Jan 17, 2017
FSSAI issues draft guidelines for direct selling FBOs
Food regulator FSSAI today issued a draft guidelines for direct selling companies engaged in food business, proposing mandatory licenses from either central or state authority, besides spelling out mechanisms for consumer grievance redressal and product recalls.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought comments from stakeholders by February 2 on its "draft guidelines for operations of direct selling food business operators (FBOs)".
In its first guidelines for direct selling FBOs to ensuring food safety, FSSAI said: "...It is necessary to address all ways in which food is supplied to consumers, including sale of food by direct selling companies."
Stating that food supplied through direct selling must meet same requirements as food sold in shops, the regulator said: "It is necessary to ensure that direct selling FBOs should have mechanism to help the general public to address the issues to consume, safe and wholesome food supplied through operation of this model."
According to the guideline, a direct FBO has been defined as an entity selling food product directly to consumers or through network of their agents, representatives, consultants, direct distributors.
FSSAI said direct selling FBOs would require to take license from it for activities related to the business, including manufacturing, import, distribution and retailing among others.
If the FBOs are operating in more than one state, then they would need to take licenses from the central licensing authority for their network of agents and salesman.
As per the draft guidelines, the FBOs would have to maintain proper records either manually or electronically of their business dealings, with complete details of their products, services, terms of contract, prices, income plan and details of direct selling agents among others.
On the issue of consumer of complaints, FSSAI said the direct selling FBOs would be responsible for maintaining effective grievance redressal mechanism and will have to address issues within seven working days.
Moreover, the FBOs will be liable for grievances arising out of sale of products by them or their agents.
On products recalls, the regulator proposed direct selling FBOs and their agents should immediately comply with recall orders issued by FSSAI and provide details to the authority.
The FBOs would also have to submit an undertaking stating that their agents would comply with Food Safety and Standards Act and rules and regulations made under this law. They would be liable to sampling of food product at any point.
Last year, FSSAI had also issued draft guidelines for food business operators in e-commerce sector.
Beware, you’re not served what you have asked for
A recently-published study of the National Institute of Nutrition highlights risky practices among street food vendors.
If street food is an irresistible indulgence, choose with care where your palate is treated, warns a recently-published study from the National Institute of Nutrition.
The institute in the past has pointed out through several studies the risk of eating street food, including serious bacterial contamination, but in its recent study has listed risky practices among street food handlers. These practices were determined after examining 463 samples of food collected from across the city, and the way they were handled from storage to serving.
Accordingly, testing for food-borne pathogens revealed that most of the carrots used in the samples and over three-quarters of onion — two commonly-used vegetables — were contaminated with the bacteria escherichia coli. The bacteria, known to be a part of the human gut flora, are expelled in faecal matter. Though not all, some types of E.coli can cause serious illnesses.
The study was published in the British Food Journal.
The study is part of the institute’s larger efforts to improve food safety standards in the city. Partnering with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and civil society organisations, researchers at the institute have developed a training module based on the findings. A few vendors have also been trained. The training suggestions are low-cost measures to get more vendors to adopt them.
Among the common high-risk practices examined in the study, which have been addressed in the training module, researchers found that pani puri vendors, who did not wash their hands with soap, had higher risk of contaminating the delicacy with fecal coliforms like E.coli. In all, about 150 samples of pani puri were analysed.
Researchers also estimated that leaving peeled or cut fruits and vegetables uncovered, made them 13 times riskier to consume than ingredients well stored.
Besides street food, studies in the past have also assessed quality of ice creams sold by pushcart vendors.
A study published last year by food and nutrition researchers of Osmania University found that about a third of samples tested were contaminated due to poor hygienic conditions at point of preparation and subsequent inadequacies in handling.
Watch your plate: Doctors warn against eating out
HYDERABAD: Next time you try a new restaurant, do check if they have a food license from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation(GHMC).
After a series of crackdown against restaurants revealed how they were dishing out unhealthy food, city doctors have warned of serious health concerns. In the past few months, authorities in the twin cities have sealed about 75 hotels and restaurants.
Warning foodies of serious health implications, both short term and long term, Dr P Avinash, a paediatrician who treats about 3-4 food poisoning cases a month said, "These foods primarily infect the stomach with bad bacteria and kill the good bacteria. The bad bacteria then spread to the other parts of the gut causing infections and allergic reactions."
Many street vendors reuse the same oil to cook snacks, eating such food can also cause cancer, say doctors. "The soot that results from the over burning of cooking oil is stuck to food and injecting it regularly might lead to various types of cancers," Dr K Sreekanth, consultant onco-surgeon with Yashoda hospital.
Many customers think a hotel with a good ambience is a safe place to eat. But M Devender, food inspector of Secunderabad Cantonment Board says, the major issues they come across are hygiene of the kitchens in the hotels. Even though the serving area is well maintained, the kitchen and the storage places fall below the prescribed standards, he said.
Eating food outside on regular basis is also harmful for your liver, says Dr Sanjoy Paul, a diebetologist with Apollo Sugar. "About 20 per cent of the patients that come to me have food poisoning. Most of it is caused by the nitrous compounds present in the foods. Apart from minor problems like nausea and vomiting, these compounds can also lead to liver damage and jaundice."
One best way to solve this problem is, GHMC should make it mandatory to post all the food establishments to post their business licenses and also food inspectors food safety checkups on the wall at the entrance.Lakshma Reddy
In a city with huge migrant and floating population, it seems almost impossible to discourage people from eating food in restaurants and street food carts and the increasing demand only shows that the business is going to thrive in the future.
However, the GHMC, with a severe staff crunch, is struggling to put a check on the malpractices followed at the ever-growing numbers of food centres in the city. Ravi Kiran, assistant commissioner, GHMC said, "There is a requirement of 26 food inspectors in the GHMC limits and we just have four. Even though we are doing our best, it is still not enough. We urge the public check for the GHMC license and avoid eating at places that lack permission."
Eatery sealed for lack of hygiene
Noida: A restaurant in Noida's Sector 18 was sealed on Monday after a team from the food safety and drug department (FSDA), Lucknow, conducted a raid in the eatery for operating in "unhygienic conditions."
According to sources, a team from FSDA raided the Top Breads restaurant and another one on the premises of Radisson Blu Hotel, Sector 18.
The team led by FSDA additional commissioner Pradeep Kumarcollected five samples of food ingredients from Top Breads and three from Radisson Blu. The Top Breads samples were found 'unhygienic'. "The bread, cream, butter and the base of the cakes are being prepared in unhygienic conditions here," Kumar said.
Tarun Chopra, owner of Top Breads, told TOI that the restaurant has been operating for the past 19 years and the management has applied online for a licence from FSDA.
Delhi govt may raid restaurants in CP, Khan Market over hygiene
The Delhi government will launch a food surveillance programme starting Monday to determine quality and hygiene of the fare served in restaurants and fast food chains across the city.
The drive will cover major food hubs as well as sale of packaged food items like chips and juices. In the first phase, target areas to be covered under surveillance will be Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar and a few others, sources in the department said. The purpose of the programme is to ensure that eateries are conforming to conditions laid out in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
"It will have a great preventive effect in the food market regarding unsafe and unhealthy food all across the national Capital, including leading food chains here," said Dr Mrinalini Darswal, food commissioner,department of food safety.
