பிரெட் சாப்பிட்டால் புற்றுநோய்?

முன்பெல்லாம் காய்ச்சலோ உடல் நலிவோ ஏற்பட்டால்தான் பிரெட் எனப்படும் ரொட்டி வகையறாக்களைச் சாப்பிடுவோம். இப்போது நகரங்களில் பெரும்பாலான வீடுகளில் காலை உணவு, ரொட்டிகளால் அமைகிறது.

தீயில் வாட்டியோ, நெய் அல்லது வெண்ணெய் தடவியோ, நடுவே காய்கறிகளை வைத்துச் சாண்ட்விச் என்ற பெயரிலோ, முட்டை விரும்பிகளாக இருந்தால் பிரெட் ஆம்லெட் வடிவிலோ ரொட்டிகளைச் சாப்பிடுகிறார்கள். தெருவுக்குத் தெரு துரித உணவகங்களும் பேக்கரிகளும் நிறைந்திருக்கும் சூழலில் பிரெட், பர்கர், பாவ் பாஜி, பீட்ஸா போன்றவற்றைச் சாப்பிடுகிறவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்துவருகிறது.

‘கோதுமை மாவு அல்லது மைதா மாவில் செய்யப்படும் ரொட்டி வகைகள் கார்போஹைட்ரேட் நிறைந்தவைதானே’ என்று படித்தவர்களும், ‘டாக்டரே சாப்பிடச் சொல்றாங்க. அதுல என்ன கெடுதல் இருக்கப் போகுது?’ என்று படிக்காதவர்களும் நினைப்பதில் தவறேதும் இல்லை.

சாத்தியமும் நிகழ்தகவும்

உலகச் சுகாதார மையத்தின் ஓர் அங்கமாகச் செயல்பட்டுவருகிறது புற்றுநோய் ஆராய்ச்சிக்கான சர்வதேச அமைப்பு. இந்த அமைப்பு உலகம் முழுக்கப் பல்வேறு மாதிரிகளைப் பரிசோதித்து அவற்றில் மனிதர்களிடமும் விலங்குகளிடமும் புற்றுநோயை உண்டாக்கக்கூடிய பொருட்களை ஐந்து வகையாகப் பிரித்துப் பட்டியலிட்டிருக்கிறது.

புற்றுநோயை நிச்சயம் உருவாக்கும் ஆபத்து கொண்டவற்றை ‘கிரேட் 1’ என்று வகைப்படுத்தியிருக்கிறது. முதலுக்கும் கடைசிக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட நிலையில் இருக்கிறவற்றை 2A, 2B என்று இரண்டு வகையாகத் தரம் பிரித்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

அவை நோய் ஏற்படுத்துவதற்கான சாத்தியம் உள்ளவை (Possibly), நிகழ்தகவு கொண்டவை (Probably). இதில் புற்றுநோயை உண்டாக்கும் சாத்தியம் கொண்டவை பட்டியலில் இடம்பெற்றிருக்கிறது பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட். நிகழ்தகவு கொண்டவை என்ற பிரிவில் இடம்பெற்றிருக்கும் பொருட்களைச் சாப்பிடுவதால் புற்றுநோய் வரும் என்பது நிச்சயமில்லை. அதனால் அதில் ஆபத்து குறைவு.

அனைத்திலும் ஆபத்து

புற்றுநோயை உருவாக்கும் என்பதால் உலக அளவில் பல்வேறு நாடுகள் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட்டுக்கு ஏற்கெனவே தடை விதித்திருக்கின்றன. ஆனால் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட், ஆக்ஸிஜனேற்றம் அடைந்து புரோமைடாகிவிடுவதால் அதனால் எந்த ஆபத்தும் இல்லை என்ற சமாதானத்துடன் இந்தியா அதன் பயன்பாட்டுக்கு அனுமதியளித்திருந்தது.

அறிவியல் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மையம் சமீபத்தில் வெளியிட்டிருக்கும் ஆய்வு முடிவைத் தொடர்ந்து உண்ணும் பொருட்களில் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட்டைப் பயன்படுத்தத் தடை விதித்திருக்கிறது இந்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தரக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு ஆணையம் (FSSAI).

உத்தரவாதம் என்ன?

பிரெட் வகைகளில் மட்டுமல்லாமல் காபியில் தொடங்கி அழகு சாதனப் பொருட்கள், மின்னணு சாதனங்கள் போன்ற நாம் தினமும் பயன்படுத்தும் பல்வேறு பொருட்களிலும் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட் இருக்கிறது. மக்கள் நலனில் அக்கறை கொண்ட அரசு, கேடு விளைவிக்கும் பொருட்களை நிச்சயம் தடை செய்திருக்கும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையில்தான் பொதுமக்கள் பல்வேறு பொருட்களைப் பயன்படுத்தியும் சாப்பிட்டும் வருகிறார்கள்.

இப்படித் திடீரென வெளியாகும் ஆய்வக முடிவுகள் அந்த நம்பிக்கையை நீர்த்துப் போகச் செய்கின்றன. இன்னும் எத்தனை வேதிப்பொருட்கள் இப்படி ஆய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தப்படாமல் நாம் சாப்பிடும் பொருட்களில் நிறைந்திருக்கிறதோ என்ற கேள்வியும் எழத்தான் செய்கிறது.

வேதிப் பொருட்கள் குறித்தோ அவற்றின் தீங்கு குறித்தோ அறியாத ஒரு சாதாரணக் குடிமகன் எந்த அடிப்படையில் ஒரு உணவைச் சாப்பிடுவது? அவருடைய நல்வாழ்வுக்கான உத்தரவாதம் என்ன?

“இந்த ஒரு வேதிப்பொருள் மட்டுமல்ல, கிட்டத்தட்ட நாற்பதாயிரம் வேதிப் பொருட்கள் உணவு தயாரிப்பிலும் பதப்படுத்துதலிலும் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன. உலக அளவில் தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் பல்வேறு பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளையும் உரங்களையும் இந்தியாவில் இன்னும் பயன்படுத்திக்கொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறோம்.

மக்களுக்கும் சூழலுக்கும் கேடு விளைவிக்கும் பொருட்களைக் கட்டுப்படுத்துவதிலும் அவற்றைத் தடை செய்வதிலும் அரசும் தரக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு ஆணையமும் காட்டும் மெத்தனமே இதற்குக் காரணம்” என்று சொல்கிறார் பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக் கூட்டமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்த அனந்து.

விழிப்புணர்வே மாமருந்து

மக்கள் விழிப்புடன் இருப்பதும் அறியாமையில் இருப்பவர்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்துவதும்தான் இதற்குத் தீர்வாக இருக்க முடியும் என்கிறார் அவர்.

“இன்று திரும்பிய பக்கமெல்லாம் வேதிப்பொருட்களின் ஆட்சி. நம் வீட்டுச் சமையலறையைக்கூட அவை விட்டுவைக்கவில்லை. சுவையூட்டிகள், மணமூட்டிகள், நிறமூட்டிகள், துரித உணவு வகைகள் என்ற போர்வையில் வேதிப் பொருட்கள் நம்மை ஆக்கிரமித்திருக்கின்றன.

தினசரிச் சமையலில் கூடுமானவரை செயற்கை வேதிப்பொருட்களைக் குறைக்க வேண்டும். உணவுப் பொருள் என்றால் ஒரு நாளுக்குள் அது கெட்டுப்போக வேண்டும். ஆறு மாதம் முதல் ஒரு வருடம்வரை கெடாமல் இருந்தால், அது எப்படி உண்ணத் தகுந்த பொருளாகும்?

கண்ணைக் கவரும் நிறத்திலும் வடிவத்திலும் அடுக்கிவைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் பொருட்கள் ஆரோக்கியத்துக்கான சாவு மணி என்பதை உணர வேண்டும். தவிர்க்க முடியாத சூழ்நிலையில் மட்டுமே பிரெட், பிஸ்கட் போன்றவற்றைச் சாப்பிடுவது என்ற உறுதி ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் வேண்டும். நம் பாரம்பரியச் சமையலில் ஏராளமான அற்புதங்கள் நிறைந்திருக்கின்றன. அவற்றைக் கடைப்பிடித்துவந்தாலே போதும், நலவாழ்வு வசமாகும்” என்கிறார் அனந்து.

