Jun 25, 2016
அருப்புக்கோட்டையில் உள்ள கடைகளில்உ ணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் திடீர் விசிட்
அருப் புக் கோட்டை, ஜூன் 25:
அருப் புக் கோட்டை நக ராட்சி பகு தி யில் இயங்கி வரும் கடை க ளில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் திடீ ரென ஆய்வு நடத் தி னர்.
அருப் புக் கோட்டை நக ராட்சி பகு தி யில் உள்ள பேக் கரி, பல ச ரக்கு கடை, ஹோட் டல், மருந் துக் கடை ஆகி ய வற் றில் விரு து ந கர் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் சாலோ டீ சன் மற் றும் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் பாண்டி, அவ ரது குழு வி னர் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய் த னர். அப் போது பல ச ரக்கு கடை க ளில் உணவு பாக் கெட் டு க ளின் மீது உணவு பாது காப்பு சட் டத் தின் படி உற் பத்தி தேதியோ, காலா வதி தேதியோ முறை யாக அச் சி டப் ப டாத கடை கள் மீதும், ஹோட் டல் க ளில் சுகா தா ரக் குறை கண் ட றி யப் பட்டு நட வ டிக்கை எடுத் த னர்.
மேலும் லைசென்ஸ் பெறா மல் மருந் துக் க டை கள் நடத்தி வரு வது கண் ட றி யப் பட்டு மேல் நட வ டிக் கைக்கு அனுப் பி னர். நக ராட்சி எல் லைக் குள் ஐஎஸ்ஐ பெறா மல் பொது மக் க ளுக்கு குடி நீர் விநி யோ கம் செய் து வ ரும் லாரி களை பிடித்து சோத னை யிட் ட னர்.
அதன் பின் ஐஎஸ்ஐ மற் றும் உணவு கட் டுப் பாடு உரிமை சான் றி தழ் வாங்க வேண் டும் என அறி வு றுத் தி னர். தொடர்ந்து ஐஎஸ்ஐ உணவு கட் டுப் பாடு சான் றி தழ் வாங் கா மல் குடி நீர் விநி யோ கம் செய் தால் குடி நீர் லாரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் ப டும் என எச் ச ரித் த னர்.
Gutkha worth Rs 85 lakh seized in Thane; 4 persons held
Gutkha worth Rs 85 lakh was seized and four persons were arrested in a raid at godowns in Kashimira area of the district, police said today.
Acting on a tipoff, district rural police and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) carried out raids at few godowns yesterday, and found that gutkha (flavoured tobacco) was being loaded in trucks, police said.
The trucks were impounded and the godowns sealed, they said, adding gutkha worth Rs 85 lakh was seized.
Four persons were arrested, while two others managed to escape, they said.
The arrested accused were identified as Kailas Badri Rishidev, Aman Vijaykumar Sonkar, Rajesh Ramdeo Rishidev and Manish Ramkumar Singh, they said.
The absconding accused were identified as Mohammad Ali Chottu Shaikh and Illias Badshah Shaikh, they added.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of IPC, Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, they said, adding investigation is on.
Sale and consumption of gutkha is banned in Maharashtra.
Bakery inspection drive begins
Imphal, June 24 2016 : As instructed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), food safety officials of the Government of India have started inspecting bakeries to check whether they are using potassium bromate in baking breads and other similar products.
Notably, it has been reported that potassium bromate has the potential to breed cancer.
Apart from launching an extensive inspection drive at bakeries, food safety officials have also started inspecting ice cream factories to check whether they are abiding by food safety norms.
A bakery in Imphal East district was sealed yesterday after it was found not abiding by food safety norms.
Most of the bakeries opened in Imphal West and Imphal East districts do not possess necessary licences and they do not fulfil the criteria required for issuing licences, informed an official source.
Most of the bakeries have limited space and they are run in rented houses/rooms.
A single room often serves as sleeping room, store room, dining room and baking room.
Informing that most of the bakeries were found in unhygienic conditions, the source informed that food safety officials would submit a detailed report to the Government in order to take up necessary actions.
Due diligence must for making food safety reports public:FSSAI
NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of a report claiming carcinogenic contents in bread, FSSAI today said such studies should be made public only after "due diligence", as otherwise it creates panic.
"While we appreciate the case... that highlights issues and points out various risks associated with the food we consume, there is also serious concern in terms of implications when such studies are reported in the media and tend to create panic," Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal told reporters here.
Last month, the Sunita Narain-led Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in its report had said commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate banned in many countries as these are listed as "hazardous" for public health.
Following that, FSSAI banned the use of potassium bromate as an additive in food products.
"... we have referred the issue to the scientific panel which is meeting on (June) 28th. In fact, we have invited CSE to make a presentation on potassium iodate and also on potassium bromate in terms of their findings," he said.
"And the scientific committee will also examine that issue in the context of recommendation of the joint parliamentary committee that had recommended a very cautious approach in reporting of issues relating to food without proper due diligence."
He was speaking at a CII event on launch of the CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences (CHIFSS). FSSAI also signed an MoU with CHIFSS.
The Food Safety Management System Guidance Document for Ice Creams and Frozen Desserts was also released alongside the launch of CHIFSS website.
CII, Hind Unilever join hands for food safety
NEW DELHI
The CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences (CHIFSS) is collaborating with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in a bid to promote science-based food safety approach and strengthen collaboration between industry and the government.
CHIFSS is an initiative formed by industry chamber CII and FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever Ltd, which will work closely with FSSAI, scientists, academia and key opinion influencers.
Sanjiv Mehta, CEO & MD, HUL, stressed on the need for a globally benchmarked national food safety agenda, founded on science-based food safety principles.
“We are delighted to see CHIFSS fructify into a reality. The pioneering partnership between CHIFSS and FSSAI will further strengthen industry-government collaboration to promote science based food safety which stimulates innovation while ensuring consumer safety,” he said in a statement.
Risk analysis
Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said the initiative will drive and disseminate food safety on science-based risk analysis in India and work toward improving food safety through fact and data based technical briefs, food safety plan guidance documents and online training programmes.
FSSAI has already been focusing on harmonisation of Indian Standards with Codex and is now looking to develop an inclusive ecosystem. An MoU has been signed between FSSAI and CHIFFS.
Jun 23, 2016
Did you know? 4,000 packaged water cos sell without licence
The food regulator has observed that 80 percent of food business operators dealing with packaged water have no licence, and as per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, they can't operate in India, reports Shweta Kothari of CNBC-TV18, quoting sources.
First, instant noodles, then talcum powder, and now bottled water is under the government scanner, after having found out that 4,000 packaged water companies are operating in India without any licence, reports Shweta Kothari of CNBC-TV18, quoting sources.
The food regulator has observed that 80 percent food business operators (FBO) dealing with packaged water have no licence.
These companies need to have Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and BIS certification to operate in India as per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
There happen to be only 1,500 operators to have both licences.
Meghalaya sends bread samples to laboratory
Food Safety Officers in Meghalaya have collected samples of bread from various bakery units across the state to check if they contain carcinogenic compounds.
"We have already sent the bread samples to the Assam Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday to check if they contain any hazardous chemicals like potassium bromate and iodate," Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Hek said on Thursday.
