Aug 30, 2017
Insect in food infuriates customer
Complaint on social media to GHMC
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Tuesday received a complaint on unhygienic food being served in a high profile restaurant, from a customer who complained of finding a live insect in the ‘biryani’ being served by the hotel.
The customer, B.Kiran Goud, reportedly visited the restaurant ‘Ulavacharu’ in Jubilee Hills, along with his relative Shankar Goud on Tuesday afternoon and ordered for biryani along with mutton fry.
Recorded
“During second serving, we noticed that a live insect crawled out of the biryani, even as the captain who was serving us tried to remove it. We photographed and videographed it, so that we could prove our claim. Despite long wait, nobody from the restaurant turned up, and a captain-rank employee answered carelessly when questioned,” complained Mr.Kiran Goud.
They lodged a complaint with the Food Safety Wing of the GHMC by posting the images through social media application.
Complaint received
“We have received a complaint about unhygienic food, and will inspect the restaurant in a couple of days,” said in-charge Assistant Food Controller of the civic body Sudarshan Reddy.
When sought his version, owner of the upmarket restaurant Vijay Reddy refuted the customer’s charges and said that it was an attempt to malign the name of the restaurant.
Police raids hotels to check food adulteration
Personnel of the Commissioner’s Task Force cracked a whip against the persons involved in the preparation of adulterated food items like ice-creams and pickles in various parts of the town on Tuesday.
The Task Force police raided a popular hotel Shivas Biryani House and seized huge quantity of rotten and contaminated non-vegetarian food items - mutton and chicken and other materials used for preparation of biryani. The authorities seized the samples and sent them to food safety testing laboratory in Hyderabad and registered case against the hotel owner.
The police also raided ‘Quality Fun’ company in Ramnagar locality for the manufacture of adulterated ice-creams with cheap quality material for earning profits.
They also raided a house in Kothirampur locality and destroyed 5,000 kilograms of fungus infected pickles. The raids were conducted by Task Force Inspector Ghouse Baba, SIs Kiran, Santosh and Nagaraju, Food Inspector Amrutha Sri and others
Officials inspect hotel after finding lizard in vada
Officials attached to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) carried out inspection at a hotel in Thoothukudi, on Monday, after a lizard was found in a vada served in the hotel recently.
Lizard that was found in a vada in a hotel in Thoothukudi recently
Madurai:
The incident happened on Saturday night when one of the customers while eating a vada in the hotel, situated near Thoothukudi South Police station, found a lizard in it. Immediately, he raised the issue with the hotel management. The authorities immediately apologised to the customer.
The customer warned them that such carelessness can also cause death. Following that there was a minor tension at the hotel and vadas were not supplied to customers that night.
However, the issue was brought to the notice of the officials attached to FSSAI and a team headed by Thanga Vignesh, designated officer, FSSAI Thoothukudi district, carried out an inspection at the hotel. The officials found many irregularities during the inspection at the food outlet.
Speaking to DTNEXT, Thanga Vignesh said that while his team was carrying out inspection, the owner of the hotel accepted his mistake and said it a totally unexpected incident. “Never has such a thing happened before in our hotel,” said the owner.
However, the officials completed the inspection and seized the flour that was used to make the vadas. They sent it as a sample for further tests in the lab.
The FSSAI team also detected more lapses in the hygiene in the kitchen. The owner was directed to maintain better hygiene and cleanliness in the kitchen. According to the powers vested on them they had served a legal notice. Further action will be initiated against the hotel and the owner based on the results of the lab test, said Thanga Vignesh.
Surprise raids by Food safety team; Contraband tobacco products seized from various parts of city
Port Blair Aug 29: Continuing the strict action against illegal sale of contraband tobacco products, on 29/08/2017 a team of Food Safety Officials lead by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman conducted surprise raids in connection with storage and distribution of contraband tobacco products at Dairyfarm, Haddo, Junglighat, Bathu Basti, Garacharma, Aberdeen village wherein large quantities of contraband tobacco products were seized from Food Business Operators (FBOs). The details of the FBOs who premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Shri. K. Kannan, R/o Austinabad, Smti. Janakiamma, R/o Haddo, Smti. Panchavarnam, R/o Garacharma, Smti. T. Adilaxmi, R/o Garacharma, Shri. R.N. Bhakta, R/o Garacharma and Smti. Jagadeshwari, R/o Dairyfarm.
In another cases, Shri. B. Jeevan, R/o Haddo caught red handed with 485 pouches of Baghban 69 brand tobacco (each 40 gram) at Veer Savarkar International, Airport, Port Blair with the help of SB, CID, Port Blair and Shri. Mohmmed Firdose, R/o Round Basthi caught red handed by the Food Safety Officer with 80 pouches of Baghban 69 brand tobacco (each 40 gram) at Marina Park, Port Blair.
All the contraband tobacco items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 30 premises have been sealed for the violation.
The Commissioner Food Safety have warned the travelers who are travelling from mainland to Port Blair by Air or by Ship should not carry the contraband tobacco products with them and also warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband tobacco products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection if found any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses.
All the general public is hereby requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety 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.
This is regarding continuing the strict action against illegal sale of contraband tobacco products, on 29/08/2017 a team of Food Safety Officials lead by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman conducted surprise raids in connection with storage and distribution of contraband tobacco products at Dairyfarm, Haddo, Junglighat, Bathu Basti, Garacharma, Aberdeen village wherein large quantities of contraband tobacco products were seized from Food Business Operators (FBOs). The details of the FBOs who premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Shri. K. Kannan, R/o Austinabad, Smti. Janakiamma, R/o Haddo, Smti. Panchavarnam, R/o Garacharma, Smti. T. Adilaxmi, R/o Garacharma, Shri. R.N. Bhakta, R/o Garacharma and Smti. Jagadeshwari, R/o Dairyfarm.
