Jul 7, 2017
Open to changes in new standards for food supplements: FSSAI
NEW DELHI, JULY 6:
Food regulator FSSAI today assured the food supplements and nutraceuticals industry that it is open to making changes in the new standards to support growth of the sector, but without compromising on consumers interest.
The Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations was issued last December. The Food Business Operators (FBOs) need to comply with these standards by January 1, 2018.
Addressing a Assocham conference on nutraceuticals, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal expressed concern over the increasing number of spurious food supplement products in the market.
“We released standards on food supplements and nutraceuticals few months ago. There were some concerns from the industry but we went ahead and released the standards. But our effort is not to cast them in stone as these are evolving standards,” Agarwal said.
“I want to assure the industry that if there are concerns, we are still open to change that. We have five-six months time before this regulations come in force. So, hopefully, we will iron out differences,” he said.
On the sidelines, the FSSAI CEO said that it has got many representation from the industry seeking some changes in the regulations related to inclusion of ingredients.
“Food supplements is a difficult sector to regulate. But for us consumers interest is paramount and non-negotiable,” he said, asking manufacturers to be cautious in declaring any claims about the products.
The FSSAI has set up a technical panel, which includes representation from industry as well, to prepare a framework for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
FSSAI panel to address concerns on health supplements, nutraceuticals
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday said it is in the process of addressing concerns raised by the industry on new standards for eight categories of products, including health supplements and nutraceuticals, which were notified in 2016.
"These standards will come into force for compliance from January 1, 2018, so we have a little time at hand before these come into compliance and hopefully we will be able to iron out those differences and concerns which will be addressed within the next 5-6 months that we have," Pawan Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI, said while addressing an 'Assocham National Symposium on Nutraceuticals'.
The FSSAI chief said the standards of nutraceuticals were released by the food regulator a few months ago after very prolonged deliberations by the scientific panel, scientific committee and then the authority.
"There are associated standards and regulations, and the key amongst them being labelling regulations, claim regulations for which again the draft will soon be available on our website and we will be very happy to get feedback from the industry on those drafts," he said.
Agarwal added that these are also quite contentious issues considering that consumers' interest for any regulator is primary. "I think that is non-negotiable. So any food supplement manufacturer giving any kinds of claims has to be extra cautious and as a regulator we have to ensure that those claims are substantiated with evidence."
On the labelling, he said there may not be too many issues, however, adding that FSSAI has been getting reports from the field that increasingly large number of spurious products are available in the market today.
"The challenge with the food supplements is that there is no robust framework for testing of food supplements products. There are also issues about good manufacturing practices around food supplements and nutraceuticals sectors," said the FSSAI chief.
He said that FSSAI had set up a technical panel with representatives from food supplement companies to put together the framework for goods manufacturing practices (GMPs) for nutraceuticals and food supplements.
Agarwal said though there are many companies that import food supplements, the FSSAI intends to provide them a level-playing field. But considering the 'Make in India' campaign of the government, their focus is on promoting much of processing and manufacturing within India.
The FSSAI chief added that it is imperative for both the industry and government to work together to provide a more robust framework for growth of food supplement and nutraceuticals sector in India.
J.P. Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), stressed upon the need to make the food supplements and nutraceuticals affordable as about 43 per cent children across India remain malnourished while the sector mainly caters to the middle and upper-middle class consumers.
Meena said the MoFPI has particularly been focusing on making farmers/growers partners in the growth story of food processing sector.
"Unless the benefits to some extent are passed on to the farmers, I see that the future of industry will not be very stable and we may not be able to face challenges which will emerge in the future on account of health concerns," he said.
He also said that with regard to capacity expansion and creating new capacities, MoFPI has come out with a new scheme, 'Kisan Sampada', whereby the government will be investing Rs 6,000 crore over the next three years, which should bring an investment of about Rs 35,000 crore in the food processing sector as a whole.
Tamil Nadu milk adulteration allegations: Veritable health crisis or is the dairy minister milking the controversy?
Editor's Note: Tamil Nadu's milk and dairy products minister Rajendra Balaji recently attacked private dairy firms in the state, accusing them of mixing harmful chemicals in the milk they sell. The state Milk Dealers' Association raised strong objection but the minister stuck fast to his claim. In this two-part series, Firstpost investigates the validity of Balaji's charge and the industry's contention.
On 23 May, Tamil Nadu's dairy development minister KT Rajendra Balaji made an astounding statement to media persons at a press conference in Chennai: "Private milk companies are using banned substances in the milk in an effort to maximise profits," he said. "Private milk is not milk... it is poison."
This dramatic declaration got much airspace and sent young mothers into a state of frenzy. Out of a total of 1.5 crore litres of milk sold in Tamil Nadu in a day, private producers have the lion's share of the pie – 1.25 crore litres per day is sold by all private milk companies combined. The state government-run Aavin sells 25 lakh litres of milk to consumers every day, a meagre 17 percent share of the total milk market.
K Ponnusamy, president of Milk Dealers' Association of Tamil Nadu, denied the minister's allegations on behalf of private milk producers. "Privately produced milk in Tamil Nadu is completely safe for consumption. The minister must not make such statements which will put fear into the minds of people. If what the minister says is true, let him name the companies responsible for milk adulteration and take immediate action against them, instead of spreading fear," he argued.
Days and weeks went by. Balaji refused to produce test results of milk samples – which he claimed showed the presence hydrogen peroxide (bleaching powder), pesticides, caustic soda, formaldehyde and detergent. A week after his first declaration, Balaji said, "We have all the evidence. We have sent the samples to Central government labs in Pune and Mysore. We are awaiting the results in order to strengthen our case."
And so, Firstpost investigated
With panic mounting amongst the people of the state, who were unsure as to whether or not to drink milk, Firstpost decided to conduct random sampling of private milk brands.
When this reporter approached the state government lab, King Institute, she was told that the test cannot be done. "We have a lot of government samples already and we cannot do it," said an official there.
So an alternate strategy was adopted. A friend was sent posing as a young mother fearful for her child's safety and King Institute agreed to analyse the milk samples brought by her.
Five containers of milk were handed over for analysis. Sample A contained Jersey milk. Sample B contained state-owned Aavin milk. Sample C, D and E contained Arokya, Heritage and Tirumala milk respectively. These private brands were chosen as they are the most popular ones in the state. The samples were handed over on 30 May. The results were handed back on 16 June.
"The said sample was analysed and found to conform to standards for the tests carried out specified for cow milk under regulation 2.1.1 of Food Safety and Standards Regulations Act 2011" – this was the final observation in all the sample results.
Meaning the milk tested was safe for consumption.
A weak case?
