May 19, 2018
Food samples collected from six big hotels: SMC
Surat: Food safety officials of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) collected food samples from six well-known hotels in the city on Friday. The officials collected nine informal and two formal samples from the hotels and sent them for analysis at their laboratory.
SMC officials from Athwa zone also closed a food joint at Piplod for its unhygienic condition and issued notices to seven eating joints in the area. Strict action would be taken against the hotels and food joints if the materials used by them are found to be of poor quality or adulterated.
71 bags of Goa Dairy milk powder sealed
Ponda: Over a year after testing milk from Goa Dairy for ‘bad odour’, a special team of the food and drugs administration (FDA) on Friday sealed 1,775kg of skimmed milk powder produced by the dairy over allegations of adulteration. Samples of the milk powder were subsequently tested. Results are expected in three to four days.
FDA director Jyoti Sardesai said the team had acted on a telephonic complaint about the alleged adulteration of the dairy’s skimmed milk powder. “A total of 71 bags of the powder weighing 25kg each have been sealed,” she said. The inspection was conducted by the senior food safety officer Abel Rodrigues along with food safety officer Amit Mandrekar.
State FDCA checks food quality in 50 hotels
Ahmedabad: Some 50 leading hotels across Gujarat were checked for food quality by Food and Drug Control Authority (FDCA) Gujarat on Friday. Star-rated hotels across Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot in addition to Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Gandhinagar were inspected by authorities of state FDCA.
HG Koshia, commissioner, FDCA, Gujarat, said, “The series of inspections were carried out to ensure that the quality of food is not compromised with. We have vowed to ensure food safety of citizens whether they consume it at a five-star hotel or at a stall on the street side. Samples of food as well as raw materials and ingredients were collected and have been sent to the laboratory for further testing.”
Koshia also spoke of a suspicious sample of baby corn found at a city hotel. “Our officials had found suspicious samples of baby corn at one of the hotels in Ahmedabad as it was not labelled. The hotel authorities however, agreed to destroy them,” he said.
When contacted, spokespersons of the hotel confirmed that the entire stock of 2kg of baby corn was destroyed.
FSSAI launches Orange Book for corporate companies
It is a known fact that employees today spend a majority of their time at their workplace - around 67% of their total time. Employees consume at least one meal during working hours, which if not safe, can cause several health issues. Aggravated issues in the form of an outbreak of food borne diseases, leads to employee absenteeism and low productivity at the workplace - this has grown in the recent days.
To curb these problems at the Corporate level itself, ‘The Orange Book’ is crafted under the SNF portal. 'Safe and Nutritious Food at Workplace' is a nationwide campaign to help people eat safe and eat right while at work. The document is the key resource book for this campaign, which includes aspects that shall enable safe food practices at the workplace and ensure employee well-being.
FSSAI officially launched ‘The Orange Book’ on 15th May, 2018 in the presence of the Panel Experts and its co-authors, with the CEO, Mr. Pawan Agarwal doing the honours. Joining him was Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO - NITI Aayog who inaugurated the ‘Experience Zone’ - a one-of-a-kind concept that oversees Indian Food Ecosystem. It uses technology like Virtual and Augmented Reality to observe the journey of Food Safety Regulations over the course of time, how Food safety is a shared responsibility of all Food stakeholders and the incorporation of children in the training on FSSAI Regulations.
The Orange Book is divided into three sections. The first section [Framework for an Enabling Environment] is meant for Facility Managers /Administration. This includes measures and policies to be undertaken in a Corporate premise to ensure food safety and nutrition for everyone in the workplace. It emphasizes on at least one Food Safety Supervisor [FSS] for 25 food handlers. The FSS is in charge of the hygiene and sanitary practices at workplace. Also, the person is responsible for timely tests, audits, Food Safety strategies and regular training of the Caterers, Food Handlers and Employees.
Health and Wellness Coordinator (HWC) is another innovative concept by FSSAI under SNF, appointed to promote safe and nutritious food among the employees. The person appointed has to devise strategies and promote healthy food choices over junk food, contributing to the wellness of the employees.
The second Section [Regulatory and Compliance Requirements] is for the canteen / cafeteria establishment. It specifies best practices and guidelines recommended for the canteen establishments to ensure that the food served in the workplace, whether prepared in-house or catered from outside, is safe and wholesome. A valid license/registration, following legal requirements and Good Hygiene / Manufacturing Practices is a must in the corporate canteens.
The third section [Safety and Nutritious Food Tips] is for the employees. It provides important dos and don'ts, useful nutrition and health tips and suggestions to empower employees to eat and stay healthy in the workplace. This can be done by making informed choices about the food they consume. It also helps to decode food labels, the concept of the food pyramid, and tips on home lunch and what it should contain.
The book as a whole gives a complete information as to how corporate entities can achieve healthy and stable lifestyle at workplace resulting in employee satisfaction. The book is a Gospel of Truth to all the corporates aiming for higher productivity.
Equinox Labs has taken the responsibility of creating awareness on The Orange Book and its infinite advantages. Ashwin Bhadri, Chief Executive Officer - Equinox Labs and the co-author of the document, has contributed immensely considering the imperativeness of healthy employees to the growth of the company.
May 18, 2018
Subway outlet shut after consumer finds cockroaches in drink
HYDERABAD: Day after a consumer lodged police complaint on spotting cockroaches in an aerated drink served by the fast food joint, the Subway outlet within the Hyderabad Central Mallpremises in Punjagutta was shut, on Thursday. Food inspectors from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) who raided the place also served a notice to the outlet for functioning under unhygienic conditions.
The incident that occurred on May 16 came to light after the consumer, Marunganti Vamshikrishna Reddy, took to social media to post his grievance. Within 24 hours, the post went viral with over 6,700 people sharing the footage showing Reddy questioning a female staff. “How can you serve cockroaches? My daughter had a cockroach in her mouth,” Reddy is heard asking the employee in the 2.19 minute-long video.