In another cases, Shri. B. Jeevan, R/o Haddo caught red handed with 485 pouches of Baghban 69 brand tobacco (each 40 gram) at Veer Savarkar International, Airport, Port Blair with the help of SB, CID, Port Blair and Shri. Mohmmed Firdose, R/o Round Basthi caught red handed by the Food Safety Officer with 80 pouches of Baghban 69 brand tobacco (each 40 gram) at Marina Park, Port Blair.
All the contraband tobacco items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 30 premises have been sealed for the violation.
The Commissioner Food Safety have warned the travelers who are travelling from mainland to Port Blair by Air or by Ship should not carry the contraband tobacco products with them and also warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband tobacco products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection if found any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses.
All the general public is hereby requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety 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.
FSDA raids synthetic milk factory; 2 held
AGRA: A special squad of Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) on Tuesday raided a synthetic milk factory in Tundla near Bansidhar Degree Collegeand seized thousands of litres of spurious milk from the spot. Hydrogen peroxide and several other unidentified chemical adulterants were also found from there.
Earlier, FSDA had uncovered a major synthetic milk racket in which the accused were working in connivance with officials from the department and were using adulterants like hydrogen peroxide, detergent and urea for production. A team of FSDA, Agra district administration and police had conducted a raid at three houses in Kukhreliya village on May 25 this year and had seized adulterants in large quantities. The team had arrested a woman manufacturing synthetic milk and an FIR was registered against five people.
FSDA assistant commissioner Vineet Kumar, who headed Tuesday's raid, said, "We had got a tip-off regarding a synthetic milk factory being run in Tundla. Acting on that information, we formed a joint team of FSDA officials, Firozabad district administration and police, and raided the factory premises. The information was found to be true and we arrested two persons from the factory."
Now, free-of-cost milk testing facility
Collector S Natarajan launching the testing unit in Ramanathapuram.
Consumers can check quality of milk; available in the district till September 6
Close on the heels of the labour department installing a weighing machine for the public to check underweight, the district unit of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has made available an electronic milk adulteration testing (EMAT) unit to check the quality of milk.
Launching the facility at a special camp at the municipality here on Monday, Collector S Natarajan said consumers could check the quality of milk free of cost at the computerised automation machine. In case of adulteration, they could lodge complaints with the food cell officer. The District Revenue Officer, who is the adjudicating officer, would act on the complaints and initiate necessary action.
The district became the second in the State, after Madurai, to make the facility available to the general public. The machine would be available in the district till September 6, he said and appealed to the public to make the best of it. The consumers could give 300 ml of milk and test the solid, solid not fat (SNF), density, sucrose (sugar in milk) and other chemical substances, if any, in the milk.
Food safety officials would help them to match the quality of the milk they had purchased for their daily use with the prescribed parameters for fat, SNF, density and sucrose. All classes of cow and buffalo milk could be tested, Dr. M.J.C. Bose, district designated officer, Food Cell, said.
EMAT would be available for testing in Kilakarai (covering Thirupullani block) on Tuesday and Paramakudi (covering Bogalur and Nainarkoil blocks) on Wednesday.
On September 1, the machine would be available in Kamudhi for the benefit of people in Mudukulathur and Kadaladi blocks, and on September 4 in Rameswaram. On September 6, EMAT would be available in RS Mangalam before it would be taken to other districts, he said.
Aug 29, 2017
Midday Meal Authority asks FSDA to inspect food being served in schools
Meerut: In an attempt to check adulteration in food being served as midday meal to government school students, the Midday Meal (MDM) Authority has instructed the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) to inspect cooked meals in schools and take samples of the same to ensure that children are not served substandard food.
While FSDA is supposed to carry out these checks routinely, the fresh set instructions have been issued as some of the districts were found to be not complying with the set guidelines.
“FSDA has been instructed to take samples of cooked food prepared as midday meals to check its quality and submit a report to the task force formed for this purpose and also to the respective basic shiksha adhikaris,” read the order issued by Abdul Samad, director, Midday Meal Authority.
It should be noted that the state’s annual work plan submitted to the Centre also includes a report on the quality of midday meals prepared in government schools.
“All food safety officers are instructed to take samples of cooked meals from schools. These samples should be taken in a way that in one month at least 10 schools are covered. The report should be presented before the basic shiksha adhikari and the task force set up for this purpose,” read the order issued by Samad.
The letter further stated that food samples should be checked for adulterants and biological contamination.
Virendra Kumar, divisional midday meal coordinator, said, “The main problem with FSDA officials in Meerut is that though they take samples of food prepared in midday meals, their reports are delayed. For instance, the report of a sample of food that was taken in December has not arrived even till date.”
Tobacco sellers now use kids to sell banned gutkha
Police have deployed decoys to check illegal sale
Gone are the days when someone could buy a packet of gutkha or a packet of ‘maava’ (powedered tobbaco) easily. With police raids intensifying, regular stockists are now afraid to sell the banned substances in their shops. The sellers have now roped in school drop outs to sell the addictive substance for a higher price in some pockets of the city, say police sources.
So far this year since January 1, over 1.85 lakh gutkha packets worth nearly ₹70 lakh have been seized. Over 2,300 persons have been arrested in this regard. Out of this nearly 1.60 lakh gutkha packets were seized from June 19 to August 27, said a police source.
Apart from this, over 9,000 kg of ganja have been seized from the beginning of this year from people selling the banned tobacco products. “The sale through shops has completely stopped. But there are reports of individuals selling them in the black market,” sources add.
