Oct 29, 2017
Cows pumped with antibiotics, treated as milk machines in dairies: Report
Most cows are kept in cramped enclosures in dairies, and pumped with antibiotics and hormones to produce more milk, exposing consumers to diseases, said a report of India’s apex animal protection organisation.
Cows live in cramped, poorly ventilated and dark enclosures in more than one-quarter of the dairies in leading milk-producing states, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations.
Most cows are kept in cramped enclosures in dairies, and pumped with antibiotics and hormones to produce more milk, exposing consumers to diseases, said a report of India’s apex animal protection organisation.
The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) surveyed 451 milk-producing centres in 10 states, a reality check of distressing conditions in which cows are treated as milk-producing machines.
The survey covered 49 dairies in Rajasthan’s four districts -- Alwar, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner – housing 1232 cattle. Bringing out the home truths behind India’s ‘white revolution’, FIAPO demands regulation of milk-producing dairies by the Centre and state governments.
The survey was done from June 2016 to March 2017 and the report -- CATTLE-OGUE -- was released on October 26.
“It is not just the animals which are getting exploited but also the consumers of milk and dairy products. Poor conditions recorded in the investigation raise serious questions on the safety and quality of milk in the market,” said FIAPO director Arpan Sharma.
Cows live in cramped, poorly ventilated and dark enclosures in more than one-quarter of the dairies; injuries from slipping in their excreta are common – 64.1% dairies have “ill, injured and distressed cattle,” the report said.
“Poor veterinary care and illegal use of drugs and hormones like oxytocin to increase the milk let-down are prevalent. An evident delinking of humane treatment of cattle as sentient beings is being noticed as a result of the rising demand for milk and milk products,” the report said, raising a question mark on the sustainability of India’s global leadership in milk production.
Cattle are separated from calves (male calves die within the first week in 25% of dairies), receive little veterinary care and are injected with drugs in almost 50% of the dairies, the report revealed. Unproductive cattle are sold to farmers or slaughterhouses by 62.9% dairies.
A shocking revelation was the use of khalbaccha, an effigy made by stuffing a dead calf with hay. “Because of strong maternal bonds, the mother often stops lactating if the calf has died. Hence a khalbacchas are used to mimic the presence of a calf and continue milking.”
Dairy cattle in urban areas get little access to soft ground in 78% dairies. “We have urged state governments to outlaw keeping of cattle within municipal limits and also enact conditions for keeping animals in other areas,” Sharma said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is silent on conditions that need to prevail at the point of milk production. “FSSAI regulations pertain only to milk processing, which is only half the story. The Centre needs to amend the Registration of Cattle Premises Rules 1978 to introduce conditions for the holding of cattle in commercial dairies,” Sharma said.
Under ‘Operation Flood’ in 1970, milk production in the country increased from 22 million tonnes in 1970 to 104 million tonnes in 2008.
Key findings in Rajasthan dairies:
•Male calves are routinely sold for slaughter, or abandoned on the streets. Almost 43% dairies did not have any surviving male calf.
•Calves are separated from mothers almost immediately after birth, so that the milk can be sold.
•A hormone, called oxytocin, is used to keep the mothers lactating; this is painful to cattle.
•87% dairies in Rajasthan were seen to keep their cattle tied to short tethers at all times.
•Almost 52% of the dairies had hard flooring, causing the animals to suffer from lameness and joint problems.
•Because of exploitative practices, animals were going “dry”. This is the main reason why India is the world’s 2nd largest beef exporter in the absence of raising beef cattle.
6 hotels shut after students fall sick
KOCHI: A team of officials from the department of health, food safety department and the health division of the Kalamassery municipality on Saturday conducted checks at hotels and food stalls near the Cochin university of science and technology campus, following reported instances of jaundice at the hostels here.
As many as 15 shops were inspected in the drive and six out of them were given closure notice. The inspection team was headed by district health officer P N Sreenivasan. Officials said that stale food was found even from food stalls inside the campus and they were issued warnings to improve hygiene.
"At least two students have confirmed of having jaundice in the university. From talking to the students we have learnt that they were having food from the eateries near the university. The inspections were conducted following this," said A S Nawas, health inspector.
Officers said that some of the shops mixed cooked food with uncooked food. "Stale food were found stuffed inside freezers and many expired products were seized in the drive. The outlets lacked health cards and proper licence as well," said an officer adding that closure notices were issued after finding the violations.
Meanwhile, David Peter, registrar of Cusat said that he was yet to get any official complaints. "No complaints relating to such diseases has been received as of now," said Peter.
Health officials said that the shops which were closed on Saturday would only be allowed to open again after adhering to all the safety standards as per norms.
India's indigenous cheeses have crafted a savoury comeback: Tracing their journey to gourmet stardom
Kashmiri cuisine is well-known for its heady mix of spices, culture and tradition, and the streets of Jammu bear witness to this. Vendors line the roadsides selling their dishes but there’s one in particular that is a must-try — the Kalari kulcha. Few have heard of it, and fewer have tasted it. Not your usual Parmesan or Brie but equally exciting, Kalari is an indigenous Indian cheese made in Kashmir. A large round slice of this cheese is fried or grilled in oil and served between two slices of bread or pao, with various chutneys — and voila! you have Jammu’s very own Kalari kulcha.
From relative anonymity to occupying starring roles in gourmet cuisine, India's indigenous cheeses have undertaken quite the journey — and no, we're not talking about the ubiquitous paneer. After years of neglect, when this cottage industry was almost set to vanish, a sudden surge of demand and awareness has led to a belief that maybe our chefs can save this piece of tasty history from oblivion. “Using indigenous Indian cheese is the current trend. We have a number of such varieties and are striving to preserve them and create awareness,” says Mumbai-based cheese curator Mansi Jasani. Her passion for everything cheesy led to this interesting job profile and an initiative called The Cheese Collective.
