Raids show K’taka units processing ginger with sulphur, calcium hypochlorite

Ginger, an aromatic spice with wide-ranging culinary use, is reportedly being processed using chemicals like calcium hypochlorite and sulphur in some parts of the country.
Raids conducted recently on ginger processing units in Ayanur and Ripponpet areas of Shimoga district of Karnataka were found using chemicals in order to give the spice a yellowish tint and erase the dark spots on it. This is done to make the ginger rootstock attractive and command good prices.
With regard to the raids, C R Srinivasa Gowda, joint director, State Public Health Institute, Bangalore, explained, “We had received consumer complaints earlier. Some of our officers were suspecting bleaching agents being used in ginger processing units. Later, our district food safety officers (designated officers) went on to inspect ginger processing units in Ayanur and Ripponpet in Shimoga district. The whole vegetable, ginger was whitened using bleaching agents like calcium hypochlorite and sulphur.”
Gowda added, “We have seized sulphur and bleaching agents from the units. Our designated officers are on a search of processing units to ensure safe processing of ginger.” The quantity of seized sulphur was 100 kg.
He pointed out, “Three samples of the processed ginger from the processing units are sent to Bengaluru-based laboratory for tests. The results are expected to arrive in a month.”
Further, Gowda stated, “If the results are positive and usage of aforementioned chemicals in ginger processing is proved then an all-state inspection regime will be conducted to wipe out the usage of chemicals to attain appealing colour to the processed ginger.”
The designated officers have been asked to conduct regular checks at the units to unearth such malpractices since ginger cultivation doubled in the area in the past seven years.
It may be noted that many consumers in Shimoga district are facing issues regarding breathing and some have reportedly developed allergies. The usage of sulphur in processing is said to have contaminated the nearby water bodies making the situation worse. Following this, people in the vicinity lodged a complaint with the department of health and family welfare. Based on the complaint, designated officers conducted raids.
A source close to department of health and family welfare, stated, “One of the possible reasons for using chemicals is discoloured ginger in the market fetches low prices. Harmful chemicals like calcium hypochlorite are used in the processing to cease discolouring, ripening and rotting of ginger.”

Rajkot civic body collects samples of Patanjali ghee, noodles, biscuits

The food department of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has collected samples of some Patanjali products and sent them to laboratory for testing.
“We have collected random samples from the market in the RMC area. Samples of Patanjali's products like ghee, atta noodles and biscuits were collected on December 29, 2015, and those of chilli powder, son papdi and besan on December 30, 2015. These samples were sent to the Food and Drugs Laboratory, Nizampura, Vadodara,” informed A N Panchal, food safety officer, food department, Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
“The inspection results should arrive in 40 days as per the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act in practice. As and when the inspections will occur, the products will be sent to the Vadodara lab in this winter season,” stated Panchal, explaining the winter inspection drive.
The food department will be on an inspection regime of ghee and edible oils in the coming days.
“We have taken similar product samples of noodles, ghee, edible oils and sweets under our regular inspection regime,” informed Panchal.
“We conduct such inspection regimes every year. Last year, Patanjali samples met the standards,” added Panchal.
Panchal pointed out that some local sweet manufacturers will also be raided soon.

Hindustan Coca-Cola among food companies fined for selling sub standard items

Srinagar: Tightening noose on food companies selling sub standard and misbranded item, the Food Safety officials in Baramulla have imposed heavy fine on Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Divine Crops and allied products.
Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Baramulla told a local news gathering agency, KNS, that under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, a total fine of Rs 990000 was imposed on M/S Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd industrial estates Gangyal, Jammu, M/S Divine Crops and allied products Pvt Ltd and other companies for selling sub standard and misbranded items to people.
“The food operators were fined as they were involved in the sale, distribution and manufacturing of sub-standard and misbranded products in their stores, which is the violation of section 26 (2) of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006,” Iqbal said.
He said, “21 complaints were registered under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 by the Food Safety administration district Baramulla and Drug and Food control organization Jammu and Kashmir.”
The officer has warned the Food Business operators of strict action for violating food safety laws.

Easier norms for import of food items soon

NEW DELHI: The new year heralds good news for food lovers. For faster clearance of imported food products, including supplements and nutraceuticals, the government has decided to waive off sampling from consignments of general food products at ports, airports and other points of entry. Instead, only risk-based sampling will be done to ascertain compliance.
The move is in line with international standards aimed at easing trade between countries by awarding speedier clearances to products that do not involve serious health concerns, while focusing on specific items which are identified on the basis of "pre-defined risk parameters", as specified by food and drug regulatory agencies. The customs department could then introduce these parameters into its own system to draw random samples at ports, while immediately clearing those that do not raise an alarm.
"...after detailed consultations, it has been decided that amongst others, it is possible to reduce the time taken for clearance of imported consignments by adopting a risk-based criteria for clearance of such consignments in place of samples being drawn from each consignment," said a recent order of the health ministry.
However, the order will come into effect from March 1 as the customs department will put in place a specific software to identify products with potential risk.
According to a senior official in the ministry, products which are imported regularly by importers of established reputation with a credible record are likely to get faster clearances under the new system.
The move is in line with the government's resolve to launch single-window clearance for all imports by March. The customs department has already started clearing textiles from countries like the US and EU, with prohibited use of harmful azo dyes, without testing at ports. It is planning risk based testing for imports from nations that are known to use azo dyes.
The health ministry's rule will be applicable for both export and import of food products and drugs that require clearance from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Drugs Controller General of India.
Food importers and pharmaceutical companies, particularly those selling supplements and nutraceuticals, have been pushing for faster clearances for a long time. Premium chocolates, dairy products such as cheese and various fruits and dry fruits were often held back at ports by customs for days for sampling and checking. Companies allege that such delays in clearances lead to huge loses as shelf life of the products get exhausted and sometimes they are even spoiled.
The latest move also assumes significance because consumption of imported premium products including chocolates and gourmet based products is increasing tremendously.

Mysuru scientists develop anti-obesity oil

In what is described as a major innovation, CFTRI has developed an anti-obesity edible oil (diacylglycerol oil).
CFTRI has claimed that it was a healthy vegetable oil prepared from sunflower oil.
In addition to maintaining healthy bodyweight, the oil provides energy and does not store as fat, according to the institute. CFTRI Director Ram Rajashekaran claimed that it was “one of its kind in the world” as a similar product developed in the past by a foreign country had to be withdrawn over the issue of “food safety”.

Patanjali noodles case: FSSAI studying reply to show-cause notice

"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna was quoted as saying.
Food regulator FSSAI reportedly said it will take a final call on Patanjali noodles case after studying the company's reply to its notice.
"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna was quoted as saying.
FSSAI reported that the case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali.
In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products.

FIR against Snapdeal for selling Maggi noodles during ban period

A case was registered on Sunday against CEO of Snapdeal Kunal Bahl and its founder Rohit Bansal for online sale of Nestle's instant noodles in five states.
An FIR has been registered against the CEO and founder of an e-commerce major for allegedly selling popular Maggi noodles online during the ban period, in five Indian states.
A case was registered on Sunday against CEO of Snapdeal Kunal Bahl and its founder Rohit Bansal for online sale of Nestle's instant noodles in five states including Rajasthan during the period of ban between June 7 and October 30 last year, police said on Monday.
A complaint was on Sunday lodged by Lalit Sharma, a Jaipur-based lawyer following which police registered an FIR under sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) of the IPC and sections 59 and 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
When contacted, the company spokesperson said they have not received any information on the same.
Last June, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had placed a ban on sale of Maggi after they found high levels of lead in it.
The Bombay High Court, however, had revoked the ban on Maggi on October 19 paving the way for it to be back on shelves.

