significant proportion of the burden of disease here. Diarrhoeal diseases are the leading cause of foodborne disease burden in the Region," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for south-east Asia.
She added that food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals are the main causes of foodborne diseases. Consumption of unsafe food causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea as an immediate effect, and has more serious long-term implications such as cancer, failure of kidney and liver and brain and neural disorders. "Foodborne diseases are most dangerous to the young children, pregnant women and older people. In addition to the serious health impact, foodborne diseases present a major cost to economies," she said.
The risk of foodborne diseases is the highest in the low and middle income settings where hygiene, safe water for preparing food, and adequate food production and storage conditions remain a challenge. Khetrapal said that all food operators and consumers should understand the roles they must play to protect their health and that of the wider community.

National Meet on Nutrition, Food Safety on December 4 in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister V S Sivakumar will inaugurate the 9th National Conference on Student’s Medical Research here on December 4. The conference will focus on “Nutrition and Food Safety - Opportunities and Challenges”.
Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) and the Department of Community Medicine, Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College, will jointly organise the two-day conference. On the first day, Dr C R Soman oration and distribution of ‘Dr C R Soman Best PG Thesis Award’ for the best theses submitted to KUHS in 2014 will be presented.
Health Secretary K Elangovan, KUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr M K C Nair, DME Dr Ramla Beevi, DHS Dr Ramesh R, Human Nutrition Unit, AIIMS, professor Dr Umesh Kapil, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Deputy Director Dr Sudarshan Rao, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College principal Dr Thomas Mathew and Community Medicine, Thiruvananthapuram, head Dr Sarah Varghese will be present.
Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra Health University Dr Arun V Jamkar will deliver the first KUHS Oration on December 5. This will be followed by scientific sessions (free papers) where young doctors from across the country will present their research works.

ரூ.10 லட்சம் உணவு பொருட்கள் அனுப்பி வைப்பு

சென் னை யில் ஏற் பட் டுள்ள தொடர் மழை யின் கார ண மாக மக் கள் கடு மை யாக பாதிக் கப் பட் டுள் ள னர். வீடு க ளுக் குள் தண் ணீர் புகுந் துள் ள தால் சாப் பாட் டுக்கே வழி யில் லாத நிலைக்கு தள் ளப் பட் டுள் ள னர். இதை ய டுத்து பாதிக் கப் பட் டுள்ள மக் க ளுக்கு தமி ழ கம் முழு வ தும் இருந்து பொது மக் கள் உணவு பொருட் களை சேக ரித்து வழங்கி வரு கின் ற னர்.
அதன் படி சேலம் வணி க வ ரித் து றை யும், சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் புத் து றை யும் இணைந்து வியா பா ரி க ளி டம் இருந்து உணவு பொருட் களை சேக ரித் த னர். பிரட், கட லை மிட் டாய், ரஸ்க், பால் பவு டர், பிஸ் கட், தண் ணீர் பாக் கெட் என ரூ.10 லட் சம் மதிப் புள்ள பொருட் களை சேக ரித்து சென் னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைக் கப் பட் டது. இந் நி கழ்ச் சி யில் சேலம் வணி க வ ரித் துறை இணை ஆணை யர் கள் ஞான கு மார், ரவி, உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் அனு ராதா, வணி க வ ரித் துறை அலு வ லர் பத் மா வதி, அனைத்து வணி கர் கள் சங்க பொதுச் செ ய லா ளர் ஜெய சீ லன், மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் கலந்து கொண் ட னர்.

வணிகவரி அலுவலகத்திலிருந்து சென்னைக்கு நிவாரண பொருட்கள்

சேலம்: சேலம் வணிகவரித்துறை அலுவலகத்திலிருந்து, 10 லட்ச ரூபாய் மதிப்பிலான உணவு பொருட்கள், சென்னைக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டன. சில நாட்களாக பெய்து வரும் கனமழையால், சென்னை தனித்தீவாக தத்தளித்து வருகிறது. இங்குள்ள மக்களின் நிவாரணத்துக்காக, வணிகவரித்துறை மற்றும் உணவு பாதுகாப்புதுறை சார்பில், நிவாரண உதவிகள் வழங்க ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டன. பல்வேறு உணவு நிறுவனங்களிலிருந்து வழங்கப்பட்ட, பிரட், பேக்கரி உணவுகள், பெட்ஷீட் உள்ளிட்ட, 10 லட்ச ரூபாய் மதிப்பிலான உணவு மற்றும் நிவாரண பொருட்கள் சேகரிக்கப்பட்டு, நேற்று காலை கண்டெய்னர் லாரியில், சென்னைக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டது. 

வணிகவரித்துறை இணை கமிஷனர் ஞானக்குமார், ரவி, துணைக்கமிஷனர் பத்மாவதி, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் அனுராதா ஆகியோர் தலைமையில், இதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டன. 

இதே போல், இன்று காலை, 10 மணிக்கு, சேலம் அஸ்தம்பட்டி வணிக வரித்துறை அலுவலகத்திலிருந்து நிவாரண பொருட்களை ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு, வாகனம் சென்னை செல்ல உள்ளது எனவும், உணவு பொருட்கள் வழங்க விருப்பமுள்ள வணிகர்கள் மற்றும் பொதுமக்கள், இவ்வலுவலகத்துக்கு கொண்டு சேர்த்திடவும் கேட்டுக்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

FSSAI NOTIFICATION - ANNUAL LAB REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2014-15

4.20 lakh people die annually from contaminated food globally

Around 4,20,000 people die each year from eating contaminated food globally with children under the age of five accounting for nearly one third of those deaths, the WHO said today in its first-ever estimate of the impact of foodborne diseases.
The UN health agency in the report released today said that as many as 600 million people -- almost 1 in 10 people -- globally fall sick every year after consuming contaminated food.
Children under the age of five account for 40 per cent of the 600 million cases of foodborne diseases worldwide annuallyand 30 per cent of the 4,20,000 deaths, even though they constitute only nine per cent of the total population, the World Health Organisation said.
Besides killing nearly half a million people every year, foodborne diseases caused byvarious types of bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals are taking a significant toll on the quality of life of those who survive, the report said.
Each year, the global population as a whole loses a full 33 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), or healthy years of life, it said.
Young children bear the disproportionate burden of the silent malady and diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for more than half of the global burden of foodborne diseases.
Around 550 million people, including 220 million children, fall ill from diarrhoeal diseases caused by norovirus, Campylobacter, E coli and non-typhoidal Salmonella.
Of the 220 million children, 96,000 children under the age of five die every year and lose 13 million Disability Adjusted Life Years which makes for 40 per cent of the total DALYs.
"We have been combatting an invisible enemy, an invisible ghost," said Dr Kazuaki Miyagishima, director of WHO's Department of Food Safety, at a news briefing, referring to a lack of data up until now in understanding food borne diseases.
"The data we are publishing is only a very conservative estimate, we are sure that the real figure is bigger," Dr Miyagishima said.
The research conducted by 150 scientists across the world for eight years is based on analysis of data up to 2010, but the picture has not changed much since 2010, the WHO said.
The research team analysed 31 different agents contaminating food and two viruses, 12 bacteria, 14 parasites and three chemicals.
While foodborne diseases is a public health concern globally, Africa and South East Asia are the hardest hit and have the highest death rates.
In terms of absolute numbers more people fall sick and die in South East Asia than any other WHO region with more than 150 millioncases and 1,75,000 deaths recorded every year.
(REOPENS FGN 30)
Around 60 million children fall sick of which 50,000 die each year from food borne diseases in South East Asia. 

 Food borne diseases can cause temporary symptoms such as nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting and also more longer-term illnesses including cancer, kidney or liver failure, brain disorders, epilepsy and arthritis, the scientists said.
In an increasingly globalised world, food borne diseases can quickly spread along the food chain and across borders and a country where food safety is weak, becomes the weakest chain in the whole food production system, Dr Miyagishima said.
In countries where street vendors are in sizeable numbers this can become a problem.
"More than one ministry or department is involved in food safety, creating gaps and vacuums," Dr Miyagishima said, so it is essential to have a "coalition" of governmental agencies to ensure an effective food safety system.
The report called on governments to improve inspections along the food chain and also invest in training of food producers, suppliers and the public.

Govt to relax approval system for food products: Badal

The government is taking steps to ease product approval system of food regulator FSSAI and working on a new mechanism where manufacturers may not need approval for their products if ingredients are cleared.
Addressing a Ficci conference, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said this sector is facing several challenges like "inconsistent and restrictive regulatory environment" and poor post-harvest infrastructure.
"The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) comes under the Health Ministry. They are taking necessary steps to ensure this regulatory body eases the way the product approval is done," Badal told reporters on the sidelines.
Some 11,500 ingredients have been put on the website for the public opinion, she said, adding that the deadline for public comments is December 13.
"So, instead of product approval now, there will be ingredients which are approved and you can go ahead with your innovation and production of the products. This is to harmonise with international standards," she stressed.
FSSAI has been in the spotlight after it imposed ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.
In August this year, the Supreme Court junked FSSAI's advisory which asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if ingredients were already approved or deemed safe.
FSSAI has faced criticism from the industry for its product approval system.
Badal said the food processing sector is "today held back by several constraints" which is inconsistent and restrictive regulatory environment, poor post-harvest infrastructure leading to high levels of wastage and insufficient soft infrastructure like R&D capabilities and skilled manpower.
Stating that food quality and safety play a vital role in building consumers confidence towards processed food category, she emphasised on the need for regulators, policymakers, consumers, growers and industry to come together.

