Q+A: India's food safety regulator on new rules, healthier products and the industry

Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), 

India is planning to frame draft rules within a month requiring manufacturers to display the fat, sugar and salt content of products on packaging.

Reuters interviewed Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Here are edited excerpts:

What has an expert group recommended to regulate products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS)?

The expert group's report has eight recommendations - from dietary guidelines to the government nudging food businesses to review product offerings. These recommendations will have to go through a process to be implemented. For instance, the recommendation of some taxes on HFSS food, but this is something that the ministry of finance will take a call on.

What are some of the regulations planned?

Labelling requirements are under review and will now require manufacturers to provide the content in terms of sodium, saturated fat and free sugars. We should be able to finalize it within a month, then it would go to the ministry and it would go through a process.

Tell us more about the traffic light labelling proposal.

Reading labels becomes quite cumbersome, so traffic light (colour coding) is making it simple so that people can make out - red, people associate with danger; green is OK - to that extent it is a desirable thing. But there are many requirements - how do we fit all of it on a label, how to space it out.

Is there any resistance from the industry around such measures?

The industry is gearing up. Carbonated drink makers are aware of the global concern around HFSS food and they are providing variety and alternatives to their drinks. There's no pushback. In some sense, their worry is welcome. If they are in that anxiety, it is a good thing if it helps in providing healthier options to our consumers. They are looking at this trend globally. Companies are worried on that account - not about regulations but the general trend towards healthier food.

Do you think there will some broad restriction on chips or colas?

As far as healthier food choices are concerned, other than consumer education, they are not unsafe and therefore cannot be banned. It can only work through educating consumers so that they regulate consumption. We expect the food businesses to join us in such education.

How will you regulate traditional products so that big players are not discriminated?

It's a valid industry concern. We are talking to associations of traditional sweetmakers, other food makers, that they can also be more sensitive to traditional food and provide healthier options. We have received an encouraging response. Shops can educate public -- tell them to have jalebis and samosas in moderation, maybe use less salt in samosas.

Is that achievable in a country of our size?

For many of these things, we have to make a small beginning. If it catches the fancy of the masses, then why not.

What about the government's deliberations around a nationwide "fat tax"?

Taxation is not within our purview. If they are imposing taxes only on select restaurants then perhaps that's not the right thing.

Are any advertising restrictions planned?

Advertising will be part of our regulations. Even though the current act does provide for control on advertising, it is non-specific. There will be more specific provisions on [health] claims made in advertising. I don't think we are going to disallow anyone to advertise, but advertising has to be responsible.

Are other new initiatives planned to regulate such food items or businesses?

We are contemplating some kind of an index for top food businesses. Let's say the top 100 in terms of how responsive they are to safe and nutritious food and consumers in general. The matrix for the index is being developed. This will be voluntary. One of the parameters would be what percentage of their offering is nutritious. Over a period of time, we will make a dashboard and make this publicly available.

Food, drink MNCs plan fightback as India looks to tighten rules

Alarmed by rising rates of obesity and diabetes, the govt plans a nationwide ‘fat tax’, rules requiring manufacturers to display fat, sugar and salt content of products on packaging

India’s carbonated drinks sector is estimated to grow an average 3.7% annually between 2017 and 2021, while the packaged food sector will grow by 8% a year during the same period.

New Delhi: Several food and drink multinationals and trade groups met in recent weeks to discuss how to lobby more effectively against Indian proposals for higher taxes and stricter labelling rules on fatty or sugary foods, sources familiar with the talks said.

According to officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has begun to look closely at policy proposals under discussion since at least 2015, raising concerns over the possible impact on the $57 billion sector.

Alarmed by rising rates of obesity and diabetes, India plans to frame draft rules within a month requiring manufacturers to display the fat, sugar and salt content of products on packaging.

It is also considering a nationwide “fat tax” for so-called “junk foods”, a senior government official said, although that is unlikely to be rolled out in the near term.

Last month, executives from companies including PepsiCo , Nestle and Indian consumer firm ITC met trade groups in New Delhi to coordinate efforts and urge the government to resist pressure from health advocates, according to an industry source aware of the meeting.

The attendees, who felt their efforts to push back had been too piecemeal, talked about forming a core group to unify their message when engaging the government, the source said.

PepsiCo and Nestle in India did not comment directly on the meeting or its outcome. ITC did not respond to requests for comment.

Trade group All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA), whose members range from street vendors to global conglomerates, said two industry-wide meetings were held in February.

Its members, who also discussed ways to offer more nutritious products, plan to send a joint representation to the government and approach health and food officials to express concerns about stringent regulations.

Promising growth

The stakes are high for companies like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola , Nestle and McDonald’s, which have collectively committed billions of dollars to expand in the world’s fastest growing major economy.

India’s carbonated drinks sector is estimated to grow an average 3.7% annually between 2017 and 2021, while the packaged food sector will grow by 8% a year during the same period, Euromonitor International estimates.

Government pressure comes in various forms.

Modi recently told PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi that her company needed to focus more on public health, an aide to the prime minister said.

Separately, the prime minister’s office asked PepsiCo to outline how it would reduce sugar in beverages sold in India, the aide added.

PepsiCo did not comment on those remarks by Modi and his office. It referred Reuters to its October 2016 global commitment “to transform its portfolio and offer healthier options”. Modi’s office did not respond to an email seeking comment.

A Coca-Cola India representative referred questions on proposed regulatory changes to the Indian Beverage Association, which said their impact was “under evaluation”.

Nestle corporate affairs executive Sanjay Khajuria said the company was “working to improve the nutrient profile” of their products.

“These are complex public health issues which require (a) holistic multi-stakeholder approach and we are committed to work with authorities,” Khajuria said in an email.

The CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Pawan Kumar Agarwal, welcomed industry concerns about tougher rules.

“It is a good thing if it helps in providing healthier options,” he told Reuters in an interview.

Planned regulations

The number of obese men and women in India rose to about 30 million by 2014 from 1.2 million in 1975, according to a study by British medical journal The Lancet, although the comparative figure for China was around 90 million.

Concerns about the health effects of fast food and soda drinks have been growing globally in recent years.

Mexico imposed higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, for example, while South Korea placed television advertising restrictions on specific food items.

But India has been slow to finalise rules on products high in fat, sugar and salt, whose consumption health advocates say urgently needs to be checked to safeguard public health.

Agarwal denied industry pressure was affecting the implementation of tighter regulations, adding that India was nudging companies to make healthier products while working on new rules.

The FSSAI is considering advertising norms to check on health claims made by companies and is working on educating consumers about the health effects of foods containing high levels of sugar or fat.

One government official said the regulator was deliberating whether disclosures about the nutritional value of food should be placed on the front of packages.

Another labelling proposal under review was a “traffic light” system, where red, yellow and green colours depict nutritional value, similar to one used in the United Kingdom.

“Traffic light is making (reading labels) simple,” Agarwal said. “Red people associate with danger, green is okay”.

But trade body AIFPA said such labelling was of no use.

“Most Indian foods will be red. So what purpose does it serve?” said the group’s president, Subodh Jindal.

Potentially more significant for major brands would be a nationwide “fat tax”, which authorities are discussing and was last year announced by the southern state of Kerala.

