FSSAI to hire ad agencies for an image makeover

May also rope in consultants to ramp up its social media presence
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the regulator that stirred a controversy after banning Nestle India's Maggi instant noodles, has decided to go in for an image makeover.
It plans to rope in advertising agencies to devise multimedia advertising campaigns and will hire consultants to ramp up its social media presence. FSSAI has requested expressions of interest on its website.
"FSSAI would require the services of multimedia creative agencies for jobs activities such as designing of print ads, creatives illustrations on various aspects of food safety for various events," the regulator said in a request for expressions of interest on its website.The budget for the proposed multimedia campaign is not known. The authority said payments will be made at rates offered by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity . The contract is for one year and can be extended to three years.
Agencies based in New Delhi with an annual turnover of at least Rs 50 lakh during the past three financial years and experience of working with a government bodies can apply for the deal by March 3. The regulator's Facebook page was last updated on November 15.
Following the controversy over the ban on Maggi noodles, which was later lifted, and the implementation of a product approval process through an advisory that had no legal standing, the FSSAI was criticised by the food industry and food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal for bringing back an "inspector raj".

$72mn Fine Slapped as J&J Products Tied to Ovarian Cancer

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Mahesh Zagade was at the centre of a nationwide debate on how foreign companies were being harassed in India, when he revoked the licence of a city plant of Johnson & Johnson in June 2013 after complaints that its product Baby Powder contained hazardous particles. Zagade, a senior IAS official, was on Wednesday relieved after a US jury ordered J&J to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who claimed her death was linked to the use of the Baby Powder she had used for decades.
A resident of Alabama, Jacqueline Fox, 62, had died of ovarian cancer in 2015. Her family had argued in court that the company knew of talc risks and failed to warn users. J&J denied the family’s claim. A company spokesperson told BBC: “We’ve no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. We sympathise with the plaintiff’s family, but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”
“I am hearing about the court’s verdict from you. It shows my stand vindicated,” Zagade told Express from Pune where he is currently posted. In 2007, FDA officials discovered that J&J had used an unauthorised process for sterilising Baby Powder. The company had conducted the sterilisation process at another organisation in Thane which did not have the licence. The FDA probe revealed that the company had used ethylene oxide, a substance used to produce industrial chemicals and sterile medical equipment, to kill bacteria in Baby Powder and had not conducted mandatory tests to make sure there were no remaining traces in the powder.
According to rules, it is mandatory for a company to inform the FDA on what process they are going to adopt for sterilisation.
An FDA official said that J&J had not informed that they are going to sterilise the product using ethylene oxide, which can cause cancer. The FDA officials did not take any action in spite of the test results revealed the possible danger. The first action was taken by Zagade in 2011 when he assumed the charge of FDA Commissioner.
“He came to know about the complaint against J&J when he was taking a stock of the complaints his office had received inlast couple of years. By the time he took initiative the company had sold around 50-60,000 packs of Baby Powder,” the source said.
Zagade formed another enquiry team after the company refused to call back its sold product. The other inquiry also revealed that there were hazardous particles in the product. “He (Zagade) sent them a showcause notice after the enquiry report was out. Little he knew that he will be put under tremendous pressure from the higher authorities to go slow in this case. However, he got a go ahead from the government and the plant was closed down,” the source said.
The company had approached the Bombay High Court against the FDA action.
Case History

• First-ever penalty by a US jury on Johnson & Johnson
• Charged with failing for decades to warn consumers that its talc-based products could cause cancer
• Jurors awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox $10 mn in actual damages and
• $62 mn of punitive damages
• Fox used Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for feminine hygiene for more than 35 years before being diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer; died in October last
• In October 2013, a federal jury in South Dakota found another petitioner Deane Berg’s use of J&J body powder products was a factor in her developing ovarian cancer. It, however, awarded no damages

80% roadside eateries in Jharkhand outside food safety net

The Jharkhand Food Safety Directorate is still to recruit enough food inspectors to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Beware! Over 80% small food vans, roadside restaurants, stalls, take-away counters and sweet shops in urban Jharkhand are running without a mandatory food safety registration, state food safety officials said on Wednesday.
Reason: The Jharkhand Food Safety Directorate is still to recruit enough food inspectors to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006. The state just has 24 food inspectors, one for each district of the state.
Officials said risk of consumption of sub-standard food, which causes food poisoning and serious stomach illnesses, increases during festivals with people eating outside on most days.
However, a senior directorate officials, requesting anonymity, said that to implement the FSSA at least 70 food inspectors were required.

FSSA makes it mandatory for a person or firm in the food trade to have a license or registration, which ensures food items being sold are safe and unadulterated. “More inspectors will be recruited but the need of the moment is an attitude change among people,” said director-inchief Jharkhand health services Praveen Chandra.
He said the biggest problem was small vendors with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover per annum. “I am surprised that despite the paltry registration fee they are not coming forward for the FSSA tag,” he said.
For businesses with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover, the registration fee is Rs 100, those with Rs 12 lakh to Rs 25 lakh turnover it was Rs 5,000 and for turnover above Rs 25 lakh it was Rs 7,500.
“Small vendors feel that coming under the FSSA will demand huge investments in ensuring safe and hygienic food. Majority of them cannot afford it. Hence they avoid the norms unlike bigger hotels and restaurant chains,”said a senior official of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI).
Officials said that if Ranchi was any indication, roughly 10% of 7000 odd businesses have applied under the FSSA, with coverage almost the same in Bokaro, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad.
“This fiscal we have received just 1759, which is tepid compared to huge number of eateries in the state,” said Chandra.
Since the FSSA was implemented in Jharkhand, around 3500 food business have registered for food safety, said officials.
Last year, officials slapped notices on more than a 100 food outlets for selling sub-standard and adulterated food during Durga Puja and Diwali as none had the FSSA license.

Food safety officials inspect bottled water, cold drinks

Chandigarh: As per the action plan prepared by Dr Rajinder K. Sharma, designated officer I/c Food Safety Administration, Chandigarh health department, a joint team of food safety officials Bharat Kanojia and Surinder Pal Singh on Thursday inspected carbonated drinking water (cold drink) and packaged drinking water consignments in Dariya, Makhan Majra and Industrial Area and samples of sweetened carbonated water and mineral water were taken for analysis and examination.

திருக்கோவிலூர் பகுதியில் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் அமோக விற்பனை

திருக் கோ வி லூர், பிப். 26:
இந் தியா முழு வ தும் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தற்கு தடை விதிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.
திருக் கோ வி லூர் பகு தி யில் கடந்த ஆண்டு சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அடிக் கடி சோதனை செய்து தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த தோடு, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட விற் ப னை யா ளர் கள் மீதும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுத்து வந் த னர்.
இந்த நிலை யில் கடந்த ஒரு வரு ட மாக அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு திடீ ரென நிறுத் தப் பட் ட தால் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் தற் போது தடை யின்றி விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்டு வரு கி றது.
திருக் கோ வி லூர் பகு திக்கு மட் டும் அதி கா ரி கள் விலக்கு அளித் துள் ள னரா அல் லது உய ர தி கா ரி க ளின் அனு ம தி யோடு விற் பனை செய் கி றார் களா என்று பொது மக் கள் தரப் பில் கேள்வி எழுப்பி உள் ள னர்.
திருக் கோ வி லூர் பகு தி யில் அமோ க மாக விற் ப னை யா கும் புகை யிலை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய்து விற் பனை செய் ப வர் கள் மீது கடு மை யான நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என்று சமூக ஆர் வ லர் கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ள னர்.

FDA seizes snacks worth 75,000

Bicholim: Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials on Wednesday raided Bicholim and Panaji bus stands and seized misbranded snacks (farsan) and bakery products worth 75,000. The team found that Bicholim shops prepared snacks using substandard ingredients and non-permitted food colors.
Sangam Bakery and Royal Bakery in Bicholim have been asked to stop operations immediately as they were found to be operating without licences. tnnAlso they conducted their activities in unhygienic condition.
The raid was conducted by senior officials of FDA Raju Korde, Richard Noronha, Madhav kavlekar, Atul Desai, Amit Mandrekar and a staffer Pradeep Parsekar under the guidance of commissioner of food safety and director, FDA Salim A Veljee.

