வெள்ளைச்சீனியும் அதன் நச்சுத்தன்மையும்

வெள்ளைச்சீனியும் அதன் நச்சுத்தன்மையும்:-

இனிப்யை விரும்பிச் சாப்பிடாதவர்கள் யார் தான் இருக்க முடியும்? காலையில் எழுந்தவுடன் குடிக்கும் காப்பியிருந்து இரவு படுக்கச் செல்லும் முன் குடிக்கும் பால் வரை சீனி ஒரு ஊடுபொருளாக நமக்குள் செல்கிறது. பதார்த்தத்தில்தான் என்றில்லை. சீனியை அப்படியே அள்ளியும் சாப்பிடுகிறோம். இந்த வெள்ளைச் சீனியை எப்படித் தயார் செய்கிறார்கள் என்கிற விபரத்தை நீங்கள் தெரிந்து கொண்டீர்களானால் இனி அதைத் தொடக்கூட மாட்டீர்கள். குறிப்பாக, வெள்ளைச் சீனியைத் தயார் செய்ய என்னென்ன ரசயாணப் பொருட்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன என்று பாப்போம்.

• கரும்பிலிருந்து சாறு பிழியப்படும் நிலையில் பிளிச்சிங் பவுடர் அல்லது குளோரின் எனப்படும் கெமிக்கலை புளுயுடு பாக்டீரியா கண்ட்ரோலாக பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.
• பிழிந்த சாறு 60 செண்டி கிரேட் முதல் 70 செண்டி கிரெட் பாஸ்போரிக் ஆசிட் லிட்டருக்கு 200 மில்லி வீதம் கலந்து சூடுபடுத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்த இடத்தில் இந்த ஆசிட் அழுக்கு நீக்கியாக பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது.
• இதன் பிறகு சுண்ணாம்பை 0.2 சதவிகிதம் என்கிற அளவில் சேர்த்து சல்பர்-டை-ஆக்சைடு வாயு செலுத்துகிறார்கள்.
• 102 செண்ட் கிரேட் கொதிகலனில் சூடுபடுத்தி நல்ல விட்டமின்களை இழந்து, செயற்கை சுண்ணாம்பு சத்து அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக சேர்ந்துவிடுகிறது.
• அடுத்து, பாலி எலக்ட்ரோலைட்டை சேர்த்து தெளிகலனில் மண், சக்கை போன்ற பொருள்களாக பிரித்து எடுக்கப்பட்டு தெளிந்த சாறு கிடைக்கிறது.
• சுடுகலனில் காஸ்டிக் சோடா, வாஷிங் சோடா சேர்த்து அடர்த்தி மிகுந்த ஜுஸ் தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது.
• மறுபடியும் சல்பர் டை ஆக்சைடும் சோடியம் ஹைட்ரோ சல்பேட்டும் சேர்க்க படிகநிலைக்கு சீனியாக வருகிறது. சல்பர் டை ஆக்சைடு நஞ்சு சீனியில் கலந்துவிடுகிறது.
• இப்படித் தயாரான சீனியில் எஞ்சி நிற்பது வெறும் கார்பன் என்னும் கரியே.

தயாரான நாளிலிருந்து ஆறு மாத காலத்துக்கும் அதிகமான சீனிகளை சாப்பிடக்கூடாது. காரணம், அதில் உள்ள சல்பர்டை ஆக்சைடு என்னும் ரசயானம் மஞ்சல் நிறமாக மாறி வீரியுமுள்ள நஞ்சாக மாறிவிடுகிறது.

உங்கள் சட்டைக் கொலரொல் உள்ள அழுக்கு எந்த சோப்பைக் கொண்டு தேய்த்தாலும் போக மறுக்கிறதா? கவலைப்படாமல் கொஞ்சம் சீனியை எடுத்து தேய்த்துப் பாருங்கள். நிச்சயமாகப் போகும். ஆக, சட்டை அழுக்கைப் போக்கும் ஒரு வேதுகப் பொருளைத் தான் நாம் அள்ளி அள்ளித் தின்று கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். இந்த சீனியைச் சாப்பிட்டால் நம் குடல் என்ன பாடு படும்?

குடலில் மட்டுமல்ல, பல் வலி, பல் சூத்தை, குடல்புண், சளித்தொல்லை, உடல்பருமன், இதய நோய் மற்றும் சீனி வியாதி, இரத்த அழுத்தம் போன்ற பெரிய வியாதிகள் அனைத்துக்கும் இதுதான் பிரதான காரணியாக அமைகின்றது.

ஆலைகளில் தயாரான வெள்ளைச் சீனி சாப்பிடுவதை நிறுத்திவிட்டு, வெல்லம், பனங்கட்டி, நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரைகளை எவ்வளவு வேண்டுமானாலும் சாப்பிடலாம். இதனால் உங்களுக்கு ரத்த அழுத்தமோ, இதய நோயோ, சர்க்கரை வியாதியோ வராது.

FSSAI ORDER

FSS Act – Madras HC – Madurai Bench – Nagabhushanam , FSO Vs Govt. of Tamilnadu

DINAMALAR NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

SC raps gutkha makers for bending food safety law

 

Seeks compliance report by Nov 9

• The apex court has directed all state food safety officers concerned to ensure strict enforcement of the gutkha ban and file a compliance report by November 9
• Chewing tobacco makers have been selling pan masala and flavoured tobacco in separate sachets to circumvent the regulation
• The Centre has banned the sale of gutkha, khaini, etc., through a 2011 law prohibiting tobacco use in food products

New Delhi, September 24

The Supreme Court has again come down heavily on the chewing tobacco industry for flouting the food safety laws of the country which impose a blanket ban on the sale of gutkha, khaini, zarda and other such food products containing tobacco and nicotine.

In an important judgment, the court while hearing an appeal filed by the manufacturers of pan masala, gutkha and chewing tobacco (zarda) against state government notifications issued under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Regulations, again directed them to strictly comply with the law.

The regulation in question — Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) that was issued on August 1, 2011 by the apex food regulator, FSSAI, for the first time banned the sale of gutkha and other forms of smokeless tobacco on grounds that food cannot contain substances harmful to human health.

The SC’s orders came on a plea from amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam who argued that the manufacturers of chewing tobacco are circumventing the court’s direction to implement the gutkha ban by selling the same product in twin pouches, The amicus said he was speaking for millions of users of chewing tobacco who were not present before the court but were suffering from numerous diseases due to products manufactured by the petitioners.

Subramanian brought to the notice of the court the following content in the government affidavit on the subject: “To circumvent the ban on the sale of gutkha, the manufacturers are selling pan masala (without tobacco) in one packet and flavoured chewing tobacco in another sachet often conjoined and sold together by the same vendor to defeat the purpose of the FSSAI rule. So consumers can buy the pan masala and flavoured chewing tobacco and mix them for consumption. Hence, instead of the earlier ready to consume tobacco mixtures, chewing tobacco companies are now selling gutkha in twin packs to be mixed as one.”