அளவுக்கு மிஞ்சினால் ஆபத்து

எந்தவொரு வேதிப்பொருளும் அளவுக்கு மிஞ்சும்போதுதான் ஆபத்து. அது பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட்டுக்கும் பொருந்தும். இது சிறந்த ஆக்ஸிஜனேற்றி என்பதால் பிரெட் தயாரிப்பிலும் பேக்கரி துறையிலும் பொருட்களை உப்பச் செய்யவும், மிருதுவாக்கவும் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது.

தயாரிப்பின்போது முழுமையாக ஆக்ஸிஜனேற்றம் அடையாமல் கசடாக இருக்கும் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட்டின் அளவு அதிகமாக இருந்தால், அது மனிதர்களிடம் புற்றுநோயை ஏற்படுத்துவதற்கான சாத்தியம் அதிகம்” என்கிறார் வேதியியல் துறை உதவிப் பேராசிரியர் ஜான் மரிய சேவியர். பிரெட் தயாரிப்பில் 50 (p.p.m.) அளவிலும் பேக்கரி பொருட்களில் 20 (p.p.m.) அளவிலும் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட்டைப் பயன்படுத்தலாம் என அனுமதித்திருக்கிறது இந்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர கட்டுப்பாட்டு ஆணையம் (FSSAI).

இந்த அளவுகள் நேர்மையாகக் கடைப்பிடிக்கப்படுகின்றனவா என்பது சந்தேகமே என்கிறார் இவர். “உணவுப் பொருள் தயாரிப்பின் எந்த நிலையிலும் வேதி மாற்றம் ஏற்படலாம் என்பதால், பயன்படுத்தப்படும் பாத்திரத்தில் தொடங்கி ஒவ்வொன்றையும் ஆய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தித் தரச் சான்றிதழ் வாங்குவது முக்கியம்.

உணவுப் பொருளில் சேர்க்கப்படும் வேதிப்பொருட்களின் பெயர்களைக் குறிப்பிட்டால், அது மக்கள் மத்தியில் அச்சத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்பதால் குறியீடுகள் (Code) மூலம் குறிப்பிடுகிறார்கள். மக்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வு அதிகரித்துவரும் இந்தக் காலத்தில் குறியீடுகளைத் தவிர்த்துவிட்டு வேதிப்பொருட்களின் பெயர்களை அச்சிட்டால் தரத்தைச் சரிபார்த்து வாங்க முடியும்” என்கிறார் மரிய சேவியர்.

ஆனால் புதுடெல்லியைச் சேர்ந்த அறிவியல் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மையம் சமீபத்தில் வெளியிட்டிருக்கும் ஆய்வு முடிவுகள், நம் நினைப்பைத் தகர்க்கின்றன. ரொட்டி, பாவ், பர்கர், பன், பீட்ஸா போன்றவற்றில் புற்றுநோயை உருவாக்கக் கூடிய வேதிப்பொருட்கள் இருப்பதாக இந்த மையம் தெரிவித்திருக்கிறது.

“டெல்லியில் நாங்கள் பரிசோதித்த மாதிரிகளில் 84 சதவீத மாதிரிகளில் பொட்டாசியம் புரோமேட், பொட்டாசியம் அயோடேட் இருப்பது கண்டறியப்பட்டது. எங்கள் ஆய்வக முடிவை உறுதி செய்வதற்காகத் தனியார் பரிசோதனை மையம் ஒன்றில் சோதனைக்கு அனுப்பினோம்.

அந்த முடிவு எங்கள் ஆய்வக முடிவை உறுதிசெய்திருக்கிறது” என்று சொல்கிறார் அறிவியல் மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மையத்தின் இணை இயக்குநர் சந்திரபூஷன். இந்த ஆய்வு முடிவுக்கு ஆதரவாகப் புற்றுநோய் ஆராய்ச்சிக்கான சர்வதேச அமைப்பு (IARC) வெளியிட்டிருக்கும் பட்டியலைச் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகிறது இந்த மையம்.

Government must strictly ban use of potassium bromate, a known carcinogen: Pramod Kumar Julka

Interview with former dean and professor of oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences

It has been a rattling week for bread lovers after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found over 80 per cent of popular brands laced with compounds linked to cancer. Traces of potentially harmful potassium bromate and potassium iodate were found in samples taken from Delhi.

While potassium bromate, a known carcinogen, helps hold dough together, potassium iodate is used as a flavouring and maturing agent; it is also linked to thyroid disorders. These chemicals were found not just in white bread, a category usually dissed by health experts, but in brown bread as well, besides ready-to-eat burgers, pizza bases, pavs and buns. Pramod Kumar Julka, former dean and professor of oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, tells Nikita Puri why this is a cause for concern. Excerpts:

Do CSE's recent findings worry you?

Though reports on potassium iodate leading to cancer haven't been confirmed, potassium bromate was found to be a carcinogen by France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) way back in 1990. This is also known for causing neurological dysfunctions, and hampering learning abilities - essentially our cognitive functions. Consumption of potassium bromate also leads to DNA damage, besides hearing impairments. So, yes, it worries me.

CSE's findings have to be verified and confirmed, though. It is essential to also do these tests in good labs, maybe in AIIMS.

A number of countries have banned the use of potassium bromate as a flour treatment agent, the European Union has banned potassium iodate as well. Should we follow suit? 

Potassium bromate was banned way back in 1992 in other countries. And, though, the CSE report has alarming data, it should be verified. It's a good thing that the government has now banned the use of these products, at least till further tests are conducted and similar results found again.

Some reports suggest that baking the bread properly changes the bromate compound and makes it harmless by leaving no residue in the end products, is that correct? 

Even if it's baked properly, potassium bromate itself is a chemical carcinogen, and a carcinogen will always be a carcinogen, and it'll never go away completely. Only properly conducted clinical trials can give certainty in such cases.

If the CSE report is proven and these compounds are found in our bread, the government must strictly ban the use of such compounds with immediate effect. I believe that's what the government is also considering.

According to CSE, 32 out of 38 samples were found to have potassium bromate or potassium iodate residue in the range of 1.15-22.54 parts per million, is this quantity a worry?

Generally, we don't believe in a threshold dose (the amount of drug administered that produces a detectable effect). As I always say, a poison is always a poison, even if it is taken in low doses. There is no study that has proven that beyond a certain limit things are carcinogenic. Unless and until we have a study to prove at what quantity something is dangerous, we cannot scientifically say that.

Bread has become an essential part of many households - how do we go forward with the knowledge that our daily bread could be harmful? 

We use atta bread at home, but that's likely to have potassium bromate too. The bread-making industry needs to be firmly told not to use these compounds. I think CSE has already started doing it - it has recently said that these compounds should be banned if it's being used. But, of course, these findings should be verified again.

Additionally, we need to have quantities of everything clearly listed on the packaging, something that we rarely see being done in our country. Ideally, they should write everything, like they do in the US.

Is potassium bromate used only because it is cheaper than other alternatives? 

Yes, besides the fact that it is cheap, it helps solidify bread also, that's something about the baking process. But health should come first, everything else after. There should be no bromate in the bread; they should absolutely ban it.

Do we do enough tests in the country to check for chemicals in our food? 

No, it's really not up to the mark. There should be many more tests and clinical trials carried out even in the food industry, and there should be much more compliance with laws. This is very important because everyday we get new cancer patients. We have 1.45 million new cancer cases, according to recent data. The numbers are increasing every year - three years ago the number was 1.1 million.

பழநி அருகே சூடு வைத்து பழுக்க வைத்த 1 டன் மாம்பழம் அழிப்பு

 

பழநி, மே 29:

பழநி அருகே சூடு வைத்து பழுக்க வைத்த 1 டன் மாம் ப ழங் களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.

திண் டுக் கல் மாவட் டம், பழநி அருகே ஆயக் குடி பகு தி யில் ரசா ய னங் களை பயன் ப டுத்தி செயற் கை யாக பழுக்க வைத்த மாம் ப ழங் கள் விற் கப் ப டு வ தாக புகார் எழுந் தது. இதை ய டுத்து மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் சியாம் இளங்கோ, பழநி உண வுப் பொ ருள் தரக் கட் டுப் பாட்டு அதி காரி மோக ன ரங் கன் ஆகி யோர் நேற்று ஆயக் குடி பகு தி யில் உள்ள பழ மண் டி க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு மேற் கொண் ட னர்.

இதில் எத் த னால் மூலம் பழுக்க வைக் கப் பட்ட 1 டன் மாம் ப ழம் கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. அவற்றை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து, தீ வைத்து அழித் த னர். தோட் டக் கலைத் துறை அனு ம தி ய ளித் துள்ள கானிசா முறை யில் சுவற் றில் காகி தத்தை ஒட்டி தெளிப் பான் மூலம் பழங் களை பழுக்க வைத் துக் கொள் ளு மாறு அதி கா ரி கள் அறி வு றுத் தி னர்.

