Consumers should be aware about food adulteration

Adulterated fruits and vegetables are ubiquitous. Adulteration of food has assumed an ‘alarming proportion’ in our country. From milk to drinking water and fruits to edible oils and even meat are being adulterated. It goes on unabated and the incidence of incurable diseases like cancer becomes higher with time. This is a matter of grave concern because it directly pertains to public health, which cannot be compromised. Adulteration of food consists of substituting it wholly or in part by any inferior or cheaper substance or removing any sort of its constituents wholly or in part which affect adversely the nature or quality of the product.
Besides a ban, manufacturers should be punished for deceiving the public and violating food safety laws. Although the government has enacted several laws to curb food adulteration, they are far from properly enforced. Not least due to lack of trained manpower, and endemic corruption. As a consequence, public health is at the ‘mercy of the profiteers and adulterators’ poisoning our food.
With all this understanding and information known to authorities who can help in reducing the problem, are ‘nowhere in the picture’ to solve it. There is no mechanism to monitor such unscrupulous activities and punish the guilty who are posing a grave threat to our health. According to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, if any person imports or manufactures for sale, or stores or distribute any adulterant, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, shall be liable for a penalty up to rupees two lakhs, if the adulterant is not injurious to health. Rupees ten lakhs penalty can be imposed upon him if the adulterant is injurious to health. However, adulterators are not scared of any legal or punitive action due to the various loopholes prevailing in the existing laws. The lives of the people are endangered and simple fines and small imprisonments are not enough to deter adulteration. There should be provision for stringent punishments like confiscation of property, life imprisonment etc. So long exemplary punishments are not given, this menace cannot be stopped.
An empowered force of trained food safety personnel should visit eateries, food stores, even festival venues where food is served, and take action where adulteration or contamination is detected through scientific means.
‘Consumer Awareness’ is the first step to eradicate food adulteration. People should start suing the shop owners who sell tainted food. And law should be impartial. Prevailing laws are stringent enough to work as a deterrent against those indulging in food adulteration but much more needs to be done to implement them in the right spirit. Consumers have to be aware of their rights, and non-profit organizations should play an active role in this regard. To make the nation healthy, every citizen must be able to buy food that is free from contamination.

Wrapping food in newspaper a health hazard: regulator

India’s food regulator has issued an advisory stating that the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, a common practice by street vendors, poses a health hazard.
The regulator on Wednesday expressed concern over “Indians being slowly poisoned” by cancer-causing agents in newspaper ink.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) restricted the use of newspapers and packaging material saying that consumption of food wrapped in newspapers was “injurious to health, even if the food had been cooked hygienically. Indians are being slowly poisoned due to newspapers being widely used as food packaging material by small hotels, vendors and also in homes in lieu of absorbent paper.”
‘Harmful pigments’
The food regulator said the chemicals in newspaper ink contain harmful colours, pigments, additives and preservatives. “Besides chemical contaminants, presence of pathogenic micro-organisms in used newspaper poses potential risk to human health. Older people, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications if they are exposed to food packed in such material,” said FSSAI in a press statement.
The FSSAI has stated that there is an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper as food packaging material by creating awareness among businesses, especially unorganised food business operators, about the harmful effects. The regulator has instructed the commissioners of food safety across the country to initiate an awareness campaign to this effect.

Eating food wrapped in newspapers can invite cancer :FSSAI

New Delhi: Do you eat bhel or chat from a roadside hawkers who serve it in a cone made of newspapers? Do you buy foods packed in cardboard boxes? Well, you might be putting yourselves at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications. To discourage such practice, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in its latest advisory has asked the commissioners of food safety of all states to generate awareness amongst the stakeholders.

According to the food authority, consumption of food wrapped in newspaper is dangerous since the ink contains multiple bioactive materials with known negative effects. “Indian are being slowly poisoned due to newspaper being widely used as food packaging material by small hotels, vendors and also in homes in lieu of absorbent paper,” reads the advisory. Importantly, the printing ink also contains harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives and preservatives, which pose potential risk to human health.

The FSSAI has also cautioned the usage of cardboard boxes made of recycled paper, which may be contaminated with metallic contaminants, mineral oils and harmful chemicals like “phthalates”, as it can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe toxicity,” it further said. Significantly, it added, “extra warning” for older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems as according to FSSAI they are at greater risk of acquiring cancer related health complication, if they are exposed to food packaged in such material.

While the offenders do not face any penalty so far, the advisory calls for an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper being widely used as food packaging. “Newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover, serve food or to absorb excess oil from fried food. There is an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper as food packaging material by creating awareness among businesses especially unorganised food business operators and consumers on its harmful effects. Suitable steps need to be taken to restrict and control its use,” added the advisory.

Henceforth, the FSSAI has asked its commissioners of food safety of all states to initiate systematic campaign for generating awareness to discourage the use of newspaper for packaging, serving and storing of food items.

Ban manufacture and sale of pan masala containing tobacco: Govt to states

NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry has asked states to enforce ban on manufacture as well as sale of pan masala containing nicotine or tobacco irrespective of whether it is available as one product or sold by mixing with other ingredients.

"I request you to please get the necessary orders passed in compliance of the Supreme Court direction/order dated 23.09.2016 and ensure that the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka and pan masala (containing tobacco or nicotine) and any other products marketed separately...

"...having tobacco or nicotine in the final product by whatever name called, whether packaged or un-packaged and/or sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such a manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consumer is prohibited in your jurisdiction," Union Health secretary C K Mishra wrote in his letter to state governments.

He said that in this context that states such as Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh have already issued orders in compliance of the Supreme Court order.

In his letter, he noted that tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease globally as well as in lndia and said that as per the Global Audit Tobacco Survey - lndia (GATS) 2010, smokeless tobacco or chewing forms are the most prevalent forms with 206 million lndians using it.

"As such the consequent burden of mortality and morbidity due to consumption of smokeless tobacco is very high in lndia. Available evidence suggests that lndia shares the maximum burden of oral cancer in the World," he wrote.

He said that in order to circumvent the ban on the sale of gutka, the manufacturers are selling pan masala (without tobacco) with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate sachets'.

Often these sachets are sold together by the same vendors from the same premises, so that consumers can buy the pan masala and flavoured chewing tobacco and mix them and consume the same.

Hence, instead of the earlier "ready to consume mixes", chewing tobacco companies are selling gutka in twin packs to be mixed as one, he said.

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011 in exercise of power conferred under the Food Safety and standards Act, 2006.

According to its regulation, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products and it bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as ingredient in the final product, whether going by the name of gutka, pan masala or zarda.

Concerns of street food vendors

Garima Arora, Dec 08, 2016, DHNS
Food festival The fourth edition of the street food festival at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN Stadium) will soon to hit the grounds, and the festival this year is going to be bigger and better.
More than 300 regional cuisines from 25 states will be a part of the festival and there is nothing in the street food genre that has been “left out”.
“We wanted to highlight the concerns and issues of street food vendors. So instead of holding a conference or a seminar, we thought of organising a food festival and through that, attract policy makers so that they give these vendors the required space for setting up their stalls,” Arbind Singh, national coordinator, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), tells Metrolife.
The festival, says Singh, has been taking place since the past nine years. Earlier, it was held at the Constitution Club of India, then at JLN Stadium and is now being implemented to be held in Goa.
Along with an extensive array of regional cuisines from across the country, the
festival will also include other informative events about street food and street food vendors, along with magic shows, performances by bands like Indian Ocean and meeting with celebrity chefs Sanjeev Kapoor and Kunal Kapur.
“The purpose of the festival is to bring street food vendors in the mainstream food scene so that they get their deserved space in the cities and respect by people,” adds Singh.
This year, the festival is organised by NASVI and Food Safety and Standards authority of India (FSSAI), which according to Singh is a “great achievement” for the member-based organisation (NASVI) and also “raises the bar of the festival”.
The organisation has around 6,52,000 members across India and these members work on the rights of these vendors, try to get zones for them.
“At the festival, we train vendors who are beginners or are not very skilled. We train them about how to take care of hygiene and sell in a way to attract more customers. When they receive good response from people, they get motivated to do better.
Most of these vendors go back with a changed mindset about street food and their livelihood through it,” says Singh adding that the festival also helps them learn skills of entrepreneurship and become role models for other vendors.
While hygiene is one of the main concerns why many are sceptical about street food, Singh says that all these vendors will arrive a day before the festival kicks off and will be trained for taking care of the same.
Additionally, every stall will be assigned one person each, who will be taking care of the cleanliness and hygienic conditions.
However, organising a festival in a makeshift place is one of the biggest challenges for organisers, reports Singh.
“In a makeshift place, everything from the setting up of the stalls to the stages for entertainment have to be done from the scratch. The festival is attended by people from all across country and serving them good and hygienic food is not easy.”
“But it's all worth the effort in the end because many of these vendors are able to get more visibility. The festival exposes their conditions and gives them more confidence about their livelihood. They all return with the motivation of getting better business,” says Singh.
The National Street Food Festival 2016 will be held from December 23 to December 25, at JLN stadium, from 12 noon to 10 pm.