Recalling the incident while speaking to TOI, on Thursday, Reddy said: “When my daughter consumed the drink, she felt something moving in her mouth. When she spat it out, I found two live cockroaches. When I checked the cup and the lid, I found a few more.” He added: “When I confronted the staff, they themselves invited me to inspect the kitchen. But later, a woman employee reprimanded me for entering the area and accused me of misbehaviour.”
According to him, not only was the kitchen infested with cockroaches, but the staff was also reusing lids and cups. Reddy subsequently registered a complaint with the Punjagutta police and GHMC’s food safety department demanding action against those running the Subway franchise.
“We suspect that the staff had cleaned the outlet before we reached for inspection. Despite that, we found cockroaches in the storage room. We have served a notice to the owner who has decided to permanently close the outlet. We have also sent samples for testing. Further action will be taken based on the report,” said Bhargav Narayana, health and medical officer, GHMC.
FSSAI Begins ‘Safe And Nutritious Food At Workplace’ Initiative Throughout India
According to the report by F&B News, continuing its campaign for safe and nutritious food consumption at homes and schools, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a countrywide follow-up initiative. This new initiative, ‘Safe and Nutritious Food-SNF@Workplace’ will now focus on food habits at workplaces.
HEALTHIER HABITS AT WORK
“Since our workforce consumes at least one meal during working hours, behavioural changes at the workplace is critical. And, therefore, a resource book for this initiative, titled The Orange Book, has also been launched. It highlights the role of stakeholders, like administration, canteen, etc.,” stated Agarwal.
“Further, to create a self-propelling and sustainable ecosystem, the regulator has enabled a systematic framework of FSSAI-trained resource persons, health and wellness coordinators and food safety supervisors for every workplace. And a portal, www.snfportal.in/workforce, has also been launched, where interested workplaces can join the movement and access resources, information and links,” he added.
GOALS SET BY FSSAI
FSSAI also plans to extend this plan to holy places as well. The regulator also plans to reward workplaces who encourage healthy eating. Further, it plans to go beyond the regular canteen and cafeterias and look at development of systematic health ecosystems at workplaces says the report.
“The evaluation criteria would, therefore, include canteen/cafeteria practices and also the system in place to promote health and wellness. The matrix would cover regulatory and voluntary initiatives like ensuring licensed vendors for the kitchen/canteen/caterer, personal hygiene of food handlers and safe food practices as per food safety management service guidelines, display of food safety display boards in kitchens/canteens, having a trained and certified food safety supervisor, etc. There is also a provision for the auditing of the workplaces,” added Agarwal.
FDA alerts food business operators
Panaji, May 17 (UNI) Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has appealed to all food business operators dealing in food business by way of catering to compulsorily display a true copy of their Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license, along with name and contact number of the Food and Business Operator at the place of banquet set up while catering for various functions.
A statement from the department on Thursday, said the Food Business Operators who were dealing in food articles by way of retail sale, wholesale, manufacturer, trader, distributor, supplier, caterer, repacker, restaurants, mobile carts, including those who participate in various exhibitions were informed that dealing in food articles without a valid registration certificate or license under the Food Safety And Standard Act, 2006, and rules/regulation, 2011, was in contravention of the provisions of the Act/Regulations, and was punishable with imprisonment and under Section 63.
The Food Business Operators who were found operating their food business without license would be dealt with imprisonment and fine, as provided under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, it warned.
It was mandatory for all food business operators to display their License/Registration Certificate in a prominent place at the business premises, failing which a fine will be levied on the defaulters, for non display of the license or registration certificate, by way of compounding of offence, it added.
May 17, 2018
One man’s meat…
Antibiotics in poultry harm non-meat eaters as well. India should follow the example of EU, US and China in regulating the industry.
India risks becoming a global health hazard. In February the British daily, The Guardian, published a story describing the extent to which “chickens raised in India have been dosed with some of the strongest antibiotics known to medicine”. The article relied on a report of the Bureau for Investigative Journalism that claims to be an independent not-for-profit media organisation. It singled out India, even though the Bureau’s findings had also referred to similar antibiotics use in Vietnam, Russia, Mexico, Columbia and Bolivia. The issue raised in the story has serious implications for the health of all citizens, not only chicken-eaters.
Indian chicken producers claim that antibiotics are used only for treating sick birds. But an advertisement they had issued to this effect was met with sharp counter publicity. Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), published an open letter to Sania Mirza, telling her as a national icon, she should not have associated herself with a “misleading, false and libelous advertorial”. According to Bhushan, antibiotics are being “used routinely as a growth promoter”. CSE papers have established how across different districts in the country, chicken litter has been found to be multi-drug resistant. The litter had also made its way to the surrounding agricultural land. This means it carries risks for vegetarians as well.
Plucked, The Truth About Chicken , a 2017 book by Maryn McKenna unravels how chemical fertilisers, pesticides, antibiotics and hormones made chicken the conduit for not only profit-driven politics in the US but antibiotic resistance as well. It was only after a massive outbreak of food poisoning that the US regulators and consumers have become more vigilant. Now Walmart, the book says, along with some of the world’s biggest fast food chains, have started to move away from chicken loaded with antibiotics. The USFDA now expects adherence to standards adopted by the European Union 12 years ago.
Why is all this important to us? Because resistance blunts the effectiveness of drugs designed to cure or prevent infection. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply rendering ineffectual treatment for serious illnesses like pneumonia and tuberculosis, even prophylaxis in, say, caesarian deliveries. It hampers recovery in post-operative surgery. Once the bacteria becomes drug resistant, it affects anyone who gets afflicted by it. The resistance snowballs and defies even the strongest drug-based treatment exposing vulnerable populations — infants, children, farm workers and seniors — to incurable sickness.
Colistin is one of the last antibiotic weapons against serious human diseases and but is reportedly being used covertly to increase chicken weight. The Chinese have been using massive quantities of Colistin. This gave rise to a strain called mcr-1, which spread so widely that the Chinese government had to ban Colistin use. But not before people in 30 countries in five continents had eaten those chickens. After being banned in China, Colistin has found a ready market in India and has made its way into the country’s poultry farms.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana account for over 80 per cent of the poultry meat production and half the egg production in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal, Punjab and Haryana. A 2017 study (the largest so far), published in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, covered 18 poultry farms in Punjab and found very high levels of antibiotic resistance in the birds.