There, branded restaurants like McDonald’s and Domino’s Pizza face a 14.5 percent tax, higher than that applied to smaller, indigenous outlets serving the same fare or Indian cuisine often high in sugar and fat.

“It makes the larger players nervous,” said an industry executive, calling the discourse on “junk food” in India discriminatory and unscientific.

McDonald’s India did not comment on the government’s discussions on a nationwide “fat tax”. Domino’s India said its spokesman was not available.

FDA faces staff shortage again

Out of 160 posts of drug inspectors across Maharashtra, only 90 have been filled so far and of the 250 food safety officer posts, only 180 have been filled

Despite vacancies being filled to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posts just five years back, the department continues to face a staff shortage.

Out of 160 posts of drug inspectors across Maharashtra, only 90 have been filled so far and of the 250 food safety officer posts, only 180 have been filled.

In Pune, the post of joint commissioner-drugs has been lying vacant for the last nine months. Out of 15 posts of drug inspectors, only nine have been filled so far. While there is a requirement of 34 food safety officers, Pune has 16 food safety officers and they are assisted by 10 others from the Pune Municipal Corporation. Five years ago, a total of 61 posts of food and drug inspectors were filled with 13 appointed in Pune division and four in Pune district.

While the staff crunch persists, several have to make do without official vehicles. At Pune, there is just one vehicle that is shared by both food safety officers and drug inspectors while in Sangli, there is no official vehicle for the FDA officer who is assisting the police investigations in the sex determination and abortion racket.

Highly-placed FDA officials pointed out that these were Class II officers. However, the drug inspectors and food safety officers have no assistance from clerical staff as there are very few who have been appointed. Drug inspectors may inspect medical shops, check records and carry out inspections but there is very little assistance in terms of filing data entry to registering cases, issuing show cause notices and then follow up each case in the court, FDA officials said.

Across the state, there are more than 50,000 pharmacies, 15,000 wholesalers and another 8,000 manufacturing units. FDA officials admitted that some works get delayed. For instance, online applications from persons wanting to set up a medical store and such cases have to be kept on hold as they have to visit the site and send the inspection report to the assistant commissioner.

FDA officials said officers had previously been recruited to various posts in 1997. Owing to staff shortage, the FDA could only play a limited role and partly fulfil several requirements to enforce several Acts such as nabbing offenders for smoking in public places.

The FDA had to fill up the posts as some public interest litigations were filed, sources said. When contacted Dr Harshadeep Kamble, Commissioner, FDA told The Indian Express that there was a staff shortage. “The MPSC has conducted exams and held interviews and we expect vacancies to be filled soon,” Kamble said.

Eateries serving stale food come under scanner in Kottayam

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KOTTAYAM: In the wake of unhygienic eateriesfunctioning in the district and reports of excess rates being charged, district collector C A Latha issued strict directions to officials to keep a check on the eateries.

The district-level food advisory committee meeting held at the Civil Station on Wednesday, the collector directed the officials to ensure that the eateries and bakeries display the price list of food items as per the Essential Commodities Act. She has also directed the officials to take stringent action against those who charge excess rates.

She also directed the officials to examine whether any harmful ingredients harmful are added. A special squad comprising civil supplies, food safety, health, local self-government and legal metrology departments will be formed for this. She also issued direction to the police and revenue departments to extend necessary support for these inspections. Raids will be conducted in vegetable, fish and meat markets to ensure that they function under hygienic conditions. If excessive usage of chemicals and preservatives and fertilisers are found in the food items strict action will be taken. The members of the food advisory committee will be issued identity cards.

A nine-year-old boy was taken ill due to food poisoning after eating from a vegetarian restaurant 'Salkara' in Ettumanur. The hotel was closed down by the municipal authorities on Tuesday evening. The health department officials found stale food during inspection.

The health committee of the municipality conducted a raid in all the eateries in the municipal region after the father of the boy filed a complaint. Samples of food and water from the eateries have been sent for lab tests and action will be taken after getting the reports, said municipal authorities. The Kottayam municipality will also be conducting raids in the coming days.

BMC and Food safety standards check this out

Satish Deshpande | Metro Jb Nagar Station 

This wada Pav stall has recently popped up on andheri Kurla road opp. Sangam cinema occupying parking space and violating FSSAI standards by cooking on the road.. many such stalls have established below JB nagar metro station also.

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Nagaland bans sale of junk food inside schools

Sale of junk food including chips, soft drinks and fried foods are banned both within the school campuses as well as in a radius of 200 metres from each school.

The Nagaland government on Tuesday banned the sale of junk food including chips, soft drinks and fried foods both within the school campuses as well as in a radius of 200 metres from each school, and asked the school authorities to take steps for making both children and parents aware about obesity, HFSS foods and importance of physical activity.

A notification issued by the Nagaland Board of School Education on Tuesday in Kohima also asked the school authorities to constitute a 7-10 member School Canteen Management Committee which would be solely responsible for ensuring that no junk food found way to the school campuses. The Committee that should include teachers, parents, students and canteen operators would be also solely responsible for providing safe food to the school children, it said.

“Consumption of foods High in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS), popularly known as junk food, is associated with increased risk of certain diseases such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation and hyper-insulinemia with a risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life. These diseases and childhood obesity have been reportedly found to affect the cognitive and physical development of children adversely causing an irreparable loss to the society,” the notification said.

The notification also directed school authorities to conduct timely checking of quality of raw materials and ingredients and decide the lunch items to be prepared in the school canteen/kitchen. The Committee would also see that food in schools are up to standard and meet the guidelines as outlined by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The Board also asked the school authorities to conduct regular inspection of lunch boxes of students in order to minimize the consumption of unhealthy foods may be done by the schools.

90 boxes of mangoes seized

A food safety official inspecting mangoes ripened using calcium carbide at Paika in Mulleria village on Wednesday. 

They were ripened artificially

Food safety officials here have seized 90 boxes of mangoes ripened artificially using calcium carbide, a chemical hazardous to humans.

On a tip off, a team led by Kasaragod Circle Food Safety Officer P.K. Pradeep Kumar searched the house of P.M. Junaid at Paika in Mulleria village and seized 90 boxes, each weighing 20 kg. The seized stock was destroyed.

The team found that calcium carbide was placed in pouches in each box. Calcium carbide used to artificially ripen fruits generates acetylene gas, a carcinogen, the officials said.

Stock from Tamil Nadu

The raid comes at a time when the authorities have started efforts to make Chengala panchayat, where Paika is located, as a food safety zone. The trader said the mango stock was brought from Theni in Tamil Nadu. The food safety officials conduct regular checks to identify artificially ripened fruits.

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8 popular eateries in Gurgaon fail quality test, health department to serve them notice and seek reply

8 popular eateries in Gurgaon have failed the quality test conducted by food safety wing of the Health department and now they will be served notices asking for a written reply in the Additional District Magistrate (ADC) court. 

Adulteration of food items and sweets are on the higher side during this festive season of Holi. The food safety wing of the Health department had collected eight samples of sweets and raw food items from prominent restaurants and sweets outlets. The samples have failed on quality parameters.

According to Gurugram civil surgeon Pushpa Bishnoi, the department is going to serve notices to these commercial entities and ask them for written replies in the Additional District Magistrate (ADC) court. The cancellation of licenses for them could be possible if they would fail to satisfy court with their replies.

