10 Most Adulterated Foods You’re Probably Consuming Without Realizing! Alternatives You Should Definitely Consider!

It is an open secret that food adulteration is rampantly prevalent in every nook and corner of India. Since the governing bodies (or even the government) have no stringent checks (or they chose to ignore the same), food adulteration in India has reached unprecedented, dangerous levels. In a few years time, India will witness massive health issues as a result of this problem but do we really have any other choice? May be we do!

What is adulteration of food?

The technical definition of food adulteration according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is, “The addition or subtraction of any substance to or from food, so that the natural composition and quality of food substance is affected.”

Basically, Adulteration is a legal term meaning that a food substance fails to meet quality standards. It usually refers to non-compliance with health and safety standards.

Why is adulteration of food done?

Food is adulterated to increase its quantity and make more profit. In India, adulteration of food is normally done for financial gain or carelessness and lack in proper hygienic condition of processing, storing, transportation and marketing.

The Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for 2014-15 brought out by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) says that of the 49,290 samples of food items it tested, 8469, nearly one-fifth, were found adulterated or misbranded.

Here is the list of top 10 daily food items that are adulterated:

1. Milk

Among all foods, milk adulteration is most common as it can be easily adulterated just by adding water. Milk produced by Indian cows might also be adulterated because they graze on garbage including plastic waste. It can also be adulterated with addition of detergent, fat, urea, caustic soda and, skimmed milk, starch. When impure water is used to adulterate milk, chances of infection and disease due to microbial contamination is very high on its consumption.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India found in 2012 that 70% of milk samples in the country were adulterated. Recent reports from Consumer guidance Society of India has reported that more than 70% of the milk in India is adulterated.

Alternatives you should consider:

There are lots of alternatives for milk which are natural and healthy. These include Almond milk, Coconut, Soy milk, Oat milk, Cashew, Hemp, and Sunflower. Though the nutrient content in these alternatives slightly vary, but level of contamination might be lesser.

2. Food grains and wheat flour

Rice and wheat are part of staple foods in India. But adulterants take away nutrition that is intended for the consumer leaving them under the illusion that their diet is perfect!

Other common ways of adulterating these foods are by adding sand/dirt to increase the overall weight, adding barn, plastic rice, and chalk powder.

Since, rice and wheat are part of staple foods in India replacing them might be difficult. But there are definitely better alternatives which are as good as rice.

Alternatives you should consider: Only certified organic rice or even get husked rice and get it dehusked at the local rice mill.

3. Coffee & Tea Powder

Coffee powder is usually adulterated with tamarind seeds, chicory powder, and starch. Consuming adulterated coffee is harmful and may result in diarrhea, stomach disorders, and severe joint pains.

Tea leaves are often adulterated with harmful ingredients like Indigo, Gypsum, Prussian blue etc.

The best way to avoid adulterated coffee and tea powder is to prepare it on your own. There are several methods or techniques available online on “How to prepare coffee and tea powder at home”. Find a trusted vendor and buy some good quality coffee beans or tea leaves and prepare it on your own.

Alternatives you should consider: Certified Green Tea, Nutty Smoothies, Licorice Tea, Wheatgrass Juice, Siberian Ginseng Tea, Reishi Mushroom Tea, Lemon Water, Pomegranate Juice, Green Smoothies, Schizandra Tea, Flaxseed Shake, Prune Juice, Peppermint Tea, Lemon Tea, Ginger Tea, Cocoa Drink etc.

4. Vegetables and Fruits

Most of the fruits and vegetables are adulterated with harmful pesticides. The Environment Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organisation released a list of the most adulterated fruits and vegetables. “The bottom line is people do not want to eat pesticides with their fruits and vegetables,” said Ken Cook, EWG’s president, and co-founder. “That’s why we will continue telling shoppers about agricultural chemicals that turn up on their produce and we hope we will inform, and ultimately, empower them to eat cleaner.”

We are not saying to stop eating fruits and vegetables, we are only trying to say, know what you eat is good for your health!

Alternatives you should consider: Find a vendor that sells only organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits like apples are sprayed over with lead arsenate which causes dizziness, paralysis or even death. Try alternatives that are rich in nutrients like the V8 Juice, Almonds, Dates, Vitamin and Protein Rich Juices etc.