According to Darswal, this is one of the most ambitious programmes undertaken so far and the department has tied up with nine private laboratories with 'microbiological' trial facilities. Microbiological tests can detect pathogens and spoilage organisms in food which a normal chemical test facility cannot scrutinise. Earlier, the department was conducting only chemical testing due to shortage of staff and food inspectors. "We have started our microbiological food testing labs which can detect bacteria, fungus and virus inside a food item. The officials can also write their comments in reports on the kitchen hygiene of these food eateries, besides sample tests," Darswal said. The commissioner said food officials will pick thousands of food samples everyday from the market irrespective of the size and brand of an outlet. "The officials from private labs will pick up surveillance samples (for preliminary testing) and if these food samples fails at in the initial testing then the government food inspectors will pick legal samples for prosecution purpose," she said.
Food fix
Food officials said the programme was planned after they received complaints from consumers against popular food chains operating in the city. The officials said the raids will include cooperatives such as Mother Dairy, transnational food chains like McDonald's or Pizza Hut, and domestic businesses like Haldiram or Bikanerwala. "Our sole aim is to ensure hygiene and standard quality served to the people by these eateries," said Darswal.
Reacting to the programme on food safety, spokesperson for Domino's Pizza said they have always "maintained highest quality standards" and strictly adhere to all policies applicable on the food business. "We always look for areas for continuous improvement in our operations, supply chain and storage. As a practice, in case of a customer complaint, we closely investigate the matter and immediately take necessary measures," the spokesperson said.
Queries to other popular city food chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonalds did not elicit any response.
The food and drug department of Delhi carries out surprise inspections and raids of food establishments and draws samples of food articles that can be potentially adulterated, substandard or misbranded. However, in the programme beginning Monday the scale will be wider, said officials.
As per the official process, when the department receives a complaint about an adulterated food item, a report is filed and marked to the designated district officer, after which the officer collects samples. The samples are sent for testing where the food analyst supervises the work and sends the reports back to the department concerned. Officials said the programme is part of a larger initiative to spruce up food safety standards in the Capital. "A proposal has been sent to the Central government for commissioning more food laboratories and revamping the existing ones. The Centre has agreed to fund for state-ofart food laboratories," officials at food department said.
The FSSAI recently trained at least 23,000 street vendors all across Delhi for food hygiene. "This was done under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and all the street vendors have been registered, trained food hygiene and provided with a certificate," officials said.
Jan 16, 2017
Spinach in Hyderabad markets richer in insecticide than in iron?
To carry out the study, researchers G Geetha and C Sreenivas, collected samples of spinach from three main vegetable markets Gudimalkapur, Mehdipatnam and Shamshabad. While around 11 pesticides were found in the spinach samples, around five pesticides were frequently found in all the sample: chlorpyrifos, triazophos, cypermethrin, deltamethrin + triazophos and profenophos.
However, it is difficult to declare the pesticide residues as unsafe as there is no Maximum Residue Limit set for spinach by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The FSSAI has set MRL standards for only a handful of vegetables like soyabean, onion, ginger, okra and green chilly that are exported to other countries. But, if the pesticide residue found in spinach is compared to MRL set for other vegetables, it shows that the residues in spinach are much higher. For example, MRL set by FSSAI for chlorpyrifos is 0.5 milligram/kilogram (mg/kg) for onion. It was found to be as high as 6.3 mg/kg in spinach. The EU standard for triazophos in onion is 0.2 mg/kg which was found as high as 6.8mg/kg in spinach. The Codex Alimentarius of Food and Agriculture Organisation set cypermethrin standard at 0.1mg/kg for onion which was detected at 3mg/kg for spinach.
Dr Shashi Bhushan Vemuri, former head of All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues, said, “None of the pesticides found in the spinach samples should have been actually found as their usage on vegetables is not recommended. Spinach is often sprayed with pesticides just before it is brought into markets as the vegetable has big and soft leaves.”
Junk food, sugary drinks may invite higher taxes
HIGHLIGHTS
- Government is mulling an additional fat tax on sugary beverages and packaged food.
- This is seen as an effort to curb the growing incidence of diseases like diabetes and obesity.
- There were 69.1 million cases of diabetes in India in 2015.
NEW DELHI: Junk food and sugar-sweetened beverages may attract higher taxes in the upcoming budget. In an effort to curb the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity, the government is mulling an additional fat tax on sugary beverages and packaged food high on salt and saturated fats.
The proposal was made by the group of secretaries on health, sanitation and urban development in a recent meeting with PM Narendra Modi to discuss budget proposals, an official said. The 11-member group has also suggested that proceeds from such higher taxes be used to increase the government's spending on health.
"I n our presentation to the PM, we suggested higher taxes on junk food and sugary beverages because consumption of such products is growing fast and fuelling several lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disorders. We have also suggested that revenue earned from such tax be invested in health schemes," said a member of the gro up.
T he proposal for higher taxes on such products has been in the pipeline since April last year. The government had also constituted an inter-ministerial committee headed by the health secretary to deliberate on the proposal to impose stringent measures including higher taxes and restrictions on endorsements and advertisements of such products on TV, mainly during prime time . "The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is already working on mechanisms to regulate consumption of junk food. This is crucial given the growing disease burden in India," health secretary C K Mishra said, adding the ministry was in support of the proposal made by the group of secretaries.
Of late, FSSAI has issued several guidelines to regulate junk food, including those on sale of such food in schools, and packaging norms. India's diabetes burden and the obesity problem have assumed serious levels. Experts blame these on the consumption of sugary beverages and junk food. Every year, nearly 5.8 million Indians die of heart and lung diseases, cancer and diabetes. In 2015, 69.1 million cases of diabetes were diagnosed in India.
This kind of tax also exists in many other countries which has resulted in people ... Read MoreCaptain Zed
Th e disease burden is also fast increasing among children. Globally, the trend is high among children under five years of age with at least 41 million found to be obese or overweight in 2014. While the prevalence rate of obesity in this age group is still low in India at less than 5%, the WHO suggests it is rising at the fastest pace among all developing countries. Between 1990 and 2014, the number of overweight children in low and middle-income countries more than doubled from 7.5 million to 15.5 million. In 2014, almost half (48%) of all overweight and obese children under 5 years lived in Asia and a quarter (25%) in Africa.
"High consumption of sugary beverages contributes to multiple metabolic disorders due to accrual of body fat, as well as directly through excess nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), which impair critical functioning of the liver, pancreas and cellular functions," said Dr Anoop Misra, chairman of Fortis CDOC Centre of Diabetes. The government's move is in line with the WHO which has been urging its member countries to regulate eating habits.
Jan 15, 2017
Watch out what you eat, it may harm your health
A day after Food & Drug Administration (FDA) found adulteration in common food items sold in the city markets, activists and citizens have demanded better monitoring of the food and swift action against the erring manufacturers and traders for selling adulterated food.
Laboratory tests conducted by the Nashik division of FDA found presence of nickel in vanaspati ghee and oil, soluble colours in chilli powder, urea in milk and bacteria in packaged drinking water. Activists and citizens told TOI that as buyers, they are unable to detect whether the food is safe for consumption. Unless the government deals the issue with an iron hand, people will be at the receiving end, they contended.
Consumer activists claimed that the FDA action against these spurious food items is just an eyewash and officials were not making any sincere efforts to curb food adulteration. They claimed that most vegetables are mixed with colours so that they look fresh and fruits are ripened with help of some chemicals.
Vilas Deole, secretary of Nashik Zilla Grahak Panchayat, said the worst part is that the consumer does not have the right to lodge a complaint if he suspects that the product he has purchased is adulterated. "The departments concerned take the information from customers and only give assurance to investigate the matter. Such complaints do not reach any logical conclusion," Deole added.