Food safety regulator must follow global practices

Adventurism by the regulator is in the interest of neither the industry nor consumers
The indication by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that it would reintroduce the system of pre-launch product approvals by issuing new regulations has dealt a blow to the food processing sector. This issue was deemed to have been settled after the Supreme Court upheld a Bombay High Court verdict that the system of product approvals introduced by the FSSAI through advisories was arbitrary and illegal. However, the uncertainty and confusion over this issue resurfaced with the FSSAI declaring that even while respecting the court's decree over its advisories, it will come up with new regulations to revive the approval procedure. This has turned prospective investors - both domestic and foreign - wary of committing resources in this sector. For the first time in several years, the festival season hardly saw the launch of any fresh food product, variant of an existing product or a new health food or food supplement despite over 700 such products being in the pipeline. The industry bodies are once again knocking at the doors of the government to get the FSSAI's intended move quashed.
India's food regulation law, the FSSAI Act of 2006, in fact does not require a new product to be formally approved by the regulator if its ingredients are as per the law - the generally accepted global practice. The industry maintains that the regulator cannot bring back the product approval system unless the law is amended. Even the food processing ministry feels that some of the recent actions of the FSSAI, including those against Nestle India's Maggi noodles, created a "fear psychosis" in the industry, killing innovation. There have been allegations of harassment of companies by FSSAI officials on trivial grounds. Objections are often raised to the quality of the products without getting them tested at recognised laboratories. Thus, the basic objective of the FSSAI Act of putting in place a transparent and scientific system of food safety seems to have been belied.
This does not bode well for a sector that, after a prolonged period of infancy, had begun to grow at over eight per cent a year. Food processing not only adds value to, and prolongs the shelf life of, farm produce, but it helps reduce the huge wastage of perishable products like fruits and vegetables, estimated at anywhere between 20 and 40 per cent. The FSSAI has already finalised 12,000 standards for food ingredients and additives, which are in harmony with the globally recognised Codex norms. It should also follow the global convention of allowing the industry to self-certify compliance with these standards. Such a system would end the need for cumbersome product-by-product approval, which takes years to complete. The FSSAI could monitor adherence to these standards by getting randomly selected samples tested in a non-controversial manner at accredited laboratories. The ultimate objective, after all, is to ensure that consumers get food products and health supplements that are good in quality, safe to consume, and varied in nature. Adventurism by the regulator is in the interest of neither the industry nor consumers.

How safe is the milk you consume?

How many of you know what food is being fed to the animals that give you milk? There are no pastures left in this country and cows/buffalos graze on the roadsides and on dirty human-trodden grass.
Last month a municipal gaushala in Patiala fed its cows the normal green fodder. 39 died within a few hours. A mob gathered and the gaushala workers who had no hand in getting the feed which was supplied by a commissioned contractor fled. The issue was taken up by communal elements and they took over the gaushala on the excuse that they could look after the cows better. Two days later 27 more died. Only then did the local administration start looking at the source of the contractor’s feed. Till today neither he nor his suppliers have been arrested.
In September scientists at the government Central Food Toxicology Research detected cancer-causing fungal toxins exceeding safety limits in samples of ultra-high-temperature processed milk- milk considered to be extremely sterile and pure. This is a problem that has been highlighted by scientists for the last ten years without having any action taken.
The poisonous compound is called aflatoxin M1 and it was found in 20 per cent of the samples of UHT (Ultra High Temperature processed) milk they examined. Earlier studies in India over the past decade have identified aflatoxins in raw and pasteurised milk but this is the first report of aflatoxins in UHT milk.
UHT milk is usually sold in tetrapacks as a shelf-stable product that needs no refrigeration until opened. Scientists at the CFTRI selected 45 samples of UHT milk from brands sold across the country. They found aflatoxin M1 levels exceeding limits imposed by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) in 10 out of the 45 samples of UHT milk, in six out of 45 samples of raw milk and in three out of seven samples of pasteurised milk. The raw and pasteurised milk was collected from milk suppliers across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Their findings have appeared in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.
High levels of aflatoxins in livestock feed such as maize residue and peanut cake seem to be the reason for the toxins in milk. This is not the first time that warnings have been given to the livestock sector. In north-west India in 1974, thousands of cattle died after eating mouldy maize with extremely high aflatoxin levels (ranging from 6250 to 15,600 mg/kg). More than forty years later, the dairy industry in India _ that relies on milk supplies from livestock _ does not test samples for aflatoxin before they pool the milk for industry-level processing. Since the late 1990s, reports of aflatoxins in milk have emerged from Thrissur in Kerala and Anand in Gujarat. Biochemists at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow had detected very high aflatoxin levels in samples of infant milk food, milk-based weaning cereals and liquid milk in 2004.
Aflatoxin-producing members of Aspergillus are common and widespread in nature. They can colonize and contaminate grain before harvest or during storage. Host crops, which include maize, sorghum, and groundnuts, are particularly susceptible to infection by Aspergillus following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment, or damage from stressful conditions such as drought. Humidity, moisture, and poor storage conditions contribute to the growth of fungi and aflatoxins in livestock feed. Researchers have reported high values “up to 3,300 micrograms per kg” of the fungal toxin aflatoxin B1 in livestock feed. Aflatoxin B1 is metabolised by animals and converted into aflatoxin M1, which is secreted in milk. Aflatoxins are also sometimes found in eggs and meat when animals are fed contaminated grains.
Since studies show that these aflatoxins are resistant to heat treatment, the object should be to reduce their intake. But while most developed countries have set maximum permissible limits for aflatoxin levels in livestock feed, no such mandatory limits exist for livestock fodder in India. The limit for aflatoxins in milk set by the European Commission is “0.05 microgram per kg.” 90 per cent of our milk is higher than this. In 2006 FSSAI imposed 0.5 microgram per kg limit on milk in India - 10 times higher than the EC limit. Even that is lower than what is currently found. Recent studies conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in South India revealed that aflatoxin levels were as high as 40 times the permissible limit. In a study published in the journal Food Control, researchers found that over 90% of the milk samples used in the study contained aflatoxin M1 levels. In these studies, contamination of milk was found to be high in both rural and urban areas, across a cross section of the population. Children were found to be most susceptible to the adverse health effects of these toxins.
At least 14 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature. Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic and is produced by fungi called Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These are among the most potent of carcinogens that cause more than 90,000 cases of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer each year. Consumption of aflatoxins can also lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, liver damage, convulsions, kidney, liver and heart disease, and in extreme cases, coma and death. Long-term aflatoxin poisoning in cattle leads to decrease in growth rate, lowered milk production and immune suppression. Some experiments have also shown high incidence of hepatitis B infection where dietary exposure to aflatoxins was prevalent.
Aflatoxins are strongly associated with stunting and immune suppression in children. In a 2015 study published by the Mitigating Aflatoxin Consumption for Improving Child Growth, researchers established a relationship between aflatoxin exposure and linear child growth. The study focused on children in the last trimester of gestation to age two (the primary period of growth faltering), and studied 1829 pregnant women who were enrolled from 2013 to 2014. Initial data collection found aflatoxin in the blood of all participants. The researchers reduced aflatoxin exposure by 50% in all participants and found that the reduction led to improved growth in the children tested.
Feed refusal, reduced growth rate, and decreased feed efficiency are the predominant signs of chronic aflatoxin poisoning in animals. In addition, listlessness, weight loss, rough hair coat, and mild diarrhoea may be seen. Anaemia along with bruises and subcutaneous haemorrhages are also frequent symptoms of aflatoxicosis. Increased susceptibility to other diseases, increased abortions and rectal prolapse are also signs. But in our country where vets are like hair on a near balding head, who is interpreting these symptoms?
How many of you know what food is being fed to the animals that give you milk? There are no pastures left in this country and cows/buffalos graze on the roadsides and on dirty human-trodden grass. All green fodder grown for animals is grown with pesticides. Remember that if UHT milk, which means milk that has been pasteurized at very high temperatures, cannot remove the fungus, it is better not to drink the stuff at all.

