FDA keeps vigil on 'khoya'

NASHIK: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has launched a drive to keep a check on 'khoya' (a milk product) coming from other states into Nashik.

Khoya is used on a large scale for preparing 'prasad' and other sweet food articles, which are often used during festivals. Sub-standard khoya often results in health hazards among people, who consume the products prepared from it.

The food safety officers said they were keeping watch on the khoya manufactured in the city and the district, and also maintaining vigil on the khoya coming from other states.

Khoya should be transported at a certain temperature in cold storage vehicles. The fluctuating or high temperature could spoil the product. So, strict vigil is maintained on vehicles coming into the city from other parts of the state, considering that khoya is produced on a large scale in other parts of the country.

The FDA has deployed teams at different parts of the city to keep an eye on private vehicles and ST buses coming from areas where khoya is likely to be procured.

The officials said they have started visiting shops which are selling food articles made from milk. Samples are being sent to the laboratory for further investigation. Action will be taken if the test reports were negative.

8,000 kgs of Barfi seized

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Adulterated food products worth Rs 36 lakh seized during the festive season

In an ongoing drive against the shops selling sub-standard sweets and adulterated food products, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs administration (FDA) have seized barfi and other raw materials used for preparing mithai (Indian sweets), worth nearly Rs 36 lakh from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai since the outset of Ganesh Chaturthi.

“10 flying squads, deployed specifically on the occasion of festive season, raided different shops and factories, drew samples of different types of mithai and in doubtful cases seized the stock of sweets. Some of the samples are being tested in our laboratory at Bandra in Mumbai, while some samples have been sent to our laboratory in Pune,” Chandrashekhar Salunkhe, Joint Commissioner (Food) told Afternoon D&C.

“The seized items are being tested to find out whether they are in conformity with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The “food safety” means assurance that food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use,” Salunkhe said.

Under the act, ‘food business operator’ means a person by whom the business is carried on or owned, is responsible for ensuring the compliance of this Act, rules and regulations, Salunkhe added.

By and large, raw material like mawa is being brought at cheaper rate from outside Maharashtra in large quantities, since it is in much demand in the cities and towns including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune.

“Our officers will also be visiting Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals to carry out random checks of the Prasad and food served. The intention is to avoid any untoward incident due to the inadvertent mistake by the sweet/food supplier or the organisers,” Salunkhe said adding that the drive will continue till January, since many festivals including Navratri, Dussera, Diwali will be celebrated by people on massive scale in the coming months.

Meanwhile, to minimize the time required for analysis, the FDA is in the process of expanding the existing laboratories at Mumbai and Nagpur, and establishing new laboratories at Thane, Kolhapur, Nashik and Amravati.

SINFUL SWEETS

The seizure included - 8,000 kgs of Barfi worth Rs 23.55 lakh, 10,224 ltrs of edible oil worth Rs 12.80 lakh, 279 kgs of Khava (used for preparing 'Pedhas') worth Rs 61,380 and 313.4 kgs of pure ghee worth Rs 1.19 lakh.

Probe ordered, food samples sent for testing

Biryani samples from Mewat: Did officials exceed their brief?

September 10, 2016 06:18 AM

CHANDIGARH: Under fire for policing biryani, the Haryana government appears to be distancing itself from samples drawn by the Mewat police to check beef consumption.

While all seven biryani samples have tested positive for beef at the laboratory of a state university, questions are being asked in the government about the district police and animal husbandry department officials exceeding their jurisdiction by drawing samples of biryani - a cooked food item - and getting them analysed.

The samples, especially cooked food, can be drawn by food safety officer and medical officers authorised by the local chief medical officer or food and drugs administration (FDA) department.

Besides, the legal validity of analysis or test done by laboratory other than those designated for the purpose is also under doubt.

FDA public anaylst Balbir Singh told Hindustan Times that only FSO, senior medical officer (SMO) or doctors in-charge of hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres have been notified to collect food samples Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

He said the government laboratories at Karnal and Chandigarh have testing facility for beef and their reports are valid. The biryani samples collected from Firozepur Jhirka in Mewat were sent at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar. KHATTAR CONVEYS ‘DISPLEASURE’

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar is also learnt to be upset with the manner in which samples were drawn.

“He has made known his displeasure to Gau Seva Ayog and officials of animal husbandry and police departments. Collection of food samples is the responsibility of health staff,” a highly-placed officer said, requesting anonymity.

The district officials have also started passing the buck. Deputy commissioner Mani Ram Sharma said the campaign for collection of samples was run by Gau Seva Aayog chairman Bhani Ram Mangla.

“You should check with the chairman. We were not in the loop,” he said.

While the police said the samples were drawn by a veterinary doctor, director general, animal husbandry and dairying, Dr GS Jakhar said the police ran the campaign and the doctor was called only for packing and sealing the samples for analysis. Mangla, on being contacted, blamed the media for blowing the whole thing out of proportion. “It’s a simple issue, not a big one. We got some complaints. The police and the veterinary doctor drew the samples. You should ask the police about the test results,” he said.

HARYANA-Registration of food business made easier

Chandigarh, September 9

Food Security Officers (FSO) in the state will no longer be able to demand money for the registration of firms or delay the registration owing to their ulterior motives.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Haryana, today told the FSOs designated as the registration authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, that registration generated online by firms would become valid if they did not make objections in 30 days.

Rajiv Rattan, FDA Commissioner, who headed a meeting held today, clarified that the FSOs would no longer be in a position to delay the registration of food business operators (FBO).

Rattan said the move would help to know the exact number of FBOs in the state, besides ensuring their registration under the Act. The FBOs with business above Rs 12 lakh per annum need to get licences, while those with less than Rs 12 lakh need to get their firms registered.

Only 15, 341 FBOs are registered against nearly 2 to 2.5 lakh running across the state. Besides, there are 7, 626 licenced FBOs in the state.

Sources said that due to corruption and the delay tactics of some FSOs, those in food business were reluctant to get themselves registered under the Act, due to which the authorities were devoid of the data base regarding their exact number.

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

TAMIL MURASU NEWS

PIL on food adulteration

Govt apprises High Court about setting up of food testing labs

The government has apprised Jammu and Kashmir High court about the steps taken by it for procuring necessary equipments for setting up two food testing laboratories, one each at Srinagar and Jammu. 

Yash Pal Sharma, Managing Director Medical Supplies Corporation informed the Court about the steps taken for procuring necessary equipments for setting up of two food laboratories. 

“In view of the poor response to the earlier NIT, the Corporation has floated fresh NIT and last date for receipt of documents is 26th September, 2016,” Sharma pleaded. 

The Controller Drugs, who was also present, submitted that the posts vacant in the labs have been referred to the Service Selection Board almost one year back saying they have not made any selection till date. The submission was made by the officer in light of the directions passed by the court on June 10. 

Meanwhile, the court arrayed Chairman SSB as party to the PIL and deputy advocate general Hashim Hussain accepted notice on behalf of Board. The court directed the SSB to complete the selection process be the next date of hearing. 

Hearing a PIL against food adulteration, a division bench of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey, however, sought the latest status report by September 29. 

On May 15 this year, Chief Secretary of J&K had admitted before High Court that government has failed to implement Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.

He had assured that without waiting for financial assistance from the central government, funds for setting up technologically advanced laboratories at Jammu and Srinagar would be immediately provided by the State.

He had also assured the court that mobile testing laboratories will be provided to the Food Safety Department and the authorities created in terms of Act of 2006 would also be put in place shortly.

In the report filed by the government it was then stated that two existing labs, one each in Jammu and Srinagar, were outdated and literally non-functional.

HC says camel slaughtering cannot be permitted in absence of dedicated abattoir

Taking note of the fact submitted by the State government that at present there are no special facilities available to slaughter camels, the Madras High Court on Thursday said that in such case, camel slaughtering cannot be permitted in the State.

“It is trite to say that slaughtering of camels cannot be the same as slaughtering of goats. There is thus no facility in Tamil Nadu for proper slaughtering of camels where it to be permitted,” the First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan said.