The apex court taking note of the submissions directed all state food safety officers concerned to ensure strict enforcement of the gutkha ban and file a compliance report by November 9.

The Health Ministry had issued orders banning gutkha sale on the basis of a report of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare which found there were over 3,095 chemical components in smokeless tobacco products including 28 proven carcinogens.

The report further indicates a strong association between smokeless tobacco usage and incidence of oral, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, throat and renal cancers. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India recently showed 35 per cent of all Indiana adults used tobacco in some form. Of these, 21 per cent used smokeless tobacco, 9 per cent smoked and 5 per cent used both chewing and smoking tobacco.

SC strengthens gutkha ban, says stop the sale of all chewable tobacco

The regulation 2.3.4 states: “Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.”

CRACKING down on companies that sell pan masala and tobacco in separate pouches to circumvent the gutkha ban, the Supreme Court has made clear that it has banned the sale of all forms of chewable tobacco and nicotine, and directed authorities, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to strictly enforce its directions.

A bench of Justices V Gopala Gowda and Adarsh K Goel underlined regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition & Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, and noted that the prohibition on sale of products with tobacco and nicotine must be put into effect immediately.

The regulation 2.3.4 states: “Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.”

The court order on Friday, sources in the FSSAI told The Indian Express, will enable the food regulator and other enforcement agencies in the government to prosecute companies that have resorted to an ingenious way of ensuring that sales continue despite the 2011 regulation.

Contending that the notifications restrained them only from selling gutkha (raw betel nut mixed with tobacco), various companies had started selling pan masala paired with a separate sachet of tobacco.

The issue was highlighted by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who pointed out that although the regulation was not stayed by any court, its enforcement was lacklustre. Subramanium has been appointed as amicus curiae in the batch of petitions relating to ban on sale of gutkha and pan masala.

The senior lawyer also referred to a submission by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that manufacturers and tobacco companies were circumventing the ban imposed under the notifications.

“Instead of the earlier ready-to-consume mix, tobacco companies are now selling gutkha in twin packs to be mixed as one,” said Subramanium, adding that what was required was firm implementation of the FSSAI regulation that provided for a complete ban on products with tobacco and nicotine.

Accepting his plea, the bench passed the order: “In view of the above, concerned statutory authorities are directed to comply with the above mandate of law. We also direct the Secretaries, Health Departments of all the States and Union Territories to file their affidavits before the next date of hearing on the issue of total compliance of the ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine.” The court will hear the case next in November.

According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010, about 35 per cent of adults in India consume tobacco in some form or the other. The estimated number of tobacco users in India is 27.5 crore, with 16.37 crore users of smokeless tobacco, 6.9 crore smokers and 4.23 crore users of both smoking and smokeless tobacco.

Further, a report released in 2014 by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute found that users in India and Bangladesh make up 80 per cent of the total smokeless tobacco users in the world.

Another report by the Health Ministry had estimated the total economic cost attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in 2011 amounted to Rs 1,04,500 crore in India, equivalent to 1.04 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Kombucha, with caution

It's an age-old ferment, but a new-age fancy. Kombucha, a fermented yeast tea, which dates back 2,000 years, has become quite the `it' drink with fitness buffs in the city - being sold in flavours across several stores. But while most nutritionists and home brewers believe it to be filled with goodness - from detoxifying to immunity boosting -doctors advise caution before consumption, citing reasons from acidity to toxicity.

But whether one chooses to drink or think, the fact is that bottles of the fizzysour kombucha -made by adding a culture of beneficial bacteria and yeast to tea, sugar, and fruit juice -have begun lining the shelves of departmental stores.

In February, Pune-based market research firm Markets and Markets had estimated that the global market for kombucha is poised to grow from the half a billion dollars it was in 2015 to $1.8 billion in 2020.

Srikant Ram of Econut, one of the oldest organic food stores in Chennai, has been brewing the yeast tea for more than a decade, having found a market of regulars. "Every food culture has its set of fermented foods," says Ram. "India has the ragi porridge as well as palmyra sap, which when fermented is a health drink but when over-fermented becomes toddy ."

In Chromepet, Udhaya Raja is all set to move the manufacturing unit of his brand of kombucha, Ka, from his home to a more professional set-up. "The demand has increased since we launched in 2014. People are more aware of the health trends and are trying it out," says Raja, who now manufactures more than 3,000 bottles a month.

Bhavani ILG, retired professor of plant biology and biotechnology, says she believes in the goodness of kombucha, because "it's a natural ferment and a probiotic." Kombucha is a Chinese probiotic, just like curd, says Bhavani."A lot of Indian foods such as idlis too are ferments," she adds.

"According to traditional knowledge, kombucha is supposed to help relieve pain, improve hair growth, aid digestion, and restore gut flora," says Bhavani, but cautions that it needs to be prepared with care or can cause side effects such as acidosis."Over fermentation or unsanitary preparation of the drink poses a food safety threat," she says. "It can be toxic too when taken in large doses and is not recommended for children, people with low immunity and pregnant women."

ut cardiologist Dr Sai Satish of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, says whether or not kombucha is great for the gut, he prefers to go with his gut. "In medical literature, the documented claims of harm far outweigh the numerous unsubstantiated claims of the drink's health benefits. There has been no study showing evidence of it being beneficial to humans," he says. "In fact, there are more studies regarding its harmful nature. There have been documented cases of hepatic toxicity and metabolic acidosis among those who consumed kombu cha. When it comes to health, there's no better brew than a brisk 45-min ute walk."

Fine imposed on hotelier

A Judicial Magistrate Court here imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 on a hotelier, M. Suresh Kumar, for using cashew nut containing live and dead insects for making “salna” (curry) for parotta.

A statement from the Food Safety Officer, Sattur municipality, S. Narayanan, said that the Judicial Magistrate II, V. Geetha, also ordered his sentence till rising of the court on Friday.

During a surprise raid in hotels in the town on October 30, 2015, the Officer found that the cashew nuts kept in the hotel for preparing salna were discoloured and found to have mustiness.

Sample of cashew nuts was sent to Food Analysis Laboratory in Palayamkottai. The report confirmed that the sample contained live and dead insects.

Based on a proposal by Food Safety Department Designated Officer, W. Salodeesan, the Commissioner of Food Safety, P. Amutha, gave the prosecution sanction against the hotelier.

தடைசெய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்ற கடைக்கு சீல் 50 கிலோ பறிமுதல்

விழுப் பு ரம், செப். 24:

தமி ழக அர சால் தடை வி திக் கப் பட்ட புகை யி லைப் பொ ருட் களை கர் நா ட கா வி லி ருந்து கொள் மு தல் செய்து விற் பனை செய்த விழுப் பு ரம் பங்க் கடைக்கு உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை சீல் வைத்து அங் கி ருந்த 50 கிலோ புகையிலை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் தது.