FSDA seizes 500 kg adulterated spices from a factory

AGRA: A large scale adulteration in edible oil and spices has been going on in the city. The team of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) on Thursday raided a factory in Trans Yamua area and seized 500 kg of adulterated spices. The team also collected five samples - two of turmeric and chilli powder, one additive, and two of inedible colours and sent them to a lab for study.
FSDA designated officer Ram Naresh Yadav said, "Following a tip off we conducted a raid and unearthed this massive criminal activity at the factory near Itimad-ud-daulah police station. We have initiated action against one Ravi Bansal for this activity. Our survey has revealed that this kind of adulteration in spices and mustard oil has been going on at a large scale in the district. From Friday we will start a drive against them and take punitive actions. We advise people to buy their products from good shops only."
Yadav informed that recently the results of two samples of mustard oil sent to the Lucknow laboratory were received which revealed that synthetic colour was being mixed in palm oil along with an essence and sold as the former. Palm oil is Rs 20-25 less than mustard oil. But what is most harmful is the use of synthetic colour (butter yellow), which is highly carcinogenic.
The senior official said now the case will be pursued against the culprits in the court of additional district judge.
Earlier this month, i n a major success against adulterated milk manufacturers, FSDA had got arrested an owner of a factory and destroyed 4000 litre of synthetic milk. They also found a set up comprising electric churner, a sack of titanium-dioxide powder, mainly used for manufacturing paints, and other equipment at the site.

Almost 100 school students land in hospital after eating midday meal in Palghar

Mumbai: Nearly 100 schoolchildren were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning Thursday after eating a free midday meal at a government-run school near Mumbai, officials said, adding that 13 were in a critical condition.
Most of the children at the rural primary school fell ill after the lunch of rice and pulses.
"Ninety-seven have been admitted to hospital, a few of them are critical," Shrikrishna Kokate, deputy police chief of Palghar district in the western state of Maharashtra, told AFP.
Hospital officials said 247 students were initially brought for treatment late afternoon after they complained of nausea and started vomiting.

"Thirteen are critical but out of danger. More than 140 were discharged after medical screening. The rest are undergoing treatment," Ashok Khandagle, a doctor attending the sick children told AFP.
He said the symptoms point towards food poisoning, adding samples have been sent for tests to a laboratory in Mumbai.
The ill students are aged between six and 14.
Police said they also have sent teams to the school to take samples of food — a mixture of rice and pulses — served to the children.
More than 250 students are enrolled at the Zilla Parishad primary school in Kasa village in Palghar, district about 120 kilometres (74 miles) from the financial capital Mumbai.
Most of the inhabitants of the village are rural tribespeople.
The government's midday meal programme is the world's largest, feeding 120 million children daily in more than a million schools, for many of whom it is their only substantial daily meal.
But the nearly US$ 2 billion scheme is hampered by corruption and inefficiency.
Last week the federal government said they will form fresh guidelines to improve food safety and hygiene to end a string of cases of poisoning.
Students often fall sick after eating contaminated and poorly prepared food, and in 2013 about two dozen children died in impoverished Bihar state after they ate a meal laced with pesticide.
The government scheme, which started nationally in 2001, is aimed at enticing particularly poor and vulnerable children to attend class instead of languishing at home hungry or helping their parents labour and combat chronic malnutrition.
The 2015 global hunger index (GHI) report ranked India at 20th spot, with a World Bank estimate saying it has the highest number of malnutrition among children, almost double that of sub saharan Africa.

Over 100 School Kids Hospitalised After Eating Mid-day Meal in Maharashtra

THANE: At least 104 students of a zila parishad-run primary school in neighbouring Palghar district were today admitted to hospital as they suffered health problems after consuming mid-day meal food, district officials said.
Over a 50 students of the school at Kasa Budruk village complained of health problems immediately after eating the packed food this afternoon.
"Nearly 280 students of the ZP school at Kasa Budruk in Palghar district were served the food under mid-day meal scheme this afternoon. After eating, over 50 students immediately complained of severe stomach ache, nausea, giddiness and other health problems," Vikramgadh tehsildar Suresh Sonawane said.
After being alerted about the situation, local police as well as the revenue and health department officials arrived at the school.
"As a precautionary measure, the authorities took all the 280 students to Kasa Rural Hospital for medical checkup. While 104 affected students were hospitalised, others were discharged after medical examination," district health officer S B Gaikwad said.
The packed mid-day meal was supplied by the ISKCON center located at Wada (in Palghar district), Sonawane said, adding, "The food samples have been collected for laboratory analysis."

Beer could feel FSSAI chill, soon

Regulator plans to bring alcoholic beverages on its radar by fixing standards
THE Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI) plans to bring alcoholic beverages also on its radar by fixing standards for drinks like beer, whisky, vodka, rum and wine. The regulator will come up with a draft notification on standards of alcoholic beverages in the next two months that manufacturers will have to meet.
" Standards for alcohol are also being considered after packaged food products like Maggi noodles and various milk samples were found to have contained hazardous materials. As there are additives and preservatives in alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, it becomes important to keep a check on them as well,"an FSSAI senior official said.
" FSSAI is in the process of preparing standards for alcoholic beverages and the best global practices in this regard are being referred to. The draft notification will be put out to seek comments from the public,"the official added. The entire gamut of alcoholic drinks, including lighter varieties such as Bacardi Breezer, will come under the proposed standards.
In terms of packaging, the FSSAI has already proposed that alcoholic beverages, pan masala and supari may not be treated as unsafe food for recall just because FSSAI is in the process preparing standards for alcoholic beverages they carry a mandatory warning on their covers. It is mentioned on packaging of pan masala, supari and alcoholic drinks that their consumption is injurious to health. The proposal has been made in the Safety and Standards ( Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2015.
In the case of alcoholic beverages, pan masala, supari, the mandatory mention of warning consumption of alcohol/ pan masala/ supari is injurious to health, may not be treated as unsafe food as part of any recall plan unless the beverage or food is determined unsafe as per the classification of recall making it injurious to health or even causing death, the proposal states. These norms were put up for public comments on May 29 and the last date has been set as August 1.

Govt sets up special Food Safety Tribunals for Jammu, Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 24:
The government has established Food Safety Appellate Tribunals (FSAT) for Kashmir and Jammu divisions to look at the cases related food safety matters.
The order was issued by the Commissioner/Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, M K Bhandari, who is also the Commissioner Food Safety in J&K.
As per the government order, the two Food Safety Appellate Tribunals have been established for Kashmir and Jammu divisions to hear appeals from the decisions of the Adjudicating Officers under section 68 of the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006.
The Additional Deputy Commissioners of every district have been designated as Adjudicating Officer as per the FSSA 2006.
Officials told Rising Kashmir that the decision was taken in wake of large number of pending cases related to unsafe, substandard and misbranded food products and items with the District Magistrates and in civil courts.
“The decision will fast-track the process of litigation in cases like substandard and misbranding of food items among others,” they said.
Jammu and Kashmir is one of the few places that would have this tribunal in place.
Appellate tribunals have already been set up in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chattisgarh apart from the union territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Chandigarh.
According to officials, a district or sessions judge (in-service or retired) has been put in charge of the tribunals that would function in both the divisions.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been in the process of constituting Appellate Tribunals in a number of states for the last couple of years.
“However, the responsibility of setting up the tribunals rested with the state governments while FSSAI would provide the required assistance to complete the process,” added officials.

Are your veggies really safe?

Highlights
• This virtuous vegetable is said to be one of the healthiest food items. It can lower your cholesterol and has cancer fighting features in it. But over eating it could prove harmful.
• Bright and vibrant spinach contains a lot of essential vitamins. But it also contains a chemical called as oxalic acid.