The Bench made the observations on batch of PILs moved by Radha Rajan and others seeking to direct the authorities to ensure that no camel slaughtering takes place in Tamil Nadu.

When the PILs came up for hearing, the Central and State government submitted their responses to the series of quires on the legality of camel slaughtering and the Rules governing it.

Relying on section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 the Central government submitted that the Act does not support sacrifice of animals for any reason. It further stated that slaughtering of animals is allowed only for the purpose of food.

“Camel meat as food has been already prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011,” the authorities said.

Meanwhile, the State government relying on the same provision of the PCA Act claimed that camel slaughtering is permitted as a special case, coupled with the fact that religious sermon permits the slaughtering of camel.

Recording the submissions, the Bench said, “We may only add here is that it is admitted position that there are no camels available in Tamil Nadu and thus a comparison cannot be made of area where camels are found easily. In fact camels are imported into Tamil Nadu from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra… Rajasthan is stated to have prohibited even the export of camels out of the State for the purposes of slaughtering by an enactment.”

Noting that the issue should be set-down for final hearing, but in the mean time in view of the stand of Central government and the provisions of the Central Act at present, we cannot have a situation where such camel slaughtering is permitted especially in the absence of any facility for it, the Bench posted the PILs for further hearing on October 17.

800 kg rotten tomatoes, onions found at food processing unit

NASHIK: Nearly 800kg of rotten tomatoes and onions along with other goods worth Rs 1 lakh have been destroyed by the Nashik Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Wednesday evening while conducting a raid at a food processing unit in the Nashik road area.

The food safety officers said that during a routine inspection of Mangalam Foods on Naigaon Raod in Shinde, that manufactures tomato sauce, pickles, noodles, mixed fruit jam, etc., it was found that the unit was in a shabby condition. The concerned owners or proprietors of the food processing unit have been violating all the conditions of the license acquired from the FDA.

During the inspection, officials had to destroy nearly 800kg of rotten tomatoes and onions.

An officer said that the flooring of the processing unit was damp and the quality of water used for manufacturing the food articles was also questionable. "About 20 workers had hung their they dirty clothes in the unit and their medical check up was also not done. There is also no provision for warm water to wash the utensils," he said.

Food safety officers Vivek Patil and Sayali Patwardhan who carried out the inspection under the guidance of joint commissioner FDA (Food), Nashik Division U S Vanjari, appealed to people to refrain from food articles like pickle, sauce and jam which are sold loose or even served in in restaurants.

"We have sent the food samples to our laboratory and action against the concerned owner will be taken after we get the lab reports," Vanjari said.

The food processing unit has not been closed down yet as it is not in the power of the FDA unit here. Although the concerned owners have been warned of being shut down if unhygienic conditions are continued.

Liquor Chocolates... Now the Safest, Cheapest Drugs For Youth in City

Hyderabad: Liquor chocolates... have become the easiest business channel for some chocolate manufacturing units in the city to make a fast buck. College goers and high school kids are falling prey for the ‘liquor chocolates’.

The makers are cashing in on the craze for chocolates in the market as they are the safest and cheapest drugs for especially under-aged youths that available in many chocolate cafes and shopping malls in the city.

Liquor chocolates are the candies in different shapes that taste like chocolate with the alcohol/whisky content mixed in it that gives mild intoxication to the consumer. It is difficult to smell the alcohol content in the liquor chocolates. Import of such chocolates is banned in India by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2005 and its sale is illegal in India.

Of late, mostly high school students and college goers are targeted for the business selling the ‘tipsy products’ ranging from Rs. 50 to 500 at chocolate cafes and high-end stores in twin cities.

According to a latest report, more than 100 small chocolate companies in GHMC limits have turned to making liquor chocolates illegally to make easy money.

The Excise officials revealed that the products are being sold in miniature bottles and many other shapes with weird names

Acting on a tip off, Excise Department Special Task Force and Enforcement officials conducted raids on a chocolate manufacturing unit in Old Mallepally in Hyderabad. The officials took two persons into their custody and seized 400 chocolates weighing 2kg and seven bottles of whisky and vodka from the unit. The samples have been sent to laboratory for testing.

Excise AES Anji Reddy said all the manufacturing units in the city would be served notices and the inspections will be conducted based on the reports of samples. Many chocolate cafes in the city are making money by selling the illegal products and the sales have been found high during the festive seasons of Dasara and Diwali, he said. Each pack is sold for Rs.1000 to 1600 and the price will be doubled during the peak time.

The officials also said that the liquor chocolates manufacturing units were also training persons for domestic business.

Mobile food testing labs launch today at Thycaud

The air-conditioned mobile laboratories were set up by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd.

Thiruvananthapuram: Two mobile food testing laboratories worth Rs 1.4 crore will be flagged off by Health Minister K.K. Shylaja at Food Safety Commissioner’s headquarters at Thycaud. Kerala will become the second in the country after Chandigarh to establish mobile laboratories. The laboratories along with two other static laboratories in the state are expected to curb adulterated food products particularly milk, edible oils, masala packets and spices.

The air-conditioned mobile laboratories were set up by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. Two laboratory officials and a driver will be deployed in each of the vehicles. The mobile laboratories will be anchored around check posts. On official requests, they will be routed to sources where adulterants are found on a largescale. Currently, there are only two Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) accredited laboratories in the state.

Naivaidya's sweet labelled 'sub-standard' by FDA

RAIPUR: In its latest sampling of a sweet product of Chhattisgarh's prominent sweet supplier chain of 'Naivaidya', Food and Drugs department has labelled one of its product as "substandard" as per provisions of food and safety standard Act.

Based on a complaint filed by Sanjeev Agrawal, a sealed box of 'anjeer barfi', purchased from Naivaidya food product at Shastri Market was received by the food and drugs department on August 23. After testing, the 'anjeer barfi' was found unfit for consumption as it contained fibres, vegetable stalks and sand particles.

Complainant Sanjeev said he had bought a packet of sweets which tasted bad and looked stale, following which he bought another box and submitted the sealed pack to the department.

"As the substandard product comes from one of the very prominent brands of sweet products in state, I am going to file a petition at court as well as a complaint in consumer forum," Sanjeev said.

Another application filed by Sanjeev on August 23 was of KLF Nirmal Pure Coconut Oil which looked creamy in appearance and was sent to food and drugs department.The department officials labelled it as 'sub-standard too as per the standards of food and safety standards Act.

Sweet samples collected

VADODARA: Food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation cracked down on shops selling varieties of sweets widely consumed during Ganpati festival.

On Thursday, officers collected six samples of sweets and one of edible oil from shops in Sayajigunj, Jubelibaug and railway station areas. The officers had checked shops on the New VIP Road, Karelibaug and Makarpura Road areas of the city on Wednesday. The samples will be sent to the public health laboratory of the VMC for analysis. The officers have been checking samples of 'boondi', 'motichoor laddus', and 'modaks'

Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) food officers check eateries

VADODARA: The food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Wednesday night continued their drive to check eateries in the city.

The officers checked eateries in Manjalpur, Subhanpura, Badamdi Baug, Kirti Stambh and Ajwa Road areas of the city. The officers checked 132 roadside eateries, eightrestaurants, 13 shops and three cottage units selling food items.

The teams disposed of 460 liters mint and tamarind water used for 'pani puris'. They also destroyed 265kg of material as well as cooked food. Fifteen food business operators were issued notices for not maintaining hygienic conditions. As many as 31 others were issued notices for not having food licences.

VADODARA: The food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Wednesday night continued their drive to check eateries in the city.

The officers checked eateries in Manjalpur, Subhanpura, Badamdi Baug, Kirti Stambh and Ajwa Road areas of the city. The officers checked 132 roadside eateries, eightrestaurants, 13 shops and three cottage units selling food items.

The teams disposed of 460 liters mint and tamarind water used for 'pani puris'. They also destroyed 265kg of material as well as cooked food. Fifteen food business operators were issued notices for not maintaining hygienic conditions. As many as 31 others were issued notices for not having food licences.

