May 25, 2017
பான் மசாலா, குட்கா தடை ஓராண்டு நீட்டிப்பு
தமிழகத்தில், பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலைப் பொருட்கள் தயாரிக்க, விற்பனை செய்வதற்கான தடை, ஓராண்டுக்கு நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்றவற்றில், புகையிலை மற்றும் நிக்கோட்டின் அதிக அளவில் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. இவை, உடல் நலத்திற்கு பெரும் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்துகின்றன. எனவே, குட்கா, பான் மசாலா, புகையிலை, நிக்கோடின் கலந்த உணவுப் பொருட்கள் தயாரிக்க, விற்பனை செய்ய தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.
அது வரும், 23 முதல், ஓராண்டுக்கு தடை நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான உத்தரவை, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு கமிஷனர், அமுதா பிறப்பித்துள்ளார்.
தரமற்ற உணவு விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக புகார்: சென்டிரல் அருகே 500 கிலோ சுகாதாரமற்ற இறைச்சி பறிமுதல்
சென்னை சென்டிரல் அருகே தரமற்ற உணவு பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக வந்த புகாரையடுத்து, அப்பகுதியில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை நடத்தி 500 கிலோ சுகாதாரமற்ற இறைச்சியை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.
சென்னை,
சென்னை சென்டிரல் ரெயில் நிலையம் அருகே உள்ள அல்லிகுளம் பகுதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் சுகாதாரமற்ற உணவு பொருட்கள் மற்றும் இறைச்சிகள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக அதிக அளவில் புகார்கள் எழுந்தது. இதையடுத்து உடனடி நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ள உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறைக்கு மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் அன்புசெல்வன் உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்தார். அதன்படி சோதனை நடத்த உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை (சென்னை மாவட்ட) நியமன அதிகாரி கதிரவன் உத்தரவிட்டார்.
இதையடுத்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சதாசிவம், சிவசங்கரன், லோகநாதன், ஜெபராஜன், சுந்தரராஜன், ராஜபாண்டி ஆகியோர் கொண்ட குழு நேற்று மாலை அல்லிகுளம் பகுதியில் அதிரடி சோதனை மேற்கொண்டது.
அப்போது அங்குள்ள கடைகளில் தரமற்ற எண்ணெய் மற்றும் மசாலாக்கள் கலந்து மீன், கோழி, ஆடு மற்றும் மாட்டிறைச்சி விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. கெட்டுப்போன இறைச்சியும் அதிக அளவில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. மேலும் சில கடைகளில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.
500 கிலோ இறைச்சி
பின்னர், சென்னை அரசு பொது ஆஸ்பத்திரி முன்பு இருக்கும் கடைகள் மற்றும் அப்பகுதியில் உள்ள நடைபாதை கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் உணவு பொருட்களின் தரத்தையும் அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை செய்தனர். அப்போது காலாவதியான குடிநீர் கேன்கள், தரமற்ற உணவு பொருட்கள் ஆகியவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.
உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று நடத்திய அதிரடி சோதனையில் 500 கிலோ அளவில் தரமற்ற மற்றும் கெட்டுப்போன இறைச்சிகள் மற்றும் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. அடிக்கடி உபயோகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட எண்ணெய் அங்கேயே கொட்டி அழிக்கப்பட்டன.
Spoiled, smelling bun from bakery gets to NVCO
‘Health concerns about food becoming more common in state’
Dimapur, May 24 (EMN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has sought action from the authorities over alleged ‘spoiled and smelling chicken bun’ that a bakery in Kohima town was said to have sold to customers.
According to a press release from the NVCO, it was on the 22nd of May that a student leader by the name Kediseto Tase had bought ‘chicken bun’ from Friends Bakery situated near Mohokhola bridge in Kohima at around 10.30 am.
“However, after reaching village may be within an hour or so the chicken bun was found to be spoiled and was badly smelling. Mr. Kediseto Tase himself went to Friend Bakery and informed them about the spoiled chicken bun but at first the person in the bakery was adamant saying that is was make (sic) only in the morning and not in a position to accept the wrong,” the press release stated.
Tase was stated to have gone back and brought a sample to show it to the person in the bakery ‘asking them smell it.’ Only after that, the NVCO stated, they accepted that the chicken bun was spoiled and was “also smelling badly and they also stated that their products are supplied by Popular Bakery.”
The NVCO stated that the consumer took his grievance to the department of Food Safety besides bringing to the notice of the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO).
The NVCO has taken serious note of the matter expressing worry that the problem was ‘becoming more and more common in our market.’
The organisation stated: “The government of Nagaland had already implemented the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 in the state and the chief medical Officer Kohima have informed the food business operators including hotels, restaurants, provisions, bakeries, groceries, home based canteens of schools/colleges, office, tea stall, street food vendors, etc. to obtain food safety license/registration and as per the Act the Food Safety Officer should checked all these food business operators.”
Food safety refers to the condition and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination of food borne illness.
The Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 aims to consolidate laws relating to food and to establish the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India “for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of sale and wholesome food for human consumption in the country,” the NVCO stated.
Unsafe pulses sold in Valley
FSD asks dealers to stop sale, distribution of polished pulses
Srinagar:
The Food Safety Department (FSD) Wednesday declared polished pulses sold in Kashmir as unsafe and asked dealers to stop selling them in the market.
Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir told Rising Kashmir that the Department has detected polishing in pulses using soapstone and oil.
The Food Analyst Kashmir found Arhar and Channa Dal samples coated with hazardous soapstone and oily substances, which have been declared unsafe as per the Food Safety & Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.
“If consumed, they can cause a potentially harmful effect on human health,” Mir said.
He said from coloured stones to hazardous Kesari dal, adulterated pulses are being openly sold in the market.
“The cheap and low-quality Kesari dal was banned by the government in 1961,” he said.
According to doctors, most of the polished Dals contain diamino-pro-pionic acid, which could lead to paralysis of the lower body and numbness in limbs and spine.
Officials said traders start mixing Kesari dal with normal variety of pulses after rise in prices of Arhar dal due to a poor harvest.
Mir said he has directed the designated Food Safety Officers in the districts to strictly enforce the order immediately.