However, he said the government was yet to receive the reports from the laboratory.
"In case the samples fail to comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and it is reported they contain such additives, necessary action as per the provisions of the act shall be initiated," Hek said.
On Monday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) banned the use of potassium bromate as an additive in food products.
Potassium bromate is known to be a category 2B carcinogen and is already banned in Britain, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Sri Lanka, among other countries.
Food safety raid on flour, curry powder units
Food safety officials inspected 21 large-scale manufacturing units making curry, masala powders and flour on Wednesday. Six of the units were issued improvement notices while a fine of Rs.75,000 was imposed on five others.
Officials collected 20 statutory samples of curry powders and 36 surveillance samples for quality checks.
Food safety officials closed down a Nirapara roller flour mill at Attingal where raw materials like wheat were found to be stored in unhygienic and unclean conditions.
In Palakkad district, food safety officials seized and sealed stocks of cumin, coriander and turmeric from the Aanakkara Food Processing and Export Pvt. Ltd., as these were found to be sub-standard.
Two days after ban, FSDA to raid bread-making units for potassium bromate
MEERUT: Two days after the government banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) said that items that use bread will be tested for the prohibited additive.
Speaking to TOI, JP Singh, chief food safety officer, said, "I have instructed all 18 food safety officers to start checking in their areas and take samples of breads, pavs, pizza bases and other edible items which use bread. Regular sampling checks were going on in the city but now we can take samples of the bread too after the recent ban. This ban will definitely intensify our raids."
Meerut has three big bread-making units and many other small units. Authorities say unless samples are taken from each manufacturing unit, it can not be confirmed whether the producers use the banned product.
"We will intensify our raids not just in terms of taking samples from bread making units. We will also test the bread used in food outlets like Pizza Hut and Dominos. Any food outlet selling bread with the banned additive will have to face consequences," said Singh.
The government on Monday banned the use of potassium bromate as a food additive following a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study that found its presence in bread caused cancer. A CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. The two food additives are banned in many countries and are listed as "hazardous" to public health. According to the CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and gives uniform finish to baked products. Potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also referred potassium iodate — also claimed to be carcinogenic — to a scientific panel.
Jun 22, 2016
FSSAI proposes to relax norms for carbonated drinks
Notification comes more than a year after PM Modi asked cola giants to add fruit juices to their drinks to help Indian farmers
Food safety regulator FSSAI has proposed to relax norms for carbonated drinks with fruit juices allowing lesser content of the latter in a bid to encourage beverage companies to mix juices in their products.
Seeking comments from stakeholders, FSSAI said in a draft notification that "in case the quantity of fruit juice is below 10% but not less than 5% (2.5% in case of lime or lemon), the product shall be called 'carbonated beverage with fruit juice'."
In such cases the requirement of TSS (Total Soluble Solids) shall not apply and the quantity of fruit juice shall be declared on the label, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said.
Indian Beverages Association wanted the minimum requirement for 10% of total soluble solids in carbonatedfruit drinks to be revised to 3%.
TSS is considered as a measure of quality of fruit juice with higher the better, subject to low presence of addedsugar and limited quantity of other thickening agents.
The notification by FSSAI comes more than a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked multinational colagiants to add fruit juices to their drinks to help Indian farmers increase sales.
However, beverage makers wanted relaxation of conditions such as the minimum 10% fruit juice or pulp requirement in carbonated beverages with fruit juices and 5% in case of lemon.
Earlier this year, Coca Cola responded positively to the Prime Minister's call with the announcement of new 'juice with fizz' drink.
Spooked by bromate in bread? Check these 10 deadly pesticides on your plate
Issues so far
- FSSAI has been very lackadaisical about dealing with pesticides in food
- Despite being prodded many times, they have done almost nothing about it
Dangers
- A list of 31 pesticides have been made by 25 labs across the country
- All the 31 chemicals in the list can prove to be fatal to humans on prolonged consumption
More in the story
- Ten chemicals out of the list of 31 and where they are found
- How can the government be made to pay attention
It took nearly a month for FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to announce a ban on a carcinogen - Potassium Bromate - that was found in bread samples by a study.
But considering how FSSAI has fared otherwise, this has to be counted among its crowning achievements.
Take the case of pesticide contamination in food crops, for instance. A long pending crisis about which the regulator has been reminded by none other than Supreme Court and NHRC. Despite repeated prodding, it still remains as an issue in which the regulator has done nothing really.
Consuming pesticide-laced food, an expert talking about this issue joked, is an everyday crime of trespassing. That is if you consider your body as private property and the cache of pesticides that enter your body with food - as intruders.
On a more serious note, the expert said that government's willful ignorance of harmful pesticides being used in the fields is an everyday violation of our right to safe food or a safe food-chain.
According to government's own report, published recently, a fifth of all foods produced and sold in the country contain pesticide residues.
This data was reported by a Union agriculture ministry-sponsored nationwide network project involving 25 participating labs.
Catch has in its possession a list of 31 extremely harmful pesticides that have been almost universally banned but are being used indiscriminately in India.
To give you an idea we list 10 of those 31 pesticides here:
Phosphamidon
Used in foodgrains, milled foodgrains, fruits and vegetables.
World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified this pesticide as 'extremely hazardous', United States' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified it as 'Category 1 (highly toxic)' and according to European Union standards it is 'very toxic' and 'dangerous to environment'.
Studies have shown exposure to this compound affects the central nervous system, producing incoordination, slurred speech, loss of reflexes, involuntary muscle contractions, eventually leading to paralysis of the body extremities and the respiratory muscles.
Over exposure to this pesticide can also cause psychosis, irregular heartbeat, unconsciousness, convulsions, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and coma.
Monocrotophos
Used in food grains, fruits and vegetables.
On 16 July, 2013, 23 school children died in Bihar after consuming their mid-day meal that was contaminated by this chemical. Despite this tragedy this pesticide continues to be used in our fields.
Monocrotophos is classified by WHO as a 'highly hazardous' chemical. Severe exposure to this chemical is known to cause involuntary defecation or urination, psychosis, irregular heartbeat, unconsciousness, convulsions and coma.
Acephate
It is used mostly in rice and sunflower seeds. It is considered to be a fetotoxin (a chemical compound that can poison the fetus) and there is evidence of Acephate exposure causing hormonal imbalance.
Alachlor
It is used in ground nuts, maize and soyabean seeds.
Tests on lab rats have shown repeated exposure of Alachlor to cause hepato-toxicity, irreversible eye degeneration and tumor formation.
Carbaryl
Used in food grains, okra and leafy vegetables.
Tests have shown that Carbaryl affects the nervous system.
Carbofuran
Used in food grains, fruits, oil seeds, sugarcane, vegetables and tea.
Exposure to this chemical is known to cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, sweating, diarrhea, excessive salivation, weakness, imbalance, blurring of vision, breathing difficulty, increased blood pressure, and incontinence.
Consuming a large dose of Carbufuran can cause death from respiratory system failure.
Dicofol
Used in fruits, vegetables, tea, chilli and sorghum. I
Dicofol is known to be an irritant and neurotoxin to mammals and has tendency to accumulate in the body.