"It has been evident that adulteration of sweets and use of lowquality, outdated raw food materials rise due to rising demand. The food safety wing has collected samples from 27 existing restaurants and sent to food analyst lab of Haryana in Chandigarh. The samples were taken in presence of Nayab Hahsildaar, during the raid conducted by the wing. Eight among the restaurants and sweet shops have not passed the quality test," Bishnoi said.

Diwan restaurants in sector 29, Sasural restaurant, City mart hotel near bus stand, (Three star), Delhi Farm in Nirwana country sector 51, Gopal sweets in sector 17, Ansu dairy and Rajasthan dairy and two more restaurants in sector 29 have been listed under the category. The officials have seized Desi Ghee, Paneer, Gujia, raw fish, oats breads, curd and Golguppa water from these commercial establishments.

Bishnoi added that the RWAs of respective areas had complained of the inferior-quality food items.

Mysuru: No clean water for school meals!

87% schools in Mysuru district lack hygienic water for cooking food

Going by its findings, most schools do not have potable water for cooking or drinking and their kitchens are not hygienic.

Mysuru: A pilot study by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has thrown up disturbing facts about the mid -day meals served in schools in Mysuru district. Going by its findings, most schools do not have potable water for cooking or drinking and their kitchens are not hygienic.

CFTRI scientist, Dr Arun Kumar V, who spoke about the study's findings while making a presentation on it during the two- day national conference on malnutrition in the country here recently, said it was being conducted since January this year in 270 schools of the district.

"We found that 94 per cent had good infrastructure for cooking and storage, but 87 per cent did not have clean water for cooking and 83 per cent did not have clean drinking water for the children. At least 39 per cent of them did not have a facility for clean water storage and most of the water samples tested had coli forms. Also, 11 per cent of the schools failed to maintain hygiene in the kitchen and complained they were not provided with detergents and other material for cleaning by the government," Dr Kumar said, adding that guidelines for food safety and hygiene prescribed for the mid- day meal scheme by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of School Education and Literacy, MDM division were being blatantly violated in a number of schools.

The study is expected to be completed by the month end and the report will be submitted to the government with recommendations on how to improve things in the schools

Mysuru deputy commissioner, D Randeep, who participated in the inaugural session of the conference, said that 324 children in Mysuru district were severely malnourished.

Food safety tribunals

Is the State Government really interested in making the two Food Safety Tribunals one in Srinagar and the other in Jammu really functional? We have doubts. The High Court that had decreed their establishment through an earlier order, too, has doubts. That is why it has directed the Commissioner/ Secretary Health and Medical Education (H&ME) to file a personal affidavit after it was informed that despite assuming charge by presiding officers of these tribunals, the tribunals are in shambles and no basic facility is available to them. Even the tribunals are not provided suitable accommodation, leave aside the infrastructural facilities. Though adequate manpower is sanctioned for each tribunal, yet the same has not been provided.

Why does the Government take the Tribunals so non-seriously? It is a matter of public health as it is threatened by adulterated food. There can be no more severe an indictment by the court which has said that the claim of the Government that infrastructure has been provided is only on paper and not on ground. The Tribunals were ordered by the High Court out of its wisdom when it took serious note of food adulteration and its very adverse effects on human health. Moreover, seizure of adulterated food stuff and its destruction was not the wholesome treatment of the menace of food adulteration. The Tribunals have been empowered to adjudicate on the safety of foodstuff provided for public consumption. It is so sad that the Government is not taking the public health seriously and is sunning its responsibility of seeing to it that public health is not threatened. The Tribunals should be provided with all the sanctioned manpower and other facilities that enable them to become functional.

CAG: Food dept fell far behind projected licence figure

The Delhi government had introduced the online payment system for licensing and registration of FBOs in the national capital — a move aimed at ensuring transparency in the system 

Audit report says the department issued licences to only 49,796 food operators against the figure of 2 lakh

The shortage of staffers in the Department of Food Safety, government of Delhi, has badly affected the overall licensing process, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has stated in its audit report. The department issued licences to only 49,796 food operators against the projected figure of 2 lakh in 2015-2016.

In addition, no licence was issued to operators dealing in alcohol, flouting the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In December 2012, the FSSAI had decided that all Food Business Operators (FBOs) dealing in alcoholic drinks and wines should obtain licences or Registration Certificates (RC) from the respective authorities.

"Audit scrutiny revealed that the department did not cover FBOs dealing in alcoholic drinks and wines in Delhi. They did not check whether the FBOs concerned had acquired the requisite licences or whether these were still valid. The department attributed non-coverage of such FBOs to shortage of staff," the CAG report stated.

Last year, the Delhi government had introduced the online payment system for licensing and registration of FBOs in the national Capital, a move aimed at ensuring transparency in the system. The Drug Control and Food Safety Department had also introduced a credit note system in dealings between the food safety officers and the FBOs, which used to be in cash.

"The projected figure of 2 lakh FBOs could not be verified in the audit. Further, the department issued only 49,796 licences and RCs, with a 75 per cent shortfall in coverage of 150,204 FBOs under the new Act, up to March 2016. In the absence of reliable database, the possibility of FBOs operating without licences and RCs cannot be ruled out," the CAG report stated.

The audit examination also revealed that the department neither evolved any mechanism to collect from previous enforcement agencies the information on FBOs operating under the previous Acts and Orders, nor conducted any survey to prepare a database of all FBOs.

"Audit noticed that in the absence of database of FBOs, the department failed to cover FBOs, in terms of issuance of licences or RCs and lifting of samples, dealing in mass consumption of food items such as mid-day meals in schools, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drinks and wines, and milk," a senior official said.

The mid-day meal scheme is a central scheme designed to improve the nutritional status of school children. Scrutiny of records also revealed that the Central Advisory Committee (CAC) of FSSAI, in its 10th meeting in September, 2013, emphasised on monitoring of the scheme and other government food supply programmes to ensure safety of food being supplied.

In 2015, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government had made available various licences issued by the Excise Department online, including excise, luxury, and others, to ensure a transparent system.

FDA urges business operators to stop using staple pins to pack food

The directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) has asked food business operators to immediately stop the use of staple pins to pack food articles.

The directorate has received several complaints from consumers regarding the practice adopted by food vendors on the use of staple pins to pack food items in plastic and paper bags, instead of sealing them with a thermal unit or cello-adhesive tapes

The directorate has received several complaints from consumers regarding the practice adopted by food vendors on the use of staple pins to pack food items in plastic and paper bags, instead of sealing them with a thermal unit or cello-adhesive tapes.

Pins are too small to be readily noticed if they fall into food items and can have a damaging effect when swallowed. Children are more prone to such accidents, the FDA has said in a statement.

“In view of the above and in larger public safety, all food business operators, including supermarkets, malls, provision stores, retailers, fast food joints, hoteliers, kiosks, as well as self-help groups and home-based food packers are hereby directed to immediately stop the use of staple pins, for packaging food articles and should strictly employ better and safe methods for the same, so that consumers are not placed at any undue risk,” it said in a statement.

The directorate has also urged consumers to be vigilant while purchasing food articles and insist that vendors don’t use pins while packing.

Maize starch adulteration in SAGO!

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Testing at various levels can ensure food safety: Experts

On the effects of food poisoning and food borne illness, he said, “It can cause several diseases like diarrhoea and vomiting to permanent illness''.