By next year, FSSR review, Product Approval will be in place, health secy

New Delhi
Union health secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma has said that the process of reviewing the Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011, is currently underway and it is likely to complete by next year. He disclosed this information while addressing the 10th National Food Safety and Quality Summit, a food safety, quality and competitiveness event for food and beverage industry, held here recently.
Sharma, however, did not explain the specific amendments proposed in the FSS Regulations but assured the food industry that there would be a paradigm shift in FSSAI’s approach after one year and there would be a streamlined Product Approval system in place based on scientifically approved Codex harmonised standards.
“There is a difference of opinion in interpretation of laws and regulations amongst the various ministries particularly with respect to the Product Approval. The process of reviewing the Act is on and we’ll be able to put more clarified set of rules and regulations by next year like done in case of nutraceuticals recently by FSSAI,” Sharma noted at the event organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
He added that FSSAI could broaden the food safety concept and scientific approach towards its implementation through ideas such as self regulation but its implementation had been far from smooth. There were few provisions which require amendments and greater clarity, as interpretation has been different.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the comprehensive review, the government got recommendations for review of FSSR 2011, which is presently under consideration.
He further pointed out that the government was laying emphasis on standard setting, which could have been done by this time. But given the sheer number of standards that were needed to be harmonised, both horizontal and vertical, it was taking time.
“The standards were one aspect perhaps could not get enough time or attention of FSSAI because of their involvement with the Product Approval business. The time in last four years could have been better utilised for having standards in place and 90% of the product wouldn’t have required the approval.”
“Greater emphasis on standards is needed but it is easier said than done and it is taking time. A whole process of consultation and scientific assessment is required which is time consuming. Further the number of scientific panels is also limited thereby restricting the output. In the last one year there has been quick progress like setting up of standards for nutraceuticals on which draft is done, some comments have come, FSSAI is examining and the standards would be notified sooner,” he stated.
He informed that 12,000 additive standards were draft notified and further some 9-10,000 horizontal standards would be released soon. The FSSAI is also working towards vertical standards. Codex standards and safety studies during the Product Approval procedure have produced huge data which would help in setting up the standards. And, there are number of standards which are at final stages.
“And I am sure that within a year’s time after setting up of standards, most of Product Approval procedure would get streamlined. The Product Approval can’t be done away with completely because there will be products and ingredients which may not have standards. Some kind of system needed to be devised where approval can be given," he said.
With regard to the Rs 1,950 crore revamp plan by the health ministry for FSSAI and state food authorities infrastructure, Sharma said that the ministry was actively looking into the matter and pushing hard to make it possible soon.
Present on the occasion were J P Meena, joint secretary, MoFPI; V Prakash, eminent scientist, CSIR; and Piruz Khambatta, chairman, Rasna.

Nirapara ban due to starch: Minister

The Assembly on Wednesday was informed that the government had banned Nirapara brand packaged chilli, turmeric and mustard powders after they were found to contain added starch 20 to 80 per cent above the permissible level.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar told the House during Question Hour that the Food Safety Commissioner had fined the company for violation and finally banned the products because he found that the firm was repeating the same offence.
However, the firm got the ban lifted in the High Court. The court’s Division Bench has admitted the government’s appeal against the ban and given an interim direction to chemically sample the company’s packaged food products. He said NKR Brand Mallipodi was also found to contain starch.

மார்த்தாண்டத்தில் சூப்பர் மார்க்கெட்டில் வாங்கிய அரிசியில் வண்டு, புழுக்கள் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் ஆய்வு

மார்த் தாண் டம், டிச.3:

மார்த் தாண் டம் அருகே உண் ணா ம லைக் க டையை சேர்ந் த வர் ராபர்ட். இவர் 2 நாட் க ளுக்கு முன் அந்த பகு தி யில் உள்ள ஒரு பிர பல சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் டில் 3 கிலோ செங் கல் பட்டு அரிசி வாங் கி யுள் ளார். மறு நாள் சமை யல் செய்ய எடுத்த போது அந்த அரி சி யில் வண் டு கள், புழுக் கள் இருந் துள் ளன. மேலும் வாடை யும் வீசி யுள் ளது. அந்த அரி சியை சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் டுக்கு கொண்டு வந்து அதற் கான பணத்தை திருப்பி கேட் டுள் ளார். ஆனால் சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் ஊழி யர் கள் பணம் தர முடி யாது. வேண் டு மா னால் வேறு அரிசி வாங்கி செல் லுங் கள் என கூறி யுள் ள னர். இது குறித்து அவர் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறைக்கு தக வல் தெரி வித் தார். இதன் படி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கிளாட் சன் வந்து அரி சியை ஆய்வு செய் தார்.
அப் போது அவர் வைத் தி ருந்த அரி சி யில் வண்டு, புழுக் கள் இருந் தது உறுதி செய் யப் பட் டது. பின் னர் அந்த அரி சியை தர ஆய் வுக் காக எடுத்து சென் றார். மேலும் கடை யில் இருந்த அரிசி மூடை க ளில் இருந் தும் மாதிரி எடுத்து சென் றார். இது குறித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கூறு கை யில், வண்டு, புழுக் க ளு டன் அரிசி விற் பனை செய் யப் பட் டது உறு தி யா னால் நிர் வா கம் மீது கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என கூறி னார். இது குறித்து பொது மக் கள் கூறு கை யில், உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் சிறு சிறு கடை கள், திரு விழா கடை க ளில் ஆய்வு செய்து பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் வது, பொது மக் கள் முன் னி லை யில் அவற்றை அழிப் பது போன்ற நட வ டிக் கை கள் எடுக் கின் ற னர். ஆனால் பெரிய கடை கள், சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் டு க ளில் அவர் கள் ஆய்வு செய் வ தில்லை. பெரிய கடை க ளி லும் கெட் டுப் போன பொருட் கள், காலா வ தி யான பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன. எனவே அங் கும் அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு செய்து நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என கூறி னர்.

கலெக்டர் கருணாகரன் உத்தரவு மழைக்கால நோய்கள் தடுக்க ஓட்டல்களுக்கு 11 கட்டளைகள்

நெல்லை, டிச. 3:
நெல்லை மாவட்ட கலெக் டர் கரு ணா க ரன் விடுத் துள்ள செய் திக் கு றிப்பு:
நெல்லை மாவட் டத் தில் வட கி ழக்கு பரு வ மழை தீவி ர மாக பெய் து வ ரு வ தால் மழைக் கா லங் க ளில் தண் ணீர் மூலம் பர வும் வயிற் றுப் போக்கு, டைபாய்டு, மற் றும் தொற்று நோய் கள், டெங்கு காய்ச் சல் போன் றவை பரவ வாய்ப் புள் ளது. எனவே உணவு விற் பனை நிலை யங் கள் அனைத் தி லும் முக் கிய நிபந் த னை களை கடை பி டிக் க வேண் டும்.
உணவு விற் பனை நிலை யங் கள் சுத் த மான சுகா தா ர மான நிலை யில் பரா ம ரிப் ப தோடு தண் ணீர் உள்ள பாத் தி ரங் களை மூடி வைக்க வேண் டும். 3 நாட் க ளுக்கு மேல் தண் ணீரை சேமித்து வைக் கக் கூ டாது.
கடை யின் உள் ளேயோ மொட்டை மாடி போன்ற இடங் க ளிலோ தண் ணீர் தேங் கக் கூ டிய தொட்டி, டயர், டம் ளர், சிரட்டை போன் றவை இருந் தால் அப் பு றப் ப டுத் த வேண் டும். மேல் மாடி யில் தண் ணீர் பா தை யில் அடைப்பு இருந் தால் சரி செய் ய வேண் டும். குடிப் ப தற்கு கொதிக்க வைத்த சுத் த மான தண் ணீ ரையே கொடுக் க வேண் டும்.
உணவு பண் டங் கள் பஜ்ஜி, வடை, சமோசா போன் ற வற்றை ஈ, பூச் சி கள் மொய் கா த ப டி யும், ரோட் டி லி ருந்து வரும் தூசி கள் படா த வ கை யி லும் மூடி வைக் க வேண் டும். புரோட்டா, தோசை தயா ரிக்க பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் அடுப் புக் கல் மீது தண் ணீர், தூசி படாத அள விற்கு கண் ணாடி, காட் போர்டு வைத்து மறைக் க வேண் டும். உணவு தயா ரிக்க கலப் ப ட மில் லாத சுத் த மான மூலப் பொ ருட் கள் மற் றும் எண் ணெய் போன் ற வற்றை உப யோ கிக் க வேண் டும்.
உணவு தயா ரிக் கும் மற் றும் பரி மா றும் பணி யா ளர் கள் தலைக் க வ சம் மற் றும் கையுறை அணி வ தோடு நோய், காய்ச் சல் அறி குறி இருந் தால் குண மா கும் வரை அவ ருக்கு விடுப்பு அளித்து கட் டா யம் மருத் து வப் ப ரி சோ தனை செய் ய வேண் டும்.
கை கழு வு மி டம் மற் றும் சாப் பிட்ட இலை களை போடு மி டம் சுத் த மாக இருப் ப து டன் சோப்பு, ஹேண்ட் வாஷ் லிக் யூட் இருக் க வேண் டும்.
பாலி தீன் கவர் க ளையோ அல் லது பைக ளையோ உணவு பொருட் கள் பார் சல் செய் யவோ உணவு பொருட் களை மூடி வைக் கவோ பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூ டாது.
பள் ளி கள், கல் லூ ரி கள், திரை ய ரங் கு கள், உண வ கங் கள், ஓட் டல் கள் மற் றும் அனைத்து இடங் க ளி லும் கட் டா யம் சுத் தி க ரிக் கப் பட்ட, கொதித்த குடி நீ ரையே உப யோ கிக் க வேண் டும்.
பொது மக் க ளும், தண் ணீர் மற்ற பிற உண வுப் பொ ருட் கள் வாங் கும் போது உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை யில் பதிவு பெற்ற நிறு வ னங் க ளில் மட் டுமே வாங் க வேண் டும். பொட் ட லம் செய் யப் பட்ட பொருட் களை விவ ரச் சீட்டு இருந் தால் மட் டுமே வாங்கி உப யோ கிக் க வேண் டும். திறந் த வெ ளி யில் சுகா தா ர மற்ற இடத் தில் தயார் செய் யப் ப டும் அல் லது விற் கப் ப டும் உண வுப் பொ ருட் களை வாங்கி உண்ண வேண் டாம்.
இந்த நிபந் த னை களை கடை பி டிக் காத உண வ கம் விற் பனை நிலை யங் கள் மீது சட் டப் படி கடு மை யான நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும். கடை க ளில் ஏதே னும் சுகா தார குறை பா டு கள் காணப் பட் டாலோ, உண வு பொ ருட் கள் தொடர் பான புகார் க ளையோ நெல்லை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் மற் றும் அரு கில் உள்ள உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ ல ரி டம் தெரி விக் க லாம். தொலை பேசி எண் 0462- 2555070 செல் எண் - 9994446674 என்ற எண் ணி லும் புகார் தெரி விக் க லாம். இவ் வாறு அவர் தெரி வித் துள் ளார்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