Chicken was once a part of food habits of the people in north-western, southern and coastal parts of the country. Today, it has become the favourite of the country’s fast growing urban middle-class. A new culture of eating out has been matched by innumerable quick service restaurants offering mouth-watering chicken dishes. Such restaurants are ubiquitous even in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Most consumers are oblivious to and undeterred by the health hazards of ingesting antibiotics. Meanwhile the industry is growing by some 20 per cent each year — broilers, layers and egg production taken together.
The Chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ashish Bahuguna, whose writ runs over the food-end (but not the farm-end), informed me about the organisation’s new draft regulations for chicken. These prohibit the use of 19 antibiotics in poultry and also prescribe tolerance limits for 92 other antibiotics and drugs. Currently, the public comments to the draft rules are being examined. In April 2017, the Health Ministry published the National Action Plan to combat microbial resistance. Although it signifies a political commitment to ban the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, there has been little activity on the issue, and it has not attracted commensurate funding. Unless that changes quickly, the report will remain confined to the shelf.
Should India take the path of incremental improvement or should it draw a lesson from the EU, and now the US and China, and stop such use of antibiotics? Other countries are importing herbal animal feeds from India. The effectiveness of these herbal feeds should be studied for Indian conditions. And if these feeds pass the test, Indian farmers should be advised to use them. It is time that the ministries of heath and AYUSH, and the Department of Animal Husbandry show interest in the matter.
As an immediate measure, the government must issue advisories asking poultry farmers to stop the use of Colistin and maintain records of the overall use of all drugs given to poultry. This should become a strict requirement for the poultry industry. FSSAI should publish the new regulations and ensure that enforcement is visible, punishment is a deterrent and public awareness programmes are imaginative.
The poultry businesses’ meat should not be allowed to become the Indian consumer’s poison.
Energy drinks laced with chemicals seized
Vigilance and Enforcement officials during a raid on a firm in Cheepurupalli of Vizianagaram district on Wednesday.
Vigilance teams crack the whip on manufacturing firms
Close on the heels of the seizure of spurious beverages, the Vigilance and Enforcement Department cracked a whip on the manufacturers and suppliers of adulterated energy drinks in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam district on Wednesday.
Special teams headed by Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer T. Harikrishna inspected Venkata Sai Food Products at LN Peta of Srikakulam district and K.V.N. Industries at Cheepurupalli of Vizianagaram district. Other members of the team including Deputy Superintendent of Police G. Bhargava Naidu, Circle Inspector G. Chandra and Food Safety Officer Eswari, after the inspection, said that both the firms did not have valid licence to manufacture the energy drinks.
They said all the flavours were found to be contaminated with chemicals and the drinks would be harmful to the public health. They also found unauthorised usage of LPG domestic refills in the factory premises.
Samples to be sent to lab
The teams seized bottles and sought explanation from the manufacturers. “The firms are selling the energy drink bottles mostly in the rural areas of both the districts. The samples collected from the firms will be sent to laboratory in Hyderabad for testing. After obtaining the report, we will proceed legally against the proprietors,” said Mr. Harikrishna.
Tamil Nadu Sees A String Of Food Safety Awareness Events
Owing to the rise in food safety complaints in Chennai as well as all over Tamil Nadu, the state saw a series of food safety awareness programs and exhibitions in various districts.
PUDUKOTTAI
A food safety kiosk was opened at the Collector’s office by Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar on Monday. A main objective of the kiosks was to educate the public on the food products that are best suited for summer and on those that should be avoided.
This is a part of the Department of Food Safety’s initiative to raise awareness on adulteration in food products and commodities. The kiosks will also be having demonstrations on simple techniques that can be used to detect adulteration in some of the commonly used food products. The minister said that mobile awareness teams were being made active in order to spread awareness.
THOOTHUKKUDI
The Department of Food Safety, in association with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, organized an awareness programme at Pearl City beach on Saturday, which was inaugurated by Minister for Information and Publicity, Kadambur C. Raju.
Staffs from the Food Safety department explained the importance of consuming hygienic food and water and methods by which adulterated food products can be identified.
HOSUR
Third in line was a Food Safety exhibition that was conducted by the Food Safety Department at the Ramanayakkan Lake Park, Hosur, Krishnagiri district. The inauguration by Sports and Youth Welfare Minister P. Balakrishna Reddy and headed by Kathiravan, the District Collector.
Brochures, pamphlets, and posters of food safety measures and summer-time food and health precautions were given out to the public and stalls demonstrating food safety techniques were put up.
Consumers can reach the Food Safety Department through 94440 42322, with regard to food safety complaints. They could also send texts through SMS or WhatsApp for immediate action against any complaint about food adulteration. Besides, complaints could also be mailed through unavupukar@gmail.com.
FSSAI to finalize food labelling norms in the next 2-3 months: Pawan Kr Agarwal
New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) The Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) will come up with the final labelling standards on packaged food products in the next 2-3 months, FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said adding that the authority is open to make changes in the draft rules to address the industry's concern.
FSSAI has already released the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and has sought comments from stakeholders.
While talking to media persons, Agarwal said stakeholders' comments are sought on the draft regulations.
The final regulation is expected in the next 2-3 months, he added.
He said the FSSAI is studying the model used in foreign countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the US, for colour coding display on the packaged food item. "We are aware of the industry's concern related to colour coding."
In the draft regulation, it has been proposed to make it mandatory to display red colour-coding on front of the pack of food products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels.
Asked about the proposal on genetically modified (GM) food, Agarwal said the labelling on packaged food items with 5 per cent or more GE ingredients will "bring clarity".
All food products having total Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredients 5 per cent or more shall be labelled, the draft said.
"Imported GM food is coming to India. It is in form of soya products and edible oils. In case of oils, traces of GM is negligible. So, there will be no labelling," he added.