The agency responsible for food safety can set processes for producing safe food and they set limits what should be reasonable incidents of microorganisms.

Chennai: Testing food at various levels from food production to delivery can ensure food safety, said Julian Cox, a renowned expert on food safety from Australia. He was recently in the city to explore opportunities for collaboration with Indian universities on behalf of University of New South Wales, Sydney, where he currently works as an associate professor of food microbiology. 

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle about the challenges in ensuring food safety and quality, he said, “Despite a lot of effort many countries still faces challenges with food safety and quality. My understanding suggests that food science and technology, food safety still needs a lot of development in India”.

“There is a lot of potential for foreign universities and experts to work in the area of food safety and quality,” he pointed out. On ensuring food safety he said, “We have to educate all the people involved in the food chain. The farmers need to understand what they do is important to ensure food safety and quality. Others involved in food handling have to be educated about the good practices of personal hygiene.”

“The food items need to be tested at various levels to understand where the organisms occur and where the contaminations happen,” he said while pointing out the need to develop low-cost food testing technologies for India. “Adoption of current food testing technology is expensive and is economically not feasible. In India cost of testing is very important. Since the labour is cheap in India it is possible to test food items at lower cost,” he said.

On the effects of food poisoning and food borne illness, he said, “It can cause several diseases like diarrhoea and vomiting to permanent illness. People are disabled for a lifetime due to food borne illness. Potentially, it could have a significant impact on the economy.”

He stressed the need for a framework for food safety. The agency responsible for food safety can set processes for producing safe food and they set limits what should be reasonable incidents of microorganisms.

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20 quintals sub-standard sweets, kalakand seized

Jaipur: The police on Saturday seized 20 quintals of sub-standard kalakand (milk cake) and sweets from a vehicle at Kotputli. The products were allegedly made of soyabean oil.

Health department officials said that the truck had been coming from Khairtal and heading towards Phulera. The police intercepted the vehicle and immediately informed the health department officials. The team of food safety officers reached the spot immediately to check its quality.

Health department officials said that the seized kalakand is adulterated. It is sold at Rs130 per kg to retailers. The retailers sold it at Rs350 per kg.

Officials said that it should be made of only milk and sugar. But, in this case, it is suspected that the manufacturer has used soyabean oil and skimmed milk powder. "We have collected samples of kalakand and sent it to laboratory for testing," the official said.

Transpiration of Kalakand in huge quantity in a truck put it in suspicion. The police suspected that it requires a lot of milk to produce such a huge quality of kalakand.

Earlier, food safety officers inspected mawa manufacturing units in Chitwari in Chomu area and collected seven samples.

It took almost whole day for the health department officials to inspect the mawa manufacturing units in the village as almost each and every house in the village is engaged in producing mawa.

A health department official said that Chitwari is a village, which has 900 houses. "We have taken seven samples of mawa from Chitwari," a health department official said.

However, officials claimed that they have not found any evidences of adulteration in the mawa during the inspection but they have taken the samples for quality testing.

The food safety officers were conducting inspection when they received information from the Kotputli police about the vehicle carrying 20tons of Kalakand.

Chitwari village totally depends on mawa production. Almost each house in the village is linked to mawa production.

The prominent markets for Chitwari village are Jaipur, Chomu and also some places in Sikar. The daily requirement of mawa in Jaipur is approximately 60,000 kg. Chitwari supply around 15-20,000 kg.

Profiteering traders fined Rs 50K in Ganderbal

The court of Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum- Adjudicating Officer Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari under the Food Safety Act on Saturday imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a number of traders for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006.

The ADC warned all the stake holders who are involved with food business to desist such practices in future and directed the concerned authorities to conduct market checking on daily basis to monitor whether hygienic and quality food is made available to the general public.

“We have imposed fine of nearly fifty thousand rupees to various business operators for violating food safety standard act,” the ADC told Greater Kashmir, adding that the fine was imposed while deciding several cases lodged before the said court in last few months.

FBOs told to comply with 5% trans fatty acids limit; pkg date extended

Mumbai: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in its recent direction, has asked food business operators (FBOs) to comply with maximum limits of trans fatty acids to 5% by weight as prescribed earlier by the regulator while allowing to use existing stocks of the packaging material for next six months upto June 30.

The notification in this regard was published in the month of May last year which was extended upto August, further to February 17. The direction stated, “After due consideration of representations received from the stakeholders, requesting for deferment of implementation of the said regulation for the purpose of utilising the existing stock of their packaging material, the time line for compliance of Notification No. 1 (94) 2015/ Notification P&L/ Enf/ FSSAI dated May 25, 2016, is hereby further extended upto June 30, 2017.”

Meanwhile, the direction with regard to compliance to maximum limits of the trans fatty acids, stated, “Food business operators shall comply with the Notification No. 4/1505/30/2011 dated August 4, 2015, with respect to maximum limit of trans fatty acids as not more than 5% by weight with effect from February 28, 2017.”

Atul Chaturvedi, president, Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), said, “The regulator has addressed major concern again with allowing usage of packaging material. Several major brands have filed their representations with the regulator and regulator has always been considering industry views. The last extension which regulator gave came with a charge fee that has to be paid to enable extension which ensured that industry players which are filing representations are really affected with the amendments in the law.”

“The limit of total trans fatty acids is a healthy move which is actually a trend recently. People are moving towards healthy products. Soon will be the time when brands will have a healthy edition of the products like chips and usual snacks. The regulator, on this instance has stated that it wants brands to serve healthier products. I am sure that the food industry will definitely comply with the direction,” he added.

A source from FSSAI said that the established brands which are few in number are filing representations as they are the ones who stock bulk printed packaging material. He also held that the small players will not be able to pay every month the charges for using existing packaging material and small players have small area of operation.

Moreover, the extension will cost the charge or the fee as directed by FSSAI in its last direction regarding use of existing stocks of the packaging material. 

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DISTRICT FOOD SAFETY DEPT ON ITS TOES TO PREVENT ADULTERATION

The incidences of adulteration in edible items increases during the festivals like Holi. The increased demands of milk, its products and other edible things during the festivals of Holi make the adulterators more active during this time. The spurious condensed milk (Mawa), milk, Ghee and butter are the targets of the adulterators during this period of time. Large supplies of such products are made from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh where many clandestine units of these spurious milk products are situated.

In modern times the old practice of preparing sweets at home is fast vanishing and people are dependent on sweet shops for their Holi sweets. The Dietician of the associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), Richa Kukreti said that sweets should be prepared at home so that the chances of eating contaminated stuff are minimized.

The district Food Safety department is also on its toes to prevent the adulteration in food products. However the department’s work is hindered due to shortage of staff. The distirct food safety officer Anoj Thapliyal said that a special vigilance programme is being undertaken in the district in view of the festival of Holi. He said that the teams of the department are visiting shops selling food products and collecting samples.

Thapliyal informed that the teams have collected samples of Mawa, Milk, Edible Oil, Salt, sweets, spices from Hanuman Chowk, Chakrata road, Rajpur road, Dharampur, Vikasnagar, Sahaspur and Rishikesh. He informed that the department has sent the samples to the Rudrapur lab for testing. It is pertinent to mention here that the Rudrapur based testing lab is the only lab in the state to check the food adultration.

The overload of work in the lab ensures that tthe reports take at least six to seven months to arrive due to which the action on perpetrators of adulteration is delayed.