“I have also requested the Commissioner Food Safety to issue ban orders as per the Analyst Report,” Mir said.
FDA seals 12 fake plants of packaged drinking water
Pune: Officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have taken action against 12 packaged drinking water plants operating without licences in 2017.
Seven plants in the Pune division were shut down. Four facilities were sealed in Solapur and one in Kolhapur. "We have shut down the illegal plants after issuing prohibitory orders," the joint commissioner (food) of FDA in the Pune division, S S Sawant, said.
Licences from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are essential for running a packaged drinking water plant.
"There are 810 plants in Maharashtra that have requisite licences and the necessary water testing facilities. However, there are nearly 1,700 illegal mineral water bottling plants," the president of the Maharashtra Association of Bottled Water Manufacturers, Vijaysinh Dubbal, told TOI.
Most illegal plants are located in Thane, Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur and Pune, Dubbal added.
While proprietors of standard mineral water processing plants invest around Rs 70 lakh on their bottling units, owners of illegal plants invest only Rs 2 lakh.
"The demand for packaged water is so high," a restaurant owner added, "that it hardly matters whether the bottles are certified or not."
Surprise raids by FS deptt at Junglighat, Shore Point
Port Blair
The Food Safety Officers of District Food Safety Unit, South Andaman conducted surprise raids at Junglighat and Shorepoint/Bambooflat areas recently during which 47 food business premises were inspected. Seven FBOs have been issued compounding and improvement notices for the offence committed. The premises include bakeries, restaurants, petty vendors, hotels, grocery sellers, hawkers, road side eateries, poultry shops, slaughter houses, vegetable sellers and other food business operators (FBOs).
During the inspection, it is observed that slaughtering units at Junglighat were unhygienic and maintained in un-sanitary conditions and FBOs were given on the spot instructions for necessary rectifications. They have been compounded and issued improvement notices and directed to rectify the defects within 14 days. Compounding Notice and Improvement Notice for violator of FSS Act, 2006 for Bambooflat and Shore Point area are being issued separately.
The food business operators have been advised to keep their premises licensed/registered and maintain sanitary and hygienic conditions of their premises and comply with provisions under the Food Safety Act’2006. The general public have also been requested to pass on information relating to violation of food safety norms to the Commissioner of Food Safety, A&N Islands at No. 03192-231024/9434280018 or on District Control Room No.1070 for strict actions against violators.
Cannot tell number of abattoirs in Uttar Pradesh: CAG
ALLAHABAD: The total number of small slaughterhouses along with other petty food business operations (FBO) in the state cannot be ascertained as a survey for the same has not been carried out by food and drug administration since the inception of food safety and standards act in 2011.Apart from it, 56% of the total 45,868 businesses who duly applied for licences were issued the same without carrying out inspections of safety, hygiene and sanitary conditions, reveals a report released by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) here. The report also blames poor health of the people in the state to the petty businesses.The petty FBO includes abatoirs whose slaughtering capacity includes two large animals or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds. Apart from slaughter houses, dairy units and food production units having turnover less than 12 lakh annually also comes under FBOs.Principal Accountant General PK Kataria said, "There was no assurance that all the petty FBOs running their business in districts were actually registered and licensed under the FSS Act."In the absence of surveys, there was no mechansim available at district level to assess the number and consequently food safety authority was not able to monitor their activities.
The audit team had also carried out inspections randomly across the state apart from seeking documents from Commissioner, Food Safety. The teams found that about 99% licenses were issued to businesses in tested-districts without checking adequacy of safety measures, sanitary and hygienic conditions."The extreme laxity on the part of the department in enforcing the provisions of food and safety standards act resulted in majority of the slaughterhouses and other FBOs running their business without any licence and registration," said CAG report.. .
May 24, 2017
Court directs for appointment of Food Commissioners
Penalty for food adulteration not enough: HC
SRINAGAR, May 23: The High Court today directed the Government to create post for Food Safety Commissioner and other allied post under Food Safety and Standards Act by next date of hearing of the case.
These directions came after the Court has been informed by Controller Food Safety that the charge of Food Safety Commissioner (FSC) is with the Commissioner/Secretary Health Department and the proposal for appointment of FSC was sent to Government but there has been no response till date.
She also informed the court about the allied post in the department. She submitted that there are 106 posts of Food Safety Officers (FSO) and out of it 70 are in place and further 36 have been referred to recruitment board (SSRB) for filling up of remaining posts.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed for filling up of these posts by next date and sought status report in this connection form the concerned authorities. “Posts of Food analyst be also filled up by next date”, DB directed.
Court during the proceedings questioned to Controller Food Safety whether these 76 FSOs are fully qualified for the post to which, she said, they are. Court also questioned about the mobile vans, which were formed in terms of previous directions and in this regard court has been informed that department has received 5 mobile vans but manpower (drivers) for these vans are yet to be appointed.
Court also directed authorities for installation of required equipments in both the labs at Srinagar as well as in Jammu to meet the requirements and in this regard Court directed Chief Executive Officer of Food Authority of India to depute a qualified person to visit both the labs in Srinagar as well as in Jammu to find out as to whether these Labs are fulfilling the requirements under the Food Safety Standards Act. “Learned counsel for State (M I DR) shall communicate the order to CEO FAI for information”.
Meanwhile, Court has been apprised about the steps taken for controlling the food adulteration and in this regard as per status report number of samples have been taken in Jammu as well as in Srinagar and cases filed against those who have been found to be selling sub-standard food and lakhs of rupees have been realized from them as penalty. Court, to this, observed that penalty is not enough and asked “if a child is given substandard food, what would happen to him”?
Court has been informed that Rs 8.5 crores have been received for further up-gradation of two labs.
Court was apprised that from March 2016 to March 2017, 2179 samples have been lifted in Jammu Division and 1806 samples were tested in which 365 samples have been found in contravention of FSS Act and 373 samples are pending for testing. In Kashmir Division, 1594 samples have been lifted and 1150 samples tested Out of them, 241 have been found in contravention of FSS Act and 444 samples are pending for testing.
In Kashmir as well as in Jammu Division, prosecution has been launched against 156 and 260 respectively as also Rs 55,500 and Rs 8,34,500 have been imposed as penalty on food business operators respectively.