Agarwal also announced that the FSSAI is targeting to make the country free from trans-fat by 2022.
FSSAI has launched an initiative to promote safe and nutritious food (SNF) at workplace to deal with the alarming increase in obesity and NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) like diabetes and hypertension.
Health in news on May 16
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is looking at global models adopted by various countries for labelling standards of packaged foods.
May 16, 2018
Labelling norm on packaged food in next 2-3 months: FSSAI
New Delhi, May 15 () Food regulator FSSAI will finalise the labelling standards on packaged food products in the next 2-3 months and is open to make changes in the draft rules to address the industry's concern, its CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said today.
Last month, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued a draft of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and sought comments from stakeholders.
The regulator has proposed making it mandatory to display red colour-coding on front of the pack of food products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels.
"We are getting stakeholders' comment on the draft regulations. The final regulations is expected in the next 2-3 months," Agarwal told reporters here when asked about the proposed labelling standards.
He said the FSSAI is studying the model used in foreign countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the US, for colour coding display on the packaged food item. "We are aware of the industry's concern related to colour coding."
Asked about the proposal on genetically modified (GM) food, Agarwal said the labelling on packaged food items with 5 per cent or more GE ingredients will "bring clarity".
All food products having total Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredients 5 per cent or more shall be labelled, the draft said.
"Imported GM food is coming to India. It is in form of soya products and edible oils. In case of oils, traces of GM is negligible. So, there will be no labelling," he added.
Agarwal also announced that the FSSAI is targeting to make the country free from trans-fat by 2022.
Meanwhile, FSSAI today launched an initiative to promote safe and nutritious food (SNF) at workplace to deal with the alarming increase in obesity and NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) like diabetes and hypertension.
"SNF@Workplace is a nation-wide campaign to help people eat safe and eat right while at work. Since the majority of our workforce consumes at least one meal during working hours, behavioural change at the workplace is critical," Agarwal said.
The FSSAI had earlier similar initiatives for school and home.
The resource book for this initiative 'The Orange Book: Your Guide to Safe and Nutritious Food at the Workplace' was launched that highlights the role to be played by key stakeholders such as the administration, canteen establishment and the employees in ensuring safe and nutritious food at the workplace.To create a self-propelling and sustainable ecosystem, a systematic framework of FSSAI-trained resource persons, health & wellness coordinators and food safety supervisors for every workplace has been enabled.
Food safety body looking at global norms to finalise labelling regulations
Companies voice concern over colour-coded labels
NEW DELHI, MAY 15
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is looking at global models adopted by various countries for labelling standards of packaged foods. This is being done before the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018, is finalised by the government.
In April, the regulator released the draft of the labelling regulations which has proposed front-of-the- pack nutritional information, besides red colour coded labels for foods which have high levels of fat, sugar and salt content. Some food companies have raised concerns about the red colour-coded labels.
Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said, “Food businesses have no issues with front-of-pack labelling. They have raised concerns regarding the thresholds and colour-coded labels for HFSS foods. We are looking at various global models such as the Australia-New Zealand model that has voluntary star rating or the Mexico and UK model. We are seeking comments and views from stakeholders on the same before we finalise the labelling regulations.”
The labelling regulations are likely to be finalised in the next two-three months.
“We want food businesses to begin taking cognisance of the fact that whatever they produce is important from a public health perspective and not just from their bottomline perspective. It is being done in consumer interest. We have asked food companies for their gameplan to look at launching healthier food options in the market,” he added.
FSSAI has also proposed that a company must make a declaration on the label in case its food product has 5 per cent or more of genetically engineered or genetically modified ingredients. “This has been proposed to increase consumer awareness. Imported GM food is coming to India whether its in the form of soya products and edible oils. In case of oils, GM is negligible.” he added.
Transfat content
Asked about the launch of WHO’s plan to remove transfat from the global food supply, Agarwal said, “We are also working on a goal to make India trans-fat free by 2022. The permitted levels of trans-fat content in edible oils has been set at 5 per cent. We are conducting various studies and getting opinions of experts on whether this needs to be further reduced.”
Meanwhile, FSSAI on Tuesday launched a nation-wide campaign to promote safe and nutritious food at workplace called SNF@Workplace . This has been done to encourage companies to ensure nutritious and hygienic food is served and consumed by their workforce in offices. FSSAI has also launched the ‘The Orange Book: Your Guide to Safe and Nutritious Food at the Workplace’ to highlight the role to be played by key stakeholders such as the administration, canteen establishment and the employees in ensuring safe and nutritious food at the workplace.
FSSAI launches SNF@Workplace initiative to stem obesity, non-communicable diseases
Country’s premier food watchdog also plans to evaluate organisations based on systems put in place to promote health and wellness
FSSAI has also released The Orange Book: Your Guide to Safe and Nutritious Food at the Workplace.
In an effort to improve nutrition of millions of office going Indians, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched the SNF@Workplace initiative (safe and nutritious food at workplace) today. This initiative is an effort to stem the increase in obesity and non-communicable diseases across the country.
Most office goers consume at least one meal at the office and this initiative hopes to ensure that this meal is healthy and nutritious. Unsafe food leads to illness and absenteeism which reduces productivity and costs our economy as much as Rs 60,000 crore—9 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The initiative would set processes and protocols to help people imbibe this culture of good food into their lives. “We are not mindful of what we are eating,” says Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI at the launch.
To aid workplaces and build a policy framework, FSSAI has also released The Orange Book: Your Guide to Safe and Nutritious Food at the Workplace. This sets down the role of stakeholders such as the administration, canteen establishment and the employees at a workplace in ensuring safe food. The book was released by Vinod Paul, member NITI Aayog. According to him, in order to benefit from the demographic dividend, it is important that employee productivity is improved through efforts like this. Ambrish Mithal, head of the department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Medanta—the Medicity said that people spend long time at offices and availability and access to healthy food options here has to be easy.
The country’s premier food watchdog also plans to evaluate organisations based on systems put in place to promote health and wellness. These includes initiatives such as using licensed vendors for the canteen, personal hygiene of food handlers and safe food practices as per Food Safety Management System guidelines and having trained and certified food safety supervisor.