Sweetmeat shops raided ahead of HoliChetna Choudhry

Gurgaon: A special crack team, led my officials from the department of food safety, carried out raids on shops across Gurgaon on Friday to check adulteration in food items savoured during Holi.

During the daily-long drive, the officials collected samples of milk, gujiya, khoya — the most sold edibles during Holi — among others. "The collected samples will be sent to the food testing laboratory in Chandigarh," said K K Sharma, the food safety officer, Gurgaon.

Sources said the team visited the Amul plant in Manesar, a sweet-cum-bakery shop, Gopala, in Nirvana Courtyard, Bikanervala on Sohna Road, Om Sweets outlets and Chaudhary Gohana Famous Jalebi shop in Sector 46 market.

"Check for FSSAI licence number, expiry and best before dates, ISI or AGMARK logos," said a senior food safety official.

Lack of seller database hurt food safety fight

NEW DELHI: It seems Delhi is fighting a losing battle when it comes to food safety. According to the CAG report, the department concerned has a number of glaring lapses, starting with a lack of proper implementation of norms and a manpower crunch. As a result, it has failed to cover food business operators (FBOs) dealing in food items like midday meals in schools, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drinks and milk.

The audit, conducted for the period from August 2011 to March 2016, found lapses in the regulatory and administrative mechanism, inadequacy of infrastructure and shortcomings in the issue of licences and registration certificates.

The findings are certainly shocking. For instance, the audit found that the department had failed to prepare a database of all FBOs. "The projected figure of 2 lakh FBOs in Delhi could not be verified in audit," says the CAG report, adding that the department had issued 49,796 licences and registration certificates (RCs) with a 75% shortfall in coverage of 1.5 lakh FBOs under the new Act up to March 2016.

More worryingly, the department hasn't covered FBOs engaged in supply of midday meals in schools, fair price shops and anganwadi centres in Delhi. The report has pointed out there are 33 institutions providing midday meal to about 1,000 government and 216 government-aided schools. The department, in its reply to CAG, said that a nodal officer was appointed in March 2016 for checking samples of midday meals and anganwadis. Five samples were lifted for checking. "The reply is not tenable as lifting of only five samples from food supplied to 14,466 units cannot be deemed to be adequate coverage of FBOs," its report added.

In the area of packaged drinking water, the audit found the department didn't cover DJB, which sells it, due to lack of staff. Shockingly, the department also didn't have a database of all outlets of Mother Dairy and Amul Milk, though it is supposed to check samples of milk and submit such a list. Neither did the department check whether all FBOs dealing in alcoholic drinks and wine had the requisite licence.

Besides, the accreditation of the state food laboratory was not renewed beyond March 2014 as there had been no upgradation in the lab due to a shortage of technical staff and lack of equipment. The report also found there were long delays in issuance of licences and RCs, as well as in inspections.

FSSAI to launch initiative on safe and nutritious food at home

Food regulator FSSAI will launch an initiative on 'safe and nutritious food at home' tomorrow to create awareness about healthy food items and ways to test common adulterants at home.

The initiative which is being launched in pilot mode in Chanakyapuri here will be gradually extended to the National Capital Region and country-wide in the days to come. (PTI)

Food regulator FSSAI will launch an initiative on ‘safe and nutritious food at home’ tomorrow to create awareness about healthy food items and ways to test common adulterants at home. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is banking on resident welfare associations and other local bodies to disseminate information on safe and nutritious food. The regulator plans to reach out to 40 crore households in the country under its drive. The initiative which is being launched in pilot mode in Chanakyapuri here will be gradually extended to the National Capital Region and country-wide in the days to come.

Going forward, initiatives will also be launched to promote safe food at schools, offices, eateries and religious places, among others. “We have created guidance documents around what is required to be done at home, at workplace, at school or outside. Tomorrow we launch the initiative around safe and nutritious food at home on a pilot basis,” FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal said. He was addressing a conference on ‘Ensuring Hygiene & Safety For Our Industrial Workforce’ here.

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“We all recognise that in India, the levels of hygiene in general are poor. We have to go long, long way as far as that (industrial and common hygiene) is concerned,” Agarwal said. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, the FSSAI CEO said: “We are expecting resident welfare associations and local associations will take on this responsibility. We will provide them the material. We are releasing the guidelines, like on how to test common adulterants at home”.

FSSAI will provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe and nutritious food at home. Similarly for schools, it will prepare a negative list of high fat, sugar and salt foods — commonly referred as junk food — to ensure food safety and nutrition in and around schools, including lunch boxes and canteens. It plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.

Gutka worth Rs 80 lakh seized in Kharghar, 4 held

The state govt has banned manufacturing and sale of gutka since 2012.The banned substance was seized from a truck.

Mumbai: In a joint operation, the Thane police’s Anti Narcotic Cell (ANC) and the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) seized two trucks containing packets of gutka worth Rs 80 lakh. The manufacturing and sale of gutka has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012. The Thane police arrested four persons with the banned substance at Kharghar toll booth. The gutka was supplied by a Gujarat-based manufacturing firm and was meant to be delivered to an export house in Mumbai. The gutka is sold in Mahatrashtra at twice the printed price, according to an ANC source.

In 2012, Maharashtra Government had banned sale and manufacturing of gutka under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The offences under these acts are non-bailable. 

ACP Thane police, Bharat Shelke said, “Acting on a tip-off, our officials laid a trap and seized the banned material. The gutka was hidden inside the truck in separate compartment so that the vehicle could look empty.”

The officials from FDA said, “It was after the tip-off by Thane FDA authorities and Thane’s Anti Narcotic Cell that we stopped the two trucks near the Kharegaon toll booth on Friday afternoon. The material had come from Bharat Benze company in Gujarat. While we are probing the case, the seized gutkha packets have been sent for chemical analysis at a laboratory in Thane. We are waiting for the report.”

The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Hakim (22) cleaner of the one of the trucks, Burekhan Khan (35), Nasrul Khan (26) and Kalim Khan (19). “ We have found the company which was sending this material to Mumbai from past few months.”

A case has been registered under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code, Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Regulations Act 2011.

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 151

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT 

LOK SABHA 

STARRED QUESTION NO. 151 

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2017 

FOOD FORTIFICATION 

*151. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: 

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: 

(a) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched the Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) to promote large scale fortification of food across India and if so, the details thereof; 

(b) whether there is a critical nutritional gap in the Indian diet in general as well as in specific target groups and if so, the reasons therefor; 

(c) whether FSSAI has fixed certain nutritional benchmarks to fortify the nutritional quality of food items used in various social sector programmes and if so, the details thereof and the monitoring mechanism established in this regard; 

(d) whether packaged fortified food, which showed remarkable result in treating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Africa, has proved less effective in trials conducted in India and if so, the details thereof; and 

(e) whether FSSAI, which is addressing the nutritional gap in the population through fortification of various foods, has now constituted a scientific panel on 'Food Fortification and Nutrition' to take the programme further and if so, the details thereof? 

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) 

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House 

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO 

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 151* 

FOR 10TH MARCH, 2017 

(a) The Food Fortification Resource Centre (FFRC) launched by FSSAI aims to promote large scale food fortification across the country through 

(i) creating a rallying point through setting standards for fortified foods for commodities; (ii) monitoring, testing and capacity building; (iii) building consensus among stakeholders; (iv) preparing the supply side by providing technical support to food businesses; (v) implementing fortification in government programmes; and (vi) creating consumer awareness about the benefits of fortification. 

