Jun 14, 2018
Artificially ripened banana seized
THENI
Artificially ripened banana weighing around one tonne was seized from the Allinagaram daily market and destroyed here on Wednesday.
Led by Food Safety Officer Dr. J. Suguna, a team of Food Safety Department officials conducted a raid around 5.30 a.m. They found that six shops were selling artificially ripened banana. The seized the fruits worth ₹25,000 and destroyed them.
Three sprayers used for spraying chemicals on the fruits to ripen them were also seized, she added.
Dr. Suguna said that she received a tip off that chemicals were sprayed on fruits and chemical sprayed and artificially ripened fruits were on display for sale at weekly and daily markets in Theni, Periyakulam, Cumbum, Bodi and Chinmanaur. To lodge any complaint, the public may contact mobile 94440-42322 for immediate action, she advised.
CSE calls for more stringent Food Safety norms
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has called for making the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 more effective and stringent. The draft Regulations had been released for comments by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in April, 2018. They mandate compulsory labelling of salt and introduction of front-of-pack labelling.
CSE has submitted its recommendations to the FSSAI to ensure a robust labelling framework in India.
“A strict labelling law is very important to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases plaguing our country. Though this draft Regulation is a good beginning, it also has major gaps that need to be plugged to make it effective,” said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.
One of the significant gaps that CSE has pointed out is that the draft Regulation does not provide for labelling of crucial aspects like added sugar and dietary fibres. “Public health and nutrition experts recommend that it is best to avoid added sugar in food items. It can be measured and controlled and therefore, must be labelled. Also, dietary fibre is a key beneficial component of our diet and must also be labelled. This will help consumers make informed and healthy food choices,” said Amit Khurana, programme director, food safety and toxins unit, CSE.
The draft Regulation merely states that HFSS (high in fat, sugar or salt) food products shall not be advertised to children in any form. CSE researchers point out that this is not enough. “Children are key consumers of HFSS food items and the burden of childhood obesity is rising. The FSSAI needs to adopt a detailed framework to regulate advertisement of HFSS foods. Celebrities should not be allowed to endorse them and there should be no advertisement of certain food categories such as soft drinks. Broadcasting regulations should be developed to limit the exposure of children to food advertisements during prime time programmes,” said Sonam Taneja, programme manager, food safety and toxins unit, CSE.
The draft Regulation emphasises on providing nutrition information for each serving of a food item. It also lays down that consumers should be made aware of the contribution of each serving to one’s daily quota of salt, sugar or fat. However, it does not standardise serving sizes. “Determination of serving sizes has been left to the industry -- this is a big loophole. We have seen that the food industry often claims very small serving sizes which are far from the reality and manipulates food labels. Serving sizes must be set by the FSSAI based on how much is customarily consumed by people in the Indian scenario,” said Bhushan.
The draft Regulation introduces labelling of genetically modified (GM) food. The FSSAI has been under the scanner for presence of GM food in India by way of import and otherwise.
CSE has recommended that through the Regulation, the FSSAI must aim to regulate illegal GM food in India and should set a stricter bar for exemption from GM labelling -- the bar set in the draft Regulations is very weak. “The FSSAI has a crucial role in ensuring food safety and a strong labelling regulation is a must to fulfil this mandate,” added Bhushan.
Do not allow ads for soft drinks: CSE
Research organisation gives suggestions to food safety authority on draft regulations
“Children are key consumers of food items that are high in fat, sugar and salt, which is leading to a rise in childhood obesity. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India needs to adopt a detailed framework to regulate ads of these items,” said a release issued by the Centre for Science and Environment.
The CSE also called for making the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018, more effective and stringent.
The draft regulations had been released for comments by the FSSAI in April. The regulations mandate compulsory labelling of salt and introduction of front-of-pack labelling.
“A strict labelling law is important to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases plaguing our country. The draft regulations is a good beginning, but it has major gaps that need to be plugged to make it effective,” said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.
‘Significant gaps’
One of the significant gaps that CSE has pointed out is that the draft regulations does not provide for labelling of crucial aspects like added sugar and dietary fibres.
“Public health and nutrition experts recommend that it is best to avoid added sugar in food items. It can be measured and controlled and therefore must be labelled. Also, dietary fibre is a key beneficial component of our diet and must also be labelled. This will help consumers make informed and healthy food choices,” said Amit Khurana, programme director (food safety and toxins unit), CSE.