Equip food testing labs:High Court directs Government
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday directed state government to install all necessary equipments in food testing labs at Srinagar and Jammu.
A division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey also directed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Food Authority of India to depute a qualified person who would visit the two labs and see if they function in keeping with Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.
As soon as the PIL seeking to curb food adulteration in the state came up for hearing, Amicus Curie Bashir Ahmad Bashir raised the issues related to functioning of food testing labs and deficiency of manpower.
While the court was informed that 76 Food Safety Officers (FSOs) were in place out of 106, it directed for filling up of 36 posts lying vacant. The court also said that food analyst post be also filled up by next date of hearing. The court was however informed that 36 posts of FSOs have been referred to Services Selection Board.
After it was informed that Commissioner Secretary Health Department was holding additional charge of Food Safety Commissioner, It asked the concerned authorities to create post for Food Safety Commissioner immediately as it is a statutory post.
The court was however informed that Rs 8.5 cr were provided for further up-gradation of the two labs.
Moreover, the government informed the court that five mobile labs two each for Jammu and Srinagar besides one for Ladakh have been purchased and they will become functional after manpower is available. “Provide manpower for mobile vans meant for food checking,” the court said.
In April 2016, after taking suo-moto cognizance of news reports in Greater Kashmir on food adulteration and rising cancer incidence in the Valley, the High Court treated the reports as PIL.
NVCO condemns selling spoilt food
Kohima, May 23 (MExN): Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) today alleged that a bakery in Kohima sold spoilt chicken bun to a customer.
A press release from the Press & Media Cell, NVCO informed that the customer took his grievance to the Department of Food Safety and further brought it to the notice of the NVCO.
Condemning the act of the food operator, President of NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi asserted the case is to be dealt with very seriously as it concerns “seriously causing harm to our citizens’ health especially the innocent and ignorant consumers which may lead to food poisoning,” the release said. He added that similar problem is becoming more and more common in the market.
The release informed that the Government of Nagaland has already implemented the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 in the State and the Chief Medical Officer Kohima has informed the food business operators, including hotels, restaurants, provisions, bakeries, groceries, home based canteens of schools/colleges, office, tea stall, street food vendors, etc. to obtain food safety license/registration. As per the Act, it said, the Food Safety Officer should check all the mentioned food business operators.
The Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, NVCO stated, aims to consolidate the law relating to food and to establish the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of sale and wholesome food for human consumption in the country.
Food safety refers to the condition and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination of food borne illness, it added.
FDA sends notices to four illegal units
Pune: The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has sent notices to four Uruli Kanchan-based drinking water packaging units. FDA officials said these four units did not have a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence and a BIS certification.
8,800 litres of water worth Rs 62,612 was confiscated. The FSSAI licence is mandatory to start a drinking water packaging unit. The BIS certification provides a third party guarantee of quality, safety and reliability.
FDA (Food) Joint Commissioner Shivaji Desai told Sakal Times they inspected the four firms, Sai Industries Pure Drinking Water, Navdisha Filter Water, Abhijeet Enterprises and Akansha Industries. Their plants have been sealed and notices issued to them to stop business activities. The investigation concluded on May 12.
Speaking about the investigation process, FDA Assistant Commissioner Sampat Deshmukh said 12 samples were taken for testing.
“We have confiscated 8,800 litres of water which is worth Rs 62,612. Mostly, maximum retail price (MRP) of a one-litre bottle is around Rs 15 to 20,” said Deshmukh.
Desai said legal cases will be filed against these units. “Under the relevant act, once the industry is found guilty, then there will be six months of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh for not having a legal licence to make packaged drinking water. More such inspections will be carried out by the department in the future as well.”
TN farmers’ body KVVMS seeks ban on trade in chemically-produced sago
Mumbai: Sago (commonly known as sabudana) is again under the scanner after Kalkurichi Vellalapatti Vevasaikal Munnatra Sangam (KVVMS), a Tamil Nadu-based farmers’ body, sought a ban on trade in sago, which has alleged been produced using chemicals, across India.
The association wrote a letter to consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Ram Vilas Paswan, requesting him to ban it. Letters were also sent to other authorities in this regard. These included the prime minister’s office (PMO) and the ministries of commerce and industry and finance.
The farmers also filed a petition in the Madras High Court.
KVVMS’ members alleged that the sago was adulterated with rotten and decayed tapioca starch, adding that the same was being sold to the consumers with the approval of the authorities in Tamil Nadu’s food safety department, the Salem-based starch and sago manufacturer Sago Serve and traders in Tamil Nadu.
R Chandrasekaran, the body’s secretary and petitioner, said, “The manufacturers are selling sago which was manufactured three years ago. It has now expired, and if consumed, is harmful for human health, as it contains fungus and live insects.”
“The production of sago is the highest in the state of Tamil Nadu. Ninety per cent of the sago produced in the southern state is consumed in cities across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. Ten to 15 per cent of it is consumed in Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) came in existences in 2011. Since 2012, KVVMS has been approaching it to look into the matter, wherein chemically-processed sago is being sold to the consumers.
Chandrasekaran said, “In 2015, KVVMS approached the Madras High Court with just one question: Is the processed sago fit for human consumption?”
“The court, in its decision, stated that if any trader was found selling chemically-processed sago, strict action would be taken against him,” he added.
“It urged FSSAI to issue standards and a testing methodology for sago. The apex regulator was ordered by the court to streamline the regulations for sago within two months,” Chandrasekharan said.
He added, “As directed by the Madras High Court, FSSAI issued the draft standards for tapioca or sago. A major part, dealing with testing, was missing in the draft. The method of analysis of sago and the tests that must be conducted to check the safety parameters to ensure that it is safe are also missing.”
FSSAI prescribed new norms for tapioca (sago) in the new draft it released . The draft regulations for starchy foods under tapioca sago or palm sago stated that they should be free from insect infestation, live/dead insects, dirt, extraneous matter, added colouring matter, visible mould growth, bleaching whitening agents or optical whiteners, sweetening agents or any other adulterant.
“In February 2017, the court ordered that the new norms of the government order be adopted. However, no action has been taken in the matter to date,” stated Chandrasekharan.
An official from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra said, “We haven’t received any complaint in the matter so far.”