We have only known vegetables to possess amazing nutrional values. Ever wondered if your favourite vegetable might actually be harming you?
Broccoli
This virtuous vegetable is said to be one of the healthiest food items. It can lower your cholesterol and has cancer fighting features in it. But over eating it could prove harmful. It contains chemicals which could stop the production of thyroids and lead to a condition called as Hypothyroidism. Someone already suffering from this condition should stay away from all cruciferous vegetables.
Spinach
Bright and vibrant spinach contains a lot of essential vitamins. But it also contains a chemical called as oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is harmful because it could stop the absorption of calcium and iron in the body and contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Eating raw spinach in salads or any other way can be harmful.



Celery
This is another green vegetable which contains high nutritional value, but eating too much of celery might come with a cost ! This is because celery contains crude fibre, and consumption of too much crude fibre could lead to indigestion. People suffering from gastrointestinal diseases should avoid eating too much of it!

Bell Peppers
If you are eating organically grown bell peppers then you are safe. Bell peppers are capable of retaining pesticides and chemicals so checking the labels while purchasing them and buying only organically grown peppers is a wise option.

Peas
While Peas are rich in fibres and vitamins, they also have high calorie and carbohydrate content. Eating them in small portions would do no harm but excessive consumption could lead to bloating and even weight gain for those watching their diet!

In fact too much consumption of any vegetable could prove to be detrimental. Vegetables should be consumed in proper portions and like any other food item not be over consumed.

ADM stops unauthorized lucky draw contest

Thiruvananthapuram: The food safety department destroyed 15 boxes of ice candies during Attukal pongala on Tuesday. The boxes, each carrying around 75 ice sticks, were destroyed as a follow up to its drive against use of artificial sweeteners in ice candies.
The department had initiated a major drive against the sale of ice and cotton candies after noticing rampant use of artificial sweeteners like saccharine and carcinogenic dulcin. In a drive that started on February 12, the food safety department had closed down three ice manufacturing units that used artificial sweeteners and colours.
Food safety officer A Satish Kumar said that ice candies were brought from a manufacturing unit in Kottayam. "Apart from the sale of ice candies, no other food safety issues were reported during the festival," he said.
The department has successfully brought majority of food distribution units under them by making registration mandatory for all sellers.
ADM stops unauthorized lucky draw contest : The district administration's move to seal down an unauthorized lucky draw contest organized by the Killippalam Poura Samithi at Killippalam Junction made way for minor tension amidst the pious atmosphere of Attukal pongala. The Poura Samithi was conducting the contest for devotees, in which the latter stood chances of winning prizes, including household utensils. The first prize was a Yamaha Ray scooter. Each coupon was prized Rs 20.
When the matter was brought to the notice of district collector Biju Prabhakar, he deputed additional district magistrate T R Azad to inquire into the matter and take action. Azad and team reached the spot but the Samithi members refused to cooperate and they even tried to block him and other officials from carrying out their duty. Following this, more cops rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The ADM seized all the coupons and stopped the contest. No police case was registered in this regard till Tuesday night.

Mars recalls Snickers, Milky Way, Celebrations and other chocolates in 55 countries after plastic found in bars

BERLIN: US chocolate maker Mars said on Tuesday it's recalling candy bars and other items in 55 countries in Europe and elsewhere after plastic was found in one of its products.
Roel Govers, spokesman for Mars in the Netherlands, told The Associated Press that the recall affects 55 countries but would not provide further details, saying the company would email a news release later.
Mars in Germany confirmed that it was one of the countries affected, and said in a statement that the recall affected products with "best before" dates from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017.
"We have intentionally chosen a long production time frame in order to ensure that all possibly affected products are recalled," the company said in a German-language statement, adding that it was in "close contact" with food safety authorities.
It also did not specify which other countries were affected, and Mars in Germany did not respond to calls or emails. The German news agency dpa cited a Mars Germany spokesman saying the voluntary recall affects products made early this year in the Netherlands.
The Dutch food safety authority posted what it said was a Mars press release on its website, saying a piece of plastic had been found in a product that could lead to choking. It listed affected products as: Mars, Milky Way, Snickers, Celebrations, and Mini Mix.
Mars, Inc. is privately held and based in McLean, Virginia. It also owns the world's largest chewing gum maker, Wm Wrigley Jr Company.
The Mars family owns the secretive company, making it one of the wealthiest families in the US, according to business research company Hoover's.

US FDA hopes for productive conversations on food safety law

The US Food and Drug Administration officials are visiting India to discuss the new law on food safety with the Indian government and industry stakeholders.
The US food and drug regulator is conducting a series of trips abroad including India to update government and industry stakeholders on the bipartisan and landmark FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act, (FSMA), its most sweeping reform to food safety system in 70 years.
"India is of particular importance to the FDA because it is the seventh largest supplier of food to the US. FDA values its partnership with India as US - India continue to advance their ability to prevent food-borne illnesses and enhance the safety of the food supply in both countries," FDA Deputy Commissioner Howard Sklamberg told reporters here.
"We have come here to speak with Indian government regulators and industry stakeholders about the FSMA. This follows a visit eleven months ago, when we signed a MoU with the Centre in order to develop opportunities for cooperative engagement in regulatory and technical matters related to food products, Sklamberg said.
India exports USD 4 billion worth agri, spices and sea food exports to US every year.
"Our office (in India)(is) engaged in technical workshops with Indian regulators, where we engaged in training on food and drug related issues and inspections techniques, good manufacturing practises and the detection of data integrity issues," he added.
FNMA mandates a food safety system that is preventive rather than reactive, and in which foreign food producers are held to the same safety standards as our domestic farmers and food companies.
FSMA is our food safety system in 70 years and we are committed to working with our international partners, as well as consumers and industry, to implement the law in a timely and efficient manner, he added.
Under FSMA's new import safety system, importers in the US are made accountable to US FDA for verifying that their foreign suppliers are using methods to prevent food safety problems that provide the same level of public health protection as those used by their US counterparts.
Under FSMA, this new accountability for importers will be backed up by more overseas inspections by FDA and crucial for the purposes of this trip to India, more active partnership with our foreign government counterparts and with industry stakeholders, he said.

More inspections in store for food exporters to the US PT Jyothi Datta

Mumbai, February 24:
More inspections are in store for food exporters to America, as new final rules under the food safety law there look to hold foreign suppliers to the same level of scrutiny as their US counterparts.
“The Food Safety Modernisation Act is our nation’s most sweeping reform of our food safety system in 70 years,” said Howard Sklamberg, Deputy Commissioner for global regulatory operations with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Focussed on being preventive than reactive, the Act will hold US importers accountable to the FDA “for verifying that their foreign suppliers are using methods to prevent food safety problems” and adhering to the same public health standards, he said at a select media interaction.
This new accountability on importers will be backed up by more overseas inspections.
“We do site inspections now and we will continue to do them. And probably the numbers will increase as imports increase,” Sklamberg told BusinessLine. The USFDA conducts about 100 inspections a year on food facilities in India.
The FDA has an India office. But most India inspections are largely done by FDA personnel from the US, he said, adding, “FDA is staffed to meet its obligations.”
The law places obligations on food producers — whether it’s a farmer, an owner of a food manufacturing plant or someone in the supply chain that exports to the US — to make sure that they follow the right procedures. Inspections will be supplemented by the foreign suppliers verification programme. Foreign suppliers will have to be qualified by spring 2017, so sometime this year Indian food exporters will start having conversations with their US customers, another USFDA official explained.
A suggestion doing the rounds among Indian authorities is that local regulators like the Food Authority be allowed to certify exporters to the US. However, a USFDA official clarified that there were ways for government entities to become auditors and certify.
But they would have to ensure that the practices in the exporting facility met the FSMA requirement. And presently no such certification exists, another official added.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINATHANTHI NEWS

மக்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பான உணவு வழங்குவதே வியாபாரிகளின் முக்கியக் கடமை:ஆட்சியர்