Empanelled audit agencies, in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulation 2017, will be assigned to evaluate interested workplaces. Reviewed workplaces will be given rating with 3,4 or 5 stars based on quality of food and canteens and well as the activities focused around ensuring food safety.
FSSAI will train people responsible for providing food in workplaces and help organisers create awareness about good food too. Paul urged organisation to announce on this Independence Day that all government offices and private sector would ensure that safe food is served in offices.
Before SNF@Workplace, the FSSAI had launched SNF@Home and SNF@School. They now plan to launch SNF@Hospitals in a month's time. This will ensure that safe and nutritious food is served to patients at hospitals.
Toxic tea powder making racket busted
Officials collecting samples from Darshan Tea in Para Bazaar on Tuesday
Rajkot: Next time you sip tea from a roadside stall make sure the tea used by the vendor is genuine. The health department of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has unearthed a major racket of making duplicate tea using tea waste, wood husk, toxic chemicals for flavour and colouring from Para Bazar in the city on Tuesday.
RMC officials seized over 1,200kg of different types of materials during the raid at Darshan Tea in Arham Complex of Para Bazar. The firm is owned by Pankaj Shah.
Different types of materials used in making fake tea was found stocked on the terrace of Darshan Tea’s office.
“The owners of Darshan Tea were making duplicate tea by using tea waste and used to mix wood husk, red colour and flavouring essence for giving it tea-like smell and taste. On first glance, it would look and smell like tea. But on close examining, we found that it was duplicate tea,” RMC health officer Dr Pankar Rathod told TOI.
According to Rathod, owners of Darshan Tea used to purchase tea waste from transporters and tea shop at Rs 15 to 20 per kilogram and then mixed it with wood husk, chemical essence and flavouring agents before selling it in the market for Rs 30-40 per kilogram.
“They even branded the tea as Gayabari, Alankar Premium Tea, Alankar Supreme Tea, Tatopani, Sanyasi and Bir Johra. It was mostly bought by roadside tea vendors. Also, small traders from the villages of Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Amreli and Shihor used to purchase the duplicate tea from Darshan Tea,” Rathod added. RMC officials have seized the stock and sent samples to the food testing laboratory.
“The tea was primarily found to be adulterated. The ingredients used are hazardous for human health. There are chances of food poisoning if consumed in higher quantity. Consuming substance like wooden husk could cause jaundice, typhoid while the chemical used for flavouring may result in allergy or intestine cancer,” said Rathod. He said that once the laboratory results confirm adulteration the firm owner will be penalized under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
FSSAI Seized Artificially Ripened Mango in Coimbatore
A team of officials headed by the Designated Food Safety Officer B. Vijayalalithambigai had seized nearly 500 kg of artificially ripened mango from a godown inside a wholesale shop in Selvapuram area in Ukkadam early on Friday.
Ms Vijayalalithambigai told that they had conducted raids in 16 shops and godowns as part of the routine exercise.
During the raid, the officials found a godown inside a fruit shop where mangoes are ripened using calcium carbide. The mangoes were later destroyed.
This was the first seizure of mangoes during the current season, as the fruit is yet to reach the markets from growers.
Normally, harvested mangoes reach the Coimbatore market from godowns in Mettupalayam every day. The godown owner was served with a show-cause notice under section 63 of the FSSAI rules.
The godown owner, however, said that a person who had put up a shop outside the godown should be held responsible.
Those who found violating the FSSAI rules can be fined up to Rs. 1 lakh and imprisonment for six months. The authorities last month had seized nearly 2 tonnes of artificially ripened oranges.
Over 95% Bengal residents steer clear of veg food: Survey
Kolkata: Has the over dependence of people on meat indirectly helped unholy people to thrive on the business of carcass meat in the state?
A nationwide survey conducted by the Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner states that around 98.55 percent of total population in Bengal is non-vegetarian, which is the second highest in the country after Telangana.
Meanwhile, many believe that this huge demand of meat across various markets in the state might have prompted some people to run a parallel business of trading carcass meat, which is allegedly collected from dumping grounds, stored in cold storages and later delivered to various restaurants and hotels in the state.
According to the sample registration system (SRS) baseline survey 2014 released by the registrar general of India, around 98.7 percent of male and 98.4 percent of female in Bengal are non-vegetarians. This means only 1.3 percent of the total male population in the state is vegetarian while figure stands at 1.6 in case of females.
Bengal ranks second in the list of states, in regard to the prevalence of non-vegetarianism among the population aged 15 years or above, as published in the report. The data shows that around 71 percent of Indians over the age of 15 are non-vegetarians.The percentage of non-vegetarians across the country has, however, has dropped from 75 percent in 2004.
The survey says that Telangana has the highest number of non-vegetarians with 98.8 percent men and 98.6 percent women enjoying meat, fish and eggs, marginally higher than Bengal.
Other states with a high non-vegetarian population include Andhra Pradesh (98.25%), Odisha (97.35%) and Kerala (97%). Vegetarianism, as it is often interpreted as a practice in the country, encouraged or imposed by ideologies of religion and caste, is basically a food habit. Many people think that a life without meat would be boring, unhealthy, and damaging to your body. However, it is debatable. Rajasthan tops the list when it comes to vegetarianism. Around 73.2 percent men and 76.6 percent women in Rajasthan are vegetarians. Haryana follows next with 68.5 percent men and 70 percent women depending on vegetarian diets. Whereas in Punjab, around 65.5 percent of the male population and 68 percent of the female population eat vegetarian food.
Ever since the carcass meat row has come to light, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police conducted raids at various places and seized a huge amount of rotten meat.
The selling of various items of meat has dipped considerably since the incident took place.
Sudesh Poddar, President of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India said: "We have issued directives to the restaurant owners to buy meat from reputed suppliers having trade and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India license. We have also asked hoteliers and restaurant owners to get the meat tested at a private laboratory. The situation is gradually improving."