(b) The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) report (2012), assessed that consumption of vitamins and minerals was lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), in preschool children and adults. Factors such as decreased intake of food, poverty leading to low purchasing power, poor dietary practices due to lack of knowledge about importance of dietary diversification and physiological needs, etc. contribute to availability of less nutritional diet to Indian population. 

(c) FSSAI, has operationalized Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Food) Regulations, 2016 with effect from October 16, 2016 including standards for fortification of Wheat flour, Maida, Rice, Milk, Oil, Salt, etc. with vitamins and minerals which may also be used under social sector programmes. The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, primarily rests with State/UT Governments. 

(d) A trial was conducted in India by the Department of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to evaluate the impact of three Feeding Regimens which included centrally-produced Ready-to-use Therapeutic foods (RTUF-C), locally-produced Ready-to-use Therapeutic foods (RTUF-L) and a regimen using augmented home prepared foods (A-HPF) on the recovery of children from uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition. The outcome of the study showed that the recovery rates overall (all the three sites) was 43% in A-HPE, 48% in RUTF-C and 57% in RUTL-L. 

(e) FSSAI has constituted a Scientific Panel on Fortified and Enriched Food consisting of 11 members to (i) identify critical nutritional gaps in Indian diet in general population as well as in specific target groups based on diet surveys and credible scientific evidence; (ii)define strategies to address nutritional needs of the general population and vulnerable groups; (iii) consider suitability of different food vehicles and related technological issues for nutrient fortification; (iv) prescribe safe fortification levels in accordance with the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) and Tolerable Upper Limits (TULs) of nutrients; (v) evaluate fortification proposals from industry using modern risk assessment methods for population in general and vulnerable groups in particular; (vi) review and amend Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations for fortification and enrichment of different foods from time to time; and (ix) prescribe standard sampling and test methods for effective monitoring, surveillance and enforcement of the fortification regulations; 

‘சமோசா... வேண்டவே வேண்டாம்!’ மருத்துவம் சொல்லும் காரணங்கள்

எல்லா டீக்கடைகளிலும் தவறாமல் காணப்படும் ஒரு நொறுக்குத்தீனி, சமோசா. `மூணு பத்து ரூபா’ என குட்டியூண்டு சைஸில் பேப்பர் கவரில் விற்கப்படுவது தொடங்கி, உள்ளங்கைகொள்ளாத சைஸ் வரை விதவிதமான வகைகள் உண்டு. சினிமா தியேட்டர்களில் இடைவேளையில் சமோசா கடித்து, டீ குடிக்காத தமிழ் ரசிகர்கள் வெகு குறைவு. மதுரைப் பக்கம் வெதுவெதுப்பான சூட்டில் வெங்காய மசாலா வைத்துப் பரிமாறப்படும் `சமோசா’, அலாதிச் சுவைகொண்டது. சென்னை சௌகார்பேட்டை பகுதியில் மொறுமொறு சுவையுடன் பச்சைச் சட்னி, சாஸுடன் கிடைக்கும் வட இந்திய வகைக்கு, பிரத்யேக ரசிகர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள். சென்னையில் பல இடங்களில் சமோசா-சுண்டல் காம்பினேஷனுக்கு மயங்கிக்கிடக்கிறவர்கள் உண்டு. `எல்லாம் சரி... இது, நம் உடலுக்கு நல்லதுதானா?’ என்கிற கேள்வியையும் கூடவே கேட்கவேண்டியிருக்கிறது. 

‘சமோசாவும் நம் ஆரோக்கியமும்’ என்கிற பக்கத்துக்குப் போவதற்கு முன்னால், இதன் வரலாற்றை மேம்போக்காக ஒரு புரட்டுப் புரட்டிவிடலாம். `சமோசா’, மட்டுமல்ல... ஒவ்வொரு நாட்டிலும், ஒவ்வொரு பகுதியிலும் அழைக்கப்படும் இதன் பெயர், மலைப்பைத் தருகிறது. சமஸ்கிருதத்தில், `கட்டக்கா’, பெங்காலியில் `ஷிங்காரா’, உஸ்பெஸ்கிஸ்தானில் `சொம்சா’, அரபியில் `சம்புசாக்’, பர்மிய மொழியில் `சமோஷா’! 

சப்பாத்திக்கு இடுவது மாதிரி, கோதுமை மாவை (மைதாவும் இப்போது சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது) இட்டு, அதில் மசாலா வைத்து முக்கோணமாக மடித்துப் பொரித்து எடுத்தால், அது சமோசா. சைவம் எனில் மசாலாவில் வேகவைத்த உருளைக்கிழங்கு, பட்டாணி, பச்சைமிளகாய், வெங்காயம், இன்னும் சில வாசனைப் பொருள்கள் கலந்தும் மசாலா தயாரிக்கிறார்கள். அசைவம் எனில், இறைச்சியில் செய்யப்பட்ட மசாலா! இந்தியாவில் பெரும்பாலும் சைவ சமோசாதான் புழக்கத்தில் இருக்கிறது. 

கடந்த எட்டு நூற்றாண்டுகளாக தெற்காசிய சமையலில் சமோசா வெகு பிரபலம். என்றாலும், `இதன் பூர்வீகம் எது?’ என்றால், மத்தியக் கிழக்கு நாடுகளைத்தான் காட்டுகிறார்கள் வரலாற்று ஆசிரியர்கள். ஈரானிய வரலாற்றியலாளர் அபுல்ஃபாஸல் பேஹாக் (Abulfazl Beyhaqi), `தாரிக்-ஏ பேஹாக்’ (Tariq-e Beyhaqi) என்ற வரலாற்று நூலில், 10-ம் நூற்றாண்டுக்கு முன்னரே சமோசா இருந்ததைக் குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கிறார். 13, 14-ம் நூற்றாண்டில்தான் வியாபாரிகள் மூலமாக இந்தியாவுக்குள் மூக்கை நுழைத்திருக்கிறது சமோசா. அப்படி அல்ல... டெல்லி சுல்தான்களுக்காக சமைக்க வந்த மத்திய கிழக்கு மற்றும் மத்திய ஆசிய நாடுகளைச் சேர்ந்த சமையல்காரர்கள்தான் இதை அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார்கள் என்றும் சொல்கிறார்கள். 

டெல்லி சுல்தான்கள் சபையில் இருந்த அரசவைக் கவிஞர் அமிர் குஸ்ரோ (Amir Khusro), உலகைச் சுற்றிவந்த யாத்ரீகர் இபின் பதூதா (Ibn Battuta)... எனப் பலரும் சமோசா பற்றிய குறிப்பை எழுதிவைத்துவிட்டுச் சென்றிருக்கிறார்கள். முகமது பின் துக்ளக்கின் அரண்மனைச் சமையலில் சமோசாவுக்கும் இடம் இருந்ததாகச் சொல்கிறார் இபின் பதூதா. 