மக்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பானதும், தரமானதுமான உணவுப் பொருள்களை வழங்குவதே வியாபாரிகளின் முக்கியக் கடமை என ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் எஸ்.நடராஜன் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை பேசினார்.
ராமநாதபுரத்தில் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத் துறையின் சார்பில் பாதுகாப்பான உணவு, தயாரிப்பு, விற்பனை, நுகர்வு ஆகியன குறித்த ஒரு நாள் கருத்தரங்கம் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலக கூட்ட அரங்கில் நடைபெற்றது. உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் மருத்துவர் எம்.ஜெகதீஷ்சந்திர போஸ் வரவேற்றார். பால், தேயிலை, பழங்கள் இவற்றில் எவ்வாறு கலப்படம் செய்யப்படுகிறது என்ற கண்காட்சியை ஆட்சியர் பார்வையிட்டார்.
பின்னர் அவர் கருத்தரங்கை தொடங்கி வைத்துப் பேசியதாவது: உணவு வணிகத்தில் ஈடுபடும் உற்பத்தியாளர்கள் கலப்படமில்லாத உணவுப் பொருள்களை வழங்குவதே முக்கியக் கடமையாகும். வியாபாரிகளிடையே பாதுகாப்பான உணவுப் பொருள்கள் குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்தி, தரமான உணவை மக்களுக்கு வழங்கிட முன் வர வேண்டும். நுகர்வோரால் வாங்கப்படும் பொருள்கள் எவ்வித சுகாதாரக் கேடும் இல்லாமல் பாதுகாப்பான முறையில் வழங்கப்படுகிறது என்பதை உறுதி செய்வதற்காகவே இது தொடர்பான சட்டங்கள் இயற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன என்றார்.
கருத்தரங்கில், வர்த்தக சங்க மாவட்டத் தலைவர் பா.ஜெகதீசன், குப்தா கோவிந்தராஜன், ஜபருல்லாகான், ஞா.காசி, நுகர்வோர் சங்கத் தலைவர் கே.ஜே.மாதவன், தன்னார்வ ரத்ததான ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் வேணு.சதீஷ்குமார் ஆகியோர் உள்பட வியாபாரிகள், உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் பலரும் கலந்து கொண்டனர். நிகழ்ச்சியில், உணவுப் பொருளில் எவ்வாறு கலப்படம் செய்யப்படுகிறது என்ற குறும்படமும் திரையிட்டுக் காட்டப்பட்டது.

Enhancing awareness of food safety

FOR BETTER HEALTH:Collector S. Natarajan at the Food Safety Workshop organised at Ramanathapuram Collectorate on Tuesday. District Designated Officer M. Jagadish Chandra Bose is seen.
Officials demonstrate how food items are adulterated
The district wing of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department organised a training-cum-workshop to enhance awareness of food safety from manufacturing to distribution to storage to consumer points among stakeholders.
Inaugurating the one-day programme held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday, Collector S. Natarajan said that the event aimed at sensitising food manufacturers, distributors and stockists to the need for providing safe, unadulterated and quality food to the consumers.
He said that after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 came into force in August 2011 throughout the country, repealing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the State government set up Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and implemented the new Act, making it mandatory for the food business operators to obtain licence.
To ensure food safety and standards of food items, food laboratories had been set up across the State, he said, and appealed to the manufacturers, hoteliers and traders to ensure that the consumers got safe and quality food items.
M. Jagadish Chandra Bose, District Designated Officer, Food Safety Wing, in his address, detailed the provisions of the Act and dwelt upon the duties and responsibilities of the food business operators to provide safe and quality food items and prevent spread of food-borne diseases.
He exhorted the food business operators to adopt good manufacturing practices and advised the representatives of trade bodies and chambers of commerce to play the role of watchdog in the larger interest of consumers.
The workshop was an eye-opener to the consumers as the officials demonstrated how various food items such as pepper, ‘vadagam’, candies and cakes were subjected to colouring and adulteration. “I have decided to avoid drinking tea after seeing the demonstration of how tea dust was coloured and adulterated,” S. Ramesh, a consumer, said.
A cross section of the consumers who attended the workshop said that it was unbelievable that even fruits such as watermelon and pomegranates were coloured with artificial substances, adopting injection method.

SHRC demands report on adulterated packaged food

Kochi: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has demanded reports from the secretaries of local self-government and health departments as well as the food safety commissioner on issuing licences to adulterated food products. KSHRC chairperson Justice J B Koshy has asked them to submit an explanation before March 10.
The commission sought the report at its sitting in Kochi on Monday on corporation councillor Thampi Subramanian's complaint that adulterated food products were being sold as branded ones in the open market.
In his petition to the commission, he also demanded that licences be granted only to food products inspected by food safety officials. The commission will hear the case at its sitting on March 23.
Recently, the commission had sought a report from the civil supplies commissioner regarding canteens charging excessive rates for food items in cinema theatres.
Meanwhile, food safety commissioner T V Anupama said, "We give licences to traders based on infrastructure facilities such as buildings and details of food items they sell. We can't take measures against them for excess rates charged in cinema canteens as the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) does not clearly specify it."
At the sitting, another petitioner wanted private bus owners to revise the rates like Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which reduced the minimum ordinary fare from Rs 7 to Rs 6. The commission decided to issue notices to the secretary of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and private bus owners regarding the demand.
The commission also heard a petition to prevent toll collection on bridges that have completed the toll period as per contract. According to the petitioner, the toll period of SN Kavala, Kochi Refinery and Chithrapuzha bridges in Tripunithura have been completed. But the government is collecting toll from vehicles taking these bridges.
KSHRC also decided to issue notices to the district collector, principal secretaries of the Public Works Department (PWD) and finance department as well as the division executive engineer regarding the levy of toll on bridges that have completed the term.
The commission also heard a complaint alleging police officials were not given weekly offs as per the law, and decided to send a notice to the home ministry.
A total of 51 cases, including 15 new ones, were heard at the sitting.

FSSAI raids: Kochi tea traders clarify over quality

Kochi, February 23:
Tea Trade Association of Cochin has clarified that the valuation of teas in the auction centre was done by industry experts and the trade was regulated by the Tea Board of India.
The quality aspects of teas offered at the auctions are well assured and the export quantities for the previous period will substantiate the value offered through auctions.
The Association’s clarification comes in the wake of the recent raids carried out by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on adulterated tea dealers in the State and confiscating several adulterated quantities.
According to JK Thomas, the association Chairman, the teas auctioned through the centre were confirmed by the sellers and in accordance prescribed under FSSAI and by the Tea Board-approved brokers before offering it in the auctions.
The Association urged the public to abstain from approaching tea dealers who are offering teas at comparatively very low price, which is practically not possible for any estate to produce under the current circumstances. It also requested traders, retailers and consumers to demand a bill with the suppliers’ VAT and FSSAI license number while purchasing the commodity, considering the rise in adulterated products from neighbouring States.

Food safety officials conduct raids in city

Food Safety Department officials conducted raids in the city on the second day on Tuesday. They inspected hotels and edible oil shops and godowns at different places.
The teams, comprising food safety officers from Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari districts, raided a hotel at Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS). They collected samples of the ingredients and some food items being sold in the hotel.
Later, they raided a few edible oil shops and warehouses and collected samples of different brands. They found that some oils were of substandard quality and said the samples would be sent to laboratory for examination.
“We found that the material used by the hotel was substandard and the food items sold in the eatery was poor in quality. The raids will continue,” said the food safety officers.