A food safety officer (FSO) from Nagpur, Maharashtra, denied the receipt of any complaint relating to expired or chemically-processed sago in the region so far.
May 23, 2017
May be, our testing labs are not at par with international standards: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Most of these people (Adani, Nestle, Patanjali etc), who are in organised retail sector, have international brand value for which quality is very important. So, they adopt all international practices of quality control.
Citing the lack of infrastructure as a major impediment in promotion of food processing, Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal, in an interview to Deepak Patel, lists out the challenges being faced by the sector and the steps being taken by the government. Edited excerpts:
What are the challenges you faced in last one year? What challenges are you still facing in food processing sector?
We have been working for last three years to create an environment to promote food processing because as you know, we are one of the largest producers of food but only 10 per cent of it is processed. And the reason for this is lack of infrastructure as it is a capital-intensive industry. Moreover, it is only seasonal. This is why the sector has not grown. To promote the sector, not only we had to put more infrastructure in place, but we also had to create an environment so that the industry progressed. So, we brought a lot of policy measures. We have made sure it gets priority sector lending from banks. A major roadblock was Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which comes under health ministry. A product-by-product approval had to be done and that meant a wait of 1-1.5 years. We harmonised FSSAI standards with global standards.
You said that the product approval time by FSSAI has been reduced from the earlier period of 1-1.5 years. How much has been the reduction?
It has totally disappeared now. When I took over this ministry, every company used to come and cry to me that while you are saying Make in India how can we make in India when we don’t even know when to plan our launch. They said how will we plan our finances when we don’t know when we will get our approval. Today, no one even talks about FSSAI. FSSAI used to do product-by-product approval. Globally, it is ingredient approval. Earlier, FSSAI used to have 375 ingredients for approval which have now been increased to 12,000. So we have harmonised our standards with CODEX standards, which is the way it is run universally. If you are using ingredients among those 12 thousand ingredients, now you need not get your product approved. This roadblock is totally gone.
The PM has called food wastage a ‘menace’. What steps is your ministry taking in this regard?
As I said, only 10 per cent of our food is processed. As per the study done by my ministry, Rs 92 thousand crore worth of food is wasted annually. Our wastage is basically during harvest, transportation and storage. So, the more infrastructure that comes up for processing, after harvesting you will have more outlets to sell. Today, a farmers takes his harvest to mandi. If he does not get a good price, he throws it nearby or uses it as a feed. Now, if an industry is established nearby, the farmer can go and sell his harvest. Industry needs the farmer’s raw material.
You said that food processing in India is only 10 per cent. And you have set a target of 20 per cent…
Yeah, my target was that by the time our government’s tenure is over, we should take it to 20 per cent. I will create this infrastructure by 2019, but we have got Rs 6000 crore now, hence , I need five years from now. By 2019, with infrastructure in place, processing would go up by at least 50 per cent – it means from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
You have been talking about inspector raj at state-level for your industry. What is the situation now?
With GST, there is going to be one tax in the nation. It will put an end to a lot of inspector raj. On the regulatory side, the FSSAI has been doing a lot of work. They are working to design the protocols for testing also. I have asked the FSSAI chief that he should create an authority where people can complain if they are being harassed. First, they (FSSAI) were working on CODEX standards, now they are working on labeling standards.
There have been incidents where people, who were transporting cattle, were hurt or killed allegedly by cow vigilantes. Do you think it will subsequently hurt our meat processing industry?
Meat processing industry has not flagged any such thing to me. Those with a license are already regulated. Industry which has been affected is the illegal one where the Supreme Court has said that not only these slaughterhouses cause pollution and environment concerns but they are also unhygienic and a hazard to the health of the people. So, all unlicensed and illegal slaughterhouses should be shut down. So, all unlicensed and illegal slaughterhouses should be shut down. Probably, other governments did not look at this for political reasons because they used to play certain kind of politics, which is why environment and public health was suffering.
India has been one of the largest exporters of beef in 2016. Considering the fact that Brazil is giving stiff competition to India, are you planning any steps for “ease of doing business” for this industry?
No, I think in our country what is being exported is already seen in rather large amounts. Already buffalo meat (export) is going on. If somebody else is doing better, I have no idea about that.
Some state food and drug authorities have recently found products such as Nestle’s Ceralac, Adani’s Fortune Oil and Marico’s Saffola Oil to be substandard. These firms have raised objections to the state FDAs. Do you think this whole process needs to be streamlined?
Yes, this is why after Nestle Maggi issue, I said that there needs to be some protocols for testing. This means that be it Adani or Nestle or Patanjali, everybody should know that when their product is tested, these are the steps that are going to be followed. Companies should know that this is the kind of the equipment that should be used for testing. So, when these companies manufacture, they know the product standard. Today, what is happening is that some labs have machinery which is 15 years old. Most of these people (Adani, Nestle, Patanjali etc), who are in organised retail sector, have international brand value for which quality is very important. So, they adopt all international practices of quality control. May be our (labs’) testing is not of that international level. So, when a newspaper picks it up it gets known. So, we need to have protocols which is what the FSSAI is going to work towards.
The testing of these food products by and large lies with the state FDAs and their food departments. Have you conveyed these messages and measures to state governments also?
FSSAI has to do that. From my ministry, what I am doing is that we also have a scheme for food testing labs. So, through technology, I am trying to map where all the food testing labs are. Then, we are trying to find out from the state governments about their level — whether they are NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited, ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) accredited etc. Through my ministry, once we know the labs that do not have accreditation, we will give them a grant to get themselves accredited to NABL. So, that the testing labs have the same level of quality.
Assam Govt to shut down stalls selling of fish, meat in the open
Guwahati, May 22 (PTI) The Assam government has decided to close all unhygienic stalls selling fish and meat openly on the footpath in Guwahati by Sunday.
As such practice has become poisonous and fatal to human life, the administration has decided to close all such unhygienic and open selling of fish and meat on the footpath in the city, a government release said here today.
The decision has been taken in an emergency meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary in charge of Guwahati Development M G K Bhanu here today, the release said.
Bhanu also ordered Deputy Commissioner Kamrup Metropolitan District comprising of Guwahati only, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Guwahati Municipal Commissioner, CEO Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Chief Food Safety Commissioner to work jointly as a team in this regard.