Products with ‘safe’ ingredients may not need food regulator’s approval

TheFSSAI is preparing new rules for product approvals after an earlier advisory, which put it at loggerheads with the food processing industry.
NEW DELHI: India's food regulator may do away with product approvals if the ingredients used have already been cleared or are deemed safe, bringing relief to the food processing industry by introducing a globally accepted norm.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is preparing new rules for product approvals after an earlier advisory, which put it at loggerheads with the industry, was quashed by the Supreme Court for not having legal standing.
"We are in the process of formulating regulations for product approval process. We thought we could take this opportunity to review the procedure rather than just convert the advisory into regulation," said a senior officer of the authority who is aware of the development.
The food processing industry had alleged that the product approval system had paved the way for an "inspector raj" and it also drew flak from food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who criticised the effects of regulatory overreach after the FSSAI imposed a nationwide ban on Nestle's popular instant noodle brand, Maggi, in June.
The FSSAI's proposed regulation may require product approval only if a new ingredient or additive is introduced, a practice followed in several developed nations. The regulator has uploaded a list of permitted food additives and food items in which they can be used and the recommended maximum level.
The product approval process was brought in through a May 2013 advisory, which had been challenged by the Maharashtra-based Vital Nutraceuticals and the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association and deemed illegal by the Bombay High Court. The authority appealed in the Supreme Court, which questioned the legal standing of the process as it was an advisory rather than a regulation.
While the FSSAI discontinued the process after the court's ruling, it uploaded a circular on its website on August 26, which said the product approval process will be brought back as regulation. "Every endeavour will be made to expedite the regulations governing section 22 products," the circular said. The food processing industry feared the procedure outlined in the May 2013 advisory would be enacted as regulations.
The government recently appointed senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal as the chief executive officer of the FSSAI in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, who was behind the ban on Maggi.

Crackdown on unlicensed sale of junk food

Sale of crushed ice delicacies to be prevented in Kozhikode Corporation limits
Sale of crushed ice delicacies and drinks on the wayside and at beach tourism destinations in the city will be curbed as part of the strengthened vigil to ward off food-borne illnesses and communicable diseases.
Health Department squads within the City Corporation limit, municipalities and grama panchayats have been asked to keep a tab on unlicensed sale of junk food, especially cool drinks prepared with crushed ice. Sale of marinated fruits too will be monitored as part of the improved vigil.
The department has prepared the strict action plan after noticing the unhealthy practice on the part of a few vendors who use impure ice bars for the preparation of cool drinks, juices and marinated items. In flash searches conducted recently, the squads had also seized such unhealthy food items from the city and its suburbs.
Also, the sale of ice creams in unhygienic carts by unlicensed vendors too would be prevented taking into account concerns about children’s health.
Already, some schools and parents- teachers organisations have alerted their students against consumption of such food items citing health reasons.
The Health Department officials have also made it clear that the hygiene rules would be applicable to soft-drink and juice shops in the city and rural areas. “Surprise inspections would be carried out in all parts of the city to check the strict implementation of the quality parameters prescribed under Section 30 (d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006,” they said.
As per rules, fruits and other additives used to prepare juice or any other drinks should be bought only from traders with FSSA licence and the purchase bills should be kept for future verification purposes. The guidelines also stipulate that water used for preparation of juice, etc., should be from a properly tested source of impeccable quality.
However, officials attest that wayside juice sellers have been found to be violating many of these provisions for quick profit with minimal investment.
“Taking into account public safety, we will initiate stringent action against such unhygienic sales in the sector,” they said.

Patanjali noodles case neither delayed nor expedited: FSSAI

"We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson told reporters.
Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company’s reply to its notice.
“We have received reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process,” FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna told reporters.
“The case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali,” he said. In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products for allegedly violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and manufacturing, re-labeling and marketing Patanjali atta noodles without valid approval.
Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, has launched 70-gram pack atta noodles priced at Rs 15, claiming it to be cheaper than other competitors, with an eye to take on market leader Nestle’s Maggi, which is back in shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.
Patanjali had earlier strongly denied FSSAI’s claims and insisted that it had licence for pasta, under which noodles fall as per the regulator’s classification. The company further said FSSAI has already admitted that it’s no longer possible for the regulator to continue with the process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013.
This followed a Supreme Court order in August this year that upheld an order of the Bombay High Court on the issue. In June last year, FSSAI had banned Nestle’s instant noodles Maggi. This was later lifted by the high court, which ruled that the product needs to be tested at three government-approved laboratories. A clean chit from these labs led to the relaunch of the noodles in November.

No nonsense, no compromise

There are papers to read, meetings to attend. On a typical day at the office, T.V. Anupama’s door opens and shuts scores of times. The office, tucked into a corner of Thycaud, in Thiruvananthapuram, could do a lot of rework. But then that’s just one of the offices she goes to — the Food Safety Commissioner’s which Anupama joined one-and-a-half years ago.
She has also been made the Additional Director (General), Tourism and Managing Director, Inframed. But since she joined the service in 2010, no year has brought her the kind of attention this last one did. The year 2015 in one word has been ‘eventful’ for the young IAS officer who fell from one controversy to another — from restricting pesticide-infected vegetables from Tamil Nadu to the ban of certain packaged products. She speaks of the year that went by.
“The Food Safety Department came into existence only in 2011. So, the initial two years went into setting up the department. Even when I came in, the situation was that. For established departments, there is precedence for everything and you just have to follow it. If there is a specific issue, you need special intervention. In the case of food safety, there was a total lack of resources. No proper office, no sufficient human resources, no enough vehicles. So there was the setting up of the department going hand in hand with the work enforcement and analysis,” she says.
“Many things happen on a day-to-day basis but there’s no ready solution because we haven’t done it before. We know harmful pesticides and all are used. But how do we go about it? People have vegetables on a daily basis. You can’t just ban it. We needed another kind of solution. Everyone was aware of the situation. We were only a part of it. We spoke about it, presented in the meetings about it but rest was done by the government or public. People started becoming so aware, we continued lifting samples (from check-posts and markets),” she explains.
“Then there was the banning of certain products. Only some got highlighted. There are certain kind of food items that under the act or by various medical reports we know is unsafe. You should treat them in one way. Then there are certain habitual offenders you treat a different way,” Anupama says. However, she is not pleased with the publicity she got. “I haven’t been comfortable with the kind of attention all this brought. I don’t use my personal FB page much. No Twitter and no verified official page. But at some point, you have to open up. It is mandatory that we put all orders on public platform. Whenever some adulteration comes we put on the website. I didn’t expect this kind of response. The worst situation is when your privacy is encroached. Family was dragged into it. Luckily they were very supportive. Most of the staff were too, and there was public support,” Anupama says.

No special consideration given to Patanjali noodles case: FSSAI

Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company's reply to its notice.
Ruling out any special consideration being given to the Patanjali noodles case, food regulator FSSAI has said it will take a final call after studying the company's reply to its notice.
"We have received a reply from Patanjali to our show-cause notice. We are studying that and the case is in process," FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna told PTI.
"The case is neither delayed nor expedited because it belongs to Patanjali," he said.
In November 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Akash Yog Health Products for allegedly violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and manufacturing, re-labeling and marketing Patanjali atta noodles without valid approval.
Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, has launched 70-gram pack atta noodles priced at Rs 15, claiming it to be cheaper than other competitors, with an eye to take on market leader Nestle's Maggi, which is back in shelves five months after FSSAI had banned it.
Patanjali had earlier strongly denied FSSAI's claims and insisted that it had licence for pasta, under which noodles fall as per the regulator's classification.
The company further said FSSAI has already admitted that it's no longer possible for the regulator to continue with the process of product approvals, which was facilitated through an advisory in May 2013.
This followed a Supreme Court order in August this year that upheld an order of the Bombay High Court on the issue.
In June last year, FSSAI had banned Nestle's instant noodles Maggi. This was later lifted by the high court, which ruled that the product needs to be tested at three government-approved laboratories. A clean chit from these labs led to the relaunch of the noodles in November.

State bans Calcium Carbide used to ripen fruits

Waking up to the reality of widespread use of Calcium Carbide (CaC2) to ripen fruits in Hyderabad and elsewhere, the State government has now made it mandatory for fruit vendors to give an undertaking that they won’t sell fruits ripened with the chemical.
The government has also given orders to malls, departmental stores, kiosks, fruit stalls to clearly display posters declaring ‘Use of Calcium Carbide for ripening of fruits in injurious to health’ on their premises.
The State government has urged municipal bodies and officials from Commissioner of Food Safety to engage traders and other stake holders on effectively prohibiting the sale and use of Calcium Carbide.
The Food Safety (Prohibition and Restriction in Sale) Regulations 2011 bans persons from selling fruits ripened by acetylene gas or Calcium Carbide.
From now on, vendors have to provide assurance to regulatory authorities that the fruits sold from their stalls are not ripened artificially by using CaC2.
‘Conduct frequent checks’
The State government has directed the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Commissioner of Food Safety to conduct frequent and surprise inspections of commercial establishments selling fruits to ensure implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, which bans use of Calcium Carbide.