தமி ழ கத் தில் பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் ப னைக்கு தமி ழக அரசு தடை வி தித்து உத் த ர விட் டுள் ளது. அர சின் தடையை மீறி விழுப் பு ரம் மாவட் டத் தில் புகை யிலை விற் பனை ஜரூ ராக நடந்து வரு வ தாக புகார் கள் எழுந் தன. இத னைத் தொ டர்ந்து மாவட்ட உண வு பா து காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் அவ்வப்போது ஆய்வு செய்து புகையிலை பொருட்களை பறி மு தல் செய்து கடை க ளுக்கு சீல் வைக் கும் நட வ டிக் கை யில் ஈடு பட்டு வரு கின் ற னர். இருப் பி னும் அதி கா ரி க ளுக்கு தெரி யா மல் மறை மு க மாக பங்க் கடை க ளில் புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை நடந்து வரு கின் றன. இத னி டையே விழுப் பு ரம் திரு விக வீதி யில் பாலாஜி என் ப வ ருக்கு சொந் த மான கடை யில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யி லைப் பொ ருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் வ தாக உணவு பாது காப் புத் து றைக்கு புகார் வந் தது. மாவட்ட உண வு பா து காப்பு நிய மன அலு வ லர் வர லட் சுமி தலை மை யில் அலு வ லர் கள் கதி ர வன், சங் க ர லிங் கம், முரு கன் ஆகி யோர் அக் க டைக்கு விரைந்து சென்று சோத னை யில் ஈடு பட் ட னர். அப் போது கடைக் குள் பதுக் கி வைக் கப் பட் டி ருந்த 35 கிலோ தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் இருந் தது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. இத னைத் தொ டர்ந்து கடை உரி மை யா ளர் பாலாஜி என் ப வ ரி டம் நடத் திய விசா ர ணை யில் கர் நா டகா மாநி லத் தி லி ருந்து புகை யிலை பொருட் களை கொள் மு தல் செய்து விற் ப தாக தெரி வித் துள் ள தாக அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் த னர்.

மேலும் இக் க டை யி லி ருந்து காந் தி சிலை உள் ளிட்ட பல கடை க ளுக் கும் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் சப்ளை நடந் த தா க வும் கூறப் ப டு கி றது. பின் னர் புகை யிலை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய்த அதி கா ரி கள் பங்க் கடைக்கு சீல் வைத் த னர். இதே போல் திருச்சி ரோடு, மாரி யம் மன் கோ யில் அருகே, காந்தி சிலை உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி க ளில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் ஆய்வு நடத் திய அதி கா ரி கள் 3 கடை க ளி லி ருந்து 15 கிலோ தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் களை பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யி லைப் பொ ருட் கள் ஆட் சி யர் அலு வ லக பின் பு றம் கொட்டி தீ வைத்து எரிக் கப் பட் டது. காவிரி தண் ணீர் பிரச் னை யில் இரு மா நி லத் திற்கு போக் கு வ ரத்து தடை பட் டா லும் அங் கி ருந்து அர சால் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் சக ஜ மாக தமி ழ கத் திற்கு அனுப் பி வைக் கப் பட்டு வரு வது குறிப் பி டத் தக் கது.

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ஓட்டல் உரிமையாளருக்கு நீதிமன்றம் அபராதம்

சாத் தூர், செப். 24:

ஓட் ட லில் சால் னா வுக்கு பூச்சி விழுந்த முந் திரி பருப்பை பயன் ப டுத் திய ஓட் டல் உரி மை யா ள ருக்கு ஒரு நாள் சிறை தண் ட னை யும், ரூ.5 ஆயி ரம் அப ரா த மும் விதித்து நீதி மன் றம் தீர்ப் ப ளித் தது.

சாத் தூர் மெயின் ரோட் டில் உள்ள ஓட் டல் க ளில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் கடந் தாண்டு சோதனை நடத் தி னர். அப் போது தனி யார் ஓட் டல் ஒன் றில் சால்னா தயா ரிக்க பூச்சி விழுந்த முந் திரி பருப்பு மற் றும் கெட் டுப் போன முந் திரி பருப்பு பயன் ப டுத் தி யதை கண் டு பி டித் த னர். முந் திரி பருப்பு மாதி ரியை திரு நெல் வேலி அரசு உணவு பகுப் பாய்வு கூடத் திற்கு ஆய் விற்கு அனுப் பப் பட் டது. பரி சோ த னை யில் முந் திரி பருப் பில் உயி ருள்ள செத்த பூச் சி கள் இருப் ப தும் தெரி ய வந் தது. அதனை தொடர்ந்து ஓட் டல் உரி மை யா ளர் சுரேஷ் கு மார் மீது சாத் தூர் கோர்ட் டில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் நாரா ய ணன் வழக்கு தொடர்ந் தார். வழக்கை விசா ரித்த நீதி பதி கீதா, ஓட் டல் உரி மை யா ளர் சுரேஷ் கு மா ருக்கு ரூ.5 ஆயி ரம் அப ரா த மும், ஒரு நாள் சிறை தண் ட னை யும் விதித்து நேற்று தீர்ப் ப ளித் தார்.

US Food Safety Dept Rejects MTR, Wipro Items For Being “Unsafe”

The US has reportedly rejected many consignments of soap and detergent manufactured by Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), along with food items of MTR.

Reporting for the Times of India, Chethan Kumar writes:

In all, 1,859 consignments from Indian companies from various states have been rejected by the US between January and August 2016, and experts said several of them could be victims of parallel exports, where dealers export branded products without the knowledge and consent of the manufacturers.

Speaking to TOI, MTR Foods CEO Sanjay Sharma said, “The shipments rejected by USFDA are all cases of parallel exports done by small traders who send mixed consignments. These exporters purchase locally without caring about the compliance issues of the importing country. Such rejections impact the company and brand credibility in the eyes of the USFDA.”

Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, in a written response to TOI, said:

We don’t export to the US. So we are surprised with this report. We suspect that this could be a counterfeit as one of the samples is said to be manufactured in Mysore. We don’t make soaps in Mysore. We face counterfeit issues in Indian market also. We will investigate and ensure that no counterfeit products reach our customers.

Earlier, reports suggested that the Food and Drugs Association (FDA) of the US rejected more snack imports from India than any other country in the first five months of 2015.

Firstpost reported:

The data on the website shows that most of snacks that were rejected were made by Haldiram’s, a major Indian snacks and sweets manufacturer based out of Nagpur. For the month February 2015, the FDA website lists out various Haldiram products under its snacks category in an ‘Import Refusal Report’ which lists refusal actions taken by the FDA against imported products.