It is also mandatory for the civic administration to conduct checks of the stables from where milk is sold twice a month. However, the departments concerned are least interested in conducting the checks, he alleged.
Activists said buffaloes were injected with steroids by some owners, which ultimately lead to poor quality milk. The activists cited reports in TOI according to which a bench of the Supreme Court referred to reports of the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) of 2011, which said that over 68% of the milk sold in the market was adulterated.
Many citizens said there were certain brands in the market which sold genuine products. Even when the price of the product of different companies is the same, the shopkeepers keep only a particular brand for sale from which they can earn more profit. Many citizens suggested that FDA should start a free laboratory in the city, where any person buying a product can get it tested to check if it is safe for consumption.
FDA officials said they take up continuous action. However, the staff crunch prevented them to take up more cases.
Jan 14, 2017
Diet diary: The pitfalls of tampering with our food supply
Milk in India is referred to as the elixir of life but many people are increasingly shifting to dairy-free and vegan diets.
Some of the most profound changes in our food supply have had a negative impact on our health. Here is a list of a few:
Modification of wheat
The alarming increase in gluten-related disorders and celiac disease in the last decade has led to much speculation on the causes, with the majority of the blame apportioned to the new cereal hybrids introduced into our diet. This implies that changes in the gluten containing cereals themselves have been the principal cause. Sophisticated hybridisation techniques have been used to produce new strains of modern wheat, which could be high-yielding, high-gluten, disease resistant or pest resistant. These have made their way into our food supply in the absence of human safety studies. It is believed that these newer varieties are highly immunogenic compared to earlier varieties. Their effects can be diverse ranging from mild nutritional deficiencies to disorders like digestive problems, migraines, acne, skin conditions, mental health to diseases like auto-immune, growth & cancers. Very often symptoms can be mild and eventually serious diseases can manifest later.
Milk
Milk in India is referred to as the elixir of life but many people are increasingly shifting to dairy-free and vegan diets. Increased demand for milk has led to cross breeding and the creation of genetic variants. There are two varieties of cows based on their genes: the high yielding ones that produce A1 milk protein and the other, which produce A2 milk protein. Studies suggest that milk from cows with A2 genes is far healthier than that of their A1 counterparts. Evidence linking A1 milk to ill-health is building. These include conditions like type -1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (IHD), delayed psychomotor development among children, autism, schizophrenia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) auto-immune diseases and intolerance. Those with digestive disorders like stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, and on long-term medication or antibiotic treatment, are at higher risk.
Refining of oils
In the aspiration for healthy eating, almost every urban household today has switched to refined vegetable oils. The first casualty has been traditional cooking fats like desi ghee and coconut oil. But abandoning traditional fat in favour of modern oils has also led to radical decline in health. If statistics are to be believed, heart disease, diabetes and cancer rates are growing exponentially. Refining of oils involves natural oilseeds being heated to a very high temperatures (often over 200°C) and oil is then extracted through a solvent extraction process. This high heat destroys most of the essential fatty acids (the reason why one needs fat), natural vitamins including Vitamin E and antioxidants. Even lecithin, a fat emulsifier present in oil, is sold separately to the food industry. The oil thus obtained, ripped off its antioxidants tends to become very unstable and prone to rancidity. Therefore, then it is further subjected to a process of hydrogenation to increase its shelf life. This process is seriously harmful as it causes formation of “trans fatty acids” which increase risk to coronary artery disease.
Refining of sugar: HFCS
Refined sugar has been associated with not only an increase in diabetes, heart disease and cancer but also digestive and immune function disorders. Refined sugar is cheap, has better shelf life and texture and is easy to use. This has not been without serious repercussions. Sugar’s role in metabolic diseases like diabetes is well known. But its impact is far greater. In excess, sugar can lead to coronary heart disease, obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), lowered immunity, impaired brain function and increased risk to cancer. Sugar, in fact has been found to be addictive in nature, using the same neurological pathways as narcotics to hit the pleasure centre of the brain. Worse still, a new combination of sugars (50% fructose and 50% glucose), also called high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), has found its way as a sweetener and significantly increases blood fat levels, which eventually can lead to fatty liver, pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Pesticides, preservatives and undesirable processing
Increased intake of chemicals including chemical pesticides, preservatives, additives, stabilisers and solvents in our food have been associated with high risk of health problems including auto-immune diseases, neurological problems, reproductive and birth defects and cancers to name a few.
Vadodara Municipal Corporation teams check undhiyu, jalebi samples for quality
VADODARA: Teams of food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) conducted extensive checking of various delicacies consumed during Uttarayan. Samples of food that looked substandard quality were collected by the officers
The officials began the drive since early this week, particularly on Thursday and Friday. Since Thursday, shops in the Waghodiya Road, Alkapuri, Tarsali, Karelibaug, Ajwa Road, New Sama Road, Khanderao Market, Warasiya, Sanjaynagar, Kadakbazaar and TP-13 areas of the city were checked.
Officials said that 27 samples of food products believed to be of substandard quality were collected during the drive since Thursday. The samples included those of prepared food items as well as raw material. The officers also destroyed 20 kg material during the drive.
Several food business operators were also issued warnings to maintain hygienic conditions at their shops. Sources said that since undhiyu-jalebi and chiki were consumed in large quantities during Uttarayan, preparations to make them began well in advance by those selling them.
HC: Sub-Inspectors can’t order closure of hotels
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday held that police sub-inspectors do not have the power to order closure of hotels after 11 pm citing the menace of antisocial activity. The court issued the order while considering a petition filed by R Ravikumar, owner of Sree Bhadra Hotel, challenging an order by the Sakthikulangara SI to close the hotel at night.
The petitioner argued that he had been operating the hotel with the necessary licence and certificate. According to the petitioner, the police official issued the order citing traffic congestion and increasing anti-social activities in the area.
The SI, meanwhile, submitted that shops and retail outlets at Sakthikulangara, Kavanadu and the nearby areas were directed not to function between 11 pm and 4 am, following complaints of theft. Recently, burglars had targeted some textile shops and bakeries. The petitioner submitted that no government agency, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, had imposed any restriction on operating at night.
Observing that the petitioner did not commit any offence and no crime was registered against him, the court stated, “anti-social activities by a few individual cannot be a ground to direct a hotel to close down after 11 pm. If anyone commits offence, it is up to the police to investigate, and to take measures to avert such incidents in future. The SI issued the order in violation of the principles of natural justice.”
FSSAI inspection sheds light on lack of cleanliness at food court
SHIVAMOGGA:The team of senior officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that had conducted an inspection at the vegetarian food court adjacent to Gopi Circle in the city on Thursday and on Friday has expressed displeasure over the failure to maintain cleanliness.
The Shivamogga City Corporation had developed the food court at the conservancy lane adjacent to Gopi Circle in 2011. Mobile canteens operating on Kamala Nehru College Road were shifted to the food court. At present, the food court has 28 stalls.
K. Krishnappa, Food Safety Officer, FSSAI, told The Hindu that the inspection was conducted in the wake of complaints from customers about the quality of the food served and the overall lack of cleanliness.
During the inspection, it was found that many stalls had not made proper arrangements to wash dishes and provide clean drinking water for customers.
The owners of these stalls have been directed to take measures to clean the dishes with hot water. The workers, including the cook, waiters and the cleaners, have been directed to wear toques, aprons and gloves. The owners of the stalls have been asked to dispose the solid waste generated at the stalls regularly. The owners of all the 28 stalls have been directed to get their registration with FSSAI renewed and to arrange for a health check-up for all their workers from a certified medical practitioner and submit a report in prescribed form in this regard by the end of the month.