May 15, 2018
Food regulator finds antibotic resistance in animal food
Hyderabad: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stated that allergic reactions and long-term resistance to antibiotics found in humans are caused by drug residues in animal products like muscle, liver, kidney and milk. The FSSAI has insisted that packaged frozen and live products be tested before being sent to the market.
These products are suspected to contain residues of medicines that are meant for human consumption, pesticides and veterinary drugs. The US FDA has listed the chemicals which are found in animal products and stated that each country must work towards controlling them. With the food industry in India growing at 17 per cent, the FSSAI wants laboratory tests conducted on animal products by the organised food sector; products from the unorganised sector must be randomly tested by state food inspectors.
The chemicals that have been listed as drug residues of veterinary antibiotics are cholramphenicol and beta lactams. Pesticide residues like organophosphates, carbamates, chlorinated hydrocarbons and prethroids are also found in animal products.
A food inspector on condition of anonymity explained, “There are many growth hormones which are given to animals and the use is rampant. But to check this, there has to be a co-ordinated effort where all the three wings, the drug department, food and veterinary, must come together. Presently, it is working in isolation and the effect is not as desired.”
While the use in chicken and meat was widely reported after tests carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment, there have not been any regulations so far. Food analyst P Shastry explained “Chicken and other dairy animals are prone to diseases as they are kept together in groups. The antibiotics are used to control the diseases, but their abuse has to be restricted. There is also a demand for alternative and safe feed to tackle diseases in animals and birds.”
FSSAI is demanding that veterinary doctors must visit the farms to administer the medicines and help control the misuse of antibiotics.
Dr Dinesh Vohra, senior critical care specialist explained “The effect of this misuse is seen while treating critical patients as the highest levels of antibiotics have to be used. There are patients on whom the second, and even third generation antibiotics, are not found to work, making treatment extremely difficult. For this reason, identifying the drugs and controlling their use is most important.”
It has been noted that often the drug chemicals gets concentrated in animal food and despite heavy cooking, there is still a high concentration found. In India, FSSAI is now insisting on maintaining a manual of the drugs and identifying a list of chemicals which are found as residues. Experts state that this will pave the way for gauging their use in the dairy, poultry, animal and fish industry and accordingly control the production.
11 food samples collected from 2 city outlets
Ludhiana: Taking action against food adulteration, the district health department conducted raids and collected 11 food samples from two outlets in the city on Monday. District health officer Dr Andesh Kang and food safety officer Yogesh Kumar led the team of health officials for this raid.
The officials collected four samples from a pizza outlet in Sarabha Nagar, and seven samples were collected from the canteen of a private university on Ferozepur Road. The samples have been sent to the state laboratory, and the department concerned will get the report within 21 days.
Corporation health wing seizes 100kg stale fish from Palayam market
Stale fish seized from the market
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health wing of corporation seized 100kg of stale fish, which was stored for sale at Connemara market here on Monday.
The stale fish was found stored inside a box filled with ice. The health wing was unable to identify the vendor who had stocked the stale fish. The fish was found during a routine morning inspection. “It must be around 5-6 days old. There is no proper cold storage facility and unsold fish are often stored in most unhygienic conditions,” the health official said. No fine could be slapped as the vendor could not be identified.
The fish would be disposed using the biogas plant at Palayam market. The official said that stale fish in such high quantity has been found at Palayam market after a long time. “Two years ago we had caught a meat vendor selling stale meat, however we have not come across instances where rotten fish was stocked in such huge quantities and then put up for sale,” the official said.
Palayam ward councillor Aisha Baker raised the issue of improving facilities at the market during the council meeting held here on Monday. Officials hinted that proper storage facilities are also being mooted in the market.
Food safety awareness kiosk opened in Pudukottai
Health Minister C.Vijaya Baskar inaugurating a food safety awareness kiosk at the Collector's Office in Pudukottai on Monday.
The Department of Food Safety was taking steps to raise awareness on adulteration in food products and commodities by establishing kiosks at places of public congregation across the State, Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar said here on Monday.
Inaugurating a food safety kiosk at the Collector’s Office here, he said such kiosks were being opened at various places in all districts. One of the important objective of the kiosks was to raise awareness on the food products best suited for summer and those to be avoided.
Demonstrations on simple techniques to detect adulteration in some of the commonly used food products and commodities would also be conducted at the kiosks, manned by trained self-help group members, he said.
He also added that mobile awareness teams were being pressed into service to sensitise people.
The Minister called upon people to lodge complaints with respect to quality of food products in the dedicated telephone line of 9444042322.
Shambu Kallolikar, Managing Director, TN Slum Clearance Board and Monitoring Officer of the district, S. Ganesh, Collector, and other officials were present.
May 11, 2018
Ice from untreated water, meant to preserve fish may be in your glass
CHENNAI: The city’s ice manufacturers have substantiated what customers have for long suspected: All is not well with the ice lumps in their drinks.
Blocks of industrial ice meant for storing sea food and handled by workers with bare hands are wrapped in soiled sacks and transported by trucks, autos and rickshaws to various parts of the city. TOI unearthed this chain by tracing the journey of a dozen such blocks from a freezer in Kasimedu fishing harbour to a market in Tondiarpet, before they were lumped with a coating of chaff and mud on the sands of Marina. Within two hours, all the blocks, broken into pieces with rusty screwdrivers and ice picks, were sold to juice vendors.
“We just sell our ice, we don’t ask clients what they do with it,” said J Chandrasekaran, who operates two ice plants in Kasimedu and Tondiarpet. While one unit pops out ice cubes made of reverse osmosis-treated water, the other moulds ice blocks, each weighing 150kg, from non-potable water. While restaurants, clubs and caterers are Chandrasekaran’s biggest clients for cubes, the blocks, which account for 70% of his sale, are sold to cold storage units in the harbour. With the ongoing two-month ban on fishing, one would assume his sales may have dropped. “During the ban we continue to sell around 45,000kg of blocks every day as opposed to 80,000kg otherwise. In contrast, we sell around 3,000kg of ice made with potable water, which remains standard through the year,” said Chandrasekaran, also secretary of Chennai Ice Manufacturers’ Association. There are around 12 such manufactures in North Chennai . “If the ice is in lumps, customers have reasons to suspect its quality,” added Chandrasekaran.