ஓட்டல், பேக்கரிகளில் தரமான பொருட்களை பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு வேண்டுகோள்

பெரம் ப லூர், டிச.3:
ஓட் டல், பேக் க ரி க ளில் தர மான பொருட் களை வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும் என உரி மை யா ளர் க ளுக்கு வேண் டு கோள் விடுக் கப் பட் டது.
பெரம் ப லூர் மாவட்ட ஓட் டல் கள் சங்க சிறப்பு கூட் டம் நேற்று நடந் தது. மாவட்ட தலை வர் வசந் தம் ரவி தலைமை வகித் தார். சங்க கவு ர வத் த லை வர் அஸ் வின்ஸ் கணே சன் முன் னிலை வகித் தார்.
கூட் டத் தில் பனா னா லீப் மனோ க ரன், ஆரி யாஸ் ராம சுப்பு, ஊட்டி செல் லப் பிள்ளை உட் பட பலர் பேசி னர். மாவட்ட மலே ரியா அலு வ லர் சுப் ர ம ணி யன் கலந்து கொண்டு, டெங்கு காய்ச் சல் பர வா மல் தடுக்க மேற் கொள்ள வேண் டிய முன் னெச் ச ரிக்கை நட வ டிக் கை கள் குறித்து பேசி னார். தொடர்ந்து தமிழ் நாடு ஓட் டல் கள் சங்க மாநில தலை வர் வெங் க ட சுப்பு சிறப் பு ரை யாற் றி னார்.
உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் புஷ் ப ராஜ் பேசு கை யில், ஓட் டல் கள், இனிப் ப கம், பேக் கரி, தேனீ ர கம், மெஸ் ஆகி ய வறை தூய் மை யா க வும், சுகா தா ர மா க வும் வைத் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் பொருட் கள் தர மா ன தா? என பரி சோ தனை செய்து வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். டீக் க டை க ளில் தயார் செய் யப் ப டும் பல கா ரங் களை ஈ.மெய்க் கா மல் கண் ணாடி கூண் டில் வைத்து பாது காத்து விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும். பசிக் காக ஓட் டல் களை தேடி வ ரும் பொது மக் க ளுக்கு தர மான உண வினை அளிக்க வேண் டும் என் றார்.
கூட் டத் தில் நிர் வா கி கள் சுந் த ரம், கோபி நாத், அய் யம் பெ ரு மாள், பாலாஜி, அரும் பா வூர் குறிஞ்சி சிவா, மூர்த்தி உட் பட பலர் கலந்து கொண் ட னர். முன் ன தாக மாவட்ட செய லா ளர் முத் துக் கு மார் வர வேற் றார். மாவட்ட பொரு ளா ளர் சிவக் கு மார் நன்றி கூறி னார்.

காலா வ தி யான பொருட் கள் அழிப்பு வால் பாறை கடை க ளில் அதி ரடி சோதனை

வால் பாறை,டிச.3:
வால் பா றை யில் நேற்று கோவை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் டாக் டா் கதி ர வன் தலை மை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லா ் கள், வால் பாறை ஆரம்ப சுகா தார ஆய் வா ளா், நக ராட்சி துப் பு ரவு பணி யா ளா ் கள் அடங் கிய குழு வால் பா றை யில் உள்ள மளிகை கடை, பேக் கரி உள் ளிட்ட கடை க ளில் தரக் கட் டுப் பாட்டு ஆய் வும், காலா வ தி யான பொருட் கள் குறித்த ஆய் வும் மேற் கொண் ட னா்.
இதில் காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், தண் ணீர் பாட் டில் கள், வனஸ் பதி, பாக் கெட் உணவு பொருட் கள் சிக் கின. மேலும் கலர் பொ டி கள் கலந்து தயா ரிக் கப் பட் டுள்ள வட கங் கள் கடை க ளில் இருந்து பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட் டது. பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட பொருட் கள் நக ராட்சி குப்பை கிடங்கு பகு தி யில் கொட்டி அழிக் கப் பட் டது. இது குறித்து டாக் டா் கதி ர வன் கூறு கை யில் குளிர் பா னம், தண் ணீர் ஆகி ய வற் றிற்கு அதி க பட் ச மாக காலா வதி காலம் 3 மாதங் கள் ஆகும். எனவே நுகர் வோர் கள் இது குறித்து விழிப் பு ணா ்வு அடை ய வேண் டும். காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை கண் டிப் பாக வாங்க கூடாது என் றார்.

உணவு பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் செய்பவர்கள் கொலையாளிக்கு சமம் அமைச்சர் ஆவேசம்

திரு மலை, டிச.2-
உண வுப் பொ ருட் க ளில் கலப் ப டம் செய் ப வர் கள் மக் களை கொல் லும் தீவி ர வா தி க ளுக்கு சம மா ன வர் கள் என்று அமைச் சர் கூறி னார்.
ஆந் திர மாநி லம், விஜ ய வா டா வில் கடந்த 2 வாரங் க ளுக்கு முன்பு உணவு தரக் கட் டுப் பாட்டு அதி கா ரி கள், போலீ சார் திடீர் சோதனை மேற் கொண் ட னர். அப் போது பெங் க ளூரை சேர்ந்த தனி யார் நெய் நிறு வ னத் தின் பெய ரில் போலி யாக ஸ்டிக் கர் ஒட்டி கலப் பட நெய் தயா ரித்து விற் றது தெரிய வந் தது. இது தொ டர் பாக அனில், பனி ஆகிய 2 பேர் கைது செய் யப் பட் ட னர்.
இந் நி லை யில், அந்த கலப் பட நெய்யை திரு ம லையை சேர்ந்த பைடப் பல்லி திரு நாத் என் ப வர் தேவஸ் தான விஜி லென்ஸ் அதி கா ரி க ளின் உத வி யு டன் திருப் பதி ஏழு ம லை யான் கோயி லுக்கு வினி யோ கம் செய் த தா க வும், தற் போது தலை ம றை வாக உள்ள அவரை போலீ சார் தேடி வரு வ தா க வும் தக வல் கள் வெளி யா னது.
ஆனால் கோயி லில் நெய் பல் வேறு சோத னை க ளுக்கு பிறகே பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டு கி றது. எனவே போலி நெய் தேவஸ் தா னத் திற்கு வாங் க வில்லை என தேவஸ் தா னம் தெரி வித் தது.
நேற்று திருப் பதி கோயி லில் சுவாமி தரி ச னம் செய்த ஆந் திர மாநில இந்து அற நி லை யத் துறை அமைச் சர் மாணிக் கேல ராவ் கூறி ய தா வது:
ஏற் க னவே திருப் பதி கோயி லுக்கு கொள் மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட நெய், பரி சோ தனை செய்த அன்றே திருப்பி அனுப் பப் பட் டது. உண வுப் பொருட் க ளில் கலப் ப டம் செய் ப வர் கள் தீவி ர வா தி க ளுக்கு சம மா ன வர் கள். கலப் ப டத் தில் ஈடு ப டு ப வர் கள் திடீ ரென தீவி ர வாத தாக் கு த லில் ஊடு ருவி பல பேரை கொலை செய் த வர் க ளுக்கு இணை யா ன வர் கள்.
உண வுப் பொருட் க ளில் கலப் ப டம் செய் வ தால், அதை சாப் பி டும் மக் கள் பல் வேறு நோய் க ளால் பாதிக் கப் பட்டு, உயி ரி ழப் பும் ஏற் ப டு கி றது. எனவே கலப் ப டம் செய் ப வர் கள் மீது கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க சட் டத் தில் மாற் றம் கொண்டு வர வேண் டும். அதற் காக முதல் வர் சந் தி ர பாபு நாயு டு வி டம் பேசி ஆலோ சித்து உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும்.திருப் பதி கோயில் மீது போலி யாக சுமத் தும் தக வல் களை பக் தர் கள் யாரும் நம்ப வேண் டாம்.  இவ் வாறு கூறி னார்

These greens could be loaded with arsenic - Veggie alert!