Mr. Krishnappa said that stern action would be initiated as per law against stall owners who fail to comply. The FSSAI would organise a workshop on personal hygiene for workers serving with the food court, he added.
During the inspection, some customers complained about a foul smell emanating from the drainage at the food court. It was found that there was a leak in the drain. The FSSAI has written to Shivamogga City Corporation to repair the drainage, he added.
தினம் தினம் டீத்தூள்; பொங்கலுக்கு உருண்டை வெல்லம்: கோவையை கதி கலங்க வைக்கும் சீஸன் கால உணவுப்பொருட்கள் கலப்படம்
வண்ண வண்ண நிறங்களில் நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை, வெல்லம்.
பொங்கல், சித்திரைக்கனி போன்ற சீஸன் காலங்களில் வெல்லம், கனிவகைகளில் கலப்படும் செய்வதும், அன்றாடம் தேயிலைத்தூளில் கலப்படம் செய்வதும் கோவையில் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.
தற்போது கோவை மார்க்கெட்டுகளில் உணவுக் கலப்பட தடுப்பு பிரிவினரால் கலப்பட வெல்லம் குறித்த ஆய்வு தொடர்ந்து நடத்தப்பட்டு பரபரப்புக்குள்ளாகி உள்ளது.
கடந்த 2 நாட்கள் முன்பு கோவை தாமஸ் வீதியில் உள்ள 2 குடோன்களில் கலப்படம் அச்சுவெல்லம் 720 கிலோவை கைப்பற்றியுள்ளனர் உணவு கலப்பட தடுப்புப்பிரிவு அதிகாரிகள். அதையடுத்து செல்வபுரம் பைபாஸ் சாலையில் உள்ள ஒரு குடோனில் 900 கிலோ கலப்பட உருண்டை வெல்லம் (மண்டை வெல்லம்) பிடிபட்டிருக்கிறது. இதற்கு சில நாட்கள் முன்பு உடையாம்பாளையம் சின்னவேடம்பட்டி அருகே ஒரு குடோனில் 1.5 டன் கலப்பட தேயிலைத்தூளைப் பிடித்துள்ளனர் அதிகாரிகள். இதையொட்டி பல்வேறு தகவல்களை 'தி இந்து'வுக்காக பகிர்ந்து கொண்டனர் கலப்பட தடுப்புப்பிரிவு அலுவலர்கள்.
அதன் விவரம் வருமாறு:
''45 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு வரை அஸ்கா சர்க்கரை என்பது ஓரளவுக்கு வசதி படைத்தவர்கள் பயன்படுத்தும் இனிப்பாக இருந்து வந்தது. அப்போதெல்லாம் ஏழை எளியவர்களுக்கான டீ, காபியாக இருந்தாலும் விழாக்கால இனிப்புப் பலகாரங்களாக இருந்தாலும் அது நாட்டுச்சக்கரை (கரும்புச்சர்க்கரை), பனங்கருப்பட்டி, வெல்லம் போன்றவற்றைக் கொண்டே தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு வந்தது. அப்போது சாதா டீ, அஸ்கா டீ என்று தேநீர் கடைகளில் விற்கப்பட்டும் வந்தது.
அஸ்கா சர்க்கரை, நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரையை விட விலை மிக அதிகம் என்பதால் அதற்கேற்ப அஸ்கா டீயின் விலை அதிகமாக இருந்து வந்தது. கரும்பு பயிர் செய்யும் விவசாயிகளே அங்கே கரும்பாலைகள் பூட்டி நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரையை தயாரித்து வந்தனர். பிழியப்படும் கரும்புச்சாற்றில் தூசிகள், மண், கற்கள் போன்றவற்றை வடிகட்டியே ஆரம்பத்தில் காய்ச்சி வந்தனர். பிறகு அந்த தூசி, மண், கல் போன்றவற்றை அகற்ற சோடியம் பை கார்பனேட் என்ற வேதிப்பொருளை பயன்படுத்த ஆரமபித்தனர்.
இந்த வேதிப்பொருள் சுத்திகரிப்புப் பணியை மட்டும் செய்து வந்தது, நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரைக்கு கொஞ்சம் வெண்மையைத் தர ஆரம்பித்தது. அந்த நிறத்தைப் பார்த்து அதுதான் சுத்தப்படுத்தப்பட்ட நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை என்று அதையே விரும்பி வாங்க ஆரம்பித்தார்கள் மக்கள். சந்தையில் இத்தகைய நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரைக்கு மவுசு கூடக்கூட ரசாயனம் கலக்காத நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரை கேட்பாரற்றுப் போனது. எனவே கரும்பாலை பூட்டுபவர்கள் எல்லாம் நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரையை வெளுப்பாக்குவதில் கூடுதல் கவனம் செலுத்த ஆரம்பித்தனர். அதற்காக சோடியம் ஹைட்ரோ சல்பைடு பயன்படுத்தினர்.
இந்த வேதிப் பொருளைப் பொறுத்தவரை எந்த அளவுக்கு குறிப்பிட்ட பொருளில் சேர்க்கிறோமோ அந்த அளவுக்கு அப்பொருள் வெளுப்பாகும். இத்துடன் சேஃபோலேட் என்ற வேதிப்பொருளும் சேர்க்கத் தொடங்கினார்கள். ஆட்டுத்தோல் முடியை அகற்றுவதற்கு தோல் வியாபாரிகள் இந்த வேதிப்பொருளை பயன்படுத்துவது வழக்கம். இந்த வேதிப்பொருளை எந்த அளவுக்கு சேர்க்கிறோமே அந்த அளவுக்கு ஆட்டுத்தோலில் ரோமம் ஒட்டாமல் வந்துவிடும். அதேபோல் நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை மற்றும் வெல்லத்திற்கு வெளுப்பான கவர்ச்சிகரமான வண்ணத்தைத் தருவதும் இந்த வேதிப்பொருள்தான் என்பதால் அதை பயன்படுத்த ஆரம்பித்தனர்.
இப்படி வேதிப்பொருள் இருப்பதும், அளவுக்கு அதிகமாக இருப்பதும் கூட உணவுக் கலப்பட குற்றத்தில் வந்துவிடுகிறது. அதையெல்லாம் ஒரு காலத்தில் ஆய்வு செய்து பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு வந்தது. காலப்போக்கில் கரும்பு விவசாயிகள் தன் விளைபொருளை சர்க்கரை ஆலைகளுக்கே பெரும்பகுதி கொடுக்கத் தொடங்க, அஸ்கா சர்க்கரையின் வரவு மிகுதியாகி அதன் விலை குறைந்தது. அதையே மக்களும் பயன்படுத்த தொடங்கினர். நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரை தேவை என்பது குறைந்து தேவையே இல்லை என்ற நிலையை எட்டிவிட்டது. அதனால் அஸ்கா சர்க்கரையை விட இதன் விலை கூடுதலாகி விட்டது.
அதேசமயம் ஐயப்ப பூஜை, மார்கழி மாதம் கோயில்கள் பூஜை, தைப்பொங்கல் போன்றவைகளுக்கு நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை, வெல்லத்தின் தேவை சீஸனுக்கு சீஸன் இருந்து வந்தது. கார்த்திகை, மார்கழி, தை மாதங்களில் மட்டும் இதற்கான தேவை மிகுதியாக வகையாக வந்தது வினை. கரும்பு விவசாயிகள் சர்க்கரை ஆலைகளுக்கே கரும்பைக் கொடுத்து விட்டு நாட்டுச் சர்க்கரை காய்ச்சும் பணியை செய்யாததால் அதில் ஏஜண்ட்டுகள் நுழைந்துவிட்டனர்.