Ethion
Used in gram, pigeon tea, soybean seeds, tea, chilli and fruits.
The chemical is known to cause nervous disorders.
Oxydemetonmethyl
Used in chilli, mustard oil and food grains.
Exposure to this chemical is known to cause complications like excessive sweating, salivation and lachrimation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, general weakness, headache, poor concentration and tremors.
A bigger dose of this compound can also cause death by respiratory failure.
Zineb
Used in fruits and vegetable crops.
Zineb has been proved to be harmful to the thyroid, liver and muscles.
These pesticides have not gone out of circulation despite repeated incidents of deaths caused by consumption.
In fact Supreme Court of India held FSSAI responsible for food contamination by pesticides and issued them a notice in 2013.
Two years later, in December 2014, the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) issued a notice to them after taking cognisance of a report according to which the maximum residual levels of pesticides in fruits and vegetables had been exceeded by many times in several samples taken up for testing.
To give an instance of how flippant and selfish our law makers are in dealing with this crisis, Gopal Krishna, Director, ToxicsWatch, shares an anecdote.
"Back early 2000s when the Coca Cola and other soft drinks were shown to contain pesticide residues a Joint Parliamentary Committee was constituted to look into its effects. The result was that while no regulations were placed on the soft drink companies or on pesticide firms, the committee, horrified by the toxic levels of pesticides it found in their samples, banned soft drinks in the Parliament," Krishna shares.
All that the government has done so far, Krishna says, is to have set up committees to look into the use of pesticides.
All that the government has done to battle pesticides is set up committees
"One committee is constituted to look into the issue of food contamination by pesticides, and another committee is constituted to verify the findings of the previous committee and so it goes."
Satish Sinha, associate director at Toxics Link, says that the issue of food contamination by pesticides is "very serious" but the problem cannot be resolved quickly because India has not come up with, or publicised a list of pesticides which it considers harmful nor has it banned any of them.
"We know these chemicals are always coming up in our food. But there's no regulation of pesticides in the country. We need to find out who are producing these pesticides. Who is importing them, if they are not being produced locally and how are farmers getting their hands on them," says Sinha.
One way to have these chemicals banned in the country, Krishna proposes, is to have parliamentarians check their own blood for them. This is perhaps the only way to shake our law makers out of their slumber.
"There is a test available in the market called body burden test. The results of these test shows a person all the poisonous chemicals in their blood stream, and these chemicals can be traced back to their source. Let our parliamentarians conduct a body burden test on themselves for these 31 pesticides and we'll see how speedily they'll impose regulations for the rest of us lesser mortals," says Krishna.
In the meanwhile, a detailed set of questions have been sent to the FSSAI by Catch News on 15 June regarding these pesticides and we are currently awaiting their response,
Advts with false health claims under scrutiny
NEW DELHI : India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has finally cracked the whip on at least four companies that were making false claims of their products in the misleading advertisements as the best for health. The companies were forced to either withdraw their advertisements or modify them.
These firms included Jivo Wellness Private Ltd that was advertising that Canola oil can prevent diabetes and heart diseases with a private hospital putting its seal, while the KC Foods from Jammu and Kashmir was advertising its digestive biscuits as the best in the market due to the highest content of whole wheat flour.
The firms pulled up include Chemical resources in Maharashtra for the Furocycst pills meant for ovarian cysts. It was making claims that the drug contents the US-patented ingredients with no side-effects and that 94% of patients reported positive results. The apex food regulator took action after receiving a complaint from the GAMA (Grievances against Misleading Advertisements), a web portal launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs last year.
Only recently, the FSSAI asked its central licensing authority to send a show-cause notice to Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali group over complaints of misleading advertisements on mustard oil it sells.
Analysts say misleading advertisements are notoriously common in India and easy to get away with. FSSAI has approached the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a private institution, to join forces with it to clamp down on false food and beverages commercials.
FSSAI finalises list of 11,000 food additives
Removes potassium bromate, cyclamates from the list
NEW DELHI, JUNE 21:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which was in the process of harmonising Indian food standards with the international CODEX standards, has now finalised a list of 11,000 permissible food additives.
Industry players believe this will ease the way for new product launches in the country, which is a longstanding grievance of the industry. In a statement, the food regulator said, “With this, the FSSAI has achieved a major land mark in setting of the standards for various foods in the country.”
Industry players believe this will help strengthen the position of India as a global hub for food processing industry and help move the industry to ingredient-based regime.
In addition, the FSSAI said that it removed potassium bromate, which is used in bread and bakery products and cyclamates, which is used in jams, jellies, marmalades, dairy-based drinks and confectionary, from the list of permissible additives. The bread manufacturers association had earlier voluntarily decided to withdraw the use of potassium bromate.
The draft of these standards was released for public consultation in October last year. About 8,000 food additives were operationalised in December, and now it has been updated to standards for 11,000 food additives.
“The FSSAI has convened a meeting of the Scientific Committee…to discuss other issues which have been received with respect to additives after these were finalised. The committee will also discuss the issue of use of potassium iodate in the food in the country,” the statement added.
Jun 21, 2016
CSE urges ban on use of potassium iodate in bread
HIGHLIGHTS
- Govt yesterday banned use of potassium bromate in bread, other food.
- 84% of 38 brands of breads, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate, banned in many countries.
NEW DELHI: Welcoming the country's central food safety authority's ban on possible cancer causing chemical potassium bromate, the Delhi-based think-tank - the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) - on Tuesday urged the authority to also ban use of potassium iodate in bread-making at the earliest.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday, through a notification, removed potassium bromate from the list of approved additives and banned its use across the country.
Potassium bromate is a known possible cancer-causing chemical.
The CSE had in May highlighted the use and presence of residues of potassium bromate and/or potassium iodate in bread-making in India and demanded immediate ban on these chemicals in bread-making.
"We are happy to know that the FSSAI has banned the use of potassium bromate. Our study on bread last month raised this issue and FSSAI had announced to ban it soon. We welcome the prompt action. The chemical was banned in most parts of the world but allowed in India until now. The new law will reduce public health risk from a possible cancer-causing chemical," said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE.
Reacting on the ban, Bhushan on Tuesday said, "We had also recommended a ban on the use of potassium iodate as a flour treatment agent in bread-making. The industry has already declared not to use both these chemicals in public interest. We hope that the FSSAI soon prohibits use of potassium iodate as well".
Both Potassium Bromate and Potassium Iodate have been banned in several countries worldwide due to their possible adverse health effects.
The CSE had last month flagged that the use of Potassium iodate in bread can lead to excess iodine intake which could be linked to certain thyroid-related diseases.
"Subsequently, the All India Bread Manufacturer's Association, representing the organised industry, had declared to withdraw the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate", said the CSE in a statement.
Food companies in soup over false advertisement claims
The apex food regulator took action after receiving complaints from the GAMA web portal, launched by the department of consumer affairs in 2015.
Authorities have cracked down on food companies that issue advertisements screaming their products are "the best" or "miracle cures" without appropriate disclaimers.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) under the Union health ministry recently issued notices to at least four such firms that finally either had to withdraw their commercials or modify them.
Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was pulled up for its canola oil, KC Food Products for its digestive biscuits, Phytotech Extracts Pvt Ltd for its supplement Proteqt that helps manage hangovers and Chemical Resources in Maharashtra for the Furocycst pills meant for ovarian cysts.
FALSE ADVERTISING
Analysts say false advertising is notoriously common in India and easy to get away with. According to reports last month, FSSAI and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) may soon join forces to clamp down on misleading food and beverage commercials.
"Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was advertising that canola can prevent diabetes and heart diseases with a private hospital putting its seal. KC Foods from Jammu and Kashmir was advertising that digestive biscuit is the best in the market due to highest content of whole wheat flour," said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI.
"After the FSSAI took cognisance, the companies had to withdraw these misleading advertisements.
Similarly, Chemical Resources was directed to modify its advertisements for Furocyst as it was making claims that the drug contains USpatented ingredients, has no side-effects and that around 94 per cent of patients reported positive results after usage."
The apex food regulator of the country took action after receiving complaints from the GAMA (Grievances against Misleading Advertisements) web portal, which was launched by the department of consumer affairs last year.
ASCI processes these complaints and moves them to respective authorities if companies fail to comply with its directions. The council announced a WhatsApp connection in March to reach the public. Sources say the consumer contact has nearly doubled since this new medium was opened up to register complaints.
POURING COMPLAINTS
WhatsApp is now contributing to more than 12 per cent of the total advertisements complained against and deliberated upon by the Consumer Complaints Council.
"With increased awareness levels, it has also had an incremental effect on the overall number of complaints received directly by other means such as mobile app and website," said ASCI chairman Benoy Roychowdhury.
The council's WhatsApp number has seen complaints come in against advertisements appearing in a wide range of sectors such as FMCG, healthcare, telecom, ecommerce, travel, durables, automotive, food and beverages and education.
The ASCI code is recognised by the information and broadcasting ministry.
Complaints came in from across India, including areas such as the West Jaintia Hills, Bareilly, Varanasi, Vadodara, Ludhiana and Chennai. Criticisms poured in for advertisements across media, including websites, radio, SMS, emailers, promotional materials, product packaging and hoardings.
The FSSAI recently asked its central licensing authority to send a show-cause notice to yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali group over complaints about misleading advertisements of mustard oil.
Health Dept challans four bakeries
Chandigarh: As per the order of Director, Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, a joint team of Food Safety Officers on Friday raided the areas of Kajhen and Hallo Majra of Chandigarh, where meat shops and bakery units were inspected.
In total, four challans were issued for not possessing valid food licence and op-erating in unhygienic and insanitary conditions. Also, five bakeries which were op-erating in very unhygienic without having a FSSAI food licence were sealed. The ven-dors were also instructed to keep hygiene and quality standards as per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in view of coming monsoons.
According to the health department officials, as the rainy season is coming so in the upcoming days the team will be conducting similar inspections around the city to make sure that no meat shopkeepers are involved in illegal slaugh-tering and also for working under unhygienic conditions and selling unhygienic food to the residents. Also, strict action will be taken against the shopkeepers serving adulterated food.
Potassium bromate in food items banned
The study found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads tested positive for potassium bromate
Following requests by the New Delhi-based research and advocacy organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday banned use of potassium bromate - a common bread additive. The ban is unlikely to affect the Rs 30,000-crore bread industry as a majority of bakers stopped using the additive last month after a CSE report.
FSSAI, the apex food regulator of the country, on Monday came up with a notification saying "use of potassium bromate as an additive in any food is not allowed".
Ramesh Mago, president of All India Bread Manufacturers' Association, which represents country's top brands including Britannia, Harvest Gold and Modern, told Business Standard that following the allegations, manufacturers have stopped using potassium bromate since 27 May.
While lower cost of potassium bromate was a major reason behind its abundant use, production costs are unlikely to go up thanks to alternatives like ascorbic acid.
"FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as potassium iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI. Last month, the regulator had recommended the Health Ministry to remove potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the CSE.
The CSE came up with a study reporting presence of high levels of cancer-causing additives in white bread, bun and pizza bread, among others. The study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate.
According to CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leading to higher rising and uniform finishing of baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent. The food additives are banned in many countries and are considered unfit for human consumption.
Centre bans carcinogenic bread conditioner
NEW DELHI: Potassium bromate, the food additive used in bread, which was found to cause cancer by a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, was on Monday banned by the Health Ministry.
While potassium bromate was banned, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has referred another additive, potassium iodate, to its scientific panel for further testing.
FSSAI CEO Pawan Agrawal said, “FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as Potassium Iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel”.
Last month, the regulator had recommended the removal of potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged bread tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate banned in many countries and listed as hazardous for public health.Potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while Potassium Iodate is a flour treatment agent. The CSE had also urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate and prevent their routine exposure to Indian population. After the CSE study, a bread manufacturers’ body said they would stop using the controversial potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives.
Jun 20, 2016
FSSAI standardises list of 11,000 food additives
The move will allow companies manufacturing food products to use additives allowed on the list without approval and would significantly ease approvals.
In a new development, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has finalized a new list of 11,000 permissible food additives.
This will allow companies manufacturing food products to use additives allowed on the list without approval and would significantly ease approvals.
Earlier, companies needed to obtain product-wise approval for launching food products.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said the food regulator has removed two additives from the list, one of which is potassium bromate, which was in the news recently for its supposed carcinogenic properties.
On the other carcinogen of the two named in bread fiasco, FSSAI's scientific panel is still studying the impact of potassium iodate, Agarwal said.
Below is the transcript of Pawan Kumar Agarwal's with CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan
Q: Help us understand what the FSSAI has operationalised today? I know that there are 11000 additives on your list of additives but potassium bromate I believe has now been done away with. It has been banned by the food regulator, is that right?
A: Today we have operationalised the final list of additives, around 11000. This work was going on for the past three years by the FSSAI scientific panel and scientific committee and was approved by the authority in January this year. Now after it has been approved by the ministry of health and family welfare this would be finally notified after it is translated into Hindi. However in view of the public interest involved we are operationalised the final list of 11000 additive provisions in the food in various food categories.
Q: The last chat that you and I had, you said that companies may get some transition time to do away with the use of potassium bromate but now that it stands banned from today, will there be any transition time or starting today companies will not be allowed to use potassium bromate?
A: This final list removes potassium bromate which is normally used in bread and bakery products and also another additive which is cyclamate normally used in gems, jelly and dairy based products, these two additives cannot be used in any food item in the country from now on.
Q: Is there a possibility that potassium iodate may also be banned because that was something that you said your committee was studying. Does potassium iodate stay or will this also be banned?
A: Very difficult to say anything on this at this stage. Scientific panel and the scientific committee will have to apply its mind based on evidence that may be available to them including the evidence that the reports from the studies from the studies from the centre for science and environment has provided.
Q: Do you think most companies will be able to make the transition immediately? You have obviously held stake holder consultations. Is industry prepared to drop potassium bromate?
A: When we had consultations primarily with the bread manufacturers, we were told that this transition can be done almost immediately. Most of the companies had voluntarily agreed not to use potassium bromate with immediate effect. I do believe that many companies or many of these businesses are not using potassium bromate at all. Therefore there is no reason for giving them any transition time.