காலாவதி பொருட்கள் விற்பனையை தடுக்கக்கோரி கலெக்டரிடம் மனு

கோவை, பிப். 23:
கோவை மாவட்ட கலெக் டர் அலு வ ல கத் தில் மக் கள் குறை தீர்க் கும் முகாம், மாவட்ட வரு வாய் அலு வ லர் கிறிஸ் து ராஜ் தலை மை யில் நேற்று நடந் தது.
அப் போது, வழக் க றி ஞர் புஸ் பா னந் தம் அளித்த மனு வில்,‘கோவை யில் தடா கம் ரோடு கோவில் மேடு, சிவாஜி காலனி, இடை யர் பா ளை யம், வேலாண் டி பா ளை யம் ஆகிய பகு தி க ளில் உள்ள பல டீக் கடை, மளிகை கடை, பெட் டிக் கடை மற் றும் பேக் க ரி க ளில் காலா வ தி யான மற் றும் கெட் டுப் போன திண் பண் டங் கள் பாக் கெட் டில் அடைத்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன.
இந்த பாக் கெட் க ளில் தயா ரிப்பு தேதி, காலா வதி தேதி, தயா ரிப்பு நிறு வ னம் உள் ளிட்ட எந்த தக வ லும் இல்லை.
இந்த பொருட் களை வாங்கி உண் ணும் பொது மக் கள் பல் வேறு உடல் ந லக் கோ ளா றுக்கு ஆட் பட்டு வரு கின் ற னர். இது கு றித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி காரி கதி ர வ னி டம் புகார் அளித் தும் எந்த நட வ டிக்கை இல்லை. அத னால் இந்த பகு தி க ளில் மாவட்ட அதி கா ரி கள் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற் கொண்டு, காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை விற் பனை செய் ப வர் கள் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும்’ என கூறப் பட் டுள் ளது.

ஓட்டல்களில் மாமூல் கேட்டு மிரட்டுவோர் மீது நடவடிக்கை

பெரம் ப லூர், பிப். 23:
ஓட் டல் க ளில் மாமூல் கேட்டு மிரட் டு வோர் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் க வேண் டும் என ஓட் டல் உரி மை யா ளர் கள் சங் கம் சார் பில் கலெக் ட ரி டம் புகார் மனு அளிக் கப் பட் டது.
பெரம் ப லூர் மாவட்ட ஓட் டல் கள் உரி மை யா ளர் கள் சங் கத் தின் சார் பாக அச் சங் கத் தின் தலை வர் ரவி, செய லா ளர் முத் துக் கு மார், பொரு ளா ளர் மற் றும் நிர் வா கி கள் உள் ளிட் டோர் கலெக் டர் நந் த கு மா ரி டம் நேற்று அளித் துள்ள புகார் மனு வில் தெரி வித் தி ருப் ப தா வது: பெரம் ப லூர் மாவட் டத் தில் நாங் கள் பல் வேறு இடங் க ளில், பல் வேறு பெயர் க ளில் ஓட் டல் கள் நடத்தி வரு கி றோம். இது வரை எந் த வி த மான குறை பா டு க ளின்றி நல் ல மு றை யில் மக் க ளுக் குத் தர மான உண வு களை வழங்கி வரு கி றோம். இருந் தும் சில நபர் கள் கடை க ளுக்கு வந்து, மாதந் தோ றும் எங் க ளுக்கு மாமூல் பணம் தர வேண் டும் என் றும், தரா விட் டால், உண வுப் பொரு ளின் தரம் பற்றி உண வுப் பாது காப்பு அலு வ ல ரி டம் புகார் செய்து, உண வ கத் தின் பெயரை கெடுக் கும் வகை யில், வியா பா ரம் பாதிக் கும் படி செய் து வி டு வோம் என்று அடிக் கடி மிரட்டி வரு கின் ற னர்.
எனவே, ஓட் டல் களை மிரட்டி வரும் நபர் க ளைக் கண் ட றிந்து, அவர் கள் மீது தகுந்த நட வ டிக்கை எடுத்து, எங் க ளுக் கும், எங் கள் பணி யா ளர் க ளுக் கும் தகுந் தப் பாது காப்பு வழங் கும் படி கேட் டுக் கொள் கி றோம். இவ் வாறு அவர் கள் அதில் தெரி வித் துள் ள னர்.

FSSAI to engage professionals for purpose of policy guidelines and awareness

Apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to engage professionals and food safety experts for the purpose of policy guidelines with regards to the subject of food safety. The professionals would be attached to different programme divisions of FSSAI and regional offices for help in strategic and operational requirements.
According to a senior official of FSSAI, a notice has been issued by the food regulator and the purpose of such a scheme is to identify and empanel reputed professionals and individual consultants who may be asked to provide technical, project management and other professional support on short-term basis (upto six months) for the purpose of policy guidelines, project support, detailed project report preparation and other professional support to FSSAI.
The official informed that it was aimed at getting reliable information about technical subjects like standards for the purpose of food safety that can meet the global standards as well as the operational requirement at the local level. Further for this purpose, professionals with relevant background from academic research, not for profit organisation, registered society, freelancers, consultancy firms having expertise in the relevant field are eligible to apply provided they possess the minimum experience, according to the notice.
Meanwhile, the food safety regulator has also decided to engage Central or state government agencies, consumers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations and other institutions including government universities, colleges working in the area of food safety for undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) activities on behalf of FSSAI.
The apex food regulator has issued a notice in this regard as well recently. It says that as per the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted under the scheme, it is being done and for the “State Level Proposal,” applications should be submitted directly to the State Food Safety Commissioners (FSCs) concerned by the applicant whereas the “National Level Proposal” should be submitted to the FSSAI HQ, New Delhi.
According to the senior official, since the state food safety machinery is reeling under the shortage of manpower, it has been decided that awareness programmes that are aimed at engaging FBOs and such other institutions should help. Further as the deadline for licensing and registration has been extended for the final time for three months, the authority wants to complete the aim within this period and for this purpose a large number of such volunteers are likely to be roped into spread the message.

KUMUDAM ARTICLE

KUNGUMAM ARTICLE

KUMUDAM SINEKITHI ARTICLE

மாநி லங் க ளு டன் இணைந்து விழிப் பு ணர்வு உணவு பாது காப்பு செயல் ப டுத்த தர நிர் ணய ஆைண யம் தீவி ரம்

புது டெல்லி, பிப்.23:
மத் திய, மாநில அர சு கள், கல் லூ ரி கள் போன் ற வற் று டன் இணைந்து உணவு பாது காப்பு விழிப் பு ணர்வை ஏற் ப டுத்த இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் திட் ட மிட் டுள் ளது.
உணவு பொருட் க ளில் சுவை மற் றும் நிறத் துக் காக செயற் கை யாக பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் ரசா யன பொருட் கள் உடல் நலத் துக்கு கேடு விளை விக் கின் றன. இது போல், துரித உண வு கள், பாக் கெட் உண வு க ளில் அள வுக்கு அதி க மாக சேர்க் கப் ப டும் பொருட் க ளும் உடல் நல பாதிப் புக்கு வழி வகுக் கின் றன. எனவே, உணவு பாது காப்பு தர விதி களை இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் (எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ) வகுத்து வரு கி றது.
இந் நி லை யில், உணவு பொருட் கள் குறித்து விழிப் பு ணர்வை ஏற் ப டுத்த மத் திய, மாநில அர சு க ளு டன் இணைந்து செயல் ப ட வும் இந்த அமைப்பு திட் ட மிட் டுள் ளது. இது கு றித்து எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ மூத்த அதி காரி ஒரு வர் கூறி ய தா வது:
உணவு பாது காப்பு பற் றிய விழிப் பு ணர்வு நம் நாட் டில் மிக வும் குறை வாக உள் ளது. எனவே, நுகர் வோ ருக்கு இது பற்றி கற் றுத் தர வேண் டிய அவ சி யம் ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. இதற் காக பல் வேறு அமைப் பு க ளு டன் இணைந்து செயல் பட உள் ளோம்.
அதா வது, மத் திய, மாநில அர சு கள், பல் க லைக் க ழ கங் கள், கல் லூ ரி கள், தன் னார்வ தொண்டு நிறு வ னங் கள் ஆகி ய வற் று டன் சேர்ந்து செயல் ப டுத் தி னால் விழிப் பு ணர்வை அதி க ரிக்க முடி யும். அதோடு உணவு பாது காப்பு தொடர் பான சட் டங் களை செயல் ப டுத் த வும், ஆய்வு உள் ளிட்ட பணி க ளுக் காக ஆட் கள் பற் றாக் குறை, திறன் குறை பா டு களை போக்க முன் வ ரு மாறு மாநில உணவு கட் டுப் பாட்டு அமைப் பு களை கேட் டுக் கொண் டுள் ளோம்.
இந்த புதிய திட் டத் தின் படி மாநில அமைப் பு கள் எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ சார் பாக பிர சா ரங் க ளில் ஈடு ப டும். அதோடு, அந் தந்த மாநி லங் க ளும் உணவு பாது காப்பு தொடர் பான தங் கள் கருத் து ருக் களை அனுப் ப லாம். இது நாடு முழு மைக் கும் பயன் ப டுத் த வும் உத வி க ர மாக இருக் கும்.
இவ் வாறு அவர் தெரி வித் தார்.