Adani slammed for low quality edible oil sale

 

NAGPUR: Members from the treasury benches and Opposition took Adani Wilmer Ltd to task for making false claims on the packets of the blended vegetable oil sold by the company under brand name of Fortune Vivo. They demanded registering of FIR against the company and stringent action for misleading the consumers.
The matter was raised in question hour on Wednesday by ruling party members Sharad Sonawane, Sanjay Savkare and Tarasingh. They wanted to know what action was taken by the government against the oil manufacturer. A food and drugs administration (FDA) raid was conducted on the company's godown located at Ajivali in Panvel taluka of Raigad district in October. The angry members wanted strong action against the company as the said oil packets carried very unrealistic claims about the oil's qualities.
Responding to the volley of questions, minister of state for FDA, Madan Yearwar admitted that the raid was carried out and oil stocks worth over Rs94 lakh were seized. Later, from the lab reports it was established that the refined rice bran oil had acid value above the prescribed standards and that Vivo brand oil packets carried about claims that were misleading. 

Senior member Eknath Khadse demanded that a FIR be filed and the company be charged with criminal complicity. Ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan raised some of the claims regarding the oil's ability to fight diabetes and heart ailments and wondered if the company was selling edible oil or medicine. Vijay Wadettiwar and Shashikant Shinde also sought stringent action against the oil manufacturer.
Yerawar informed the house that that notices under section 24 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 were issued and necessary legal action would be taken against Adani company for selling substandard edible oil and misleading quality claims.

KFC, 2 other firms fined Rs 30K for wrong branding in Indore

The Indore city administration on Wednesday slapped a fine of Rs 30,000 on Yum Foods, the owners of popular fast food chain KFC, and two other companies for using bread with wrong nutritive information on the product.
City additional district magistrate Rakhi Sahay imposed the fine, saying that the company violated norms of the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006.
On May 23, 2015, the food safety team raided the KFC outlet in the city and collected samples and sent it for testing to a laboratory in Bhopal.
The result of the tests was submitted to the ADM, who took the decision to fine the outlet on Tuesday, said food safety officer Rajesh Jaiswal.
“There were certain irregularities of misbranding found on the packaging, including the nutritive value, calorie count, and ingredients were found to be different for what was mentioned on the packet,” he said.
A case was filed against the Yum Foods, owners of the KFC fast food chain, Baked Best food limited– a Maharashtra-based bread manufacturer and Radha Krishna Foodland Private Limited, distributor of the bread.
“Four people were made a party by the department, as it was decided that the blame cannot be completely put on one company,” said Jaiswal.
A case was also registered against the representatives of the bread distribution firm Sandeep Palay and manufacturer Ram Rajivan Verma, he said.
The ADM said that people who have been fined will have to pay the fine within a month’s time.

FSSAI decides to ban use of newspapers for packing food

FSSAI asked commissioners of food safety of all states and Union territories to take necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing and storing of food items
 

FSSAI issued an advisory saying it has decided to ban the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, a common practice by small corner shops and street vendors.
New Delhi: Having exercised its will over packaged food companies, the food regulator is now set to control kirana stores and street vendors to enhance food safety.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday issued an advisory saying it has decided to ban the use of newspapers for wrapping and packing of food items, a common practice by small corner shops and street vendors.
In its advisory, FSSAI asked commissioners of food safety of all states and Union territories to take necessary steps to restrict the use of newspapers for packing, serving and storing of food items as the newspaper ink can contaminate food items leading to serious health concerns.
“Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications, if they are exposed to food packed in such materials,” FSSAI noted in its advisory.
According to estimates by the Union housing ministry, in 2014 there were 10 million street vendors, mostly in cities. Consulting firm Boston Consulting Group estimated that there were around 12 million kirana stores in 2014-15.
“Newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover and serve food or to absorb excess oil from fried food. There is an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper as food packaging material by creating awareness among businesses, especially, unorganized food business operators and consumers, on its harmful effects. Suitable steps need to be taken to restrict and control the use of newspapers for packing food material,” the FSSAI advisory added.
The food safety regulator, however, is yet to declare imposition of penalty for non-compliance. An official at FSSAI did not want to speak on the financial implications related to the implementation of the decision on ground.
Printing ink, usually used for printing newspapers, may contain bioactive materials, harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives, preservatives, chemical contaminants and even pathogenic microorganisms that may pose potential risk to human health, according to the FSSAI advisory. “Newspapers and even paper or cardboard boxes made of recycled paper may be contaminated with metallic contaminants, mineral oils and harmful chemicals like phthalates which can cause digestive problems and also lead to severe toxicity,” it added.
Wrapping food in newspapers is an unhealthy practice and the consumption of such food is injurious to health, even if the food has been cooked hygienically. “Indians are being slowly poisoned due to newspapers being widely used as food packaging material by small hotels, vendors and also in homes in lieu of absorbent paper,” the regulator said.
This is the first time in recent years FSSAI is bringing a new rule relating to packaging of food items. So far, the regulator focused on setting standards for packaged food.
The Indian government has been trying to ban use of plastic bags for storage and transport of goods. The government had in October 2012 issued a notification declaring a blanket ban on use of plastic bags. But it has not been implemented as manufacturers of plastic bags moved the Delhi High Court against the order almost immediately, and the court is yet to rule on the issue.

Kudumbasree to clean up water sources today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Members of Kudumbasree will clean 1,072 water sources as part of the launching of the Haritha Keralam project on Thursday.

A Kudumbasree Mission release said here on Wednesday that the members would clean the ponds and streams in various locales that have become stagnant over the years. The drive is being launched jointly by the mission officials, members of the neighbourhood groups of the mission and also local body members.

Steps would be taken for ensuring food safety by starting biofarming in 20,000 local body wards. It has been proposed to identify 50 cents fallow land in each ward and group farming would be extended to 10,000 acres for making the State self-reliant in fruits, vegetables and paddy. The mission would also publish a farm calendar comprising projects to be implemented in each panchayat during the year ahead.

Terrace farming would be popularised. Farming groups would supply seeds and manure to households. A cleaning drive would be launched on December 13 in association with the Suchitwa Mission. 

FSSAI asks states to check use of newspaper for food packaging

Concerned over food contamination from newspaper ink, food regulator FSSAI has asked food safety authorities of all states/UTs to take steps for restricting the use of newspapers for storage and packaging of food items. 

FSSAI also asked state authorities to create awareness among food business operators, especially unorganised ones, as well as consumers about harmful effects of using newspaper as food packaging material.

"Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/Union Territories are requested to initiate a systematic campaign for generating awareness amongst all stakeholders to discourage the use of newspaper for packing, serving and storing of food items," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said in a letter. 

The regulator said that the use of newspaper for wrapping, packing and serving food is common practice in India. "However, this is a food safety hazards." 

"Food contaminated by newspaper ink raise serious health concerns since the ink contains multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects. 