ஆரம்பத்தில் படைவீரர்கள், வியாபாரிகள், ஊர் ஊராகப் பயணம் செய்கிறவர்கள் இரவில் தங்க நேரிடும்போது, சமோசாக்களை செய்து வைத்துக்கொள்வார்களாம். அடுத்த நாளில் பகல் உணவுக்கு உபயோகப்படும் என்பதற்காக இந்த ஏற்பாடு. அரசர்கள், சுல்தான்களுக்கு மட்டுமல்ல... சாமான்யர்களுக்கும் பிடித்த நொறுக்குத்தீனி சமோசா. இந்தியாவில் இது அறிமுகமானபோது, உத்தரப்பிரதேச மாநில மக்கள், அதை சைவ வடிவத்துக்கு மாற்றி ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார்கள். சில நூற்றாண்டுகளிலேயே சமோசா இந்தியாவில் பிரபலமாகிவிட்டது. வட இந்தியாவில் சமோசா மாவுக்குப் பெரும்பாலும் மைதாவைத்தான் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள். 

வட இந்தியாவில் சில நகரங்களிலும் பாகிஸ்தானிலும் அசைவ சமோசா வெகு பிரபலம். ஆடு, மாடு, கோழி இறைச்சிகளை ஸ்டஃபிங்கில் சேர்க்கிறார்கள். பஞ்சாப்பில் சமோசாவுடன் சென்னா பரிமாறப்படுகிறது. மும்பையில், `சமோசா பாவ்’ பிரசித்திபெற்ற ஒன்று. பன்னில் வைத்துத் தரப்படும் இதை `இந்தியன் பர்கர்’ என்றுகூடச் சொல்லலாம். தீபாவளிப் பண்டிகையின்போது வட இந்தியாவில் சில இடங்களில் இனிப்பு சமோசா தயாரித்து, பரிமாறும் வழக்கம் இன்றைக்கும் இருக்கிறது. 

ஆப்பிரிக்கா, எத்தியோப்பியா, சோமாலியா உள்ளிட்ட நாடுகளில் சமோசா, பண்டிகைகால ஸ்பெஷல் ரெசிப்பி. பொரித்துச் சாப்பிட்டால் உடலுக்குத் தீங்கு என்பதற்காக சில மேற்கத்திய நாடுகளில் சமோசாவை மைக்ரோவேவ் அவனில் பேக் செய்ய ஆரம்பித்திருக்கிறார்கள். ஸ்டஃபிங்குக்கு ஆரோக்கியமான காய்கறிகள்! உலகமெங்கும் பிரபலான உணவுப்பொருளாகிவிட்டது சமோசா... ஒவ்வோர் இடத்திலும் ஒரு சுவை. சுவைத்து மகிழலாம்தான். அதற்கு முன்னர், `சமோசா ஆரோக்கியமானதுதானா?’ என்ற கேள்விக்கு டயட்டீஷியன் சௌமியா சொல்லும் விளக்கத்தையும் பார்த்துவிடுவோம்... 

``மாலை 4 மணி. டீ குடிக்கப் போகிற இடத்தில் தட்டில் சுடச்சுட கொட்டிவைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது சமோசா. ஒன்றை எடுத்துக் கடித்துச் சுவைக்க வேட்கை எழும்தான். ஆனால், அதனால் ஏற்படும் சில பக்கவிளைவுகளைத் தெரிந்துகொண்டால், அதன் பக்கம் போக மாட்டீர்கள். 

ஒரு சின்ன சமோசாவில் 240 கலோரிகள் இருக்கின்றன. நம் உள்ளூர் கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் சமோசாக்களில் ஊட்டச்சத்தைத் தரக்கூடிய பொருட்கள் கிட்டத்தட்ட இல்லை என்றே சொல்லலாம். சர்க்கரைநோயாளிகளுக்குச் சேராத உருளைக்கிழங்கு இருக்கிறது; அதற்கான மாவில் நம் உடலுக்குத் தீங்கு விளைவிக்கும் மைதா கலக்கப்படுகிறது. மைதாவில் இருக்கும் அதிக அளவிலான கிளைசெமிக் இண்டெக்ஸ் ரத்தத்தில் சர்க்கரையின் அளவைக் கூட்டும். கொழுப்பை அதிகரிக்கச் செய்யும். இதுகூடப் பரவாயில்லை. சமோசாவைப் பொரிக்கப் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் எண்ணெய்... அதுதான் ஆபத்தானது. 

தெருவோரக் கடைகளில் சமோசா பொரிக்க எந்த வகை எண்ணெயைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள் என்பது நமக்குத் தெரியாது. அதேபோல ஒரே எண்ணெயில் திரும்பத் திரும்ப பொரிப்பார்கள். அது ட்ரான்ஸ் ஃபேட்டுக்கு (Trans fat) வழிவகுக்கும். இதை `ஹைட்ரோஜனேஷன்’ (Hydrogenation) என்பார்கள். அதாவது ஒரு உணவைத் திரும்பத் திரும்ப சூடுபடுத்தும்போதோ, ஒரே எண்ணெயை மேலும் மேலும் பயன்படுத்தும்போதோ ஹைட்ரஜன் உணவோடு சேரும். இது ட்ரான்ஸ்ஃபேட்டுக்கு வழிவகுக்கும். சர்க்கரைநோயாளிகளும், உயர் ரத்த அழுத்தம் உள்ளவர்களும் இதைச் சாப்பிட்டால் கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாத அளவுக்கு அவர்களின் பிரச்னை தீவிரமாகும்.

மற்ற ஸ்நாக்ஸைவிட சமோசா கொஞ்சம் டேஞ்சர்தான். அதீத கொலஸ்ட்ரால், செரிமானக் கோளாறுகள், ட்ரான்ஸ் ஃபேட் (கெட்ட கொழுப்பு), சுகாதாரமற்ற மைதா மற்றும் எண்ணெய்... இவை போதுமானவை சமோசாவை வேண்டாம் என்று சொல்ல! 

தொடர்ந்து சமோசா சாப்பிடுவது, வயிற்றில் தொப்பையை உருவாக்கும். அதோடு சர்க்கரைநோய், உயர் ரத்த அழுத்தம் வருவதற்கெல்லாம் பாதை வகுக்கும். சமோசா சாப்பிட வேண்டும் என்று தோன்றினால் வீட்டிலேயே செய்யலாம். நல்ல எண்ணெயில், ஆரோக்கியமான ஸ்டஃபிங்கோடு மைதா மாவுக்கு பதிலாக கோதுமை மாவு, அரிசி மாவு சேர்த்து சாப்பிட்டால் தவறில்லை. மற்றபடி, சமோசாவுக்கு `நோ’ சொல்வதே புத்திசாலித்தனம்.’’

ஆக, வீட்டு சமோசாவுக்கு வெல்கம் (எப்போதாவது) சொல்வோம்! கடை சமோசா..? வேண்டவே வேண்டாம்!

DINAMANI NEWS

DINAKARAN NEWS

PUNJAB TO TIGHTEN NOOSE ON SALE OF FLAVOURED, SCENTED TOBACCO, E-CIGARETTES, HOOKAH BARS

Tightening noose around the sellers of any kind of tobacco products, the Punjab Government has decided to act strictly as per law. “The material will be seized and a court challans will be issued,” said the state Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vini Mahajan.

Mahajan said that no leniency should be shown against the violators and must be dealt with an iron hand.

The directions were issued during a Meeting to review National Tobacco Control Program (Punjab) and implementation of ban on e-cigarettes, chewable tobacco by video conference under.