Towards the end of the first week of June, the anxiety over adulterated private milk had reached fever pitch. In an effort to allay the fears of the people, Madurai district collector Veeraraghava Rao launched a series of mobile labs to test milk in the district. From 9 June, residents of Madurai and surrounding areas began to queue up, bringing samples of milk for testing. The latest findings of the sampling drive, that is continuing at present, is that out of 188 samples of packaged milk, not a single one was found to be sub-standard or harmful in any way.
On 19 June, the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department of Tamil Nadu submitted an affidavit in the Madras High Court, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in early June by a Congress-affiliated lawyer AP Suryaprakasam, over allegations of milk adulteration.
In the state's affidavit, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan claimed that 187 milk samples out of 886 samples analysed across all districts of the state were either 'sub-standard' or 'misbranded'. The affidavit added that 'sub-standard' could mean the milk was diluted with water or that vegetable fats were added. 'Misbranding' could be labelling mistakes, where ingredients were not mentioned, added the affidavit.
In this sampling survey done by the state government between August 2011 and May 2017, milk products too were tested, according to the affidavit filed in court. Eleven samples were found unsafe due to the presence of colours in them. In five other samples, microbes like coliform, yeast and mould were found, as well as some detergent.
The minister stands firm
Firstpost approached Balaji with a copy of the sample test results conducted by us. "Since different labs are giving different results, we have sent the samples to the Central labs for final confirmation. When I made the statement on milk adulteration initially, the tests were conducted in our Aavin office in Madhavaram," he said.
Balaji added, "Don’t make this a big issue. Our lab itself has some problems. After I made my statement all the private milk companies have rectified themselves and stopped milk adulteration. Now you leave this issue."
On 27 June though, the minister was at it once again. He called for a press conference at his Greenways Road residence in Chennai and waved packets of Nestle Everyday and Reliance Dairy Whitener in front of cameras. "Apart from conducting tests through the department, I had asked my friends to conduct similar tests in private labs," he alleged. "There are harmful chemicals in these products," he said.
But copies of the test results handed out to journalists by him showed the presence of neutralisers and 'milk solids not fat' in slightly higher quantities.
Nestle and Reliance Life issued press releases denying the allegations. "Nestle Everyday Dairy Whitener is 100 percent safe for consumption and does not contain any caustic soda or bleaching powder. We are investigating these claims and have not received any formal notification from the authorities about such test results," said Nestle.
"Reliance Retail categorically rejects recent media reports alleging that Reliance Dairy Whitener contains unsuitable ingredients like caustic soda and bleaching powder. The media reports seem to be based on the results of testing by Chennai Mettex Lab Pvt Ltd, which is not one of the laboratories accredited by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India," stated Reliance.
Liquid nitrogen: Visual drama, medical trauma
To those who were impressed by the use of fancy dishes and drinks served on the table emanating smoke that soon evaporates,the news that a liquid nitrogen drink burnt a hole in a businessman's stomach came as a shock. A party with friends in Gurugram went downhill for a Delhi businessman,who gulped down a drink prepared with liquid nitrogen before the smoke coming out of his drink could evaporate.The doctors had to remove a part of his stomach after he was rushed to the hospital complaining of uneasiness.
His blood tests revealed severe lactic acidosis, which refers to the presence of high level of lactic acid in the blood, resulting from oxygen deprivation in the body. The incident has not only left people shocked, but has also highlighted the flip side of the growing fad of molecular gastronomy that has been picked up even by city restaurants. Staff members' lack of training and poor knowledge on the use of liquid nitrogen or other such additives can lead to disaster, say restaurateurs.
PRESENTATION OVER QUALITY?
Presentation of food was always an important aspect for restaurants, but over the years, the presentation of a dish has become a priority to impress those who are more interested in taking pictures of the dish and sharing it on their social media pages even before tasting it. One of the reasons why molecular gastronomy or the use of chemicals in food became a trend at restaurants is that it makes the dish look more presentable and fancy. Chef and restaurateur Abhijit Saha says most restaurants use liquid nitrogen for two reasons — one, to cool the food rapidly and two, to create visual drama. "Liquid nitrogen is used to cool food rapidly. It is usually used to create ice creams, mousse and sometimes used in cocktails," he says. But how safe it is to use liquid nitrogen is, we ask. "Liquid nitrogen is as safe as water and as harmful as fire. We all know what fire can do but that doesn't stop us from using fire while we cook. Similarly, it is safe as long as all necessary precautions are taken and as long as it evaporates from the dish or the drink. Liquid nitrogen is used in my restaurant as well but we do so with all the precautions," he adds.
Hospitality Consultant Aslam Gafoor says that liquid nitrogen is part of molecular gastronomy, leading to creative dishes. "It gives the dish that drama and theatrics that makes the customers go wow. There is no harm in using it but caution has to be maintained while serving such dishes," he says, adding that certain basic necessities should be in place while transporting and serving liquid nitrogen. "By virtue of it being available so easily, often people handle it recklessly," he says.
Restaurateur Amit Ahuja says that a lot of restaurants use liquid nitrogen as it gives the element of drama to the dish. "Using liquid nitrogen is more about impact these days, it has become like a gimmick," he adds.
TRAINING FOR RESTAURANT STAFF A MUST
Although the use of liquid nitrogen in drinks and food has become common in restaurants, there are several establishments who do not train their staff to handle such ingredients.
"It is a relatively new ingredient and many use it without precautions and safety measures. Many restaurants don't train their staff and their serving team on how to handle liquid nitrogen," he says, adding that the ingredient must not be a deciding factor for the quality of a restaurant. "Let's not make a monster out of it. Liquid nitrogen is used all over the world and this incident in Gurgaon was an accident. It could've happened anywhere," says Abhijit. Similarly, Amit says that liquid nitrogen needs to be addressed with caution. "In my restaurant, when we use it for some drinks, we have a server who stands next to the customer and waits till the fumes go away and then allows the customer to consume the drink," he sums up.
CUSTOMERS UNPERTURBED BY THE INCIDENT
Though this incident has raised concerns among restaurateurs, many customers say that it won't deter them from eating out. "The incident definitely puts a doubt in my mind, and has made me aware. I will be cautious about what I order from now on but I also expect the restaurant to inform me if such an ingredient is being used by them," says Rohan Palkar, a city-based software professional.
Hem Chander Singh, a senior analyst, agrees. He says that restaurants should be more transparent in these matters. "What would help is if the restaurants mention a note below the dish or the drink about the ingredients. That way even if the customers are not aware, they can ask the servers and get clarity about the same," he adds.