According to food safety officers, a packet of gutkha now costs around ₹40, while it was priced much lower earlier. They feel this indicates that the supply of gutkha has definitely reduced compared to the demand. “Now, the shop keepers purchase the banned tobacco products from Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border for normal price and then bring them in small quantity into the city,” said a food safety officer.
The gutkha is then put in smaller packets and then given to school dropouts in their locality. They stand near the shops and sell it to regular customers for a higher price. “The shop keeper earns up to ₹3,000 per day this way. Out of this, he gives a small percentage to the boys,” he added.
The police have now deployed decoys to check this illegal sale. “This is reported mostly in areas where there are migrant labourers. We have ensured that tobbaco is not sold near educational institutions,” explained a police officer. Food safety officers said that complaints of gutkha sale can be sent to their Whatsapp number 9444042322 or to the police control room 100.
More FBOs booked for sale of banned tobacco products
Port Blair, 28 Aug 2017
Continuing its crackdown on illegal sale of tobacco, a team of Food Safety Officials led by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman on Monday conducted surprise raids in connection with storage and distribution of contraband tobacco products at Ograbraj, Chouldari, Port Mout, Haddo, Austinabad, Nayagaon, Bathu Basti and Haddo wherein a large quantities of contraband products were seized from nine Food Business Operators (FBOs). All the nine FBOs premises were closed and sealed. The contraband items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 24 premises have been sealed for the violation.
The Commissioner Food Safety has warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection find any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses. The general public has been requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety 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.
High Court seeks updated info on accreditation of Food Testing Laboratories
Directs Govt To Appoint Full-Time Food Safety Commissioner Under FSS Act
The High Court on Monday directed the state government to inform it by September 23 about the accreditation of food testing labs with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Kumar sought an updated status report on the authentication and accreditation of the two food testing labs - Public Health Lab Dalgate Srinagar and Public Health Lab Patoli Jammu.
The directions came after the court was informed that trainings have been started before applying for the accreditation under NABL and Dr Lalitha R Gowda, chief scientist (Retd), Central Food Technological Research Institute, has been engaged for consultation on authentication of food labs.
On July 18 this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had told the High Court that the two food testing labs in the state are not accredited with NABL, which is otherwise mandatory.
Before issuing directions, the court today heard at length senior advocate and Amicus curie Bashir Ahmad Bashir and also additional advocate general Muhammad Iqbal Dar.
Observing that though the charge of commissioner food safety is held by Pawan Kotwal, commissioner secretary Health and Medical Education, the court underscored that there should be, indispensably in place, a full time commissioner food safety under Food Safety and Standards Act.
This, the court said, after it was informed that the finance department has already cleared the proposal for creation of commissioner food safety post and full time commissioner would be appointed very soon.
The court also sought status report on appointment of food safety officers by September end, after it was apprised that state Services Selection Board has already conducted examination of the candidates who have applied for the post and the final selection list will be out by September 30.
Counsel, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Mehmood Pracha, today submitted before the court that till the equipments are placed in food testing laboratories, the food officers can be directed to check the labels of packaged food articles under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
“Till the functioning of labs and after the requisite equipments are installed, the food safety officers can check packaged food products and verify as to whether the labels are in accordance with Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Regulations) Act 2011.”
In case of any deviation, court said, appropriate action under the Act as also regulation be taken and sought status report by next hearing.
While the court was informed that Ashok Kumar Koul has been appointed as presiding officer for the food tribunal Jammu, it directed that support staff should be made available for the functioning of the tribunal in Srinagar also.
The court was also informed that the latest equipments have been installed in the food testing laboratory at Dalgate here and for complete installation it will take two to three days.
The court termed the status report filed by M I Dar as satisfactory.
Aug 28, 2017
'ஈ' மொய்க்கும் தின்பண்டங்களால் 'தீங்கு' உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ஆய்வு அவசியம்
பள்ளி செல்லும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு பெற்றோர் காசு கொடுப்பதும், இடைவேளை நேரத்தில், பள்ளி முடிந்ததும் அருகே உள்ள கடைகளில் விற்கும் தின்பண்டங்களை வாங்கி சாப்பிடுவது வழக்கம். முன்பு பள்ளி அருகே உள்ள பெட்டிகடைகளில் நெல்லிக்காய், கொய்யா, மாங்காய், நாவல் பழம், இலந்தை பழம், பனங்கிழங்கு, பனியாரம், ஆரஞ்சு, கடலை மிட்டாய் என ஏதாவது ஒரு சத்தான தின்பண்டங்களை மாணவர்கள் வாங்கி சாப்பிடுவர். தரமானதாக, சுவையாக இருந்ததால் மாணவர்கள் போட்டி போட்டு வாங்கி சாப்பிட்டு உடல்நலத்தோடு இருந்தனர்.
லாபம் ஒன்றே குறிக்கோள்இன்று லாப நோக்கை மட்டும் கொண்ட வியாபாரிகளால், கிராமங்களில் உள்ள பெட்டிகடைகளில், அதிலும் அரசுப்பள்ளிகள் அருகே உள்ள பெட்டிகடைகளில் தான் தரமற்ற சாக்லெட்டுகள், மிக்ஸர், சிப்ஸ், பாக்கெட்டுகளில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட ஜூஸ், வறுக்கப்பட்ட பொருட்கள், செயற்கை முறையில் கலரூட்டப்பட்ட, பேக் செய்யப்பட்ட தின்பண்டங்கள் விற்கப்படுகிறது.
சில கடைக்காரர்கள் காலாவதியான மிட்டாய் மற்றும் தின்பண்டங்களை காசாக்கும் நோக்கில் மனிதாபிமானமற்ற நிலையில் பள்ளி அருகே விற்று காசாக்குகின்றனர். மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் பிறந்தநாளுக்கு சாக்லெட் மற்றும் இனிப்புகள் வழங்குகின்றனர்.