"Printing inks may also contain harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives and preservatives. Besides chemical contaminants, presence of pathogenic microorganisms in used newspapers also pose potential risk to human health," it said. 

Stating that newspapers should not be used to wrap, cover and serve food or to absorb excess oil from fried food, FSSAI said that there is an urgent need to discourage the use of newspaper as food packaging material by creating awareness among businesses, especially unorganised food business operators and consumers on its harmful effects. 

"Suitable steps need to be taken to restrict and control the use of newspapers for packing of food material," the regulator said in a letter.

Strengthening Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory Ecosystem for Consumer Delight

Confederation of Indian Industry as a part of its National Initiative Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan had organized the 11th CII Food Safety and Quality Summit. In the current global scenario where Scientific advances are increasing our ability to detect hazards and identify risks, new technologies and traceability combined with social media, are giving consumers unprecedented transparency into not only the food they purchase but also on the origins and ingredients of their food, thus resulting in food safety as one of the ‘Top of the Mind’ issues. With India emerging as the food basket for the globe, there is a need to continue to strengthen our strategies around food safety using Science based Risk Analysis principles to achieve global excellence in food safety.

Mr. Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, Food Safety Standards Authority of India emphasized that one of the key activities that FSSAI is doing is to build an atmosphere of trust among various stakeholders to ensure food safety. The practices prevalent in other countries are being benchmarked by India to create a uniform regulatory environment which is a key to food safety. He mentioned an investment of Rs. 500 crores is being made for upgrading the laboratory infrastructure in the country.

Mrs. Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission emphasized that to combat food borne diseases, food safety across the entire food value chain needs to be monitored effectively. She thanked CII’s Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence for bringing “Food Safety” in the spot light.

Mr. Sanjay Dave, Chairman, Steering Committee of Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan & Former Chairman, Codex Alimentarius Commission mentioned that lack of Food Safety always affects the economies of countries. He explained that as a part of “Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan” CII on one hand was creating awareness to increase demand of safe food and on the other hand building capacity in the country to produce Safe Food.

Ms. Geetu Verma, Chairperson, CII Task Force on Food Regulatory Affairs & Executive Director – Foods, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) highlighted that in complex Food Supply Chains, Food Safety takes centre stage. She emphasized that food security, safety and nutritional security should be aligned to each other. She mentioned “the three pillars for a safe food value chain are education of consumers, accessibility to safe and nutritious food and practical legislations having risk based approach”.

Mr. Piruz Khambatta, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Food Processing & Chairman & Managing Director, Rasna International emphasized that the country is witnessing a positive shift in Food Regulatory Ecosystem and thanked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for strengthening the Food Regulatory regime in India to facilitate trade, to encourage ease of doing business and most importantly to ensure safe food for our consumers.

Mr. Ravi Mathur, Chairman, CII Expert Group on Food Safety & Quality & CEO, GS1 made mention of the work being done by GS1 for creating a recall portal along with FSSAI.

The industry CEO’s of HUL, Nestle, Cargill, Rasna and Mother Dairy emphasized the need of building a safe food value chain right from the source point to consumption point. The complex supply chain needs to be strengthened at all critical points to ensure that the safest food reaches the consumer. The industry captains also acknowledged the changing consumer patterns and shift towards safe and nutritious food.

The summit was addressed by eminent speakers including Mr. Paul Mayers, Vice-President – Policy and Program Branch, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Dr. Vele Pat Ila’ava – Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Papua New Guinea, Ms. Siew Moi, Regional Expert on Chemical Contaminants, Nestle Singapore, Dr. Jeffrey Lejeune, Consultant FAO, Mr. Rogerio Pereira Da Silva – Co-ordinator Codex Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Dr. Arpad Ambrus, Chief Scientific Advisor and Chair for CCMAS National Food Chain Safety Office, Hungary, Mr. Dean Rugnetta, Deputy Director, USFDA - India Office.

During the 2 day summit there would be deliberations on Strengthening Farm Practices, Emerging Food Safety Risks and their mitigation, International Food Safety Regulatory regimes, Science behind Claims Validation & Substantiation and Best Practices from Farm to Fork and the Summit also provided extensive networking opportunities with industry peers and domain experts. The summit was attended by more than 200 Food Safety & Quality professionals and more than 50 speakers of national and international repute.

FSSAI to make third-party audits of food makers mandatory: Pawan Kumar Agarwal

Some food companies in India voluntarily hire laboratories to inspect safety of their products but it is not mandatory yet

FSSAI is collecting samples of honey and milk produced by major companies from 10 markets across the country, CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said. 

New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will soon make third-party audits mandatory for food companies to ensure food safety, the authority’s chief executive Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

“We are working on the regulations and final guidelines will be notified soon,” Agarwal said without disclosing further details. He was speaking at a programme organized by lobby group Confederation of Indian Industry here on Tuesday.

Some food companies in India voluntarily hire laboratories to inspect safety of their products but it is not mandatory yet. Such audits are common in most developed countries where self-regulation is the norm.

“We need to move towards self-regulation to ensure safe food for every Indian household. With the current strength and infrastructure, FSSAI alone would not be able to ensure surveillance at every corner. Surveillance is a big area. We are taking up surveillance in a few commodities. As we speak, the surveillance on honey and milk is going on,” added Agarwal.

The food regulator is collecting samples of honey and milk produced by major companies from 10 markets across the country, Agarwal said. The samples will be tested on 21 new parameters and more products will be added to the list soon, he said.

FSSAI, which came into the limelight after it announced a nationwide ban on popular snack Maggi instant noodles in June 2015 and asked its producer Nestle India Ltd to recall the products from the market, is also working on regulations for product recalls, Agarwal said.

As part of its efforts to ensure food safety across the country, the regulator plans to spend Rs482 crore to modernize its food testing infrastructure, including upgrading laboratories. FSSAI currently operates two food testing laboratories in Kolkata and Ghaziabad and state governments run 82 laboratories.

RESTRICTING THE USE OF NEWSPAPERS AS FOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL

National Street Food Festival 2016

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Madras HC criticises food safety authorities on Sago testing matter

"We do believe that such a request for a long period of time shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large", the bench said recently.

Madras High Court has criticised the Food Safety Standards Authority of India for seeking 18 months time for conducting scientific tests on the quality of sago produced in various factories. The First Bench Comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, before which a batch of PIL’s seeking for scientific testing, in its order said “we fail to appreciate the stand which is now taken before us that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India needs 18 months more time to determine the tests, in view of the fact that the scientific panel has been re-constituted.

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“We do believe that such a request for a long period of time shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large”, the bench said recently.

“Be that as it may, since the whole thing cannot be at a stand-still for 18 months, we direct the respondent to place before us as to in the interregnum period, what test has to be followed”, the bench said.

The matter relates to several petitions by stating that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, who is predominant manufacturers and suppliers of sago in India, added acid and other chemicals in order to make it attractive.

Noting that it is harmful for health, they said consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat had even stopped consumption because of high presence of chemicals.

It indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers, they submitted and sought an interim direction to the authorities to conduct the prescribed test by the authorities of Referral Food Laboratory, Pune.

When it was brought to the notice of the First Bench by the designated officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department present in Court that there were various criminal original petitions and writ petitions pending in respect of the action taken by the Department, the bench in its order said “we consider it appropriate to list all these matters before a single court, for which necessary administrative orders may be obtained from the Chief Justice.

The bench then listed the matter for further hearing to January 24, 2017.

FSSAI rapped for asking 18 months to suggest tests on sago

The Madras High Court has slammed the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for seeking 18 months to spell out the tests that needs to be held to ascertain the addition of acid and other harmful chemicals to sago products.

Chennai: 

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan while directing FSSAI to place before it the test that has to be followed in the interregnum period, said “We fail to appreciate the stand which is now taken before us that FSSAI needs 18 months’ time to determine the tests, since the scientific panel has been re-constituted. We do believe that such a request for a long period shows an amount of callousness towards the affected people at large.” 