From relative anonymity to occupying starring roles in gourmet cuisine, India's indigenous cheeses have undertaken quite the journey. Seen here: round cakes of smoked Bandel cheese being sold at Rs 8 per piece in New Market (the erstwhile Hogg's Market) in Kolkata
Chefs — travelling to nooks and corners of the country, incorporating local flavours and ingredients and creating unique styles — have had a huge role to play in the resurgence of indigenous cheeses. Take for instance Mumbai-based chef Prateek Sadhu, who recounted how his childhood experience came into play at his restaurant Masque, a farm-to-table uber gourmet restaurant. “I have grown up eating Kalari as a snack, served with local Kashmiri bread alongside. The entire philosophy at Masque revolves around ingredients from within India, including those growing around the Himalayan region. So right from Kalari to locally-produced cheeses from Pahalgham, we have tried to incorporate these by giving them our own spin — like a cheese brûlée which literally means burnt cheese. It’s basically cheese custard with pistachio nuts, almonds and we do a seasonal jam and sourdough bread,” says Prateek.
These risqué ventures work out because the foodies of today are themselves aware of the ingredients used and conscious of its origins. “Industrialised cheese was almost killing the 200-year-old cottage industry of Indian indigenous cheese. The current generation was exposed to packaged cheese attractively sold to induce a buying pattern, but not to our own local ones,” says chef Sabyasachi Gorai who serves indigenous cheese at his Armenian restaurant, Lavaash by Saby in New Delhi. “Today, the clientele is more excited and intrigued when I serve indigenous cheese, curious to know more and open to the flavours. One has to remember that such curated gourmet cheese comes with a sharp, strong taste, unlike the milky-bar effect of packaged cheese,” Sabyasachi adds.
Believe it or not, the government had a hand in the revival of Indian indigenous cheese. In 1984, it banned the import of animal rennet — taken from the stomach of newborn calves, killing the animal in the process — used in cheese-making. However, since economic liberalisation in 1991, packaged foreign brands entered the market and the lines blurred. In April 2016, the Beauty Without Cruelty organisation filed a complaint with the government when it found Amazon India selling bottles of liquid animal-derived rennet, which were then removed. In 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) cracked down on the cheese import industry. Not only did it ban all imported cheese which used animal rennet but also declared that all milk and milk products coming into the country must be heat-processed to kill bacteria. This sounded the death knell for most raw milk cheese, except highly-processed ones.
Chefs began to opt for Indian indigenous cheese rather than low-quality imported ones. This opened up the market for this cottage industry to make a comeback. “Since Indian cheese was not a commercially viable product, with very low and localised profit, businesses didn’t cater to it. Today there are more takers as many restaurants commercially use varieties of Indian cheese. Over the past three years, I have noticed a considerable rise in price,” says Sabyasachi. He recalls how the Kalimpong cheese, initially made by a priest in Sikkim and available locally there, is today made in the quaint hill-station of the same name in West Bengal and available in only one store in Kolkata’s New Market (the erstwhile Hogg’s market), and nowhere else in India.
Kalimpong cheese on sale; it is priced at about Rs 1,000 per kilogram
Not only has the taste and craft been saved, but these varieties of cheese from different regions of India come with their own unique slice of history and culture. Food historian Pushpesh Pant writes that cheese as a dairy product was sold as a commodity on the Silk Route. There are textual references of cheese dating back to the Kushan period: “the use of solids obtained from the mixture of warm milk and curds”. While the warrior community was served this ‘solid’, the thin liquid (whey) was given to the poor.
Bandel is a small town in West Bengal which was colonised by the Portuguese. They happened to introduce cheese, which today is called Bandel and comes with a smoky taste and flavour. Also believed to have a Portuguese influence is Surti cheese made in Surat, Gujarat. Churu is a soft and pungent cheese, used in Bhutan to make its signature national dish, Ema Datshi. Churu means “rotten cheese” and it’s strong smell and flavour is used in meat preparations. Churrpi is made in the Himalayan regions from yak’s milk. Topli nu paneer is a Parsi preparation which used to be a must-have at weddings but today is supplied by only a handful of people in Mumbai.
Temperature, climatic conditions and lasting capacity played a huge role too. Other than the regions in the mountains where the temperatures are much cooler, the rest of India concentrated on other dairy products like ghee, butter and curd which could be preserved in warmer climates. Interestingly, locals say that Kalari cheese was discovered when the nomadic cattle community of Kashmir, the Gujjars, travelled with their milk from the cooler regions in the mountain to the warmer plains. The difference in temperature naturally split the milk from which they made Kalari, and used the whey to make another ricotta-like cheese called Kudan.
Coming back to the present, the dilemma that one faces with Indian cheese is how to use it, and in which cuisine. Other than local dishes, chefs have been experimenting to create new pairings, like Prateek’s cheese brûlée. Other than the usual usage in salads and crumbles, one can also mix it up with local ingredients. Sabyasachi tried a unique combination where he used the Bengali nolen gur, or date palm jiggery, instead of maple syrup with his serving of Indian cheese.
So next time you go for cheese shopping or are at a restaurant, remember to ask for the desi variety.
Odisha forms Steering Committees to implement FSSAI Guidelines
The Health & Family Welfare Department in Odisha has decided to form State and District level steering committees to FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) guidelines.
The state-level committee will be headed by Chief Secretary. It will have 7 other members, including the Secretaries of Panchayatiraj, Urban Development and Health departments. State Food Safety Commissioner will be the convener of the committee.
At the district level, Collectors will head the committees. The six-member committees will also have the CDMO of respective districts.
DB directives in PIL against use of calcium carbide in fruit ripening
JAMMU, Oct 28: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Voice for Rights against use of calcium carbide in artificial fruit ripening, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar has impleaded Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department as party respondent and sought action taken report from him.
“Pursuant to the directions passed vide order dated 20.09.2017, compliance report has been filed on behalf of Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization by H A Siddiqui, Senior AAG with regard to the action taken against the vendors etc who had been found indulging in violating the various provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 Rules & Regulations, 2011”, the DB observed.
“Reference to order dated 20.09.2017 would show that action was also desired by this Bench in regard to cancellation of the allotments made in favour of the traders, who had been found indulging in the usage of calcium carbide for ripening of fruit. On this, Sr. AAG submits that action can only be taken by the Director, J&K Horticulture Planning & Marketing Department”, the DB further observed.
Accordingly, Division Bench impleaded Director Horticulture Planning & Marketing Department as party respodent and issued notice to Tarun Sharma, Government Advocate for submitting a report with regard to the action taken report on behalf of the Director pursuant to order 20.09.2017.