After insects in Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Atta noodles, fungus found in Patanjali’s Desi Ghee

Samples were collected from Haridwar and have been sent for testing.
2015 has not been a good year for Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurveda. Locals in Haridwar have reported about a the presence of fungus in the bottle of Patanjali’s Cow Milk’s Desi Ghee. Food Safety officials collected the sample on Monday and have sent them to a lab in Rudrapur for further testing.
According to the reports, samples were collected from Bhadrabad Phase II after many people reported the presence of impurities and fungus in the samples and test reports are expected in a fortnight.
It has also been reported that Baba Ramdev’s aide, Balakrishna has completely rejected the allegations stating that the ghee is heated to an optimum temperature and hence the allegation of fungus in a sealed bottle is baseless.
A few months ago, questions were raised about the quality and safety of Patanjali Atta Noodles as the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) declared that Patanjali had not received an approval from them before launching their atta noodles. Samples have been sent for testing but the reports are still awaited.
After that, a man in Haryana complained that he had found insects in a packet of Patanjali’s Atta noodles. The packet was purchased from some swadeshi store in Narwana and the shopkeeper too had admitted that the packet was purchased from his outlet. The man had then decided to file a litigation against Patanjali. But, like most other news, there’s no information on whether the litigation was actually filed and what Patanjali had to say in this case.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

 

 

 

New Year parties under FDA’s check

All the big parties that will happen on the New Year’s Eve across the city can expect the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department check their platters. The FDA will collect food samples served at restaurants and inspect its quality to see if it is in line with the standards set by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
Last year, the FDA inspected about 174 food samples of which only 2% served eatables that didn’t comply with the FSSAI standards.
The department also urges party goers to be aware of the quality of foods they are being served.

Food safety checks to be stepped up

Food safety inspections will be stepped up across the State for New Year celebrations following directivess issued by the government.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has instructed Food Safety Commissioner T.V. Anupama to organise surprise raids on bakeries, hotels, restaurants, and outdoor eateries.
Night-time inspections will be carried out at tourist centres.
Fruit stalls will also be checked to verify reports about the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of oranges. Ms. Anupama informed the Minister that inspections so far had failed to establish the use of calcium carbide.
A pressnote issued by the Minister’s office said an amount of Rs.5.95 lakh had been levied from bakeries and other food outlets for violation of food safety regulations during the Christmas season. One unit in Kollam manufacturing bakery items was closed down.
The pressnote said the new laboratories set up by the Food Safety department at Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam had stepped up analytical tests of samples to detect pesticide residue in vegetables.

Raids planned on illegal meds makers before New Year’s Eve

Meerut: With the city residents gearing up for their annual New Year's Eve parties, the Meerut drug administration (a wing of the Food Safety and Drug Administration) has planned a series of raids across the city to unearth illegal medicine manufacturing units. This follows fears by the administration that makers of illegal drugs will take advantage of police and other officials being stuck in managing festivities, giving the manufacturers the chance to transport their products with impunity.
The move comes nearly three weeks after a television channel conducted a sting operation unearthing an illegal medicine making racket in Meerut. There were no arrests made in the case due to lack of evidence.
"The city is gearing up for celebrating New Year's Day. The administration would be busy with various issues that come up with it like traffic jams and other emergencies. There are chances that local illegal medicine manufacturers would take advantage and try to move or sell their products," said Sandeep Kumar, illegal drugs inspector, Meerut.
A two-member team has been formed to conduct raids, while extra manpower and police officials would be called upon whenever necessary, Kumar added.
The Meerut drugs administration along with police officials and drugs inspectors of Bulandshahr, Noida and Ghaziabad raided the Lisari gate area after a sting operation showed two men - Nikhil and Shaanu - to be fake medicine suppliers. But as the sting operation was aired on TV, the evidence was destroyed or moved to a different location by the two accused, due to which the police returned empty-handed.
"We have already arrested two people in the last three weeks who were on our radar and other raids are on to check that no such illegal drugs-making factory is active in the city. We target a few more arrests before the end of the year," said Kumar.
Talking to TOI, deputy inspector general (DIG), Meerut range, Ashutosh Kumar, said, "I think it was too premature of the TV channel to air the video. Had they got the drugs from these alleged manufacturers, we would have had evidence in our hands to be able to conduct arrests. But now raids are on and hopefully some suspects will be behind bars soon."

In Bhopal, gyms, wellness centres wink at FSSAI norms

BHOPAL: A horde of macho men associated with gyms and wellness centres in Bhopal go all out extolling power of protein powder energy drinks and supplements. And many do not bother registeration with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).
District health officials are yet to wake up to side-effects of youngsters aspiring to bulk up like a pro. The risk is real and potent, said district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Veena Sinha. "There can be unwanted side-effects from using unregulated power supplements. There are certain physical conditions that require advice from medical practitioners," she said. "We will pursue with these centres to register as per norms in keeping with public safety," she said.
On Friday, senior IPS officer S K Pandey died of heart attack during a workout in a posh gymnasium. The incident has once again brough into focus an urgent need to regulate and monitor wellness and health centres.
As per information from FDA, none of the body building or wellness centres in the state capital are registered as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules. District health office, however, claimed one centre was registered in nearly two years since the directive was issued.
As per government circular, health centres should register with the office of CMHO under the Nursing Home Act. As per new directives, fitness centres will have to obtain licence from CMHO. Health officials will conduct surprise inspections and test supplements being supplied by these centres.
As per directives, owners of gyms, spas and other fitness centres should submit a list of documents, including health status of their employees to get a licence. Physiotherapy centres will also be covered under the new rules.
Experts said there are chances of bacterial infections and spread of diseases like hepatitis in a gym. The centres would also have to provide clean drinking water and toilet facility.
"In past, FDA collected samples of nutraceuticals. However, registration of these centres is mandatory as per law," said MP-FDA joint controller Pramod Shukla.

Only 'expiry date' for food items, not 'best before': Paswan

Hyderabad: The Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday said labels printed on food items should carry only "expiry date", and not "best before", which has no meaning."We want that only there is 'expiry date'. There is no meaning in 'best before'", Paswan, the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, told PTI here. 

Paswan said he would convene a meeting of his department to "work out" and implement this measure.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) President D K Jain said last week consumers get confused about labels printed on food items and the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) should look into labelling issues related to 'expiry date' and 'best before'.
Jain had wondered if 'best before' label means it is fit for human consumption after six months.
Paswan also said the Centre is in discussion with National Association of Street Vendors of India vis-a-vis earmarking certain areas in cities for selling of such good.
"We want a system for (selling of) street food. We want this activity to take place in particular place", he said.
Paswan noted the people enjoy food in "dhabas". Similarly, street food can also be safe and cheap and can be sold in an enjoyable atmosphere.
Noting that the Association had held a "mela" in "Dilli Haat", Paswan said such an initiative, whereby certain areas are earmarked for street food, should be implemented in other places in the country.

Govt orders testing of edible oils over cancer link

Manzoor-ul-HassanSrinagar, Dec 26:
The government has ordered state-wide testing of edible oils as reports suggest that top brands sell “substandard and adulterated” cooking oil in J&K containing cancer-causing agents.
The State Drug and Food Control Organization has raided all major outlets of edible oils with the aim to identify and punish distributers and manufacturers producing adulterated cooking oil refined from low quality and discarded rapeseeds.
"We have taken open samples for lab testing from nearly 10 top brands. If any of the brands are found adulterated with harmful and substandard oil, their outlets and industrial units will be immediately sealed,” Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir told Rising Kashmir.
He said most of the top oil brands available in the market are under scrutiny including Jammu and Punjab based like P-Mark, Jumbo, Zamindar, V-brand and Noori.
“As of now we have send it to the local Food Analyst for testing. Let’s see how many parameters he can check. We can send the samples to referral laboratories in Kolkata and Ghaziabad for precise testing,” Mir said.
Earlier, edible oils were found containing recycled oils and oils extracted from discarded rapeseeds, which contain highly toxic carcinogenic substance including ‘dropsin’ and ‘aflatoxin.’
Sources said the Food Analyst Lab in Srinagar was unequipped for checking the actual adulterants like Dropsin, accumulation of fluids and mixture of inferior oils.
“The food analyst in Kashmir can only test oil for simple things like color, ash value, turbidity, concentration, iodine value and water,” said an official in the DFCO.