FSSAI bans use of potassium bromate as food additive
CSE had urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate with immediate effect.
New Delhi: The government on Monday banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive following a CSE study that found its presence in bread as causing cancer.
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, has referred potassium iodate -- also claimed to be carcinogenic used as a food additive -- to a scientific panel.
"FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as potassium iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI.
Last month, the regulator had recommended to the Health Ministry removal of potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. These two food additives are banned in many countries and listed as "hazardous" for public health.
According to CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.
CSE had also urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate with immediate effect and prevent their routine exposure to Indian population.
After the CSE study, a bread manufacturers' body had said they will stop using controversial potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives.
The All India Bread Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 organised bread manufacturers such as Harvest Gold and Britannia, had asked FSSAI to verify the findings of the CSE report that claimed most of the breads sold in the national capital contained cancer-causing chemicals.
Maharashtra police moves SC against Bombay HC order on gutkha
Bombay High Court order had held that raids and actions taken by police against people possessing gutkha were illegal.
The Maharashtra Police has moved the Supreme Court against Bombay High Court's order, which had held that raids and actions taken by the police against people possessing and storing gutkha were illegal.
Filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP), the Maharashtra Police said that although the food safety commissioner is empowered to issue notification under the Food Safety and Security Act and effective implementation of law against the violators, police have the power to take action against them under IPC.
In March, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court had quashed the FIRs registered against several gutkha manufacturers, sellers and others indulged in this business saying police actions were illegal and the food safety officers were not prohibited from proceedings against the alleged offenders under provisions of Food and Safety Standard (FSS) Act.
Contending that the high court has erred in quashing the FIRs by applying the provisions of section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the plea said court should have gone slow while passing the order.
"The high court should have made the respondents (accused) to face trial. Had the respondents been proved the not guilty, the respondents would have been acquitted by the competent court," the plea stated.
Jun 19, 2016
உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை இடமாறுதல் கலந்தாய்வு
தமிழகத்தில், சுகாதார துறையின் கீழ், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணயத் துறை செயல்படுகிறது. உணவு கலப்படத்தை தடுத்தல்,
தரமான உணவுப் பொருட்கள் கிடைக்க வழி செய்தல், உணவு வணிகர்களை முறைப்படுத்துதல் போன்ற பணிகளை, இத்துறையினர் மேற்கொள்வர்.
இதற்காக, மாவட்டம் தோறும், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இதுதவிர, 584 அலுவலர் பணி இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இதில், 483 பேர் பணியில் உள்ளனர்; 101 இடங்கள் காலியாக உள்ளன.
உள்ளாட்சிகளில் இருந்து, இப்பணிக்கு வந்த இவர்கள், ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளாக, ஒரே இடத்தில் பணியாற்றி வருகின்றனர். இடமாறுதல் கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தக் கோரினர்; அரசு கண்டு
கொள்ளவில்லை. இதனால், அதிருப்தி அடைந்த இத்துறையினர், போராட்டம் நடத்தினர். இதையடுத்து, 'வரும், 24, 25ம் தேதிகளில், சென்னை, மருத்துவ பணி இயக்குனரகமான டி.எம்.எஸ்., வளாகத்தில், இடமாறுதல் கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தப்படும்' என, அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது.
Alert issued over unsafe food in 'smart city' Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: Many food stores in the much projected smart city are selling food items that are either unsafe, sub-standard or misbranded against the Rules and Regulations of Food Safety and Standards Act -2011.
This was revealed by officials from the food safety department, which works under the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).
During random voluntary inspections conducted by the department in this financial year, nearly 60 samples of food items were collected following complaints. The samples were sent to the State Food Laboratory at Nacharam in Hyderabad. The officials are waiting for the results that will come on June 23. Last fiscal, they collected samples of nearly 200 food items after which action was taken against 60 food sellers.
The collected samples were of various food items like non-veg biryani, mangoes, bananas, ice creams, pulses, dairy products, soft drinks, water sachets and bottles, edible oils, curd, dry fruits, breakfast food items like idli, dosa, poori, and spices.
According to food safety officers, many food stores including shopping malls, multiplex theatres, supermarkets and even drinking water traders indulge in selling items that do not adhere to the promised standards.
Most of the samples were collected from areas like Gopalapatnam, Gajuwaka, Madhurawada, Maddilapalem, Resapuvanipalem, Dwarakanagar, Siripuram Junction, Pedawaltair, Isukathota, Madhavadhara, NAD Junction, Gnanapuram, Suryabagh, 104 Area, Chinawaltair, RK Beach, Poorna Market, Seethammadhara, Jagadamba Centre, MVP Colony, Dabagardens, Kancharapalem, and Dondaparthy.
Speaking to TOI, food safety officer S Janardhana Rao said the laboratory tests of nearly 35% to 40% of the samples in general confirm that the foods are either sub-standard, unsafe or misbranded every year. The tests are made to check the presence of hazardous elements such as pesticides and chemicals against the norms, Rao said, adding that the department will issue notices to the shopkeepers as well as collect a compounding fee ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the seriousness of the case.
Elaborating on the various unauthorized methods practised by the food traders, Rao said fruit sellers use 'paraffin' for waxing imported fruits. Wax developed from bees is allowed as it is a natural wax, he suggested.
Some traders use artificial colours in food items such as Veg Manchuria, Chicken Pakoda and Biryani against the norms. Only 0.2 gram of permitted colours per kg of food is accepted. This part, SO2 (sulphur dioxide) is being vastly used by food traders to preserve food for more days. This is also very hazardous, Janardhana Rao said.
"Shockingly, many branded food items available at super markets are also being found 'unsafe'. People should keep a watch on those products and alert the GVMC on phone numbers 9912199283, 284 or 285," Janardhana Rao said.
GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar said the corporation has already issued instructions to all the food stores, hotels and restaurants in the city not to sell hazardous food to people. Stringent action will be taken by GVMC if anybody is found. Task force teams were also set up in the city to keep a vigil on the selling of unsafe food to the citizens, Pravin Kumar said.
சமைத்தவுடன் உணவு மாதிரி வைக்க ேவண்டும் காலாவதியான பொருட்களை பயன்படுத்தக்கூடாது
பெரம் ப லூர்,ஜூன்19:
சத் து ணவு சமைத் த வு டன் உண வு மா தி ரியை பார் வைக்கு வைக் க வேண் டும். உண வுப் பொ ருள் எடுத்த விப ரங் களை பதி வே டு க ளில் பதி வு செய்ய வேண் டும். காலா வ தி யான பொருட் க ளைப் பயன் ப டுத் தவே கூடாது. சத் து ண வு மைய அமைப் பா ளர் க ளுக்கு கலெக் டர் நந் த கு மார் உத் த ர விட் டுள் ளார்.