5. Common Salt

Yes. Even common salt is adulterated. Most commonly used adulterants are white powdered stone and chalk.

Alternatives you should consider: Salt cannot be completely substituted, but you can use organic and natural ingredients and reduce the intake of common salt. Cinnamon is the oldest spice known and is a good salt alternative as has the ability to regulate blood sugar level and cholesterol.

6. Spices

Spices are exported to a large number of countries across the world from India since ages. Many of these spices like cardamom, clove, nutmeg, ginger etc., are inseparable ingredients of the Indian ‘Masala Chai‘. Our spices are not just used to brew a refreshing cup of tea – they form the basis of Indian cooking.

Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), while confiscating adulterated spices in Bhopal had stated that some of the adulterated spices found in the raid were so toxic that they could even lead to cancer.

Turmeric powder is one such spice which is most prone to adulteration. It is adulterated with ‘metanil yellow’ which is produced with raw materials like ‘metanilic acid’ and ‘diphenylamine’. Consumers are unaware of the risks of consuming turmeric powder mixed with ‘metanil yellow’. It is purely carcinogenic – means it is capable of causing cancer in living tissues.

Alternatives you should consider: Turmeric powder can be substituted with Saffron, in some recipes; you can use fresh ginger as an alternative to fresh turmeric root, Cumin etc.

7. Vegetable Oils

Some vegetable oils are highly priced due to which some manufacturers adulterate them with less expensive oils and fats to get more profit. There are two major adulteration techniques used in India: 1) Admixing cold pressed oil with refined oil and 2) Replacement of more expensive oils and fats with cheaper variants. Most common adulterants used in vegetable oils include Castor oil, Karanja Oil, and Mineral oil. Some oils are more prone to adulteration because of the higher prices and limited accessibility (ex. Virgin Olive Oil).

Alternatives you should consider: The best substitutes for these adulterated vegetables oils are organic or imported Olive oil, Coconut Oil, Sesame Oil, Avocado Oil, Butter, Apple Sauce, Mashed fruits etc.

8. Honey

Honey has been used by countless cultures all around the world from centuries and is well known for its medicinal characteristics. The numerous health benefits of honey have made it an important element in traditional ayurvedic treatments and is widely used today for cooking, baking, desserts, and more.

Honey is often adulterated with water and table sugar to increase the bottle’s quantity. According to a study carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment, most honey brands being sold in the country contain varying amounts of antibiotics and their consumption over time could induce resistance to antibiotics, lead to blood-related disorders and injury to the liver.

Alternatives you should consider: For those, who want to cut down on the refined sugar or adulterated honey, can try the natural alternatives that have health benefits. Some of them include Maple syrup, Coconut nectar, molasses, Monk fruit, agave nectar, Fruit sugar, Yacon root syrup, and Date sugar.

9. Fish and Meat

Fish lovers beware! It is found that fish vendors are using Formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries, to prevent fish from deteriorating during transportation.

While Meat and meat products have a great significance in human nutrition which is rich source of proteins, containing all the essential amino acids and a good source of iron, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, choline etc. Red meat, such as beef, pork, and mutton contains many essential nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development in children. Meat is found to be adulterated by the vendors with water and mostly found mixed with different animals meat.

Alternatives you should consider: Know how to identify adulterated food and avoid getting cheated. Don’t buy fish which looks stiff, rubbery and super clean. Always buy sea foods and meat that looks fresh and try avoiding canned foods. The best alternatives for sea food and meat are Mushrooms, Jackfruit, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Beans, Potatoes, and plant-based foods like Tofu or Tempeh etc.

10. Ice Cream

It might not be good news for all ice-cream lovers out there but sadly it’s true that ice creams are also prone to adulteration. Adulterants used in ice cream are Metanil Yellow, washing powder, pepperonil, ethylacetate, butraldehyde, emil acetate, nitrate etc.

So next time you feel like indulging yourself in ice cream, make sure that you buy it from reputed vendors. To be safe, ice cream lovers can prepare ice creams on their own at home.