FDA seizes expired snacks costing Rs 36,300

NAGPUR: The Food and Drug Administration food wing seized snacks costing Rs 36,300 of different manufacturers with expiry date in the market.

The material including chocolates, biscuits and chiwda were seized from the premises of Ritesh Imtani's ice candy manufacturing unit in Kamptee. 

The material was seized under a planned raid conducted in the leadership of assistant food commissioner S E Pawar and food safety officer Amit Uplap. "All these snacks have labels with their best use date expired. FDA has destroyed the entire material and started the procedure for appropriate action against," said Pawar.

Shivaji Desai, joint commissioner (food) told TOI that since the owner was a manufacturer of ice candy, finding snacks that too with expired dates on his premises has raised eyebrows about his intentions. He could be involved in illegal sale of such materials.

Soon, hygiene tips for Kolhapur street vendors

Kolhapur: Citizens may soon have little to fear while digging into their favourite street snacks with cleanliness and hygiene training on the cards for over 1,000 street vendors. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will team up with students from the department of food science and technology of the Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK), to train more than 1,000 streetside food vendors in the city about importance of the cleanliness and hygiene. 

S M Deshmukh, assistant commissioner, city unit of FDA, said there is a dire need of training and assistance for streetside food vendors to let them know about the importance of food hygiene, cleanliness, how it should be stored and how they can keep the food fresh. He added that it will help to improve food safety. 

Deshmukh said the training will begin from June 15 and the department will start with a survey of such vendors. It is likely that the number of street vendors may be more than 1,000.

Another official from the department said the number of street food vendors has increased in the recent years and most of them are at public places like Rankala lake, movie theatres, the RTO office, and bazaar areas. 

"There is always concern about the cleanliness and possibility of related illnesses where streetside food is concerned. All vendors need to know about the scientific methods of food preparation, its storage, and how small things like wearing gloves while serving food and keeping food at the right temperature can help greatly," said the official.

An official from the university department said the FDA initiative an innovative one as students will be able to interact with vendors and tell them about food safety. He added that the students are well-suited for this initiative since they study various aspects of food and food precessing such as preservation, chemistry, quality and others.

Rs 2.09 lakh fine imposed on business establishments

UDHAMPUR, May 28: Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Angrez Singh Rana today imposed a fine of Rs.2.09 lakh on various business establishments for violating the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Samples of different essential commodities which included Mustard oil Brand Super Gold, Global Desi Ghee, Makhan manufactured by Mohan Food Products Satwari, Milk and Paneer were found to be substandard and Mango drink (Brand Maza), Biscuit (Brand Britania ) were reported as misbranded.

Earlier, during the routine market checking the samples of various food items were lifted by the Food Safety Officer and sent to Public Health Laboratory Jammu for analysis and the reports of the food analyst conformed that these samples were misbranded and substandard.

The challans against the defaulting shopkeepers were produced by the FSO before the court of Adjudicating Officer.

Khader orders testing of bread samples

Health Minister U T Khader on Saturday issued directions to the department and the food safety inspectors to collect bread samples from various sources and get them tested. 

This comes close on the heels of reports about presence of potassium bromate beyond the permitted quantity in bread.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Health Commissioner P S Vastrad said they had instructed safety inspectors to collect samples and send them for testing. The orders have been issued for packaged bread sold in bakeries, but major brands manufacturing units were not included on the first day.

Food safety joint director Dr H S Shivakumar said 13 samples were collected from malls and outlets (including bakeries) on Saturday. There will be no sample collection on Sunday, but it will continue on Monday. The samples will be sent to a premier lab for testing. 

There is no target set as such, but samples from across the city are being collected. The team is collecting samples to test for potassium bromate and update (a conjugate base of iodic acid). The Health department is awaiting communication from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on this.

The Health department officials said that the inspection was not aimed at creating fear among consumers, but bakers are not convinced. They say it will create more doubt among the people.

B S Bhat, president of the Karnataka Wrapped Bread Manufacturers Association, said whatever was being done was unwanted and unnecessary. Legally, flour millers are permitted to use 20 ppm of potassium bromate and bakers are permitted up to 50 ppm. No baker in the state uses potassium bromate, but it cannot be said that it is not added by the flour millers, he said.

FSSAI defends bromate proposal in packaged water

Regulator claims new standard for potential cancer-causing contaminant at 10 micrograms per litre in line with best practices

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday said the proposed new standard for the potential cancer-causing contaminant “bromate” at 10 micrograms per litre in packaged drinking water is in line with best international practices.

In a written statement, FSSAI, referring to its proposal, said, “This is a draft standard and would be finalised after getting inputs from the stakeholders. The process for setting the standards for food articles is a continuous evolving process.”

Business Standard on Friday had reported that FSSAI in January had proposed to permit 10 micrograms per litre of bromate in bottled water (Click here to read the story). Currently, bromate is not allowed in bottled water in India. The proposal was put in public domain for 30 days for feedback. Since then, the food regulator has not passed the final order though the period for receiving comments is over.

In January 2015, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre scientists published research showing high levels of bromate in 27 per cent of the bottled water samples they had picked up. The study read, “Bromate levels varied from below detection limits to 43 microgram per litre with an average of 10.7 microgram per litre. At that juncture, bromide presence was not allowed at all in bottled water.”

FSSAI said in its statement, “Current standards of water being developed by FSSAI recognise that this contaminant may be found in water in some cases and prescribes a limit for bromate in water. While India’s ground realities have to be kept in mind, FSSAI is committed to continuously improving and aligning the national food standards with global standards.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the toxic contaminant should ideally not be present at all in drinking water. But, based on the limited capability in 2005 of detecting the contaminant in labs prescribed then, countries such as the US and the European Union (EU) set the bromate standard at 10 micrograms per litre — the level at which it could be then detected in lab samples. In 2014, the US approved testing methods that can now confirm presence of bromates even at the limit of 0.02 microgram per litre and alternatives to using ozone for disinfecting water. The standards of these countries have not been revised since. The FSSAI in its statement referred to the standards of EU and the US at 10 microgram per litre and Australia at 20 microgram per litre, while stating it had now proposed comparable standards for bromate in packaged water.

FSSAI said, as the story had noted, that bromate contamination can occur during the use of ozone and hypochlorite solutions to disinfect water that is to be packaged. Some bottlers of water world over do use alternative methods which do not require ozone that leads to bromate formation, notes the International Bottled Water Association in its briefing note on bromate. Ozonation, a cheaper disinfectant method, has been traditionally used for large-scale disinfestations in municipal water supply across EU and the US.

Before the release of the statement by FSSAI, its Chief Executive Officer Pavan Kumar Agarwal had told Business Standard on Saturday: “FSSAI is currently updating the list of additives, the draft for which was recently put in public domain. Once this exercise of setting the standards for nearly 11,000 additives is complete, all such issues that arise out of anomalies in vertical standards, such as that of packaged water, shall be automatically taken care of. This is because the master list of additives being finalised shall overrule all existing vertical standards of additives and contaminants.”

The press release from FSSAI later pointed out that bromate is an additive for bread but a contaminant in bottled water. The list of additives with their maximum use levels, being finalised by FSSAI, does not deal with the contaminants.

Potassium bromate not allowed as additive in packaged water: FSSAI

It is not an additive but a contaminant in water.

Potassium bromate is not allowed as an additive in packaged drinking water but its permissible limit as contaminant has been fixed because its traces are found in groundwater or when water undergoes treatment, FSSAI has said.

Potassium bromate, which is carcinogenic in nature and causes cancer, was in news over its alleged presence in bread. After that, the FSSAI said it has decided to remove bromate from the list of additives. Bromate is not inherent component of water but traces of bromate can be found in drinking water when the water undergoes treatment.

It is also found in groundwater due to cross penetration of salt water when water source is close to sea or industrial effluents facilities. As it is found in the source of water, its limit as contaminant has been fixed.

"Thus in water, bromate is not an additive but a contaminant," Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said in a statement. Current standards of water being developed by FSSAI recognise that this contaminant may be found in water...and prescribes its limit at 0.01 ppm or 10 ppb significantly lower than the permissible limit in bread which is at 50ppm, FSSAI added.

The maximum limit suggested by the scientific panel is at par with global standards of WHO which is also 10ppb, the food safety regulator said. The proposed regulation of FSSAI is in line with the best international practice and intended to control the presence of this contaminant to a safe level.