50 per cent of basic essentials in Maharashtra are procured from Punjab and Haryana — two states that are in the red on arsenic content in foods
A report tabled by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) last month, calling attention to high arsenic content found in vegetables and rice produced in 12 states of the country, has sent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Confederation of Indian Horticulture and All India Vegetable Growers Association aflutter. All three bodies are now pooling their energies to come up with a plan to cap the damage caused to consumers. Alarm bells have gone off closer home as Maharashtra is known to procure 50 per cent of the goods from Punjab and Haryana — the two states that top the suspicious list. The state depends on Punjab for vegetables such as potato, lady's finger and green chilli. Other states on the list are Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam.
Following the alarming report, FDA is planning to rope in officials from the agriculture department and conduct awareness workshops and seminars. Avisit to New Delhi has also been planned. President of the Confederation of Indian Horticulture's Maharashtra chapter, Sopan Kanchan, said that a meeting to discuss the issue with Dr Ayyappan, director general of ICAR, has been scheduled for December 18, in the hope of finding remedial measures. "This is rather frightening. The common man's basic food platter seems to be in threat as large amounts of arsenic have been found in the produce from Punjab. We will discuss this with the ICAR officials," said Kanchan. He also added that both the ministry of agriculture and FDA must be watchful of the goods travelling into Maharashtra.
Southern India has been known to receive 400 trucks of potatoes every day between July and October, of which 50 per cent is dropped off in Maharashtra. "Potato is an essential item in every dish and we have been discussing the rise in the use of pesticides by Punjab and Haryana for the last two years. But, the government has not heeded our pleas. Now, with ICAR's recent find, I hope an action plan will be drawn up immediately," said Shriram Gadhave, president of All India Vegetables Growers Association, asserting that the association has been conducting awareness workshops for farmers and market yard associations on the presence of high arsenic contents in certain states. "We have always known that banned pesticides or high levels of chemicals were being used by certain states. But, we did not have proof like ICAR does now," he added.
Taking a leaf out of Gadhave's book, Uday Vanjari, state joint commissioner of FDA, drove home the point that when Mahesh Zagade was the chief commissioner, many seminars had been conducted on arsenic content in water and vegetables, given the rise in the numbers of lifestyle disorders like cancer and skin diseases, which are related to an inadvertent intake of arsenic. "Now that our suspicions have come true, thanks to the recent report, we will again conduct similar workshops to educate people about the illnesses caused by the intake of food laden with arsenic," said Vanjari.
Said Dr S Ayyappan, "Given the heightened presence of arsenic in states that are known to produce vegetables and whole grain in large quantities, we feel that FDA and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) must also intervene and help to come out with remedial measures." He stressed that a close watch be kept on goods arriving from the blacklisted states.
A senior officer from the state FDA, who did not wish to be named, said, "We would like to urge the officials from the ministry of agriculture to collect samples of materials and vegetables, sought from states that have crossed the permissible limit of arsenic content so that we can take some precautionary steps. Maharashtra's green produce is lush. But we need to know for sure if we must look within to fulfil our daily diet needs."
DOCSPEAK
According to Dr Vijay Ramanan, head of haematology at Ruby Hall Clinic, "Arsenic poisoning can lead to liver damages cardiac illnesses, leukaemia, low platelet count and so on." He said that the medical fraternity was witness to many patients who came with such illnesses that were known to be rooted in high arsenic levels. "Those who consume basmati rice and sea food are normally seen as being susceptible to some of these ailments. This is because to elongate the rice, farmers use pesticides beyond the permissible limit. A long-term intake of arsenic poison can cause various illnesses." Dr Abhijit Lodha, specilatist in toxicology and an infectious diseases expert, said, "We recently had three cases of sudden numbness and paralysis of limbs — all were rooted in the consumption of foods highly laden with arsenic. Arsenic content can lead to illnesses such as convulsions, mental agitation, encephalopathy, cancer, skin disorders, lack of concentration, insomnia, blood disorders among others."
█ We have always known that banned pesticides or high levels of chemicals were being used by certain states, but we did not have proof like ICAR does now
- SHRIRAM GADHAVE, President, All India Vegetables Growers Association

Govt mulls Rs 1750cr proposal for FSSAI, state food regulators

New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI) Faced with criticism from industry over approval system for food products, the government is mulling a Rs 1,750-crore proposal to strengthen central food regulator FSSAI as well as state bodies.
Addressing a CII conference, Health Secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma said there is shortage of manpower and skill at both the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as well as the state food & drug departments. The government is working on strengthening the FSSAI and state FDAs through capacity building that includes setting up of new testing laboratories and upgrading the existing ones, he said, adding that the focus is also on increasing awareness about the importance of food safety. "We have formulated a scheme for that (capacity building) and that scheme was for both food and drug. The drug part has been approved by the Cabinet recently in the month of August and there is a similar proposal for the food which is likely to be approved by the competent authority soon enough," Sharma said. He said the proposal, once approved, would definitely give a strong fillip to the capacity building of the laboratories and other food regulatory set-ups. According to sources, the Health Ministry has moved a proposal for granting Rs 1,750 crore, which includes about over Rs 800 crore for the FSSAI and the remaining amount for the state food regulators. The Secretary said there are about 160 labs for testing of food in the country, out of which 72 are in the government sector and 80 odds are private accredited labs. The ministry has evaluated all the governments labs to find out the deficiencies, Sharma said. Sharma also mentioned that the FSSAI only sets standards for different food products and the implementation is done by the state governments.
The states give licences and they enforce the Act and all the prosecutions, he added.
The FSSAI has come into limelight after it imposed the ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.
In August this year, the Supreme Court junked the FSSAIs advisory that asked manufacturers to get clearance for products even if the ingredients were already approved or deemed safe.
After Maggi ban, industry as well as Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticised the FSSAI.
Badal had said that the FSSAIs decision created "fear psychosis" in the food processing industry.
Food regulator FSSAI, which comes under ambit of Health Ministry, lays down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

FDA to check quality of liquor too for New Year celebrations

Pune: For the first time on this New Year’s Eve, liquor will be added to the list of consumable products that will get tested for quality according to guidelines that will be laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the supreme food safety regulatory body, is all set to initiate the quality checks starting December 30 and is currently finalising the rules and guidelines before setting quality standards for liquor in the country.
“We are awaiting the guidelines for testing liquor that FSSAI is drafting. They have invited suggestions from the general public seeking opinions and suggestions before implementation by this month-end,” a senior State official from the FDA, on condition of anonymity, told Sakal Times.
Until now, the State Excise Department was in charge of keeping track of the sale and storage of liquor. Also, the department is the statutory body of the government to provide licences to sell liquor.
However, there was no regulatory body to check the quality of alcohol that was being sold in the market.
This move by FSSAI is also of greater significance as several fatal and critical cases have been reported from all over the country after people reportedly consumed spurious and illicit liquor.
“Now onwards, along with the Excise Department, the state-level Food and Drugs Authorities will be responsible for keeping a check of the quality of liquor, particularly the country-made ones. The many parameters will be the colour of the alcohol, the percentage of alcohol, among the many others,” the official said.
The guidelines to check the quality of liquor will be ready in the third week of this month, added the official.