Tips to identify adulterated foods:

நோய் பரப்பும் கேன் வாட்டர்... உஷார்! நல்ல குடிநீர் தேர்ந்தெடுப்பது எப்படி? #HealthAlert

‘காற்றைக்கூட ஒருநாள் காசு கொடுத்து வாங்க வேண்டிய நிலைமை வரும்’ என்று யாராவது சொன்னால் ‘இதெல்லாம் நம்பற மாதிரியாங்க இருக்கு’ என்று கேட்போம். சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு... ‘தண்ணீரைக் காசு கொடுத்து வாங்கும் நிலைமை வரும்' என்று செய்திகள் வந்தபோது, நாம் இதேபோல் நம்பாமல்தான் இருந்தோம். ஆனால் இன்றைக்கு தண்ணீருக்காக நாம் படும் பாடு சொல்லிமாளாது. நமது குடிநீர்த் தேவையை பூர்த்தி செய்யும் அளவு ஆறுகளில் நீர்வரத்து இல்லை. ஏற்கெனவே உள்ள நீர்நிலைகள் அனைத்தும் மாசுபட்டு, நச்சுகள் கலந்து விட்டது. மழை பொய்த்துப்போனதாலும், மக்களின் தவறான நடவடிக்கைகளாலும் நிலத்தடி நீரின் அளவும் குறைந்து வருகிறது. போதிய நீர் கிடைக்காமை, தரம் பற்றிய பயம் காரணமாக கேன் தண்ணீரையே நம்பியிருக்க வேண்டியிருக்கிறது. சென்னையில் மட்டும் நாளொன்றுக்கு 75 லட்சம் லிட்டர் கேன் தண்ணீர் விற்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால் கேன் தண்ணீர் உண்மையிலேயே தரமானதா? 

சமீபத்தில் மத்திய அரசின் நுகர்வோர் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை உதவியுடன் `கான்சர்ட்’ என்ற தன்னார்வ நுகர்வோர் அமைப்பு தென்னிந்தியாவின் நான்கு மாநிலங்களில் விற்பனையாகும் பிரபலமான நிறுவனங்களின் கேன் தண்ணீரை ஆய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தியது. ஆய்வின் முடிவில், அந்த நிறுவனங்கள் செய்யும் பல்வேறுமுறைகேடுகள் பற்றிய அதிர்ச்சியான தகவல்களைத் தந்துள்ளது. அதுபற்றிய கூடுதல் தகவல்களை இந்திய நுகர்வோர் சங்க இயக்குநர் சந்தானராஜன் நம்மிடம் பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார்.

தண்ணீர் கேன்களில் ISI, FSSAI முத்திரைகள் கட்டாயம் இருக்க வேண்டும். மேலும், BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) என்ற தர நிர்ணய அமைப்பு வழங்கும் ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ (ISI) தரச்சான்றிதழ் முத்திரை இல்லாமல் யாரும் குடிதண்ணீர் விற்கக்கூடாது. ஆனால் பலர் இந்த முத்திரைகளை நிரந்தரமாகப் போட்டுக்கொண்டு ஏமாற்றி வருகிறார்கள். எனவே இதுவிஷயத்தில், பொதுமக்கள் மிகுந்த விழிப்புடன் இருக்க வேண்டும். அதேபோல் ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ தரச்சான்று மட்டும் போதும் என்று சிலர் நினைக்கிறார்கள். அது தவறானது. இந்தியாவில் ஒவ்வொரு உணவுக்கும் தர நிர்ணயம் செய்யும் FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) அமைப்பு உள்ளது. அதன் அனுமதியும் தேவை. எனவே தண்ணீர் கேனில் இந்த இரண்டு முத்திரைகளும் கட்டாயம் இருக்க வேண்டும். இருக்கிறதா என்பதைப் பார்த்துதான் நாம் வாங்கவேண்டும். சமீபத்தில் BIS-ன் இணையதளத்தில் பார்த்தபோது, முறைகேடாக செயல்பட்ட குறிப்பிட்ட தண்ணீர் கேன் கம்பெனி ஒன்றின் ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ தரச்சான்று பறிக்கப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது'' என்கிற சந்தானராஜன் மேலும் பல முறைகேடுகள் பற்றி சொல்லி அதிர்ச்சியூட்டினார்.