The issue relates to a plea moved by various farmers’ association from Namakkal district that the Tamil Nadu Tapioca Natural Sago Manufacturers Association of Salem, which remains a major suppliers of sago, added acid and other chemicals to make it white. Noting that this had resulted in consumers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, UP and Gujarat stopping consumption the product owing to the high presence of chemicals, they submitted this had indirectly affected the interests of tapioca farmers. 

However, based on the submission of TN Food Safety and Drug Administration Department that various petitions were pending on the action taken, the bench held that it is appropriate to post these matters before a single court. The case has been posted to January 24.

Khan Market shops under scanner

Food Department says shops are selling sub-standard food products as food samples fail tests

Delhi’s luxury shopping hub Khan Market is under the scanner from the Food Department. Officials from the department say that end of October they had collected six food samples of cheese and ketchup from both Khan Market and INA market, out of which three have failed the quality test and found to be of sub-standard quality. They add that these samples also failed the labeling test.

Dr Mrinalini Darswal, commissioner, Department of Food Safety, Delhi government said that strict action would be taken against the offenders, which so far the department has refused to name. “We are sending a strict message to all the importers from where the products are used. We have issued them notices as the samples were found to be of sub-standard quality. These three samples flouted labelling guidelines and the information on these products was also misleading,” she said.

While the brands of these cheese and ketchup products — under the scanner — are not known, officials did confirm that all the food samples are from imported brands.

However, Sanjay Mehta, president, Khan Market Traders’ Association denied that there was any problem and said,“We have six such shops that sell imported food products. But all of them follow the required guidelines.”

The government’s food and drug department is responsible for ensuring that food policy complies with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Officials say that on average they receive 125 food samples a month for testing.

They add that they keep vigil that labelling and other norms are followed by way of surprise inspections and raids on food establishments.

Ask about the process that will be followed against the allegedly offending companies, AK Singh, designated officer, New Delhi district, Department of Food and Safety, said,“We have given a month’s time to the companies to respond to our notice. Once we have received the reply, we will go ahead with the process. If the companies will object to our results, the samples will be sent for testing again.”

As per the official process, the department receives a complaint about an adulterated food item after which a report is made. This report is then marked to the designated district officer, after which the officer, along with another safety officer, collects samples. The samples are then sent for testing where the food analyst supervises the work and sends the reports back to the concerned department.

Wardha CJM awards six-month jail to man for selling adulterated milk

NAGPUR: Wardha chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Saroj Mane Gadekar has sentencedRajendra Awathale, vendor and proprietor of M/S Rajendra Dhoodh Dairy, to six-month imprisonment for selling adulterated milk.

The accused has to pay a fine of Rs 1000. In case of failing to pay the fine, he faces one more month of imprisonment.

S R Kekare, assistant commissioner food and drugs administration (FDA), Nagpur told TOI that the punishment has been ordered under the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act 1954.

Raviraj Dhabarde and L P Soyam, food safety officers, were following the case from the beginning. S D Sthool was the public prosecutor in the case.

S P Nandanwar, the then food inspector, FDA Wardha had drawn the adulterated milk sample and filed a case on May 19, 2010.

Dead rat found in food; students boycott college mess

AHMEDABAD: Students of CN Fine Arts College in Ambawadi boycotted the mess after a dead rat was found in their food last week. Since the past three days, the students have not eaten at the hostel mess. They alleged that despite several complaints regarding the quality of food at the institute, no action has been initiated.

"In the recent past we have registered four complaints about the deteriorating quality of food at the mess. However, there has been no improvement and neither has any action been taken by the authorities. We have also found cockroaches in our food," said a student on the condition of anonymity.

"Eating outside everyday is a costly affair and not all of us can afford it. What is the point of paying Rs18,000 fees for our lodging and meals if we are not served decent quality food," he added.

Students have taken up the matter with rector of the hostel as well as the director of the institute. Commenting on the matter, Rajendrasinh Jadeja, director, CN Fine Arts College, said, "We have received the complaint and this is a serious issue. We have made necessary arrangements and taken measures to ensure that such an incident does not recur in future."

State to fight propaganda against use of coconut oil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state agriculture department, with the support of health and food safety departments, universities and research institutes, will launch a counter campaign against the ‘widespread propaganda’ that consumption of coconut oil causes heart ailments and other serious health problems.

Simultaneously, the department will wage a war against the adulterated coconut oil being sold in the state, through regular inspections and strict legal actions, agriculture minister V S Sunikumar told reporters here on Friday.

“Such a campaign against coconut oil, without any scientific backing, has adversely affected Kerala’s coconut industry. The government will make use of authentic scientific studies and available media platforms to launch a strong campaign for the promotion of coconut oil as a healthy edible oil,” he said.

Citing inputs from experts from countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, who took part in the technical session on value addition in coconut at VAIGA 2016, the ongoing international workshop and exhibition on agro-products, the minister said virgin coconut oil was being recommended as the most safe and healthy edible oil world across. “Even the United States which had initiated the false campaign against coconut oil to promote Soybean oil, is now recommending virgin coconut oil for children,” the minister added.

Pointing out that 70% of the coconut oil sold under various brands in the state was adulterated, Sunil kumar said the agriculture department, with the help of food safety officials, would launch a massive drive to tackle this menace.

On the promotion of value addition in coconut products, the minister said the agriculture department, Kerafed, the State Coconut Development Corporation and the Coconut Development Board would jointly provide the entrepreneurs with facilities for processing, packaging and marketing, besides making a budget provision to purchase suitable technologies from abroad.

“The state, over the years has witnessed a decreased productivity in the coconut sector due to lack of proper care and several crop diseases. The government will launch a ‘scientific farming scheme’ by providing quality saplings to farmers and forming coconut villages comprising 500-hectre clusters for better care and cultivation,” he said.

Spurious chilli powder seized

Officials of the Vigilance and Enforcement (V&E) Department on Friday conducted raids and seized sub-standard chilli powder and raw material being used in chilli powder, worth more than Rs. 1.5 crore in Krishna district, said Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer (RVEO) M. Ravindranath Babu.

On a tip-off, the team led by Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police R. Vijay Paul and CI Aparna raided Spoorti Cold Storage at Vemulapalli village and seized 5,000 bags of spurious chilli power, worth around Rs. 5 crore.

In another raid, the V&E along Food Safety Department officials raided a private godown at Kondapalli Industrial Area and seized sub-standard chilli powder, said to be worth about Rs. 15 crore, said the RVEO.

In a separate operation, the Vigilance and Enforcement officials seized banned gutkha products, said to be worth about Rs. 5 lakh at two places in the district, said Mr. Vijay Paul.

“The seized material was sent to laboratory for investigations,” Mr. Ravindranath Babu said adding that the raids would continue.

Vigilance Tehsildar Indira Devi, Assistant Registrar Venkateswara Rao, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer Srinivas and Food Safety Inspector Sunder Kumar Das participated in the raids.

Mother Dairy to sell only fortified milk in NCR by year-end

Leading milk supplier Mother Dairy will only sell milk fortified with Vitamin ‘A’ and ‘D’ in the national capital region as part of its effort to address malnutrition, its top official said on Monday.

Mother Dairy sells about 30 lakh litres of milk per day, including token and poly-packed, in the Delhi-NCR and this entire quantity would be now fortified with Vitamin A&D. The company has about 800 milk booths and 400 ‘Safal’ retail stores in the NCR.

“We are already adding Vitamin A in our token milk sold at milk booths. Now, We have decided to add Vitamin A & D in both token milk and poly-packed,” Mother Dairy Managing Director S Nagarajan said.

“By end of this year, we will be selling only fortified milk in Delhi-NCR,” he added.

Mr Nagarajan said the company is taking this initiative as a large part of population is having deficiency of micro-nutrients.

Asked about the cost of fortification of milk with Vitamin A&D, he said it would be around 25 paise per litre and the same would be absorbed by the company.

He said the company would follow the standards fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on fortification of food.