“Sanjeev Kumar, Assistant Controller, representing the Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization submits that the organization has already taken an action against those persons, who had been found indulging in the adulteration of the milk and milk products. A detailed report shall also be filed stating the number of challans that had been preferred against the persons during the last six months with the name of court where the same are presently pending”, the DB said and directed the respondents to file a monthly action taken report in terms of order dated 20.09.2017 before the next date of hearing.
Oct 28, 2017
Child safety: 80% of baby food contains dangerous chemicals
According to a report in the Independent, the test was carried out by The Clean Label Project, a non-profit organisation that advocates consumer transparency
According to a report in the Independent, the test was carried out by The Clean Label Project, a non-profit organisation that advocates consumer transparency
A new study found that a large amount of baby food products contain dangerous chemicals.
According to a report in the Independent, the test was carried out by The Clean Label Project, a non-profit organisation that advocates consumer transparency. It revealed that chemicals like lead, cadmium and acrylamide were found in the products.
Researchers used 530 different snacks, cereals, formulas and drinks that had been purchased in the last five months for the test. Researchers found that 65 % infant products contained arsenic, 58 % contained cadmium, 36 % contained lead and 10 % contained acrylamide out of the products analysed.
80 % of infant formula samples were also found to contain arsenic, a toxin which the World Health Organisation associates with a slew of health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. While the amounts of each chemical varied with each product, some contained up to 600 parts of arsenic per billion.
Many of these were rice-based products such as crisps and ‘puffs’. The findings also suggested that baby foods today had 70 % more acrylamide than the average French fry, a chemical which has been linked to brain damage and reproductive challenges. They also found that 60 % of products with “BPA free” labels in fact tested positive for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical which is used to make plastic. They concluded their findings by identifying the top and bottom five cereals, formulas, snacks, drinks and jar meals in terms of dangerous chemical contents.
334 food samples found poor
Food Business Operators submit applications to obtain license in Salem on Thursday.
Food safety officials register cases against sellers
Of the 859 food samples takes from various establishments in the district till September, 334 food samples were found to be ‘sub-standard’ and cases were registered against the sellers.
District Collector Rohini R. Bhajibhakare on Thursday inaugurated a special camp for food business operators to enable them register with the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and also obtain license. She said that there are 20,353 private food business operators in the district of which only 6,189 operators or 30% of the traders had obtained license. She said that Food Safety and Standards Act make it mandatory for operators to register themselves with the competent authority and operate. She asked all the operators to follow the law or face action.
The Collector said that officials of the department were inspecting establishments in the district and collecting samples to ensure that standard products are sold to the consumers. She said that 106 cases were disposed off and operators were fined to the tune of ₹49.36 lakh.
Hence, she warned operators not to sell sub-standard or unsafe products to the consumers and follow the guidelines as per the act. Mariyappan, District Designated Officer and officials were present.
Oct 27, 2017
30 சதவீதம் பேர் மட்டுமே பதிவு பெற்றுள்ளனர்: உணவு வணிகர்களிடம் கலெக்டர் ஆதங்கம்
சேலம்: ''சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில், 30 சதவீத உணவு வணிகர்கள் மட்டுமே, பதிவு மற்றும் உரிம சான்றிதழ் பெற்றுள்ளனர்,'' என, கலெக்டர் ரோகிணி பேசினார்.
சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலகத்தில், நேற்று உணவு வணிகர்களுக்கான உரிமம் பெறுவதற்கான சிறப்பு முகாம் நடந்தது. இதை துவக்கி வைத்து, கலெக்டர் ரோகிணி பேசியதாவது: நாட்டில் பாதுகாப்பில்லாத உணவுகளால், ஆண்டுக்கு, 30 கோடி பேர் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர். அதில், அதிகம் பாதிப்புக்கு உள்ளாவது குழந்தைகள். எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி குறைவாக இருப்பதுடன், வெளியில் விற்கப்படும் பொருட்களை அதிகம் பயன்படுத்துவதும் அவர்கள் தான். எனவே பாதுகாப்பான உணவு வழங்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காகத் தான், உணவு கட்டுப்பாட்டு பிரிவு செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது. உணவு வணிகம் செய்பவர்களுக்கு, பதிவு மற்றும் உரிமம் பெறுவதற்கான கால அவகாசம், 2016, ஆகஸ்ட் மாதத்துடன் முடிவடைந்துவிட்டது. சேலம் மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள, 20 ஆயிரம் உணவு வணிகர்களில், 6,000 பேர் மட்டுமே உரிமம் மற்றும் பதிவு சான்றிதழ்கள் பெற்றுள்ளனர். மற்றவர்களுக்கும் தெரியப்படுத்தி, பதிவு மற்றும் உரிம சான்றிதழ் பெற்றுக்கொள்ள அறிவுறுத்த வேண்டும். டெங்கு தடுப்பு பணிகளிலும், உணவு வணிகர்கள் ஈடுபட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார். உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர் மாரியப்பன் மற்றும் பலர் பங்கேற்றனர்.
FDA teaches 300 Maharashtra temples how to pack prasad better
The workshops were attended by more than 100 temple trustees, personnel, and staff
A senior official said 53 temple trusts and vendors who prepare various kinds of prasad will attend next sessions.
Prasad packages sent to devotees abroad by city’s sSiddhivinayak temple and over 300 other temples in the state will no longer be rejected because of improper labelling and packaging.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Maharashtra recently trained temple workers on cooking and labelling standards that confirm to international standards. FDA officials said that earlier, since the packaging, labelling and information on the packages’ content did not meet international guidelines, the consignments would be held up at custom offices abroad, failing to reach devotees.
“The workshops were attended by more than 100 temple trustees, personnel, and staff. We had named the initiative ‘Blissful Hygienic Offering to God’ (BHOG) and it was originally launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Siddhivinayak Temple,” said Pallavi Darade, FDA commissioner.
Sanjeev Patil, executive officer of Siddhivinayak Temple trust, said, “Our temple was the only one in Asia with FSSAI registration. However, we realized that earlier, there were no norms in place for quality of ingredients, disclosing the contents of prasad on packaging and international food standards about packaging and labelling. Hence, with FSSAI, FDA Maharashtra and other food science organisations we prepared a training module for the temples on how to make and package better.”