இவ்வாறு வழங்கப்படும் இனிப்புகளில் செயற்கையாக கலரூட்டப்பட்டவை தான் இருக்கின்றன.
போலிகள்
கிராமப்புறங்களில் உள்ள கடைகளில் பிரபல நிறுவனங்களின் பெயரை வித்தியாசம் தெரியாமல் மாற்றி, அதே பெயரில் பேக் செய்து போலி தின்பண்டங்கள் விற்பனை செய்வதும் சில ஆண்டுகளாக அதிகரித்துள்ளது. இவ்வாறு போலியாக விற்பனை செய்யப்படும் தின்பண்டங்களுக்கும், நல்ல தின்பண்டங்களுக்கும் வித்தியாசம் தெரியாத குழந்தைகள் போலியை சாப்பிடுகின்றனர்.
இதுபோன்ற போலி மற்றும் சுகாதாரமற்ற தின்பண்டங்களை சாப்பிடும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு வாந்தி, வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, மயக்கம், வயிறு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட பல்வேறு நோய்கள் தாக்குகிறது.
மாணவர்கள் பாதிப்பு
ஆரம்பப்பள்ளிகளில் படிக்கும் மாணவர்கள் பள்ளி வளாகத்தை விட்டு வெளியே செல்லக் கூடாது, பள்ளி அருகே சுகாதாரமற்ற தின்பண்டங்களை விற்பனை செய்யக் கூடாது என சட்டம் கூறுகிறது. இதை பள்ளிகள் மற்றும் கடைக்காரர்கள் உட்பட யாரும் கடைபிடிப்பதில்லை. இதனால் மாணவர்கள் அதிகம் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர் என பொதுமக்களும், சமூக ஆர்வலர்களும் கூறுகின்றனர்.
அவித்த உணவு
மணிகண்டன், சைல்டு லைன், “அரசுப் பள்ளிகள் அருகே ஈ மொய்க்கும் தின்பண்டங்களை விற்கும் கடைகள் பல உள்ளன. இதை பள்ளி ஆய்வுக்கு வரும் அதிகாரிகள் முதல் பள்ளி ஆசிரியர்கள் வரை யாரும் கண்டுகொள்வதில்லை. இதற்கு ஒரே தீர்வு, இயற்கை விவசாயத்தில் விளைந்த சத்தான பழங்கள், திணை வகைகள், பயறு வகைகள் மற்றும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு தேவையான அவித்த உணவுகளான பனியாரம், புட்டு போன்றவற்றை கடைகளில் விற்க அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். மேலும் மாணவர்களின் உடல்நிலையை சீரழிக்கும் சுகாதாரமற்ற தின்பண்டங்களை விற்கும் பெட்டிகடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறையினர் ஆய்வு செய்து கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்” என்றார்.
Adulterated ghee seized
Amid growing concerns over adulteration of food items in the city, the Ibrahimpatnam police on Sunday seized a huge quantity of adulterated ghee, that was made in the city, at Ibrahimpatnam.
According to the police, a trader in Autonagar of the city was allegedly making adulterated ghee by mixing cooking oil in a small quantity of original ghee. The trader was on his way to deliver an order of 5,800 litres of ghee at Jaggaiahpeta of the district and was transporting the adulterated ghee in a transport van from his unit.
When the van reached Ibrahimpatnam, the police found the unpacked ghee in unhygienic condition and seized the product. Samples were sent to food safety authorities.
Tobacco products seized
Officials of Food Safety and Drug Administration department seized one tonne of banned tobacco products from a house situated along Palladam - Manickapuram Road on Sunday evening.
K. Tamilselvan, the Food Safety Designated Officer, told The Hindu that the tobacco products were kept in the house which was used as a makeshift godown. “We have sent the samples of the items seized to government-recognised laboratories to officially ascertain that the materials were tobacco products,” he said.
Once the report was received, criminal prosecution would be initiated against the house owner, he added.
Surprise raid by Food Safety officials, huge contraband products recovered
Port Blair,, Aug 27: Continuing the strict action against illegal sale of tobacco on 25/08/2017 a team of Food Safety Officials lead by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman conducted surprise raids in connection with storage and distribution of contraband tobacco products at Haddo, Fisheries Jetty, Phoneix Bay, and Mohanpura market wherein large quantities of contraband products were seized from 10(five) Food Business Operators (FBOs).
The details of the FBOs who premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Smti. Hemawati, R/o Garacharma, Smti Hazara Bibi, R/o Phoniex Bay, Shri. Ali Baba, R/o Phoniex Bay, Shri. Velu, R/o Dignabad, Shri. Nathan, R/o Phoneix Bay Jetty, Shri. V. Naga Babu, R/o Haddo, Shri. Chinnamma, R/o Haddo, Smti Mundrika Sahu, R/o Haddo, Smti. P. Venkata Laxmi, R/o Haddo and Smti. Uma Devi, R/o Aberdeen Bazaar. All the contraband items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 15 premises have been sealed for the violation.
The Commissioner Food Safety have warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection if found any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses.All the general public is hereby requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety 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.
Aug 27, 2017
Labelling of GM foods likely to be mandatory
The recommendation was made to the ministry by a scientific panel on GM organisms in food that was formed as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act
The Department of Health and Family Welfare is moving towards a regime to make the labelling of GM foods mandatory and declaring the threshold level of the genetically engineered ingredient on GM products, its Secretary informed the parliamentary panel on climate, forest, science and technology. The recommendation was made to the ministry by a scientific panel on GM organisms in food that was formed as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act.