FSDA collects 30kg supplement from 2 stores

Meerut: Nearly twenty days after a Special Task Force (STF) along with officials from the Food Safety & Drugs Administration (FSDA) raided a factory and sealed two shops allegedly selling adulterated items being passed off as dietary protein supplements in containers with labels of renowned companies, the FSDA team collected six samples, including 30 kg food supplement, from two shops.
The two shops are owned by Jahid and Shadaab. The raid was conducted in presence of the city magistrate.
The samples have been sent to a Lucknow-based laboratory and the results are likely to be out in a month's time.
Giving information, JP Singh, chief food safety officer, said, "On February 2, we had sealed Apollo Medical Store and Hindustan Sports Nutrition Store located in Khairnagar area during a raid that was carried out against fake food supplements. Today, we collected three samples from each of the sealed shops."
While the three samples taken from Apollo Medical Store include 17 kg of Kwik Size XXX, 13 kg of Serious Mass Weigh Gain Supplement and Carbo 8000 food supplement, the three samples from Hindustan Sports Nutrition Store are of Glucogen Ace, Nitro Mass powder and all in one Mega Amino Mass.

NABL accreditation to give more teeth to Lucknow's food testing lab

LUCKNOW: After proving its mettle in detecting heavy metals (such as Lead), trace metals, insecticides and pesticides in food items through Trace Metal Analysers, the Aliganj-based food laboratory has got NABL accreditation. The NABL accreditation would not only enhance the authenticity of the food test reports of these labs, but would also help the officials, as the test reports would be considered valid in any court of law.
Confirming the development, officer in-charge of the food testing laboratory SK Pant told TOI, "We got accreditation on January 29, and we are the first (FSDA/FDA) laboratory in entire north India to get the coveted NABL accreditation." He further stated that the reports of the NABL accredited laboratories are globally accepted and also in any court of law.
NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. "It is a body, which is under the Union ministry of Science and Technology, and the accreditation is subjected to surprise inspection by concerned officials in a span of every 10-11 months," Pant said and added that if the standard is not maintained or adhered to, then the accreditation can be suspended or even withdrawn.
The Lucknow laboratory has got accreditation in two categories - milk and dairy products and cereals. The other categories in which NABL accreditation has been sought are: sweets, oil, spices and miscellaneous. Officials also admitted that earlier labs of the state were not NABL-accredited, hence the reports were challenged by the manufacturers of various food items. The in-charge officer of the food laboratory also acknowledged the help he got from principal secretary Hemant Rao and FSDA commissioner BK Singh for expediting the entire process in getting the coveted accreditation. Officials also maintain that as per the provisions of the Food Safety Act, all the food testing laboratories should be NABL-accredited.

Market checking intensified

1 lakh fine realized from offenders

On the directions of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, a market checking squad on Monday conducted checking at various markets in Srinagar.
The joint checking squad, comprising officials of SMC, CA&PD and Legal Metrology, was headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate Srinagar Syed Haneef Balkhi. The squad inspected various markets of Srinagar including Hari Singh High Street, Karanagar, Soura, SMHS, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Nowhatta, Nowshera and other adjoining areas.
During the inspection, the squad inspected different Food establishments where 10 quintals of fruit and milk, large quantity of expired juice, 30 quintals of rotten vegetables were destroyed besides food-colours and dirty utensils were also destroyed on spot and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh was realised from the defaulters.
“The Market Checking Squads also sealed one Restaurant namely (Naya Darbar Hotel) at Karanagar which was found in unhygienic condition and was adding harmful colors in food items,” official communiqué said.
During the drive, the vendors, hoteliers and bakery shop owners were directed to display rate lists issued by the competent authority and in case any ingredient is essential to be added in food items, certificate from competent authority, Department as per the standards laid down in food safety Act for adding the same shall be displayed.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner constituted four teams in four zones of the district which were led by respective Tehsildars and instruction have been passed for mobilization of additional teams for market checking to ensure quality of essential commodities and price control.

Mid-day meal-25 students taken ill in Zilla Parishad high school

As many as 25 students, including a few girls, fell sick after consuming mid-day meal at the ZP High School at Kona Banswada in Banswada town on Monday.
They were immediately admitted to the Government Area Hospital where after undergoing treatment for two hours they were discharged, according to information reaching here. The vomited within two hours of consuming the meal at the school. Teaching and non-teaching staff rushed them to the hospital where Superintendent Dr. Srinivasa Prasad, who is a leading paediatrician, personally supervised the treatment. Mandal Education Officer Nageswar Rao, TRS leaders Anji Reddy, Izaj and Gangadhar enquired the condition of the sick students in the hospital.
The authorities said that an enquiry would be ordered into the incident.

Safety of food under scanner

With the rise in popularity of packaged food, safety is on the uptick. IIP's two-day conference looks at how packaging can prove to be an enabler, says Priya Raju
A two-day national conference on food packaging and its safety related aspects was held on 20-21 January 2016, at The Leela, Mumbai. The event hosted by Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) saw 150 packaging professionals under one roof devising plans to meet the increasing demand of the food packaging sector.
A rough estimate suggests that the proposed 42 mega food parks by the government will yield a potential investment of about Rs 14,000 crore and should benefit 12.5 lakh farmers plus generate 3-4 lakh new jobs, too.
Plus, food sector is probably the single largest user of packaging; with 45-60% of the total packaging is consumed by the food sector world over. It is becoming increasingly important to develop an integrated system of packaging which is cost effective, has all the functional properties and makes it effective for distribution.
To address these, the two day national conference revolved around new developments in the packaging materials, techniques and systems, and regulations that open up new possibilities and opportunities for marketing products and reduce cost.
Topics ranging from the use of packaging materials such as paper, tin plate, glass, aluminium foil o the safe coatings used in packaging of food were discussed on day one. Akhilesh Tripathi, general manager at Hindustan National Glass (HNG), informs, “With the new NNPB technology glass packaging has become lighter and cost effective. The new glass bottle by HNG is 45% lighter.”
While, AB Kulkarni, managing director, Kaira Can Company, says, “Usage of PLC systems, microprocessors have revolutionised the can making process. Welding lines are now available for speeds from 100 to as fast as 800 cans per minute.”
With the growth in food packaging and awareness of the consumers, there is an increasing focus on regulatory aspects. Dr P Kartikeyan, assistant director regulations, Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) enlisted the requirements in packaging and labelling under the FSSAI Act.
The day two was focussed on addressing concerns about food safety, evaluation of packaging materials for safety and packaging systems and machinery used.
Jaychandran Nair, business manager – flexible packaging adhesives at Henkel, says, “All the components used to manufacture a packaging material have to fulfil the relevant regulation. This can be FDA, EU framework, etc. The entire value chain, right from the resin manufacturers to the end user, should understand the impact of raw materials in food safety.” Various requirements for efficient labelling for food packaging were highlighted by Rohit Mehta, corporate director at SMI Coated Products.
N C Shah, director at the IIP says, “The trend today is more towards fast-selling. Now, keeping the optimum shelf life as the base reference, we have to select a package which is cost-efficient and has optimum functional properties.” He adds, “Another important aspect of packaging today is consumer safety. It has become a big issue in the food industry. The product being packed should not react to the package.”
Expert Speak
E-MAP technology which is used to enhance the shelf life of fresh produce was the point of discussion during Shankaran’s presentation. Shankaran said, “E-MAP technology helps to preserve fresh produce and extends the shelf life of the produce by ensuring that the oxygen availability is reduced but maintaining a minimum level.” Shankaran introduces Flexfresh a patented biodegradable polymeric film invented by Uflex at the seminar. Uflex is currently exporting Flexfresh to the European, American and African markets. He informed that, Uflex has had a successful trial with Dominos, and has seen a shelf life extension from two to ten days.