DINAMALAR NEWS

அரியலூர் வணிக நிறுவனங்களில் 2 லட்சம் காலாவதியான உணவு பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் உணவுத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி

அரி ய லூர், டிச.2:
அரி ய லூ ரி லுள்ள வணிக நிறு வ னங் க ளில் ரூ.2 லட் சம் மதிப்பு காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் களை உண வுத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.
அரி ய லூர் நக ரில் உள்ள பல் வேறு மளிகை மற் றும் சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் டு க ளில் காலா வா தி யான உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்டு வரு வ தாக கிடைத்த தக வ லின் பேரில் அரி ய லூர் சார் ஆட் சி யர் சந் தி ர சே க ர சா க மூரி உணவு பொருள் பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் களை மளிகை கடை கள் மற் றும் சூப் பர் மார்க் கெட் டு க ளில் ஆய்வு செய்து கால வா தி யான உணவு பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய்ய உத் த ர விட் டார். இத னை ய டுத்து உணவு பொருள் பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் என 13 குழுக் க ளாக பிரிந்து ஒரே நேரத் தில் நக ரில் உள்ள நூற் றுக் கும் மேற் பட்ட கடை க ளில் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். இதில் உற் பத்தி மற் றும் கால வா தி யா கும் தேதி குறிப் பி டா மல் விற் ப னைக்கு வைத் தி ருந்த உணவு பொருள் பாக் கெட் டு கள், கால வா தி யான உணவு பொருள் பாக் கெட் டு கள், தடை செய் யப் பட்ட வெளி நாட்டு சாக் லெட் டு கள் மற் றும் தமி ழக அர சால் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள், அனு ம தி யின்றி விற் ப னைக் காக வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த வெடி பொருட் கள் உள் ளிட்ட ரூ.2 லட் சம் மதிப் பி லான பொருட் களை உணவு பொருள் பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.
மேலும் கால வா தி யான உணவு பொருட் களை விற் பனை செய் யக் கூடாது என கடை உரி மை யா ளர் க ளுக்கு உத் த ர விட் ட னர். பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட உணவு பொருட் களை பார் வை யிட்ட சார் ஆட் சி யர் சந் தி ர சே க ர சா க மூரி அனைத்து பொருட் க ளை யும் அழிக்க உத் த ர விட் டார். இத னை ய டுத்து பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட உணவு பொருட் களை நக ராட்சி துப் பு ரவு பணி யா ளர் கள் லாரி க ளில் ஏற் றிச் சென்று அழித் த னர். இந்த ஆய் வில் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அலு வ லர் செல் வ ராஜ் மற் றும் வரு வாய்த் துறை, ஊரக வளர்ச் சித் துறை, நக ராட்சி ஊழி யர் கள் என 65 பேர் பணி யில் ஈடு பட் ட னர். அப் போது தடை செய் யப் பட்ட பொருட் கள் மற் றும் காலா வதி பொருட் கள், அனு ம தி யில் லாத பொருட் கள் ஆகி ய வற்றை வணிக நிறு வ னங் க ளில் விற் பனை செய் வ தற்கு தடை செய் யப் பட் டுள் ளது. இது போன்று தொடர்ந்து ஆய்வு நடத் தப் ப டும் போது பொருட் கள் இருப் பது கண் ட றிந் தால் அவர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என எச் ச ரிக்கை செய் த னர்.

கோட்டார் சவேரியார் ஆலய விழா மிட்டாய் கடைகளில் அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை

நாகர் கோ வில், டிச. 2:
கோட் டார் சவே ரி யார் ஆலய திரு விழா கடந்த 24ம் தேதி தொடங்கி நடந்து வரு கி றது. திரு விழா வை யொட்டி 100க்கும் மேற் பட்ட தற் கா லிக கடை கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளன.
இதில் சுமார் 50க்கும் மேற் பட்ட மிட் டாய் கடை க ளும் இடம் பெற் றுள் ளன. நேற்று மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப் பு துறை அதி காரி சாலோ டீ சன் தலை மை யில் நாகர் கோ வில் நகர உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் குமார பாண் டி யன், சங் கர பாண் டி யன், மற் றும் அதி கா ரி கள் முரு கே சன், பிர வின் ஆகி யோர் தற் கா லிக மிட் டாய் கடை க ளில் சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.
இதில் கெட் டு போன மற் றும் உண் ப தற்கு தகு தி யற்ற மிட் டாய் களை தரை யில் கொட்டி அழித் த னர். மேலும் அந்த பகு தி யில் உள்ள ஒரு மளிகை கடை மற்றும் 2 ஓட் டல் க ளிலும் அதிகா ரி கள் சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

Food Safety – A collaborative effort of Government and Industry partners

Confederation of Indian Industry as a part of its capacity building initiatives had organized the 10th National Food Safety and Quality Summit. Science plays a vital role in making Food Safety System more effective, transparent, accountable and trustworthy. New science-based approaches to food safety provide an effective way for governments to protect consumers against food-borne diseases.
Mr Bhanu Pratap Sharma, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare emphasised that a multi-sectoral approach with involvement of all stakeholders in PPP model would result in effective implementation across the supply chain. It was important to include the entire value chain starting from agriculture, processing, transportation and end consumption. The FSSA compared to PFA regime has brought in the concept of self-regulation, scientific approaches to risk assessments. FSSAI has been currently focussing on release of various standards and around 80% will be released during December 2015, however some speciality foods will require product approval. He stated that the capacity of FSSAI lab infrastructure in terms of manpower and their skills , needed improvement and suggested issuance of appropriate SOPs to ensure transparency and effective enforcement.
Mr. Jagdish Prasad Meena, IAS., Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industry mentioned that food processing sector is on a growth path and has an immense potential for generating employment, alleviating agriculture economy, raising farmer incomes and creating export earnings. He further stressed that Industry can take the responsibility of creating awareness on difference in the nutritional value of fresh and processed food. He also emphasized the importance of backward integration for better traceability of primary produce to ensure food safety.
Dr V Prakash Distinguished Scientist of CSIR – INDIA & Hon. Director of Research, INNOVATION and Development, at JSS – MVP & Chair, Scientific Panel on Nutraceuticals, Nutritionals, Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements, FSSAI, Govt. of India emphasized the three key words food, safety and quality and mentioned that while safety is a regulatory concern, quality is a consumer concern. He mentioned that nearly 72% of the produce gets processed minimally whereas only 2 % is packaged. He suggested the regulation has to be dynamic in the larger interest of consumers and the food safety. He stated that the product approvals should be based on the ingredient approval just like any other country. He commented that the regulation should be flexible, adaptable, affordable and one which involves innovations of healthy and nutritional food. He emphasized that the onus of implementation of Food Safety is on the Industry and the government only plays the role of monitoring.
Mr Piruz Khambatta, Chairman, CII National Committee on Food Processing & Chairman & Managing Director, Rasna Ltd. highlighted how food processing can catalyse growth and the importance of food safety in the food processing sector. He highlighted the work being undertaken by CII national committee of food processing like creating a robust infrastructure, enabling regulatory framework, focussed fiscal environment, skill development and promote Made in India brand. He briefed on the various capacity building initiatives of CII including National Food Safety and Quality Summit, National Food Safety Awards program and most recently Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan, a National Campaign on safe food in line with “Jago Grahak Jago”, in partnership with Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Body VOICE, NASVI and industry partner Cargill. This campaign is also aligned to the countrywide mission “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”
Mr Ravi Mathur, Chairman, CII Expert Group on Food Safety & Quality & CEO, GS1 India emphasized the importance of traceability domestically and internationally to ensure food safety. He quoted the example of Grapenet by APEDA which increased exports of grapes by 25%.
Other eminent speakers included Dr. Mathew T. Thomas, Director, USFDA – India Office, Mr. Dean Rugnetta, Deputy Director, USFDA- India Office, Mr Patrik Jonasson, Director – Public Policy International, GS1 and Mr. John Figgins, Technical Specialist for Food, BRC Global Standards
More than 200 Food Safety & Quality professionals and more than 50 speakers of national and international repute gathered for the Annual Flagship event supported by the Industry partners to discuss the various ways through which Food Safety and Quality can be improved in the Food Chain. This 2 -day event focussed on deliberation on Food Safety Regulatory regimes, framing and implementing food safety standards and scientific approaches to risk assessment. This Summit will serve as a platform for sharing Capacity Building Initiatives and insights of other countries and sharing of views about current food safety and quality trends while providing extensive networking opportunities with industry peers and domain experts.

7 outlets found selling substandard, unhygienic food in Srinagar

Rs 1.52 lakh fine imposed on operators
Food safety officials reluctant to publicize name of brands, shops
The Jammu and Kashmir government Monday imposed a fine of Rs 1.52 lakh on seven food outlets in summer capital for selling sub-standard food articles and processing of food items under insanitary conditions.

Officials said the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Nazir Ahmad Baba has imposed a fine of Rs 152000 on seven food business operators for violating various provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act.
“The offences include selling/ manufacturing sub-standard food articles and processing of food items in insanitary conditions,” they said.
The team of Food Safety Officers, headed by Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir also inspected various restaurants in Lalchowk and Dalgate areas.
“During the inspection many restaurants and bakery shops were found using synthetic colours in many popular food items including chicken and mutton preparations,” Mir told Rising Kashmir.
He said more than one quintal of such preparations were destroyed on spot and the owners were warned to desist from such kind of malpractices in future.
“If we found them indulging in any such activity we will take strict action against them under relevant provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act,” he said.
When asked about the names of food outlets and brands, every official was reluctant to share the details.
“It doesn’t look good. Their offense is not so grave that we will publicize their names in the media,” said Mir.
Similar were the comments by the concerned Food Safety Officers. “I don’t think we need to name the business operators. I’m not authorized also to speak on the issue,” said Shabir Ahmad Lone, a Food Safety Officer.