(கோவை கடைகளில் உணவுக் கலப்பட தடுப்பு அதிகாரிகளின் ஆய்வு)
கரும்பு விளையும் பகுதிகளில் பெயரளவுக்கு கரும்பு வாங்கி, அதை கொப்பரைகளில் இட்டு காய்ச்சுவதோடு, அதில் அஸ்கா சர்க்கரையையும் கலக்க ஆரம்பித்தனர். நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை ரூ.65 , ரூ.70 என்று விற்கும் போது அஸ்கா சர்க்கரை ரூ.35, ரூ.30க்கும் கூட கிடைப்பது அவர்களுக்கு வசதியாகி விட்டது. இப்படி தயாராகும் வெல்லங்கள் முந்தைய நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரையின் வெண்மையை விட கூடுதலாக இருப்பதால் ரொம்பவும் வசதியாகப் போய்விட்டது.
சுத்தமான வெல்லம் 3 வெல்லம் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டிய இடத்தில் அரை வெல்லம் பயன்படுத்தினாலே அந்த இனிப்பு வந்துவிடுகிறது என்பதால் இந்த அஸ்கா வெல்லத்தையே வாங்கி மக்களும் பயன்படுத்த ஆரம்பித்தனர்.
இந்தக்காலத்தில் பெரும்பாலான சர்க்கரை நோயாளியாகி சர்க்கரை பயன்படுத்தக்கூடாது என்ற நிலைக்கு ஆளாகி விட்டனர். அவர்களை நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை, பனங் கருப்பட்டி, வெல்லம் போன்றவற்றை பயன்படுத்தவும் பரிந்துரை செய்கிறார்கள் மருத்துவர்கள். அதனால் மக்கள் பலரும் அஸ்கா சர்க்கரையிலிருந்து நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை மாறிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நேரத்தில் நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரையிலும், வெல்லத்திலும் அஸ்கா கலப்படமாக புகுந்தால் எப்படிப்பட்ட விபரீதம். அதனால்தான் பொங்கல் சீஸன் காலங்களில் குறிவைத்து நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை, வெல்லம் போன்ற உணவுப்பொருட்களின் மீது மிகுதியாக கவனம் செலுத்துகிறோம்'' என தெரிவித்தார் இந்த கலப்பட வெல்ல பறிமுதலில் ஈடுபட்ட உணவு கலப்பட பிரிவு அலுவலர் ஒருவர்.
அவர் தொடர்ந்து கூறுகையில் ''இப்போதும் சித்தா, ஆயுர்வேதம் போன்ற மருந்துகள் தயாரிக்க நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரையை இதே ஆட்கள்தான் தயாரித்துக் கொடுக்கிறார்கள். அது எல்லாம் ரசாயனப் பொருட்களோ, அஸ்காவோ கலக்காமல் சுத்தமாகத்தான் தருகிறார்கள். அப்படியிருக்க இதை மட்டும் ஏன் இப்படி செய்கிறீர்கள்? வாங்கி வைக்கிறீர்கள் என்று கடைக்காரர்களிடம் கேட்டால், 'என்ன சார் செய்வது, நாங்கள் நல்லதை வைத்தாலும் இதைத்தான் விரும்பி வாங்குகிறார்கள் மக்கள். அதனால் அதையே வைக்க வேண்டியிருக்கிறது!' என்கிறார்கள். நாங்கள் பல கடைகளில் நின்று பார்த்தாலும் வியாபாரிகள் சொல்வது உண்மையாகவும் இருக்கிறது. இதில் மக்களாக விழிப்புணர்வு அடைந்தால்தான் உண்டு!' என்றார்.
நாட்டுச்சர்க்கரை, வெல்லம் முக்கியமாக கோவையில் 3 குடோன்களிலிருந்துதான். அதேபோல் மேட்டுப்பாளையம், பொள்ளாச்சி என முக்கிய நகரங்களில் எல்லாம் குடோன்கள் உள்ளது. அவற்றுக்கு ஈரோடு, சேலம், நாமக்கல் பகுதியிலிருந்தே வெல்லம் சப்ளையாகிறது. அதில் சித்தோடு சந்தை பெரிய சந்தையாகும். அங்கேயே இதை தடுத்தால் மற்ற நகரங்களுக்குள் இது நுழையாது என்கிறார்கள் அதிகாரிகள். வெல்லத்தில் அஸ்கா மற்றும் வேதிப்பொருட்கள் கலப்படத்தால் ஈரல் நோய்கள், குடல் தொந்தரவுகள், சர்க்கரை, கொழுப்பு கூடுதல் போன்றவை ஏற்படுவதாக தெரிவிக்கிறார்கள் மருத்துவர்கள்.
'வெல்லமாவது எப்போதாவது, வருடத்திற்கு ஒரு முறைதான் - பொங்கலுக்கு, பஞ்சாமிர்தம், அரவாணைப்பாயசம் போன்றவற்றின் மூலம்தான் எடுத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள். டீத்தூள் அப்படியில்லை. ஒரு நாளைக்கு சராசரியாக மனிதன் 4 முறையாவது டீ சாப்பிடுகிறான். அதில் உலர வைத்த ஆவாரம் இலை, தேங்காய் பித்து, முந்திரி, புளியங்கொட்டை தோல் என பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள். இவற்றை ஒரே இடத்தில் வைத்திருந்தால் கலப்படத்திற்கானது என வழக்கு பாய்ந்து விடும் என்பதால் சுத்தமான தேயிலை தூளை ஒரு குடோனிலும், அதில் கலக்கவுள்ள பொருளை வேறொரு குடோனிலும் வைத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள்.
(அதிகாரிகள் கைப்பற்றிய கலப்பட வெல்லம் )
இரண்டையும் பக்காவாக ரெடி பண்ணிவிட்டு, கடைகளுக்கு தேவை எதுவோ, அந்த அளவு மட்டும் ஓர் இரவில் ஒரு குடோனில் வைத்து கலக்கி பாக்கெட் செய்கிறார்கள். அதை அடுத்தநாள் காலையில் சைக்கிளிலோ, மொபட்டிலோ கொண்டு போய் கடை, கடையாய் போட்டுவிட்டு வந்து விடுகிறார்கள். இவர்கள் குடோனை கண்டுபிடித்து சோதனையிட வேண்டுமென்றால் நடு இரவில்தான் செல்ல வேண்டும். அப்படித்தான் இப்போது ஒரு குடோன் கண்டு பிடிக்கப்பட்டது. 3 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு இதே தேயிலை கலப்படத்தில் பிடிபட்டு யாருக்கு தண்டணை (அபராதம்) வாங்கிக் கொடுத்தோமோ, அதே நபர்தான் திரும்பவும் இதை தொழிலாக செய்திருக்கிறார்!' என்று தெரிவிக்கின்றனர் சமீபத்தில் வெள்ளக்கிணறு பகுதியில் 1.5 டன் கலப்படத்தேயிலையை பிடித்த கலப்பட தடுப்பு அலுவலர்கள்.