The panel also informed that the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is collecting evidence on the impact of GM food on humans and that ICMR is soon going to provide leads to the Health ministry. DNA was the first to report in June that, in the absence of any regulatory mechanism, FSSAI was working on a labelling regime to monitor and make consumers aware of GM products in market.
“Any product which has 5 per cent or more of the genetically engineered ingredient shall be labelled. This has gone to their panel and to the authority which will take a view on this and we hope to get a decision on the labelling aspect very soon,” secretary of the Department of Health said.
Is snacking and 'shack-ing' still viable?
With the closure of the restaurant at a popular beach shack in Anjuna having been ordered due to hygiene violations, Café looks at how things need course correction before it’s too late
One major factor that has drawn people from all corners of the globe to Goa has been its coastal attractions. Over the years, the pulling-power of the beaches seems to have diminished, and there can be no doubt that a lot of it comes down to the fact that there is often a very lacklustre approach to how best one can showcase seaside attractions in the state; shacks play a major role in this equation.
Only recently, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) ordered the closure of the restaurant at a popular beach shack in Anjuna, owing to the fact that its inspecting team found it to be running in an unhygienic condition. Approximately 30 deficiencies were noted by the FDA, with hygiene being a mitigating factor in the entire debacle. Food being cooked in the open, rusty fridges that weren’t operating at a required temperature, the kitchen having direct access to washrooms, and the use of food colouring agents, which are unsafe, were some of the charges in question. In addition to all of the above, the restaurant was also unable to produce the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license, it was claimed. With this case having come to light, one can only wonder what the conditions may be like at some of these establishments.
Popular chef and restaurateur Vasco Alvares has often worked with properties along the coastal belt, and recalls that on one given occasion, when called upon to work with a private party setting up a beach front affair, having to set-up a makeshift kitchen, owing to the establishment’s deplorable conditions. “The kitchen was in a poor state, and there were flies in many places. At the eleventh hour, we managed to put together a structure that would serve as a kitchen, just so that we could deliver hygienic food that I believe is the diner’s foremost right,” he shares, from experience.
But amidst the chaos and often, uncertainty of what lies beneath, there are some places that honestly stand out, in the best way possible. One such example that can quite literally be classified as ‘gold standard’ when it comes to shacks in Goa is ‘Zeebop by the Sea’, on Utorda beach in the southern reaches of the state. The proprietor of the establishment, Sergio Dias, has gone the whole hog, when it comes to ensuring a great experience all-round, for his clients. From impeccably clean washrooms, to the sand being combed at regular intervals to ensure an untouched feel, to exceedingly pleasant staff, ‘Zeebop’ has nailed their brief.
Reflecting on the endeavours that he has undertaken to meet the standards he sets for himself, Sergio says, “I’m honestly grateful of having an inborn sense of cleanliness. For me, even at a personal level, hygiene takes top priority. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to have travelled and gained exposure in the area of hospitality. My experiences in places like Brazil have been an eye-opener, where beaches are cleaned on a daily basis, in a mechanised method. If it can be done elsewhere, then we can do it here too. It is highly dependent on each one’s culture and mentality, and we all need to do our part.
James Elliott and his wife Barbara have been regular visitors to Goa for over three decades. Over a conversation held in Calangute, they revealed that they have decided to call time on their Indian expedition and move to pastures anew, given that they aren’t pleased with many of the changes that they’ve seen ‘develop’.
“My wife and I have been coming to Goa from England for over 32 years, and I do think that this will be our last trip here. There’s really nothing desirable about Goa anymore. The rates are constantly on the rise, especially when it comes to taxis and shacks. When it comes to eating out, most shacks offer sub-par food at inflated rates, and the local charm is lost, with many staff from other parts of the country being rude. That is a major change we’ve noticed. Even the Goans who worked in these areas appear calloused and jaded, and have lost the warmth that we as tourists associated with them. Hence there is nothing desirable about being by the Goan seaside anymore, and that was a major attraction. Now other parts of the world with that as their primary feature are cheaper and more inviting,” he shares.
Perhaps it’s time that the game was changed and the bar was raised. Perhaps it’s time that we demanded more from our own industry. Licensing bodies should be training shack owners before issuing licenses, to ensure there is compliance within the required norms for decent operation, else, we stand to lose a lot more, as we continue down this slippery slope that we seem to be on.
FDA raids sweet shop in Betim
Panaji: Officials from the directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) stopped operations of Sunrise sweet manufacturing unit at Malim, Betim, on Thursday as most of the sweets were being prepared in unhygienic conditions. During the raid, FDA officials also found 15 bags of mava stored in unclean surroundings. The unit was later sealed by officials in the evening.
Officials told reporters that the raid was conducted as part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and added that FDA is targeting sweet manufacturing units as some of the mixtures used to prepare sweets are stored in unhygienic conditions. FDA officials also told reporters that the mava bags were misbranded. They also found packets of farsan without proper manufacturing and expiry dates which were being stored in unsanitary conditions.
The raiding team comprised of senior FDA officer, Richard Noronha, food safety officer Atul Dessai and others.
Orissa food safety dept may get a facelift
New Delhi, August 26: The Orissa food safety department, often marred with shortage of staff and infrastructure, is likely to get some assistance from the Central government which can help it work towards food safety.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to assist Orissa and other states by boosting their infrastructure and also help them in fulfilling their staff crunch issue.
According to the FSSAI plan, it is likely to infuse more junior food analyst and food analysts’ posts October to fill the gaps in the states which can help increase the food safety magnitude and quality in the state.
As per records, a number of food safety officers’ posts are reportedly lying vacant in the state which makes the work of food testing and action against the guilty a tough task.
The state also suffers from shortage of food analysts who can check the food samples for safety of human consumption.