Wall Street Journal reported that the reasons for rejection of these products “vary from problems in packaging and labeling to alleged contamination. The FDA website says Indian products have been found to contain high levels of pesticides, mold and the bacteria salmonella.”

School's bid for own food stayed by HC

CHENNAI: A school's attempt to ban home-cooked and anyoutside food for its students, and make lunch prepared by its own vendor mandatory, has been stayed by the Madras high court.

Granting interim injunction restraining Hiranandani Upscale School at Kelambakkam on OMR, Justice M Sathyanarayanan said a circular issued by the CBSE director only sought to inspect students' lunch boxes for unhealthy food. "The circular mandates a particular institution to not compel students to take lunch or snacks provided by it by paying charges," he said.

The matter was brought to court's notice by a parent, Bharathi Rajendran who said that 600 of them signed a petition against the school's decision.

Food licences mandatory for garba stalls

VADODARA: Those operating food or refreshment stalls atNavratri venues across the city will have to obtain food safety licences from Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Food safety officers of the civic body may also conduct surprise checks at the venues to ensure that hygienic conditions are maintained at the stalls.

According to a VMC communique, the operators of food stalls can contact the food safety officers of the ward where they will operate from. If it comes to light that stalls are being operated without necessary licences, action will be taken against them under Food Safety and Standards Act.

FSSAI to respond on Maggi in a week

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) a week to respond to Nestle India’s plea to permit it to destroy about 550 tonnes of recalled stock of Maggi noodles, which have passed their shelf life.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan posted the matter for September 30. In an application, Nestle said the storage of such a huge quantity of noodles at 39 locations across the country may lead to a health hazard.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Maggi, said earlier too they had destroyed 38,000 tonnes of noodles in the incinerators of the notified cement plants. “We have followed the due process agreed between the FSSAI and the company,” Salve said.

But the counsel for the food regulator said “destruction of stocks as destruction of evidence” was also the subject matter of two petitions pending in the apex court. The counsel sought a week to seek instruction and file a reply to Nestle India’s plea.

Nestle seeks Supreme Court nod to destroy 550 tonnes of Maggi Noodles

HIGHLIGHTS

• Nestle said in its plea that the stock has passed shelf life and its storage may lead to health hazard

• Around 38,000 tonnes of Maggi Noodles has been destroyed till now, Nestle said

• Maggi noodles were recalled from markets last year after reports that it contained lead beyond permissible limit

NEW DELHI: Nestle India on Wednesday moved Supreme Court seeking its nod to destroy about 550 tonnes of Maggi Noodles, the stock which was recalled from the markets last year after reports that it contained lead beyond the permissible limit. Nestle said in its plea today that the stock has passed shelf life and its storage may lead to health hazard at the 39 locations where it is stored across the country.

The court has agreed to hear the plea on Thursday after it was mentioned by senior advocate Harish Salve saying the food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was not opposed to the company's petition.

Salve said that FSSAI and the company have both agreed to destroy the stock which has crossed its shelf life.

The company said that pursuant to withdrawal announcement and ban order on June 5, 2015, Nestle India Ltd had recalled stocks of Maggi Noodles and till September 1, 2015 destroyed around 38,000 tonnes of Maggi Noodles.

The firm said it had 490 tonnes of stock pending destruction and 60 tonnes was received from the market. Hence, 550 tonnes of stock stored in 39 location across the country needed to be destroyed.

"This entire stock of approximately 550 tonnes is well past its 'best before date' and its storage is giving rise to conditions that may lead to health hazard at the said locations," the plea said.

It said over 38,000 tonnes of Maggi Noodles have been destroyed till September 1, 2015 at incinerators of the notified cement plants, keeping in view environmental requirements.

The company said the destruction was done by following a procedure agreed between it and food regulator FSSAI. The agreed procedure included withdrawn or recalled stock to be transported from its locations in closed or covered vehicles for destruction at the designated locations.

Some other procedures agreed included destruction in the incinerators of cement plants identified by FSSAI and its intimation to FSSAI, which if required may depute officials at these sites.

On April 5, a Mysore-based government laboratory had given its test report on Maggi noodles in a sealed cover to the apex court.

On January 13, the apex court had asked the Mysore lab to clarify whether test reports relating to lead and glutamic acid in Maggi noodles were within permissible parameters under the law.

The apex court had passed the order after perusing two communications received from this lab which had carried out the test on monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in the samples.

While Nestle India, makers of Maggi, had claimed that the lead content was within permissible limits prescribed under the Food Safety Act, the Centre said there was a need for comprehensive findings of all other parameters.

The Supreme Court had on December 16 last year ordered testing of samples of Maggi noodles in Mysore laboratory after the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed that it be done in Chennai.

The apex consumer commission had on December 10, 2015, sent 16 more samples of Maggi noodles for testing at Chennai to ascertain the quantity of lead and MSG in them in connection with the government's Rs 640 crore suit against the company for alleged unfair trade practices.

The Supreme Court had passed the December order after noting that both the Centre and Nestle India had agreed that Mysore lab was well equipped with all tests.

The court had also stayed the proceedings before the NCDRC and directed that the test reports be placed before it.

The Bombay High Court had on August 13 last year lifted the ban on nine variants of the fast food and asked the company to go for fresh tests.

Nestle seeks SC's nod to dispose of 550 tonnes of Maggi

Nestle seeks SC nod to destroy 550 tonnes Maggi

On Food Safety and Standard Act 2006

Food means any substance whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed. It includes packaged drinking water, vegetables, infant food products, meat, even the water used for food during its manufacture were all included. Food safety refers to the condition and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination of food borne illness.

The Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 aim to consolidate the laws relating to food and to establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of sale and wholesome food for human consumption in the country. In terms of discharge if its function stipulated under Section 16 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Authority shall, inter alia, conduct surveys of enforcement and administration of the Act in various parts of the country, search, collect and analyse relevant information relating to food consumption and exposure of individuals risks, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various contaminants etc.

The Authority is also obliged to promote general awareness as to food safety and food standards. The Food Authority has been undertaking activities and programmes for dissemination of Information, Education and Awareness in this behalf through Media as also through association of different organisations and institutions in this behalf.

However, recognizing that effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations there under primarily rest with States and Union Territories and that there is need for greater focus on these activities. The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 repealed all the other food related laws such as Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954, Fruit Products Order 1955, Meat & Food Products Order 1973, Vegetables Oil Products (Control) Order 1947, Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) 1988 which were in operation prior to the enforcement of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.