அவர்கள் மேலும் கூறும்போது, 'தேயிலையில் கிரேடு 1, கிரேடு 2 என கிரேடு 4 வரையுள்ளது. அதில் நாலாந்தர டீத்தூள் விலைமிகவும் மலிவாக இருக்கும். இதில் நாலாந்தர டீ ரூ.350 கிலோ விலை என்றால் அதில் கால்கிலோ மட்டும் எடுத்து மீதியை கலப்பட பொருளில் கலக்கி விடுகிறார்கள். கலப்பட தூளில் சாயம் ஏற்றி விடுகிறார்கள். டீ கடையில் சாப்பிடும் போது டிக்காஷன் இறங்கும்போது சட்டென்று கீழே இறங்கினால் அது சாயம் ஊட்டப்பட்ட கலப்படப் பொருள் என்று அர்த்தம். அதையே ஸ்ட்ராங் டீ என்று வாங்கி பருகுகிறார்கள். இதை பேக்கரிகள்தான் பெருமளவு வாங்குகின்றன. அவர்கள் வாங்காமல் விட்டாலே இந்தக் கலப்படம் அடியோடு ஒழிந்துவிடும்!' என்றனர்.
இதுகுறித்து கோவை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலர் விஜய் கூறுகையில், 'பொதுவாக எல்லா காலங்களிலும் உணவுப்பொருட்களில் கலப்படம் குறித்த ஆய்வுகளை குடோன்களிலும் பல்வேறு சோதனைகளை நடத்துகிறோம். அப்படி ஆய்வில் கலப்பட உணவுப்பண்டங்களும் பிடிபட்டுள்ளன. இது விழாக்காலம் என்பதால் கூடுதலாக பிடிபடுகிறது. கலப்படங்கள் மீதான தொடர் நடவடிக்கையின் காரணமாக கோவை மாவட்டத்தில் பெருமளவு உணவுப் பொருள் கலப்படங்கள் நடைபெறுவது கட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது!' என தெரிவித்தார்.
Jan 13, 2017
Functional foods will have to clear strict checks to hit market
NEW DELHI: Health supplements, nutraceuticals, probiotics and other functional food products will have to go through a stringent regulatory scanner and comply with specific norms before entering the market.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come up with a gazette notification issuing benchmark standards covering as many as eight different categories of foods.
The regulations, in line with international food safety standards, make it mandatory for food business operators to declare essential composition of their products on the packaging. This includes a detailed declaration of nutrient as well organism content in products like nutraceuticals and probiotics.
Besides, the regulations also pertain to claims and labelling. For instance, these items that often claim health benefits will have to mandatorily differentiate themselves from pharmaceutical products by declaring on the label "not for medicinal use". Health supplements, on the other hand, will have to carry the words "health Supplement" on their label.
Similarly, FSSAI has also defined different categories and set norms for claims for each of the category. For instance, if a "nutrient content claim" is being made in case of food products falling under health supplement categories, the individual nutrient content shall not be less than 15% of the recommended daily allowance, as per the FSSAI.
Product approvals in future will be in compliance with the new regulations, an official said. The FSSAI has given a year's time to food operators to comply with the regulations, which will be effective from January 1, 2018.
The regulations assume significance with increasing number of functional foods entering the Indian market.
Seminar on food safety managment and chemical use
KOCHI, JAN 12:
The use of chemicals in food items, especially for longer shelf life, has increased tremendously in the recent period and it can result in several health issues, said experts at a seminar organised as part of the seventh edition of FoodTech, the state’s premier food processing and packaging exhibition, here
Delivering a lecture on ‘the relevance of food safety management with special emphasis to HACCP’ (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), N. Anandavally, HACCP Consultant, National Centre for HACCP Certification (NCHC) said that the eating habit of people have undergone tremendous changes and children spend maximum on food. “The use of chemicals in food items can result in brain related disorders among children. Though the law permits use of more than 3000 food additives, many food business operators use them above the permitted level.
In his talk on ‘Testing and evaluation of packaging materials and packages – overall standards of packaging’, Moses Malik of the Indian Institute of Packaging Chennai, said that packaging has become an integral part of food production. The packing should be decided depending upon the food as the most suitable material for protecting the food should be used for packaging, he said.
Earlier, C.N. Ravishankar, Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, inaugurated the three-day exhibition. The exhibition is organized by Cruz Expos with the support of National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP), Coconut Development Board. Kochi,
Have ordered frozen chicken for all units of Army: Manohar Parrikar
"We have successfully supplied frozen chicken to 26 centres and now we have issued direction that in the next two years, FSSAI approved frozen chicken is supplied to all units," Manohar Parrikar.
Days after a video showing a BSF jawan alleging poor quality of food being served in border areas went viral, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday said that he personally monitors food being served to the Indian Army and has ordered “FSSAI-approved frozen chicken to all units”.
Asked about the BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav’s video post on the social media, Parrikar, who attended a defence and aerospace seminar at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, said, “I cannot say much because the BSF is under the home ministry. But for the last two years, for the Army, we have been continuously evaluating that whether satisfaction level for the food being served has increased or not. I am myself monitoring it.”
“The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in 2012-13 had made certain observations in a report and we are improving it. We have successfully supplied frozen chicken to 26 centres and now we have issued direction that in the next two years, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)-approved frozen chicken is supplied to all units. This will automatically improve the quality,” he added.
Jan 12, 2017
1.5 tonnes of adulterated jaggery seized
Coimbatore, Jan 11 (PTI): A day after about 1.5 tonnes of adulterated tea was seized here, the Food Safety Department today seized nearly one and half tons of adulterated jaggery from two places in the city. Department sources said 900 kg was seized from a shop in Selvapuram and 720 kg from a godown in R S Puram. Sodium Hydro-sulphide above permitted level was used to make the jaggery appear more attractive in colour, they said.
Samples have been sent for tests and based on the results, cases would be registered against the owners, they said. The department had yesterday seized 1.5 tonnes of adulterated tea from a shop in Chinnavedapatti on the outskirts during a routine check, did a spot check and confirmed it and registered a case against the owner.
FDA seizes Rs 2 lakh tampered food packs meant for kids
MUMBAI: Fortified food packets, to meet supplementary nutritional needs of poorchildren below six, under the Centre-sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, were allegedly found to be tampered with in a Vasai factory on Tuesday.
The Thane Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized 1.5 tonnes of the packets containing micro-nutrient (vitamins and minerals) fortified blended food that was to be distributed to anganwadis (ICDS centres) for children between six months to three years in Vasai-Virar and Mira Bhayander. The value of the seized packets is around Rs 1.08 lakh.
The packets (wheat, roasted chickpeas and sugar) were manufactured and packed by Shakala Mahila Mandal in Gala 1, Mahavir Industrial Estate, Valiv, Vasai (E) under the state women and child development department. Each packet containing 140gm is given to mothers to prepare porridge (using milk or water) and feed child four-five times a day. Each packet contains 500 calories of energy and 12-15gm protein. There are 88,272 anganwadis under the scheme and over 86 lakh children are covered under it, according to the 2001 census.
Workers allegedly tampered with expiry dates and batch numbers, using paint thinners. "We have seized the packets and sent them to the laboratory for testing. We will take action based on the report," said food safety officer Rahul Takate. He said that while it was premature to say if the quality of food had been compromised with, workers were seen wiping batch numbers and putting fresh stamps.
Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) staffers had gone to the industrial estate to collect house tax when they noticed this. Milind Patil, a staffer and eyewitness, said, "We got suspicious on finding the gala shutter down. We saw workers using paint thinners to wipe out expiry dates on food packets." He said a number of packets had December expiry dates. The workers were using rubber stamps of January 2017 on the packets. Many packets did not have manufacturing and expiry dates.