“தண்ணீர் கேன் வழங்கும் நிறுவனத்தின் பெயர், தயாரிப்பு தேதி, எவ்வளவு நாள் பயன்படுத்தலாம், பேட்ச் எண், CML (Central Marking License) என்ற லைசென்ஸ் எண் போன்ற தகவல்கள் தண்ணீர் கேனில் தெளிவாக அச்சிடப்பட வேண்டும். இதே தகவல்கள் கேனின் மூடியிலும் இருக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால், பெரும்பாலான தண்ணீர் கேன்களில் இந்தத் தகவல்கள் இருப்பதில்லை. சில நிறுவனங்கள் கேனின் மூடியில் அச்சிடுவதற்குப் பதிலாக ஸ்டிக்கர்களை ஒட்டுகின்றன. இது மிக மிகத் தவறானது. இதேபோல் தண்ணீர் பாட்டில்களைப் பயன்படுத்தியதும் அவற்றை நொறுக்கிவிட வேண்டும் என்று அச்சிடப்பட்டிருக்கும். இதை நம்மில் எத்தனைபேர் கவனித்திருக்கிறோம்? எத்தனை பேர் பாட்டில்களை உடைத்தெறிகிறோம்? 

இவற்றை தங்களுக்கு சாதகமாக பயன்படுத்திக்கொண்டு தண்ணீர் பாட்டில்களையும், தண்ணீர் கேன்களையும் தவறானமுறையில் மறுசுழற்சி செய்கின்றனர். யார் வேண்டுமானாலும் எந்த நீரை வேண்டுமானாலும் அடைத்து விற்றுவிட முடியும். தண்ணீர்ப் பற்றாக்குறை இருக்கும் இந்தச் சூழலில் உடல்நலம் பற்றிய விழிப்புஉணர்வு இல்லாத பொதுமக்களும் தண்ணீர் கிடைத்தால் போதும் என்ற மனநிலையில் இருக்கிறார்கள்'' என ஆதங்கப்பட்டவர் தொடர்ந்து பேசினார்.

தண்ணீர் கேன்கள் வளையாமல் இருக்கவும், எளிதில் உடையாமல் இருக்கவும் பல்வேறு வேதிப்பொருட்கள் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. அதேபோல் மறுசுழற்சி செய்யப்படும் கேன்கள் சரியாக சுத்தம் செய்யப்படுவது கிடையாது. அந்த கேன்களில் நீரை நிரப்புவதற்கு இயந்திரங்களும் கிடையாது. மனிதர்கள்தான் நிரப்புகிறார்கள். அப்போது, சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் தண்ணீர் நிரப்பப்படுவதற்கான வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகம். இவற்றையெல்லாம் யாரும் கண்டுகொள்வதில்லை” என்ற அதிர்ச்சிக் குண்டை தூக்கிப்போட்ட சந்தானராஜனிடம், தண்ணீரில் இத்தகைய முறைகேடுகளில் ஈடுபடும் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு எதிராக நம்மால் என்ன செய்ய முடியும்? நல்ல குடிநீரைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்து வாங்குவது எப்படி? என்று கேட்டோம்.

“முதலில் நாம் வாங்கும் குடிநீருக்கான பில்லை கேட்டு வாங்க வேண்டும். இப்போது பெரும்பாலானோர் இணையதளத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள். ஆகவே, BIS இணையதளத்துக்குச் சென்று நாம் வாங்கும் குடிநீர் நிறுவனம் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்டதுதானா என்று பார்க்க வேண்டும். ISI, FSSAI முத்திரைகள் இருக்கிறதா எனவும் பார்க்கவேண்டும். எவ்வளவோ விஷயத்துக்குத் தேவையே இல்லாமல் போனில் பேசும் நாம் குடிநீர் நிறுவனத்தின் கஸ்டமர் கேரை அழைத்துப் பேச வேண்டும். தரமில்லாதப் பொருட்களை மாற்றித்தரச் சொல்லலாம். குடிநீரை நாமே நீர் பகுப்பாய்வு அலுவலகங்களில் கொடுத்து ஆய்வு செய்யச் சொல்லலாம். தரம் குறைவாக இருந்தால் ஒவ்வொரு மாவட்டத்திலும் இருக்கும் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரியிடம் புகார் செய்யலாம். நாம் குடிநீரை காசு கொடுத்துதானே வாங்குகிறோம். அதனால் நல்ல குடிநீரைப் பெறுவது நம் உரிமை” என்று முடித்தார். 