'Using liquid nitrogen in drinks more harmful than in foods'
Despite the growing fad, there are restaurants who have stayed away from molecular gastronomy. "Once you create a drama, people are so impressed that sometimes they don't even focus on the food's quality. Molecular gastronomy is only liked by a few young guests, but those who want quality, always stay away from it," says Gurugram restaurateur Umang Tiwari and adds that the use of liquid nitrogen is more harmful in drinks than in food. "Serving a drink with liquid nitrogen without even informing the guests about how it should be consumed is definitely hazardous and there are restaurants who are taking the risk," he adds.
Should we grow GM crops?
We have moved from dismal regulation of Bt cotton to outright delinquency in the bid to commercialise
To hide her nakedness, India has borrowed a ‘fig leaf’ from U.S. regulation of genetically modified orgamisms (GMOs), i.e. in the non-regulation of these novel laboratory organisms. The U.S. invented GMOs and commercialised them despite serious safety concerns expressed by government scientists.
Myths and realities
GMOs carry risks of ‘unintended’ effects and toxicity, which confront us with a double problem: scientists don’t know what to look for, and health impacts become apparent only in the long term, such as cancer.
California reaffirmed last month, despite GM behemoth Monsanto’s best efforts, that its glyphosate, considered the safest herbicide, will be included in a list of chemicals labelled as “cancer-causing” (following the categorisation of glyphosate by the World Health Organization as a “probable carcinogen”). There is serious concern that Monsanto may have known for 30 years that glyphosate is an endocrine (hormone) disruptor; no regulatory agency anywhere regulates for endocrine disruption despite overwhelming evidence from Argentina of horrendous birth defects because of glyphosate used in herbicide-tolerant (HT) soybeans. In this context, Bayer’s glufosinate, the herbicide linked with Indian HT mustard, is an acknowledged neurotoxin banned in the EU. The Supreme Court-appointed technical expert committee recommended a ban on any HT crop in India for this among several other reasons.
The myths that have sustained the propaganda of a safe and highly productive GM crop technology for two decades — that it “will feed the world” — are fast dissolving. The current stable of GMOs comprises just two products, Bt (e.g. Bt cotton) and HT crops (HT mustard), and they account for nearly 99% of GMOs planted worldwide. Both, on empirical evidence (including India’s Bt cotton), are proven unsustainable technologies. There are promises of GMOs with traits for disease, drought etc., but these are complex, multi-gene traits and remain futuristic. What is abundantly clear is that traditional breeding outperforms GMOs hands down.
Going against evidence
Globally and in India, the conflict of interest is pernicious: our regulatory institutions/ministries are funders, promoters, developers and regulators, a fine blend of multitasking. There is neither independence nor rigour. Add to this the serious lack of expertise in risk assessment, and we are sitting on an agri-biosecurity powder keg. These matters are fully attested to in four official Government of India reports. We have moved from dismal regulation in Bt cotton in 2002 to outright delinquency evident in the current ‘plot’ to commercialise HT mustard. The regulation is subterranean, unconstitutional and also in contempt of Supreme Court orders pertaining to Bt brinjal/mustard.
The HT mustard field trials, which were accessed under the Right to Information Act, are a revelation of regulatory shambles. This hybrid-making HT mustard, on the government’s own admission in the Supreme Court, has not out-yielded our best non-GMO hybrids and varieties. Yet this is the notion sung in high decibels in an ever-increasing crescendo by the media.
We must learn from the lessons of the history of hazardous technologies, DDT, asbestos, etc. But GMOs, critically, stand apart from these. GMOs are self-replicating organisms and genetic contamination of the environment, of non-GM crops and wild species through gene flow is certain: it cannot be contained, reversed, remedied or quantified.
Our seed stock will also be contaminated at the molecular level. Any toxicity that there is will remain in perpetuity. The traits for disease, saline and drought resistance, yield, etc. are found in nature, not biotech labs. We must maintain India’s still-rich genetic diversity for the future of our agriculture.
Fighting fake food
The news report of plastic egg has brought to fore the practice of food adulteration once again. Reports about plastic egg and plastic rice have been doing the round in social media. Sceptics have brushed aside the story as fake. Government food safety officials on are still maintaining a safe distance from arriving at a conclusion silent. It is understandable. One cannot jump into conclusion comment bypassing the laboratory reports of the food samples that have been sent. While we wait for the test results, the report of a Singjamei family finding plastic like egg indicates that some eggs in the food market may not be eggs that comes from, say, hens or ducks, but from some other unthinkable source. Foods such as egg and fish which are mass consumed in the state come from Andhra Pradesh mostly. This is because the consumer demand cannot be met by the producers in the state. Fish from Andhra are assumed to be treated with harmful chemicals to make them look fresh. Also in this regard, food safety officials have collected samples. The results are still awaited though the samples were collected in May. This is despite the rule that test result should be given within 14 days by the laboratory under the Food Safety Act. Not only fish or egg, rather most of the food items that we consume are mostly procured from outside the state. Food items also come from Myanmar and China through the Moreh market. The fake eggs are assumed to be from China.
Food adulteration is not a new practice. It may be recalled that in 2014 a joint team of the Food Safety and Narcotics & Affairs of Borders unearthed adulterated edible mustard oil worth around Rupees 30 lakhs. And recently some vendors in Imphal were also charged of using chemicals to ripen the fruits to be sold. In all probability edible substances other than oil, egg and fish are adulterated and sold in the market. These adulterated products would have reached our kitchens to be consumed by everyone in the family: including our young children. Vegetables that are sold in the market are not safe food either. It is no secret that vegetable growers use chemicals and fertilisers to increase their yield. This unethical practice might not come under the definition of food adulteration. But the practice certainly has damaging effects on our health. The moot point however is to find ways to thwart the multipronged attack on our food.
Given the scenario the state government and its departments concerned must act fast. It is worth mentioning that foodborne diseases have become a global public health challenge according to the World Health Organisation. It also maintains that protecting global health from foodborne hazards is a compelling duty and a primary interest of both States and non-State actors. There are tell-tale signs of our state failing in this front. Already, there are a staggering 79 cases of food testing pending in the state. The authorities need to address the issue of lack of infrastructural requirements without much delay. Food testing laboratory in the state should be equipped with latest technology. Food safety officials must conduct surprise checks at the warehouses where food for mass consumption are stored. Under the initiative of the new government there has been active intervention on the part of the food safety officials. Seizure of tobacco and other harmful product which are harmful to health is being carried out across the state. This kind of intervention needs to be done with consistency. Their inactiveness in the future could give a wrong message to the public that the agencies are working hand in glove with the cartel of adulterators. Needless to say that businessmen operating in such trade are very powerful lobbyist. Besides having shrewd business skills, they are also well versed in influencing the people who are in the corridors of power. Yet this should not dampen the spirit of Food Safety team. Those found involved in food adulteration should be given exemplary punishment by the law.