Yogesh Mane, a representative of the mandal, said the food packets were manufactured this month but the December expiry date stamp had been wrongly put.
ICDS commissioner Vinita Singhal said she would look into the issue. She said the packets go directly to anganwadis from the manufacturers. They are, however, inspected by a child development project officer. She said though there should be a project officer for each of the 533 projects, they was a shortage.
Pankaja Munde, minister of rural development, women and child welfare department, which monitors the scheme, was not reachable.
Plea seeking ban on chewable tobacco filed in Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned for February 9 the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on chewable tobacco products.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned for February 9 the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on chewable tobacco products. (Reuters)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned for February 9 the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on chewable tobacco products.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal adjourned the hearing as one of the judges was not available.
The plea was filed by an NGO, Fariyaad Foundation. The foundation said there was a Delhi government notification in 2015-2016 banning sale, supply and manufacture of ‘gutka’ and other chewable tobacco products, but it was not being strictly implemented.
The foundation has sought directions to the Delhi government and its Food Safety Department to strictly implement the ban.
The foundation has sought formation of a permanent policy banning the sale, supply and production of chewable tobacco products. The NGO has said that ‘gutka’ is harmful for health and a major cause of cancer.
Maharashtra FDA directs junk food brands and food courts to label products containing caffeine
Mumbai ,Jan 11: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent directives to McDonald’s and food courts in multiplexes to clearly label products with ‘contains caffeine’ warnings, has been welcomed by doctors and public health experts. Caffeinated beverages, including cold drinks, will now carry the sign on its containers.
“While conducting inspection of a McDonald’s outlet in Kolhapur we found no caffeine disclaimers were printed. A consumer must be made aware if a product contains caffeine. I have issued orders to all joint commissioners to inspects other retail outlets and multiplexes as well,” FDA Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Harshadeep Kamble said. He has also written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure that the initiative is replicated across the country.
“Caffeine is a psycho-active drug that affects the brain. It can also cross the placenta barrier, that is why pregnant women are asked to cut down on caffeine. It can have detrimental effect like increasing irritability, affect sleep patterns and can also increase heart rate and blood pressure,” said Dr Sanjay Kalra, consultant endocrinologist, Bharti Hospital and vice president, South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies.
In favour of the move by the FDA, Dr Kalra said that the labelling will help consumers make an informed choice.
While caffeine addiction is known to affect concentration among children and sleep disorders, not many recognise it as a problem.
“People seek help for nicotine addiction but few even see caffeine addiction as a problem. Caffeine tends to suppress appetite and many youngsters like it because it helps them lose weight,” said Dr Maithili Umate, associate professor, Grant Government Medical College and JJ Hospital. She added that since caffeine interferes with the absorption of calcium in the bones, many young people are likely to complain of bone related issues and see a doctor for that instead.
“The international community has been raising this concern for a long time now. I am glad initiatives are being undertaken, too, especially as we are moving to a lifestyle where meeting for coffee is seen as the ‘in thing’,” said Dr Shweta Khandelwal, Associate Professor, Public Health Foundation of India.
Dr Kalra cautions that if addicted to caffeine or energy drinks, one must always inform the doctor as the root cause of an illness could be the addiction.
“Efforts should also be made to enhance consumers’ understanding of the issue. It should not stop at labelling. We should empower consumers with the right knowledge, too, to make an informed decision,” added Dr Khandelwal.
120 bakeries get FDA notices for flouting food safety norms
PUNE: A sizeable number of bakeries in the city do not conform to food safety norms, reveals the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) latest report.
Of 126 bakeries inspected by FDA officials between January 3 and 9, a whopping 120 bakeries were found to be flouting operational as well as sanitation rules laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The inspected bakeries are from Pune, Satata, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts.
FDA officials conducted the drive in the wake of the massive fire that led to the death of six employees, who were sleeping inside Bakes N Cakes bakery in Kondhwa. The issue of bakeries running without the mandatory licence came to the fore as the owner of Bakes N Cakes had been found to be running the business without the licence. As per FDA records, there are total 689 bakeries in Pune.
"We inspected 126 bakeries in Pune division. Among them, we found that 30 were running the bakery without the mandatory licence or registration. Besides, bakery workers were living inside the production area of 18 bakeries, which is prohibited. Moreover, the remaining 72 bakeries were found faltering on hygiene and sanitation norms. We have issued them improvement notices and asked them to correct the lacunae. We will initiate action against them if they fail to comply," said SS Desai, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.
The officials inspected the highest number of bakeries, 75, in Pune district. Among them, 24 bakeries were operating without licence while, at 16 bakeries, workers were sleeping in the production area at night. A sizeable number of bakeries were also running the business in filthy conditions. "We have issued improvement notices to 65 bakeries in Pune district. They have been told to initiate measures to comply with norms or face action," Desai said.
The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 states that living inside the production section of a bakery is not allowed. The law only permits a changing room for workers.
Health activists pointed out that FDA officials wake up only when there is a tragedy. "The FDA's report shows the pathetic conditions of bakeries in Pune and how they function. FDA officials must find ways to use technology for surveillance work. The bakeries need to be periodically monitored so that they have a sense of accountability, which is currently missing in most cases," activist Sanjay Dabhade said.
Jan 11, 2017
Adulterated tea seized
The Food Safety and Standards Authority officials have seized 1.5 tonne adulterated tea from a warehouse in Udayampalayam.
According to sources, a team led by Designated Officer, Food Safety, OLS Vijay, raided the warehouse. The tea was allegedly adulterated by Balan, who sold it to shops in rural areas. He had added colouring agents extracted from coal tar to give more colour to tea.
They said that the colour would give the impression it was strong tea. With a little powder, the tea shop owners would be able to sell more glasses of tea.
According to law, colouring agents should not be added to tea.
Action had been initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act against Balan.
He was booked earlier in 2016 for a similar offence. He was let off after paying fine.
Now the officials would press for his imprisonment, the sources added.
FSSAI to lift tea decoction samples to check adulteration
Officials of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India closed down a tea shop near Gandhipuram bus stand for using adulterated tea dust.
After repeated raids to curb use of adulterated tea dust, officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have started lifting decoction samples from tea stalls to check for adulterants.
Earlier, FSSAI officials used to lift tea dust from provision shops, bakeries and tea stalls to examine use of adulterants.
Samples checked in previous years had revealed that tea dust lifted from some places were adulterated, primarily by adding artificial colours.
“While lifting adulterated tea dust from tea shops, the shop owners used to blame the trader. The trader at provision shops would point the finger at wholesale dealers. Based on a direction from headquarters, FSSAI is currently lifting samples of decoction from tea shops. If the samples are found adulterated in the laboratory examination, action will be taken against the tea shop owners,” said O.LS. Vijay, Designated Officer, FSSAI, Coimbatore.
Dr. Vijay said that samples will also be lifted from Aavin milk booths where tea is sold and the samples lifted from some of the shops are currently being examined in a Government laboratory.
On Monday, FSSAI closed down a tea shop in Gandhipuram for repeated use of low quality adulterated tea dust. Officials said that all shops selling tea in Gandhipuram were taught to detect adulterated tea dust through a simple method.
“Tea dust mixed with colourants, when added to a glass of normal water, will release colour instantly. Whereas, pure tea dust will release colour only in warm water. We had demonstrated this experiment in all shops. As adulterated tea dust is cheap, they compromise on its ill-effects,” said K. Chandran, food safety officer for Gandhipuram area.