"Cancer causing agent present in bread" - Another media created panic situation

In last few days a news by CSE caused panic among the consumers of bread - 

Reminding the past cases like pesticide in cold drinks (2004), lead in Maggi (2015), another sensational report shattered the faith of consumers on Indian Food Regulations and India Processed Food manufacturers. I am also a consumer before being a food technologist. But, being a food techie, I at least have faith on Food Regulations. So, I thought to wait for some time, discuss with other experts and then share view offoodpathshala on this entire issue. As I had given my strong support to Maggi during MSG case, again I am supporting bread manufacturers in this episode. They have not done any crime by adding bromate or iodate. These are permitted under Indian law. Its a different question whether it should be permitted under law or not. If someone finds some issue in regulations, they should go to the scientific community and raise their concern, not publish are report and create panic among consumers and then among the food manufacturers. 

I got chance to get view of Mr Pradip Chakraborty, Former Director, FSSAI on this entire episode and thought to share with all of you.

Food and its Safety is the most important and critical subject due to its sheer significance affecting each and every person. Any apprehension about its safety causes ripple effect with enormous consequences in the minds of all. Thus, such issues require extreme care and caution. 

In last 2 days, news of CSE’s (Centre for Science and Environment) study and recommendation on Potassium Bromate (KBrO3) and Potassium Iodate (KIO3) giving impression that BREAD is a definite source of CANCER has caused exteme forform of apprehension and anxiety in the entire population of the country. 

CSE’s laboratory testing of 38 samples of bread found out 22.54 ppm as the maximum concentrate of Potassium Bromite/Potassium Iodate amongst all the samples, about 45% of 50 ppm, permissible under clause C(7) of Appendix-A to the FSS (Food Products Standards & Food Additive) Regulation, 2011. CSE sought ban of these Food Additives (mischievously reported as chemicals) in India citing some reports of its carcinogenic effect and instances of their ban in some countries. In other words, except laboratory testing of some samples, CSE has nothing new to demonstrate anything adverse to challenge the existing risk assessment analysis of FSSAI or even justify any demand for a fresh risk assessment.

The laboratory testing itself is only to ascertain the traces of these Food Additives, which in any case is within the permissible Indian Food Standards. The report cited by CSE is of the year of 1999 and the bans of different countries so referred to by CSE is of different years, which have already been factored in the existing risk assessment of FSSAI undertaken in the year of 2011-12. The entire demand of CSE is therefore resting on its own assessment, which is no new innovation except an yet another view demanding the ban.

As per CSE, all the companies, who replied to it’s query, denied using Potassium Bromite/Potassium Iodate. Instead, as they claim, they are using bread improvers such as Calcium Carbonate (INS 170), Amylases (INS 1100), L-Cystein Monohydrocloride (INS 920), Enzyme Protein technology derived from natural resources.

Safety of food has different facets and contours from the stand point of “general-parlance”, “regulatory-exigencies” and “scientific-community”. It is a complex scientific and regulatory issue and the same is ascertain through a process of risk assessment, a scientific based process consisting of 4 steps of hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment and risk characterization. Thus no attempts whatsoever, knowingly or unknowingly, should be made to confuse people by mixing aforesaid 3 different contexts of Food Safety.

FSSAI, the Indian Food Authority, lays down science based Food standards after extensive scientific assessment by eminent scientists in consonance with the international practices after extensive consultation with various stakeholders. Therefore, FSSAI’s permissible standards for Potassium Bromite/Potassium Iodate as an improver for bread and biscuits have reasonable scientific backing and necessary legal justification. 

As we all know, even the scientific community themselves are not in unison on many issues. Food Science and its safety itself is a continuous evolving process. While International Agency on Research for Cancer (IARC) suggests that Potassium Bromite/Potassium Iodate is a possible carcinogenic, it has not arrived at an unbridled conclusion due to absence of uncontroverted evidence keeping in view various other factors. It is important to note that IARC’s conclusion is based on hazard evaluation where as many food regulators of the world including FSSAI fix Food standards based on proper risk assessment. Risk assessment indicates that the tolerance limit is safe to human being. Risk assessment is done after rigorous toxicological investigation, exposure assessment through food, weight of the human being and food habits.

Centre for Health, Environment and Food Safety (CHEFS), a techno-legal Indian body having substantial expertise in these fields principally located at Delhi, declares that a number of ingredients, which were considered as carcinogenic and prohibited earlier, were approved after risk assessment. Such as:

1. Styvia was banned by United States Food and Drugs Authority (USFDA) in 1992 on anonymous complaint. Japan considered styvia as natural sweetener and allowed it to continue. Subsequently, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) after thorough study declared Styvia as safe upto certain limits. On the basis of EFSA, USFDA also lifted ban on Styvia and FSSAI also permitted use of Styvia upto certain limit.

2. Copper and Zinc also considered as toxin for a long time. After thorough study, World Health Organisation (WHO) declared them as micronutrients upto certain limits permissible in Food. FSSAI also approved Copper and Zinc as micronutrients.

Need of the hour is, a fresh risk assessment can be carried out by the FSSAI in consultation with all the stakeholders including scientists, its own Scientific Committee and Scientific Panel to factor any new data and/or new development. It has been reiterated by the eminent scientists of CHEFS that an issue relating to science should be left to the scientific community and the regulators to come to a conclusion before forming any final opinion.

தயாரிப்பு தேதி இல்லாத தின்பண்டங்கள் விற்பனை செய்தால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் எச்சரிக்கை

பழநி, மே 28:

தயா ரிப்பு தேதி இல் லாத தின் பண் டங் களை விற் பனை செய் தால் கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டு மென உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் மோக ன ரங் கம் எச் ச ரிக்கை விடுத் துள் ளார்.

பழநி கோயி லில் கோடை விடு மு றை யின் கார ண மாக தற் போது ஏரா ள மான பக் தர் கள் வரு கின் ற னர். இவ் வாறு வரும் பக் தர் க ளி டம் விற் பனை செய் வ தற் காக அடி வார பகு தி க ளில் ஏரா ள மான இடங் க ளில் தற் கா லிக சாலை யோர கடை கள் அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளன.

இங்கு விளை யாட்டு பொருட் கள், சிப்ஸ், கற் கண்டு, பேரீட்சை, அல்வா போன்ற பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன. சில கடை க ளில் கலப் பட மற் றும் காலா வ தி யான தின் பண் டங் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன.

உண வுப் பொ ருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் வது பழநி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் மோக ன ரங் கத் தி டம் கேட் ட போது கூறி ய தா வது, பக் தர் க ளுக்கு தர மான, பாது காப் பான, கலப் ப ட மில் லாத, காலா வ தி யா காத உணவு பொருட் க ளையே விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும். உண வுப் பொ ருட் களை கையாள் வோ ருக்கு

தொற் று நோய் எது மில்லை என உடல் ந லத் தகுதி சான்று கட் டா யம் பெற் றி ருத் தல் வேண் டும். உண வுப் பொருட் களை தயா ரிக்க பாது காக் கப் பட்ட குடி நீ ரையே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். அனு ம திக் கப் பட்ட இயற்கை அல் லது செயற்கை நிறங் களை சரி யான அள வில் மட் டுமே பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். கால வ தி யான எண் ணெய் கள் மற் றும் அனு ம திக் கப் ப டாத செயற்கை நிறங் களை பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூடாது. உண வுப் பொருட் களை தயா ரிக்க பயன் ப டும் நெய், வனஸ் பதி மற் றும் எண் ணெய் வகை களை வாடிக் கை யா ளர் கள் அறி யும் வகை யில் அறி விப்பு பல கை யில் தெரி யப் ப டுத்த வேண் டும்.

விற் ப னைக் கான உண வுப் பொ ருட் களை மூடிய நிலை யில் ஈக் கள், பூச் சி கள் மற் றும் தூசி கள் விழா த வாறு முறை யாக கண் ணாடி பெட் டி யி னுள் வைத்து விற் பனை செய்ய வேண் டும். தயா ரிப்பு தேதி, நிகர எடை, காலா வதி தேதி மற் றும் உண வுப் பொருட் க ளில் கலந் துள்ள கல வை கள் விப ரங் கள் குறிப் புச் சீட்டு வைத் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். எச் ச ரிக்கை ஏதா வது இருந் தால் அது கு றித்த விப ரங் களை குறிப் பிட வேண் டும். உண வுப் பொருட் களை சாக் க டை யின் மேல் வைத்து பொது மக் க ளுக்கு விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. மின ரல் ஆயில் போன்ற எண் ணெய் களை பேரிட் சை யில் தடவி விற் பனை செய் யக் கூ டாது. நகர்ப் ப கு தி யில் உண வுத் தொழில் செய் வ தற்கு உண வுப் பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா கத் து றை யி ன ரி டம் பதிவு அல் லது உரி மம் பெறு வது அவ சி யம். இவ் வி தி மு றை களை பின் பற் றாத கடைக் கா ரர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும். இவ் வாறு அவர் கூறி னார்.