Why people believe the myth of 'plastic rice'
A video which falsely claims to "prove" the existence of fake plastic rice in the food supply
Despite little evidence that it's a widespread problem, rumours of "plastic" rice being sold in Africa and elsewhere persist on social media - driven in particular by viral videos which show bouncing rice balls.
The rumours spread over the last few weeks in Senegal, The Gambia and Ghana - and reached such a pitch that the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority decided to carry out an investigation.
They invited consumers and traders to submit samples of any rice brands they suspected of being made of plastic - and eventually concluded that there was no plastic rice being sold on the Ghanaian market.
Originating in China, rumours on social media have circulated since about 2010 of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed in with the real rice supply in order to trick consumers. The rumours were originally prompted by "fake rice" scandals, although they didn't involve food made entirely out of plastic.
In one case, companies were passing off ordinary but edible rice as premium "Wuchang" grains. Then in 2011, reports emerged that rice was being produced with potatoes and an industrial sticky resin. The rumours were further compounded when a Chinese restaurant association official warned that eating three bowls of "plastic rice" was the equivalent of eating one plastic bag.
Social media users are making videos fuelling the 'plastic rice' rumours
At no point, however, were there confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice. "Plastic rice" is manufactured for use in shipping boxes, but it's likely that in most cases the cost of the chips would actually be more expensive than real rice.
The story had reached social media in Africa by 2016 when Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice. Customs officials initially claimed that the rice was plastic - and were later forced to backtrack when the country's health minister said there was no evidence for the claims. Tests showed that the rice did however contain a high level of bacteria, Nigeria's National Agency For Food and Drugs said.
Bouncy rice
But rumours have persisted that plastic is being sold as rice, fuelled by videos which show people bouncing rice balls. Some also purport to show how the rice is made in factories.
Alexander Waugh, director of the Rice Association, a UK-based industry group, says the videos may be authentic - but not because the grains are plastic. Rice - when prepared in the right way - can actually bounce, Waugh told BBC Trending radio.
"The natural characteristics of rice are carbohydrates and proteins and you can do something like that with rice," Waugh says.
It could be that protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports is behind the persistence of the rumours, according to journalist Alexandre Capron of France 24's, The Observers.
Capron has worked extensively to debunk the myths around plastic rice and says some people are deliberately sharing fake videos to encourage consumers to buy more locally grown rice.
"The rumour is more popular in countries which are dependent on imported rice like Ivory Coast or Senegal," he says. "The rumour is so huge that governments are compelled to make statements... as to why there is no plastic rice."
Hassan Arouni, editor of the BBC's Focus on Africa, has looked into the "fake rice" rumours and says he's not sure whether people in West African countries are deliberately targeting food exporting countries such as China. But he does think food safety authorities in West Africa are doing the right thing by addressing the rumours head-on.
"I think that's the way to go and demonstrate to the public this [rumour] is not true," he says. "I think it will reassure people that this is fake news and probably somebody being naughty on the internet."
குளிர்பானம் குடிக்க போறீங்களா கவனம் தேவை
விருதுநகர், விருதுநகர் மற்றும் அதன் சுற்றுவட்டாரப்பகுதிகளில் உள்ள பெட்டிக்கடைகள் உள்ளிட்ட கடைகளில் அனைத்திலும் குளிர்பானங்கள் மற்றும் தண்ணீர்பாட்டில்கள் விற்பனை ஜோராக நடக்கிறது. இதில் பல கடைகளில் போலியான, காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், தண்ணீர்பாட்டில்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது என்ற குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்துள்ளது.
விருதுநகர் கந்தக பூமி என்பதால் வெயிலின் தாக்கத்தை தணிக்க கடைகளுக்கு செல்லும் விழிப்புணர்வு இல்லாத மக்கள், கடைக்காரர்கள் கொடுக்கும் ஏதாவது ஒரு குளிர்பானத்தை
குடித்து விட்டு செல்கின்றனர். வாங்கும் போது அது எந்த நிறுவனத்தில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது, காலாவதி நாள், அதில் கலந்துள்ள பொருள்கள் குறித்து பார்ப்பதில்லை. அவசரத்தில் கடைக்காரர்கள் கொடுக்கும் குடிநீர் பாட்டில், குளிர்பானங்களை குடித்து விட்டு செல்கின்றனர்.
கூடுதல் விலை
பல கடைகளில் போலி நிறுவனங்கள் தயாரிக்கும் குளிர்பானம், குடிநீர் பாட்டில், மற்றும் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்களை இருப்பு வைத்து வியாபாரம் செய்கின்றனர். அதிலும் சில கடைக்காரர்கள் கூடுதல் விலைக்கு விற்பனை செய்வதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது.
கிராமம் தான் குறி
விருதுநகரில் எப்போதும் குளிர்பானங்கள் விற்பனை அதிகளவில் இருக்கும். இதை பயன்படுத்தி சிலர் உரிய அனுமதி பெறாமல் போலி குளிர்பானம், குடிநீர் பாட்டில் தயார் செய்து விற்பனை செய்வதை வாடிக்கையாக கொண்டுள்ளனர்.
கடைகளில் குளிர்பானம் தயாரித்து பிளாஸ்டிக் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர். இதுபோன்ற போலியான, தரமில்லாதவைகள் அனைத்தும் கிராமப்புறங்களை குறிவைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. அதிலும் பள்ளிகள், கோயில்கள், பொதுமக்கள் அதிகம் கூடும் சந்தை போன்ற இடங்களில் அதிகமாக விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்படுகிறது.
கண்காணிப்பு தேவை
இதனால் குழந்தைகள் உட்பட அனைவருக்கும் வாந்தி, பேதி உள்ளிட்ட உடல் உபாதைகளால் பாதிக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது. மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம், சுகாதாரத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் இதை கண்டுகொள்வதில்லை. எனவே அவ்வப்போது பெட்டிக்கடைகள் உள்ளிட்ட அனைத்து கடைகளிலும் அதிகாரிகள் கண்காணிக்கவேண்டும் என நுகர்வோர் விழிப்புணர்வாளர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.
போலிகள்
மணிகண்டன், விருதுநகர், “பெரும்பாலான பெட்டிக்கடைகளில் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட குளிர்பானங்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறது. அதை பார்க்கும் போதே போலியானவை என தெரிகிறது. பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் தரமில்லாத பாக்கெட் குளிர்பானங்களையே தேடி வாங்கி குடிக்கின்றனர்.
தொடர்ந்து வாங்கி குடிப்பதால் பல்வேறு வயிற்றுப் பிரச்னைகளுக்கு ஆளாகின்றனர். அதுபோல் பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில் முகவரியில்லாத கம்பெனிகள் தயாரிக்கும் போலியான, காலாவதியான குளிர்பானம், தண்ணீர்பாட்டில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.