Coca-cola, Pepsico and Bisleri operate packaged water units without license: FSSAI
New Delhi: Food regulator FSSAI has asked state authorities to crack down on mineral water packaging units that are operating without its licence.
As many as 75 per cent of the packaging units, owned by various firms, including Pepsico and Bisleri, are said to be operating without an FSSAI licence. These units are operating under a BIS certification.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, feels there is no safety or quality concern over the bottled water supplied by these units.
Out of total 5,842 registered water packaging units, 1,495 units have both BIS and FSSAI licences, while 4,347 units have only BIS certification.
"FSSAI regulations require mandatory BIS certification on packaged water. However there is a need for such businesses to obtain FSSAI certification. For which we have already written to the state food commissioners," FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said.
When asked about the quality of the bottled water which are sold without FSSAI licence, he said: "BIS has robust system of ensuring quality of packaged water. There is no issue of safety of packaged water at all, if the packaged water businesses have obtained BIS certification."
Most of the companies have no issues in obtaining FSSAI licence as per the feedback received by the regulator, he added.
Stating that many of the bottlers are not abiding by the law, Agarwal said: "Out of close to 6,000 registered packaged water units in the country, more than 4,300 don't have FSSAI licence, which also include some reputed names, where some of their units may not have food regulator's approval."
According to the regulator data, the units which do not have FSSAI licence include units of Hindustan Coca-cola, Pepsico and Bisleri, among others.
Pepsico sells its packaged water under the brand name Aquafina, Coca-cola sells under the name Kinley, while Bisleri sells under its own name.
When contacted, Pepsico India and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages said that they manufacture packaged drinking water under valid licences.
PepsiCo India spokesperson said: "We at PepsiCo strictly adhere to all quality and regulatory norms and all our packaged drinking water is manufactured under valid licences issued by relevant authorities. We have not received any communication from authorities in this regard."
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages said that it has all the approvals and permissions, including BIS and FSSAI, to manufacture packaged drinking water for all its 26 factories.
"Our factories are fully compliant with all local regulations and have all the approvals and permissions required to operate these factories," Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages said.
"This list of permissions include the BIS and FSSAI approvals for manufacturing packaged drinking water," it said. "Quality and safety of our products is paramount to us. Kinley is a brand built on consumer trust and love and we will never do anything that contravenes the faith and trust that consumers repose in our products," it added.
Owners get the lowdown on licences to run bakeries
PUNE: Eleven days after six workers suffocated to death in a bakery fire in Kondhwa, a drive conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that a large number of bakeries were illegally conducting business without obtaining necessary permissions.
The situation has compelled the FDA to issue notices to 80 bakeries in Pune directing them to obtain food and safety and other licences from the authorities within 15 days or face action.
Six workers had suffocated to death in a fire at 'bake N cake' shop on Kondhwa-Saswad Road on December 30 because its shutters were locked from the outside and the workers were trapped inside. Three bakery partners were arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC section 304.
The Kondhwa police identified 35 bakeries involved in manufacturing and selling bakery products. The survey revealed that some bakeries had obtained the Shop Act licences while others were illegally conducting business without seeking permission from authorities.
A meeting was held recently to sensitise bakery owners and take preventive measures to avert more such tragedies. It was attended by central fire brigade, FDA, shop act licence and labour commissionerate officials.
Senior inspector Satish Govekar, in charge of Kondhwa police station, said the initiative was to educate bakery owners to run their businesses legally, prevent workers from sleeping inside locked premises, maintain a record of workers with their names, addresses, photographs, cellphone numbers and adopt safety measures to prevent fires.
Sunil Gilbile, deputy chief fire officer, advised bakery owners to obtain a no-objection certificate every year. The NOC will be issued after inspecting the bakery, electric wiring, ventilation, chimney, mezzanine, entry and exit, and verifying the documents submitted by the owners and providing training to workers on how to use fire apparatus in case of a fire or an emergency, he said.
Food and safety inspector Vijay Unawane said most bakeries running on the basis of the Shop Act licence, but they also need to obtain the food and safety licence if they manufacture and sell bakery products.
He appealed to owners to maintain cleanliness and encouraged them to apply online for licences so that there are no middleman or agents misleading them. "We have issued notices to 12 bakeries for illegally conducting business in Kondhwa. The notice directs them to obtain food and safety licence within 15 days or else they will face action — six months' simple imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5 lakh," he added.
Jan 10, 2017
Maharashtra FDA prohibits McDonald’s India from sale of beverages in state
According to the Act, a warning label saying “contains caffeine” is compulsory when sweetened carbonated drinks is sold.
McDonald’s sells three branded soft drinks— Coke, Fanta, Thumbs up. While the brands sell their beverage with the warning on packaged bottles, McDonald’s outlet in Kolhapur was first to have been found contravening the regulation on its plastic and paper cups, used to serve the drink.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (MFDA) has issued a prohibition order to Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd, which operates quick service food chain McDonald’s in India, to immediately stop sale of beverages at its 60 outlets across Maharashtra for contraventions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
In its order, MFDA has said that the popular chain did not comply with the mandatory warning to label its disposable containers whenever carbonated beverages were sold to customers. According to the Act, a warning label saying “contains caffeine” is compulsory when sweetened carbonated drinks is sold.
McDonald’s sells three branded soft drinks— Coke, Fanta, Thumbs up. While the brands sell their beverage with the warning on packaged bottles, McDonald’s outlet in Kolhapur was first to have been found contravening the regulation on its plastic and paper cups, used to serve the drink. Of over 500 McDonald’s outlets in India 60 are in Maharashtra.
“The appellant is the manufacturer of sweetened carbonated beverage with added caffeine and serves all kinds of public including kids, pregnant women, lactating women etc. Considering the ill effects of caffeine and that the appellant serves it by the way of manufacturing caffeinated drinks without disclosing the contents (i.e. CAFFEINE) to highly susceptible groups of public like kids, pregnant women, lactating mothers etc. that can have serious ill effect on their health (sic),” the order said.
The violation was first detected by Kolhapur’s food safety officer, B D Mule in July 2016. The order states that apart from “serious hygiene/ sanitation related issues” the paper cups served to customers had no warning of “contains caffeine”.
Caffeine, one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive drugs, varies from 40 to 80mg in carbonated drinks. Its intake beyond 400 mg in a day is considered a high dose. Generally, coffee-addicted consumers have an intake of over 250 mg caffeine in a day. While US FDA allows its consumption in moderate quantities, Indian regulation requires labelling of “contains caffeine” in its regulation 2.4.5(38) of Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Kolhapur FDA sent a prohibition order to McDonald’s in 2016 to stop sale of beverages following the inspection. The food-chain stopped the beverages sale but later appealed to the FDA commissioner against the prohibition order. “We have observed that none of the Mcdonald’s outlet show the caffeine warning on their containers. Across Maharashtra, we have instructed all joint commissioners to inspect local outlets and prohibit its sale,” said Harshdeep Kamble, FDA commissioner.
Additionally, instructions have been issued to all joint commissioners to inspect similar food-joints that sell soft drinks to customers in unpackaged cups or glasses.
When contacted, the spokesperson for McDonald’s told The Indian Express, “McDonald’s India adheres to all statutory requirements, and is in compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to mandatory food labelling. At McDonald’s India, the health, safety and well-being of our customers are paramount. We have always conformed to the highest quality and food safety standards and will continue to do so at all times “
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