Moreover, the FSSAI has also planned to start ‘food safety on wheels’ in the state where they can act as multi-purpose vans for food testing, public awareness and other purposes which can help towards ensuring food safety in the state besides linking all the state labs with a Central system termed as Indian Food Laboratory Network.
Meanwhile, plans are also underway to strengthen 45 state food labs by providing state-of-the-art high-end food testing equipment, including microbiology labs.
As per the FSSAI records, Orissa is said to have recorded 61 cases of food safety violations in one single year in 2015-16 and 112 cases in 2014-15.
Aug 26, 2017
Food safety dept lodges cases against 17 outlets
DEHRADUN: The food safety department registered cases against 17 shops and restaurant owners in Dehradun for keeping substandard quality food products. Cases have been lodged in the Additional District Magistrate court in Dehradun against the 17 outlets samples from where had been collected in the last three months.
Recently, oil sample collected from a major supermarket in Rajpur Road was tagged as substandard as it didn’t meet the required iodine percentage as mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines.
Ganesh Kandwal, designated food safety officer in Dehradun, said, “Majority of samples that failed the guidelines were from smalltime shopkeepers, who generally do not maintain the cleanliness norm.” He added that the focus will remain on milk samples.
Said to be a significant drive of the department, collection and testing of samples are being affected due to the shoddy infrastructure. Unavailability of electricity, lack of staff at the Rudrapur-based food safety laboratory is causing a major hindrance to the drive.
A officer of the department said, “Even though we try to conduct raids and collect samples as per the set norms, the samples go stale after being kept in the laboratory for days together.”
Though the department has been provided with a special machine from Delhi for checking milk samples, there is still a need for a controlled environment and special arrangements for conducting the tests. Also, just one machine is not sufficient for the entire state.
Visakhapatnam: Hotels violate food safety norms
The food safety officials have raided seven hotels in the last two weeks based on the consumer complaints.
Visakhapatnam: The restaurants or canteens run at the government establishments violating the food safety and hygiene norms are facing the heat, not because of the food safety officials, but consumers who have become proactive in registering complaints. The food safety officials have raided seven hotels in the last two weeks based on the consumer complaints.
A consumer moved Consumer Forum against a hotel at Jagadamba junction for serving chicken kabab fried with substandard oil. As per the direction of the forum, the food safety personnel raided the restaurant and sent the sample for testing. The hotel’s kitchen was also in unhygienic condition. Similarly, a fast food counter at Siripuram was imposed fine as a consumer raised a complaint as he found a fly in the soup served to him. Moreover, a canteen run at the KGH hospital was also raided as some patients complained of poor quality of food. Samples have been collected from four hotels in Gajuwaka for serving stale non-vegetarian food.
“The restaurants we raided in the last two weeks are flouting the food safety norms such as serving stale meat and fish and not maintaining hygiene in their kitchens. We have sent the samples to food testing laboratory and will take action once the reports come in. Consumers can register their call or send email too. The awareness of consumers will help to check the bad practices of the restaurants,” said M. Srinivas, Food Controller at Food Safety department.
“The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has laid out mandatory guidelines for all restaurants and food establishments. Raw chicken should be kept inside the freezer while the cooked meat could be stored for one day. But, the restaurants have been keeping it for more than one day,” he said. “The restaurants should have storage rooms/deep freezer facilities and should be impervious to moisture, clean, free from pest infestation and well maintained. But, some restaurants are found storing the meat and meat products in a normal fridge,” he added. It is learnt that the popularity of ‘Take Away’ parcel food counters is also posing as health hazards for the consumers. Most of them are preparing the food else where and selling at roadside counters. The roadside non-vegetarian eateries are also seen keeping the fried chicken in polythene.
15 FBOs booked for sale of contraband tobacco
Port Blair, 25 Aug 2017
The team of Food Safety Officials led by the District Food Safety Officer, South Andaman, on Friday, raided several shops in the city on Friday at Haddo, Fisheries Jetty, Phoneix Bay, and Mohanpura market wherein a large quantities of contraband products were seized from 15 Food Business Operators (FBOs). The details of the FBOs who premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Hemawati, resident of Garacharma, Smti Hazara Bibi, resident of Phoenix Bay, Ali Baba, resident of Phoniex Bay, Velu, resident of Dignabad, Nathan, resident of Phoenix Bay Jetty, V. Naga Babu, resident of Haddo, Chinnamma, R/o Haddo, Mundrika Sahu, R/o Haddo, P. Venkata Laxmi, R/o Haddo and Uma Devi, resident of Aberdeen Bazaar. The contraband items were seized under the appropriate section of the Act and legal proceedings are being initiated against the offenders under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Till now 15 premises have been sealed for the violation.
On Thursday, the team of Food Safety officials conducted surprise raids in Goalghar, Buniyadabad, Minnie Bay and Dollygunj on Thursday and seized huge quantities of contraband products from five Food Business Operators (FBOs). The FBOs whose premises were inspected, closed and sealed are Ramachandran, R/o Buniyadabad, S. Ramu, resident of Goalghar, Venugoal Pillai, resident of School Line, Paresh Karmakar, R/o Dolly Gunj and Smt S. Rabia, resident of Buniyadabad.
The Commissioner of Food Safety has warned the Food Business Operators not to store/stock/display or sale any contraband products in their premises and storage area and if the enforcement staff on their inspection if found any contraband tobacco products, stringent action will be initiated against the errant FBOs including sealing of premises and cancellation of licenses. The general public have been hereby requested to pass on contraventions found if any on food safety 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.
Aug 25, 2017
No FSSAI licence for Indira Canteen a grave lapse, says Ms Pramila Nesargi
A top BBMP official, who did not wish to be named, said “You have driving licence which is valid all over India.