இதனை தடுத்து, ஆரோக்கியமான பொருள் கிடைக்க அரசு அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும்” என்றார். விருதுநகர், விருதுநகர் மற்றும் அதன் சுற்றுவட்டாரப்பகுதிகளில் உள்ள பெட்டிக்கடைகள் உள்ளிட்ட கடைகளில் அனைத்திலும் குளிர்பானங்கள் மற்றும் தண்ணீர்பாட்டில்கள் விற்பனை ஜோராக நடக்கிறது. இதில் பல கடைகளில் போலியான, காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்கள், தண்ணீர்பாட்டில்கள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது என்ற குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்துள்ளது. விருதுநகர் கந்தக பூமி என்பதால் வெயிலின் தாக்கத்தை தணிக்க கடைகளுக்கு செல்லும் விழிப்புணர்வு இல்லாத மக்கள், கடைக்காரர்கள் கொடுக்கும் ஏதாவது ஒரு குளிர்பானத்தை குடித்து விட்டு செல்கின்றனர். வாங்கும் போது அது எந்த நிறுவனத்தில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது, காலாவதி நாள், அதில் கலந்துள்ள பொருள்கள் குறித்து பார்ப்பதில்லை. அவசரத்தில் கடைக்காரர்கள் கொடுக்கும் குடிநீர் பாட்டில், குளிர்பானங்களை குடித்து விட்டு செல்கின்றனர். கூடுதல் விலை பல கடைகளில் போலி நிறுவனங்கள் தயாரிக்கும் குளிர்பானம், குடிநீர் பாட்டில், மற்றும் காலாவதியான குளிர்பானங்களை இருப்பு வைத்து வியாபாரம் செய்கின்றனர். அதிலும் சில கடைக்காரர்கள் கூடுதல் விலைக்கு விற்பனை செய்வதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது. கிராமம் தான் குறி விருதுநகரில் எப்போதும் குளிர்பானங்கள் விற்பனை அதிகளவில் இருக்கும். இதை பயன்படுத்தி சிலர் உரிய அனுமதி பெறாமல் போலி குளிர்பானம், குடிநீர் பாட்டில் தயார் செய்து விற்பனை செய்வதை வாடிக்கையாக கொண்டுள்ளனர். கடைகளில் குளிர்பானம் தயாரித்து பிளாஸ்டிக் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைத்து விற்பனை செய்கின்றனர். இதுபோன்ற போலியான, தரமில்லாதவைகள் அனைத்தும் கிராமப்புறங்களை குறிவைத்து விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. அதிலும் பள்ளிகள், கோயில்கள், பொதுமக்கள் அதிகம் கூடும் சந்தை போன்ற இடங்களில் அதிகமாக விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்படுகிறது. கண்காணிப்பு தேவை இதனால் குழந்தைகள் உட்பட அனைவருக்கும் வாந்தி, பேதி உள்ளிட்ட உடல் உபாதைகளால் பாதிக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது. மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம், சுகாதாரத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் இதை கண்டுகொள்வதில்லை. எனவே அவ்வப்போது பெட்டிக்கடைகள் உள்ளிட்ட அனைத்து கடைகளிலும் அதிகாரிகள் கண்காணிக்கவேண்டும் என நுகர்வோர் விழிப்புணர்வாளர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர். போலிகள் மணிகண்டன், விருதுநகர், “பெரும்பாலான பெட்டிக்கடைகளில் பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட குளிர்பானங்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறது. அதை பார்க்கும் போதே போலியானவை என தெரிகிறது. பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் தரமில்லாத பாக்கெட் குளிர்பானங்களையே தேடி வாங்கி குடிக்கின்றனர். தொடர்ந்து வாங்கி குடிப்பதால் பல்வேறு வயிற்றுப் பிரச்னைகளுக்கு ஆளாகின்றனர். அதுபோல் பெரும்பாலான கடைகளில் முகவரியில்லாத கம்பெனிகள் தயாரிக்கும் போலியான, காலாவதியான குளிர்பானம், தண்ணீர்பாட்டில் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதனை தடுத்து, ஆரோக்கியமான பொருள் கிடைக்க அரசு அதிகாரிகள் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும்” என்றார்.
சமையல் எண்ணெய் பாக்கெட்களில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால் இல்லை' வாசகத்திற்கு தடை
சிவகங்கை: சமையல் எண்ணெய் பாக்கெட்களில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால் இல்லை'என்ற வாசகம் எழுதுவதற்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை தடை விதித்துள்ளது.
கடலை, சூரியகாந்தி, தேங்காய், எள் போன்ற தாவரங்களில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் சமையல் எண்ணெய்களில் இயற்கையாகவே 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லை. ஆனால் சில எண்ணெய்
நிறுவனங்கள் மக்களை கவரும் வகையில் தங்களது தயாரிப்பில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லை என வாசகத்தை அச்சிட்டு வருகின்றன. இந்த விளம்பரத்தால் நுகர்வோர் ஏமாற்றம் அடைந்து வருகின்றனர். உணவு பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டப்படி, 'எண்ணெய்யின் இயற்கை குணாதிசயத்தை பாக்கெட்டில் குறிப்பிட தேவையில்லை, செயற்கையாக சேர்க்கப் படும் பொருட்கள் மற்றும் அதனால் ஏற்படும் மாற்றத்தை மட்டும் குறிப்பிட்டால் போதும்,' என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஆனால் தாவர எண்ணெய்யின் இயற்கை குணாதிசயமான 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லாததை, தங்களது
தயாரிப்புகளுக்கே உரித்தானது போல் விளம்பரப்படுத்தி சில நிறுவனங்கள் மக்களை ஏமாற்றி வருகின்றன. இதனை தடுக்கும் வகையில் தாவர எண்ணெய் பாக்கெட் களில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால் இல்லை' என்ற வாசகம் இருந்தால், அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்ய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: விலங்குகளிடம் இருந்து கிடைக்கும் எண்ணெய்களில் மட்டுமே 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இருக்கும். மேலும் தாவர எண்ணெய்களில் செயற்கையால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் மாற்றங்களை வேண்டுமானால் குறிப்பிடலாம். இயற்கையிலேயே உள்ள அதன் குணாதிசயத்தை பிரபலப்படுத்தி வியாபாரம் செய்ய கூடாது, என்றார்.சிவகங்கை: சமையல் எண்ணெய் பாக்கெட்களில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால் இல்லை'என்ற வாசகம் எழுதுவதற்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை தடை விதித்துள்ளது. கடலை, சூரியகாந்தி, தேங்காய், எள் போன்ற தாவரங்களில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் சமையல் எண்ணெய்களில் இயற்கையாகவே 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லை. ஆனால் சில எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்கள் மக்களை கவரும் வகையில் தங்களது தயாரிப்பில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லை என வாசகத்தை அச்சிட்டு வருகின்றன. இந்த விளம்பரத்தால் நுகர்வோர் ஏமாற்றம் அடைந்து வருகின்றனர். உணவு பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டப்படி, 'எண்ணெய்யின் இயற்கை குணாதிசயத்தை பாக்கெட்டில் குறிப்பிட தேவையில்லை, செயற்கையாக சேர்க்கப் படும் பொருட்கள் மற்றும் அதனால் ஏற்படும் மாற்றத்தை மட்டும் குறிப்பிட்டால் போதும்,' என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஆனால் தாவர எண்ணெய்யின் இயற்கை குணாதிசயமான 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இல்லாததை, தங்களது தயாரிப்புகளுக்கே உரித்தானது போல் விளம்பரப்படுத்தி சில நிறுவனங்கள் மக்களை ஏமாற்றி வருகின்றன. இதனை தடுக்கும் வகையில் தாவர எண்ணெய் பாக்கெட் களில் 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால் இல்லை' என்ற வாசகம் இருந்தால், அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்ய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: விலங்குகளிடம் இருந்து கிடைக்கும் எண்ணெய்களில் மட்டுமே 'கொலஸ்ட்ரால்' இருக்கும். மேலும் தாவர எண்ணெய்களில் செயற்கையால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் மாற்றங்களை வேண்டுமானால் குறிப்பிடலாம். இயற்கையிலேயே உள்ள அதன் குணாதிசயத்தை பிரபலப்படுத்தி வியாபாரம் செய்ய கூடாது, என்றார்.