FSSAI has developed comprehensive standards for fortification in wheat flour, rice, edible oil, salt and milk.

The regulator has made these standards operational at the draft stage only and would issue final notification after making changes based on suggestions from stakeholders.

As per this standards, fortification of salt can be done with iodine and iron, while vegetable oil and milk can be fortified with Vitamin A & D; wheat flour and rice with iron, folic acid, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin A and some other micro-nutrients.

Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974 as a wholly- owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

The company sells milk and dairy products including ice creams, paneer and ghee under the ‘Mother Dairy’ brand.It is into edible oil business under Dhara brand.

Moreover, it sells frozen vegetables, unpolished pulses and other processed foods under the ‘Safal’ brand. - PTI

Mother Dairy sells about 30 lakh litres of milk per day, including token and poly-packed, in Delhi-NCR

Amul to launch camel milk in next 3 months

New Delhi, Dec 2, 2016, (PTI)

With food safety regulator FSSAI setting new standards for camel milk, dairy major GCMMF, which sells products under the Amul brand, today said it will launch camel milk in the next three months.

Amul will first start selling camel milk in Ahmedabad and will later launch in other cities.

"We operationised standards for camel milk today. We took two years to come out with standards. The standards will help better marketing of camel milk in cities," Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) Chairman Pawan Agarwal said at an exhibition organised by NGOs 'Sahjeevan' and 'Foundation for Ecological Security' here.

This will also help create awareness about the health benefits of camel milk, he added.

Aggarwal assured that it would take possible measures if any fine tuning is required in the standards going forward.

Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation's (GCMMF) Marketing Manager Hardeep Banga said that the cooperatiave will launch camel milk in 500 ml bottle in the next three months.

"Now, the plant is ready in Kutch. We are going to market camel milk in the next three months. Initially, it is will be sold in Ahmedabad through Amul booths in 500 ml bottle," he said, adding that the camel milk would later be marketed in Delhi and Mumbai.

Two years back, Sahjeevan approached GCMMF for marketing of camel milk produced in Kutch area. A Rs 3 crore project was initiated and about Rs 70 lakh funding support was provided together by state and central governments, he added.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, "After assessing scientifically, camel milk has been recognised with the line of food grade. This will not only benefits rearers of camels but also facilitate for value-addition productions."

A beginner’s book on pastoralism 'A World Without a Roof' written by Sarita Sundar was also launched at the exhibition on pastoralists being held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here from December 2-18.

The 16-day multi-media exhibition will showcase the lifestyles of Indian pastoralists – their remarkable history of mobility, the fantastic eco-systems which nurture their life-world, their culture, science, art, spiritual moorings and the economics of herding.

Illegal Tobacco products disposed of by District Administration

Port Blair, Dec 01: Huge quantity of Tobacco/contraband caught/ disposed of by Administration. As part of surprise inspection on 29/11/2016 by a team of Food Safety officers on clear inputs from PS Aberdeen regarding possession of contraband tobacco products exclusively to search contraband products made surprise visits to the business premises of Shri. Pijush Guha Roy of M/s Poonam Enterprises, Gurudwara Line to check the sale of tobacco and/or nicotine products. searched upon the godown owned by the Food Business Operator(FBOs). It is learnt that the FBOs have stored contraband products illegally.

The market value of the seized items are Rs.14183/- approximately. The Food Safety Officers in the evening of 29/11/2016 seized tobacco products namely Karishma Zarda consisting of 15 cartoons worth approx. Rs. 3 Lakhs which was booked in favour of Calcutta City Supplier, Minnie Bay, Port Blair. The said tobacco products is seized and kept under the custody of the transporter after fulfilling all the formalities. Legal formalities against the FBO is under process.

Meanwhile the CID Branch of A&N Police has handed over 12 cartoons of Baghban tobacco, 2 packet of Khaini pouches and 5 no’s of prepared pan seized from the residential premises of Food Business Operator Shri. Ajit Biswas, R/o Subash Nagar, Shadipur the market value of the contraband product is estimated to be around Rs.7800/- approx. the seized contraband tobacco products has been handed over the Food Safety officer and necessary adjudication process under the relevant section of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is underway.

Further, the Food Safety officers has also seized large quantity of contraband tobacco products from different locations of South Andaman including Havelock and Little Andaman, Accordingly 17 FBO’s have been booked under relevant sections and compounding procedure is under process and the confiscated tobacco products is destroyed by burning. All the stocks kept on hold at Little Andaman by the Food Business Operators has been destroyed by burning in the presence of Senior Officials of Little Andaman and Food Business Operators on 30/11/2016, the Market value of the stock destroyed is approx. Rs. 75000/-

Meanwhile as per the report available from Nicobar District one Food Business Operator of Car Nicobar has been compounded and a fine of Rs. 1000/- has been imposed and realized as fine for possessing contraband tobacco products in his premises.

Meanwhile as per the report of Designated Officer, N&M Andaman all the declared stocks given by of 5 Food Business Operators on prohibited tobacco products at Mayabunder has been seized by the Food Safety Officer and adjudication process is already initiated against them as per law.

The inspection team comprised of Smti. Sangeeta Naseem, Shri. A Khalid, Shri.Tahseen Ali, Shri. R.V. Murugaraj, Smti. S. Nisha, Shri.S.S.Santhosh, Smti. N. Rekha and Smti. Sarina Nadeem, Food Safety Officers alongwith Shri. S.Rajendran, and Shri. P. Malkondiah and Shri. Antony, Helper attached to Food Safety Unit, South Andaman alongwith the assistance of District Administration and Police Officials of PS, Aberdeen.

Further District Administration once again warns all the food business operators of A&N Islands not to stock, sale or distribute contraband products under and if found in possession will be seized/recovered and action deemed fit will be initiated under relevant section of FSS Act, 2006

களியக்காவிளையில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிரடி ஆய்வு பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் ஆய்வகத்திற்கு அனுப்பி வைப்பு

களி யக் கா விளை, டிச. 2:

களி யக் கா வி ளை யில் ரெடி மேட் சப் பாத்தி சாப் பிட்ட சிலர் வாந்தி, பேதி யால் பாதிக் கப் பட் ட தை ய டுத்து உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று கடை க ளில் அதி ரடி ஆய்வு நடத் தி னர்.

குமரி மாவட் டத் தில் பேன்சி ஸ்டோர், பேக் க ரி கள், மளிகை கடை க ளில் பாக் கெட் டு க ளில் அடைக் கப் பட்ட ரெடி மேட் சப் பாத்தி அதி க ள வில் விற் கப் பட்டு வரு கி றது. இவை மாதக் க ணக் கில் கடை க ளில் ஸ்டாக் வைத்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டு வ தாக குற் றச் சாட்டு எழுந் தது.

இந் நி லை யில் கடந்த 2 தினங் க ளுக்கு முன் களி யக் கா விளை அருகே படந் தா லு மூடு, ஒற் றா ம ரம் பகு தி க ளில் ரெடி மேட் சப் பாத்தி வாங்கி சென்று சாப் பிட்ட சில ருக்கு வாந்தி, மயக் கம் ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. களி யக் கா விளை பகு தி யில் ஒரு குடும் பத்தை சேர்ந்த 2 பேருக்கு வாந்தி மற் றும் வயிற் று போக்கு ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. அவர் கள் மருத் து வ ம னை யில் அனு ம திக் கப் பட் ட னர். பாதிக் கப் பட்ட குடும் பத் தி னர் கடை யில் சென்று கேட் ட தால் தக ராறு ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. இதே நிலை மாவட் டத் தின் பல இடங் க ளி லும் இருந்து வரு கி றது.

கன் னி யா கு மரி மாவட் டத் தில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் கடை க ளில் விற் கப் ப டும் காலா வதி உணவு பொருட் க ளையோ, கலப் பட உணவு பொருட் க ளையோ கண்டு கொள் வ தில்லை என்ற புகார் கள் எழுந் துள் ளன.