Mahajan, addressing the district health officials in a video conference, pointed that as per media reports, flavored or scented tobacco is easily available in Punjab as elsewhere in most of the states. “Strict action will be taken under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) by the Food Safety Officer (FSO), material will be seized and a court challans will be issued,” she said.

She said that anyone found smoking at public places, selling tobacco to and by the minors and selling tobacco within the radius of 100 yards of the educational institutes will be dealt with strict action and fine up to `200 will be imposed on the violators.

The State Food and Drug Administration commissioner Hussan Lal said that strict action will be taken against those selling flavored or scented tobacco. “As Punjab has banned sale and distribution of flavored or scented chewable tobacco in the State, the sale of e-cigarettes and running of hookah bars will also be on the radar of health authorities,” he said.

The State health director Dr HS Bali said that according to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16 (NFHS-4), the tobacco use among men in Punjab State declined from 33.8 (NFHS-3) to 19.2 percent (NFHS-4) and in women from 0.8 to 0.1 percent during last 10 years which is lowest among all the States of the country. Punjab is the only State where implementation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and FSSAI and COTPA is being monitored monthly at State by Government and at District Level by Deputy Commissioners.

Tobacco Control Programme Officer Dr Rakesh Gupta told that all the districts of Punjab have been declared as ‘Tobacco Smoke Free’ (TSF) on the basis of compliance study. “But in order to create awareness and to alert the people, all the health institutions have been declared as tobacco free institutions in which no one is allowed to carry tobacco products inside the health institutions,” he said.

Tobacco cessation services are being provided at all the district, sub-divisional hospitals and drug de-addiction centers of the Punjab. Strict enforcement of anti-tobacco policy under films and TV rules is also being planned so that cinema houses comply with the law,” he said.

Ahead of Holi, FDSA conducts raids to check food adulteration

BAREILLY: Ahead of Holi, the food safety and drug administration (FSDA) department is conducting raids in various sweets and confectionery shops of the city to check food adulteration. The department also revealed that four samples of food, collected from different grocery and confectionery shops last year, were found to be adulterated. The lab report for the test came on Thursday.

FSDA designated officer Mamta Kumari told TOI, “We had collected samples from Balaji confectionary, Chandra Prakash Kirana shop in Biharipur, Shubham Kirana and Sachin Kiran store in Nawabganj in June, July and August, respectively. We got the lab report for the tests on Thursday. Four samples of Namkeen and gramflour were found to be adulterated. Now, we are sending our report to the additional city magistrate.”

Kumari further said that the department has also collected samples of mava (condensed milk) and cheese from various shops in the district on Thursday.

“To check food adulteration ahead of Holi, a team of 10 officials took 13 samples, which have been sent for lab test. Samples were taken from dairies and bakery shops from different parts of the district, including the rural areas,” the officer added.

Delhi Restaurants Being Closely Monitored After Gross Dough-Kneading Incident

A few weeks earlier, a majorly revolting video of a man kneading dough with his feet went viral on social media. And what posed as an even bigger shock was that the employee allegedly belonged to one of Delhi’s most popular Mughlai and North Indian food joints, Kake Da Hotel.

Following a major uproar among consumers, the Food and Safety Department of Delhi intervened and put Kake Da Hotel under the scanner and sent its food samples for testing in laboratories. And now, while they are at it, the department has also collected samples from four other restaurants in Connaught Place – KFC, Ardor, Hotel Marina and Flying Saucer QBA (formerly known as Q’ba) – and sent them for tests on March 1.

SKIM

Among the food samples sent for inspection, there were testers of chicken strips, aloo sabji, paneer tikka and methi malai tikka. “We are taking food samples from all districts. On Friday, food safety officers visited central, south-east and north districts. We want to ensure that the food is safe and all standards are maintained,” said Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, Commissioner, Department of Food Safety in Delhi.

Officials revealed that this step has been taken not only in shadow of the Kake Da Hotel incident but also because a consumer filed a complaint on February 1 against fast food chain KFC, claiming that a worm was found inside a chicken piece. “We have collected samples of chicken wings from the outlet. The report will come in 15 days,” said Pawan Kamra, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Food Safety.

Food poisoning, late ambulance kill 3 students in Karnataka

Suspected food-poisoning: 3 kids die, school alleges foul play

The deceased are students of Vidyavaridhi International School, run by former MLA Kiran Kumar

Three schoolchildren of a residential school in Huliyaru (Tumkur district) died due to suspected food poisoning on Wednesday night, while three others, including a watchman are undergoing treatment in a local hospital. The deceased - Shreyas (14), Shanthamurthy (16) and Akanksh Pallaki (16) are students of Vidyavaridhi International School, run by former MLA Kiran Kumar. The Huliyaru police have filed an FIR under IPC section 304, and also arrested Kiran Kumar.

According to sources, the children had eaten chapatis, rice and sambar for dinner. It is suspected that sambar was the reason for food poisoning as the children who consumed the same fell sick while those who had only curd rice had no complaints.

“I got the information about food poisoning last night and the students were immediately shifted to a local hospital. I suspect foul play,” claimed Kiran Kumar. 

“The food samples have been sent to FSL (food safety laboratory) for testing while we await the postmortem reports of the deceased students to ascertain the cause,” said deputy commissioner K. P. Mohanraj. 

Meanwhile, the parents of the deceased children were joined in by other parents to register protest against the school management. “The children are alleged to have fallen sick after having dinner yesterday. But the school informed us only in the next morning at 6 am. We don't know if they provided timely medical care. We demand stern action against the school and a thorough probe into the case,” cried an inconsolable parent.

Water tankers to come under FSSAI scanner

A tanker lorry filling drinking water from well in Kozhikode city.

Quality of water used at schools and anganwadis in district also being tested

Suspecting that many of the private tankers are not supplying safe drinking water, the district office of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning a drive to monitor their operations.

O. Sankaran Unni, Assistant Commissioner, FSSAI, said on Thursday that the tankers should have a licence and the licence number should be displayed on them. “Those selling drinking water should specify the source and there can’t be any compromise on quality. We are planning a drive within a couple of weeks to check the quality of water supplied through tankers,” he said.

The tanker operator should obtain a report from an authorised lab certifying the quality of the water. Documents showing the capacity of the tanker are mandatory too.

Sources in the authority said that it should be displayed in bold letters that the vehicle is being used for selling drinking water. If one person is operating more than one vehicle, the licence should have all the registration numbers. The coating in the interior of the tanker should be of permissible material, they added.

Safe-food campaign

Mr. Unni claimed that the department is checking the quality of water being distributed through the public water distribution system as part of the safe-food panchayat scheme being implemented by the government in 50 grama panchayats across the State. In Kozhikode district, the scheme is implemented in Perumanna, Edachery, Narikkuni, and Nanmanda grama panchayats.

The water being used at schools and anganwadis is being tested. Efforts are also on to create awareness among rural residents and people from different walks of life about the need to ensure water hygiene.

Asked about the follow-up of the raid on vehicles transporting 20-litre water jars in the city, Mr. Unni said that the department was yet to get the test results on the samples sent to the laboratory. “Some of the firms transporting water have urged us to give them two more weeks to follow the guidelines. By then, the results are also expected. If the water is found to be contaminated, criminal action will be taken against the firms.”