The draft regulations state that HFSS (high in fat, sugar or salt) food items shall not be advertised to kids in any form. The CSE, however, said that this is not enough.
“Celebrities should not be allowed to endorse these food item and there should be no ads of certain food categories such as soft drinks. Broadcasting regulations should be developed to limit exposure of kids to food ads during TV prime-time,” said Sonam Taneja, programme manager (food safety and toxins unit), CSE.
The draft regulations emphasise on providing nutrition information for each serving of a food item. It also lays down rules that consumers should be made aware of the contribution of each serving to one’s daily quota of salt, sugar or fat.
However, it does not standardise serving sizes. “Determination of serving sizes has been left to the industry, this is a big loophole. We have seen that the food industry often claims very small serving sizes, which are far from reality, and manipulates food labels. Serving sizes must be set by the FSSAI, based on how much is customarily consumed by people in the context of India,” said Mr. Bhushan.
Get free insects on your plate when you order food in Telangana
Thanks to local politicians, vendors continue to violate hygiene norms; shortage of food inspectors a hindrance
A view of vendors serving food in unhygienic conditions in Karimnagar and Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Hyderabadis are not new to hidden surprises in food ordered from their favourite roadside eateries or even posh high-scale restaurants. Foodies, playing a treasure hunt on their plates, have spotted dead insects, cockroaches, house flies and even rats over the years. While some cases are brought to light, thereby alerting other patrons about the ‘extra hidden nutrition’ they are served, others choose to keep mum.
Even recently, a high-scale sandwich shop in Punjagutta —a global brand that advises people to eat fresh—was found serving fresh and live cockroaches marinated in their cool drinks and meatball whoppers. The situation is no different, rather worse, at unlicensed roadside eateries and tiffin centres. Though many patrons of these hole-in-the-wall eateries proudly claim taste is inversely proportional to hygiene, a glance inside the cooking area is enough to shock the strongest hearts.
Common patrons of the roadside food, apart from homo sapiens that is, are ants, cockroaches, rats and bandicoots. Unlike us beings, these little ones tend to fall inside the cooking utensils, food or serving plates while devouring their meal. Eatery owners, cooks or workers —who are not new to these uninvited guests —often remove them and serve the food. On an off chance, they land in the plates or mouths of patrons.
Now there are countless eateries dotting the city, and GHMC officials are racking their brains wondering how they can monitor all of them. “Many establishments go unchecked as we are pressed with other key issues, including sanitation, issuing of birth and death certificates, and other administration works,” says a GHMC official.
Call up GHMC to file complaint
If citizens find the food they are served is unhygienic, they can file a complaint at GHMC call centre by dialling on 040-21111111. Citizens can also complain of violations like non-supply of clean water, stale food, use of banned plastic covers to the civic body.
Warangal
Plates are never sterilised
Though Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation(GWMC) health wing officials claim that they conduct inspections on a regular basis and impose fine on those serving stale foods, the ground reality is different. Most of the kitchens of small restaurants and tiffin centres are poorly maintained, the water used to clean plates and dishes are of poor quality. Many eateries are run in unhygienic conditions. A large number of them do not sterilise serving plates and glasses. Meanwhile, GWMC health officer Dr Raja Reddy claimed that the corporation has been conducting inspections regularly and imposing fines on erring establishments.
Mahbubnagar
No full-time food inspector
Despite vendors flouting food standards regularly, Mahbubnagar authorities have not been able to take any action against them. Reason: the district doesn’t have full-time food inspector. The undivided Mahbubnagar district includes Mahbubnagar, Wanaparthy , Nagarkurnool and Jogulamba Gadwal municipalities. Most of commercial establishments in the districts have been using sub-standard pulses and grains to prepare the food. Consumers, who shell out a huge amount of money at these food joints, often do fall ill. When Express brought the issue to the notice of Mahbubnagar municipal commissioner Surender shrugged away the blame saying that it was not his responsibility.
Are authorities doing enough?
Authorities claim that as they receive complaints, the corporation ensures that Assistant Medical Officer of Health (AMOHs) and food inspectors swing into action, inspect the place and slap fines on owners under relevant acts if necessary. However, as the officials charge paltry amounts as fines, it doesn’t serve as a strong deterrent for the violators.