N Siva Shankaran, vice president – business development, Uflex
During his presentation, Sarkar discussed the need to understand the various requirements in printing various packages. Technical requirements such as low odour, limited migration of unwanted substance to the packed material, and trouble free processing like UV coat ability of the inks used must be studied in depth. Sarkar said, “Safety in the packaging of food products needs special attention as more and more stringent regulatory requirements are now in place.” He stresses that the inks and coatings used to print food packaging must be manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.

Prasanta Sarkar, general manager (technical), Hubergroup India
Chandak highlighted packaging machinery using the MAP (Modified Atmospheric Pressure) technology. In MAP packaging, atmospheric air is removed from the package and replaced with suitable gas or a gas mixture to extend the shelf life of the food packed.
Chandak said, "The USP of MAP packaging is the transparent films which allows clear view. MAP packaging can impart extended markets for sensitive food products and perishables." He explained the applications of these types of machinery which can be used to for the packaging of ready-to-consume snacks, convenience meal, fresh fruits and cut vegetables among others.

Vinay Chandak, CEO, Ace Industries
Ampady, presented a case study on how packaging has resulted in the socio-economic growth of the fisher folks in Kerala.
Fisheries is one of the important sectors in Kerala with 222 marine villages. KSCADC and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) together established Fish Maid, a cold chain distribution model and Drish a brand for drying and packaging of dry fish; which traditionally were dried in unhygienic conditions. A Drish product uses a no touch, hygienic MAP packaging technique which has resulted in the extension of shelf life. "With this initiative, my dream is to find a place for regular products, without any taboo attached to it."

Dr K Ampady, managing director, Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC)

Street food vendors to become more organised

The target is to skill as many vendors as possible while this festival is on and ensures their certification so that they have recognition by industry and government, and also are acknowledged by FSSAI

In the quest to formalize the unorganised sector and certify those who are not formally skilled, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Counciland Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has organized camps at the ongoing National Street Food Festival in Central Delhi, to induct and certify those who have been food vendors for long but do not have any recognition of their prior learning.
The festival has street food vendors representing different states and their respective popular food.
Under the guidance of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and PMKVY – Ministry’s flagship scheme, NSDC has enabled for a provision for assessing these vendors, on-spot on their skill level with adherence to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). Once assessed, their certification as per the process under PMKVY, will be sent to them.
“We are glad to find a partnership with NSDC under the leadership of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in this endeavor. There are 34.5 lakh food businesses registered with FSSAI and mostly small ones who need handholding, training and assessment. Endeavors like these will help organize this segment of society and create a natural pull for many others in the league,” Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI.
Speaking at the event, Jayant Krishna, CEO, NSDC said, “The initiative will help street food vendors to evolve self-regulatory code and a set of guidelines for safe and hygienic food to win the confidence of common man. Indian street food is popular all over the world for its range of flavors. There is strong need to create awareness about hygiene and best practices among food vendors through their training and recognition. RPL under PMKVY will ascertain that these vendors get certified in their skill and earn respect for their work.”
The target is to skill as many vendors as possible while this festival is on and ensures their certification so that they have recognition by industry and government, and also are acknowledged by FSSAI.
In this way their knowledge & skills will be formally recognized. These vendors are being provided orientation to National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and then being assessed on their existing skill levels over the next three days of the festival.
The Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council with industry experts have developed the Qualification Packs for these vendors basis which the assessment is happening.
Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), special focus is given to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by recognizing prior competencies of the assessed candidates and then a certificate is provided on successful completion of assessments. PMKVY RPL has been rolled out in 22states and 1union territory in India covering 127districts in23 sectors catering to 95 job roles.
Till date PMKVY- the overall scheme including RPL has enrolled more than 12 lakh candidates through 1,043 training partners who provide training through 9,582 training centers across India.
The process of RPL at the National Street Food Festival begins with a 2 hour workshop whereby Tourism &Hospitality Sector Skill Council together with FSSAI oriented street food vendors on the following parameters:
1. How to maintain health and hygiene standards in the vending area 

2. How to maintain safety while vending 

3. How to maintain customer-centric service orientation 

4. Information on the type of entrepreneurial activities required to run the food vending business (i.e. How to cross sell products) and; 

5. How to follow gender and age sensitive service practices
These street vendors have been assessed by Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Councilaffiliated assessment agency, Aspiring Minds, on the basis of the above mentioned parameters. The assessment is done using technology. The benefit of doing so is that the assessment results are generated instantly and the assessors are able to provide feedback to the vendors on the spot.
Vendors who pass their assessment will be given a Government certification as per the PMKVY process. They will also be registered under FSSAI for which they will receive a card indicating the same.

FSSAI to work with other government agencies to spread awareness on food safety

NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India plans to work together with central and state government agencies, universities, colleges and non-government organisations to spread awareness about food safety related issues across the country. 

"Awareness level about food safety in the country is extremely low. The consumers need to be educated and hence the association with several organisations," said a senior FSSAI officer, requesting not to be named. The FSSAI has been under fire for poor implementation of norms and lack of awareness about food safety issues. According to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006, the priorities of the FSSAI include laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. 

Officials said the FSSAI is constrained by its dependence on state food authorities for implementing the law as well as shortage of both manpower and skills in the authority. 

Under the new scheme, these organisations will inform, educate and communicate on behalf of the authority, the FSSAI said in a recent notice. "This has been done as per the recommendation of an expert committee constituted under the above scheme," the notice said. 

The authority has also directed the states to submit state level proposals for spreading awareness for each state to the state food safety commissioners, some of which could be considered for implementation across the nation.

Tea traders hail steps FSSAI raids

The Tea Trade Association of Cochin has hailed the raids conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on people selling adulterated tea. In a statement here, the association said the raids had brought to light unauthorised activities in the trade.

At the same time, it said the malpractices by a small section of traders had brought the entire tea business under the shadow of public suspicion.

The statement said legitimate and genuine tea traders across the country had been affected by malpractices by unscrupulous elements.

The association said it would work to create awareness among the public to protect the interests of the stakeholders and the move to book those dealing in adulterated tea was welcome.

It said teas auctioned at the Cochin auction centre were confirmed by sellers and the Tea Board-approved brokers to be those of prescribed FSSAI standards.

Valuation of tea was done by experts in the industry and the trade was regulated by the Tea Board of India.

The traders appealed to the public to refrain from buying teas which were sold at comparatively lower prices. They said traders, buyers and retailers should always insist on bills of transactions with the VAT and FSSAI licence numbers on them. The traders said adulterated tea was being brought into the State from neighbouring States and some of the non-tea materials in the adulterated tea could cause health problems.

Food Safety officials raids on fruit shops

Officials of Food Safety Department conducted raids on the fruit stalls to check the presence of calcium carbide content in the stocks at Kedareswarapeta Wholesale Fruit Market in the city on Monday.

Food Safety Officers from Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari districts participated in the raids. They collected samples of Sweet Orange, Banana, Papaya, Grapes and other varieties of fruits, said the officials.

Recently, the Food Safety and Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) authorities raided on the fruit shops in Kedareswarapet Fruit Market and found that a wholesale merchant was ripening papayas by using calcium carbide. They destroyed the stocks then.

“We suspect that some bananas and papaya stocks were being ripened by using calcium carbide. The seized samples would be sent for laboratory examination,” the Food Safety Officers said.