இத னால் தான் காலா வ தி யான உணவு பொருட் க ளை யும், கெட் டுப் போன தின் பண் டங் க ளை யும் வியா பா ரி கள் சர்வ சாதா ர ண மாக கடை க ளில் வைத்து விற் பனை செய் கின் ற னர்.

எனவே காலா வதி உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் ப னையை தடுக்க வேண் டும் என கோரிக்கை எழுந் தது. மேலும் காலா வதி உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை குறித்து ‘தின க ரன்’ நாளி த ழில் படத் து டன் செய்தி வெளி யா னது. இதன் எதி ரொ லி யாக நேற்று களி யக் கா விளை, கோழி விளை, ஒற் றா ம ரம், படந் தா லு மூடு உள் ளிட்ட பகு தி க ளில் செயல் பட்டு வரும் பேக் கரி கடை கள் மற் றும் ரெடி மேட் உணவு பொருட் கள் விற் பனை கடை க ளில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.மேல் பு றம் வட் டார அதி காரி(பொறுப்பு) ராஜன், தோவாளை வட் டார அதி காரி அஜய் கு மார் ஆகி யோர் தலை மை யில் நடந்த ஆய் வில், கடை க ளில் முக வரி இல் லா மல் விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்ட மற் றும் பாக் கெட் டு க ளில் அடைக் கப் பட்ட தின் பண் டங் கள், ரெடி மேட் சப் பாத்தி பாக் கெட் டு கள், ரெடி மேட் உணவு தின் பண் டங் கள் ஆகி ய வற்றை பறி மு தல் செய்து அழித் த னர்.

மேலும் சந் தே கத் திற்கு இட மான 4 நிறு வ னங் க ளில் இருந்து தயா ரிக் கப் பட்ட ரெடி மேட் சப் பாத்தி பொட் ட லங் களை அதி கா ரி கள் கைப் பற்றி ஆய் வுக் காக உணவு பாது காப் புத் து றை யின் நெல் லை யில் உள்ள மண் டல பாது காப்பு அலு வ லக ஆய் வ கத் திற்கு அனுப்பி வைத் த னர்.

How to limit pesticide use in vegetables

Make it a habit to always choose seasonal fruit and vegetables as they are less likely to be exposed to too much chemical treatment

Instead of spraying pesticide all over cabbages to keep off moths, farmers can set up pheromone traps in the early stages.In addition to the pesticides that are sprayed to grow hybrid varieties of fruit and vegetables, chemicals are used to ripen, polish and preserve them. A study by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2013 found that most common food items contained banned pesticides and chemical residues in alarming quantities.

'Farmers Must Opt for Bio-pesticides'

STEPS:

It is desirable to use an in tegrated pest management strategy (IPM) to manage pests -giving priority to non-chemical methods and to use chemical insecticides as a last resort.

Instead of spraying pesticide all over cabbages to keep off moths, farmers can set up pheromone traps in the early stages. It helps monitor the activity of pests to better prepare for the coming days, and in mass-trapping male moths, it cuts their proliferation.

Spray bio-pesticides such as Bacillus, Beauveria, Trichoderma, neem products to control pests. These ensure that biological control agents like beneficial parasitoids and predators are not harmed.

Farmers must be made aware of the benefits of controlled use of chemical pesticides.

'Always Go for Seasonal Vegetables'

STEPS:

Take efforts to know what grows in which season. Even vegetables are seasonal. For instance, watermelons are summer fruits and carrots grow in winter.

Make it a habit to always choose seasonal fruit and vegetables as they are less likely to be exposed to too much chemical treatment.

Avoid unseasonal fruits and vegetables.

Buy local varieties instead of exotic ones.

Choose smaller fruits and vegetables as they are less likely to be injected with growth hormones or other chemicals.

Avoid fruits and vegetables that are too dark. Pick the ones that have a natural lighter hue.

If you have a chance to taste a fruit before purchasing, avoid buying if it is unnaturally sweet.

OFFICIAL LINE

Prasad BN, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Bangalore (Urban), said that the department was making efforts to promote biopesticides and biofertilisers and was discouraging use of chemical pesticides. “We have taken up clusters of 2-5 villages and introduced good production practices starting from seed treatment, use of bio inputs to maintaining proper spacing and plant population“, he said, adding that the use of ripening chambers were being promoted as a safe alternative to carbide-induced ripening.

ER training on food safety

Kolkata 30 Nov 2016

Eastern Railway in collaboration with Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) organised food safety training where 29 trainees including 14 designated officers, nine joint food safety commissioners and 6 food safety officers from almost all the zones of Indian Railways participated.

The faculties have been nominated by FSSAI and all of them are experts on Food Safety. The training programme was inaugurated by Dr S Kumar, chief medical director, Eastern Railway. The topics of the training programme included duties and responsibilities of officials of Indian Railways regarding Food Safety, details of Food Safety and Standard Act, procedure of sampling of food, surveillance, monitoring and risk allowance, adjudication, packaging & levelling and also understanding & documentation of regulatory compliance.

The trainees were also taken to Netaji Subhash International Airport to know the system of handing facility in this airport. The training programme also included interactive participation of the trainees and live demonstration of online licensing and registration of food establishment. On the concluding day, Dr S Kumar, chief medical director, ER and Godhuli Mukherjee, commissioner of food safety, government of West Bengal participated in the valedictory session. (EOIC)

FSSAI’s standards for camel milk

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 30: 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has operationalised standards for camel milk. This was done after several discussions held by FSSAI’s task force on milk and milk products at the behest of several quarters, including Gujarat government and National Research Centre on Camel. 

Based on the recommendations of the task force, the FSSAI has framed standards that specify that the percentage of milk fat and minimum percentage of milk solids in camel milk should be at 3 per cent and 6.5 per cent, respectively.

District Admn. initiates drive against selling banned tobacco products

NOVEMBER 30, 2016 

Port Blair, Nov 30: The District Administration has taken strong action against the illegal sale of banned tobacco products. A surprise inspection was carried out in Port Blair area by the Revenue team and found that numbers of gumties/shops were known to be selling the banned tobacco products.

Approximate 18 nos. of gumties at Gandhi Statue, Prem Nagar Junction, in front of state library and near Head Post Office were evicted. These gumties had encroached on Govt. Land and were suspected to be selling the banned tobacco products. This drive will continue over the coming week.

In addition to these, the Food Safety Officer has seized and detained 218 tins of tobacco from M/s Poonam Enterprises, Gurudwara Line, Aberdeen under sub section (1) of section 41 of Food Safety and Standards act 2006 and the shop has been directed to be closed.

All those involved in illegal sale of banned tobacco products are warned to refrain from indulging in such illegal activities, else strongest action as per relevant acts will be taken against them.

FDA seizes gutka and scented tobacco worth Rs 2.25 lakh

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have seized gutka and tobacco products worth Rs 2.23 lakh in as many as five raids conducted across the city in a fortnight.

They have also taken action against five culprits under Section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. According to FDA officials, under the Act, the concerned person can face a year's imprisonment and fine up to Rs 3 lakhs as transportation, distribution, storage and sale of gutka, aromatic pan masala and scented betel nut are banned in the state.

According to FDA officials, on November 17, a team stopped a van travelling in Hupari village and found gutka and scented tobacco being transported in the vehicle. The officials seized the material amounting to Rs 7,835 and arrested the driver — identified as Abhijeet Tamanna Boragi.

In another raid on November 22, a FDA raided a car passing on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway under the jurisdiction of Shiroli MIDC police station and seized scented tobacco and Gutka worth Rs 1.88 lakh. The officials arrested Anil Bansilal Jina who was driving the car.

The third raid was carried out at Pan shops in Hatkanangle and Tardal where officials seized Gutka and scented tobacco worth Rs 29,500 and have taken action against three pan shop owners.

Selling of gutka is banned in Maharashtra but there is no restriction on its sale in neighbouring state Karnataka. Kolhapur district is on the border of Karnataka and Goa states. The borders are porous and there are many routes through which anyone can enter the state.