Taking Food Safety Seriously

India needs to treat food-borne diseases with much more seriousness than it does at present.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in its first global estimates of preventable food-borne diseases has reported that 600 million people (one in 10) fall ill and 420,000 die every year from contaminated food. According to the report, “WHO Estimates of the Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases,” the highest number of cases occurs in Africa and South-east Asia which includes India. Children under five bear the brunt, accounting for 40% of the population that falls ill and 30% (125,000) who die from food-borne diseases mostly due to diarrhoeal diseases. The report affirms and quantifies the magnitude of what is familiar knowledge. What is disturbing is that these deaths are preventable to a large extent and the illnesses which rob so many of their productivity and well-being can be avoided if all stakeholders are serious about taking preventive measures. The suffering and deaths target the poor and marginalised sections the most.
Nutritionists point to emerging economies—India included—constituting the “hotspots” of food safety concerns. As the Inter­national Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) says in its “2014–2015 Global Food Policy Report,” these economies witness a rapidly growing demand for foods but a weak food governance system. The report also notes that in the poorest countries food-borne diseases cannot be separated from other diseases that are waterborne, vector-borne or due to sheer poverty. IFPRI observes that the widely publicised findings about food inspections, even negative ones (in China), “may be more positive than the situation in India, where no reports on food safety inspection or results are publicly available.”
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an independent statutory authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA), Act 1954), has been in the limelight in the past few months thanks to the controversy over Maggi noodles. But the ongoing episode has been more confusing than enlightening. Different states have come out with different test results and there is confusion about the permissible levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG) that the food can contain. Overall, food safety laws and regulations need much better streamlining, better qualified staff followed by stringent implementation.
Starting from agricultural practices (use of unsafe agrochemicals and contaminated groundwater), poor hygiene in storage and handling to food cooked and distributed in unhygienic surroundings and with unsafe water there are myriad factors that need regulation and monitoring. Studies show that the diarrhoeal deaths among Indian children below five are mostly due to food and water contamination. One study of mothers with children below five in Hyderabad titled “Perceptions of Women on Food Safety” by the National Institute of Nutrition found that while the mothers had good food safety awareness and practices, what was needed was “an enabling environment” with better access to potable water, sanitation and cooking fuel along with awareness of adulteration and ways of complaining to the relevant authorities. Where the risk factors for persistent diarrhoea such as hygiene were concerned, other studies have found that caregivers need to be given health education, but keeping in mind sociocultural and socio-economic factors that come into play. Another area that needs special attention is surveillance of food-borne diseases without which there cannot be a good monitoring system. This will entail in-depth training of inspection staff and the involvement of a number of government agencies. A recent research study in the journal Epidemiology Research International finds that food-borne diseases are not categorised separately in the Health Information of India, an annual statistical publication by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (GoI).
The WHO report says governments and industry must “improve inspections and control of the food chain from the fields and farmyards to the factory and plate.” It points out that instead of trying to penalise street vendors it is better to invest in their training and education. Considering the proportion of the urban population in India that depends on street food for its daily meals, this recommendation is of great significance. Once again, like the monitoring of food safety regulations, the ball comes back to the authorities’ court. Consumer awareness is an important factor but basic amenities, responsiveness of the authorities and well-thought-out policy decisions form the basis for better food safety. It is obvious that food safety is a complex issue that calls for a multipronged solution. Success on this front will be directly proportional to the commitment of all stakeholders to saving the lives of future generations and the productivity of millions.

How food became a talking point in 2015

Food debates of varying kind dominated the year – from middle classes shedding tears over recall of instant noodles to villagers in Bundelkhand eating grass rotis – exposing vast inequities in the Indian society, notes the writer Dinesh C Sharma
If we were to shortlist subjects that dominated public discourse in the country during 2015, food will be a surprise pick along with usual suspects like corruption, intolerance, pollution and so on. The noodles controversy, food safety regulation, beef bans, launch of ‘yogic’ noodles, ban on junk food products in schools, skyrocketing prices of pulses and reports of hunger in Bundelkhand dominated news headlines and public discourse at various points during the year. If the middle class was saddened over recall of contaminated Maggi noodles and then rejoiced over its return as if it was their life savior, images of poor villagers in drought-hit Bundelkhand eating rotis made of grass made shocking television though the administration remained in denial.
While every move related to the Maggi ban and its eventual return to superstore shelves was covered in detail along with live discussions, Bundelkhand horror did not get the attention it deserved. The shooting prices of pulses, a major source of protein for the poor, garnered much attention and led to import of dals and their distribution through government outlets. The beef ban in some states took violent turn and led to a brutal murder in Dadri near the national capital, on the suspicion of presence of beef in a household refrigerator. The beef issue also caused avoidable tension in the Osmania University and other campuses across the country.
The recall of Maggi noodle packets from markets in Uttar Pradesh triggered discussion on food safety regulation in the country. This was the first time, a major food company, Nestle, was booked for misbranding its products and for contamination with excess amounts of excess toxic heavy metals. Though the two-minute noodle brand is back in food stores after necessary action, we are yet to hear the last word on this controversy as the matter is still subjudice. The stand taken by the Minister for Food Processing Industries in this matter was shocking.
Instead of sharing concerns of consumers, the minister chose to side with the junk food industry and said that the controversy would affect investment in food processing sector. The minister even took the matter to the Prime Minister. Such pressure from inside the government, coupled with high intensity lobbying by the industry, led to sacking of the chief executive officer of food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), who had gone after violations by Nestle. Instead of weakening the food regulator like this, the government should amend the law to make it completely independent and autonomous much like stock market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The noodle debate took a curious turn when yoga exponent and promoter of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Ramdev, launched a new brand of noodles. The move was extremely ironic because someone who claims to be a proponent of Ayurveda – which propagates principles of slow food – becomes a champion of very fast food which he has been criticizing all along. Like Nestle, Ramdev too ran into regulatory roadblocks when FSSAI found that his noodle brand had not been approved for food safety. Ramdev responded by saying that his company had a manufacturing license to make pasta, which entitled it to manufacture noodles too.
This means the yoga expert is now making both noodles and pasta. This thoroughly exposed his public stand that fast foods are bad for health of children. On March 15, 2014, Ramdev had famously tweeted asking his supports “let’s junk junk food for a healthy nation.” He had also denounced sports icons who advertised junk food products. The launch of Patanjali noodles exposes that his ‘boycott junk food’ call was a mere posturing of a businessmen just to denounce competing products and had nothing to do with the health of children. Factory processed and mass marketed noodles will come with a tag of junk food, whether they are sold by Nestle or Patanjali.
On the positive side, the food regulator published ‘Draft guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in India’. The guidelines are a result of an ongoing litigation in the Delhi High Court and have been developed by experts based on scientific evidence regarding link between consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar and non-communicable diseases. Among other things, guideline suggests restricting sale of junk food in schools and areas up to 50 meters nearby. The year 2016 will crucial to see how these guidelines are implemented.
-The writer is Fellow, Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal.

Corporate world saw both ups and downs

FSSAI banning Maggi noodles was the highlight of 2015 From bans to recalls to mergers and acquisitions, it was a year filled with events, negative as well as positive for corporates. It all started with the famous two minute snack — Maggi noodles. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on June 5, 2015, ordered Nestle India to withdraw and recall the nine approved variants of its Maggi instant noodles from the market for having been found unsafe and hazardous for human consumption.
Nestle was instructed to stop further production, processing, import, distribution and sale of the product with immediate effect. FSSAI had also asked Nestle to withdraw and recall its Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker, for which risk/safety assessment has not been undertaken and product approval has not been granted.
Legal battle
While Nestle India sought legal recourse, retailers including Kishore Biyani-owned Big Bazaar and Reliance Retail decided to take the product off their shelfs in the interest of the consumers.
HUL also decided to withdraw Knorr, its Chinese range of instant noodles, from the market following the problems surrounding Maggi.
However, after fresh testing of the newly manufactured samples, the product was brought back on the shelf early last month, nearly five months after the product was banned by the FSSAI.