மனிதனுக்குத் தேவையான உணவு, காற்று, குடிநீர் போன்ற எந்த தேவையையும் நாம் இயற்கையிலிருந்து பெற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியும். ஆனால் இயற்கைக்கு எதிராக நாம் செயல்பட ஆரம்பித்ததன் விளைவாக, அவற்றைப் பணம் கொடுத்து வாங்கவேண்டிய அவலநிலைக்கு தள்ளப்பட்டு விட்டோம். வீட்டுக்கு வருபவர்களுக்கு, முதலில் தண்ணீர் கொடுத்து வரவேற்பது நம் தமிழர் மரபு. ஆனால், இன்றைக்கு அந்தத் தண்ணீரே தரமில்லாததாக இருந்தால் என்ன செய்வது? தண்ணீர்... நமக்கும், நம்மைச் சேர்ந்தவர்களுக்கும் நோயை ஏற்படுத்தும் ஒரு காரணியாக மாற நாம் அனுமதிக்கக்கூடாது. மேலும், நாம் வாங்கும் கேன் தண்ணீர் தரமானதுதானா? என்று கண்டிப்பாகத் தெரிந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும். அதற்கான குறைந்தபட்ச முயற்சியையாவது எடுக்கவேண்டும். இல்லையேல் நாம் குடிக்கும் நீர் நம் உயிருக்கு உலை வைக்கும்.

DINAMANI NEWS

உணவுகளில் உள்ள பூச்சி மருந்து, ரசாயனம் அகற்ற 6 எளிய வழிகள்..!

சந்தையில் கிடைப்பவை அத்தனையும் சுத்தமான பழங்கள் அல்ல. அவற்றில் பூச்சிக்கொல்லிகளின் தாக்கம் இருக்கலாம்; ரசாயனம் கலக்கப்பட்டிருக்கலாம். எனவே, பழங்களைச் சுத்தப்படுத்திவிட்டுப் பயன்படுத்துவதே சிறந்த வழிமுறை. பழங்களைச் சுத்தப்படுத்துவதற்கு இங்கே ஆறு எளிய வழிமுறைகள்...

* பழங்களின் மேல் தோலில் படிந்திருக்கும் பூச்சி மருந்துப் படலம், பழத்தின் வீரியத்தைக் குறைத்துவிடும். மிதமான சூடுள்ள வெந்நீரால் பழங்களைக் கழுவினால், பூச்சி மருந்துப் படலம் முழுதாக நீங்கவில்லை என்றாலும், அதன் தாக்கம் குறையும். இதற்கு, அதிகச் சூடான வெந்நீரைப் பயன்படுத்தக் கூடாது. 

* ஒரு பாத்திரம் நிறையத் தண்ணீரை ஊற்றி, அதில் ஆப்பிளைப் போட்டு, ஊறவைக்கவும். அதோடு சிறிது வினிகரைச் சேர்க்கவும். ஐந்து நிமிடங்கள் பழத்தை ஊறவைத்த பின்னர், ஆப்பிளை வெளியே எடுத்துத் தண்ணீரில் கழுவவும். இப்படிச் செய்வதால், ஆப்பிளின் மேல் தோலில் உள்ள பூச்சி மருந்தின் தாக்கம் குறையும். 

* பழங்களைத் தண்ணீல் கழுவிய பின்னர், சுத்தமான துணில்யால் துடைக்கவும். இதனால் பழத்தின் மேல் தோலில் ஒட்டியிருக்கும் மீதமுள்ள பூச்சி மருந்தும் வெளியேறிவிடும். 

* ஒரு டேபிள்ஸ்பூன் எலுமிச்சைச் சாற்றில் இரண்டு டேபிள்ஸ்பூன் பேகிங் சோடாவைக் கலந்துகொள்ளவும். இதை 100 மி.லி தண்ணீரில் கலந்து, பழங்களின் மேல் ஸ்ப்ரே செய்யவும். அதன் பின்னர் பழங்களைத் துடைத்தால், எலுமிச்சையில் உள்ள கிருமி நாசினி, பூச்சி மருந்தின் தாக்கதை அடியோடு நீக்கிவிடும்.