Stop Illegal Slaughter

‘Walking down the local market, I see a chicken pecking on the wire mesh of his cage. Stuck there with 7 other birds, barely moving, he seems to be breathing heavily. His feathers, plucked out by the other birds leave his skin bare, vulnerable to bloody wounds due to rubbing against the mesh. He has some trouble balancing his weight, curious, I venture forth to take a closer look – the stench of fecal matter all around is nauseating,there’s no food or water, and the gouging eyes show a lifetime of pain and suffering – almost awaiting a quick death through this journey of hell.’
Rucha Mehta, Campaigner, Jaipur Chicken Shop Campaigner
 

FIAPO advocates and works to end animal exploitation – and the largest number of animals impacted are those raised for food. While we reach out to the public to go vegan, we also actively work with enforcement agencies to provide better protection to animals in current systems of production.
The chicken shop campaign was set up with the view of providing some respite to these animals living in cramped conditions.An investigation of the meat shops of Jaipur revealed deplorable conditions, with food, water, shelter all being denied to animals.
Today, only 5 months later, the farm animals of Jaipur fare much better. In this time, we have covered 8 areas of Jaipur, inspecting and regulating 88 meat and chicken shops, leading to the destruction of meat and the rescue of several animals. Continuous follow ups have meant permanent change, and activities such as illegal slaughter have now completely stopped.
Overall, this has impacted the lives of hundreds of animals on a daily basis.
What’s the Strategy?
The campaign works in tandem with local regulatory authorities and animal protectionists to enforce existing laws, spread awareness and take action to prevent illegal slaughter.
Tangible Change Achieved
While in its’ pilot phase, our efforts were geared at working with various authorities ranging from the Municipal Corporation, the Police, the Pollution Control Board, as well as the Food Safety and Standards Authority. After 6 months of inspection and research, we have safely concluded that working with the Food Safety authority officers in tandem with reaching out to people has helped bring about long term sustainable change for farmed animals, especially chickens in Jaipur.

Expanding our Work
Presented as a successful example of an institutional campaign during the National Living Free Bootcamp – the campaign sought an instant buy-in from enthusiastic activists across India.
Piloting the campaign is Jaipur also gave us the blueprint for the path to follow and we are now looking forward to launching the campaign across India! To begin with, we will be launching the campaign in Chennai and Coimbatore – all with the help and support of our young brigade of activists.

Six booked for selling adulterated products

MEERUT: The additional district magistrate (city) has filed a case against six persons as food samples collected from their shops by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) were found to be substandard. The results of the tests, conducted at a Lucknow-based laboratory, were received on Monday.
Giving information, chief food safety officer JP Singh, said, "During the festive season, samples of various foods were collected by the FSDA department over the last three months. Out of the total samples sent, as many as six were found to be substandard. Based on it, we've filed a case against them under relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA)."
The case has been filed against Modi Salts Pvt. Limited from Rajasthan (for substandard salt), Shiv Kumar Agarwal - owner of Vikas trading company from Madhavpuram (for substandard mustard oil), Ashu Singhal - owner of Bhagat Ji Sweets from Baghpat Road (for adulteration of starch in khoya sweets), Vineet and Jagannath - owners of different sweet shops in Nanglamal (for substandard khoya) and Ranveer - a sweet shop owner is Kastla (for substandard khoya).
Meanwhile, a three-member team of FSDA department also collected samples of milk from shop owners on Meerut's Garh road and Hapur road.
"We took as many as four samples from Ram Kumar of Kinangar village, Zahiruddin from Ghosipur village, Bhure from Hajipur village and Imran from Kudhla village," added the food safety officer.
The samples have been sent to the laboratory in Lucknow. The reports are likely to be out received in 20 days.

KFC is clean - State Food Lab of Hyderabad

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) collected food samples from Kentucky Fried Chicken (GHMC) outlets to test whether there are any inedible items mixed along with the Chicken. Earlier a complaint was lodged on the KFC as there are some inedible found.
A case was filed by RTI activist Bakka Judson. He has mentioned in his statement that the food is not safe in KFC and it is something inedible. He also added that this will definitely spoil the health. He also requested the food safety department to take action.
We hear from reports that 42 KFC samples were collected and they were sent to surveillance samples for bacteriological analysis purpose. All 42 samples are collected from various outlets in the city.
Now it has been said that the food in KFC is safe. The result was made clear under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The analysis also showed that the mixture contains edible items and it is difficult to impose a ban when everything is clear and clean.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Two held with gutkha

Palghar, Nov 30 (PTI) Police today seized gutkha worth Rs 6.62 lakh from a vehicle and arrested two persons for allegedly transporting the contraband.
A joint team of police and Food and Drug Administration officials intercepted the pick-up truck on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in wee hours toady and arrested two persons, said Manor station Assistant Sub-Inspector C N Gaikwad.
The goods, including gutkha, flavoured tobacco and paan masala whose manufacture, sale and transport was banned in the state, worth Rs 6.62 lakh.
The duo were identified as Prabhusingh Dahia and Nizaram Chaudhari.
They have been booked under various sections of Food safety and Regulation (Prohibition) Act.

Truckers’ strike: 300 truckloads of potato rot

Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: Vegetable markets in the city are feeling the pinch of the transporters’ strike which was called off after five days Monday. Reports suggest 300 truckloads of potato are rotting at Jamsola the key entry to the city. The trucks were stranded near the northern entry.
Sudhakar Panda, the secretary of Orissa Byabasayee Maha Sangam, told Orissa POST that wholesalers were unable to find buyers even when they were willing “to sell these vegetables at a rate of `2 a kilo”.
Meanwhile, the food safety department is on an alert as hotels in the city are likely to buy such potatoes, posing a health hazard.
“We have directed food inspectors to conduct regular inspections at the market and hotels to maintain food safety standards,” Babaji Charan Das, the commissioner of food safety, said.

Better not to drink the stuff at all

Last month a municipal gaushala in Patiala fed its cows the normal green fodder. 39 died within a few hours. A mob gathered and the gaushala workers who had no hand in getting the feed which was supplied by a commissioned contractor fled. The issue was taken up by communal elements and they took over the gaushala on the excuse that they could look after the cows better. Two days later 27 more died. Only then did the local administration start looking at the source of the contractor’s feed. Till today neither he nor his suppliers have been arrested.
In September scientists at the government Central Food Toxicology Research detected cancer-causing fungal toxins exceeding safety limits in samples of ultra-high-temperature processed milk- milk considered to be extremely sterile and pure. This is a problem that has been highlighted by scientists for the last ten years without having any action taken.
The poisonous compound is called aflatoxin M1 and it was found in 20 per cent of the samples of UHT (Ultra High Temperature processed) milk they examined. Earlier studies in India over the past decade have identified aflatoxins in raw and pasteurised milk but this is the first report of aflatoxins in UHT milk.
UHT milk is usually sold in tetrapacks as a shelf-stable product that needs no refrigeration until opened. Scientists at the CFTRI selected 45 samples of UHT milk from brands sold across the country. They found aflatoxin M1 levels exceeding limits imposed by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) in 10 out of the 45 samples of UHT milk, in six out of 45 samples of raw milk and in three out of seven samples of pasteurised milk. The raw and pasteurised milk was collected from milk suppliers across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Their findings have appeared in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.
High levels of aflatoxins in livestock feed such as maize residue and peanut cake seem to be the reason for the toxins in milk. This is not the first time that warnings have been given to the livestock sector. In north-west India in 1974, thousands of cattle died after eating mouldy maize with extremely high aflatoxin levels (ranging from 6250 to 15,600 mg/kg). More than forty years later, the dairy industry in India – that relies on milk supplies from livestock – does not test samples for aflatoxin before they pool the milk for industry-level processing. Since the late 1990s, reports of aflatoxins in milk have emerged from Thrissur in Kerala and Anand in Gujarat. Biochemists at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow had detected very high aflatoxin levels in samples of infant milk food, milk-based weaning cereals and liquid milk in 2004.
Aflatoxin-producing members of Aspergillus are common and widespread in nature. They can colonize and contaminate grain before harvest or during storage. Host crops, which include maize, sorghum, and groundnuts, are particularly susceptible to infection by Aspergillus following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment, or damage from stressful conditions such as drought. Humidity, moisture, and poor storage conditions contribute to the growth of fungi and aflatoxins in livestock feed. Researchers have reported high values “up to 3,300 micrograms per kg” of the fungal toxin aflatoxin B1 in livestock feed. Aflatoxin B1 is metabolised by animals and converted into aflatoxin M1, which is secreted in milk. Aflatoxins are also sometimes found in eggs and meat when animals are fed contaminated grains.
Since studies show that these aflatoxins are resistant to heat treatment, the object should be to reduce their intake. But while most developed countries have set maximum permissible limits for aflatoxin levels in livestock feed, no such mandatory limits exist for livestock fodder in India. The limit for aflatoxins in milk set by the European Commission is “0.05 microgram per kg.” 90 per cent of our milk is higher than this. In 2006 FSSAI imposed 0.5 microgram per kg limit on milk in India - 10 times higher than the EC limit. Even that is lower than what is currently found. Recent studies conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in South India revealed that aflatoxin levels were as high as 40 times the permissible limit. In a study published in the journal Food Control, researchers found that over 90% of the milk samples used in the study contained aflatoxin M1 levels. In these studies, contamination of milk was found to be high in both rural and urban areas, across a cross section of the population. Children were found to be most susceptible to the adverse health effects of these toxins.
At least 14 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature. Aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic and is produced by fungi called Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These are among the most potent of carcinogens that cause more than 90,000 cases of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer each year. Consumption of aflatoxins can also lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, liver damage, convulsions, kidney, liver and heart disease, and in extreme cases, coma and death. Long-term aflatoxin poisoning in cattle leads to decrease in growth rate, lowered milk production and immune suppression. Some experiments have also shown high incidence of hepatitis B infection where dietary exposure to aflatoxins was prevalent.
Aflatoxins are strongly associated with stunting and immune suppression in children. In a 2015 study published by the Mitigating Aflatoxin Consumption for Improving Child Growth, researchers established a relationship between aflatoxin exposure and linear child growth. The study focused on children in the last trimester of gestation to age two (the primary period of growth faltering), and studied 1829 pregnant women who were enrolled from 2013 to 2014. Initial data collection found aflatoxin in the blood of all participants. The researchers reduced aflatoxin exposure by 50% in all participants and found that the reduction led to improved growth in the children tested.
Feed refusal, reduced growth rate, and decreased feed efficiency are the predominant signs of chronic aflatoxin poisoning in animals. In addition, listlessness, weight loss, rough hair coat, and mild diarrhoea may be seen. Anaemia along with bruises and subcutaneous haemorrhages are also frequent symptoms of aflatoxicosis. Increased susceptibility to other diseases, increased abortions and rectal prolapse are also signs. But in our country where vets are like hair on a near balding head, who is interpreting these symptoms?
How many of you know what food is being fed to the animals that give you milk? There are no pastures left in this country and cows/buffalos graze on the roadsides and on dirty human trodden grass. All green fodder grown for animals is grown with pesticides. Remember that if UHT milk, which means milk that has been pasteurized at very high temperatures, cannot remove the fungus, it is better not to drink the stuff at all.