1,076 உணவு பொருட்களில் கலப்படம்

பெங்களூரு: “கர்நாடகாவில், 10 ஆயிரத்து, 750 உணவு பொருட்கள், பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இதில், 1,076 உணவு பொருட்கள் தரம் குறைந்தவை அல்லது கலப்படமானவை என்பது தெரிய வந்தது,” என, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக்கட்டுப்பாடு அதிகாரி சிவகுமார் தெரிவித்தார்.
பெங்களூரு ஆசிரியர் பவனில் நடந்த, தேசிய பாதுகாப்பு தின விழா நிகழ்ச்சியில், அவர் பேசியதாவது:அண்மை நாட்களில், கலப்படமான உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பது அதிகரிக்கிறது. மாநிலத்தில் பரிசோதனைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்ட, 10 ஆயிரத்து, 750 உணவு பொருட்களில், 1,076 உணவு பொருட்கள் கலப்படமானவை அல்லது தரமில்லாதவை என்பது தெரிய வந்தது; இது குறித்து மக்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும்.உத்தர கன்னட மாவட்டம், சிர்சியில் உள்ள கடையொன்றில், கலப்படமான துவரம் பருப்பு விற்கப்படுவதாக, பொதுமக்களிடமிருந்து புகார் வந்தது.இதன் அடிப்படையில், அங்கு சென்று சோதனை நடத்தி, விற்பனை செய்தவருக்கு, மூன்று மாதம் சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டது.கலப்படமான, தரமில்லாத உணவு பொருட்களை விற்பவருக்கு, 10 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரையிலும், துாய்மையற்ற உணவு பொருட்களை விற்பவருக்கு, ஐந்து லட்சம் ரூபாய் அபராதம், ஆறு மாத சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்க சட்டத்தில் இடமுள்ளது.
தெரு ஓரத்தில் உணவு விற்பவர் முதல், பெரிய நிறுவனங்களில், உணவு பொருள் விற்பவர் வரை அனைவருக்கும் இச்சட்டம் பொருந்தும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal is new CEO, FSSAI; to take over reins from Bahuguna

New Delhi
Union government has appointed Pawan Kumar Agarwal as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the apex food regulatory body FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
Government, in its order dated December 22, has given the nod to Agarwal’s appointment. He would takeover reins from Ashish Bahuguna chairman FSSAI who was holding additional charge of the CEO ever since Y S Malik was shifted to NITI Aayog in September.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by prime minister Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of Agarwal as CEO of FSSAI.
Agrawal, a 1985 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was joint secretary in ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship. He has been appointed as CEO, FSSAI, in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, according to an order issued by department of personnel and training.
In September, in a surprising move, Malik was transferred to NITI Aayog by the Union government. Malik, was seen as the man behind the ban on global giant Nestle's Maggi noodles. However, FSSAI is still contesting the Bombay High Court order on Nestle Maggi in the Supreme Court.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

ரசாயணத் திரவம் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைத்த 20 வாழைத்தார் பறிமுதல் பவானி நகராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி சோதனை

பவானி,டிச.25:
பவானி தின சரி மார்க் கெட் டில் ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து வாழைக் காய் தாரை பழுக்க வைத்து விற் பனை செய்து வரு வ தாக நக ராட்சி நிர் வா கத் துக்கு புகார் வந் தது.
இதை ய டுத்து வாழைத் தார் விற் பனை செய் யும் கடை க ளில் ரக சி ய மாக கண் கா ணித்து வந் த தில் ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைப் பது உறுதி செய் யப் பட் டது. இது கு றித்து நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க ஆணை யர் சிவக் கு மார் உத் த ர வின் பேரில் துப் பு ரவு ஆய் வா ளர் சிவக் கு மார் மற் றும் நக ராட்சி ஊழி யர் கள் திடீர் சோதனை நடத் தி னர். தங் க வேலு என் ப வ ரின் கடைக்கு வாக னத் தில் வந் தி றங் கிய வாழைத் தார் களை பழுக்க வைப் ப தற் காக அவற் றின் மீது ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் ஸ்பிரே செய்து கொண் டி ருந் தார். விசா ர ணை யில், ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளிப் ப தால் 2 மணி நேரத் தில் பச் சைக் காய் கள் பழுப்பு நிறத்தை அடை கின் றன. வழக் க மாக இயற் கை யா கப் பழுக் கும் வாழைக் காய் கள் நன்கு கனிந்து, விரை வில் அழு கும் நிலைக் குச் சென்று விடும். ஆனால், ரசா ய னத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித் துப் பழுக்க வைக் கப் ப டும் பழங் கள் 10 நாள் வரை யில் கல் போன்று கடி ன மா க வும், அழு கா ம லும் இருக் கும் எனக் கூறப் ப டு கி றது.அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த நக ராட்சி அதி கா ரி கள், அக் க டை யில் இருந்த ரூ.4 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் புள்ள 20 பச்சை வாழைத் தார் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.
மேலும், ரசா ய ணத் திர வத் தைத் தெளித்து பழுக்க வைத்த வாழைப் பழ வியா பாரி தங் க வே லுக்கு, ரூ.1,000 அப ரா தம் விதிக் கப் பட் டது.

13 business operators fined Rs 2.74 lakh for violating Food Safety Act in Srinagar

As many as 13 business operators have been fined Rs 2.74 lakh for selling and manufacturing substandard and misbranded food articles in the summer capital, Srinagar. An official spokesperson here today said that the court of Adjudicating Officer (Additional Deputy Commissioner), Srinagar has imposed a fine of Rs 2.74 lakh on 13 food business operators.

He said 20 more cases have been instituted by the Food Safety wing of Drugs and Food Control Organisation against various food business operators in competent courts for violating different provisions of Food Safety and Substandard Act. Meanwhile, a team of Food Safety Officers headed by the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Srinagar visited Dargah Hazratbal, Soura and Kalashpora areas and seized newspapers in huge quantities which were being used to pack hot 'halwa', 'parathas' and snacks.On the occasion, the 'halwais' were also directed to refrain from using synthetic colours in their preparations or else stern action as per the provisions of Food Safety and Substandard Act shall be taken against them, he added.

நுகர் வோர் பாது காப்பை உறுதி செய் யும் வகை யில் பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளின் லேபிள் விதி க ளில் மாற் றம் வரு கி றது

புது டெல்லி, டிச.24:
நுகர் வோர் பாது காப்பை உறுதி செய் யும் வகை யில் பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளின் லேபிள் விதி க ளில் மாற் றங் கள் கொண்டுவரப்பட உள்ளன.
இது கு றித்து இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணைய தலை வர் ஆசிஷ் பகு குணா கூறி ய தா வது:
பொருட் கள் விற்பனையில் விளம் ப ரத் தின் பங்கு பிர தா ன மாக உள் ளது. பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளி லும் விளம் ப ரத் தின் ஆதிக் கம் அதி கம். எனவே, இவற்றை வாங் கும் வாடிக் கை யா ளர் கள் ஒரு போ தும் அதி லுள்ள லேபிளை படித் துப் பார்த்து வாங் கு வ தில்லை. அந்த பொருட் க ளில் என் னென்ன சேர்க் கப் பட் டி ருக் கி றது என் பது பல ருக்கு தெரி யா ம லேயே போய் வி டு கி றது. அதோடு, பாது காப் பான உணவு என் ப தற் கும் ஆரோக் கி ய மான உணவு என் ப தற் கும் இடை யி லான வித் தி யா சத்தை பகுத் த றி யும் போக்கு நுகர் வோ ரி டம் இருப் ப தில்லை. ஒரு உண வுப் பொ ருள் உட் கொள் வ தற்கு பாது காப் பா னது. அத னால் உடல் நலத் திற்கு தீங்கு ஏற் ப டாது என் ப தற் காக, அந்த பொருள் உட லுக்கு ஆரோக் கி ய மா னது என்று முடிவு செய்ய கூடாது. எனவே, இது கு றித்த விழிப் பு ணர்வை உணவு தயா ரிப்பு நிறு வ னங் கள் மேற் கொள்ள வேண் டும்.
பெரும் பா லான பேக் கேஜ் உணவு பொருட் க ளில் ‘இந்த தேதிக்கு முன்பு பயன் ப டுத் து வது நன் று’ என குறிப் பி டப் ப டு கி றது. இத னால் அந்த தேதிக்கு பிறகு பயன் ப டுத் த லாமா கூடாதா என்ற குழப் பம் நுகர் வோ ருக்கு ஏற் ப டு கி றது. அதில், காலா வதி தேதி என ஏன் குறிப் பி டு வ தில்லை. இதில் மாற் றம் கொண் டு வர வேண் டும். உணவு பொருள் பற்றி தவ றாக சித் த ரிக் கப் ப டும் விளம் ப ரங் கள் மீது உணவு பாது காப்பு ஆணை ய மும், நுகர் வோர் பாது காப்பு அமைச் ச க மும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என்றார்.