Meanwhile, in view of the Prime Ministers forthcoming visit to Guwahati on May 26 the meeting also discussed the cleaning up and beautification of Guwahati city, the release added.
Adulterated foods: Kolkata police Enforcement Branch to conduct raid
KOLKATA: Getting a tip off that adulterated foods are being served in some Kolkata restaurants, Kolkata policeEnforcement Branch (EB) has decided to conduct a raid across the city. The drive will follow a similar raid in Dum Dum area last week.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation top brass said that the civic body would extend its helping hands in the forthcoming EB initiative.
"We have expertise in dealing with such cases of adulteration. We will extend our help to the EB team if need be," said a KMC health department official.
In fact, the KMC is the nodal agency for conducting such raids in the city or assisting the EB in case the latter carries out a drive against adulteration.
In recent times, the KMC health department has raided several north and south Kolkata restaurants and took samples of food items.
Among the food items, biryani has been one item which has failed the civic body's laboratory tests very often.
"We were surprised to find a reputed chain of restaurants selling adulterated biryani. The chemical that the restaurant used in biryani to enhance colour and taste of the popular food was not permitted under food safety rules," a KMC food safety official said.
Besides food, packaged drinking water has been a major headache for the KMC food safety cell. "We have found several packaged drinking water brands to be fake. These brands are mainly sold in the districts but often get into our city and are sold mainly in the pan or stationery shops,' said a KMC official.
May 22, 2017
BEWARE! YOUR FRUIT COULD HARM YOU
Chandigarh, May 21
With the Health Department tightening the noose around traders to curb the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits at the fruit and vegetable market in Sector 26, the traders have replaced it with the Chinese ethylene powder.
The market is full of sachets of the Chinese ethylene powder, lying scattered all over the place after being thrown out of cartons used to transport mangoes.
These sachets expose visitors to emissions of the hazardous chemical.
Experts say exposure to the chemical can cause the same ill-effects as caused by calcium carbide. The packets are also dangerous to cows and other animals at the market that survive on vegetable waste. While the traders claim the use of the Chinese ethylene powder is allowed, officers of the Health Department are waiting for a report of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on it.
The Department of Food Safety has served notices on all 111 fruit traders warning them of stern action, including termination of the licence, in case they are found using the banned calcium carbide for ripening of fruits.
Sukhvinder Singh, designated officer, Food and Safety Department, said samples of ethylene powder collected from mango cartons had been sent to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to check for artificial ripening chemicals beyond the permissible limit.
“This ethylene is in the form of a starchy powder, which slowly releases ethylene gas that causes mangoes and other fruits to ripen. Sources said besides the Chinese sachets, the use of calcium carbide had not stopped completely in the market despite thes crackdown.
While checks are being carried out at the mandi, there is no check in apni mandis where “masala’ is mainly used for ripening of mangoes, bananas and papaya, and sometimes also for cheeku and tomatoes.” They said while the actual process required five to six days for repining of fruits, “with the use of calcium carbide, it takes a few hours to ripen these”.
Papaya gets costlier
Raids conducted by the department has increased the rates of papaya by two times. Papaya was available for Rs 40 a kg on Sunday, the highest this season. A trader said the supply of papaya had decreased by over 50 per cent after the raids, which had led to the increase in its prices.
Over 3 tonnes of fruits destroyed so far
The Department of Food Safety has destroyed over three tonnes of mangoes and papaya ripened by using calcium carbide in five raids conducted in the past one month.
How to identify artificially ripened mangoes
Experts say an artificially ripened mango will have green patches. These patches are clearly distinguishable from the yellow and unlike a naturally ripened mango, it will not have a uniform blend of yellow and green. Artificially ripened mango will also have an unnaturally bright yellow colour when compared to a naturally ripened mango. The artificially ripened mango causes slight burning in the mouth.
‘Have ordered regular checks’
“I have already issued directions to officers of the Department of Food Safety to carry out regular checks to curb the use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits. The use of calcium carbide is dangerous for human beings.”
Dr Rakesh Kashyap, Director, Health Services
Traders want an alternative
“The Administration has stopped the use of calcium carbide without providing the traders any alternative. The Chinese sachets for ripening of fruits are also not available in the city, causing a huge loss to the traders.”
Brij Mohan, VP, Fruit & Vegetable Market Assn
New quality standards for chocolates
India’s food regulator FSSAI has asked the chocolate industry to follow a new set of quality norms from next year to ensure that the best quality product is made available to the customer.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has finalised the new quality standards for chocolates, whose market in India is growing exponentially with more people picking up the habit of gifting chocolates.
The new standards — published in a gazette notification last week — will be applicable to 10 types of chocolates based on amount and types of cocoa and other materials used in these products.
They are milk, milk covering, plain, plain covering, blended, white, filled, composite, praline and couverture chocolates.
The regulator permitted 5% vegetable fats and artificial sweetener isomaltulose, a move that is likely to benefit importers.
Currently, the FSSAI allows use of cocoa butter in chocolates and not vegetable fats, whereas international food standards authority Codex permits 5% vegetable fats. With the Indian chocolate market set to cross the $2 billion mark within a year, the regulator facilitated the entry of importers.
The new regulation will come into effect from January 1, 2018, giving the Indian industry some breathing space to out its internal structure in order to maintain these standards and prepare for competition from the importers.
Currently, only a handful of players dominate the Indian chocolate market. The regulator took more than a year and a half to finalise the standards for chocolates.
Industry watchers said the use of vegetable fats in chocolates has been a bone of contention in imported chocolates as a number of companies had their consignments withheld at the ports because of non-compliance of Indian standards the product.
Kozhikode street vendors put under Food Safety lens
In just one day of the inspection, it closed down nine of the 11 inspected food joints.
In just one day of the inspection, FSSAI closed down nine of the 11 inspected food joints in Kozhikode.
Kozhikode: The city's street food centres have in recent past gained wide popularity for taste and low price.
But with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) acting tough, very soon these outlets will disappear. In just one day of the inspection, it closed down nine of the 11 inspected food joints.
Only two owners have a license for running eateries from FSSAI, and the rest were illegal outlets offering cheap quality and unhygienic food.
"We will make sure that no street food centre functions in the district without a license and not following guidelines in the Food Safety Act," said assistant commissioner O. Sankaran Unni.