* ஆப்பிள், வெங்காயம், இஞ்சி, கேரட், பீட்ரூட், மாம்பழம், ஆரஞ்சு, அவகேடோ, உருளைக்கிழங்கு ஆகியவற்றின் தோலை உரிப்பது எளிது. இவற்றைப் பயன்படுத்தும்போது தோலை உரித்தாலே பெரும்பான்மையான பூச்சி மருந்தின் தாக்கம் போய்விடும். அதன் பிறகு கழுவிவிட்டுத்தான் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். 

* தண்ணீரில் அரை டீஸ்பூன் உப்புச் சேர்த்து, அதில் பழங்களை ஐந்து நிமிடங்கள் ஊறவைக்கவேண்டும். பின்னர் பழங்களை தண்ணீரில் கழுவ வேண்டும். உப்பில் உள்ள சோடியம் பூச்சி மருந்தின் வீரியத்தைக் குறைக்கக்கூடியது.

Unregistered street vendors to be penalised

VADODARA: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided to take action against those street food vendors who have not registered themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA). The civic body claims that only a small number of such street food joints got themselves registered under the act.

The VMC brought out a circular stating that those street food vendors who had not registered themselves till Wednesday would face action under FSSA if they were found operating. It also stated that they would have to maintain hygienic conditions as prescribed under the FSSA. According to officials, under provisions of FSSA, a person operating a food business without licence could be imprisoned for six months and slapped a fine of up to Rs five lakh.

The VMC has cracked down on street food vendors across the city since about a month. Most of them were operating illegally on roadside in the city. VMC officials said that a large majority of street vendors in the city were those who could be categorised as food business operators.

It is estimated that around 25,000 street vendors exist in the city. "Against this only six thousand have registered themselves under the FSSA. Clearly a majority of them are operating without a registration," said VMC commissioner Dr Vinod Rao. He pointed out that this could prove to be a health hazard if food from one of them caused illness to several people. The street vendors will have to compulsorily display their registration certificate at their establishment.

The person in whose name it has been taken will also have to keep his identity proof in possession to ascertain that no other person but the licensee was operating the outlet.

VMC teams crack down on ice factories

Vadodara: Teams of food safety officers of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) cracked down upon ice factories, packaged drinking water plants and cold storages at different locations in the city on Thursday. VMC officials checked eight ice and packaged water factories and three cold storages located in Salatwada, Karelibaug, Pandya Bridge, Chhani Jakatnaka, Gorwa and Makarpura GIDC.

The teams disposed of 130kg of ice made without using chlorinated water and 5,900 pouches of drinking water. Notices were issued to four factories in the city.

These include two that did not maintain hygienic conditions and two that did not have a licence.

Artificial ripening agents in mangoes to be exported

Modern World wants Huge results and are least bothered about the path to attain this result. This leads to adverse effects on humans.Humans have lost humanity and fellow feeling.They are ready to kill anybody for the sake of result and hence earn money.The food that we eat today is equal to poison.For increasing production and to protect the crops from pests, wide varieties of pesticides and chemicals are applied on crops.These chemicals enters the human body through food and kills us silently.

Recently a tonne of mangoes were caught from Karipur Airport,Calicut containing carbide packs.

Each box of mangoes contained two or three packs of carbide.This contains acetylene gas which causes the mangoes to ripe. Acetylene gas is used to weld iron and its shocking that this is used in the mangoes to be exported.It is highly carcinogenic. The use of artificial ripening agents was banned in India by the Food safety and standards Act,2006 as it leads to cancer.

The department of food and safety took samples of these mangoes and burnt the rest of it.Due to the presence of calcium carbide the mangoes just exploded like a bomb.

These mangoes containing calcium carbide are exported to gulf countries.This can lead to various health problems and can even lead to cancer.

Food, drink giants plot fightback as rules tighten

India is alarmed by rising obesity levels in youth. 

India’s idea of ‘fat tax’ on ‘junk’ food worries foreign chains

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 Centre to resist pressure from health advocates, according to a 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.

All India Food Processors’ Association, whose members range from street vendors to global conglomerates, said two industry-wide meetings were held in the month of February.

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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