Special drive to monitor food safety during festivals

Checks to ensure that norms on use of preservatives are adhered to
Baked items, especially cakes, prepared by several manufacturers for festivals such as Christmas are generally found to have a higher dose of preservatives. A special squad has been deputed to check the contents, as part of an ongoing campaign to ensure safe food, a senior FSSAI official told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Several manufacturers were penalised for violating the norms on use of preservatives during the previous Christmas season, the official said. The FSSAI wing in the State functions with one-third of the required strength of officers. The required strength is more than 150 officers in the State. The situation is expected to change in the coming months as the Public Service Commission recruitment process to fill vacancies is in progress. The recruitment is expected to be over in three months.
Apart from shortage of staff, inadequate number of laboratories also plagues the official machinery. Only three food testing laboratories are being used by the Authority in the State.
Flouting of food packaging norms by several small entities in the sector poses another challenge to the efforts for streamlining the food industry. All operators in food industry are required to register with the authority.
The exercise has been largely successful, but there are several operators yet to fall in line. Some of these manufacturers, mostly micro-units, are still selling items without the required information on packages.
Such items have a consumer base, which includes people without proper awareness on food safety regulations. The survival of the units selling unlicensed products could also be due to the clientele being satisfied with the taste of the food on offer.

---

Food safety wing faces severe shortage of staff

Inadequate number of laboratories another issue

Food safety: 18 units closed down

Inspections were held in hotels, bakeries, catering units, restaurants, soda companies, and ice factories across the State on Tuesday under the aegis of the Health and Local Self-government departments as part of the Safe Kerala month observance.
The inspections were held to ensure food safety ahead of Christmas and Id-e-Milad.
Eighteen establishments were closed down, and 1,153 served notice. An amount of Rs.89,650 was realised as fine.
As many as 3,777 people divided into 926 teams conducted the inspections.

Packaged food should carry expiry date: Consumer body

NEW DELHI: The country's apex consumer commission is in favour of changing the labeling norm of packaged food items and also wants the labeling to be simple for consumers to understand so that they can make an informed choice. To end any confusion in the minds of consumers, chief of the National Consumer Disputes Resolution Commission (NCRDC), has asked the food regulator to see whether the tag of "best before use" on products can be replaced with information on "expiry date".

While speaking at the consumer awareness day on Tuesday, Food Safety and Standards Regulatory Authority of India (FSSAI) chairman Ashish Bahuguna said consumers get influenced by "dazzling" advertisements and rarely look at the labels while buying products except going beyond their expiry date. "Even educated consumers do not read the label while purchasing food items...There is no awareness to check contents of the label."

Supporting the need to end confusion on issues to do with labeling, NCRDC president Justice D K Jain said safe and healthy food is a constitutional mandate and there have to be stringent provisions to check food adulteration. He cited how importers of packaged food items put a new barcode on the imported products.

On the issue of many products mentioning the 'best before use' tag, Jain said, "What does it mean? Is it fit for human consumption after six months? We don't know. Consumers are confused. What is sacrosanct about Best Before? Why not have only 'expiry date' on label?" he asked.

Justice Jain also highlighted how big companies are now focusing more on rural areas for greater sales and are depending more on advertisements to "exploit" the new market. Stating that government has a huge job to educate the rural consumers, he also highlighted how big companies are into rampant unfair trade practices. For example, clinical trials of many of the products such as toothpaste and fairness cream are being done abroad in different conditions though they will eventually be sold in India.

The NCRDC chief pointed out how the rural market is flooded with duplicate products often with telltale wrong spellings. "We have to have better enforcement mechanism to check such malpractices," he said.

Consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan also supported this stating that awareness about consumer rights has to be a mass movement across the country.

Government to launch nationwide campaign to create mass consumer awareness says Paswan

New Delhi, December 23: Addressing the consumer day celebrations on Tuesday on the theme “Safe & Healthy Food: Combating Food Adulteration, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food And Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan said that the Government will launch a countrywide campaign along with voluntary consumer organizations to create mass consumer awareness which will also include capacity building training for safe and hygienic food.

Paswan stated that the initiative of his ministry will be taken to rural pockets which need more awareness about consumer rights. He expressed hope that the campaign will be successful in building a culture of food safety in the country with nationwide sensitization sessions on cleaning, hygiene & sanitation for safe food. 

Paswan said that with opening up of the economy various consumer goods and services have entered into the Indian market. To meet the changed situation, we have introduced new Consumer Protection Bill and new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Bill to prevent unfair trade practices, to effectively deal with adulteration of food, misleading advertisements and speed up the disposal, which will have far reaching implications.

Proposed amendments will also enable swift executive intervention in the nature of class action both to prevent consumer detriment and to provide redressal to a class of consumers. More products concerning health, environment and safety will be brought under compulsory certification besides compulsory Hallmarking of Gold and Silver jewelry and recall of non-conforming Standard Marked goods from the market, the Minister added.

Paswan said that to supplement the Government efforts to create effective consumer awareness, the industrial organization should come forward. He said self regulatory code should be evolved and implemented in sector like street food. Paswan said his department is ready to be a partner in this venture. He asked BIS and FSSAI to review together existing food and safety regulations and to see how they can be made more effective in the interest of consumers.

Delivering the key note address on the occasion, Justice, D.K. Jain, President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) expressed concern over increasing reports of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. He said strict regulations are required to check these. He also suggested review of Packaged Commodity rules to safe guard the interests of consumers.

On the occasion Ashish Bahuguna, Chairman, Food Safety Standards Authority of India delivered the theme address “Safe & Healthy Food: Combating Food Adulteration”. He said that consumer awareness is key to ensure effective implementation of Food and Safety standards, wherever necessary these standards will be reviewed and made more stringent, he added.

The Department had organized a poster making competition among school children on the theme consumer awareness. On the occasion cash prizes were given to the prize winning six school children. In addition, some publications useful to the consumers were released. The National Consumer Rights Day is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the national consumer movement and is an opportunity to promote the basic rights of all consumers.

Punjab to assess effect of tobacco control steps

The Punjab government on Tuesday said that it would assess the effect of various tobacco control measures in the State, with the help of School of Public Health, PGI Chandigarh.

“The state health department in collaboration with PGI Chandigarh will conduct three types of surveys in different districts to assess the effect of various tobacco control activities in the state in last few years,” an official spokesperson said.

A review meeting of National Tobacco Control Programme and training of officials of district Tobacco Control Cell was held under the Chairmanship of Bhag Mal, Director Health and Family Welfare, Punjab in collaboration with NGO Generation Saviour Association.

In the first phase, a house to house survey will be conducted in Hoshiarpur, Bathinda and Amritsar districts following the Global Adult Tobacco Survey protocol, the spokesperson said. It would assess the prevalence of tobacco use and impact of ban of loose cigarettes and flavoured chewable tobacco on the tobacco users as well as the vendors, he said.

In the second phase a comprehensive compliance study in 10 districts (Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, Gurdaspur, Roopnagar and Patiala) would be carried out, the spokesperson said.

Rakesh Gupta, State Programme Officer, Tobacco Control Cell said, all districts of Punjab have earlier been declared ‘Tobacco Smoke Free’ on the basis of compliance studies by PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani has directed officials to implement the Tobacco Control Act, Food Safety Act and Drug & Cosmetics Act proactively and effectively in the State. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare have issued necessary instructions in this regard.

FSDA to keep an eye on goodies for Christmas

MEERUT: With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) officials are on their toes to ensure that residents don't fall prey to adulterated sweets, cakes and other food items consumed during the festive season.

For this, a five-member team has been constituted which will conduct surprise checks at shops in both rural and urban areas to check adulteration and sale of expired items in the market. The anti-adulteration drive will continue till the first week of January.

Giving information, JP Singh, chief food safety officer, said, "A five-member team of the food department is conducting regular checks by sending suspicious food items to the laboratory for testing. If any sub-standard or unsafe food item is found, the person will be dealt with as per rules."

Samples of the suspicious food items will be sent to the food testing lab in Lucknow to avert any manipulation at the city-based lab. However, if the food items look way too suspicious, they will be sent to the lab and an immediate report will be sought. "The sample reports from the city-based lab can be procured in 48 hours and action will be taken soon after," said Singh.

The FSDA officials are keeping a watchful eye on the production of milk, milk products, cakes, Christmas sweets.