Only conditional permission for Maggi Noodles: Uttarkhand

Seizure of tobacco products begins

SAVING LIVES:Kauvery Hospital conducting an awareness programme to mark the ‘World No Tobacco Day,’ which is observed on May 31.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has begun seizure of tobacco products that do not adhere to the new packaging rules. So far, according to P. Vadivelan, Additional Director, DPH, Rs. 27.76 lakh worth of products have been seized in the city, in an operation carried out along with police and the Food Safety Department.

Under the new rules, which came in to effect on April 1, all tobacco products must carry a health warning covering 85 per cent of their packaging. “Necessary action will be taken on the seized products as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. Even if the products are manufactured before April 1, they should only be sold with a sticker on them that adheres to the new rules,” said Dr. Vadivelan. The DPH is also instructing the health, food safety and various other department officials across the State to begin seizing products that violate the rules. On May 31, which is World No Tobacco Day, the DPH is conducting an awareness meeting, which will include traders’ associations in order to make all stakeholders aware and sensitise them on the process, said Prasanna Kannan, State consultant, Tobacco Control Cell, DPH.

However, activists pointed out that more needs to be done. “The government must seize products from manufacturing, storage and distribution centres before they reach the outlets,” said S. Cyril Alexander, State convenor, Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control.

E. Vidhuabala, head, Resource Centre for Tobacco Control, Cancer Institute, Adyar, agrees. “Up until today, small shops throughout the State are continuing to sell products without the new pictorial warnings,” she said.

In the run up to World No Tobacco Day, several organisations are planning awareness campaigns. The theme this year is ‘Get Ready for Plain Packaging.’ On Friday, Kauvery Hospital conducted an awareness programme at Elliot’s Beach which involved lung capacity screening tests for members of the public.

Ramdev’s Patanjali rapped for ‘gross exaggeration’ in ‘misleading ads’

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has rapped yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved Ltd for “false and misleading” advertisements that also “denigrate” rival products.

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the ad watchdog, released a statement on the complaints it dealt with in March, finding three of Patanjali’s product advertisements indulging in “ambiguity” and making claims that were described as “gross exaggeration”.

The CCC received 156 complaints against ads during the month, and upheld 90 - including those by Patanjali - under categories such as “education”, “healthcare and personal care”, “food and beverages” and others.

Under the “healthcare and personal care” category, the CCC pulled up the ad for Patanjali Kesh Kanti Natural Hair Cleanser & Oil, describing as “false and misleading by ambiguity” and “gross exaggeration” its claim that “mineral oil is carcinogenic in nature and may cause cancer”.

In the “food and beverages” segment, it found that the ad for ‘Patanjali Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil’ made claims that were “misleading” and “not substantiated”.

The ad had claimed that, “Other than Kacchi Ghani process most of the other edible refined oils and mustard oil are made using neurotoxin Hexagon solvent extraction process. To make profits at the cost of consumers’ health many companies mix cheap palm oil in mustard oil”.

The CCC ruled that the ad “unfairly denigrates other oils/mustard oil”.

The ad had prompted the edible oil industry body, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI), to file complaints with the food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and ASCI.

In its letters to FSSAI and ASCI, the SEAI requested the regulators to “take action” against Patanjali, and alleged that the company’s ad for ‘Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil’ was not in good taste.

The CCC also found issues with the ad for ‘Patanjali Herbal Washing Powder, Cake and Dishwash Bar’, which claimed they were used by “millions of housewives”. The watchdog said the claim was “not substantiated”.

It further said that there was little evidence of the cleaning benefit of its professed ingredients, and declared the claim as “misleading by ambiguity”.

The CCC also said that “the claim, ‘Dish wash bars made with chemicals do clean the utensils but they end up damaging the hands’, was not substantiated and unfairly denigrates dish wash bars directly”.

Patanjali’s ads have come in for criticism in the past. In a recent article, Pushpa M Bhargava, former vice chairman of the National Knowledge Commission, made a detailed critique of the claims made by a Ramdev ad about treatments for high blood pressure and diabetes.

Bhargava, who founded the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, described as “scientifically absurd” the “implication in the ad that blood pressure and diabetes are caused by viruses”.

Alert Chennaiites opt for organic breads

Following the controversy on the presence of cancer-causing additives in bread, many Chennaiites are reconsidering their choice of loaves, and moving to organic and farmfresh alternatives.

Neighbourhood shops are also feeling the pinch as the issue has taken national limelight

Chennai: Home bakers in the city have said that they have witnessed a significant rise in demand for home-made, chemical free breads. Nandini Sivakumar runs Lotsa Lavender, a citybased supplier of organic, whole-wheat, additive-free bread, cookies and snacks to restaurants and stores. She says, “People in Chennai have always been a health-conscious lot and are curious about organic produce. When it comes to matters of health, many people don’t mind spending the extra buck to stay on the healthy side.” 

She says that while that she has received quite a few inquiries concerning her homemade breads in the last one week, the premium pricing on home-made breads, turns out to be a hurdle for many. 

After the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommended a ban on potassium bromate, a food additive used in bread, that is said to cause cancer, the All India Bread Manufacturers Association (AIBMA) announced that bread manufacturers will do away with the substance, which is banned in many countries but India. 

Neighbourhood shops are also feeling the pinch as the issue has taken national limelight. Selvaganesh, a manager with a supermarket in Nungambakkam, says, “There certainly has been a dip in demand for bread post the controversy. If the govt directs us to withdraw the old stocks, we are more than willing to do so. As bread is a fast moving product, we will incur loses if they go off the shelves.” 

Anju Priya, a mother and a communications professional says, “Being a working mother, I don’t have time cook an elaborate meal. I usually rely on bread to pack sandwich. After the news broke, instead of the bread I get from the super market, I have started purchasing from the organic store.” 

There are also others who have set about baking their own bread. Lisa Isaac who runs Artisans Institute of Baking, says, “Bread can be made without any chemicals. We have people from all walks of life coming to us to learn how to bake. Their aim is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and be aware of what they really consume.”

DINATHANTHI NEWS

Caution against artificial ripening of mangoes

The district administration has warned of action against mango dealers, and retailers here for safety code violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Just as the mango season has kicked in, safety code violations by use of artificial ripening methods have also come to light.

In lieu of complaints, the administration has warned retailers, hawkers, dealers of action if they were found to use carbide stone to speed up ripening of mangoes. Persons found in violation will be booked under Section 6 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The violation will attract prison term up to 6 years and fine up to Rs.5 lakh, the administration has said.

Also, the public is encouraged to alert the district administration on the toll free numbers: 1077, 890 389 1077, 1800 425 7016, 1800 425 1071.

What’s our daily bread made out of?

• Health concerns over additives used in bread-making 

• Nagaland govt awaits intimation from the centre

The recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), warning about the presence of cancer causing agents in bread has sent alarm bells ringing across the country. According to the CSE, the finding was based on a study conducted by it. It has prompted the Union Health Ministry to order the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to further investigate the CSE findings and report to the Ministry immediately.

The chemical agents – potassium bromate and potassium iodate, traces of which were reported found in samples of bread and allied bakery products of leading food manufacturers, according to research are believed to be carcinogenic in nature i.e. could cause cancer. The chemical agents are used as additives in dough to improve texture and finish and has been banned in several countries in Europe and in Asia while its use is reported to be permitted in the USA.

In India, the Food Safety Regulations (2011) stipulates a ceiling of 50 parts per million (PPM) of the agents in bread and 20 PPM in allied food products. The CSE findings have nevertheless prompted the health authority of the country to have a rethink on its use.

Meanwhile, in Nagaland, the state government is still to make a move on the reported findings. Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, M. Patton when contacted by The Morung Express maintained it is aware of the CSE’s report but has yet to take any initiative. “There has been no intimation in this regard from the Centre so far but we do expect it will come,” said Patton. In the event there is no such communiqué, he added that the state government can still make necessary arrangement to collect samples for analysis.