Jul 6, 2017
DC impact: Food safety officials raid canteens in bus depot
Chennai: After DC exposed the ugly state of canteens for drivers and conductors inside the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus depots, officials from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted raids following which startling details were revealed, a major one of them being non-procurement of license.
The officials inspected all the bus depots out of which Ayanavaram, Adyar, Vadapalani, Tondiarpet and Kodungaiyur in Chennai district and Thiruvottriyur bus depot in Tiruvallur district were found to be flouting norms blatantly.
“Neither of the canteens at bus depots is registered nor do they have a license. A certificate from FSSAI, which is mandatory to run a canteen, is also missing. We have given a grace period of 15 days, after which all the canteens will be checked again,” said R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, FSSAI.
The food safety department sent a notice to all the bus depots and the Managing Director of MTC, mandating on some factors – Repainting of walls, provision of an outlet for smoke, cleanliness of the kitchen, fitness certificate, gloves and a cap to the chef and server, drinking water facility with government certificate, disposal of food waste within a day, tiles laid on all the floors and proper maintenance of hygiene.
In the notice sent to the Tiruvallur bus depot on July 4, provision of Reverse Osmosis (RO) at the canteen was specially mentioned and asked the MD to provide it within 15 days.
The issue started in June this year when the secretary of Nethaji Transport Union, K Anbazhagan’s complaint about poor hygiene at canteens in bus depots, was refused by the superintendent of the Chrompet bus depot. Later, he sent a mail to the FSSAI and three collectors of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram.
“I knew there was something fishy from the beginning. How could the government permit the contractors to take over without a licence? Shortly, I will file a case in the High Court regarding this,” he said. The Managing Director of MTC who was hesitant to comment on the issue said he will try to better the plight of canteens at the earliest.
Fisheries department moots action plan to check quality
KANNUR: Faced with the threat of indiscriminate use of chemical preservatives, the fisheries department is planning to strengthen its vigil and use modern technologies to test fish consignments. Also, testing would be strengthened at checkposts to prevent the use of hazardous chemicals like sodium benzoate to preserve fish when it is brought from other states.
"As of now we don't have a lab to single out chemicals used to preserve fish, a perishable item. We cannot withhold sales till the chemical analysis report is ready. This often becomes a hurdle and our task is left incomplete," said an official with the department.
However, the scientists at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) in Kochi are in the process of developing a handheld device to test chemical levels in fish. Once this device is made available, checking squads can take it to markets or checkposts to test consignment quality, he said.
Though there is an inspection team (comprising officials from the food safety and fisheries department) in every district, the plan is to strengthen its operations, said department officials.
If a consignment is found to be adulterated with toxic substances, sales can be stopped and if it is imported from other states, it would be sent back after taking samples for further testing. "We had conducted workshops at a few places, including Kozhikode, to gather inputs from officials, boat owners, fishermen and trade union leaders to formulate an action plan," said Satheeshkumar, joint director, fisheries department.
According to officials, the problem before fishermen is that fish is brought directly to the harbour from other states. If there is a stringent measure to curb the sale of fish laced with toxic preservatives, this flooding can be regulated, thus giving better marketing opportunity to local fishermen.
Officials also said there was a plan to introduce permit system for auctioning fish so that middlemen influence can be restricted. The plan is to conduct auction through fishermen cooperative societies so that they would get better earnings.
The permits would be given to those people recommended by the cooperative societies, said officials, adding that proposal was being discussed.
Tobacco products destroyed
The Food Safety Department destroyed gutka and other products containing tobacco and nicotine seized from several shops in the city earlier this week.
During the raids supervised by the Designated Officer for Food Safety and Drug Administration Kalaivani, the banned products worth Rs. 3.5 lakh that were seized from shops were burnt.
The shop owners were warned that they would face action under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, if they were caught selling the banned products henceforth.
District Collector S. Prabakar said in a press release that the public could pass on information about surreptitious sale of the banned products to the office of Food Safety Department over phone: 0424-2223545.
The banned products include gutka, pan masala, zarda and tobacco-based flavoured mouth fresheners. The Central Government issued the ban order last December following a Supreme Court order dated September 23, 2016, banning chewing tobacco products.
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011, issued by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.
The order prohibiting manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, or any other product marketed separately containing tobacco or nicotine, was issued by the Central Government taking cognisance of the Global Audit Tobacco Survey — India (GATS) 2010, that mortality and morbidity due to consumption of smokeless tobacco was very high in India.
The survey stated that India shares the maximum burden of oral cancer in the world.
Ban on gutkha, panmasala sale
Office of the chief medical officer (CMO) Dimapur has notified all the tobacco and panmasala dealers (wholesale or retail) in Dimapur district to immediately stop distribution and sale of gutkha or panmasala.
In a press release, chief medical officer Dimapur, Dr. K Vikato Kinimi, reminded that in compliance of the Supreme Court order dated September 23, 2016, the food safety commissioner, government of Nagaland had issued a notification dated May 16, 2017 prohibiting distribution and sale of gutkha or panmasala (containing tobacco or nicotine) and any other products marketed separately having nicotine or tobacco in the final products by whatever name called whether packaged or unpackaged or sold as one product or through packaged as separate products sold or distributed in such a manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consumers.