"The food items are preserved and have been sent to Lucknow through courier. The results will reach us after 20 days. We are focusing mainly on sweets, milk products and cooking oils to check adulteration," said the chief food safety inspector.

The FSDA authorities claimed that customers can file food-related complaints with the department on the condition of anonymity.

If a resident is apprehensive about a certain food item that he or she has already bought, then it can be sent for testing to the food department. If the food item is found to be adulterated, a complaint can be filed on the condition of anonymity. The sample may be submitted by depositing Rs 1,000 and if found adulterated, a complaint can be filed with the FSDA officials, who will initiate further action.

Pawan Kumar Agarwal appointed CEO, FSSAI

Senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal was today appointed as Chief Executive Officer of food regulator FSSAI, as part of senior level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the government today.
As many as 12 Additional Secretaries, including Agarwal, have been appointed in various central government departments.
Agrawal, a 1985 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, is presently Joint Secretary in Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He has been appointed as CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in place of Yudhvir Singh Malik, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.
Malik, who is believed to be the man behind the ban on global giant Nestle's popular noodle brand Maggi (which has now been removed), was shifted as Additional Secretary in Niti Aayog in September this year.
FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna was holding the additional charge of FSSAI CEO.
Agrawal's batchmate Bhupendra Yadav has been appointed as Chairman, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) under Department of Pharmaceuticals. Yadav is presently working in his cadre state--Uttar Pradesh.
Senior bureaucrat Binoy Kumar has been shifted from Ministry of External Affairs as Director General, Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals. Sumeet Jerath has been made Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in place of Kumar. Jerath is presently Additional Director General of Foreign Trade.
Asha Ram Sihag has been appointed as Secretary, Union Public Service Commission. Sihag has been working as Director General (Acquisition) in Defence Ministry.
Smita Nagraj, who is presently working in her cadre state Jharkhand, has been appointed in Sihag's place.
Kalpana Mittal Baruah and R Rajagopal have been appointed as Additional Secretaries in Cabinet Secretariat, and Adviser in Inter State Council Secretariat under Home Ministry, respectively, it said.
Chhabilendra Roul, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, has been appointed as Additional Secretary in Department of Agricultural Research and Education in place of Rajagopal.
His batchmate from Madhya Pradesh M Gopal Reddy has been appointed as Additional Secretary in Home Ministry by upgrading the post of Joint Secretary being held by him.
Similarly, Saraswati Prasad has been made AS in Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation by upgrading the post of JS held by him.
Udai Pratap Singh, presently working in Jharkhand, has been appointed as AS in Tourism Ministry, the order said.

FSSAI says labelling norms need to be changed

"Even educated consumers do not read label while purchasing food items. We get influenced by dazzling media advertisements and buy products without seeing the label. There is no awareness to check contents of the label," FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna said on Tuesday. 

New Delhi, 

Favouring an overhaul of norms for labelling of food products, regulator FSSAI today said consumers are getting influenced by 'dazzling' advertisements and are buying products without seeing the labels.

“Even educated consumers do not read label while purchasing food items. We get influenced by dazzling media advertisements and buy products without seeing the label.

There is no awareness to check contents of the label,” FSSAI Chairman Ashish Bahuguna said today.

Speaking on the occasion of the National Consumer Day here, Bahuguna said, “To promote healthy food, we need to focus on label. We need to change norms of labelling. Unless consumers know what is the content in the product, how would he know it is healthy for him."

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) president DK Jain also said the consumers get confused about labels printed on food items and the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) should look into labelling issues related to 'expiry date' and 'best before'.

Stating that consumers normally do not distinguish between safe and healthy food, Bahuguna said, “The food which is safe is not necessarily be healthy. It is important for consumers to check how and from where they get safe food. We should ourselves think about safe food.”

Emphasising on creating awareness about 'safe and healthy food', Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said at the same event that the new Consumer Protection Bill and BIS Bill, once passed in Parliament, would provide greater consumer protection.

"There is lack of awareness about 'safe and healthy food' in the country. All organisations should take responsibility in creating consumer awareness," Paswan said.

More awareness needs to be created among women, since they take care of food needs of family members, he said, adding the passage of the BIS and Consumer Protection Bills would provide greater protection to consumers.

Paswan further said the government makes standards to ensure the quality of products and services and at the same time it does not want to impose 'inspector raj'.

On the labelling issue, Jain said, "Safe and healthy food is a constitutional mandate. There has to be stringent provisions in place to combat food adulteration." Amid globalisation and foreign trade, consumers are confused with variety of products that are available in the market. "Consumers get attracted with labels and buy without seeing the contents of label," he said.

"FSSAI has to see this aspect. There is 'Best before" in label is there. What does it mean? Is it fit for human consumption after six months? We don't know. Consumers are confused. What is sacrosanct about 'Best before'. Why not have only 'expiry date' on label?" he added.

He also asked both the FSSAI and Consumer Affairs Ministry to address misleading advertisements.

FSSAI sets up nine panels to strengthen food regulatory mechanism

New Delhi: Regulator FSSAI has set up nine new panels for expediting work relating to strengthen the food regulatory mechanism in the country, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also notified 12 referral laboratories and 82 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited private laboratories, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Shripad Yesso Naik said.
In addition, there are 72 State and Public food laboratories to test food samples.
"We are also planning the increase the number of laboratories. There should be at least laboratory in each district," he said while replying to questions.
Observing that the FSSAI makes standards while their implementation is the responsibility of the state governments, Naik said in a written reply, citing information from states and UTs, that as many as 74,010 food samples were analysed in 2014-15 and 14,599 samples were found adulterated or misbranded.
On action taken against erring 'food business operators', it said 10,536 cases were launched in 2014-15 and there were 1,402 convictions. Also there were 2,795 cases involving penalties and about Rs 10.93 crore were raised.
Replying to a question on minority education, Minister of Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla said her ministry provides financial assistance through scholarship schemes for educational empowerment of minority students.
In addition, the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, an autonomous body under the ministry, also provides financial assistance through a scholarship for meritorious girl students studying in Class XI and XII from the minority communities.

Three labs cleared 90 Maggi samples: Company

Three laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court have found lead content in 90 samples of Maggi instant noodles much below the permissible limits, a company statement said on Tuesday.
"We have received the test results from all three laboratories mandated by the Bombay High Court to test Maggi noodles samples. All 90 samples, covering six variants, tested by these laboratories are clear, with lead much below the permissible limits," Nestle India said in the statement.
"In compliance with the high court orders, we will now commence manufacture and will begin selling only after the newly manufactured products are also cleared by the three designated laboratories," it added.
The company is hopeful about reintroducing Maggi noodles in the market at the earliest.
It said it had got conducted over 3,500 tests on samples, representing over 200 million packs, in both nationally as well as internationally accredited laboratories and all reports are clear.
Nestle India also reiterated its resolve to collaborate with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the apex food regulator in the country, and other stakeholders on the matter.
After a five-month ban on the two-minute noodles for alleged high lead and Monosodium Glutamate levels, the Indian arm of the Swiss giant Nestle announced in November a pact with Snapdeal for the online sale of the instant noodles and its re-introduction in 100 cities in the country.

We are working to reduce our dependence on Maggi noodles: Nestle’s Suresh Narayanan