As if on cue, TOI spotted a truck being loaded with ice blocks at his manufacturing unit in Kasimedu. Two bare-torsoed men lay sprawled on the ice, seeking respite from the heat. The vehicle then wound its way through the dusty roads to reach Marina. All through the half-an-hour drive from Royapuram to Marina, the ice lay bare with a ragged cloth thrown over it.
At Marina beach, Allirajan waited behind the labour statue for the load. “My family is in the ice business for several generations,” said Allirajan, while keeping an eye on two youngsters who lowered the blocks on to tyres before dragging them to a shade. When asked who his clients were, his response was quick. “Fishermen, of course.” Chindhamani, his aged mother who made a living out of being a fortune-teller, scoffed. “Tell them the truth,” she said. “Sometimes we sell to vendors here too,” Allirajan said sheepishly. He said there were other “ice-breakers” like him operating out of Tambaram and Avadi bus-stops and behind the Lighthouse.
Within 15 minutes, a juice vendor sauntered to Allirajan’s spot and bought five lumps of ice for Rs 50. “I mix potable and non-potable ice because sometimes food safety officials ask for bills during inspections,” said the vendor.While summer is a busy time for food safety officials who step up their drive against contaminated water and food, they have turned a blind eye to the flourishing ice industry. “The quality of ice used by juice vendors is an issue,” said R Kathiravan, designated officer, food safety department, Chennai.
Senior paediatrician Dr Benny Benjamin said contaminated ice preserves disease-causing organisms. “Unlike heat, which impacts the cells of disease-causing germs, frozen water preserves them. They become active at normal temperature,” said Dr Benjamin, who sees an increase in stomach-related ailments, especially among children, in summers. Contaminated ice can carry fecal germs like E.Coli that are spread through poor handling.
Taking cognisance of the issue, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had issued a directive to all ice manufacturers to start colour coding industrial ice blue to differentiate between edible and inedible ice. “We’ve been asked to enforce this from June 1,” said a senior food safety official.\
Non-edible ice to be blue across India
Pune: The use of blue dye in non-edible ice will not be limited to Maharashtra. The Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) issued an order on May 4, asking all other states and Union territories to implement the measure from June 1.
“Food safety commissioners of states/Union territories are requested to enhance surveillance/enforcement on the sale of non-edible ice to ensure compliance of this directive,” Garima Singh, director (regulatory compliance), FSSAI, stated in the order issued on May 4.
Usually, water used for making ice for industrial or storage purposes is not potable. To tackle this problem, the Maharashtra government in March made it mandatory for ice manufacturers to use blue dye in the ice meant for industrial, cooling and storing purposes to distinguish it from edible ice.
“The countrywide enforcement of this move will bring in uniformity, check misuse and accidental consumption of industrial ice,” said the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Pallavi Darade.
“If a food business operator is found selling blue ice, s/he will face strict action, including imprisonment,” said Chandrashekhar Salunke, joint commissioner (headquarters), state FDA.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) also welcomed the move. “The differentiation between consumable and non-consumable ice will help people,” said eye surgeon Sanjay Patil, the chairman of the hospital wing of IMA, Pune chapter.
Yercaud being spruced up for summer festival
The Food Safety Department conducted a demonstration of identifying adulterated materials while preparing food in the houses. The Collector witnessed the demonstration and also distributed pamphlets carrying the details of the same.
FSSAI cancels licence of pan masala unit
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has cancelled the licence given to the pan masala manufacturing unit at Nallanthottam near Sulur from where the police seized large quantities of gutkha on April 29.
According to officials, the licence given to the unit for making pan masala and supari, both non-tobacco-based items, was cancelled on April 30 following the seizure of 648 kg of gutkha.
A food safety officer of the FSSAI working in the area has also come under the scanner of the police team investigating the seizure as he had reportedly inspected the manufacturing unit in January this year and given it a clean chit.
The unit named Amit S. Fragrance owned by Delhi-based Amit Jain was granted licence for the manufacture of non-tobacco-based pan masala for four years in 2014.
The licence was valid till July this year.
Modification submitted
According to the police, it has the licence to manufacture one tonne of pan masala per day. They said that the unit submitted an application in January for the modification of the existing licence to manufacture half tonne each of pan masala and supari per day, both non-tobacco-based products. The police said that a food safety officer named Sakthivel who has been working in the area for over five years inspected the unit in January and submitted a report effecting the modification of the licence.
The food safety officer, however, had claimed that there was no illegal activity in the pan masala unit when he inspected the place.
Meanwhile, the special team of police which left for New Delhi and other locations in search of Mr. Jain is yet to trace him.
25 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes seized from godowns
Vigilance officials during a raid on a mango godown in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
‘Traders using ethephon as ripener instead of calcium carbide’
With the Vigilance Department cracking the whip on traders using harmful chemicals to ripen mangoes artificially, the latter appear to have found a new alternative to the traditionally used calcium carbide.
A series of raids conducted by the vigilance and enforcement officials on mango godowns at Chinnadoddigallu, Vempada and Nakkapalli areas in Visakhapatnam district on Thursday morning revealed that the traders were using a new chemical ethephon to ripen the fruits.
The officials seized more than 25 tonnes of mangoes that were being artificially ripened with the harmful chemical. According to vigilance officials, the traders would sprinkle the chemical inside the mango cartons to ripen them.
Punitive measuers
The vigilance team, led by SP (vigilance wing) D. Koteswara Rao, conducted raids at six places on Thursday and seized the mango stock and alerted the food safety officials.
DSP (vigilance) C.M. Naidu said that use of ethephon for ripening fruits could attract a jail term of minimum one year and a fine of at least ₹10,000.
Samples collected
According to food safety officials, consumption of fruits ripened by ethephon, an insecticide, can cause mouth ulcers, gastric related problems and skin rashes.