"We are re-emphasising the need for rigorous compliance with food safety and hygiene legislation.
“It requires putting appropriate food safety management procedures in place and making sure they are adhered to at all times."
Street foods are very popular, especially among the low-income groups. Most of them are often contaminated with bacteria due to the unhygienic condition in which they are prepared, stored and handled.
"Most of them make food with bare hands and water is taken from contaminated sources. In spite of our warnings, they are still storing the food in open trays attracting germs," he said.
22 children taken ill after consuming sweets in Almora
Almora: As many as 22 children taken ill after they reportedly consumed sweets at a marriage function at Dwarahat in Almora district on Saturday.
The children were taken to a local government hospital, and were discharged shortly after preliminary treatment.
Following the incident, the district administration registered a complaint and sealed the shop from where sweets were procured, while food safety officials collected samples of sweets for lab test.
After a marriage party arrived at Chaura village in Dwarahat, children were served snacks and sweets. Following which they showed symptoms of food poisoning, with many of them complaining of nausea.
Sub-divisional magistrate Gaurav Chatwal told TOI that patients were discharged from the hospital. “The shop has been sealed and a complaint was also filed under section 56 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.”
Abhay Singh, food safety officer, said, “Food samples collected from the shop have been sent for lab test in Rudrapur. The report will come in two weeks to a month. We have taken photographs of the shop as evidence to buttress our case.”
Meanwhile, inspections were carried out in other sweet shops in Dwarahat, and notices were issued to 10 sweetshops. “We have given adequate time to shops to improve their unhygienic conditions,” added Singh.
This is the second incident in less than three days from the same area. On May 18, more than 40 people were taken ill after consuming sweets and snacks. In both cases, sweets and snacks were procured from the same shop in Dwarahat area.
Asked why the administration failed to take action against the sweetshop after the first incident of food poisoning, Chatwal said, “Sweets were sent to three places for marriage functions from the same shop. We received complaints from two places, but there was no complaint from the third place.”
Food licence must for liquor sale, Barmer shop owners flout Act
Under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a case can be registered for violations, and the guilty can be jailed for six months and fined ₹5 lakh
Liquor shops in Barmer district do not have food licences, a violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, officials said.
The Act has categorised liquor as a drinkable item, making it mandatory for wine shop owners to get food licence.
“Without getting food licence, shop owners cannot sell liquor,” said Hemraj Soni, chief medical and health officer in Barmer.
No liquor shop owner in the district has applied for food licence. In absence of such a licence, adulterated liquor may be sold. In April last year, 19 people, including three BSF personnel, died in the district after consuming adulterated liquor.
“We have asked excise department officials to direct all liquor vends in the district to get food licence,” Soni said.
Excise inspector Bhanwar Lal said, “Food licence is mandatory for liquor shop owners; we have directed all liquor vends to get it.”
Food safety officer Bhuraram Godara said the Food Safety and Standard Authority, in a circular issued on December 2012, directed liquor shop owners to get food licence. “Despite this direction, liquor shop owners are not serious about it.”
The health department has sought from excise officials a list of liquor vends in the district. “We will soon launch a drive to collect liquor samples. In case of adulteration, strict action will be taken,” Godara said.
Under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a case can be registered for violations, and the guilty can be jailed for six months and fined ₹5 lakh.
Godara said, “Liquor shops not applying for food licence, apart from violating safety norms, are causing revenue loss; the government can get ₹2,000 on releasing a licence.”
Namma Chennai : Keeping Food Safety First at Marina. A job well done by the Food Safety Department
A team from the Food Safety department were on a mission this Friday when they set out to Marina Beach. Based on complaints,around 300 hundred food stalls in the 3 km stretch between Anna Square and Lighthouse were raided and inspected.
Ten teams of officials were mobilized for the drive and they did a top notch job of checking the stalls for adulteration, expired products, unauthorized addition of food colours and personal hygiene of food handlers.
SKIM
The sad fact of the matter is that a lot of roadside food vendors are not aware of basic food safety practices and they are just trying as hard as they can to etch out a living for themselves. Drives like this are not only for the purpose of seizing and nabbing and terrorizing the vendors. That is not the intention at all. The intention is to make sure that no rotten, out of date, unsafe food is sold to customers and also to make the vendors aware of the dangers of selling food that is not handled or stored properly.
NIP THE BUD
Officials seized 100kg of decayed fruits, 24kg of rotten fish and 7kg of expired ice-cream and biscuits. In addition, they also took away 40 litres of expired soft drinks and 31 litres of reused oil.
It is a scary prospect, but efforts such as these by R Kathiravan, designated officer, Tamil Nadu food safety and drug administration department and his team make us feel a good that issues like these are slowly being taken care of.
None of the vendors were fined this time as the officials realised that most of them did not even know of food safety practices. Even though a fine of upto Rs.25,000 can be charged under under the Food Safety and Standrads Act, 2006, the officials find it difficult to drag the vendors to courts. Most of them do not own the push carts and it is hard to trace them. The vendors from whom the food was seized were let off this time with a strict warning notice and the information that food safety offices would be issuing spot fines if the same vendor was found defaulting again. They were also advised on how best to avoid contamination of food and were informed that more raids would follow.
It is heartening to see such efforts being taken and we hope that more such efforts with the participation of officials,customers and vendors together can bring about a great change.
The Chennai Corporation has enumerated nearly 1,500 hawkers on Marina beach. For any food related complainants WhatsApp to 94440 42322.
Herbal supplements are not all safe and green
Alternative medicine can cause long-term harm to the liver and kidneys
The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, reportedly delayed conventional treatment for several months and experimented with alternative medicine, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer.
The jury is still out on whether it was alternative medicine that killed him.
Green tea extracts, herb teas and garcinia cambogia for weight loss, bilimbi juice for reducing high cholesterol levels, soy foods for relieving menopausal symptoms.
People are generally happy and feel safe taking these herbal supplements rather than modern medicine pills for various health issues
However, the increasing use of dietary supplements, body-building and weight loss supplements and self-administered herbal remedies among people have led clinicians to sound the warning that many of these substances can cause significant harm to the liver and kidneys
Natural as safe ?