A senior official said 53 temple trusts and vendors who prepare various kinds of prasad will attend next sessions. “We largely covered guidelines on handling, cooking and packaging of prasad. International standards also demand disclosure of the process and ingredients on the packaging,” another FDA official added.
One of the temple personnel said that they were following the standard procedure for making prasad. “This session was helpful as we didn’t know some scientific procedure. But we maintain hygiene in making and packaging the prasad,” said the personnel.
FDA officials across Maharashtra have been asked to follow the example of the BHOG initiative.A senior official said, “More training sessions will be planned depending upon the number of temple trusts that come forward in future. Moreover, in October and November, we have planned similar training for restaurant and hotel staff in Mumbai,” said a senior FDA official.
Study reveals some unpalatable truths behind your glass of milk
MUMBAI, OCT 26:
Picture-perfect images of happy cows on green pastures belie the cruelty inflicted on the animal in an increasingly space-deprived dairy industry, alleges the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), calling for stricter norms on the dairy industry in the interest of public health and family welfare.
In its report “CATTLE-OGUE”, an investigation of 451 milk producing centres across 10 milk producing states, FIAPO says that cows raised in these dairies were closely confined, leaving them unable to nurse their calves, for instance; they were treated like milk-producing machines, genetically manipulated and pumped with antibiotics and hormones in order to produce more milk.
And it’s not just the animal that suffers in such cases, but also people who end up drinking the milk from these sick and depressed animals, says FIAPO director Arpan Sharma. In fact, he adds, members of the medical fraternity have pointed out how milk from distressed animals could increase the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other ailments.
At the Central and state levels, the Government needs to bring in laws to regulate, especially, the urban dairies, Sharma told BusinessLine. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) regulates milk processing, but when milk is sourced from badly-run dairies the raw material or input ingredient is affected, he points out. In cities, most of the milk, sweets, paneer, etc, is got from milk sourced from badly run dairies on the periphery of the city, he says.
“The Centre, too, needs to amend the Registration of Cattle Premises Rules, 1978, to introduce conditions for the holding of cattle in commercial dairies,” he says, adding that they have approached different authorities on this.
Bringing in better and regulated conditions will also help small farmers in the business by weeding out fly-by-night, unscrupulous operators who masquerade as dairy farmers, he added.
Not so white
The FIAPO report found in the dairies it investigated that urban dairy animals get little access to soft ground in 78 per cent of the dairies. “They spend their lives in cramped, poorly ventilated and dark enclosures in more than one quarter of the dairies, where injuries from slipping in their own excreta are a common occurrence, 64.1 per cent dairies had ill, injured and distressed cattle. Poor veterinary care and illegal use of drugs and hormones such as oxytocin to increase the milk let-down are prevalent. Thus, an evident delinking of humane treatment of cattle as sentient beings is being noticed as a result of the rising demand for milk and milk products,” the report said.
Further, the report points out, “cattle are separated from calves (male calves die within the first week in 25 per cent of dairies), receive little to no veterinary care and are injected with drugs procured illegally to induce sudden milk let-down in almost 50 per cent of the dairies. Unproductive cattle are sold to economically weaker farmers for their personal use or the slaughterhouses by 62.9 per cent dairies – both at low prices to earn meagre sums of money from the final disposition.”
The investigation also reveals the system of the khalbaccha, an effigy made by stuffing a dead calf with hay. “Because of strong maternal bonds, the mother often stops lactating if the calf has died. Hence a khalbaccha is routinely used to mimic the presence of a calf and continue milking,” it said, calling for an urgent and strict implementation of existing laws of animal welfare and urban governance.
Info-box:
# The investigation was undertaken in: NCT Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, UP, MP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
# Letters seeking action have been sent to State and Central authorities and the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI).
# FIAPO has 80 members and 200 supporter organisations
Oct 25, 2017
விளாத்திகுளம் அருகே கலப்பட எண்ணெய் தயாரித்த குடோனுக்கு சீல் வைப்பு
விளாத்திகுளம் அருகே கலப்பட எண்ணெய் தயாரித்த குடோனுக்கு சீல் வைக்கப்பட்டது.
விளாத்திகுளம்,
விளாத்திகுளம் அருகே கலப்பட எண்ணெய் தயாரித்த குடோனுக்கு சீல் வைக்கப்பட்டது.
அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை
விளாத்திகுளம் அருகே வெம்பூரில் எண்ணெய் குடோன் உள்ளது. கேரள மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த அப்துல் சலாம் (வயது 42) என்பவர் எண்ணெய் குடோனை நடத்தி வந்தார். இங்கு முறைகேடாக டின்களில் தரம் குறைந்த எண்ணெயை கலந்து விற்பதாக மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்துக்கு ரகசிய தகவல் கிடைத்தது.
இதையடுத்து மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் வெங்கடேஷ் உத்தரவின்பேரில், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் தங்க விக்னேஷ், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் செல்லப்பாண்டியன், பாலசுப்பிரமணியன், சிவபாலன் உள்ளிட்ட குழுவினர் நேற்று வெம்பூரில் உள்ள எண்ணெய் குடோனில் திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
சீல் வைப்பு
அப்போது அந்த குடோனில் கடலை எண்ணெய், தேங்காய் எண்ணெய், பாமாயில் போன்றவற்றில் தரம் குறைந்த எண்ணெயை கலப்படம் செய்து டின்களில் அடைத்து, கடைகளுக்கு விற்றது தெரிய வந்தது. அந்த எண்ணெய் குடோனில் தலா 15 லிட்டர் கொள்ளளவு கொண்ட 40 டின்கள் இருந்தன.
அவற்றில் இருந்து எண்ணெய் மாதிரிகளை அதிகாரிகள் எடுத்து, தஞ்சாவூரில் உள்ள ஆய்வகத்துக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தனர். மேலும் அந்த எண்ணெய் குடோனை பூட்டி அதிகாரிகள் சீல் வைத்தனர். ஆய்வக பரிசோதனையின் முடிவில் எண்ணெய் குடோனின் உரிமையாளர் மீது சட்டப்பூர்வ நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் என்று அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.