தமி ழ க அ ர சின் சத் து ண வுத் திட் டத் தின் கீழ் பள்ளி மாணவ, மாண வி க ளுக்கு பள் ளிக ளில் வழங் கப் ப டும் சத் து ணவு செயல் மு றை கள் குறித் தும், சத் து ணவு அமைப்பா ளர் க ளின் பணி கள் குறித் தும் துணை வட் டா ர வ ளர்ச்சி அலு வ லர் கள்(சத் து ணவு) மற் றும் சத் து ணவு அமைப் பா ளர் க ளு டான ஆய் வுக் கூட் டம் பெரம் ப லூர் கலெக் டர் அலு வ ல கக் கூட் ட அ ரங் கில் நேற்று நடந் தது. கூட் டத் தில் கலெக் டர் நந் த கு மார் தலைமை வகித் துப் பேசி ய தா வது :
ஒவ் வொரு அமைப் பா ள ரும் மாண வர் க ளின் வரு கையை தலை மை யா சி ரி ய ரி டம் இருந்து காலை 10 மணிக் குள் பெற்று, குழந் தை கள் வரு கைப் பதி வேட்டை பதிவு செய்து உண வுப் பொருட் களை சமைக்க வேண் டும். வரு கைப் ப தி வேடு மற் றும் உண வுப் பொ ருட் கள் பதி வேடு காலை 10.30மணிக் குள் முடித் தி ருக்க வேண் டும். பதி வே டு க ளில் எடுக் கப் பட்ட உண வுப் பொ ருட் கள் விப ரத்தை முறை யா கப் பதிவு செய்து இருப் பு களை சரி பார்க்க வேண் டும்.
மேலும் மதி ய உ ணவு தயார் செய் யப் பட் ட வு டன் உண வின் மாதி ரியை எடுத்து பார் வைக்கு வைக்க வேண் டும். சுத் த மான தண் ணீ ரைக் கொண்டு மட் டுமே உணவு களை சமைக்க வேண் டும். காலை 9மணி மு தல் மதி யம் 2மணி வரை சத் து ண வுப் பணி யா ளர் கள் சத் து ணவு மையத் தில் இருக் க வேண் டும். சத் து ணவு மையங் க ளில் தோட் டங் கள் அ மைத்து காய் க றி களை சாகு படி செய் தும் பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டும். மையத்தை சுற்றி தண் ணீர் தேங் கா மல் பார்த் துக் கொள்ள வேண் டும்.
உணவு அட் ட வ ணை யின் படி தினந் தோ றும் மாணவ, மாண வி க ளுக்கு முட்டை வழங் கப் பட வேண் டும்.மேலும் அன் றைய தினம் உணவு உண் ணும் மாணவ மாண வி ய ருக்கே முட்டை வாங்க வேண் டும். எண் ணெய் பாக் கெட் டு கள் மற் றும் உப் பு க ளைப் பயன் ப டுத் தும் முன் னர் அந் தப் பொ ருட் க ளின் காலா வதி நாட் களை முறை யாக கண் காணிக்க வேண் டும். காலா வ தி யான பொருட் களை பயன் ப டுத் தக் கூ டாது. ஈரத் தன்மை பாதிக் கா த ப டிக்கு உண வு பொ ருட் க ளுக்கு இடை யில் கல்,கட் டை களை வைத்து அடுக்க வேண் டும்.
தக வல் ப லகை, சமைக் கும் மற் றும் சேமிக் கும் பாத் தி ரங் கள், எடைக் க ருவி, பதி வேடு கள் மற் றும் ஆவ ணங் கள் போன் ற வை களை மையத் தில் பாது காப் பாக வைத்தி ருக்க வேண் டும். மேலும் தொடக் கப் பள் ளி க ளில் எக் கா ர ணம் கொண் டும் வெளி யில் வைத்து சமை யல் செய் யக் கூ டாது. மேலும் சத் து ணவு மையக் கட் டி டங் களை முறையா கப் பரா ம ரிக்க வேண் டும் என் றார். நிகழ்ச் சி யில் கலெக் ட ரின் நேர் முக உத வியா ளர்(சத் து ணவு) அருண் மொழி, வட் டா ர வ ளர்ச்சி அலு வ லர் கள் (சத் து ணவு), சத் து ணவு அமைப் பா ளர் கள் கலந்து கொண் ட னர்.
Herbal products Playing with people's health with tall claims
Manufactures of herbal products should be subjected to strong regulation to ensure they evaluate safety of their products before marketing them, says the writer Dinesh C Sharma
The market of herbal medicines, food supplements, tonics and personal care products has grown tremendously in the past few years. It is a well known that the herbal product market in India is poorly regulated. Guidelines for quality control and good manufacturing practices have been developed but they are hardly enforced and manufacturers – many of the in small scale sector – conveniently ignore them.
No clear regulatory system for evaluation or clinical trials of herbal medicines is in force in India. The Drugs and Cosmetics 4th Amendment Rules 2008 provide for guidelines on evaluation of herbal drugs, classifying them into four broad categories for clinical study requirement. However, ground realities show that such rules exist on paper.
A survey conducted among manufacturers published in 2013 showed that nearly half of the total companies were carrying out general safety studies for medicines and only 12% were conducting formal clinical trials at various medical colleges.
Since most traditional medicinal and food supplement products are sold ‘over the counter’, they are heavily advertised. Mass promotion and customer preference are the major factors that drive the herbal market, as opposed to prescription medicines where the choice of physician matters. That’s why print media and television channels are full of advertisements and sponsored programmes on herbal products. Most such ads make tall claims about curing pr preventing diseases, and improving health. Some of these products make absurd claims like increasing height of children and curing cancers.
Recent complaint6s heard by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) show that large herbal manufacturers too are making unfounded and unscientific claims about their products. The companies which have been pulled up for misleading advertisements include Patanjali Ayurveda and Sri Sri Ayurveda Nature Foods. For instance, the claim of Patanjali that its mustard oil was safer than others was found exaggerated and unsubstantiated. The company had claimed that refined oil of other brands used a cancer-causing substance. The advertising council also found that claims made in advertisements of other Patanjali products like hair oil, tooth paste, washing powder and hair cleanser were also without any basis.
Now the advertising regulator has upheld a complaint against advertisements of Ojasvita, a product of Sri Sri Ayurveda. The complaint was filed by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) which argued that the advertisement gave misleading information to consumers putting the lives of children at risk. The product also has high amount of sugar (41.9 gram per 100 gram) and is actually a processed food. All this information was not provided in advertisement and no specification instruction was given of age group for which the product is meant. The complaint was considered by the Consumer Complaints Council and the company was offered an opportunity of hearing but it did not do so but sent a written explanation.
The company claimed that the food supplement was ‘enriched’ with herbs like ashwagandha, brahmi , bringaraj etc. The council noted that the manufacturer did not give any evidence to show that contents of the product or any technical rationale or clinical evidence to substantiate the claim that the ingredients support ‘daily mental fitness needs’ of people. In view of this, the council has held that the claim of Ojasvita meeting ‘daily mental fitness needs’ is not substantiated and is misleading. The advertisement contravened rules laid in the ASCI Code. The company has agreed to comply with the order.
While complaints regarding misleading claims of herbal products are being upheld and ads suitably modified, such misbranded products continue to be in the market. India needs stronger food safety law that cover food supplements too, because at present harmful food supplement are being sold by direct marketing companies. The US food and drug regulator regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients, under its Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Under these rules, companies and distributors of dietary supplements and ingredients are prevented from marketing products which are adulterated or misbranded.