“The claim that anything natural is safe is questionable. There are plant compounds like Pyrrolizidine alkaloids which have been proven to be harmful to health. Drug-induced liver toxicity and renal failure due to the indiscriminate use of herbal medications is a growing problem but in many cases, we are unable to pinpoint one herb or ingredient as a causative factor,” says K. Vinayakumar, former Head of Gastroenterology, Government Medical College,
Thiruvananthapuram (GMCT).
Researchers in the U.S who looked at cases of liver damage reported to the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network, a program funded by the National Institutes of Health, has reported that in 2014, 20% of the liver injuries were linked to herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
“Last year, we had 21 inpatients with serious drug-induced liver injuries and in four cases, we could find a clear link to herbal or so-called Ayurvedic preparations. Some of the herbal drugs for joint pains and body-building supplements have also been associated with liver toxicity. We do not know the full ingredients in these supplements. And worse, the patient fails to tell us if he is on some herbal medicine long-term because he might not link it to his condition,” says K. Krishnadas, Head of Medical Gastroenterology, GMCT.
Ayurvedic medicines prepared in the traditional way, with years of standing, does have a margin of safety.
But even the safety of traditional herbs may be compromised if it is prepared the non-traditional way.
Herbal medicines do have adverse effects, which might be inconspicuous or which develops gradually.
Sometimes, it might be some undisclosed ingredient which is used to ‘spike’ the herbal supplement that results in hepato or nephro toxicity.
Green tea extract
Even too much of green tea can interfere with conventional drugs like statins and warfarin. Green tea extract, a main ingredient in the so-called weight loss supplements, has produced symptoms ranging from mild increase of serum aminotransferase levels to fulminant hepatitis requiring liver transplant, according to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (2015 March).I n fact, about 60-70 per cent of dietary supplements being sold across India are fake, unregistered and unapproved, besides being extremely difficult to identify, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) reported in December 2015
Patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) are the ones who usually opt for self treatment using known or unknown herbal remedies and supplements.
Bakul et al has reported in the Indian Journal of Nephropathy in 2013 about a series of cases from Kerala hospitals wherein people were hospitalised for renal failure, requiring several dialysis sessions, after they treated themselves with the juice of Averrhoa bilimbi (‘irumban puli’), for high cholesterol.
“Cases of unexplained kidney failure has been growing in number, often due to self medication or medicines prescribed by some indigenous practitioners. The main problem is that kidney damage comes to fore only when the injury is fairly well advanced. Patients may recover the renal function but the residual damage to the kidneys remain and puts them at increased risk of chronic kidney diseases later,” says Noble Gracious, Associate Prof. of Nephrology, GMCT
The message to the public is that long-term and indiscriminate use of prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs and the innumerable supplements available online, without regular follow-up with the doctor, can harm the kidneys and liver.
May 21, 2017
Chocolates put under food safety regulations
The manufacturers are also required to specify on the label that it contains vegetable fat in addition to cocoa butter. All varieties of chocolates are required to have not less than 25% of total weight. The standards prescribed in the regulations lay down the minimum percentage of cocoa solids, milk fat, milk solids and acid insoluble ash in different varieties of chocolates.
New Delhi : The Health Ministry has put all kinds of chocolates under the food safety and standards regulations, requiring all manufacturers to abide by them by January 1, 2018.
The regulations clamped on the recommendations of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the national food regulator, were published on August inviting objections from the public.
They lay down the percentage of the ingredients, including cocoa and sugar, allowed in various kinds of chocolates.
For instance, the dark chocolate that is becoming popular from health point of view shall be required to contain not less than 35% of the cocoa solids, which includes not less than 18% of cocoa butter and not less than 14% fat free cocoa solids.
The chocolates covered under the regulations include milk chocolate, milk covering chocolate, plain chocolate, blended chocolate, white chocolate, filled chocolate, composite chocolate, couverture chocolate and praline.
In case of praline, the regulations lay down that the product shall be a single mouthful size having not less than 25% chocolate component in terms of weight and meet the criteria fixed for filled or a single or combination of chocolates.
Optional ingredients allowed in the chocolates are edible salts, spices or condiments, vitamins and minerals, permitted emulsifying and stabilising agents, and permitted sequestering and buffering agents.
The manufacturers are also required to specify on the label that it contains vegetable fat in addition to cocoa butter. All varieties of chocolates are required to have not less than 25% of total weight. The standards prescribed in the regulations lay down the minimum percentage of cocoa solids, milk fat, milk solids and acid insoluble ash in different varieties of chocolates.
May 20, 2017
FSSAI, GFSP to work together on food safety in South Asia
Food regulator FSSAI today said it has joined hands with the Global Food Safety Partnership (GFSP) to develop actions for raising investments to support food safety system in South Asia.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the GFSP held a high level discussion in the national capital on food safety.
The GFSP is an innovative, public-private initiative dedicated to supporting and promoting global cooperation for food safety capacity building.
"As a part of this dialogue, nearly 100 participants came forward to indicate their intention to act in various areas including funding and investment, knowledge sharing, public/ private collaboration, and capacity building to manage and support the region's food safety systems," FSSAI said in a statement.
GFSP's CEO Lystra N Antoine said that a collaborative approach would contribute to enhance global food security.
FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna said the regulator wants to enhance its global outreach with a view to learn from experiences of other countries in food safety and build global trust in India's food sector.
"We strongly believe in co-creating a sustainable architecture for building strong food safety systems across Asia. We believe that globally there is a need for more informed and cohesive arrangement on capacity building and knowledge sharing on food safety and nutrition," he added.
This calls for support from public and private organisations, partners and other international bodies, Bahuguna said.
FSSAI's CEO Pawan Agarwal said that it has made a good progress in terms of food safety capacity building efforts through launch of FosTaC portal that necessitates to have one trained and certified food safety supervisor in Indian food businesses.
Lack of infrastructure hits food safety dept.
No food safety officers for Nadapuram, Beypore, Kuttiady
Soon after a four-year-old boy died of suspected food poisoning after eating jelly candy from a bakery about a month ago, the food safety officials and the health section of the Kozhikode City Corporation raided bakeries and shops selling sweetmeats in the city.
The next day, there was a report from Vadakara about a worm being found in an evening snack. The food safety officials had to discontinue their examination in the city. Reason: The department has only one vehicle and it had to be sent to Vadakara for inspection.