உணவு வணிகம் பதிவு: நாளை சிறப்பு முகாம்
சேலம்: உணவு வணிகம் பதிவு செய்ய, நாளை சிறப்பு முகாம் நடக்கிறது. இதுகுறித்து, கலெக்டர் ரோகிணி விடுத்துள்ள அறிக்கை: உணவு வணிகம் செய்பவர்கள் பதிவு, உரிமம் பெறுவதற்கான கால அவகாசம், கடந்த ஆண்டு ஆக., 4 உடன் முடிந்துவிட்டது. உணவு வணிகம் பெறுபவர்கள், பதிவு, உரிமம் கட்டாயம் பெற வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக, நாளை நாட்டாண்மை கழக கட்டட வளாகத்தில் உள்ள உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அலுவலகத்தில், சிறப்பு முகாம் நடக்கிறது.
ஆண்டுக்கு, 12 லட்சத்துக்குள் வியாபாரம் செய்பவர், 100 ரூபாய், 12 லட்சத்துக்கு மேல், 2,000 ரூபாய், ஒரு டன்னுக்கு மேல், 3,000 ரூபாய், இரண்டு டன்னுக்கு மேல், 5,000 ரூபாய் கட்டணத்துடன், முகவரி, தொழில் புரியும் இட சான்று, உற்பத்தியாளர் எனில், கட்டடத்துக்கான வரைபடம் ஆகியவற்றுடன் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும். டிச., 31க்குள் பதிவு, உரிமம் கட்டாயம் பெற வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அதில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
அம்மா உணவகத்தில் பல்லி சாம்பார் : பெண் வாந்தி
நாகர்கோவில்: குமரி மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஏஞ்சல், 28. நேற்று, ஆசாரிப்பள்ளம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு உறவினர் ஒருவரை பார்க்க வந்த இவர், அங்குள்ள அம்மா உணவகத்தில் இட்லி, சாம்பார் வாங்கி சாப்பிட்டார். பாதி சாப்பிட்ட போது, சாம்பாரில் பல்லி கிடந்ததை பார்த்து, அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்தார். உடனே, வாந்தி எடுத்த அவருக்கு மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. இது பற்றி, அவர் யாரிடமும் புகார் அளிக்கவில்லை.
தகவலறிந்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள், அம்மா உணவகத்தில் திடீர் ஆய்வு நடத்தினர். அங்கு தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட மதிய உணவை மாதிரி எடுத்து, பாளையங்கோட்டை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு பகுப்பாய்வு கூடத்துக்கு, ஆய்வுக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தனர்.
Oct 24, 2017
MILK ADULTERATION: GOVT ALL SET TO LAUNCH SURVEY
To assess the quality of milk and focus on hotspots where adulteration is most deep-rooted, the Government is all set to launch one of the most extensive surveys with the sample size of about 8,000 from across 36 States/UTs covering 717 districts.
At least 13 common adulterants will be tested by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI). These are adulterants like vegetable oil/fat, detergents/caustic soda, hydrogen peroxide, sugar, glucose, urea, starch, maltodextrin, boric acid, ammonium sulphate, nitrates, cellulose along with pesticides and antibiotic residues covering each and every district of the country.
A senior official from the Authority said that however, sampling would be based on the result of the previous survey, the finding of which would be shared with the successful bidders.
In case the results of analysis of milk samples come out to be non standard but unsafe in a particular area in the previous as well as proposed survey, then more extensive analysis would be carried out in that particular areas to find out root cause of unsafe milk.
“Thus, the proposed milk survey is an extension of the previous milk survey in terms of number of samples, types of tests to be conducted and geographical area to be covered. The proposed survey also includes designing and operation of a framework for continuous monitoring of milk quality in the hotspot areas. This would lead to extensive and intensive analysis of milk,” said the official.
Maximum samples will be picked from Uttar Pradesh( 750), Madhya Pradesh (600), Bihar (450) while 350 each samples from Tamil Nadu, Assam, Telangana, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
In fact, a few months back, the FSSAI had conducted a survey in which it was found that in general milk adulteration was low in southern India, more in north India. A survey with a sample size of about 2,500 was conducted in which some states had reported no adulteration at all.
On June 5, the Madras High Court had observed that adulteration in milk was a serious matter and directed the government to file a status report on the action taken on such complaints.
The direction was given by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar while hearing a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the reports of adulteration in milk by various private producers.
Raw food sold in Kolkata has Lead concentration far above permissible limit
Concentration found in raw food materials is very high compared to threshold value of 2.5mg/kg.
Prolonged exposure of lead, which is a highly toxic element, to humans can cause permanent damage to the kidneys, liver and hematologic systems.
Kolkata: Raw food items sold in most city markets have Lead concentration far above the permissible limit and can permanently damage key human organs, a survey conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found.
Samples of raw food items like polished rice, red lentil (masoor dal), red spinach, chicken, fish (without scales), biscuits, spice (cumin seeds) and a common medicinal herb (Holy Basil or Tulsi), collected from 12 markets in the city showed a mean Lead (Pb) concentration between 3.78 and 43.35 mg/kg (average 23.56 mg/kg).
"The mean Lead concentration found in the raw food materials is very high compared to the threshold value of 2.5mg/kg specified by Food Safety & Standards Regulation (2011), India," senior scientist of the GSI, Avijit Das, who headed the group conducting the two-year study, said Sunday.
As per the American and European standards, the current reference range for acceptable blood Lead-concentration in a healthy human being, without excessive exposure to environmental sources of Lead, is less than 0.05 mg/L for children whereas it is less than 0.25 mg/L for adults.
Prolonged exposure of lead, which is a highly toxic element, to humans can cause permanent damage to the kidneys, liver and hematologic systems.
Children are more at risk because lead exposure can reverse their brain growth and cause irreversible damage to their overall well being.
The study, conducted by leading scientists of the GSI, also found that about 75 per cent of the Lead contamination in the food items sold in Kolkata markets, were contributed by atmospheric Lead, mainly produced by the combustion of diesel.
Apart from collecting soil and vegetable samples from Dhapa ground, alongside the EM Bypass, for the study of Lead contamination, the scientists had also collected street dust samples from major roads of the northern and southern parts of the city for the study.