The company is trying to come out of its biggest crisis ever, says Suresh Narayanan
New Delhi: Nestle India is working on a three-to-five-year plan to ensure it no longer has to depend on any single product or brand for revenues, new chairman and managing director Suresh Narayanan said, unveiling revival plans for the company following the crisis involving its Maggi instant noodles.
The company will add coffee and chocolates to diversify its line of food and drinks, drawing a lesson from the health and safety scare surrounding Maggi noodles, which accounted for 30% of Nestle India’s revenue in 2014.
Narayanan was sent to India in July amid a ballooning controversy after the regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned Maggi on 5 June, citing the presence of monosodium glutamate and excess lead.
He spoke in an interview on the sidelines of the second graduation ceremony of the Bridge School of Management. Edited excerpts:.
You managed to relaunch Maggi noodles much before planned. How soon do you think you will be able to bring down the dependence on Maggi noodles?
The company is trying to come out of its biggest crisis ever and that Maggi noodles has come back to the shelves is a huge achievement for the team, for all the partners and for all the stakeholders. When I came, my mandate was not just to get Maggi noodles back on the shelves by the end of the year, but also to really revive the other parts of company fully, which also suffered because of what happened.
We are now working on a three-to-five-year plan. Reducing dependence on Maggi noodles, or any single brand or product, is part of that. Over the next three to five years, things will be different.
What could the areas of focus be for the new Nestle in the making?
The focus would be coffee and beverages. Chocolates and confectionery is another clear area of focus for us. So, these two are certain, in addition to a greater acceleration of our portfolio in milk, nutrition and all of it.
These are great areas of opportunity for us. I am really trying to sort of click all the buttons to get us back into the double-digit growth that would be led by volume. I am a great believer of volume-led growth as being the stimulant for accelerating brands, consumption and presence in the market.
Maggi noodles was out of the market for six months. It did impact your profits. How much will you be able to recover in the current quarter?
We reported loss only in the second quarter of 2015. Even in the last quarter, we posted profit. Profitability always remains. We are a profitable company, and we will continue to be profitable. We will still be of interest to the people who are looking at medium-to-long term growth.
Nestle India is a respectable brand and has a respectable position in the society. In India, I think that would be the promise that Nestle, I hope, is capable of giving under my leadership.
What changes you had to make within the organization to ensure a better future?
One, I have tried to change the commercial structure. It has become a lot more focused and hopefully quicker to respond. We have also improved our consumer engagement services and practices. And I am very proud to say that we have 24x7 consumer engagement mechanism across different vectors, both digital and non-digital.

Drive launched to check safety standards of food products sold in Mandya

Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India checking the safety standards of food products at a bakery in Mandya on Friday.
Officials seize food products, the expiry dates of which had passed, from many bakeries
In a welcome move by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a drive was launched on Friday to check the safety standards of food products being sold in shops here.
A nine-year-old boy had died in the taluk, after allegedly drinking a soft drink the expiry date of had passed.
Seized
The issue had been carried in these columns on Friday.
Subsequently, led by Food Safety Officer Nagaraju, the FSSAI officials raided several bakeries and shops on V.V. Road here.
“We have seized soft drink bottles the expiry dates of which had passed from several shops. We will initiate action against the guilty,” Mr. Nagaraju told The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the Mandya district administration has decided to conduct such raids throughout the district.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan told this correspondent that sellers of fake, spurious, outdated, substandard and adulterated food products should be prosecuted.
“I will write to all gram panchayats, Mandya City Municipal Council and other urban local bodies asking them to deal sternly with sellers of such food products,” he said.
The sale of products that could adversely affect the health of consumers was an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The officials should randomly collect samples of all food products, including Nandini milk packets, at regular intervals to ascertain adherence to safety standards, he said.
The samples could be sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) at Mysuru or food testing laboratory at Hubballi as there were no facilities to check the safety standards of food products at Mandya, he said.
In the case of the death of a boy after consuming a soft drink, appropriate action would be initiated against persons found guilty, based on the post-mortem report, he said.
The number of hotels, bakeries and shops selling food products in the district is around 10,000.
Of them, 1,300 are in Mandya. However, the mandatory practice of collecting food samples had stopped long back, a senior official of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies told The Hindu.
Posts of food inspectors throughout the district were lying vacant, he added.
No mechanism in place to check safety standards of food products in Mandya
Deputy Commissioner to order for stern action against sellers of products which have passed expiry date

Maggi headed to Mysore for new lead test

The Supreme Court ordered that Maggi noodles will now be tested in an accredited laboratory in Mysore and not in Chennai as directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered on Wednesday that Maggi noodles will now be tested in an accredited laboratory in Mysore and not in Chennai as directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
The SC's order came on a plea filed by Nestle India against the NCDRC's order. The apex court also stayed the proceedings in the case pending in the apex consumer body. "It is directed that the local commissioner appointed by the NCDRC shall send samples earlier collected by him to the Mysore laboratory for tests. Test reports shall be produced before this court," a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant said.
In the meantime, the NCDRC shall not proceed, the SC added. The court passed the order when senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Nestle India, and attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Centre, agreed that the samples be sent for testing to the Mysore lab instead of Chennai.
The NCDRC on December 10 had said that the local commissioner would send 16 more samples of Maggi noodles for testing in Chennai to ascertain the quantity of lead and mono sodium glutamate in them in connection with the government's Rs 640-crore law suit against the company on account of alleged unfair trade practices.
"During course of the hearing, they (Centre and Nestle) agreed that the primary concern is health and the test has to be carried out to meet the parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. ... the consent was arrived at that Mysore is well equipped to carry all such tests and being a referral notified laboratory, samples should be sent there," the apex court said. Posting the matter for January, the Bench said that the plea be listed along with the appeal filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on January 13 against the Bombay High Court (HC) verdict. The HC had on August 13 lifted the ban on nine variants of the fast food and asked the company to go for fresh tests.
After the NCDRC's order, Nestle India had said, "We are disappointed that the honourable Commission has given order directing further testing of 16 samples at Export Inspection Laboratory, Mysuru.

'Ramdev's Patanjali noodles, pasta are being sold without FSSAI approval'

New Delhi: A demand for action against yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali pharma company for allegedly selling products like noodles and pasta without the food regulator's approval was made in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, K C Tyagi (JD-U) also wondered why no appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order lifting restrictions on sale of popular noodles Maggi.
Describing the two as the new "Dabangs", he said no action has been taken despite FSSAI finding faults with their products.
He alleged that Patanjali noodles and pasta are being sold without the approval of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Uttrakhand government, he said, had found an Ayurvedic 'son-bearing' medicine sold by Baba Ramdev's pharma company fake but no action was taken.
"He (Baba Ramdev) poses as if he is very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He openly claims that he has helped with 'tan, man and dhan' (physically, mentally and monetarily) in formation of the BJP government," Tyagi alleged.
Similarly, the verdict of Bombay High Court in the Maggi case was accepted. "Why was no appeal made to the Supreme Court," the JD(U) leader said and remarked "daal mein kuchh kala hai" (there is something fishy).

Black Label caught in red tape, no takers at liquor auctions

 

Liquor distributors said Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) red tape and unclear Customs norms on liquor auctions are the main reasons why they are staying away.
Over the last 18 months, the Customs department has tried to auction over two lakh bottles of imported liquor worth about Rs 100 crore, abandoned at its bonded warehouses across the country. But it has found no takers.
On December 7, cases of Talisker, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Moet & Chandon and other imported liquor brands once again failed to find bidders at an e-auction organised by the Mumbai Customs, said officials.
“This was the fourth unsuccessful auction by Customs in the last one year,” said a Customs official who did not want to be named. Similar auctions in other parts of the country in the last two years have also been unsuccessful.
Liquor distributors said Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) red tape and unclear Customs norms on liquor auctions are the main reasons why they are staying away. According to sources, imported liquor put up for auction is not cleared by FSSAI, and hence requires its no objection certificate (NOC).
“The major bone of contention between the Customs and distributors is who should get the NOC from FSSAI for the imported liquor that is being auctioned. Should it be the Customs, which is the custodian of the liquor stock, or the bidding company which will eventually distribute it. Customs has to clear the air on this,” said another official involved in the auction process.
Under existing norms, FSSAI gives an NOC when an imported food item conforms to its labelling requirements and passes its lab test. According to an FSSAI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the labels of the liquor bottles should have details of the ingredients. But in most countries, liquor is exempted from ingredient-labelling requirements.
While the labelling requirement existed since 2011, it was only in 2013 that the FSSAI started enforcing it. Since then, the Customs has impounded huge stocks of liquor which were not labelled correctly.
The liquor cases at the warehouses were imported by distributors in 2013-14 or earlier. Under Customs rules, duty is collected at the time of clearance from the warehouse. Imported goods are allowed to remain in the warehouse for up to a year, without incurring any interest liability. If the importer does not clear the duty within a year, it becomes the property of Customs and the department can auction the goods to recover duty.
One reason why the liquor stocks were abandoned at the bonded warehouses could be because they weren’t meeting labelling norms, said the FSSAI official. That’s perhaps why distributors aren’t even picking up the bottles, even if they are available at a cheaper rate. “Getting FSSAI NOC is a big task. There is no guarantee that the FSSAI will approve a particular imported food product even if it is used widely in other parts of the world which have stricter regulations. Our past experiences with the FSSAI have been bad. It has created a trust deficit. So nobody wants to participate in an uncleared liquor auction,” said a distributor.
According to the FSSAI official, the Customs should seek its clearance before an auction. “No unsafe food should enter the country,” he said. But the department has not sought clearance so far, he added.