Taskforce formed to study problems in ginger exports

Poisonous Prasad

Recent incidents of food-poisoning during the Lord Ganesha celebrations at Thane and Borivali have raised pertinent questions as regards to food safety. The new FDA advisory guidelines to Ganesh Mandals as regards ‘prasad’ preparations is being seen as an apt move

The arrival of the elephant-headed God brings in joy and jubilation. And in some unfortunate cases, it also spells food-poisoning, recent incidents of which have been allegedly found at Thane and Borivali. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) reportedly raided Room No. 3 of the Namdev Chawl, located at Borivali East and seized nearly 6000 kgs. of spurious “mava” worth a whopping Rs 9.11 lakh, brought in from the neighbouring Gujarat for supplying to sweet shops in the city.

The seized ‘mava’ did not meet the norms stipulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the Gujarat supplier did not have any license for the preparation and sale of ‘mava’ said an FDA official, adding that the perpetrator is being interrogated. In the meanwhile, the FDA has continued with its random checks of sweet shops in the city and the drive will go on till the ensuing Diwali.

With a view to avoid incidents of food poisoning during the ongoing Ganesh Utsav, the Food and Drugs Administration has prepared an advisory for Sarvjanik Ganeshotsav Mandals as regards the preparation and distribution of “prasad” (divine food offering to God) and the food served in “bhandaras” (food served as a worship offering or community feast).

As per the advisory, the ‘prasad’ should be prepared in a clean place and the raw material for it should be procured from a licensed supplier. The vessel carrying the ‘prasad’ should be closed properly with a lid so that the ‘prasad’ is not exposed to flies etc. The fruits for the ‘prasad’ should be purchased from the licensed fruit-vendors and the ‘prasad’ should not be made of over-ripened fruits. The ‘prasad’ should be made using clean potable water and those who prepare it should be provided with hand gloves and caps. Those who distribute the ‘prasad’ should not be suffering from contagious diseases. The milk and ‘mava’ used for preparing the ‘prasad’ should be stored in a cool place. When the food is prepared in a large quantity, the organisers should ensure that the raw material or ready food is purchased from suppliers that are known to them.Speaking to Afternoon D & C, Chandrashekhar Salunkhe, Joint Commissioner (Food) said, “This advisory has been issued so that the organisers of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals themselves take precautions from the point of food safety. The advisory is being served on the Mandals where the turn-out of devotees is very large. It is in no way an attempt to mar the festivity or put a damper on the enthusiasm of the Ganesh devotees. Even if the organisers purchase the food only from the reputed food supplier or the supplier known to them, it would go a long way in ensuing food safety.”

“The term ‘food safety’ means assurance that the food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use. It is also expected of the mandals organising ‘bhandaras’ to take adequate precautions while serving food to avoid any untoward incident”, he added.

Even if the food is served by social organisations like Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals, it attracts provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. which states that: “Food business” means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, import and includes food services, catering services, sale of food or food ingredients. Besides “food business operator” means a person by whom the business is carried on or owned and is responsible for ensuring the compliance of this Act, rules and regulations.

However most of the mandals in Mumbai seemed to be unaware of the FDA advisory. Milind Gole, President of the 29-year old “Bal Gopal Mitra Mandal Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav”, Vakola, Santacruz East said, “We have not received any such communication. We do organise a “bhandara” on a small scale,but we take all the precautions.”Sudhir Shenoy, Secretary of the “Shree Swami Samarth Nagar Ganeshotsav Mandal”, Andheri West said that the Mandal has not received any such communication. But regardless of anybody’s advice, all precautions are being taken to ensure food safety while organising “Mahaprasad”.

Raw vegetables should always be washed well & cooked at high temperatures during monsoons, to ensure that they are cleaned, microorganisms are killed, & they are made fit for consumption.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Caution! Sale of counterfeit food supplements on unchecked

 

Administration in deep slumber

JAMMU, Sept 7: Unauthentic and uncertified food supplements are being sold without any check or regulation to the city youth openly at exorbitant prices and the administration is in deep slumber despite a stringent Food Safety Act in place.

Attractive cartons of all sizes are put on display outside chemist shops, general stores and shops selling sports and fitness equipment, which are on sale for weight gain, muscle gain and also for weight loss and are being sold at astronomical prices to youth who aspire to have good physique. It is pity that they are not been prescribed by any physician or a qualified dietician, but most of the time, young boys and girls decide to take them on the advice of peers or unqualified gym instructors, most of whom have no professional qualification and have handsome commissions on the sales.

"In the contemporary world, everyone wants to look good and hence there is an urge amongst the youth to either gain muscle and look muscular or shed weight and look sleek; since exercising needs lot of effort and discipline, most people fall prey to short cuts as food supplements, which are on sale without any control or regulation" said Veena Trisal, a worried parent, whose son is taking such one such supplement he bought at an astronomical price from local market. "There was no price tag as the product was supposed to be imported" she added.

Besides the arbitrary rates at which these products are being sold, the major concern is the quality of the product and its effect on the user. "No one knows about the ingredients and the genuineness of the product being sold. You never know whether the product has steroids in it, which can have telling effect on the health of the user" said a renowned dietician, who did not want to be named. "These products need to be sold under a valid license and a regulatory mechanism as envisaged under the Food safety act which is overseen by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)" he added.

Despite a stringent act in place, it is pity that these food supplements are being sold in the open by all and sundry eyeing huge profits by individuals and firms which have no licenses as mandatory under the Act. The district administration, on whom lies the onus of regulating and checking the authenticity of these products has turned blind eye to the growing use of these uncertified products by the youth and their sale in violation of the provisions of the Food safety Act.

AMSU destroys large quantity of soft drinks

AMSU destroys large quantity of soft drinks

IMPHAL, Sep 7 : After the manufacturing dates of soft drinks were found tampered by some retailers, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) destroyed large quantities of Sprite and Coca Cola this afternoon at its HQs located at DM College campus.

Alteration of manufacturing dates of the popular soft drinks came to light after the student body conducted a drive on August 29 following complaints from some of the consumers.

Commenting on the incident, AMSU secretary general Manjit Sarangthem said, “BSR Enterprises located at MG Avenue was found to have altered the manufacturing dates of the soft drinks. After they were asked to clarify the matter, only one Bedajit among the three owners of the enterprise (Bedajit, Sunil and Rajendra) came forward to give his statement.”

Stating that the State authorities concerned including the Food Safety Authority have failed to perform their duties, he expressed suspicion that there is an unholy nexus between some businessmen and the State authorities concerned.

General Secretary of North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) Prakash Soraisam said that norms and regulations provided under the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) are being violated by the retailers of certain soft drinks in the State. These acts have raised a serious question about the illegal activities being carried out deliberately by the retailers.

Till today, the supplier of BSR enterprises is on the run and have failed to clarify the matter. Individual(s) involved in this illegal activity should clarify within September 15 to the public and also to the student body or else all kinds of soft drink will be banned in the State.

The future of food safety and nutrition lies in an integrated approach invloving 3 key dynamics - Collaboration, Engagement and Community impact. With its new initiatives, FSSAI envisages a 360-degree view to empower Safe & Nutritiousfood.

Frozen food like ice creams should not be consumed once melted & refrozen since they have a limited shelf life during monsoons

Taskforce formed to study problems in ginger exports

Sep 7, 2016- The government on Tuesday formed a taskforce to examine why ginger exports to India have been held up as worried traders pressured the authorities for a speedy resolution of problems citing the perishable nature of their product.

Shipments of the spice have been halted for the last one week after India barred entry due to the presence of pesticide residues.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD), the seven-member taskforce led by Under-Secretary Pradhumna Pandey is mandated to prepare a detailed report of the problems encountered in ginger exports and make appropriate recommendations for their resolution.

The other members are representatives from the Commerce Ministry, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Quarantine Office, Agro Enterprise Centre under the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA).

MoAD Spokesperson Yogendra Kumar Karki said they decided to form the panel after a multilateral meeting held at the ministry on Tuesday.