The most important and critical stakeholder in food safety is the consumer who is directly impacted by the safety of food in the country. It is necessary for the Authority to keep engaged with the consumers and apprise them of the emerging trends in food safety so that the concerns of the consumers are appropriately reflected in the food safety system in the country. Therefore Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FS&SAI) has regulated Food safety and standards act 2006 for every state of India to ensure food safety and standards for human consumption and to check the sub standard of any article of foods in every state by Food Safety Officer. Under Section 63 of FSSA 2006, if any person or food business operator carrying out a business without license is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with a fine which may extend to five Lakh rupees.

A person is also punishable with a fine of 10 lakhs rupees for misleading advertisement, falsely describing quality of food or give false guarantee to the consumers. Slaughterhouse should have proper hygiene and maintenance instruments and to be regularly checked by the medical concern doctor and thereafter it should be given to the slaughter house for human consumption. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the consumers have the right to safety, they are protected against marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life, and therefore, the goods which are hazardous to health are illegal and punishable.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare governs the FS&SAI. FS&SAI governs all food business operators in the country and has entrusted the powers at various levels to other designated authorities. In Nagaland, the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, rules and regulations 2011 is being implemented in the State from 2012.

However, to strictly enforce the Act, every State must have the separate Commissioner of Food Safety Commissioner whereas the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, department of Health & Family Welfare is yet to take the charge and supervise his designate officials for effective implementation and to ensure food safety to the consumer. The Food Safety Officer must be appointed as an independent charge as per the Act and should checked all the Food Business Operators which includes Hotels, restaurants, canteens, tea stall, bakeries, street food vendors etc in all the respective district.

With the enforcement of this Act in Nagaland, any person in practice of selling of food products are required to have a license to sell such goods and the license is to be given by the Chief medical Officer. There are times where the FS&SAI has asked the Food Commissioner in the state to inspect and evaluate in the market and had suggested that the state food safety commissioners should prepare their line for action and collect samples of all the packaged products, even those which are not registered with FS&SAI and also told to take action if required.

The Chief Medical Officer and designated officers Kohima have informed all hotels, restaurants, provisions, groceries, home based canteens of schools, colleges, office, etc to obtain food safety license/registration from the Chief Medical Officer office, Kohima and has also inform to the food business operators that whose license/registration were valid upto 31st march 2016 to renew before stated date in order to avoid penalisation as per the food safety and standards act rules and regulations and newly established food business operators have also been directed to obtain the license/registration.

Food Business Operators Fined

Port Blair, Sept. 19: The Commissioner Food Safety has directed the District Food Safety Offices of South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman to keep an extra vigil on sensitive food junctions. In this regard, the enforcement staffs of District Food Safety Offices of South Andaman and North and Middle Andaman conducted surprise raids on the Food Business Operators involved in manufacture and sale of prepared foods at Jirkatang, Middle Strait of South Andaman jurisdiction and Oralkatcha at Baratang of North and Middle Andaman jurisdiction on 16.09.2016. During the raids 25 Food Business Operators was served with Compounding Notices for violation of different sections under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and 11 Food Business Operators is being served with Improvement Notices. Further realization of fine imposed on the Food Business Operators is under process. 

The Commissioner Food Safety has further warned the Food Business Operators of all food junctions in A&N Islands to maintain strict personal hygiene, cleanliness and also to wear proper dress code during the process of manufacture and sale of prepared foods. Any laxity will be viewed seriously and action under the relevant sections of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 will be initiated against the errant Food Business Operators.

AMC raids 25 food outlets

AHMEDABAD: The civic body on Tuesday conducted raids at 25 food outlets across the city. Four teams from AMC's food safety department went across hotels and popular roadside food joints to check gravies, sauce, chutneys, pickles and even curries. The officials took samples of these food items to conduct laboratory checks.

The areas included Paldi, Bhatta, Maninagar, Odhav Road , Sabarmati, Vadaj and Vatva areas. Most of the food joints targeted by the civic body were selling Chinese, Pani puris, fried snacks, South Indian and even Italian cuisine.

"Most food items sold during this season spoil fast, and we suspected that in the absence of cold storage, many of roadside food joints may be vending stale food items,' said a senior AMC health official.

கமுதியில் குட்கா, புகையிலை, கலப்பட தேயிலை பறிமுதல்

கமுதி, செப். 22:

கமு தி யில் தடை செய் யப் பட்ட குட்கா, புகை யிலை, கலப் பட தேயிலை உள் ளிட்ட தர மற்ற உணவு பொருட் களை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய்து தீயிட்டு அழித் த னர்.

கமு தி யில் தர மற்ற உணவு பொருட் கள், கலப் பட தேயிலை, தடை செய் ய பட்ட புகை யிலை, குட்கா, பான் ம சாலா உள் ளிட்ட பொருட் கள் தொடர்ந்து விற் பனை செய் ய பட்டு வரு வ தாக ராம நா த பு ரம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் ஜெக தீஸ் சந் தி ர போ ஸூக்கு ரக சிய தக வல் வந் தது.

இதை ய டுத்து அவ ரின் உத் த ர வின் பே ரில் கமுதி பிளாக் உணவு பாது காப்பு திட்ட அலு வ லர் நாக லிங் கம், கட லாடி பிளாக் உணவு பாது காப்பு திட்ட அலு வ லர் கிருஷ் ணக் கு மார் நேற்று கமுதி பேருந்து நிலைய வளா கம் சென் ற னர். அங் குள்ள கடை கள் மற் றும் கமு தி யின் முக் கிய பகு தி க ளில் உள்ள கடை க ளில் திடீர் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

அங்கு தடை செய் யப் பட்ட குட்கா, பான் ம சாலா, புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் மற் றும் தர மற்ற கலப் பட தேயிலை பொருட் கள் விற் ப னைக்கு வைக் கப் பட்டு இருந்த ரூ.15, ஆயி ரம் மதிப் பி லான பொருட் களை உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். கலப் பட உணவு பொருட் கள் ஆய்வு பணிக்கு கொண்டு செல் ல பட் டது. புகை யிலை, பான் ம சலா, குட்கா ஆகி ய வற்றை அதி கா ரி கள் தீயிட்டு அழித் த னர்.

இது கு றித்து கமுதி உணவு பாது காப்பு அலு வ லர் நாக லிங் கம் கூறு கை யில், ‘பள்ளி, கல் லூரி வளா கம் கல்வி நிலை யங் கள் அருகே புகை யிலை, பான் ம சாலா, குட்கா, பீடி, சிகி ரெட் உள் ளிட்ட புகை யிலை பொருட் கள் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வது தெரிய வந் தால் அவற்றை பறி மு தல் செய்து கடை யின் உரி மை யா ளர் கள் மீது கடும் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் க ப டும்’ என் றார்.