According to rules, hotels and restaurants should procure food licenses under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act. However, many hotels and restaurants operate without licenses in the city. Express found that many of them are strongly influenced by local political leaders and corporators who ensure the violators are never brought to the books.
Khammam
Vendors bribe authorities
Although hundreds of tiffin centres have been set up in Khammam, lack of monitoring in these centres have led to a dip in its quality and thus, inviting diseases. These tiffin centres, most of which do not have any permission from Municipal authorities, often serve food with insects. In fact, on Wednesday a person found a cockroach in a veg biryani platter at a food court on Wyra Road in the town. When the customer asked hotel management, they allegedly tried attacking him. One, K Madhav, an employee at a private firm alleged that the handlers of the tiffin centres bribed municipal officials to not check the quality of the food.
Sangareddy
Hotels serve rotten meat
Lack of monitoring by municipal sanitation inspector and food safety officials give hoteliers a leeway to flout food standards on a daily basis. Hotels in Sangareddy, Siddipet, Medak, Ramayampet, Gajwel, Zahirabad, Patancheru, RC Puram and other towns in united the Medak districts do not maintain minimum cleanliness. Hotels don’t use quality vegetables and store meat for weeks in cold storage. Locals allege that hotels have been serving rotten meat to customers. Meanwhile, officials cite shortage of staff as one of the key reasons for not conducting regular checks. There are only nine food safety inspectors for 31 districts in the State.
Karimnagar
Shortage of staff looms large
Bonagiri Srinivas, an employee of DRDA, went to a hotel opposite police headquarters in the district. When Srinivas ordered a vegetable biryani, hotel management served a foul-smelling leftover soup. A miffed Srinivas tried calling a food inspector to complain regarding the issue. It was then that he learnt that there was no food inspector available in the erstwhile Karimnagar district. In fact, he also learnt that the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar does not have a special wing to cheque hygiene levels of hotels and restaurants. Rajendrantha, the Food Inspector of Warangal district, serves as the in-charge food inspector for the erstwhile Karimnagar.
Effective labels for food items recommended
The draft laws state high in fat, sugar or salt food products “shall not be advertised to kids in any form”, the CSE said.
New Delhi: A Delhi-based green body on Wednesday said it has submitted recommendations to FSSAI on the draft regulations on labelling released by the food regulator, urging it to make the norms “effective and stringent”.
In April, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018 and sought comments from stakeholders.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in a statement said that the draft has “major gaps” and called for making it “effective and stringent”. The CSE said it has submitted recommendations to FSSAI to “ensure a labelling framework in the country”.
CSE deputy director general C. Bhushan said: “A strict labelling law is important to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases plaguing our country. Though this draft directives are a good beginning, it has major gaps that need to be plugged to make it effective.” One of the “gaps” the CSE said the draft “dosen’t provide for labelling of crucial aspects such as added sugar and dietary fibres”.
CSE programme director (food, safety and toxins) A. Khurana said: “Health and nutrition experts recommend it is best to avoid added sugar in food items. It can be measured and controlled and hence must be labelled. Also, dietary fibre is a key beneficial component of our diet and must be labelled. This will help consumers make informed and healthy food choices.”
The draft laws state high in fat, sugar or salt food products “shall not be advertised to kids in any form”, the CSE said. CSE programme manager S. Taneja said: “Kids are consumers of HFSS items. With many kids becoming obese, the FSSAI must adopt to regulate ads of HFSS foods.”
Jun 13, 2018
2 in dock for illegal sale of ice-cream
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh district court made two persons stand till rising of the court and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on them for preparing and selling ice-cream without a valid license.
The court of the chief judicial magistrate convicted the two persons, Bhupinder Sharma and Mehta Ram Sharma, who were challaned by the food inspector.
On April 7, 2017 food safety officer Bhaljinder Singh inspected the premises of Satnam Ice Cream at Manimajra, Chandigarh, where Bhupinder Sharma was preparing and selling ice cream on behalf of Mehta Ram Sharma, without a food license for human consumption and public sale. The officer prepared the spot memo and challaned the accused for selling food articles for human consumption without a food license under Section 26 (2) (iii) and 31(1) of the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006, punishable under Section 63 of the Act.
The defence argued that the duo had been implicated and no sample was taken at the time of inspection.
However, the prosecution said there was no requirement to take a sample of the food articles as the rules had been violated right at the outset of the venture.