Manufacturing and selling of Gutka is not banned in these states and banned tobacco products from these states enter Kolhapur district through this permeable border. The FDA officials suspect there is a chain of people operating to supply banned tobacco products from Karnataka into Maharashtra.

DINAMALAR NEWS

அரசு அனுமதி இல்லாமல் இயங்கி வந்த குடிநீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிறுவனத்திற்கு `சீல்’ குடியாத்தத்தில் பரபரப்பு

குடி யாத் தம், டிச.1:

குடி யாத் தம் அருகே அரசு அனு ம தி யின்றி நடத்தி வந்த குடி நீர் சுத் தி க ரிப்பு நிலை யத் திற்கு அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று அதி ர டி யாக `சீல்’ வைத் த னர்.

குடி யாத் தம் கொண் ட சமுத் தி ரம் ஊராட்சி பகுதி யில் காளி யம் மன் பட்டி பகு தியை சேர்ந்த பூபதி(45) என் ப வ ருக்கு சொந் த மான குடி நீர் சுத் தி க ரிப்பு நிலை யம் கடந்த சில வரு டங் க ளாக செயல் பட்டு வந் தது.

இங்கு சுத் த க ரிப்பு செய்யப்ப டும் தண்ணீரை கேன் க ளில் குடி யாத் தம் டவுன் மற் றும் சுற் றி வுள்ள ஓட் டல் கள், டீக் க டை கள், வீடு க ளுக்கு விற் பனை செய் யப் பட்டு வந் தது.

இவ ரது குடி நீர் சுத் தி க ரிப்பு நிலை யத் தில் இருந்து விற் பனை செய் யப் ப டும் தண் ணீர் சுத் த மா ன தாக இல்லை என வும், அடிக் கடி காய்ச் சல் ஏற் ப டு வ தா க வும் குடி யாத் தம் டவுன் மற் றும் சுற் றுப் புற கிராம மக் கள் கலெக் டர் ராம னி டம் புகார் தெரி வித் த னர்.

இதை ய டுத்து அவ ரது உத் த ர வின் பேரில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அலு வ லர் முனி ராஜ் மற் றும் செந் தில் கு மார் ஆகி யோர் நேற்று பூப திக்கு சொந் த மான குடி நீர் சுத் தி க ரிப்பு நிறு வ னத்தை ஆய்வு செய் த னர்.

அப் போது நிறு வ னத் திற்கு ஐஎஸ்ஐ சான் றி தழ் மற் றும் அரசு அனு மதி இல் லா மல் நடத்தி வந் தது தெரி ய வந் தது.

இது கு றித்து தாசில் தார் நெடு மா ற னுக்கு தக வல் தெரி விக் கப் பட் டது. அதன் பே ரில் தாசில் தார், வரு வாய் ஆய் வா ளர் கோதண் டன் மற் றும் குடி யாத் தம் டவுன் போலீ சார் அந் நி று வ னத் தில் வேலை யில் இருந்த தொழி லா ளர் களை வெளி யேற் றி னர். தொடர்ந்து குடி நீர் இணைப் பு களை துண் டித் த னர். பின் னர் கம் பெனிக்கு சீல் வைத்தனர்.

டாஸ்மாக் பார்களில் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள் திண்பண்டங்கள் கைப்பற்றி அழிப்பு

தஞ்சை, டிச.1:

தஞ்சை நக ரில் உள்ள டாஸ் மாக் பார் க ளில் விற் ப னைக்கு வைத் தி ருந்த காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள் மற் றும் திண் பண் டங் களை உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா க வி யல் துறை யி னர் நேற்று கைப் பற்றி அழித் த னர்.

தஞ்சை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா க வி யல் துறைக்கு, தஞ்சை நகர பகு தி யில் உள்ள டாஸ் மாக் கடை க ளில் பார் கள் வைக்க உரி மம் பெற விண் ணப் பம் செய் தி ருந் த னர். இந்த விண் ணப் பத் தின் அடிப் ப டை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா க வி யல் துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் ரமேஷ் பாபு தலை மை யி லான உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் சந் தி ர மோ கன், ராஜ் கு மார், கவு த மன், கிருஷ் ண கு மார், ரெங் க நா தன், மாத வன் உள் ளிட்ட குழு வி னர் நேற்று தஞ்சை நகர பகு தி யில் உள்ள டாஸ் மாக் கடை க ளில் விண் ணப் பித்த பார் க ளில் சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

இந்த சோத னை யின் போது காலா வ தி யான குளிர் பா னங் கள், கார வகை கள் வைத் தி ருப் பது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. இதை ய டுத்து அவை கள் முறை யாக கைப் பற் றப் பட்டு அழிக் கப் பட் டது. இதன் பின் னர் சுகா தார முறை யில் விற் பனை செய்ய அறி வுரை அளிக் கப் பட் டது. பொது மக் கள் டாஸ் மாக் பார் க ளில் குளிர் பா னங் கள் மற் றும் திண் பண் டங் கள் வாங் கும் போது தயா ரிப்பு தேதி மற் றும் கலா வ தி யா கும் தேதி ஆகி ய வற்றை பார்த்து வாங்கி பயன் ப டுத்த வேண் டு மென மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் ரமேஷ் பாபு தெரி வித் தார்.

தூத்துக்குடியிலிருந்து போலி உப்பு பாக்கெட் ஏற்றி வந்த லாரி பறிமுதல்

தஞ்சை, நவ.30:

தஞ்சை அருகே போலி உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு க ளு டன் லாரியை உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் நேற்று பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

தஞ்சை மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா கத் துறை மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் ரமேஷ் பாபு தலை மை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் ரங் க நா தன், சந் தி ர மோ கன், ராஜ் கு மார் ஆகி யோர் நேற்று செங் கிப் பட்டி பகு தி யில் ஆய் வுக் காக சென் ற னர். அப் போது அந்த வழி யாக வந்த லாரியை சந் தே கத் தின் பேரில் மறித்து சோதனை நடத் தி னர். அந்த லாரி தூத் துக் கு டி யில் இருந்து தஞ் சைக்கு உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை ஏற்றி வந் தது தெரி ய வந் தது. மேலும் அந்த லாரி யில் இருந்த உப் பின் தரம் குறித்து ஆய்வு செய் யப் பட் டது. இதில் தஞ்சை உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் மருந்து நிர் வா கத் துறை அலு வ ல கத் தில் இருந்து பெறப் பட்ட பதிவு எண்ணை பயன் ப டுத்தி தூத் துக் குடி மாவட் டத் தில் இருந்து போலி உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை விற் ப னைக்கு கொண்டு வந் தது கண் டு பி டிக் கப் பட் டது. இதை ய டுத்து உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய சட் டத் தின் படி அனைத்து உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு க ளை யும் அதனை ஏற்றி வந்த லாரி யை யும் அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். மேலும் உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு களை உணவு மாதிரி எடுத்து பரி சோ த னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத் துள் ள னர்.

லாரி யில் இருந்த உப்பு பாக் கெட் டு க ளில் முன் தேதி யிட்ட தயா ரிப்பு தேதி அச் ச டிக் கப் பட் டுள் ளது தெரி ய வந் துள் ளது. மேலும் பரி சோ த னைக்கு அனுப் பிய உப்பு குறித்த அறிக்கை வந்த பின் னர் உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய சட் டத் தின் படி உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என்று மாவட்ட நிய மன அலு வ லர் டாக் டர் ரமேஷ் பாபு கூறி னார்.