"Coal samples were collected from Jharia and Ranigunj to assess the presence of atmospheric lead from the use of coal while Galena (ore of Lead) samples from Alwar (Rajasthan) were brought to calculate the Lead Isotopic Ratio (LIR) of Indian lead," Das said adding, rain water and diesel samples were collected from city markets for the study.
"All these samples were collected to compare their LIR and lead concentration with that of the raw food items sold in Kolkata markets," he added.
To compare the level of contamination in sediments and vegetables found in Dhapa, soil and vegetable samples were collected from a relatively less polluted Ichapur (Control Site) in North 24 Parganas district.
The maximum Lead concentration in rice was 14.39mg/kg found in the samples collected from a market in Kidderpore in the western part of the city, the study said.
"The Lead concentration in red lentil samples collected from markets in Tollygunge in south Kolkata was found to be between 1.82 and 7.44 mg/kg," Das said.
Samples of vegetables sold in different markets also revealed a Lead concentration ranging from a low of 3.28 mg/kg to a very high value of 145.47 mg/kg while fish had a range of 1.33 to 17.80 mg/kg, he said.
Chicken collected from a market at Garden Reach in the city's port area showed a Lead concentration of 9.58 mg/kg.
"The whole cumin seeds samples collected from a market in Tollygunge area had a Lead-concentration value of 31.25 mg/kg. Among the herb (tulsi) samples, the range of lead concentration was from 8.92 to 33.27 mg/kg," Das said.
Vegetable samples from the three different sites in Dhapa showed an average Lead concentration of 16.83 mg/kg with the Bainchtola sample bearing the minimum with 13.24 mg/kg.
"The less contaminated soil and vegetable samples collected from Ichapur had a total Lead concentration value of 137.75 mg/kg for soil sample and 5.17 mg/kg respectively," it revealed.
The average Lead concentration in soil samples collected from the three sites at Dhapa was 475.85 mg/kg with the minimum value of 197.09 mg/kg at Bainchtola and a maximum of 800.39 mg/kg at Arupota.
The Lead concentration in locally made snacks were found to be in the range of 4.82 to 10.71 mg/kg with the maximum found in the sample collected from Gariahat in south Kolkata.
Das said the survey also found that the Lead concentration in street dust of the city was worrisome.
"The mean concentration of Lead found in the 29 sites of the city was 383.2 mg/kg with a range from 23.82 mg/kg to a very high value of 2,697.24 mg/kg at Amherst Street in north Kolkata," he said.
On ways to tackle the Lead contamination, Das said it could be done by minimising the use of diesel and by urging people to use green energy in vehicles.
"We must encourage the mass traffic movements by greener energy sources like LPG/CNG operated vehicles, battery operated electric cars, solar cars, increasing metro rail network," Das said.
The study was published in the peer reviewed International journals of "Environmental Science and Technology (2017) (online publication)" and "Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2016)"
FSSAI will initiate actions against companies and FBOs selling products made of Hemp
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (“FSSAI”) has notified that action will be taken against the Companies and Food Business Operators (“FBO”) who are using FSSAI licence number on the label of the product made from Hemp and selling them as food under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder.
Background:
FSSAI has received reports that products made from Hemp are being sold illegally by various companies with or without FSSAI license number under various brand names through E-Commerce platforms. Hemp is a product for which no standards have been issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder. Since there is a lack of important data and information on the variety of plant that is to be used in the manufacturing process, a detailed risk assessment could not be carried out for the same. For this reason, the Scientific Committee at FSSAI has recommended not to consider hemp for standardization at this stage.
FSSAI has therefore ordered State Commissioners to keep a check on the sale of such products as food and to inspect the premises of FBOs and verify whether Hemp is being manufactured, stored or sold by such FBO and initiate appropriate action against the defaulting FBOs using FSSAI licence no. on the label of the product and selling them as food.
Notices are also to be given to E-Commerce businesses wherein these products are available and sold through their portal.
Oct 22, 2017
FSSAI LAUNCHES DIET4LIFE INITIATIVE TO CREATE ECOSYSTEM FOR IEM PATIENTS
The regulator has identified 15 IEM conditions under the project for which special diets will be imported since these diets are not available in India. These disorders, which impact a small section of consumers, especially babies, occur due to single gene defect leading to abnormalities in the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
A senior official from the Authority said that the Diet4Life initiative is a collaborative effort of the FSSAI, , the Health Ministry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA), the Indian Society for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (ISIEM), the Metabolic Errors and Rare Diseases organisation of India (MERD) and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) to ensure a holistic service for IEM patients, with the facilities of diagnosis, treatment and management of IEM.
The other stakeholders in the initiative are the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Indian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ISPGHAN) and the Infant and Young Child Nutrition Council of India (IYNCI).
In fact, without special diets, children born with IEM would often not survive infancy. It is estimated that IEM affects over 30,000 children in India, but in the absence of adequate screening facilities for this disorder, 30,000 diagnosed cases most likely represent only the tip of the iceberg.
It is hoped that the Union Health Ministry's funded Vellore project to screen such child would help in finding actual numbers as also ensure early intervention aimed to increase quality of his/her life and even prevent death.
Among various tests, the test for the IEM will also be conducted by taking blood sample of the baby within 72 hours of birth. "This will help start treatment early and provide interventional treatment," said a senior official from the Health Ministry.
Antibiotic use in food animals to grow drastically: Study
If regulatory authorities do not step in, 4,796 tons of antibiotics will be fed to animals reared for food by 2030, up 82 per cent, as per the report published in the journal Science. Animals reared for food were fed 2,633 tons of antibiotics in 2013.
However, two basic interventions could change that: A cap on the amount of antibiotics that can be administered to a food animal and a price hike in veterinary antibiotics to dissuade excessive use.
These steps could result in India using 61 per cent less antibiotics in food animals. It could also avert the health disaster expected from the widespread malpractice of using antibiotics as growth promoters.
“The [expected] hike [in antibiotic use] reflects the growing consumption of meat in India, and in particular, meat from animals administered antibiotics as growth promoters,” said Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CCDEP) and co-author of the study.
In rural India, the consumption of mutton, beef, pork and chicken has more than doubled between 2004 and 2011. It has gone up from 0.13 kg per capita per month to 0.27 kg, according to the 61st and 68th rounds of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data. Urban India has seen a spike from 0.22 kg to 0.39 kg in the same period.