Bengaluru: BBMP, which should have been a role model for others to emulate, has set a wrong precedent with regard to state’s ambitious Indira Canteens. While the project is started with an intention to feed the poor, it was pushed in a tearing hurry and even without the much needed licences -one from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and trade licence from BBMP Health department.
Senior advocate Ms Pramila Nesargi told Deccan Chronicle, “This is a classic example of fence eating the crop. BBMP and state government officials have forgotten to take the needed licences. It clearly indicates the break neck hurry shown by the Congress led state government to get the project done for Independence Day and get it launched by party vice president Rahul Gandhi.”
Would the BBMP or the state government let a private operator run their business without the needed licences? She questioned. Running canteens and mega kitchens without licences is against the law and the guilty can be prosecuted, she added.
A top BBMP official, who did not wish to be named, said “You have driving licence which is valid all over India. Both the contractors- Mumbai-based Chef Talk and New Delhi NGO Rewards individually have FSSAI. But have to obtain it in Bangalore across all the kitchens.”
“Procedures have been initiated for FSSAI licences and for trade licences too. We shall get all of them by next week and display them at all canteens,” he added.
Karnataka: Tougher norms for sale of milk products
In a notification on August 4, FSSAI has laid down stringent quality standards for milk and milk products.
For ice creams, milk lollies and kulfis, norms include total solids minimum, weight minimum grams/litres, and milk protein
Bengaluru: In a major step that will keep milk producers on their toes, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced rigorous standards for milk and milk products to be commercially sold in the country.
In a notification on August 4, FSSAI has laid down stringent quality standards for milk and milk products. Strict quality norms have been prescribed for curds, khova, sweetened milk and ice cream.
Karnataka Milk Federation which markets the Nandini brand, as well as private producers such as Heritage, Dodla, Good Life etc will have to comply with these norms.
The standards cover a range of fresh definitions and standards including fat percentage, pasteurisation, boiling, milk products, additives, etc. The standards also apply to goat and camel milk.
For instance, the Minimum Milk Fat (MMF) content and minimum milk solids not-fat (SNF) content for buffalo milk in Karnataka is set at 5 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. For cow milk, the MMF is 3.2 percent SNF 8.3. Milk cannot be sold if the fat and SNF content is below the required percentage.
KMF sells mainly cow milk, although it markets buffalo milk in northern Karnataka.
In various types of milk marketed by KMF under its Nandini brand the fat content ranges from 1.5 percent in double toned milk, to 3.0 per cent in toned milk, 4.5 per cent in standardized milk, to 6 per cent in Full Cream Milk.
This means that KMF will have to increase the MMF in its double toned and toned milk. The FSSAI’s new norms define ‘Milk’ as “…the normal mammary secretion derived from complete milking of healthy milch animal, without either addition thereto or extraction therefrom, unless otherwise provided in these regulations and it shall be free from colostrum.”
The quality standards apply to a host of milk products including cheese and processed cheese; chhana, skimmed milk Chhana and paneer; condensed milk sweetened and unsweetened; cream; curd, skimmed milk curd, dahi; ghee, butter oil; ice cream, infant milk food; khova; malai; milk derivatives such as whey proteins, casein, lactose; milk ices, milk lollies, kulfi; all kinds of skimmed milk powder, table butter and white butter; and yogurt.
As for ice creams, milk lollies and kulfis, the standards laid cover parameters such Total Solids Minimum, Weight minimum grams/litres, and milk protein.
“India Has A Rich Culinary Heritage”
In an exclusive interview with Restaurant India, Pawan Aggarwal, CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India talks about the evolution of Indian cuisine.
What is the whole concept about?
The whole concept revolves around bringing back the goodness of Indian food culture. Indian food is extremely rich in itself that Indians need not to go anywhere. India has a rich culinary heritage that has evolved over centuries. Local food habits are primarily based on a holistic approach to nutrition as required by local people. FSSAI through this initiative is committed to strengthen the knowledge and wisdom of regional cuisines and culinary practices. FSSAI along with other Govt organizations, corporate, domain experts such chefs, bloggers, food authors and writers et cetra and other key organizations aims to co create a credible source of information to promote safe and wholesome food and connect people with our rich food culture. Our food has the potential to make Indian food recognised as a brand globally.
Why do you want to promote Indian cuisine when every International food hub wants to satiate Indian palate by their cuisine?
India has a rich food culture. It’s our culinary heritage that we are promoting. We want to revive that old tradition i.e., the way we used to cook. There is so much to learn from Indian cuisine then why to go anywhere else?
What do you think is necessary to expand Indian cuisine?
The unorganised sector is the foremost hurdle for FSSAI which needs to be solved. We have done a conceptual framework for food cast. Our focus is to recognise food cities/ streets and then organise food trails which is quite unpopular in India. Food trails are the food walks which provide an exposure of various regional cuisines. Also it would become easy to pick up the best elements from the variety to brand those cuisines. Then we could take the best food globally.
Does food cast consist all the categories of food?
Perhaps with the time but right now we are focusing on regions like Assam, Hyderabad, Lucknow, et cetra. They have that natural taste with their food plus they are healthy at the same time.
Are you introducing any app for that?
Yes, we are launching an app which would be enabled on all androids and iphones.
When food trails will be introduced in India?
It will surely happen soon. Experts are working on that and we have given them a sense of timeline which they will carry. Also we are fortunate that things are not happening as rapidly as other countries did. We believe that ‘slow and steady wins the race’.
How would you deal with the addiction of noodles, maggie and momoz? Don’t you think Indian food consist lots of oil and spices?