DINAMANI NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

ஆன் லை னில் விற் கப் ப டும்உ ணவு பொருட் க ளின் தரத் துக்கு இணை ய த ளங் களே பொறுப்பு தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் கிடுக் கிப் பிடி

புது டெல்லி, செப். 22:

ஆன் லை னில் விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டும் உணவு பொருட் க ளின் தரத் துக்கு, சம் பந் தப் பட்ட இணை ய தள நிறு வ னங் களே பொறுப் பேற் கும் வகை யில், தர விதி களை திருத் தம் செய்ய தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் முடிவு செய் துள் ளது.

ஊசி, பாசி யில் இருந்து எல்லா பொருட் க ளும் ஆன் லை னில் கிடைக் கின் றன. ஓட் டல் சாப் பாடு, பேக் கேஜ் உணவு கூட ஆன் லை னில் ஆர் டர் செய் ய லாம். தற் போது அமே சான், பிளிப் கார்ட், ஸ்நாட் டீல் மட் டு மின்றி சுமார் 20 ஆன் லைன் நிறு வ னங் கள் பேக் கேஜ் உணவு, மளிகை பொருட் களை விற் பனை செய் கின் றன.

இவற் றின் தரத்தை உறுதி செய் வது தொடர் பாக இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் (எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ) சமீ பத் தி ்ல் உணவு விற் பனை துறை யில் ஈடு ப டும் நிறு வ னங் கள் உட் பட அந்த துறை சார்ந்த பிர தி நி தி க ளி டம் கடந்த மார்ச் மாதம் ஆலோ சனை நடத் தி யது.

இதன் பிறகு, ஆன் லை னில் விற் கப் ப டும் உணவு பொருட் க ளின் தரம் தொடர் பாக புதிய விதி மு றை களை வெளி யிட் டுள் ளது.

ஆன் லை னில் உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் ப னை யில் ஈடு ப டும் நிறு வ னங் கள், அதா வது உணவு பொருள் விற் பனை, விநி யோ கம், இறக் கு மதி, சேமிப்பு, உற் பத்தி போன் ற வற் றில் ஈடு ப டு பவை தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யத் தி டம் உரி மம் பெற் றி ருக்க வேண் டும். அதன் தலைமை அலு வ ல கம், பதிவு அலு வ ல கம் உள் ளிட்ட அனைத் தும் பதிவு செய் யப் பட் டி ருக்க வேண் டும்.

உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய சட் டத் தின் கீழ் பதிவு செய் யாத உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை நிறு வ னங் கள், ரெஸ் டா ரன்ட் போன் ற வற் றின் பட் டி யலை இணைய தளத் தில் வெளி யிட் டுள் ளன.

ஆனால், இவ் வாறு பதிவு செய் யப் ப டாத நிறு வ னங் கள் பற் றிய தவ றான தக வல் கள் இடம் பெ றா மல் உறுதி செய்ய வேண் டி யது ஆன் லைன் நிறு வ னங் க ளின் கடமை. இணை ய த ளத் தில் பட் டி ய லிட் டுள்ள உணவு பொருட் க ளின் தரத் தில் குறை பாடு இருந் தால் அதற் கான பொறுப்பை ஆன் லைன் நிறு வ னங் களே ஏற் கும் வகை யில் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் விதி மு றை களை திருத் தம் செய்து தனது இணை ய த ளத் தில் வெளி யிட் டுள் ளது. இது பற் றிய கருத் துக் க ளை யும் வர வேற் றுள் ளது.

KUNGUMAM DOCTOR NEWS

KUNGUMAM DOCTOR NEWS

Check the expiry date of products when purchasing them to be safe

DINAMALAR NEWS

FSS Amendment Regulations, 2016, related to food additives to come into force on or after July 1, 2017

FSS Amendment Regulations, 2016, related to food additives to come into force on or after July 1, 2017

New Delhi, Sep 20 (KNN) The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2016, will come into force on or after July 1, 2017, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said.

The amendment is related to harmonization of horizontal standards for food additive for use in certain food categories.

Making amendments in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, FSSAI said, “These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Seventh Amendment Regulations, 2016.”

It said they shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and compliance with provision of these regulations on or after July 1, 2017.

Certain amendments have been made in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) regulations, 2011, in Chapter 3 relating to Substances Added to Food.

Some regulations related to Food Additives that have been substituted includes - The conditions under which food additives may be used in foods, whether or not they have previously been permitted by the Food Safety and Standards (Food Standards and Food Additives) regulations, 2011.

Changes have been made in food categories or individual food items in which the use of food additives is not allowed, or where use should be restricted, are defined by these Regulations.

Further amendments have been made in - Acceptable Daily Intake; Maximum Use Level of an additive; Justification for the use of Food Additives etc

Tests show tainted packaged water

PUNE: Vimannagar resident and activist Qaneez Sukhrani has alleged that her family and she have been affected by coliform contamination through packaged drinking water marketed by reputed brands.

Upon her request, the state Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is investigating the matter.

Sukhrani, the convener of Vimannagar Citizens Forum, said she had sent two bottles of drinking water - one bottle packaged by a multinational soft drink maker, and the other by an Indian company - to the state health services laboratory, after she noticed multiple members of her family falling ill.

"I felt something was wrong with the water. We drink only packaged drinking water as the common perception is that the water supplied by the civic authorities is not clean. So I sent the two samples to the State Public Health Services (SPHS) laboratory in Pune for tests in July," Sukhrani said. She added that she sent the samples to state-run labs for "authenticity".

The SPHS laboratory provided the test reports on July 26 after running them through a microbiological and a chemical test. While the chemical test gave the samples a clean bill of health, the biological report showed that in both the samples, coliform contamination was present at more than 16 units per 100ml of water, rendering the sample non-potable by medical standards.

Medical experts say that coliform ingestion by humans often causes gastroenteric infections and related diseases, normally preceded by vomiting, nausea, or stomach cramps.

Sukhrani added that she had approached the state Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for a more detailed investigation into the safety of packaged drinking water, saying that the larger public must be informed about the safety of the packaged water.

"The state government should take steps to shut down plants and companies that blatantly violate health and safety guidelines regarding drinking water, and ensure that they don't operate under names of other companies, so that unsuspecting people do not fall sick due to their products," she remarked.

The state FDA, which is investigating the issue, explained that they have concurred with the SPHS laboratory's findings after conducting their own tests of the samples provided.

"There is substantial coliform contamination which has been found in both the samples in the microbiological testing," said a senior FDA official.

As for further investigations, FDA officials say that the probe will proceed to the companies involved and may result in prosecution."We have now taken the investigation to the companies and independent samples have been collected from them. If our investigations reveals any negligence on the part of the companies, we will go forward with prosecution," said assistant commissioner of the FDA SP Shinde.