Further, bakeries here are also still to make a declaration on the kind of additives used in food products. Two prominent bakeries in Dimapur though maintained that no chemical agents are used in their products. According to them, yeast is the primary agent used in the dough to make bread while baking powder is used for making biscuits, they said.

One of them said that potassium bromate and iodate are used as additives to extend the shelf life of food products and are normally used by big manufacturers, which deal in large scale production.

As regards the health concerns, a Nagaland-based Oncologist, Dr. Shankar Debroy said that potassium bromate and iodate are recognised as class 2B carcinogens, while adding that long term exposure can increase the chances of cancer in humans. “(Generally) the effect of any carcinogen on the body is not noticed or felt immediately.” As far as bread was concerned, Dr. Debroy said he was in no position to comment.

Another resident doctor had a similar take as did the AIIMS Director, Dr. MC Mishra. The latter was quoted in news reports as stating there was no need to panic about the presence of the chemicals in pre-packaged food. The AIIMS Director observed that it might pose danger when ingested in huge quantities over a long period of time.

The Dimapur-based doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, held that people tend to get alarmed whenever there is mention of chemicals in food. “But we must also remember that meat… smoked meat is also carcinogenic.” He said that unregulated consumption of meat can be just as harmful as the aforementioned chemicals.

On the bread produced here, he said, “If what the bakers say is true there is nothing to be alarmed about,” the doctor added.

FSSAI proposes to allow bromates in drinking water

WHO says water should not have the carcinogenic chemical. FSSAI recently said it would ban the same toxin in breads

In January, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed that bromates, a probable cancer-causing chemical, be permitted to an extent in bottled drinking water. This is the same chemical that the Centre for Science and Environment claims to have found in some bread products after lab tests. Subsequently, FSSAI announced it would ban bromates in breads.

The existing standards for packaged drinking water, set in 2011, strictly prohibited bromates. But, in a proposal put out in January for public comments, FSSAI proposed that up to 10 micrograms of bromates per litre of water be allowed as a contaminant. The 30-day comment period for the proposal is over.

Bromates are found in breads if potassium bromate - cheaper alternative to Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C - is used for strengthening the dough. Among the major developed countries, the US is one of the few that allow use of potassium bromate in bread making. Most others, including the European Union and Canada, do not. Many developing countries have also banned the use of bromates in bakery products.

In water, bromates are formed when it is treated using ozone as a disinfectant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that bromates not be present in packaged drinking water. It's recommendatory CODEX Alimentarius - a global scientifically produced list of what is safe to eat and how - says, "All treatments of water intended for bottling should be carried out under controlled conditions to avoid any type of contamination, including the formation of toxic by-products (particularly bromates)."

Many countries permit bromates in water to the smallest possible level, based on standards set in the past decade, as detection levels are a constraint. Most countries have set better standards than the one proposed by FSSAI.

All countries tend to toughen standards with time if the toxicity of products remains confirmed.

FSSAI did not respond to a detailed questionnaire sent by Business Standard.

Going by the WHO recommendations, so far, India had the best standards for bromates in drinking water - it was not allowed at all.

This was tough to maintain unless it had the testing methods in place to detect the minimal levels of bromates in water. Since 2007, United Kingdom allows up to three micrograms of bromates per litre of water.

EU allows 10 micrograms bromates per litre, though its standards were set in 1998. The EU directive said, "Where possible, without compromising disinfection, Member States (EU countries) should strive for a lower value." The US also allows 10 micrograms per litre of bromates in packaged drinking water.

The original absolute prohibition of bromates, as per the 2011 Indian regulations, may have had a problem of enforcement. A ban works only to the point that a contaminant can be detected in a product or the agent causing it - in this case disinfecting through ozone. In the case of bread-making, other options, though expensive, are available.

Earlier, laboratories could only detect the presence of bromates above 10 micrograms per litre of water with consistency. But technology has improved drastically. In 2014, the US scientific authorities under the Environment Protection Authority approved standard testing methods to detect bromates at concentration levels as low as 0.02 micrograms per litre - five hundred times less than the standard set under the proposed FSSAI notification. Bromates above 5 micrograms per litre of water are also detectable through 'ion chromatography with conductivity detection methods'. The global trend in food safety regulations is to tighten the standards for dangerous or unsafe contents and contaminants as the science of detecting them improves with time and safer alternatives are found. The only time standards are made lax is when new science clearly proves that the danger from the food may have been over-estimated. In cases where some contaminants are extremely dangerous, even with short-term exposure, such contents are expressly banned.

There is no proof as yet that bromates cause harm in short exposures but for long-term exposure it is classified as a probable carcinogen for humans.

The FSSAI has scientific panels on different classes of foods and food safety related issues that recommends new standards periodically for different components and additives. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, the FSSAI is required to look at the best of standards and practices available internationally and use them unless it scientific evidence that proves safety at higher levels of contamination shall work for Indian conditions.

After the CSE released its lab results on bread, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said, "A scientific panel had recommended removal of potassium bromate from the list of additives. So we have already decided to take it out from the list. Soon, it will be notified." The scientific panel for cereals, in which baking products are also included, last met in December 2015, as per FSSAI records. It is not known if the panel then considered the issue of bromate. The FSSAI has an apex scientific committee, made up of chairs of all scientific panels and more independent experts, which is meant to ensure harmonious standards across all food products and those issues that are multi-sectoral in nature, such as bromate. It is not known if the committee met and considered the concerns about bromate or not in water and bakery products.

Such coordination is necessary because standards for how much contaminant should be permitted in a particular product are also linked to nutritional values of each food product. Generally, the logic globally is to keep the standards strictest for products that are not nutritious, say junk food, and for products that sell based on claims of higher quality than unpackaged naturally found versions, such as packaged drinking water. These standards have to be squared off against how much of a particular unsafe chemical the human body can be exposed to over a lifetime through consumption of specific food products, which is projected by looking at the essential average diet mix in a region.

FSSAI to frame standards for fortification of foodgrains

Food safety regulator FSSAI has been assigned to come up with standards for fortification of foodgrains which will add to their nutrient value, an official said today. 

Food, Health and various other ministries have assigned the mandate to Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI) to come up with standards for fortification of foodgrains such as wheat flour and rice which will add to the nutrient value of food intake, said Subhasish Panda, Joint Secretary in the Department of Food. 

Besides this, the government has floated tenders for construction of silos of 1.3 million tonnes capacity for storage of grains. 

"The government has urged the industry to participate in recently floated tender process for construction of steel silos with capacity of 1.3 million tonnes (MT) of wheat storage," Panda said while speaking at a summit on 'Food grains storage in India' organised by Assocham. 

He said the government is trying to address every aspect of food supply chain, particularly issues related to storage, transportation and distribution to the beneficiaries. 

He said the government has more than 80 million tonnes of storage capacity in partnership with states.

FSSAI and ASCI to fight misleading food ads together

Dabur, Cargill, ITC, Patanjali Ayurved are among errant advertisers whom ASCI has asked to modify their ads in the recent past

Two of the country's apex regulators -- Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the AdvertisingStandards Council of India (ASCI) -- will join forces to clamp down on misleading food & beverage advertisements, persons in the know have told Business Standard. While the two regulators have worked in the past informally, the arrangement will likely be formalised now.

Confirming the development, FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwalsaid a few meetings between the two regulators had happened. "We would like to raise our engagement withASCI and we are looking at ways in which we can do it. The details are being worked out," Agarwal said in response to a specific query on the subject.

The current development comes after a broader arrangement between the Department of Consumer Affairsand ASCI was worked out last year, which allowed the latter to act against misleading ads on a complaints website. This website allows consumers to complain about any advertisement appearing in any medium across any category.

In the case of the FSSAI, any complaint received by the food safety regulator will see the ASCI stepping in and writing to the advertiser concerned to modify the ad based on its prescribed guidelines, persons in the know said.

In the event the advertiser does not comply with ASCI's directions, the FSSAI will step in to take action. While ASCI officials were not immediately available for their comments, this approach, say persons in the know, is expected to act as a strong deterrent against errant advertisers in the food & beverage space, where misleading claims have been steadily growing.

Between January and March 2016, food & beverages figured among the key categories, where complaints were upheld by ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council, the central unit that processes complaints received against advertisers and brands. The regulator is yet to release the list of complaints upheld for the month of April 2016.

Among the companies that ASCI had written to modify ads in March -- the last available month -- are ITC for its Aashirvaad Multi-grain Atta; Patanjali Ayurved for its Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil; andGemini Edibles & Fats for its Freedom Rice Bran Oil. In January and February 2016, the list of errant advertisers included Dabur, Cargill, Pan Parag, Coca-Cola, Perfetti Van Melle, and Ruchi Soya.