Food animals are given small doses of antibiotics mixed with their feed to promote growth and prevent disease. This allows farmers to save on nutrition and hygiene but has serious long term consequences for human health.
Why this antibiotic shouldn’t become the poultry farm favourite
In Punjab, two-thirds of farmers of poultry–the most commonly consumed meat in India–use antibiotics for growth promotion, according to another recent study by Laxminarayan and others, as IndiaSpend reported in August 2017.
Tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones–antibiotics commonly used to treat cholera, malaria, respiratory and urinary tract infections in humans–were found to be the most commonly used antimicrobials.
Of all the medicines used in livestock in India, quinolones are projected to see the biggest increase in use, 243 per cent through to 2030, according to the new study.
“That an antibiotic commonly used in humans is projected to see the biggest increase in animal use is of great concern,” said Laxminarayan. “The use in animals of ciprofloxacin, a valuable oral broad-spectrum antibiotic, should be stopped at the earliest. Such use (of ciprofloxacin) has been discontinued in the US.”
“Levels of multidrug-resistance were close to 90% in biological samples obtained from animals on those farms,” he said. “The spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria would mean that many more people could die from common infectious diseases.”
Indian food authorities are slow to respond to the threat
Antibiotics are freely and cheaply available in India. This is the biggest reason for the reckless use of antimicrobials as growth promoters in poultry farms.
How can this be changed?
“Agencies with the regulatory authority—such as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India—should move quickly in this direction to avoid further degradation of antibiotic effectiveness,” said Laxminarayan.
In June 2017, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) brought out a draft notification prescribing residual limits for antibiotics, veterinary drugs and pharmacologically active substances in meat, poultry, eggs and milk. This came six years after the authority prescribed antibiotic residual limits for fish and fishery products and honey.
“Antimicrobial resistance is an evolving area, we have been studying the implications of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals in India and are willing to address this concern,” Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, told IndiaSpend. He estimated that it would take another 90 to 120 days for the regulation to be introduced.
Antibiotics used to cut costs on sanitation, diet
By specifying the limits of permissible antibiotic residue in food animals, the FSSAI regulation, when it is framed, will indirectly make it unlawful to use the drugs beyond a certain limit.
The new study proposes clearly capping the use of antibiotics in food animals to a specified limit and increasing the prices of veterinary antibiotics to dissuade use.
In the 18 farms that Laxminarayan’s team visited during the first study, it was found that large flocks, more than 50,000 birds, were kept in confined areas lacking proper sanitation.
Organic nurturing results in higher costs, price
To understand why poultry farmers use antibiotics as cheap and easily accessible growth boosters, consider the case of an agro enterprise that has adopted organic practices.
At Kansal & Kansal Agro Farms in Haryana, chicken feed is sourced only from pesticide-free farms and then mixed with herbs. The chickens are kept in a partially temperature controlled environment. The farm also invests in research to improve farming practices.
How to cut antibiotic misuse by more than half
High-income countries with highly productive livestock sectors—such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands—use antibiotics sparingly. The limit is less than 50 milligrams of antibiotics per population corrective unit (mg/PCU), a measurement unit developed by the European Medicines Agency to monitor antibiotic use and sales across Europe.
The new study suggests capping the use of antibiotics in farm animals at 50 mg/PCU globally. If India were to adopt this limit, antibiotic use in food animals in the country would decline by 15%, or 736 tons through to 2030.
Limiting meat intake may not help
Limiting meat intake to the equivalent of one fast-food burger, roughly 40 grams per person per day globally—or 14.6 kg per person per annum—is the third intervention proposed by the new study.
Globally, limited meat intake could help reduce the global consumption of antibiotics for food animals by 66%. However, this intervention is not needed in India, where the per capita consumption of meat is below 5 kg per capita per annum.
For comparison, the per capita annual consumption of meat in China is 50 kg, well above the recommended 14.6 kg.
(Bahri is a freelance writer and editor based in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.)
Every milk sample analysed in Telangana perfect? Doubtful FSSAI orders re-survey
FSSAI has conducted a National Milk Quality Survey in 2016-17, covering 110 cities in 32 states and union territories. More than 1,700 samples were analysed qualitatively for 14 adulterants, Fat and SolidNot-Fat (SNF) content.
"We do not believe the results from the states, including Telangana, that have shown 100% compliance. That's why we haven't declared the results yet. Some states have shown 0% compliance while others showed 100% compliance with FSSAI standards. We can't conclude the survey based on these results. We are going for re-sampling and a snapshot survey. The resampling is already being dotime, we are looking for a third party survey as the state labs are not equipped to check the presence of pesticides and antibiotics in the milk," Dr Monica Puniya said.
In the initial survey, Telangana officials had lifted 52 samples, including 42 from Hyderabad and 11 from Warangal. They insist that the samples were of prescribed standards.
"All 52 samples are within the FSSAI standards for all 13 parameters. In one or two samples, there was a minor variation in SNF. We haven't found bacteria in any of the samples. We have submitted a report to Delhi. FSSAI has informed us orally that a rapid resurvey has been ordered in certain states," Telangana deputy food controller, J Laxmaiah, said.
"However, in routine sampling, we are getting certain sub-standard samples with SNF in districts. But we haven't found any case of synthetic milk," he added.
samples will be taken for a qualitative study to find traces of 13 adulterants, along with pesticides and antibiotic residues. "Henceforth, the milk quality survey will be on a regular basis like other commodities. We have received complaints from certain states that during festive seasons, milk adulteration is rampant. This ne. We will analyse and conclude in one or two months," Dr Monica Puniya, assistant director of FSSAI, told TOI. Neutralisers and urea are some of the common adulterants found in milk samples, Puniya added.
Apart from a resurvey in Telangana, FSSAI is also doing another round of nationwide study. This time, 8,000 samples will be taken for a qualitative study to find traces of 13 adulterants, along with pesticides and antibiotic residues.
"Henceforth, the milk quality survey will be on a regular basis like other commodities. We have received complaints from certain states that during festive seasons, milk adulteration is rampant. This time, we are looking for a third party survey as the state labs are not equipped to check the presence of pesticides and antibiotics in the milk," Dr Monica Puniya said.
In the initial survey, Telangana officials had lifted 52 samples, including 42 from Hyderabad and 11 from Warangal. They insist that the samples were of prescribed standards.