FSSAI proposes norms to hold e-tailers responsible for food quality

The guidelines, released on Tuesday for public comments, include any online platform or e-commerce site of manufacturer involved in the food business in any form

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come up with a draft notification, putting the onus of quality of food products on e-commerce marketplaces that sell such products. The guidelines, released on Tuesday for public comments, include any online platform or e-commerce site of manufacturer involved in the food business in any form. The guidelines have been formed on the basis of discussions that the regulator had with the food business operators (FBO) on March 18.

Under the guidelines, any e-commerce FBO that sells, distributes, delivers, imports, stores, packages or manufactures food items would "have to obtain licence from the central licensing authority for the entire supply chain, including its head office, registered office, transportation, storage, distribution".

E-commerce entities providing only listing facility for sellers, restaurant owners, distributors, vendors, distributors and manufacturers would not have to obtain licences or registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). They have to ensure that no misleading information or false claims about or by the sellers, vendors, importers, manufacturers or the food products are made on their platform. "The e-commerce companies shall clearly specify on their platform that liability of any violation of the FSS Act and applicable rules and regulations made thereunder would be with sellers, restaurants, vendors, importers or manufacturers of the food products," said the notification. In line with the FSS Act, e-commercefirms would have to ensure the safety of food articles sold on their platform. Online firms would also have to get into legal agreement with sellers complying with the FSS Act.

The food regulator has been working to regulate the e-commerce companies for the past few months. However, lack of enough precedence at the global level had delayed the process, its chief executive officer Pawan Kumar Agarwal said last month. While most of the major e-commercefirms dealing with food items have already obtained licences, a set of guidelines to regulate their operations was required, Agarwal added.

Currently, there are around 20 e-commerce firms that focus on selling food items. These include Big Basket, Swiggy and Grofers. E-commerce giants such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal, too, offer food items on their platforms.

The guidelines also specify the requirements for display and listing. Apart from providing pictorial display of the food products, sellers would have to ensure their licence or registration obtained fromFSSAI is viewable to the consumers. Like offline retailers, products sold by online sellers would also be "liable to sampling at any point of the supply chain". The firms are restrained from charging any extra money to its consumers seeking any information such as storage conditions, disclaimers and warnings about the food products.

According to the draft guidelines, any consumer complaint has to be intimated to the sellers immediately by the e-commerce firm and aggrieved customers would have to be directed to the consumer complaint cell of the manufacturer. "The e-commerce FBO will cooperate with the consumers to enable satisfactory resolution of the complaint by sharing with him all relevant information including seller details," the notification added.

In case of any product recall, the online platform provider would have to comply with FSSAI's rules by immediately de-listing the product in question.

E-commerce food firms to come under FSSAI regime

The regulation, if confirmed, will require online food delivery companies like Swiggy, Zomato and Foodpanda to procure licences from FSSAI

New Delhi: Any e-commerce company selling food products, or dealing in the food business, will need licences from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), if the draft guidelines notified on Tuesday are confirmed.

“E-commerce FBOs (food business operators) will have to obtain licence from the Central Licensing Authority for the entire supply chain, i.e. head office/registered office, transportation, storage, distribution, etc,” the food safety regulator said on Tuesday.

The regulation, if confirmed, will require online food delivery companies like Swiggy, Zomato and Foodpanda to procure licences from FSSAI. Swiggy, Zomato and Foodpanda did not immediately respond to Mint’s requests for comment on the proposed regulation.

E-commerce entities providing listing or directory services to sellers, restaurants, vendors, importers or manufacturers of food products may not be required to obtain licences.

FSSAI has sought comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines from companies operating in the sector. Final regulations will be notified after FSSAI studies the feedback. The draft guidelines notified on Tuesday are based on a discussion that the regulator held on 18 March.

According to the draft guidelines, all companies in the entire supply chain will have to comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 to ensure food safety, and all sellers selling food products through online marketplaces will need licences from FSSAI. The regulator also detailed guidelines on consumer complaint redressal and product recalls.

FSSAI on front foot to tackle food safety officer scarcity

Nearly 50 percent of the states are understaffed and the food samples that are collected annually for analysis are also well below estimates reports Shweta Kothari of CNBC-TV18.

There is an acute shortage of food safety officers in the country which has prompted the national food regulator FSSAI to send a call to various states in the country. 

Nearly 50 percent of the states are understaffed and the food samples that are collected annually for analysis are also well below estimates reports Shweta Kothari of CNBC-TV18.

The food regulator has told CNBC-TV18 that it is in discussion with states to fill these vacant posts and did say that the inspections are below optimum level currently in the country.

Weight loss food also to be checked

Food given to patients in slimming and weight loss centres will be checked and certified by FSSAI.

Hyderabad: Food given to patients in slimming and weight loss centres will be checked and certified by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India as it wants to regulate these health foods and check their impact on patients. According to draft regulations by FSSAI, foods will have to be labeled and verified for their health efficacy on those who are prescribed these products.

A senior food inspector in the city said, “These foods are now being brought under the ambit of the food department as it is important to standardize and regulate the industry. There are too many combinations of weight loss foods which are being prescribed in the market. But what is the efficacy of these products? These tests have to be conducted from time to time and for that reason an exercise in regulation is being carried out.”

The draft proposals have been sent to all the units and a proper scientific method will be followed in classifying the foods so that people are aware of what they are consuming. At present, grievances are directly being registered with food inspectors in the municipal limits or with drug inspectors. But this exercise will also work towards creating a redressal system to tackle these issues.

Unauthorised hostels crop up in Kozhikode

Women’s Commission seeks urgent report from civic bodies on the increase in number

KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Women’s Commission has directed the local bodies in the district to submit a report on the number of authorised and unauthorised hostels functioning in the district immediately. The commission has also sought a report on the alleged spurt in the number of illegal facilities. The move comes after several complaints by inmates about the lack of facilities and security provided. Commission member Noorbina Rasheed forwarded a circular to the local body authorities seeking a detailed report.

Although only 24 hostels have been registered in the District at Corporation and municipality levels, more than 100 other illegal hostels are functioning here. Several people have also started accommodating students and working persons in their homes as paying guests but have not offered adequate facilities. According to the Commission, women from economically weak families, who sought accommodation at such hostels, were given poor facilities. Based on the complaints, the Commission pointed out that the problems were unhygienic conditions, poor water and power supply and ill-treatment of the inmates by hostel owners.

“We understand that even authorised hostels, mainly run by educational institutions, function without a licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and accommodate students in inhuman conditions”. “We are paying nearly `4,000 to `5,000 per month, but we are not satisfied with the facilities offered”, said Anila Mathew, an inmate of a city hostel here, which claims to be authorised. In spite of the hostel being located in the heart of the city, there is no security which has often led to drunkards entering the hostel.

Adding to these woes, 10 women were accommodated in a room but a single bathroom was allocated for two rooms, she added. Police officials here also said that these illegal hostels were allowing people from other states without certificates to prove identify or a school card. “We have also got information that youngsters who escape from juvenile homes take sanctuary in these illegal hostels and get involved in various crimes, said Vinod P, city police official here.