Ginger exporters have been complaining that they have been unable to export their products to India for the last one week. Narendra Kumar Khadka, president of the NGPTA, accused the southern neighbour of unilaterally imposing a ban on Nepali ginger.

Khadka said the Indian authorities had barred entry through almost all Nepal-India border points. According to him, 250,000 tonnes of ginger are stuck with farmers following the Indian ban.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is reported to have asked Indian customs offices to bar the entry of Nepali ginger. The authority is said to have taken the step after Nepali ginger was found to be contaminated with the pesticide Aldicarb. Indian officials have also expressed discontent that Chinese ginger was being mixed with domestic products and exported under Nepali brands.

Khadka admitted the use of Chinese ginger for export. “A number of traders have been found to be involved in this malpractice,” he said, adding that the pesticide Aldicarb had not been applied to ginger grown in the country.

The Indian Embassy in Nepal also said the southern neighbour imposed the restrictions on Nepali ginger just to control the imports of the spice originating in China via Nepal, as India has given preferential treatment only to the ginger produced in Nepal.

Ruby Jaspreet Sharma, spokesperson for the embassy, said the Indian government imposed the ban on Chinese ginger as a protection measure to safeguard its farmers. “In addition, the products imported from China have been found to have contained a large quantity of pesticides,” she said.

Meanwhile, the MoAD on Tuesday directed the FNCCI to issue a certificate of origin to Nepali ginger only with its recommendation. The FNCCI has been issuing the certificate to exporters of local agro products.

Karki said they had issued a circular to quarantine offices directing them to carry out sanitary and phyto-sanitary tests of agro products intended for export. “If anyone is found guilty of issuing fake certificates of origin, they will be booked,” he said.

Ginger is grown on more than 23,826 hectares across the country. As per MoAD statistics, the country produced 242,546 tonnes of ginger in the last fiscal year, 60 percent of which was exported.

Globally, Nepal is the third largest ginger producer after China and India. India is the main export market for Nepali ginger. Almost 94 percent of the shipments to India consist of fresh ginger and the rest are processed ginger.

According to Nepal Ginger Profile 2016, which was produced jointly by the UK Aid-funded Samarth-Nepal Market Development Programme and the NGPTA, the ginger grown in Nepal is high in oil and oleoresin, and it can be sold to large industrial buyers in India and other countries if output is increased and quality is ensured.

Ginger Facts

• Ginger farming is conducted on 23,826 hectares
• Nepal produced 242,546 tonnes of ginger in the last fiscal year
• Nepal is the third largest producer of ginger after China and India
• India is the main export market for Nepali ginger
• Almost 94 percent of the shipments to India consist of fresh ginger and the rest are processed ginger

Veggies grown in Kerala safe to eat: Report

THRISSUR: Vegetables grown in the state are safer than those brought from other states, indicates the report on pesticides’ resides in vegetable samples collected from markets in all the districts in the state. A total of 188 samples were collected and tested as per the directive of the Agricultural Minister. While 172 of the samples (91.5 per cent) were found to be safe to eat, the remaining 16 samples(8.5 per cent) showed presence of harmful pesticides.

The tests conducted at the Pesticides Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory of Kerala Agricultural University found that the samples of brinjal, snake gourd, bitter gourd, ladies finger, tomato, potato, onion (big and small), carrot, yam and cole collected from markets across the state are found free of pesticide residues. But samples of beans, curry leaves, mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilli and beetroot, coming from the neighbouring states, contained residues of banned pesticides like Profenophos, Chlorpyrifos, Triazophos, Phenothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, and Cyfluthrin in alarming levels.

According to the report, the various projects executed by the agricultural department have helped in production of pesticides-free vegetables in the state.

It is for the first time that such a massive test, taking samples from all districts, was conducted in the state. The samples were collected by the Food Safety Department and the test were conduced at the Pesticide Residual Research and Analytical Laboratory in Vellayani, T’puram.

அதிகாரிகள் மெத்தனப்போக்கு ஓட்டல்களில் தரமற்ற உணவுகள்

ராம நா த பு ரம், செப்.7:

ராம நா த பு ரம் நகர் பகு தி யில் 50க்கும் மேற் பட்ட பெரிய ஓட் டல் க ளும், 100க்கும் மேற் பட்ட சிறிய ஓட் டல் க ளும், 200க்கும் மேற் பட்ட ரோட் டோர கடை க ளும் உள் ளன. மாவட் டத்தை சுற் றி லும் உள்ள மக் கள் பல் வேறு தேவை க ளுக்கு தினந் தோ றும் ராம நா த பு ரம் வர வேண் டி யுள் ளது. இது த விர மதுரை-ராமேஸ் வ ரம் தேசிய நெடுஞ் சா லை யில் ராம நா த பு ரம் அமைந் துள் ள தால் ஏரா ள மான சுற் றுலா பய ணி க ளும் தின மும் ராம நா த பு ரம் வந்து செல் கின் ற னர். அவ் வாறு வரும் பொது மக் கள் காலை, பகல், இரவு நேரங் க ளில் ஓட் டல் களை நாடு கின் ற னர்.

ஆனால் சில ஓட் டல் க ளில் சுத் தம் செய் யப் ப டாத மேஜை, கழு வப் ப டாத கிளாஸ், தூசி க ளு டன் குடி நீர் தொட்டி, வாழை இலை இல் லா மல் பிளாஷ் டிக் பேப் ப ரில் உணவு, மட் ட மான சாம் பார், சட்னி, சால்னா வழங் கப் ப டு கி றது. பல ஓட் டல் க ளில் உணவு தயா ரா கும் இடங் கள் சுகா தா ர மற்ற நிலை யில் உள் ளன. பாத் தி ரங் களை கழு வு வது கிடை யாது. வடை, சிக் கன் வறு வ லுக்கு பயன் ப டும் எண் ணெய் பல முறை பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டு கி றது. சிறிய ஓட் டல் க ளில் இட்லி ரூ.8, புரோட்டா ரூ.10 என விற் பனை செய் யும் உரி மை யா ளர் கள் சுகா தா ரத்தை பற்றி கவ லை ப டு வதே கிடை யாது.

இது போன்ற மட் ட மான உண வு க ளி னால் ஏற் ப டும் பாதிப் பு களை பொது மக் கள் உணர்ந் தா லும் வேறு வழி யில் லா மல் சாப் பிட்டு செல் கின் ற னர். இத னால் உடன் சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ஓட் டல் க ளில் சோதனை செய்து, தவறு செய் வோர் மீது நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டு மென்று பொது மக் கள் வலி யு றுத்தி உள் ள னர்.

காவ னுரை சேர்ந்த செபஸ் தி யான் கூறு கை யில், குறிப் பிட்ட சில ஓட் டல் களை தவிர மற்ற அனைத் தி லும் சுகா தா ரம் குறை வா கவே உள் ளது. பஸ் ஸ்டாண்டு அருகே பல ஓட் டல் க ளில் சுகா தார சீர் கேட் டால் நுழை யவே அரு வ ருப் பாக உள் ளது. சாலை யோர கடை க ளில் நிலை குறித்து கேட் கவே வேண் டாம். சுகா தா ர மற்ற முறை யில் மட் டன், கோழி, மீன் வரு வல், காடை, ரத் தப் பொ றி யல் வகை கள் தயார் செய் யப் ப டு கின் றன. சுக தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் மெத் த னப் போக்கை கைவிட்டு பொது மக் க ளின் நலன் கருதி நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க வேண் டும் என்று கூறி னார்.

சுகா தா ரத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கூறு கை யில், நக ரில் சுகா தா ரம் குறித்து அவ் வப் போது தீடீர் சோதனை நடத்தி வரு கி றோம். பொது மக் க ளின் நலன் கருதி விரை வில் சுகா தா ரம் இல் லாத டிபன் சென் டர், ஓட் டல் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என் ற னர்.