Rice fortification with Iron to address incidences of Anaemia

India has developed the requisite technology for the fortification rice with iron to address the incidences of Anaemia in the country
New Delhi: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through R&D support to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur has developed the requisite technology on the fortification with Iron for addressing the incidence of anaemia. This involves production of Iron fortified rice premix through extrusion process using broken rice kernels. This iron fortified rice kernel premix matches with the normal rice kernel in shape and size, and when mixed with normal rice in the ratio of 1:100 provides 50 percent of recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Iron. This technology can also be used to fortify rice with other micro nutrients, as well. The incremental cost of fortification has been estimated by IIT-Kharagpur to be upto 80 paise per kg of rice.
As per the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Y S Chowdhary, the number of steps taken by Government to take forward the rice fortification model to all parts of the country to deal with nutritional deficiency among the women and children.
A Pilot Scale Unit with a capacity of 100 kg/hr/shift has been commissioned at IIT-Kharagpur. The technology is ready for demonstration and transfer to prospective entrepreneurs. The same can be commercialized. However, for introduction in the Govt programmes such as Mid-day Meal Scheme and ICDS to address micro nutrient deficiencies in children, DBT would be willing to set up pilot scale production unit in States who would be interested. Accordingly,
Accordingly, an MoU could be executed between DBT and the respective State Government Departments. This technology was also deliberated in the “National Summit on Fortification of Food” which was an Inter Ministerial meeting convened by FSSAI on 16th and 17th October, 2016, which was attended by State and Central Government officials, Industry representatives and academia. Further, DBT’s proposal on the above issue has also been shortlisted in the Inter State Council Secretariat for the Eastern Zonal States – Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal under their social outreach programme.

55,000 bags of adulterated chilli powder seized

In the biggest seizures of its kind, a special joint task force of Agricultural Market Committee, Guntur, Vigilance, Food safety officers have seized 55,000 bags of adulterated chilli powder stacked in cold storages across the district.

With the large scale seizures, the reputation of famed Guntur chilli powder is in tatters and the chilli exports could take a hit.AMC Chairman Mannam Subba Rao said that the raids have revealed that low quality chilli powder laced with dangerous chemical extracts is being supplied for mass public consumption.

A vigilance probe earlier brought some shocking facts about the chilli trade in Guntur. Local traders have been found to be colluding with those manufacturing low quality chilli powder made by crushing stems of low quality chilli used as an additive in furnaces in China.

This powder is again mixed with dangerous chemical extract made of low quality, discoloured chillis, red oxide and cooking oil. Further investigations revealed that the powder is made at a unit in Khammam. The powder known in local parlance as “Chineese powder,” is being exported to China for use as a additive in furnaces.

“This adulterated chilli powder could prove fatal for those consuming it. This chilli powder is being repacked and supplied to hostels and hotels etc. We have seized 77 samples in raids so far and basing on the test results, we will take further action,’’ Mr. Subba Rao said.

Putting health foods under scanner

Medical history analysis of a patient being treated at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in the city for a rare neuromuscular disorder pointed fingers at a natural health food the individual had consumed for extended time.

As manufacturer’s data of substance was not available, the treating physician was forced to seek testing of the substance, indicating the need for enforcing newly introduced food safety guidelines.

Food safety experts say demands for testing are on the rise, concomitant with the growth of the nutraceutical industry which was pegged at an estimated at $ 2.8 billion in India by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry and is expected to touch $ 6.1 billion. Nutraceuticals include dietary supplements, beverages like energy drinks and functional foods like fortified foods.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published its revised guidelines for proprietary foods, which includes nutraceuticals. The guidelines placed the onus of responsibility for food safety on manufacturer but lack of vigilance and monitoring system helps manufacturers get away, says Dinesh Kumar, president of Indian Pharmacological Association and Senior Scientist at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

Pharmacological vigilance

“In the past five years, efforts have been stepped up to popularise pharmacological vigilance. However, adverse events from herbal and health foods have been beyond question as in many cases the labels with information on constituents are simply not available on the product. Therefore, the need for nutraceutical vigilance,” Dr. Kumar says.

According to Dr. Kumar, substances tested in the past have contained components, including vitamins and minerals, far exceeding required doses. He added that such foods, prescribed popularly for obesity and other lifestyle disorders besides improving general living, are now also being linked to disorders being reported from across the country with unexplained causes.

To enforce the newly formulated guidelines, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare designated NIN has set up a monitoring centre for nutraceutical safety assessment under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India.

Awareness programme

The institute will soon take up awareness programmes to convey to its consumers and physicians that they can report adverse events and suspicions at the institute. This in turn, is aimed at developing a database of such events that will help develop guidelines for safe use of such products.

Salt samples sent to lab for testing

With a video showing the colour of cooked rice turning blue after addition of salt distributed through the public distribution system(PDS) going viral on social media, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies has sent the salt samples to laboratory for testing.

It is said that the video was captured in Sagar taluk. Sadashivappa, Assistant Director, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, said that, at present, double fortified iodized salt is being distributed through PDS.

There will be slight change in the colour of the rice after addition of the salt and the information in this regard is printed on the salt packets.

The authorities have confirmed that the change in colour will not cause any health problem, he said.

Though there was no complaint from the public on the quality of salt supplied to them in the wake of the video going viral on social media, a few packets of salt from ration shops in Sagar taluk have been sent to laboratory for analysis, he said.

A. Krishnappa, District Food Safety Officer, said that the samples of salt have been sent to the State Food and Water Testing Laboratory at the Public Health Institute in Bengaluru for testing.

Widen scope of food adulteration checks

The seizure of thousands of bags of adulterated chilli powder in Guntur and Krishna districts in the last one week reveals the extent of food adulteration going on unchecked in Andhra Pradesh. On Saturday alone officials destroyed over 30,000 bags of spurious chilli powder. In the last 10 months about 60 tonnes of adulterated chilli powder was seized. There were also several cases of adulterated turmeric and other spices, besides cereals, millets, atta, edible oils, coffee, tea, and even rock salt. In fact, milk has emerged as the most commonly adulterated food.

Adulteration of chilli powder is a matter of serious concern as the spice is widely used in Andhra Pradesh, which is known for its pungent pickles and 'hot' cuisine. Also, the chilli variety grown in the state is unique in its flavour, texture and capsaicin content that has earned it the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This Longhum or Guntur variety has a huge demand in the international market and frequent cases of adulteration will bring ill-repute to the state, affecting exports. The chilli powder seized by officials is declared as unfit for human consumption.

The ever-increasing menace of food adulteration notwithstanding, the state government did precious little to curb the menace. Officials have been simply raiding shops, registering cases and sending the accused to jail, without bothering to address the root causes. The laws governing food adulteration are strong but the official will-power appears to be weak. The state does not have the bare minimum infrastructure to keep a tab on unscrupulous traders. It does not bother to maintain quality control right from the harvest stage. Ironically, Andhra Pradesh with a population of about 4.5 crore and a geographical area of 1.60 lakh sq km does not have more than a three dozen food safety inspectors. Kerala, which is three times smaller in area, has a food safety brigade 10 times more in strength.

Worse, AP does not have a sophisticated food testing laboratory at the state level. Many local bodies do not have in-house biological and chemical laboratories for on-the-spot tests of food samples. Mere physical inspection of the stocks will not help in curbing the menace as adulterators are turning smarter. Food safety inspectors should be well-trained in the art of detection of even micro adulterants. They should be given modern equipment to outsmart adulterators.

There is an immediate need to broaden the scope of the term 'adulteration' so as to include even the 'incidental' adulterants like heavy metals, pesticide and chemical residues, and aflatoxins, mycotoxins and other microbial elements including E coli and Salmonella. There should also be a clause on contaminants like rodent droppings and mud pellets. Officials simply check for 'intentional' adulterants and let go traders if the product is free from any added substance. The fact, however, is incidental adulterants are as dangerous to health as intentional adulterants. Only the state-of-the-art laboratories can detect incidental adulterants.

India is a signatory to the food standards as fixed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The list includes chilli pods, chilli paste and chilli powder. Unfortunately, most of the stock available in the local markets does not come anywhere near the standards fixed by the FAO body. Manufacturers should be directed to declare even the incidental adulterants on the package. The food product should be subject to a though laboratory test for such adulterants. The product should be discarded if it fails the food safety and standard parameters. Incidentally, the Codex Alimentarius Commission makes it mandatory for manufacturers to reveal the contents of pesticides and other incidental adulterants too.