Obviously they are addictive and it is a huge challenge in itself but I think most of the people eat them in peer pressure. If everyone is having it doesn’t mean that you should also have it. We will run a campaign about the rich Indian cuisine to tackle this challenge as we are thinking of inviting Michelin Star Chefs to express Indian food. FSSAI thinks that food can also be a big source of tourism which in turn could promote the cuisine. People now days really want to eat healthy and Indian cuisine has that calibre. It is a myth that Indian food is unhealthy, it totally depends upon the consumer as they say, “consumed in moderation is consumed correctly”.
Fate of 80 camels of Rajasthan hangs in balance in Jharkhand
The fate of 80 camels brought from Rajasthan to Jharkhand for sacrifice hangs in balance after the police recovered them from the possession of a group of people and deployed a section of armed security personnel to protect them and maintain law and order.
The recovery took place on Wednesday after an animals rights' organisation lodged a complaint with the Dhanwar police station in Ghorthamba area of Giridih district,about 220 km from Ranchi,alleging that camel slaughter was illegal and animals should be rescued.
Alongside the Muslim group claimed that its members had brought these camels from Rajasthan to sacrifice them on the day of their festival Bakrid.After the police took the camels in its possession,these Muslims threatened to wear black badges during Eid Namaz on Bakrid if the police did not allow them to sacrifice these camels.
*Securitymen guarding camels in a field falling under Dhanwar police station in Ghorthamba area of Giridih district,about 22 km from Ranchi.
They say that they have been sacrificing camels on the day of Bakrid since long."Why the police have started opposing their religious right to sacrifice these camels now",said Md Salim,a resident of Ghorathamba echoing the sentiments of a dozen others.
After registering the FIR,the police said the case is going to be decided by the court."Whatever verdict is passed by the court,we will abide by it",said police spokesperson RK Mallick.
The police said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India permits slaughter of only four categories of animals and since camel does not figure in any one of these categories,it can not hand them back to these people for slaughter.
"The camels are in our possession.We will do whatever the court decides in this case",Mallick is on record having said.
As a result,while these protesters were up in arms wanting to sacrifice these animals,each of these camels that were too soft and looked exhausted were kept on the ground with security men holding guns in their hand to protect these animals.
PIL seeking closure of 59 un-registered milk dairies within JMC limits
DB directs concerned to respond within four weeks
Jammu, Aug 23: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice B.S. Walia took cognizance of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment) an NGO working for welfare of animals through its Chairperson Devinder Kaur Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan seeking immediate closure of 59 number of un-registered dairies running within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
Division Bench headed by Justice Alok Aradhe issued notices to Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Health and Medical Education Department, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Animal/ Sheep Husbandry Department, Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. Housing and Urban Development Department, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Director Animal Husbandry Department Jammu, Chairman J&K State Pollution Control Board, Regional Director J&K State Pollution Control Board Jammu, Municipal Veterinary Officer Municipal Corporation Jammu, Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India New Delhi returnable within four weeks.
Fraud, malpractices plague India's organic food products: Icrier study
The study points to a trust deficit with many dealers passing off inorganic products as organic
India remains one of the top 10 exporters of organic products globally, but some malpractices like the sale of inorganic products disguised as organic have done the domestic market grave damage, shows a recent study by the Delhi-based Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (Icrier).
In the absence of clear guidelines by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the sector’s growth has been mired in fraudulence and malpractices, and the lack of a framework to penalise offences is making things worse, the Icrier report, titled ‘Organic Farming in India: Status, Issues and Way Forward’, points out.
"About 1.5 million hectares of land in India was certified organic, excluding wild and forest areas. In 2016-17, India exported Rs 2,478 crore worth of organic commodities like oilseeds, cereals and millets and processed foods," says a report published by Livemint.
Besides highlighting the need for a uniform standard for the domestic market, the report also bats for a single nodal agency and punishments to address the issues facing the sector. It also mentions that India’s organic food market could grow at 20 per cent in the next five years if the problems were addressed.
On the issues raised by the study, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant suggested that standards set by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), the export promotion body, should be followed to help India’s organic products push deeper into global as well as domestic markets.
Online food licence
IMPHAL | Aug 24
The State Food Safety commissioner, government of Manipur has notified that all the food business operators in eleven districts namely, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati, Kamjong, Noney, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Pherzwal, Kakching, Tengnoupal and Jiribam to avail the online services for food licence/registration and comply with the provisions of Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations, 2011, said a release.
It said that manual applications will not be entertained by the State Licensing and Registering Authority for food license/registration for the eleven districts of the state in which online services have been launched.
Dy CM for effective enforcement of food safety rules
Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today directed the officers concerned to put in place a vibrant and robust mechanism in order to check the food adulteration and ensure strict enforcement of food safety and standard rules.
The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing officers during a meeting regarding delegation of powers to food safety officers of urban local bodies.
Dr Singh asked the officers to ensure that the requisite parameters already enshrined in the rules should be strictly enforced so that the adulteration of food and other related items is checked.
He also asked for putting in place the requisite mechanism so that regular checks are conducted and necessary feedback obtained from the consumers as well as the market.
The Deputy Chief Minister also directed for utilising the services of trained human resource so that the desired results are obtained.
He said that this would go a long way in improving the quality of food items and other related things to the consumers.
Dr Singh said ensuring safe food is a priority of the government.
He said it is the collective responsibility of all to work together for creating awareness among the people about safe and nutritious food.
The Deputy Chief Minister said safe and nutritious food is essential to ensure public health as taking unsafe and spurious food can create critical problems and negative impact on the public health.
He said we have to change our mentality to ensure environment-friendly safe food and added that an effective mechanism is vital in taking proper steps for overcoming different problems in food production, import, processing, preserving, supplying and marketing.
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