திறந்த நிலையில் குடிநீர் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா? ஓட்டல்களில் ஆய்வு செய்ய 5 குழுக்கள் டெங்கு காய்ச்சலை தொடர்ந்து அதிரடி நடவடிக்கை

 

ேவலூர், ெசப்.7:

தமி ழ கத் தில் டெங்கு காய்ச் சல் ேவக மாக பரவி வரு கி றது. திரு வள் ளூர் மாவட் டத் தில் டெங்கு காய்ச் ச லால் சிறுமி உட் பட 8 பேர் பலி யாகி உள் ள னர். வேக மாக பரவி வரும் டெங்கு காய்ச் ச லால் பொது மக் கள் கடும் அச் ச ம டைந் துள் ள னர்.

வேலூர் மாவட் டத் தி லும் திருப் பத் தூ ரில் டெங்கு காய்ச் ச லால் கடந்த மாதம் ஒரு வர் பலி யாகி உள் ளார். இத னால் சுகா தார துறை சார் பில் டெங்கு காய்ச் சல் தடுப்பு நட வ டிக் கை கள் தீவி ரப் ப டுத் தப் பட் டுள் ளன. மாவட் டம் முழு வ தும் மாஸ் கிளீ னிங் பணி கள் நடந்து வரு கி றது. மேலும் அரசு மருத் து வ ம னை கள், ஆரம்ப சுகா தார நிலை யங் கள், சித்தா மருந் த கங் கள், மாந க ராட்சி அலு வ ல கம் என்று பல இடங் க ளி லும் நில வேம்பு கசா யம் வைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது.

இந் நி லை யில் மாவட் டத் தில் உள்ள தள் ளு வண்டி முதல் பெரிய ஓட் டல் க ளில் தேவை யற்ற பிளாஸ் டிக் கழி வு கள், பிளாஸ் டிக் கவர் கள் போன் றவை உள் ள தா? மேலும் சுத் த மான முறை யில் உணவு தயா ரிக் கப் ப டு கி ற தா? குடி நீர் டேங் கு கள், ஓட் டல் சமை யல் அறை க ளில் தண் ணீர் சேமிப்பு பாத் தி ரங் க ளில் குடி நீர் திறந்த நிலை யில் உள் ளதா என அனைத் தை யும் ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண் டும் என்று அதி கா ரி க ளுக்கு உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை உயர் அதி கா ரி கள் உத் த ர விட் டுள் ள னர். அதன் படி, வேலூர் மாவட் டம் முழு வ தும் உணவு பாது காப்பு ஆய் வா ளர் கள் 3 பேரை கொண்ட 5 குழுக் கள் இதற் காக அமைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. இக் கு ழு வி னர் மாவட் டம் முழு வ தும் தள் ளு வண்டி கடை கள், ஓட் டல் க ளில் ஆய்வு செய் வார் கள் என்று மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து கட் டுப் பாட்டு அலு வ லர் செந் தில் கு மார் தெரி வித் தார்.

During the monsoons, water borne diseases are a lot easier to catch as compared to air-borne diseases. One needs to be more careful when boiling water & storing it, to make sure it retains its purity.

The monsoons can be a tricky time for making and storing food, since there are a lot illnesses and bacteria in the environment. However there are certain tips that consumers can follow to ensure that their food stays fit for consumption

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

பாத்திரத்தில் விற்பனை செய்யும் எண்ணெயை வாங்கக் கூடாது உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் தகவல்

சேலம், செப்.6:

சேலம் மாவட் டத் தில் வீடு க ளுக்கு நேர டி யாக பாத் தி ரத் தில் கொண்டு வந்து விற் பனை செய் யும் எண் ணெய் வகை களை பொது மக் கள் வாங்க கூடாது என்று உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் வலி யு றுத் தி னர்.

சேலம் மாவட் டத் தில் கலப் பட எண் ணெய் விற் பனை, அமோ க மாக நடந்து வரு கி றது. நல் லெண் ணெய், கடலை எண் ணெய் ஆகிய எண் ணெய் க ளில் ரைஸ் பி ரான் ஆயிலை கலந்து, ஒரி ஜி னல் நல் லெண் ணெய், கடலை எண் ணெய் என்று சிலர் விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். மேலும் வாச னைக் காக அந்த எண் ணெ யில் ஸ்பிரே கலந்து சிலர் விற் கின் ற னர். இது போன்ற கலப் பட எண் ணெய் பெரும் பா லும் கிரா மப் பு றங் க ளில் பாத் தி ரத் தில் வைத்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. இதனை வாங்க வேண் டாம் என்று சேலம் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அறி வு றுத் தி யுள் ள னர்.

இது குறித்து சேலம் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கூறி ய தா வது:

சேலம் மாவட் டத் தில் கலப் பட எண் ணெய் விற் பனை அதி க ள வில் நடந்து வரு கி றது. நல் லெண் ணெய், கடலை எண் ணெ யில் ஒரி ஜி னல் எண் ணெய் 20 சத வீ த மும், ரைஸ் பி ரான் ஆயில் (தவிடு எண் ணெய்) 80 சத வீ தம் சேர்த்து ஒரி ஜி னில் நல் லெண் ணெய், கடலை எண் ணெய் என கூறி, கிரா மப் பு றங் க ளில் பாத் தி ரத் தில் வைத்து சிலர் வியா பா ரம் செய்து வரு கின் ற னர்.

சிலர் விளக் குக்கு பயன் ப டுத் தும் (தீபம் எண் ணெய்) எண் ணெயை நல் லெண் ணெய் ஸ்பிரே அடித்து ஒரி ஜி னல் நல் லெண் ணெய் என்று விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர். ஒரி ஜி னல் நல் லெண் ணெய் ஒரு லிட் டர் ₹ 240 முதல் ₹280 வரை விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு கி றது. கலப் பட நல் லெண் ணெய் ₹100 முதல் ₹120க்கு விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர். இவ் வ ளவு குறைந்த விலை யில் ஒரி ஜி னல் நல் லெண் ணெய் யாரும் விற் பனை செய்ய முடி யாது. குறைந்த விலை யில் எண் ணெய் தரு வ தாக கூறி, யாரும் விற் பனை செய் தா லும் அதை பொது மக் கள் வாங் கக் கூ டாது. குறிப் பாக பாத் தி ரத் தில் வைத்து விற் பனை செய் யும் எண் ணெய் வாங் கு வதை தவிர்க்க வேண் டும்.

இவ் வாறு உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கூறி னர்.

செயற்கை தட்டுப்பாட்டை உருவாக்க திட்டம்? 50,000 மூட்டைகளில் ஜவ்வரிசி வெளிமாநில குடோன்களில் பதுக்கல் சிறு ஆலை உரிமையாளர்கள் பரபரப்பு புகார்

சேலம், செப்.6:

தமி ழ கத் தில் அதி கா ரி கள் துணை யு டன் பெரிய சேகோ பேக் டரி அதி பர் கள், திட் ட மிட்டு ஜவ் வ ரிசி தட் டுப் பாட்ைட உரு வாக் கு வ தா க வும், இதற் காக 50 ஆயி ரம் மூட் டை களை வெளி மா நில குடோன் க ளில் பதுக்கி வைத் தி ருப் ப தா க வும் பர ப ரப்பு புகார் எழுந் துள் ளது.

தமி ழ கத் தில் சேலம், விழுப் பு ரம், கட லூர், தர் ம புரி, பெரம் ப லூர் மற் றும் புதுக் கோட்ைட உள் ளிட்ட மாவட் டங் க ளில் மர வள்ளி கிழங்கு பிர தான பயி ராக பயி ரி டப் ப டு கி றது. மித மான மழை யில் கூட சாகு படி செய்ய முடி யும் என் பதே மர வள் ளி யின் சிறப்பு. 10 மாத பயி ரான மர வள்ளி பணப் ப யிர் என்று குறிப் பி டப் ப டு கி றது. சேகோ பேக் ட ரி க ளில் மர வள்ளி ஸ்டார்ச் மாவாக அரைக் கப் பட் டும், ஜவ் வ ரி சி யாக தயா ரிக் கப் பட் டும் வெளி மா நி லங் க ளுக்கு அனுப் பப் ப டு கி றது. சில வரு டங் க ளுக்கு முன்பு 73 கிலோ எடை கொண்ட ஜவ் வ ரிசி மூட்டை ₹800க்கு விற் கப் பட் டது. 2 வரு டங் க ளுக்கு முன்பு, தமி ழ கத் தில் இருந்து அனுப் பப் ப டும் ஜவ் வ ரி சி யில் கலப் ப டம் இருப் ப தாக கூறி, வட மா நில வியா பா ரி கள் வாங்க மறுத் த னர். இத னால் நூற் றுக் க ணக் கான டன் ஜவ் வ ரிசி ேதங் கி யது.