In India, adulteration of raw materials is a major problem. About 600 medicinal plants, 52 minerals and 50 animal products are commonly used in traditional herbal preparations, according to the government. Medicinal plants can get contaminated during growth, collection, and processing. Unless this is checked, one can’t assure quality of the end product. Product manufactures should be made responsible for evaluating safety of their products and proper labeling before marketing products. That’s the only way misbranded and unsafe products can be prevented from reaching consumers. Misleading ads are just one part of the problem.
Bread: A baked toxin???
Imagine a world where diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, autoimmunity and other modern diseases are rare or don't exist at all; we are physically lean and fit; we are fertile throughout our childbearing years; we sleep peacefully and deeply; we age gracefully without degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and osteoporosis. Although this might sound like pure fantasy today, anthropological evidence suggests that this is exactly how human beings lived for the vast majority of our evolutionary history.
These days, most people accept diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, infertility and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, asthma as 'normal'. But while these diseases may now be common, they're anything but normal. Humans evolved roughly 2.5 million years ago, and for roughly 84,000 generations we were naturally free of the modern diseases which kill millions of people each year and make countless others miserable. In fact, the world I asked you to imagine above which may seem unbelievable, absurd and impossible today was the natural human state for our entire history on this planet until a couple of hundred years ago.
Now the question is what was responsible for this change? What transformed us from naturally healthy, vigorous and vital people free of degenerative disease into a world of sick, fat, ailing and unhappy people?
I explain this in a word? The modern lifestyle. And while there are a number of aspects of our present lifestyle that contribute to disease, the widespread consumption of food toxins is by far the greatest offender. Specifically, the following four dietary toxins are to blame, viz., Cereal grains (especially refined flour), Omega-6 industrial seed oils (corn, cottonseed, Sunflower, soybean, etc.), Sugar (especially high-fructose corn syrup) and Processed soy (soy milk, soy protein, soy flour, etc.).
Now, what is a toxin? At the simplest level, a toxin is something capable of causing disease or damaging tissue when it enters the body. When most people hear the word 'toxin', they think of chemicals like pesticides, heavy metals or other industrial pollutants. But even beneficial nutrients like water, which are necessary to sustain life, are toxic at high doses.
In their book, 'The Perfect Health Diet', Paul & Shou-Ching Jaminet apply the economic principle of declining marginal benefits to toxins. This is important to understand as we discuss the role of dietary toxins in contributing to modern disease. Most of us won't get sick from eating a small amount of sugar, cereal grain, soy and industrial seed oil. But if we eat those nutrients (or rather anti-nutrients) in excessive quantities, our risk of developing modern diseases rises significantly. Bread, pastries, muffins, crackers, cookies, soda, fruit juice, fast food and other convenience foods are all loaded with these toxins. And when the majority of what most people eat on a daily basis is toxic, it's not hard to understand why our health is failing.
As we talk of bread, at the onset I would say too much yeast contained in processed breads generally upset the bacterial balance in your gut and cause infections. Very recently, the study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), that has identified two chemicals with potential health hazards potassium bromate and potassium iodate in packaged bread samples from prominent companies, has set off shock waves among consumers and the industry. The CSE said 32 of the 38 samples or 84 per cent of the tested samples had potassium bromate and iodate in the range of 1.15-22.54 parts per million. To date, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) permits them up to 50 parts per million. The two chemicals can be used as treating agents in flour under the category of food additives. They are used to give the final product a soft, fluffy finish.
However, its use had been permitted earlier because it was believed that the chemical was filtered out of the final product. However, once evidence to the contrary emerged in the 1990s many countries banned it, including the EU (1990) and the UK. Subsequently, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Nigeria, Peru and Columbia have stopped its use. CODEX Alimentarius, an international body which sets safety standards for food commodities, formally withdrew specifications of potassium bromate in 2012. Now with the CSE study, India may finally prohibit its use.
Potassium Bromate can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, kidney failure, oligonuria (low output of urine), anuria (failure of kidneys to produce urine), deafness, vertigo, hypotension, depression of the central nervous system, thrombocytopenia with other related health problems. It also affects the nutritional quality of bread by degrading the vitamins and essential fatty acid contents of flour. Iodate is associated with thyroid problems.
Apart from the above facts mentioning the use of toxins in bread baking there are myriad other negative aspects associated with bread that forbid its use. It is said that wheat bread, especially made of white flour, is one of the worst foods on planet earth. The scientists around the world present the following reasons to avoid it altogether.
First is that it is a wheat product. Unfortunately, wheat is no longer a healthy food for anyone. Even organic, whole wheat is greatly hybridized and is not wholesome, nourishing and healthy. Wheat tends to inflame the intestines due to its high glutamine content today, and it is also much lower in protein and in many essential minerals than it was in the past, say 100 years ago.
Also, if it is white bread, the best part of the wheat flour is removed while processing and fed to the farm animals. Whole wheat is not beneficial even, but at least it is rich in various vitamins, minerals and fiber. To make white bread, however, the germ and the bran of the wheat are stripped away. This leaves a product that has almost no fiber, almost no vitamins and minerals, and is mostly just starch. It is sometimes called 'empty calories' for this reason. It is basically just calories that put on weight, without providing any micronutrients such as minerals at all. It is truly an empty food.
Chlorine toxicity. Almost all white flour is usually bleached with highly toxic chlorine bleach. This is another horrible insult to the basic wheat grain. The same agent is used to bleach the wheat flour as is used to bleach clothing. It is then baked and the concoction creates extremely toxic chemicals in the bread that irritate the intestines. The bleaching of wheat flour is purely cosmetic and never needed for any other reason.
Food chemicals and additives. Almost all bread contains a number of additional food additives. The most common is refined sugar or some other sweetener, as it not only gives the bread a sweet taste, but acts as food for the yeast as well. It is well known that sugar is not helpful for one's health in any form.
Other common chemicals include dough conditioners, yeast food, preservatives, flavors, coloring and many others that may or may not be listed on the label. Bromine, used to enhance the rising of the dough, is one of the worst and is not required to be listed on the label.
Cooked at high temperature. In general, the higher the temperature a food is cooked at, the more damage is done to certain nutrients. Bread is baked at 300 degree F. or higher, and this is more damaging than steaming or stir-frying your food.
Now, this is nothing short of a public health catastrophe in a nation where the number one source of calories is refined flour. But, while most of us are at least aware of the dangers of sugar, trans-fat and other unhealthy foods, we do not seem to be doing anything but moving casually in the modern rat race. The facts are shocking by any reckoning. Shocking! though probably not surprising. But we've been complacent about the effects, as if increasing crop yields and pushing down food prices are the only things that matter. Well, sure they matter but poisoning ourselves and our environment matters too. Let's comprehend!
ONE STUDY THAT SHOOK ALL BREAD EATERS IN INDIA
Three weeks ago CSE(Centre for Science and Environment) came up with a study that shook all Indians who were fond of eating bread in their daily life. CSE in a study found that bread in Delhi had Potassium Bromate which causes cancer in our body and the news and the debate after that hit all news channels head on. There was a decrease in the consumption of the bread almost immediately and companies like Harvest Gold, Perfect Bread and Britannia ducked for cover. English Oven was the only company that was considered safe as 86% of the bread makers were found to use potassium bromate.