In view of this, the CMO Dimapur has informed all the tobacco and panmasala dealers (wholesale or retail) in Dimapur district to immediately adhere to this order.
CMO Dimapur cautioned that non-compliance of the notification would be an offence punishable under section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
Jul 5, 2017
Smoky drink leaves man with hole in stomach
He was rushed to a hospital where the doctors discovered a big opening in the stomach.
A drink at the end of a tiring day turned into a nightmare for a Delhi resident who was left with a 90mm hole in his stomach after gulping down a liquid nitrogen based cocktail.
The victim ordered a few rounds of drinks and some food at a bar in Gurugram but began to feel uncomfortable after consuming it. Assuming that he had acidity, the bartender suggested a tempting cold cocktail with smoke emanating from it. The man gulped it down and was writhing in pain in no time.
He was rushed to a hospital where the doctors discovered a big opening in the stomach.
“For patients with chronic acid problems, we can see perforations of 1-2 mm diameter. For him, it was a 90mm hole. The stomach was open like a book,” Amit Deepta Goswami, a consultant doctor at Columbia Asia Hospital in Gurugram, told DH.
The damage was caused by liquid nitrogen which was added to the drink to quickly cool it down and make it look attractive.
“While small perforations can be sewed up, it was not possible in this case. Almost 45% of the stomach was removed and the rest was connected to the small intestine,” Goswami said. The cocktail substantially damaged the nearby tissues as well.
The incident occurred in April and the patient is doing fine at the moment. He has since quit alcohol.
Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point of -195.8 degrees Celsius and is used to instantly freeze food and beverages. The colourless liquid is also used to cool computers and in cryogenic medical procedures. When used to freeze beverages, it should only be consumed after the nitrogen has completely evaporated.
Unfortunately, the victim did not wait for the smoke to evaporate.
Goswami said it was a rare case as the only other case known to him took place in the UK where an 18-year-old girl ended up in a hospital after celebrating her birthday at a bar.
Liquid nitrogen is permitted as an additive in frozen food as per the guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). But when it comes to the use of liquid nitrogen it is a grey area.
Protein levels are rapidly declining in all foods in India
We are also consuming less protein-rich foods. What are the gulfs in our diet?
Large parts of agricultural soil in India are deficient in zinc, boron and iron, and climate change too is affecting plant nutrition levels
The doctor's words will always ring in your ears: eat more protein-rich foods. But this timeless advice may be hard to implement if the latest report of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, is to be believed. The levels of protein in Indian foods, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, are declining rapidly. For instance, between 1993-94 and 2011-12, protein levels in beans dropped around 60 per cent; in brown lentil (whole), it went down by 10 per cent; and, in goat meat, it has come down by 5 per cent.
Protein is a vital macronutrient needed to cope with the wear and tear of the body, in making enzymes and hormones. It is the building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood. The deficiency of protein can manifest itself in many ways—sluggishness, slow recovery from injuries and brain fog (lack of focus). If not addressed, this deficiency can lead to nutritional diseases in children like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus.
According to a recent report of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), rural households were consuming 56.5 g in 2011-12, down from 60.2g in 1993-94, while urban households were consuming 55.7g, down from 57.2g in 1993-94. In contrast, the national daily intake of protein in Japan was 69.1g in 2015; the figures for USA are even higher.
Aruna Kurpad, head of physiology and nutrition department at St John’s Research Institute, Bengaluru, says that even the amount of protein consumed by most Indians is not of high quality. Even the NSSO data showed that a major share of the total protein intake in both rural and urban India was from cereals, which are not the best source of protein.
Diet diagnosis
Seema Gulati, head, Nutrition Research Group Center for Nutrition & Metabolic Research sheds light. “Our diet is not very meat-intensive. Even those who are non vegetarians, on an average, eat it only on a weekly basis,” she says. NSSO says that egg, fish and meat make up for just seven per cent of protein intake in rural households and nine per cent in urban counterparts.
Shashank Joshi, a medical researcher and diabetologist, offers another explanation: “Proteins, both visible and invisible, are deficient in both urban and rural Indians because we are a cereal-based economy. We eat wheat or rice. We don’t consume as much millets and pulses. Worse, we polish grains and destroy whole grains with modern methods,” he says. He conducted a study in 2014 and found that dietary patterns among Indians tilted towards carbohydrate intake much more than protein. Joshi’s insight is supported by NSSO data. In rural and urban households, cereals account for 58 per cent and 49 per cent of total protein intake respectively.
While pulses are viewed as the main source of protein in a vegetarian diet, it’s not as simple as eating more pulses. Veena Shatrugna, former deputy director of NIN, says the intake of pulses has gone down with rising prices. “The saddest thing about daal is that it is one of the poorest sources of protein, unless you eat a certain ratio of daal to rice—for instance one to four at every meal,” she adds.
Gulati says the quality of a food source’s protein is determined by the number of amino acids it has. "Protein from animal food products has higher number of amino acids, and therefore, it is better than plant proteins," she says, adding that to get the same kind of protein from plant-based foods, the diversity of food must be widened. However, not everyone can afford meat products and many more do not eat meat. So how can vegetarians improve their protein intake? "Millets are high quality food. It has much more protein, much more iron and micronutrients. Why doesn't the government add it to the Public Distribution System (PDS)?" asks Prasad. “There are other cheap sources of protein. There is chana (gram). It is not very difficult to afford. Soybean is also a good source of protein," says nutritionist and founder of IDK Healthcare, Ishi Khosla. Mixing nutrients from different sources is important to have a balanced diet, she adds.
Depleting dynamics
There are also external factors for declining levels of protein in food. Experts say intensification of agriculture has impacted soil health. Large parts of agricultural soil in India are deficient in zinc, boron and iron, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal. Moreover, studies have shown that climate change can affect plant nutrition levels, reducing their protein, zinc and iron content.
NSSO’s household consumer expenditure on food items provides another insight into protein deficiency. In urban areas, beverages, refreshments and processed foods account for the highest monthly expenditure (Rs 236), while the same position is occupied by cereals (Rs 154) in rural households.
“In a vegetarian diet, different kinds of pulses in different forms like sprouts, daal, must be consumed, and this must be supplemented by nuts and milk products,” adds Gulati. “Expenditure on processed food should be curtailed. That’s a big chunk of the expenses,” says Dipa Sinha, assistant professor of economics at the School of Liberal Studies, Ambedkar University, New Delhi.