தற் போது மூட்டை ஜவ் வ ரிசி ₹200க்கு விற் கப் ப டும் நிலை உரு வா கி யுள் ளது. இதன் எதி ரொ லி யாக தமி ழ கத் தில் கடந்த சில வரு டங் க ளாக 25 லட் சம் ஏக் க ரில், பயி ரி டப் பட்ட மர வள் ளி யின் சாகு படி பரப்பு, நடப் பாண் டில் 6 லட் சம் ஏக் க ராக சுருங் கி யுள் ளது. இந் நி லை யில் ஜவ் வ ரிசி தயா ரிப் பில் ஈடு பட் டுள்ள பெரிய ஆலை அதி பர் கள், உண வுப் பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி க ளு டன் கூட் டணி அமைத்து செயற் கை யான தட் டுப் பாட்டை ஏற் ப டுத்த முயற்சி மேற் கொண் டுள் ள தாக குற் றச் சாட்டு எழுந் துள் ளது. இதன் பின் ன ணி யில் அதி கா ரி கள் கொடுத்த குடைச் சல் கார ண மாக தமி ழ கத் தில் செயல் பட்ட 250 சிறிய ஜவ் வ ரிசி ஆலை கள் மூடப் பட் டுள் ள தாக பர ப ரப்பு புகார் கூறப் ப டு கி றது.

இது கு றித்து தமிழ் நாடு சிறு சேகோ பேக் ட ரி கள் சங்க மாநில நிர் வா கி கள் கூறி ய தா வது:

தமி ழ கத் தில் மர வள்ளி கிழங்கு அரைத்து ஜவ் வ ரிசி தயா ரிக் கும் 425 சேகோ பேக் ட ரி கள் செயல் பட் டது. இதில் பெரிய பேக் ட ரி கள் 5, நடுத் தர பேக் ட ரி கள் 40, சிறிய பேக் ட ரி கள் 250. இந்த 250 சிறிய சேகோ ேபக் ட ரி க ளும், கடந்த ஒரு வரு ட மாக மூடிக் கி டக் கி றது. கிழங்கு மாவில் வெண் மைக் காக கலப் ப டம் செய் வ தாக கூறி, உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் சோதனை என்ற பெய ரில் ெகாடுத்த டார்ச் சரே இதற்கு கார ணம். ஆனால், அர சி யல் கட் சி க ளில் உள் ள வர் கள் நடத் தும் பெரிய ஆலை க ளில் மட் டும் எந்த சோத னை யும் நடக் க வில்லை. சிறிய பேக் ட ரி கள் மூடப் பட் ட தால் சாகு படி செய்த கிழங் கு களை, பெரிய ஆலை க ளுக்கு, அவர் கள் கேட் கும் விலைக்ேக கொடுக்க வேண் டிய கட் டா யம் விவ சா யி க ளுக்கு ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. மர வள் ளியை சொற்ப விலைக்கு வாங்கி, ஜவ் வ ரிசி தயா ரித்து வெளி மா நில குடோன் க ளில் அடைத்து வைத் துள் ள னர். பெரிய ஆலை அதி பர் க ளும், உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி க ளும் கூட் டணி அமைத்து செயற் கை யான தட் டுப் பாட்டை உரு வாக்க திட் ட மிட் டுள் ள னர்.

சில மாதங் க ளுக்கு முன்பு நாமக் கல், வெண் ணந் தூர் போன்ற பகு தி க ளில் உள்ள குடோன் க ளில் 2 ஆயி ரம் மூட்ைட ஜவ் வ ரிசி பதுக்கி வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந் தது வணி க வ ரித் து றை யின் சோத னை யில் கண்டு பிடிக் கப் பட் டது. எங் க ளுக்கு கிடைத்த தக வல் க ளின் படி, வெளி மா நில குடோன் க ளில் 50 ஆயி ரத் திற் கும் மேற் பட்ட ஜவ் வ ரிசி மூட்ை ட கள் பதுக்கி வைக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது. எனவே, அதி கா ரி கள் இது குறித்து முழு மை யாக ஆய்வு செய் ய வேண் டும். இவ் வாறு நிர் வா கி கள் கூறி னர்.

சிவகாசியில் காலாவதியான பொருட்கள் விற்பனை கனஜோர்

சிவ காசி, செப். 6:

தமி ழ கத் தில் டீக் கடை, ஓட் டல், பேக் கரி மற் றும் உணவு பொருள் விற் ப னைக் கடை க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்த சுகா தா ரத் துறை ஆய் வா ளர் க ளுக்கு உத் த ர விட் டுள் ளது. இந்த ஆய் வின் போது கெட் டுப் போன கோழி இறைச்சி, ஆட்டு இறைச்சி, காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் கள், கெட் டுப் போன குளிர் பா னங் கள், தேதி குறிப் பி டாத உணவு பொருட் கள், பிளாஸ் டிக் பை, பிளாஸ் டிக் கப் போன் றவை விற் பது தெரிந் த தால் தமிழ் நாடு பொது சுகா தார சட் டப் படி கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க அரசு அறி வு றுத் தி யுள் ளது.

இந் நி லை யில், சிவ காசி பகு தி யில் பொது சுகா தார துறை அதி கா ரி கள் முறை யாக ஆய்வு நடத் தா த தால் கெட் டுப் போன ஆட்டு இறைச்சி, காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை அதி க ரித் துள் ளது. இதனால் டெங்கு, சிக் கன் குனியா போன்ற நோய் கள் பரவி வரு கின் றன.

சிவ காசி வட்ட சுகா தார பணி கள் துறை அதி காரி கூறு கை யில், ‘ 22 கடை க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத் தப் பட் டு காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட் டுள் ள து’ என் றார்.

THE RO WATER YOU ARE ORDERING MAY BE NON-POTABLE

Nagpur: 'RO and UV treated 100% pure and safe water' — this is how they try to reassure you. But the reality will leave you disgusted. The water sold by some manufacturing units in cans and coolers might be downright non-potable.

In dingy rooms and in basements, in shops and in houses — the city has hundreds, probably thousands, of water manufacturing units that are selling 'drinking' water in chilled cans and jars. The containers are unpackaged and unsealed, the units are unhygienic and unmonitored and the water not tested regularly. The units are operating without licences from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which are mandatory for selling packaged drinking water.

TOI visited five-six such units and found shocking conditions in which water is stored and transported. More shockingly, there are no norms banning sale of unpackaged drinking water. BIS and FSSAI have stipulated guidelines only for manufacture and sale of packaged drinking water.

Whereas the BIS rules say that a water manufacturing unit must have sufficient space for a separate laboratory, raw water storage facility, packing area and loading and unloading points, most of these local units are running in a small room where water storage, Reverse Osmosis (RO) set-up, chilling and moreover washing dirty containers and refilling them are happening at the same time and same place.

Some unit owners say there are 1,000-1,500 units in the city, others say there are over 2,000. What is certain is all are without certification. The units work in a nexus so strong that as soon as TOI reached one of the shops on Wardha Road, the owner received a tip-off about our visit. The owner claimed that the water is treated with RO and also furnished one laboratory report of a water sample test she did some months back.