Besides big advertisers, the list of errant companies against whom complaints were upheld by ASCI between January and March this year also included small and regional brands, which makes the task even more challenging for regulators, say experts, since regional and local players abound in food. The move by the two regulators to work together is a welcome one, they say.

CHAT - Nitin Sethi - SUBJECT: Does the rot in Indian food safety system spread beyond breads and buns?

Senior Associate Editor, Business Standard

For exporting foods to developed world, Indian producers face stiff quality standards, often face rejection of lots. However, is there a similar stringent check on imports? We can see so many processed/semi-processed foods in Indian shops, (often even without details of mfg plant).

NITIN SETHI

Ujjwal, you got it spot on. We are supposed to test exports and imports of food products, both. Our quality testing on exports is lax and our quality testing for imports is far worse. The govt recently appointed more than 100 unqualified customs officers as food safety officers at ports to check food imports. Anywhere else this would have been a scandal. We have never invested in building the food safety regulatory system and the government is now in a phase of further diluting the limited capacities.

Are we reactionary in how we look at food safety in India rather than being preventive?

NITIN SETHI

Ravi our preventive capacities are near zero at the moment. A general lack of confidence that govt is ensuring food safety leads to the over-blown reactions i think at time.

Could you please give examples of how the government is now in a phase of further diluting the limited capacities of our food safety regulatory system? Also, what are the major areas that we need to urgently invest on to build a robust system?

NITIN SETHI

The NDA government has shelved the earlier plans of expanding food safety enforcement systems. Initially it had proposed Rs 1,800 cr plan to do so across the country. Now the food safety authority, FSSAI is proposing that it shall not be involved in enforcement of the food safety law across the country at all! It has already wound down two of its offices, one in UP and another in Punjab. It plans to let pvt sector labs get in the business - and we all know how problematic that can be. It is willing to let even state officers enforce the food safety law as an additional duty and not as a full time task, which means we wont have trained officers doing it but just another official. Oddly, all this is being done in a rather hush hush manner. On what we should be doing: bring transparency to the system. Put all testing results, recalls etc online for consumers to know. Enhance our enforcement capacities for centre and state - train people and give them jobs as regulators. set up our independent labs across regions to test food products - especially processed food. To put it simply, we got a new law in 2011 but we were only at the verge of implementing it when the govt has instead began to shrink the enforcement ability of the regulator

In food safety, it is always said that our traditional home cooked food is the best and consumption of processed food should be limited, if not possible to avoid. But, regarding the most basic ingredients of cooked food i.e. water and vegetables, I have doubts about their being consumable and uncontaminated. And if there exist an already remedial mechanism, how do one go ahead if these basic ingredients are contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals

NITIN SETHI

Varun, Our bodies are capable of taking different unsafe chemicals to some extent. This is how the food safety systems work. Experts assess what kind of foods we get our nutrition from - say rice, bread, lentils, meants etc - in a way what makes up your average food intake. Separately the assess how much of each dangerous chemical human body in different conditions can be ok with. Based on that they set up standards on what should be the maximum level of these bad substances can be permitted in different foods so that overall in a day we dont consumer more than the dangerous level. So i would say this, while our traditional foods will contain some harmful materials as well, i would rather have that than the harmful materials from processed food because at least i am getting a healthy diet that keeps my immune system working and body fit. Of course there are some dangerous chemicals that should not be present at all in our foods and the govt sets standards demanding so. The case of finding bromate in bread by CSE is one such example. The chemical should have been simply banned to begin with. I hope i answered your query

Consumer awareness on matters of safety of packaged foods is quite low and people are just not motivated enough to actually mobilize on this issue. This is also because there is no confidence in the safety standards set. Do people even know which ministry and which minister is supposed to deal with food safety. Why don' the concerned ministries don't speak up often enough?

NITIN SETHI

Harsha, the concerned ministry is the Health and Family Welfare ministry. The food safety authority under it is FSSAI (http://www.fssai.gov.in/). Unfortunately the two have been extremely lax in actually doing much with transparency. Being a specialised area the onus on the authority should be much higher to act transparently and pro-actively. But that has not been the case. I would say the pressure from processed food industry is pretty high on most times. People would be more than motivated, I am sure, if the FSSAI began informing public of all the tests they are doing and what they are finding. Other countries such as US does this transparently and that brings awareness in public as well as mobilised people for public health.

When we have street vendors selling food, disregarding all standards of hygiene and safety, when can we truly have safe and healthy food standards?

NITIN SETHI

This is the way I see it: There is a larger problem of hygiene and safe water etc that is wide-spread. The govt cant/wont guarantee that at the moment. The street vendors are provided no economic or other support to do any better and operate at very low margins. There are issues of hygiene and safety consequently. On the other hand are large profit-making businesses of processed and manufactured foods that have no excuse for not providing safe food products to consumers. Their desire to cut corners and serve cheap and dangerous additives or untested or unhealthy contents or making spurious claims of health impacts of their products should be unpardonable. I would treat the latter with a much more stringent set of norms while investing in the marginal and small vendors to help them provide better foods

Recently we saw that the govt. shut two regional FSSAI offices (in Lucknow and Chandigarh). Given that these offices were involved in the run-in with Patanjali and Nestle, do you think this was due to corporate influence? And how harmful is to the food regulatory regime to send this kind of message?

NITIN SETHI

The shutting down of the two offices has a bad smell about it. There is no proof that i can quote to make an accusation though. Regardless of whether there was direct influence or not, the fact that the two offices were shut down should set off alarm bells. Why? Because under Indian food safety laws only these regional centres of the FSSAI can license food businesses and manufacturers of certain categories. If they are not there in the field then who is checking all these manufacturing facilities before giving the licenses? Say, any manufacturer that has units producing in more than two states can only be governed by the central authority. that would mean most of the big food manufacturers. you are right, it sends a very bad signal to consumers and a very positive signal to bad businesses.

I have another question. Isn't this issue similar to the car air bag issue where consumers are more price conscious than safety conscious. Is health/safety really an issue for people here. There was more outrage at Maggi's ban rather than the presence of lead in it. As opposed to this, the consumer rights scene is much more developed and many fight pro actively to enforce their rights. Couldn't there be or shouldn't there be greater synergy between consumer affairs ministry and HFW in this matter?

NITIN SETHI

we are unfortunately being pushed in to a direction towards self-regulation for food safety of products as well just as it often happens in the automotive industry in India. and that is dangerous. Yes, you are right there should be more synergy between the two.

Do Indian central and state regulators have the man-power to monitor food safety standards closely? What steps would you propose?

NITIN SETHI

Ankita, to put it simply: NO. Worse still, the govt is now proposing to whittle down the existing man-power further. Take a look at my answer to Kanika here for what needs to be done.

Advertising watchdog raps Patanjali ad claims

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has rapped yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. for "false and misleading" advertisements that also "denigrate" rival products.

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the ad watchdog, which has released a statement on the complaints it dealt with in March, also found three of Patanjali's product advertisements indulging in "ambiguity" and making claims that were described as "gross exaggeration".

The CCC received 156 complaints against ads during the month, and upheld 90 - including those by Patanjali - under categories such as "education", "healthcare and personal care", "food and beverages" and others.

Under the "healthcare and personal care" category, the CCC pulled up the ad for Patanjali Kesh Kanti Natural Hair Cleanser & Oil, describing as "false and misleading by ambiguity" and "gross exaggeration" its claim that "mineral oil is carcinogenic in nature and may cause cancer".

In the "food and beverages" segment, it found that the ad for 'Patanjali Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil' made claims that were "misleading" and "not substantiated".

The ad had claimed that, "Other than Kacchi Ghani process most of the other edible refined oils and mustard oil are made using neurotoxin Hexagon solvent extraction process. To make profits at the cost of consumers' health many companies mix cheap palm oil in mustard oil".

The CCC ruled that the ad "unfairly denigrates other oils/mustard oil".

The ad had prompted the edible oil industry body, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI), to file complaints with the food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and ASCI.

In its letters to FSSAI and ASCI, the SEAI requested the regulators to "take action" against Patanjali, and alleged that the company's ad for 'Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil' was not in good taste.

The CCC also found issues with the ad for 'Patanjali Herbal Washing Powder, Cake and Dishwash Bar', which claimed they were used by "millions of housewives". The watchdog said the claim was "not substantiated".

It further said that there was little evidence of the cleaning benefit of its professed ingredients, and declared the claim as "misleading by ambiguity".