“We have sealed the godowns and registered cases against the traders under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act- 2006. We have collected samples and will send them to a laboratory in Hyderabad for testing. Based on the test reports, we will file charge-sheet against the traders,” added the food safety officials.
May 10, 2018
Pawan Kumar Agarwal gets extension as CEO FSSAI
NEW DELHI: Pawan Kumar Agarwal was today given three months extension as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The tenure of Agarwal, a 1985-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, has been given three-month extension beyond May 15, 2018, an order issued by personnel ministry said.
He was appointed as the CEO of the FSSAI in December 2015.
Ghee manufacturers, shops come under food safety lens
Trichy: The district food safety and drug administration department conducted a special inspection at the wholesale ghee shops and ghee manufacturing units in the city to check for adulteration recently.
Food safety officers stated that during inspection, they discovered a few packets where ghee was mixed with maida flour, semolina flour and oil. Ghee with such adulteration is generally sold for non-edible purposes and predominantly for lighting lamps.
But since a few such packets didn’t carry the information on whether the ghee was for edible or non-edible purposes, the food safety officials instructed the wholesale sellers to sell ghee packets, which had all the necessary details according to FSSAI norms.
A food safety officer, who had inspected around 70 wholesale shops and manufacturing units, said that he found two shops which sold ghee packets with no proper label. “Some of the packets which had adulterated ghee, did not have proper labelling apart from the brand name,” he stated.
Apart from having all the necessary details including the manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, full name and the detail of the manufacturer, FSSAI registration number, the shop owners and manufacturing units have also been asked to mention if the ghee is for edible or non-edible purposes clearly in the packets. They were also instructed to make the necessary changes and failure of which would lead to the department taking an action against them.
We had also conducted an Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for ghee sellers to create an awareness of sorts,” the food safety officer added.
In fact this inspection was conducted a couple of weeks after district collector K Rajamani had issued an advisory to the general public on purchasing ghee.
He had stated that customers should refrain from purchasing ghee packets without all the necessary details mentioned in it. “People should not buy low quality ghee just because the price is less,” he stated in the advisory.
He further said that if the customers had any complaints, they could send an SMS or a WhatsApp message to the official food safety department’s complaints number 94440 42322.
FDA busts milk adulteration racket, one held
FDA team caught a milk vendor, while he was mixing water in milk packets.
He would remove about 100 to 200 ml of milk from each packet and refill it with tap water before sealing it with hot wax.
Mumbai: The Thane unit of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) busted a milk adulteration racket that was operating from a highrise in the Srushti area of Kashimira in the early hours of Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off, a FDA team led by three FSOs swooped down on the ninth floor apartment in the MHADA area and caught a door-to-door milk vendor, identified as Machgiri Kaambla, while he was allegedly mixing water in milk packets using a syringe.
According to FDA officials, the accused would buy branded milk from distributors and then remove about 100 to 200 ml of milk from each packet and refill it with tap water before sealing it using hot wax. Apart from empty pouches of reputed
brands, syringes and other sealing material, the FDA team seized a total of 130 milk packets of one litre each, which were being adulterated at the time of raid.
“A case under the regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Act,(FSSA) 2006, and relevant sections of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Kashimira police station." said FSO Manek Jadhav, adding that the samples of the adulterated milk had been sent for lab testing.
FSSAI bats for consumers on food choice, but sugar industry sees red
According to the proposed draft of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018, the packaged food companies will have to declare nutritional information such as calories (energy), total sugar and salt, total fat and trans-fat, per serving on the front of the pack. The food labels will also declare, per serve percentage contribution to RDA (recommended dietary allowance) on the front of the pack. At present, the draft is in public domain for suggestions and feedback.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to mandate displaying red colour-coding on front-of-the-pack labels on packaged food products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels. Image source: Reuters
In an endeavour to provide healthy food choices for consumers, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to mandate displaying red colour-coding on front-of-the-pack labels on packaged food products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content levels. The proposed draft has irked the country's sugar sector. According to it, sugar is the cheapest source of energy for a large section Indian populace. The sugar industry has opposed the FSSAI's move, saying there is no scientific evidence that proves that consumption of sugar is harmful for health.
According to the proposed draft of Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018, the packaged food companies will have to declare nutritional information such as calories (energy), total sugar and salt, total fat and trans-fat, per serving on the front of the pack. The food labels will also declare, per serve percentage contribution to RDA (recommended dietary allowance) on the front of the pack. At present, the draft is in public domain for suggestions and feedback.
National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSF) has said that it along with Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) have decided to meet the Health Ministry, Food Processing Ministry and the top FSSAI officials to oppose the draft policy. Members of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills represent both private and cooperative sugar sectors. "The proposed policy of red colour coding at the time, when the sugar industry is going through tough times is a wrong move," said Prakash Naiknavare, MD, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
Reeling under the impact of falling prices and piling inventory, the sugar industry termed it as a wrongly timed move, and said that before coming up with such a policy or draft the thought should have been given about the sugar's per capita consumption in India, which is barely 20-22 kilograms, while the same goes up to 50 to 65 kilograms in western countries. They questioned that when the western nations are not thinking about it, why should we think on those lines.
Further, the industry said that sugar continues to be the cheapest source of energy in India, where the large population belongs to Below Poverty Line (BPL), therefore, red marking on food products will send a negative message to people.
Commodity market experts also feel the policy of colour coding on packaged food items will harm the industry. "If this (red) colour coding is implemented there would definitely be an impact on consumption pattern of sugar because (packaged food) industry will have to follow the rules. If we go back to last 1-2 years and even this year, there has been an increase in Sugar production. It will be a setback for the sugar industry. There would also be a reduction in farmers' remuneration as consumption will go down if the red colour coding system is implemented," says Vandana Bharti, Assistant Vice President, SMC Global Securities Ltd.
"We see that sometimes for 2-3 continuous years there is an overproduction of sugar, and sometimes there is a deficit. In my opinion, farmers should be informed if a crop is in surplus. They should be advised to switch to those crops which are more profitable to them. It will help in increasing the soil fertility as well as in maintaining demand-supply balance also," Bharti added.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)