She sells an 18 litre can for Rs40 while the same quantity of packaged can costs Rs50-60. "Banks, hospitals, caterers, government offices and health clubs are my regular clientele. We try to ensure that we supply hygienic water, still we don't get a licence," she says even as a worker unloads dirty used cans from a mini-truck and starts washing them with water. No disinfectants are used or can be seen nearby. The caps of containers are soaked together in a bucket. Dry containers are piled nearby and look old and certainly not clean enough. Though this unit had a water harvesting system to collect rejected water, many others don't.

The units are functioning from places one can never imagine. Almost all stay hidden from direct sight giving the businesses a clandestine outlook. Though BIS norms clearly say that the units should not be in low-lying areas such as basements, a filthy one was found running in a dimly-lit basement of a building in Nandanvan where the rejected water was released unscientifically in a drainage line which was close to a well. According to officials of Central Ground Water Board, the discharged water can contaminate groundwater and nearby wells if it contains pollutants.

Hydrogeologist Vishal Doifode said that the rejected water contains many chemical elements. "If the RO membrane is in good condition, almost 50% of the water gets rejected after running through the high pressure pump. The reject water is highly concentrated with pollutants, sometimes even double than the original raw water," he added.

In the interiors of Manish Nagar, a unit was found operating hardly few meters away from a nullah. Like the other units, this one too is completely dependent on groundwater as a source. "Units should not be so close to sewer or drainage lines as the groundwater will be highly contaminated. Sometimes, RO is not used continuously to save expenses as a result of which contaminated water is supplied to consumers," confessed the owner of a Wardha Road-based unit.

Unpackaged water can be dangerous and play foul with public health. A party hosted by Abhishek Sinha, a resident of Parvati Nagar, is a perfect example. "We had ordered chilled cans from a nearby seller. After the party, my family and some guests suffered severe food poisoning," said Sinha.

When Sinha went to the unit to complain, the place turned out to be extremely unsanitary. "Our toilets were more clean," he described. Right from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sinha since last two months has been writing to every authority, complaining about the unapproved units. But he is yet to receive a satisfactory reply from any one.

Various RTIs were filed in July this year but all in vain. While Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Joint Director of Industries and MSEB did not reply, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) replied that no unit manufacturing packaged drinking water without the necessary certification was found. It also stated that FDA can take action against only those units which are selling packaged drinking water without licence.

With no rules in place for manufacturing and sale of unpackaged drinking water, it is unclear if it should be termed as illegal. However, those running packaged drinking water units are absolutely certain that unpackaged water is non-potable. "We invest Rs75 lakh to Rs1 crore for setting up a small plant. The product we sell comes with an expiry date and undergoes various scientific treatments like pre-filtration, RO, UV, ozonization and carbonization," they said. They added that their units are regularly inspected by FDA officials along with periodic testing of water samples. "It is compulsory for us to have a full-time microbiologist and chemist," they said.

It takes Rs3-4 lakh for setting up a plant for unpackaged drinking water. "These units use water chiller which is very harmful. It has been scientifically proved that the gases which chill water are extremely dangerous for human health," said Daifode.

FDA to keep an eye on food adulteration during festival

PUNE: Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials have begun drawing samples of various eatables to keep a check on adulteration during the Ganesh festival. Items such as khoya, mawa, barfi and other sweets are in huge demand during this period.

During a special drive between August 29 and September 1, officials seized substandard khoya, barfi, ghee and edible oil worth Rs 29 lakh.

"We have already held a meeting of sweet shop owners and warned them not to indulge in adulteration. We have formed special teams that will visit shops and mandals and draw samples that will be sent to the laboratory for further investigation. Action will be taken if the reports show adulteration or substandard quality," joint commissioner (food), FDA, S S Desai said. 

Ganesh mandals have been asked to keep details of food items they have purchased for prasad/mahaprashad, ensure hygienic conditions where the prasad is prepared, use clean and potable water for preparing it. They were also advised to try not to use milk or milk products in sweets and check if they are fresh and stored in a cool place.

The mandals have also been told to take details of devotees volunteering for giving prasad and provide them with badges carrying their names to keep anti-social elements at bay. FDA has also instructed the mandals to not accept prasad or other food items donated by strangers.

Sweets are purchased on a large scale during the Ganesh festival. "However, people should also ensure that the sweets are fresh. Moreover, sweets should be purchased only from shops registered with the FDA. The ones sold in the open should not be purchased, while those prepared from mawa must be consumed within 24 hours," Desai said.

One of the consignments recently seized by the FDA officials was coming from Gujarat and was being transported under unhygienic conditions, Desai added. "The sacks of khawa and barfi were being transported from Gujarat by inter-state buses," he said.

Brownies and mineral water, temple prasadam goes hip

CHENNAI: Welcome to Jaya Durga Peetam," reads a message on your phone when an authority behind the computer screen in the temple asks you for your name, contact number and nakshatram (star). You also receive a sealed bottle of mineral water. The personal e-invite is only one of the many tweaks the temple has made to meet modernity head-on.

The temple, that is home to 22 deities, has a keen eye for sanitation and health. The prasadam at the temple, according to the administration, is cooked with mineral water. "Our temple prasadam is certified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India," claimed Dr K Sri Sridhar, a herbal oncologist, who heads the prayers at the temple.

The prasadam includes rice, pulses, vegetables, pickle, digestives, salad and dessert and comes in a cardboard box. On lucky days, you may even get brownies for dessert! The food is delivered to your place by a logistics company and comes packed with tissues, forks and spoons. However, the prasadam is delivered only to donors who make "non-monetary offering such as clothes to the deities or ingredients for prasadam," said Sridhar.

In one corner of the temple, devotees drop a coin into a groove in the wall, which is a customised vending machine that rolls prasadam boxes to you on dropping the temple's coin. According to members of the temple administration, the prasadam cannot be purchased. While food standards are strictly monitored, the health of the devotees is also given equal importance.

Dr Sridhar said, "I personally monitor the blood pressure of every devotee who wants to perform Angapradhakshanam in our temple. I have even advised a few against doing it." He added that a hair dryer is made available to devotees after Angapradhakshanam.

Updates about all events and festivals are available through their app, JayaDurgaPeetam. In the future, the temple may install a biometric prasadam-vending machine.

No norms defined for used oil:McDonald

JAIPUR: Reports of the recent laboratory tests on McDonald's cooking oil conducted by the health department showed that the samples of oil were unsafe for consumption. But, McDonald's pointed out that they were surprised at the results of the tests on oil-in-use as there are no standards defined for it by the authorities under the regulation. 

In June, health department's food inspectors had collected samples of oil and French fries from McDonald's outlets in the city. "The acid value of refined palmolein oil they were using was 10.08 NMT, which is quite high as it should be 0.5 NMT. Because of high acid value, the oil is unsafe for consumption," chief medical health officer (Jaipur I) Dr Narottam Sharma said.

Recently, McDonald's officials who had made a representation to the local food authorities in Jaipur, said, "Testing the oil-in-use against the standards for fresh oil would always create issues for the business operators...so it is important to establish the standards first for the industry to follow."

"We urge the authorities to expedite the process of defining the standards for oil-in-use which would help in removing ambiguity in front of the industry; and the local officials," said the official spokesperson of McDonald's in North & East.

He said that it is interesting to note that in an RTI response, the Food Safety Authority in India (FSSAI) has confirmed that there are no standards defined of used and fried vegetable oil under the current FSSAI regulation.

However, the health authorities claim that if the acid value of oil (in use) used for frying is higher than the prescribed limit, it causes health problems for consumers.

Central regulator makes safety documents on controversial GM mustard public

NEW DELHI: Days after approving safety documents of its sub-committee on genetically modified (GM) mustard, the central biotech regulator on Monday brought out its details in public domain and sought comments of stakeholders on the issue within 30 days.

Accordingly, all the stakeholders including biotech experts, environmentalists, farmers and even general public can send their comments to the regulator - Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee ( GEAC) - by October 5.

The GEAC will take its final call on the issue only after analysing those comments.

Uploading the document, prepared by the sub-committee, on the environment ministry's website for a period of 30 days, the ministry in its note on Monday said, "The comments received will be reviewed by the sub-committee and GEAC prior to taking appropriate decision".