The CCC also said that "the claim, 'Dish wash bars made with chemicals do clean the utensils but they end up damaging the hands', was not substantiated and unfairly denigrates dish wash bars directly".

Patanjali's ads have come in for criticism in the past. In a recent article, Pushpa M. Bhargava, former vice chairman of the National Knowledge Commission, made a detailed critique of the claims made by a Baba Ramdev ad about treatments for high blood pressure and diabetes.

Bhargava, who founded the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, described as "scientifically absurd" the "implication in the ad that blood pressure and diabetes are caused by viruses".

Toxic chemical test result of Goa’s pão on Monday

PANAJI: Goans will know for sure by Monday whether the bread they eat is free from poisonous, cancer causing chemicals. Director of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bambolim, Salim Veljee said that the laboratory report on the presence of potassium bromate and potassium iodate in bread and bakery products is expected to be out on May 30. The report will reveal whether the local bread is safe for consumption, he said.
“Since May 23, when news broke out that bread in New Delhi contained potentially harmful chemicals, our food inspectors have collected bread samples from various bakers, patisseries, cafes and grocery stores in the state. The analysis of the samples will be out on Monday,” said Veljee.
There was no instruction from FDA Bhavan or higher authorities in the government to check the safety of local bread but our office is doing it anyway, said Veljee.
Meanwhile, members of the All Goa Bakers Association (AGBA) said that none of them use any harmful additives to make bread.
President of AGBA Agapito Menezes said, “Our ‘poders’ have not even heard of these chemicals. The cost of ‘pao’ is only Rs three. How can they afford these chemicals?” “Goan bakers – ‘poders’ and local bakeries – bake bread traditionally and do it two or three times a day. They don’t need to use chemical preservatives because they do not have excess production,” he pointed out.
There are about 1,200 bakers in Goa of which about 300 are members of AGBA, but Menezes said that he was confident that bread in the state is healthy and free from toxic chemicals. Ravindra Gaitonde, partner, Café Central, Panaji, said that their bread is absolutely natural and free from any preservative. “We need to file a defamation suit against the report because it cannot generalise on quality and create doubt in the minds of people,” he said.
An owner of a Panaji-based pastry chain said that the only ingredients that go into the making of bread are yeast, flour, salt, oil and sugar. No harmful chemicals are used, she said. A commercial sandwich bread manufacturer said that even large bakers do not use any chemicals in production.
New Delhi’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research organisation, released a study that found potassium bromate – a possible cancer-causing chemical – in 38 samples of popular bread brands in the national capital city. The study also found the presence of potassium iodate, a thyroid inducer. Both chemicals are used as additives to soften bread.
Usage of chemical is permitted up to limits of 50 ppm (parts per million) of bromate in bread. However, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now decided to remove potassium bromate from the list of additives and is studying the usage of potassium iodate.

Bread manufacturers withdraw use toxic chemicals, cite public controversy

Centre also tested and found residues of the chemicals in buns and pizza bases in major fast food chains
Under a harsh spotlight after a damning report on carcinogenic toxins in bread, the All India Bread Manufacturers Association announced they were 'voluntarily withdrawing' the use of the chemicals potassium bromate and iodate. This comes on the heels of both the central government and the Food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) taking serious note of the report put out by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The CSE report that came out on May 23, found that 84 per cent of the 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, and pavs and buns, contained potassium bromate and iodate. The Centre also tested and found residues of the chemicals in buns and pizza bases in fast food chains such as Domino's, McDonald's, Subway.
President of the AIBMA Ramesh Mago, told the press on Thursday that they were withdrawing the these chemicals due the public controversy. However the association said that the FSSAI had so far permitted the use of potassium bromate/iodate as food additives till the limit of 50 parts per million (ppm). The CSE report found all resides to be below the limit. Adil Hassan, MD of Harvest Gold, and member of All India Bread Manufacturers' Association, said, "Potassium bromate and potassium iodate are considered safe and legal and also approved for widespread use by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and even the USFDA. However, given that potassium bromate has become a controversial subject and causing confusion among consumers, we have decided to voluntary withdraw use of the additives in the products."
However, the report had called on the FSSAI to ban the chemicals altogether, as they had been in many countries, such as across the European Union and Canada, as potassium bromate/iodate have known to be potentially carcinogenic since the 1990s.
Taking serious note of the study, the union health ministry on May 23 itself asked the FSSAI to probe the issue and submit a report. FSSAI too soon recommended a ban on potassium bromate/iodate as food additives.
Industry representatives are not happy with CSE however. In a statement, ASSOCHAM said,"NGOs are free to be watchdogs, but they must realise that their reports and findings should not be targeted only at the industry... While the government is trying to move towards ease of doing business by relaxing the inspector raj, the NGO policing may harm many times."
CSE welcomes AIBMA's decision The CSE welcomed the bread manufacturers' decision to stop the use of potassium bromate and potasium iodate as additives, saying this will reduce public health risk from cancer-causing chemicals.
"We have heard what the bread-making association has announced. We are happy that they have decided to stop using potassium bromate and potassium iodate within two-three days. This will reduce public health risk from these chemicals," Deputy Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Chandra Bhushan, said. CSE researchers had pointed out that potassium bromate can possibly cause cancer and use of potassium iodate in bread- making can lead to excess intake of iodine which could affect thyroid functions.

A long-term route to organic farming

Govt. opts for long-term route to switch over to organic farming

The government is embarking on a programme to bring down the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, under plans to enhance agricultural production and tap the export market. Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar told The Hindu here on Thursday that the government would prefer the long-term route to switch over to organic farming.
Outlining the government’s objective to make Kerala a pesticide-free State, the Minister said a research and development programme would be taken up by the Agriculture Department and Kerala Agricultural University. “Branded organic products would help us tap a greater share of the export market and fetch a higher price for our produce.” A project initiated by the previous UDF government to convert Kerala into a fully organic State by 2016 had been bogged down after the pilot phase was implemented in Kasaragod last year. The United Arab Emirates had recently imposed tighter controls on the import of mango, cucumber, and chilli peppers from India. The country has made it mandatory for Indian exporters to produce a pesticide residue analysis report for import of these items. The latest report of the pesticide residue analysis lab under the KAU has revealed that most of the vegetables sold through markets stalls in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, and Kasaragod pesticide residue-free.
While curry leaves, mint leaves, and coriander leaves showed pesticide residue higher than the safe level prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, sambar chilli and green chilli were found to contain pesticide residue lower than the safety limit.
V.S. Sunil Kumar says an R&D programme would be taken up by the Agriculture Department and KAU.

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தர்மபுரியில் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்ட மாம்பழ ஜூஸ் பாட்டிலில் பல்லி? உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் விசாரணை

தர் ம புரி, மே 27:

தர் ம புரி பேருந்து நிலை யத் தில் உள்ள டீக் க டை யில் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்ட மாம் பழ ஜூஸ் பாட் டி லில் இறந்த பல்லி மிதந் த தாக புகார் எழுந் தது குறித்து உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் விசா ரணை நடத்தி வரு கின் ற னர்.

தர் ம புரி சத் தி ரம் மேல் தெருவை சேர்ந் த வர் சீனி வா சன். இவர் நேற்று காலை தர் ம புரி புற ந கர் பேருந்து நிலை யத் தில் உள்ள ஒரு டீக் க டை யில், பிர பல தனி யார் நிறு வ னத் தின் மாம் பழ ஜூஸ் பாட் டிலை வாங் கி னார். பாட் டி லுக் குள் ஜூஸ் சு டன் இறந்த பல்லி போன்ற ஒரு பொருள் மிதப் பது தெரிந் தது. இத னால் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த சீனி வா சன் தர் ம புரி உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி க ளுக்கு தக வல் கொடுத் தார். அதன் பேரில் தர் ம புரி வட் டார உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கோபி நாத் மாம் பழ ஜூஸ் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்ட கடை யில் ஆய்வு நடத் தி னார். பின் னர் அந்த பாட் டிலை பறி மு தல் செய்து எடுத்து சென் றார்.

இது குறித்து உணவு பாத காப்பு அலு வ லர் கோபி நாத் கூறு கை யில், ஆய் வுக்கு பின் னர் தான் பாட் டி லில் இருப் பது என்ன என் பது தெரி யும். முறைப் படி ஆய் வுக்கு அனுப்பி அறிக்கை கிடைத்த பின் சம் பந் தப் பட்ட குளிர் பான நிறு வ னத் திற்கு விளக் கம் கேட்டு நோட் டீஸ் அனுப் பப் ப டும். இது தொடர் பாக முறை யான நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என் றார்.

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