1,000 workers deployed to clean up after Pongala

The city Corporation entrusted 1,000 of its sanitation workers with the task of clean-up operations as part of Attukal Pongala festival.

In addition, 1,784 others have been appointed on a daily- wage basis across 14 health circles.

The local body will make use of 20 of its own trucks and 35 rented trucks for transport of waste. Arrangements have been made for the distribution of drinking water at all areas where Pongala is offered. To take care of emergency situations, the Corporation’s ambulances will be kept ready.

A control room has been opened in the city, which will function on all days of the festival. Health supervisors, health inspectors, and junior health inspectors will coordinate the activities in this control room.

The services of public health nurses will be available at the control room and in the ambulances.

A special health squad has been appointed to ensure clean surroundings in the festival area and to check the quality of food served in restaurants. Route plans have been prepared by the health inspector of respective wards for the removal of waste after Pongala. Cooperation of residents associations and temple authorities have been requested for this purpose.

Spraying and fogging in the festival area is being carried out to control mosquitoes. The Corporation, in association with the Suchitwa Mission, the District administration, the Food Safety Department, and the temple administration will implement a green protocol for the festival this year. Devotees have been requested to bring a steel plate and tumbler, to reduce the use of disposable plastic plates and cups.

The voluntary organisations, which carry out distribution of food and water have been asked to avoid the use of disposable plates and cups. Around 10,000 steel tumblers and 3,000 plates have been collected from city residents as part of a campaign, to be distributed to those devotees who arrive without their own plates and tumblers.

LDH health dept has no record of surprise checks at eateries

Putting the lives of thousands of residents at risk, the local health department has severely failed to follow the guidelines during checks or inspections of eateries and sweetmeat shops in the district.

This not only highlights the lack of seriousness on part of officials of the food safety wing but also point out an apparent collusion between many officials and eatery owners. Accusations have also been made against the food safety wing officials who are accused of failing to keep a check on these eateries.

The matter has come to the fore through an RTI query filed by a local resident Dhiraj Kathuria, an MSc in food technology. Violations of the norms took place during August 1, 2012, to July 31, 2014. Kathuria has sought information regarding the record of the surprise checks from of the same period, but to no avail.

As per the norms, the food safety wing officials are supposed to follow a set of documentary procedures during the inspection of an eatery or a retail outlet. Their checklist contains different points, including the record of fruits, vegetables, fish, periodic cleaning and disinfection of store and availability of facility for keeping perishable food products among others.

The RTI reply from the civil surgeon office states there is no documentary record of any inspection or an audit of a food business operator (FBO) by the food safety officers between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2014, Kathuria said.

Neither the district health department has prepared any inspection report of the FBO nor has a compliance report been filed during the same period.

Kathuria said with no authentic record of such surprise checks, the department is putting the health of thousands of residents at stake as they do not even know whether they are being served healthy food or not. “There should be a thorough inquiry into the issue to know why the rules are not being followed,”said Kathuria.

District health officer (DHO) Dr Abnash Kumar said he was unaware about any such RTI query.

CHECKLIST THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED

• To check whether daily records of quantity of fruits, vegetables, fish, milk, etc is maintained or not
• Whether periodic cleaning and disinfection of store is carried out and record thereof is maintained
• To check if the facility for keeping perishable food products is available or not
• No person handling food should be suffering from any infection of contagious disease.
• The working area should be well-ventilated and lightened
• Adequate facility for toilets, hand wash and foot bath

40 ill after food poisoning

Ranchi: Around 40 people, including 15 children, took ill due to food poisoning in Bero block of Ranchi district late on Saturday evening.

The incident was reported at Paharakandriya village after a group of locals consumed paanipuri at a weekly fair on Saturday, nearly 48kms from the state capital. Within a few hours, most of them developed cramps and started vomiting, doctors said.

The patients were rushed to Bero community health centre (CHC) late on Saturday night, block medical officer in-charge Dr Ranjan Kumar Singh said. Besides paanipuri, doctors are suspecting "contaminated water" as the cause for food poisoning. "A medical team has been sent to Paharakandariya village and food and water samples have been collected," Singh said on Sunday afternoon. Singh said people were admitted after midnight. A few patients have also been shifted to Ranchi district hospital.

The incident has prompted the Ranchi civil surgeon's office to strengthen food testing procedures in the district.

Market share of Maggi declines

New Delhi, Feb 22 : The controversy, which hauled a ban on Maggi noodles seems to have overturned. The most favorite product of the Nestle India brand witnessed its market share drop by almost half, according to industry executives who drew on Nielsen data.

The share of the Nestle's noodles brand in India dropped to 42 percent in January from a high of 77 percent in the previous year.

While Maggi regained its number one slot in instant noodles last month, ITC Foods' Sunfeast Yippee came a close second with a 33 percent share.

The category, dominated by Maggi until May last year, has become fragmented with others such as Nissin's Top Ramen and Cup Noodles, Ching's Secret, Wai Wai and HUL's Knorr having caught up.

Maggi witnessed a ban last year in June and returned to stores in early November after a five-month ban and voluntary recall over allegations by food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over excessive lead.

மகாமக குளத்தில் நீராடி விட்டு உணவுகளில் கலப்படத்தை கண்டறிய நடமாடும் உணவு பரிசோதனை ஆய்வுக்கூடம் கும்பகோணம் வந்தது

கும் ப கோ ணம், பிப்.22:

கும் ப கோ ணத் தில் மகா ம கத் தை யொட்டி ஓட் டல் கள், உணவு விடு தி கள், சாலை யோர டிபன் சென் டர் கள், துரித உணவு கூடங் கள் ஏரா ள மான முளைத் துள் ளன. மேலும் மளி கைக் க டை கள், சாலை யோர திண் பண் டங் கள் விற் ப னை ய கம் போன் ற வை க ளில் ஏரா ள மான உணவு பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன. லட் சக் க ணக் கான கூட் டத் தி னரை பயன் ப டுத்தி கலப் பட பொருள் களை விற் பனை செய் ய வும் வாய்ப் பு கள் உள் ளன. எனவே இவற்றை கண் ட றி வ தற் கா க வும், பொது மக் க ளி டம் விழிப் பு ணர்வை ஏற் ப டுத் து வ தற் கா க வும் தஞ் சை யில் உள்ள இந் திய பயிர் பதன தொழில் நுட்ப கழ கம் மற் றும் தமி ழக அர சின் உணவு பொருள் பகுப் பாய்வு பிரிவு சார் பில் நட மா டும் உணவு தர பரி சோ தனை ஆய் வுக் கூடம் கும் ப கோ ணத் திற்கு வர வ ழைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. ஒரு பேருந் தில் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள்ள நவீன பரி சோ தனை கூடத் தில் சந் தே கப் ப டும் உணவு பண் டங் கள் பரி சோ தனை செய் யப் பட்டு முடி வு கள் உட னுக் கு டன் தரப் ப டு கி றது.

இதற் காக இந் திய பயிர் பதன தொழில் நுட்ப கழக இயக் கு னர் லோக நா தன் உத் த ர வின் பே ரில் விஞ் ஞானி புவனா தலை மை யில் 3 தொழில் நுட்ப வல் லு னர் கள் வருகை தந் துள் ள னர். இது குறித்து புவனா கூறும் போது, கும் ப கோ ணம் நக ரில் அரசு அதி கா ரி கள், பொது மக் கள் அளிக் கும் சந் தே கப் ப டும் ப டி யான உணவு பொருள் க ளின் மாதி ரி களை கொடுத் தால் பரி சோ தித்து உட ன டி யாக முடி வு களை தரு கி றோம். இதற்கு மகா ம கத் தை யொட்டி கட் ட ணம் எது வும் இன்றி இல வ ச மாக செய்து தரு கி றோம். மேலும் இது குறித்து விழிப் பு ணர்வை பொது மக் க ளுக்கு அளிக்க உள் ளோம். தர மற்ற உண வு களை உண் ப தால் ஏற் ப டும் விளை வு களை விளக்கி வரு கி றோம் என் றார்.