According to a senior official, the functioning of the Food Safety Department in the district has been hindered by lack of infrastructure such as these and staff shortage.
“The only vehicle we have is old too. As it breaks down frequently, we are forced to depend on private or other vehicles,” the official said.
Sources in the department said that the department has offices in all Assembly constituencies. However, instead of 13 food safety officers, there are only 10. Nadapuram, Beypore, and Kuttiady constituencies do not have food safety officers.
No permanent offices
Also, there are no permanent offices in Kuttiady, Nadapuram, Beypore, Thiruvambady, and Balussery circles.
The offices for Kunnamangalam and Elathur are functioning in the district office itself.
The Perambra circle office is operating from the same premises of the Koyilandy circle office.
‘Silver foil on sweets replaced with toxic aluminium’Shivani Azad
Dehradun: For many of us, one of the best bits of eating sweets is perhaps the silver foil that glitters on the top of these delicacies. But food safety officials here have come up with a shocking fact. Samples collected from a distributor did not have silver quoting, which are known as vark. These were instead replaced with similar-looking aluminium foils. While vark consists of silver and is known to be anti-bacterial in nature, the aluminium foils can cause severe damage to the brain and stomach if consumed in large quantities. The reason why this practice is rampant is because one sheet of aluminium comes at a much cheaper price than silver, said officials.
The samples collected by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were “nowhere close” to the actual silver leaves, said officials. “It was alarming for us to read the findings of the report. The samples contained absolutely no traces of silver even though the sheets were sold as silver foils by the distributor,” said an official of FSSAI, Dehradun.
The district food safety unit has issued a notice to the manufacturers who are based out of Saharanpur and has a distributor based in Darshani Gate here. According to officials, the firm supplies foils to nearly 50 shops in the city and elsewhere as well. The testing of the samples was done at a laboratory in Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar.
Meanwhile, doctors said that if consumed in certain quantities, these aluminium foils can lead to severe damage to the nervous system. “Excess consumption of aluminium can lead to depression of various types as well diseases such as Alzheimer,” said gastro surgeon Dr Vipul Kandwal, assistant professor, Doon Medical College, Dehradun.
Officials also said that this was not the first instance when aluminium foils were found in sweets here. “Eighty per cent of the so-called silver quoted sweets in the city is often layered with aluminium. The tentacles of this business have spread so far that not only sweets but items such as biryani and mangoes are at times wrapped in it,” said Brij Mohan Sharma, secretary, Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), Dehradun.
FDA wins national award for safe food project
PANJIM: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has been honoured with the ‘Safe and Nutrition Food Ambassador’ Award by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its contribution and early adopter of the project ‘serve safe and nutrition food’. FDA director Salim Veljiee accepted the award at a ceremony in New Delhi on May 16.
Under the ‘Project Serve Safe Food under the Safe and Nutrition Food & Street Food’, the State FDA had trained around 1400 street food vendors in association with CSR partner, Nestle India Limited and NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors of India). Street food vendors were imparted special skill development training in the good sanitary and hygienic practices.
“The State FDA Goa was the first State food regulatory agency across the country which had adopted the FSSAI 10 & 10 initiative program of Project Serve Safe Food,” a statement issued by FDA states.
Veljee said the award is a great achievement for the directorate and the government which show cases the continuous efforts in ensuring safe and nutritious food to consumers.
1.5 tonnes of mangoes seized at Margao
Panaji: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Friday confiscated 1.5 tonnes of artificially ripened Alphonso mangoes worth Rs 32,000 from the godown of one Habib Narangi, near the flyover bridge, at Margao.
After conducting a spot test, it was established that the plant growth regulator, Ethpon, was used to artificially ripen the mangoes. The seized stock was subsequently transported to the garbage dump at Sonsoddo, where it was destroyed.
The enforcement team also conducted inspections at 35 other premises where mangoes, papayas and bananas were being sold. The sites checked were located in the SGPDA market, near Minaxi Hotel and Cine Lata in Malbhat, and in the vicinity of the Rajagiri Victor Hospital. However, no artificial ripening activity was detected.
The team further confiscated gutka worth Rs 8,000, and foreign cigarettes worth Rs 4,000 that did not bear the mandatory pictorial warnings on their packs, from gaddas (kiosks) located in Margao.
The FDA team comprised food safety officers Abel Rodrigues and Amit Naik, assistant chemist Punalik Gawade, and support staff Pradip Parsekar, Sainath Mandrekar and Arjun Naik.
NGT notice to state, civic bodies on sale of unpackaged water
NAGPUR: The Pune bench of National Green Tribunal(NGT) has issued notices to state and others seeking response on a petition against sale of unpackaged chilled drinking water in cans and jars.
A bench of Justice Umesh D Salvi and expert member Ranjan Chatterjee issued notices on Thursday to state government, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), ministry of health and family welfare, commissioner of Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Pune and Nagpur municipal commissioners, state water sanitation department and regional director of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
Observing orally that it was a matter of serious concern, the bench directed the respondents to file their replies before July 24, which is the date of next hearing.
Based on TOI's report of September 6, 2016, a group of three petitioners moved the case through counsels Asim Sarode and Smita Sarode Singalkar. Two petitioners — Vijaysinh Dubbal and Dattatraya Bharne — are from Pune while the third — Santosh Sinha — is from Nagpur.
Extensively quoting TOI's report, the petition stated that the water sold in unpackaged and unsealed chilled jars and cans was not potable and was hazardous to health. Though the unit owners claimed the water was RO and UV treated, no regular monitoring was being done. The units did not have licences from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that are mandatory for selling drinking water, it said.
The petitioners have prayed for closure of all such units. They also pleaded for directions to the state government, MPCB, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Pune Municipal Corporation that they submit a list of all such units to the tribunal.
Though those selling unpackaged drinking water do brisk business, experts had warned that consuming untreated water could cause diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea, hepatitis, cholera, jaundice and many viral infections.
The ministry of health and family welfare, through a notification issued on November 15, 2016, had made it mandatory to sell packaged drinking water in sealed containers only. Following this, FDA commissioner issued directives to inspect all such units in the state. In the last one week, FDA's Nagpur division has issued closure notices to over 20 units in Vidarbha.
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