She adds that the PDS needs to be robust enough to at least satisfy the cereal requirement of households. The money thus saved can be used to increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, eggs and meat products. Vandana Prasad, national convenor of Public Health Resource Network, a non-profit, quips, "The cost for a packet of Kurkure and an egg is the same, Rs 5." Unless health policymakers come up with long-term measures to improve the protein content in all our foods, we cannot hope for a healthy diet.
Complaints against 130 advertisements uphe
The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI, has upheld complaints against 130 advertisements, including 73 complaints in the Healthcare category and 30 in the Education category covering several private coaching classes.
The advertisements under the Healthcare category include the advertisement of Perfect Point, assuring fat reduction, Vibes Healthcare Ltd, providing treatment for hair re-growth and the advertisements of all India level firm Vardaan Speech & Hear Diagnostic Centre.
Under the Education category, the advertisements of Manya Education Private Limited (GMAT Coaching) and Jamboree Education Pvt. Ltd have been found to be exaggerated and misleading. Similarly, under the Personal care category, the advertisements of Vini Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd (Fogg Roll on Deodorant offering elimination of 96 per cent bacteria) and Godrej’s Cinthol offering a 'buy 3 get 1 free' deal are found to be misleading. Hindustan Unilever’s Pepsodent Germi Check has also come under the ASCI scanner.
In the Food and Beverage category, the advertisements of Adani Wilmar’s Raag Gold Refined Palmolein Oil, which claims Zyada Sehat, Doctor Rice: Sugar Free Rice and Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, Arokya Curd have also found to be false and misleading.
The advertisements of Reliance Communications (fastest 4G network), Airtel (249 unlimited local calls) and Vodafone (Rs.328 + Unlimited Local / STD Calls for 28 days) have also been found to be misleading and exaggerated.
Don't Add Extra to the Ad!
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), is a self-regulatory organization for the advertising industry to promote, maintain, monitor and uphold fair, sound, ethical and healthy principles and practices of advertising for the protection of interest of consumers and the general public. Established in 1985, the ASCI’s role has been acclaimed by various Government agencies. The Government bodies including The Department of Consumer Affairs (DOCA), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of AYUSH have partnered with ASCI to address all misleading advertisements in their respective sectors.
Food regulator turns down NADA’s request to frame food supplement standards
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) recently approached the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with a request to frame standards for these supplements because they were deeply worried about the mushrooming variety of off-the-shelf food supplements and possibility that some of them contain banned performance enhancing substances. After several meetings between both the parties, FSSAI declined the request stating that given the nature of expertise and sports medicine knowledge required to do so is beyond their mandate. NADA officials approached FSSAI over concerns that rapidly increasing gyms in urban and rural areas were pushing some of these supplements and there is no control or monitoring over what they contain. Hence, FSSAI should frame standards.
FSSAI agreed in principle regarding the issue expressed by NADA wherein a section of the authority was keen to go ahead with the exercise, but in the end the authority decided not to. A senior official said though the NADA’s concerns were genuine, there were certain issues that was not in favour of NADA. “The concerns they raised were genuine. Food supplements are sold over the counter and often pushed by gym instructors may contain performance enhancing substances banned for athletes or substances that are just generally harmful for people if used indiscriminately. There may even be prescription drugs that ordinarily cannot be bought over the counter but have an anabolic (body-building) effect on the body.”
After numerous discussions and meetings with NADA, FSSAI concluded that they could not frame standards from NADA’s perspectives and yardsticks. It was beyond their mandate. “We deliberated over the matter, had meetings with NADA and decided that we cannot frame standards from the perspective they want us to. It is beyond our mandate — there is a long list of banned substances, some that are not to be used during competitions but can be used otherwise, and others that can never be used. Then there is also the matter of dosage. So we told them that it is beyond our mandate,” the official added.
Last year, FSSAI had notified standards for health supplements, nutraceuticals, and foods for special dietary use, food for special medical purpose, functional food and novel foods. The regulations stipulated by the FSSAI mentions that “the articles of food with standard nutrient or nutritionally complete formulation shall consist of a composition delivering the desired level of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals, and other essential nutrients required for respective age group, gender and physiological stage in accordance with the guidelines made by the Indian Council of Medical Research.”
Gutka and tobacco products worth Rs 3.70 lakh seized in Erode
Erode(TN), Jul 4 (PTI) Nearly Rs 3.70 lakh worth of banned gutka and tobacco products were seized during raids conducted here.
In a press communication, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India today said, a team of officials carried out surprise raids in shops in Kongalamman Koil street and surrounding areas and confiscated Rs 3.70 lakh worth of banned tobacco and gutka products.
All the seized items were taken to Erode Municipal Corporation garbage yard and destroyed, it said.
The shop keepers who were in possession of the same were warned.
No cases were registered, it added.
Jul 4, 2017
Be tough on adulteration
Food adulteration is no less a crime than an act of terrorism. The perpetrators play havoc with public health and deliberately put the lives of innocent people at grave risk. Such elements must be curbed with an iron hand and given exemplary punishment. Adulteration of food items, including milk, rice and oils, and sale of spurious seeds and fertilizers is an alarming trend that must be checked without any prevarication. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s unambiguous direction to the authorities on curbing adulteration is commendable. While ordering a crackdown against adulteration of food items and sale of spurious seeds and fertilizers, the Chief Minister has rightly highlighted his government’s readiness to amend the existing laws to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those indulging in adulteration. His tough talking on the issue should send right signals across the State. The police must pull up their socks and go after the unscrupulous elements without any mercy. Farmers are suffering huge losses on account of spurious seeds and fertilizers. India’s food system is largely unorganised and highly fragmented with large-scale procurement, distribution and retail sales. The task of regulators becomes very challenging because of insufficient number of laboratories and manpower to test food standards. Since adulteration of food comes under the Concurrent List, the Centre and State governments must work in tandem to maintain safety standards. More teeth need to be added to the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 keeping in view the changing technologies.
While making the anti-adulteration provisions more stringent, there is a need for substantial public investments to expand and increase the quality of storage, handling and transportation infrastructure. The private sector should also be encouraged to establish food testing laboratories. This would go a long way in ensuring that the products are within the safety limits. There is a need for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an autonomous food regulator, to take up public awareness programmes. A multi-pronged approach, involving police, medical and health, and agriculture departments, needs to be adopted. DNA-based methods can be used extensively to detect food adulterants. Deterrent punishment for food adulterators holds key to curbing this menace. The Law Commission has recommended amendments to the Indian Penal Code to provide harsher punishment in such cases. Currently, sections 272 and 273 of the IPC which deal with ‘Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale’ and ‘Sale of noxious food or drink’ lay down imprisonment up to six months and a fine extending up to Rs 1,000 for both offences. The Commission has recommended life imprisonment and a hefty fine for those convicted of adulterating food items.
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