"All 52 samples are within the FSSAI standards for all 13 parameters. In one or two samples, there was a minor variation in SNF. We haven't found bacteria in any of the samples. We have submitted a report to Delhi. FSSAI has informed us orally that a rapid resurvey has been ordered in certain states," Telangana deputy food controller, J Laxmaiah, said.
"However, in routine sampling, we are getting certain sub-standard samples with SNF in districts. But we haven't found any case of synthetic milk," he added.
Spurious jaggery makers in Karnataka's Bhadravati shock officials
A huge pile of tyres was found at a jaggery making unit at Aralihalli of Bhadravati taluk by FSSAI officials recently
SHIVAMOGGA: Bhadravati taluk was once considered to produce the best jaggery in the state, but its reputation is in tatters these days with the influx of spurious products.When this was brought to the notice of the district administration, it conducted a few raids on Aalemanes (traditional jaggery manufacturing units). Imagine their surprise when they found out that in many places, jaggery was being made without its main ingredient — sugarcane juice.
This situation is the result of the closure of MPM Sugar Mills in Bhadravati when almost all sugarcane growers turned to making jaggery on their land. Some got together to set up their own Aalemanes while some did it individually.Along with Mahalingapura of Bagalkot district and Pandavapura of Mandya, Bhadravati is the largest producer of jaggery in the state.
Earlier there were more than 150 Aalemanes in the taluk, but now the number has dwindled to 92. As the quality of jaggery is good, the price too is high. So, to encash on this, new jaggery makers started producing spurious products.This came to light when authorities of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and police raided some of the aalemanes in Aralihalli and Thiplapura of the taluk on the direction of the Additional Deputy Commissioner.
“We were shocked to see that inferior quality jaggery was being made using chemicals and fertilizer. We will bring this issue to the notice of the DC and necessary steps will be taken,” said Shankarappa, district officer of FSSAI.The members of Aalemane Owners Association have urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to stop the manufacture of inferior quality jaggery.Zilla Panchayat member and Jaggery unit owners society president Manishekhar said, “Today we have convened a meeting of all our members. We have reprimanded those who were engaged in making spurius jaggery. The society will not support such people.”
How inferior jaggery is made
The jaggery makers would bring residues of jaggery made in Mahalingapura and Pandavapura and very low quality sugar that was rejected by factories and mix them with water, fertilizer and other chemicals to make jaggery.While traditional jaggery makers use residues of sugarcane as fuel for boiling the cane juice, new jaggery makers use tyres, plastic and other such wastes as fuel. Several loads of tyres and plastics at the aalemanes caught the attention of people, said an aalemane owner.Many villagers and residents started complaining about the smoke emanating from such aalemanes to police, which also blew the lid on the manufacture of sub-standard jaggery.After the raid, the FSSAI and police recovered huge stock of tyres, chemicals and fertilizer.
HC directs pvt milk firms to test products every 3 months
The judge was hearing an application filed by the Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, Dodla Dairy Ltd and Vijay Dairy and Farm Products Pvt Ltd.
The Madras High Court today ordered three private milk manufacturers to get their products tested in a certified lab every three months and submit the report before it, pending disposal of their suits claiming damages from a Tamil Nadu minister over his allegations about their quality.
Justice C V Karthikeyan said his July 10 interim order restraining Dairy Development Minister K T Rajendra Balaji from making allegations on quality of the products of the manufacturers without any proof would continue till the disposal of the suits.
The judge was hearing an application filed by the Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, Dodla Dairy Ltd and Vijay Dairy and Farm Products Pvt Ltd.
In the application, they had sought an interim order directing the minister not to make general allegations.
The judge directed the companies to test samples of their products in certified labs every three months and submit the lab reports in the court till the suits were adjudicated.
In their suits, the companies had each claimed Rs one crore damages from the minister over his allegations that they had indulged in adulteration of their products.
On July 26, Balaji had moved the court, seeking dismissal of the suits saying it "is a blackmail action (by the companies)".
He had said even the Supreme Court had directed the central and state governments to take steps to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, effectively.
Balaji had claimed he had material to prove that the firms had indulged in milk adulteration.
Besides seeking the damages, the firms had submitted that the minister's remarks were meant to create a "sense of fear and panic" among consumers and a sense of "disgust and revulsion" on milk and milk products manufactured by private dairies as a whole and their product in particular.
Board begins quality tests for Nepal tea
The testing is being done to check whether the teas conform to the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India norms, sources said.
Demand for import variety surges
Amid reports of rising imports of teas from Nepal, the Tea Board of India has unveiled an exercise to test the teas.
Samples of these teas are being tested at the regulator’s Quality Control Laboratory in Siliguri in North Bengal, itself a major tea-trading centre. The testing is being done to check whether the teas conform to the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India norms, sources said.
This facility was created mainly to cater to the needs of the Darjeeling teaindustry, almost 80% of which is exported. The laboratory has facilities for testing for the presence of pesticide residue, of heavy metals and to analyse microflora and other toxins. The presence of these elements not only compromises the quality of tea, but also impacts consumer acceptance of the beverage in domestic and global markets.
Cheaper option
For the past few years, rising imports of Nepal teas have been a source of concern to the Darjeeling tea industry.
Import of teas from Nepal to India stood at 11.4 million kg in 2015, rising to 12.2 million kg in 2016. Between January to July of 2017, about 4.3 million kg was imported according to official statistics. India imports these teas under the India Nepal Free-Trade agreement and the teas are substantially cheaper than the Darjeeling brew.
There are now fears that the recent Gorkha Janmukti agitation, which led to a prolonged shutdown of the Darjeeling tea industry, has paved the way for increased imports of tea from Nepal, which is similar to Darjeeling teas.
This development comes at a time when the Darjeeling tea industry is limping back to normalcy after the 104-day strike.
A meeting of the Area Scientific Committee of the Tea Research Association took place in Kurseong, where planters and scientists got together to hammer out a strategy to overcome the crisis situation, discussing the practices to be adopted for plucking.
“The need to ready the gardens for the first flush plucking beginning in March, and the possibility of salvaging some leaves for now was discussed,” according to official sources.
Participants discussed issues such as clearing and weeding the gardens and managing the overgrown tea bushes and pests.
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