What all it actually was?
The study which was done by CSE’s Pollution Monitoring Laboratory ( PML ) found that Indian bread has Potassium Bromate and Potassium Iodate which are carcinogenic (cancer causing to humans) and also causes thyroid disorders. Despite being banned in many countries Indian manufactures still used it in the processing of floor while making bread.
PML found after testing 38 commonly available branded breads and related stuffs available in Delhi that 84% samples contain Potassium Bromate/Iodate and that was also reconfirmed from other different laboratories.
The most important thing was that International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared Potassium Bromate as cancerous for humans as it causes tumors of kidney, thyroid .Prior to it WHO and FAO (Food Agriculture Organisation) in a joint committee report have already banned the use of Potassiom Bromate/Iodate as a flour treatment . EU in 1990 and subsequently New Zealand , China , Sri Lanka , Brazil and many other countries have also banned its use
.
Then Why India still used Potassium Bromate/Iodate
Before the study came out the food safety regulation of India had no restriction on the use of Potassium Bromate/Iodate in baking Product . As it’s a powerful oxidizing agent (in terms of chemistry) so it makes bread spongy and gives the product the desired shape. In the end of the process bromate has to convert into bromide as a side product which is harmless but this never happens completely leaving some traces of potassium bromate.
What happened after the report came out
For four years the matter had been under consideration of the FSSAI without any decision. After the CSE came up with this shocking findings, and media pressure built up the Food Safety and Standard Authority ( FSSAI) of India reacted quickly to ban the use of these products immediately as they were dangerous to public health safety. After the appeal by media the FSSAI finally banned one of the two toxic chemicals that is Potassium Bromate to be used in bread processing .Though the FSSAI has never agreed that they banned this due to CSE report.
Permissible limit of potassium bromide
After the report came out CSE published the standard for the use of Potassium Bromate in bread and other food stuff that should have been followed. According to them there were two things that had to be taken care off .First thing was the maximum limit for the use of chemical in floor and that was 50 ppm . Whereas the second thing to be taken care was maximum limit of residue of chemical in the product. Currently there is no limit set as there should be no amount of residue left in the product .We are hoping that FSSAI will also ban the use of second chemical that is Potassium Iodate in coming days .
Now what to do
But this is not the end. We are having lots of fast food in which lots of chemical are used in the manufacturing of the food product. It’s the combined responsibility of FSSAI and the Government to check the limits of added chemicals on regular basis in those food stuffs so that the health of people is not at stake. It is also the need of time to follow the guidelines issued by international food safety agencies so that we don’t have to suffer in future like the way have suffered in past.
HC warns sago manufacturers of contempt action
The Madras high court threatened to initiate contempt of court actions against Sago Serve, a cooperative society of sago manufacturers in Salem, if they obstruct any food safety officials from inspecting industries and godowns storing sago.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan issued the stern warning, after it was submitted to the bench by PIL-petitioner Kallakurichi Vellalapatti Vivasayigal Munnetra Sangam of Namakkal district and officials that they were unable to access the godowns to verify whether rejected sago materials were being stored there.The bench also directed the district food safety officer to give his views in four weeks.
The matter relates to a PIL filed by the Sangam stating Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, who are predominant manufacturers and suppliers of sago in India, added acid and other chemicals to make it look attractive. Noting that it is harmful for health, they said consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat had even stopped consumption because of high presence of chemicals. It indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers, the Sangam said.
The judges said, “Since the matter relates to the purity of an edible product which is widely available and consumed, it is necessary that the authorities bestow urgent consideration on the matter, taking the nine-test parameter, so that we have the benefit of a final view as to what should be the necessary test to be followed.“
Government told to sort out tests to check sago purity
The Madras High Court has warned the Managing Director of Sago Serve of contempt proceedings if the Designated Officer, District Food Safety Office, is denied access to godowns to verify the status of rejected sago products.
Chennai:
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, while hearing a PIL moved by Kallakurichi Vellalapatti Vivasayigal Munnetra Sangam against adding acid and other chemicals in sago, recorded the statement of the District Food Safety Officer on access denial and said: “We are not able to appreciate this obstructionism and thus must put the MD, Sago Serve, on notice that if any obstruction is pointed out to us in future, we will have no option but to initiate contempt proceedings.”
Earlier, when the case was taken up for hearing, Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandian, clarified that while Sago Serve continues to have nine tests, a central government notification had brought down the number of tests from three to two and hence the sago allowed for sale in Tamil Nadu remained free of chemicals and was pure.
However, the bench on observing that since the issue related to the purity of an edible product which was widely available and consumed, said: “It is necessary that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MH & FW) and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSAI) bestow urgent consideration on the matter, taking into consideration the nine-test parameter, so that we have the benefit of a final view as to what should be the necessary test to be followed.”
The bench noted that the stand of the Central Government had not been placed before it and impleaded the MH & FW and FSAI as respondents and directed the Assistant Solicitor General to take notice. The bench also granted four weeks’ time to file their affidavits.
The farmers’ association in its PIL had alleged that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, which supplies sago to many parts of the country, had started adding acid and other chemicals in order to make the sago look attractive “which is highly harmful to the public.”
Owing to this, consumption in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, UP and Gujarat has dropped considerably adversely affecting tapioca farmers in the state, the petitioner said.
Jun 18, 2016
HC warns SagoServe of contempt proceedings
Chennai, Jun 18 (PTI) The Madras High Court has warned the Salem-based starch and sago manufacturers Sago Serve that it would initiate contempt proceedings if the company caused any obstruction to the officials of District Food Safety Department visiting its godowns to verify the presence of rejected sago products. Hearing a PIL by Kallakurichi Vellalapatti Vivasayigal Munnetra Sangam of Namakkal District seeking to test the rejected sago material, the first Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan yesterday impleaded the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India as respondents and directed them to file counters within four weeks. "Since the matter in issue relates to the purity of an edible product which is widely available and consumed, it is necessary that the above respondents bestow urgent consideration on the matter, taking the nine test parameter, so that we have the benefit of afinal view as to what should be necessary test to be followed." When it was brought to the notice of the court that the Managing Director of Sago Serve was not giving the designated officer District Food Safety office, Salem, access to the godowns to verify where the rejected product has been stored, the bench said, "We are not able to appreciate this obstructionism and thus must put the Managing Director, Sago Serve on notice that if any obstruction to the designated officer, District Food Safety office is pointed out to us in future, we will have no option except to initiate contempt proceedings."
Directing the Designated officer, District Food Safety office, Salem to forward its views to Food Safety Standards Authority of India, New Delhi, it ordered the officer to be appear again on August 2 and posted the matter.
The matter relates to a PIL regarding addition of acid and other harmful chemicals to sago products.
The farmers association had submitted that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, was purchasing tapioca from the farmers and adding acid and other chemicals in order to make it attractive. The association had already made representation in this regard to the higher authorities on November 3, 2014, but there was no response, the petitioner said.
The PIL was filed seeking for an interim direction from the Court to conduct the prescribed test by the authorities of Referral Food Laboratory, Pune.
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