Under the first phase of project clean street food FSSAI has trained more than 20,000 street food vendors in food safety and hygiene

Food vendors should use clean utensils for preparing food. This is the first & most important step, to ensure that the purity of food is maintained.

Preservatives may increase the life span of food, but need to be used cautiously!

Colouring and other additives can have a negative impact on consumers if not put within a permissible amount. Presentation is important for vendors but not at the cost of the health of consumers!

Your kitchen should always be clean before you begin cooking. An unclean kitchen is a hub of bacteria & microorganisms, which can settle on your food & make it unfit for consumption

Illegal shops, abattoirs mushrooming in city, says audit report

Illegal shops and slaughter houses are proliferating in the city.

From five-star hotels to super markets, food malls and bakeries, a large number of commercial establishments are operating in the city without obtaining the statutory licence to Dangerous and Offensive Trades and, Factories from the civic administrators. A report of the Local Fund Audit wing of the State government shows a list of 43 such units. This includes two luxury hotels on Willingdon Island and Fort Kochi and a supermarket in Ernakulam North.

The auditors have pulled up the officials for not responding to three consecutive notes regarding the illegal functioning of the shops in the city, the report said.

The civic authority also failed to ensure that the shops that had obtained the licences earlier renewed them on time. It was the responsibility of the officials of the Health Wing of the local body to ensure that the shops are functioning after obtaining the mandatory licence. “The local body has sustained huge revenue loss on this account,” the auditors said.

Illegal slaughtering

The auditors have put on record the thriving illegal slaughtering of animals for meat in the city. The Kerala Municipalities Act has banned the slaughtering of animals outside the licensed abattoirs.

The abattoir of the Kochi Corporation, which was functioning at Kaloor, had not obtained the licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, it was reported.

Keep an extra vigil on sensitive food junctions: CFS

In this regard, the enforcement staffs of District Food Safety Offices of South Andaman and North and Middle Andaman conducted surprise raids on the Food Business Operators involved in manufacture and sale of prepared foods at Jirkatang, Middle Strait of South Andaman jurisdiction and Oralkatcha at Baratang of North and Middle Andaman jurisdiction on 16.09.2016. During the raids 25 Food Business Operators was served with Compounding Notices for violation of different sections under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and 11 Food Business Operators is being served with Improvement Notices. Further realization of fine imposed on the Food Business Operators is under process.

The Commissioner Food Safety has further warned the Food Business Operators of all food junctions in A&N Islands to maintain strict personal hygiene, cleanliness and also to wear proper dress code during the process of manufacture and sale of prepared foods. Any laxity will be viewed seriously and action under the relevant sections of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 will be initiated against the errant Food Business Operators.

AMSU bans Coke products

Following failure of the dealers of soft drinks to clarify the issue of tampering the manufacturing dates, AMSU has today declared that products manufactured by Coca Cola will be banned indefinitely with immediate effect.

Speaking to reporters at AMSU, Hqs located at DM College campus, AMSU secretary general Sanjit Sarangthem said that three dealers namely SK Enterprises, SB Enterprises and BS Enterprises were summoned to clarify the matter on or before September 15. Except for BS Enterprises, both SK Enterprises and SB Enterprises failed to turn up.

Therefore, it has been understood that these local dealers had been conspiring with non-local representatives of Coca Cola company to dupe the innocent public of Manipur, he said.

The State Government, which should have taken the matter seriously, is still silent on the issue, Sanjit Sarangthem added.

“Considering the health hazards these products can cause, AMSU will no longer allow any company affiliated to Coca Cola and agents to distribute or sell soft drinks manufactured by Coca Cola in Manipur till justified action is initiated under the Consumers Protection Act 1986 and Food Safety and Standards Act 2006,” he said.

Indian entrepreneur sells ‘untouchable’ foods to challenge caste bias

A former rebel fighter and member of India's "untouchable" caste is taking on caste-based discrimination with packaged foods that would have been regarded as impure just decades ago.

India banned caste-based discrimination in 1955, but centuries-old attitudes persist, and lower-caste groups including Dalits are among the most marginalised communities. 

A former rebel fighter and member of India’s “untouchable” caste is taking on caste-based discrimination with packaged foods that would have been regarded as impure just decades ago.

Chandra Bhan Prasad, 58, was born into the Dalit Pasi community of pig rearers in northern India, considered untouchable in the ancient Hindu social hierarchy. Prasad and his wife recently launched ‘Dalit Foods’ online to sell spices, pickles and grains.

“I was born impure. But I have the right to sell pure,” Prasad said by phone from his office in New Delhi.

“I grew up with segregation and untouchability, but India has changed. I want to see how those who are born pure respond to my offering,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

India banned caste-based discrimination in 1955, but centuries-old attitudes persist, and lower-caste groups including Dalits are among the most marginalised communities.

Dalits were barred from public places including temples and water tanks frequented by higher-caste Hindus. Many higher-caste Hindus considered food cooked or served by Dalits to be impure.

It is this custom that Prasad is taking aim at.

Dalit Foods sells a small range of spices and grains, including chilli powder, turmeric powder, mango pickle, barley flour and lentils. More products will be added, Prasad said.

For three years, Prasad was a fighter with India’s Maoist insurgency that claims to fight for the rights of poor farmers and landless indigenous people. He became a Dalit campaigner and a champion of economic empowerment to end caste bias.

He became interested in food after three members of his family died of cancer.

“Food adulteration is a big problem, and is probably the biggest reason for our health problems today,” he said.

“And yet, I saw 80-year-old Dalits who were healthy and doing hard labour, largely because of what they were eating: pure, unprocessed food,” he said.

“SUPERFOODS”

The domestic packaged food market is forecast to be worth $50 billion by 2017 from about $32 billion last year, according to the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India.

Recent food-safety scares have led to greater awareness of adulteration.

While growing up, Prasad said he and others in his community were forced to eat coarse foods that were reserved for cattle and for servants. These included unpolished rice and millets.

“Millets were considered inferior food then. Today, they are called a superfood,” he said.

“We want to make Dalit foods like these popular,” he said.

A large hotel chain is buying Dalit Foods on a trial basis, and the number of customers – largely urban Indians – is rising, Prasad said.

Dalits are still often the targets of violence, with tens of thousands of crimes reported each year.

Last month, thousands of Dalits in Gujarat state pledged to boycott the dirty jobs traditionally thrust upon them in protest against the lynching of Dalit men by upper-caste Hindus.

“We have made a lot of progress, but Dalits are still not equal to the upper caste,” Prasad said.

“My business is a social experiment to see if India has really transformed, to see if people are willing to overcome their biases and customs for food that is pure,” he said.