The ministry will receive comments (written submissions) through email in the prescribed format at mustard.mef@gov.in. "Submissions will be received up to the close of working hours (5.30 PM) on October 5", said the ministry.

The ministry also made available "full biosafety dossier submitted by the applicant" in the GEAC Secretariat at the ministry at V-232, Second Floor, Vayu Block, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh, New Delhi-110 003.

"Any person interested in studying the same can access the dossier during working hours in person by prior appointment during the public consultation period", said the official note, released on Monday.

The move of the ministry is a step closer to the GEAC's final call on the fate of GM mustard in India. The environmentalists and anti-GM groups had been demanding the ministry to make all those documents including dossier on biosafety details public.

The GEAC under the Union environment ministry has been appraising the application, seeking environmental release commercialisation of the transgenic mustard hybrid (DMH-11) of the Delhi University's institution, for long.

If the decision of the regulator finally goes in favour of the commercial release of the GM mustard, it will be the first food crop to be cleared for cultivation in India. At present, only transgenic cotton (Bt Cotton) is allowed for commercial cultivation in the country.

Earlier during the UPA regime, the central regulator had cleared the BT brinjal for its environmental release, but the environment ministry had then put a moratorium on its commercialisation amid widespread protest against GM food crops.

The application on GM mustard was submitted by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) of the Delhi University's South Campus. The institution had applied for the approval of environmental release of Genetically Engineered mustard (Brassica juncea) hybrid DMH-11 and use of parental events (Varuna bn 3.6 and EH-2 modbs 2.99) for the development of new generation hybrids to the GEAC.

Latest CommentAnti-GM activists do not appear to be satisfied with the environment ministry''s 30-day deadline. They also questioned the ministry''s move where the stakeholders and general public will have to visi... Read MoreVishwa Mohan

The GEAC had then constituted a sub-committee of scientific experts to thoroughly examine the biosafety data submitted by the applicant.

"The sub-committee has examined the dossier on food safety, environmental safety, compliance etc. and has prepared a document - Assessment of Food and environmental safety (AFES) - for Environmental release of GE Mustard (Brassica juncea) hybrid DMH-11 and use of parental events (Varuna bn3.6 and EH2 modbs 2.99) for development of new generation hybrids", said the ministry while making the document prepared by the sub-committee public.

CONSUMERS BEWARE! Nothing fruitful about these

Artificially ripened fruit is harmful to health. One can complain against such fruit sellers to the consumer court or the food safety officer for selling prohibited stuff

The use of calcium carbide for chemically ripening fruits was banned way back in 1979, under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act

Pushpa Girimaji

A couple of months ago, I bought a box of mangoes from a wholesaler. When I came home and opened the packet, I was surprised to find that inside of the box was very hot and there was a pungent smell as well. I thought it was because of the summer heat. And then I found in both the layers of the box where the raw mangoes were stacked, a paper packet containing a white powder. When I asked the wholesaler, he said I should just keep the packet as it will help the mangoes ripen well. But recently a friend told me that the use of the powder is harmful as it is a chemical and I should not have kept it. Is this true? 

The white powder in the packet was obviously calcium carbide, kept to artificially ripen the mangoes. The use of this chemical for such ripening was banned way back in 1979, under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, taking into consideration the harmful effects of consumption of such fruits ripened with acetylene gas on human health. The Food Safety and Standards Act, which replaced the PFA Act, also prohibits the sale of fruits ripened artificially with this chemical (Food Safety and Standards ((Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011). Yet, there is rampant violation of the law and food safety departments have failed to check the menace. And it’s not just mangoes, even bananas, papayas and tomatoes are ripened with this chemical. 

In fact, extensive checks conducted by food safety officials in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in response to directions from the Hyderabad High court, showed use of this harmful chemical to ripen a wide range of fruits, including oranges, sweet lime and chickoo. The high court, which took suo motu notice of newspaper reports on the issue, ordered regular checks on fruit markets to end the menace. It also directed extensive consumer education on the issue and establishment of ethylene chambers in markets to ripen fruits in a safe manner. Those who use the chemical for artificially ripening the fruits, the court observed, are worse than terrorists, for killing generations of people with slow poison.

In fact, if you go on the website of the central food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, you will find an article there titled “Consuming fruits ripened artificially by calcium carbide may pose health problems”. It gives you complete information on the effects of calcium carbide on fruit quality and the attendant health risks. And how such fruits “affect the neurological system by inducing prolonged hypoxia (low oxygen reaching the blood and tissues), which causes headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in brain caused by excessive fluids) and seizures.” 

It is really unfortunate that despite the deleterious effects of such ripening on the human health, not enough efforts have been made to put an end to this practice in the last 36 years since the ban first came into effect. In fact, it seems like the usage has only increased over the years and while initially it was just mango that was subjected to such ripening, it has now spread to almost all fruits. 

If I want to complain about the chemical, how do I do it? 

If you have the receipt, the box and the packet, you could not only complain to the food safety officer in your state, but also lodge a complaint before the consumer court against the wholesaler from whom you bought the mangoes, for selling prohibited food and causing you harm. The immediate effect of consuming such artificially ripened fruit is gastric irritation and may be mouth ulcers, but the long term, more serious effect is not immediately discernable, but is serious. The court has to take cognizance of that while awarding compensation and punitive damages. You can also seek a direction to the state government to take immediate steps to stop this practice. 

If you do not have the evidence, you can still complain to the food safety officer and ask them to investigate the wholesaler from whom you bought the fruit. The mango season is over, but I am sure he would be ripening other fruits using the banned chemical, and they can stop that. But it is absolutely essential that you bring it to the notice of the food safety authorities so that they can prosecute the vendor for violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act and prevent such practices.

Set standards for cooking oil-in-use: McDonald’s

New Delhi | Fast-food chain McDonald’s has asked food authorities to expedite the process of defining standards for cooking oil-in-use.

“We urge the authorities to expedite the process of defining the standards for oil-in-use; and have committed to provide our full support and share our experience earned across the world, to this process which would help in removing ambiguity in front of the industry; and the local officials,” a spokesperson of McDonald’s in North & East said.

In June, the Rajasthan health department served a notice to McDonald’s on the ground of reusing over two weeks old oil at its outlets in Jaipur.

However, Mc’Donalds said that there are no standards fixed by the food safety authorities for cooking oil-in-use.

FDA seizes 5,700kg mawa worth Rs 9 lakh from Borivli

Demand for mawa or khoya skyrockets during the Ganesh festival

The demand for milk product mawa or khoya skyrockets during the Ganesh festival

Days ahead of the festive season in the city, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sleuths have seized 5,700kg of formulated mawa, worth Rs9 lakh, which was being imported from Gujarat. According to the officials, formulated mawa can cause food poisoning.

The demand for milk product mawa or khoya skyrockets during the Ganesh festival. "There is a huge demand of mawa during the Ganesh festival in Mumbai. Cashing in on this demand, people get formulated mawa from nearby states and sell it here. We have decided to shut this business," said an FDA officer.

Acting on a tip-off received at the FDA office, its vigilance department managed to seize the formulated mawa that was being transported to Mumbai on Friday. "We planned a raid in Borivli (E) and seized 5,700kg of mawa, worth Rs911,040. It was found that the vendor was not holding the mandatory license required under the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006," said the FDA officer.

FDA joint commissioner (Vigilance) Harish Baijal said they were keeping a close eye on such businesses. "We appeal to all vendors involved in the Mawa business to take note of this action and only sell standard products, which are unadulterated, safe and hygienic. Else, they should be ready to face punitive action," said Baijal. The FDA officer added that they were conducting further investigation into import of such adulterated food items during festival.

Better safe than sorry

Precautions for diabetics: Eat on time. Avoid fasting and feasting during festivals. Avoid indulging in excessive sweets. Do a lot of physical activity to get rid of extra calories.

People who have flu and common cold should avoid venturing out in crowded areas. If they have to go out, they should ensure that they use handkerchief while coughing and sneezing. Flu is an air-borne disease.

People with low immunity should avoid going to crowded places.