Nestle resumes Maggi noodles production at all five plants in India

Nestle, which relaunched Maggi noodles on 9 November after a 5-month ban, resumed production at its Tahliwal plant in Himachal Pradesh
New Delhi: Nestle India Ltd on Monday said it has resumed production of Maggi noodles at all five facilities in India.
Nestle, which relaunched Maggi noodles on 9 November after a five-month ban, has started production of Maggi noodles from its Tahliwal plant in Himachal Pradesh. Nestle manufacturers Maggi noodles at its plants in Nanjangud (Karnataka), Moga (Punjab), Bicholim (Goa), Tahliwal and Pantnagar in Himachal Pradesh.
“The company has resumed manufacturing of Maggi noodles at its Tahliwal (Himachal Pradesh) factory. With this, the company has resumed manufacture of Maggi noodles at all five noodle manufacturing facilities,” Nestle said in a BSE filing.
In June, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned Maggi noodles, saying it was “unsafe and hazardous” for consumption after finding lead content beyond permissible limits. Nestle India, which took a hit of `450 crore including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned because of alleged excessive lead content, had stated that it would continue with the existing formula of the product and would not change the ingredients.
The consumer affairs ministry had also filed a class action suit against Nestle India, seeking about `640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labeling and misleading advertisements. It was for the first time that the ministry dragged a company to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) using a provision in the nearly three ­decade-­old Consumer Protection Act.

2 yrs on, food business operators wait for registration certificates

The health department is under scanner for receiving fees from hundreds of food business operators working in the rural areas of the district for mandatory registration under the Food Safety Act, but it failed to issue any registration certificate to them.
Operators were handed over receipts of depositing fees by health centres in their respective areas and were asked to show receipts if any health official visits their outlets for checking.
As the civil surgeon office was authorised to issue certificate to them but even after two years after depositing the money, operators are waiting for registration certificates.
Most business operators are shopkeepers, sweet manufacturers, bakery owners, flour mills owners belonging to Malsian, Shahkot, Lohian Bhogpur, Kala Bakra, Bara Pind and other adjoining areas, who had deposited `100 to `500 for registration between the period 2013 to February 2014.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, it is mandatory to have a licence for food business operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 crore, while those earning less than this amount must get a registration certificate.
A payment receipt of food registration issued by the health department to a general store owner at Malsian village. (HT Photo)

The registration fee is Rs 100 for the single year and the licence fee is Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 depending on the category of business.
HT went to Malsian, Shahkot and Kala Bakra areas and met food business operators who had submitted the requisite fees but yet to get certificate from the health department.
Sanjiv Kumar, proprietor of Laxmi General Store near Shahkot, said, “I had paid Rs 100 for one year registration on January 14, 2014 (a receipt shows) at the health centre but even after 23 months, no certificate was issued to me by the health department.”
Kumar told he used to inquire about the certificate from the health centre, but it gave only false claims of sending the certificate to him.
Joginder Pal, owner of Malli Sweet Shop in Malsian, told that he had deposited `200 at the health centre two years ago and also got a receipt of it, but he has not been issued any certificate by the health department yet.
When HT asked about the payment receipt, he said that it has been misplaced, but the department has not issued any official document.
“I had paid Rs 500 as registration fee for five years in 2013, but I have yet to get any registration document from the department,” Raj, owner of Pappu Bakery House, said.
Operators in other areas also complained of not receiving certificates even after paying fees.
HT also talked to several sanitary inspectors (SIs) in these areas, who were given the charge of asking food business operators for registration. Requesting anonymity, inspectors said that they had deposited the fees at the civil surgeon’s office at that time.
They added that they are helpless as they had themselves raised hue and cry with the senior officials but to no avail. They rued they are unable to tell about the status of their applications and fees.
Ramesh Kumar Hans, president, SIs association, said that his union is with operators and it would ensure them to get back their money.
Showing unawareness about this, civil surgeon Kailash Kapoor said it is a serious issue and if operators are not being issued registration certificates even after payment, the then district health officer (DHO) is responsible.
“I will call a meeting on this issue on Monday,” civil surgeon said, adding that operators should have also followed up their claims.
Food safety commissioner Hussan Lal said that the department would look into whole incident and he would ensure that those who have deposited fees, get registration certificates soon.

FSDA’s scheme to get your food item tested in Rs1,000 gets poor response

MEERUT: The Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) scheme by the state government that began in June this year is yet to gain traction in Meerut. As per the scheme, the laboratories are open to ordinary citizens - if someone is wary of a certain food item and wants it tested, he or she can submit a sample, pay Rs 1,000 and have it tested. So far, the scheme has got a poor response with only four takers from the city.
JP Singh, Chief Food Safety Officer, told TOI, "Only four items have been tested under this initiative - ghee, mustard oil, refine oil and namkeen. Out of these four samples, mustard oil was found substandard. Apart from mustard oil, all items were found up to the mark."
"Rs 1,000 is not a huge amount for a middle class person and the people who are taking benefit from this initiative are basically manufacturers who purchase food items in bulk. If a shopkeeper makes besan ladoos, he can get besan and ghee checked in the lab, and in case of any irregularity, he wouldn't face the wrath from the authorities," added Singh.
He further stated that the food sample test report cannot be used for legal purposes; it is only for their personal use. If the city residents find that the report for a certain food item is negative, they will have to ask the local authorities to conduct a fresh testing of the samples from that shop—which will invite a lawsuit if found negative.
When asked about the reason behind the scheme's poor response, Singh, said, "The government is not advertising it due to limited funds. Hence, most of the people are unaware about it."
You can get these tested:
# Milk and milk products # Oil and vanaspati # Fruits and vegetables # Cereals # Pulses # Sweets and confectionary items # Sweetening agents # Salt and spices; items manufactured using them # Tea/Coffee # Pan masala # Cooked food # Proprietary food

Conscious citizens walk food safety talk

LUCKNOW: From Vartika Singh of Miss India fame to madrasa student Rafia, people from all spheres of society walked for the cause of raising awareness towards importance of safe and hygienic food in the city, on Sunday. Organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in association with NASVI (National Association of Food Vendors of India) and consumer Body VOICE on Sunday, the WALKATHON was in alignment of Union Government's Surakshit Khadya Abhiyaan.
Guest of honor Vartika Singh flagged off the event and moved youngsters to spread awareness on the issue. "Safe, healthy and hygienic food is a basic human right and we at our end should ensure the food we eat is clean and safe. Youngsters can apprise the vegetable and food vendors in their vicinity about measures for safe preparation and handling of raw as well as cooked food," she said.
Raising consumers' awareness about food safety the speakers emphasised on shared responsibility of farmers, food industry regulators and consumers. Speaking to over 2,000 students present for the walk they appealed to them to make their family, friends and relatives follow the basic practices of food safety like washing hands before eating, cleaning properly raw food before it is cooked and making efforts to keep surroundings of eateries near them clean.
Students from 40 schools and colleges of the city along with guests pledged to contribute towards safe food for all.
Around 150 students from madrassas and Muslim orphanages participated in the trek. Listening attentively to the speakers, 15-year-old Iqra said, "I will explain this to my mother once I reach home. We all know the importance of clean food but at times we are ignorant about practices like washing hands before eating and avoiding food from vendors not following hygiene. From today I will follow it religiously," she said.