After hearing the arguments, the court convicted both and made them stand till rising of the court.
Food safety officials collect samples to check adulteration
The team was comprised of Manoj Khosla, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Nawanshahr, and Sangeeta Sehdev, food safety officer. Amit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said the Food Safety Department has been directed to hold special campaign to implement Food Safety and Standards Act in the district to check adulteration in food products and artificial ripening of fruits.
Food safety officials on Monday told the residents about rampant artificial ripening of fruits. ARTIFICIAL RIPENING OF FRUITS
Consumption of artificially-ripened fruits can cause mouth ulcers, gastric ulcers, nervous breakdown and cancer. To ensure the supply of quality fruits to the public, a special drive has been initiated to check the quality of fruits on the directions of the state government.
Jun 12, 2018
‘85 per cent adulteration in loose edible oil’
Research by Consumer Voice, one of the leading consumer organisations in India, has confirmed adulteration up to 85 per cent in loose edible oil sold across 15 states in India.
KOCHI: Research by Consumer Voice, one of the leading consumer organisations in India, has confirmed adulteration up to 85 per cent in loose edible oil sold across 15 states in India. The study further revealed that the adulteration was found in eight major varieties namely mustard, sesame, coconut, sunflower, palmolein, soybean, groundnut and cottonseed oil.
The study highlighted that in the samples tested coconut oil was the most adulterated with 85 per cent adulteration. Results of tests done on cottonseed oil, sesame oil, mustard oil were no better with 74.07 per cent, 74 per cent and 71.77 per cent adulteration found respectively, a press release said quoting the study.
The laboratory tests were conducted by Consumer Voice, a voluntary consumer organization which works in the interest of consumer education and advocating consumer rights, at National Accreditation Board of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. With the sample size of 1,015, the loose edible oils for the research was taken from 15 prime Indian states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to name a few. The oils were tested on the grounds of both quality and safety parameters, standards established by FSSAI.
Not only do adulterated oils cause allergies and increase cholesterol, but they are also known to be a cause of deadly diseases such as cancer, paralysis, liver damage and cardiac arrest. Even the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations 2011), has banned the selling, buying and distribution of edible oil in the loose form, yet in the country it is being bought and sold.
Commenting on the research Ashim Sanyal, chief operating officer of the Consumer Voice, said, “The tests were conducted as an initiative to educate the consumers and make them conscious of the adulteration present in the loose oil currently available in the market. As for the government, it is our sincere appeal to take immediate contingency measures to stop the sales of loose edible oil, and punish the offenders.”
FSDA to keep check on ‘adulteration’ of food items
As temperatures in Meerut continue to rise and shelf life of food decreases in this summer season, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) will be conducting drives to check adulteration of food. It should be noted that shelf life of food decreases during summers, locals tend to fall prey to poor quality of food and then fall ill.
“We are set to conduct an anti-adulteration drive in the district wherein we will take suspected food samples and send them for checking in our Lucknow laboratory. As the city’s temperatures are on a rise, chances of spoiled food being sold increase,” said Archana Dheeran, designated officer of FSDA, Meerut unit.
Customers can file complaints related to food adulteration with the department, also on condition of anonymity, said FSDA authorities.
Also, if any city resident is apprehensive about a certain food item, he or she can send it for testing to the food department personally and if the sample is found adulterated, a complaint can be filed immediately. The sample may be submitted by depositing Rs 1,000 and if found adulterated, a complaint can be filed with FSDA officials, who will take further action on it.
“A team of officials has been made, which will conduct anti-adulteration drive in the district,” said Dheeran.
'Clean' street food hubs to come up in state
As part of food security measures, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to permit 'Clean' street food hubs, under food security regulations, at strategic public spots in towns and cities including Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.
“The hubs will be set at Juhu and Goregaon in Mumbai, at Sarasbaug in Pune and at Phutala Talao in Nagpur,” Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, FDA, Girish Bapat said on the occasion of 'World Food Security Day'. Besides this, two food testing labs will be procured at a cost of Rs 10 crore each.
He said that road-side eateries will also be brought under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and awareness will be created among vendors to ensure that they take all precautions, including selection of hygienic ingredients to prepare the food articles. Most of the states have already began spreading the message of 'health food'. Similarly, Maharashtra too will now spread this message across the state, including its villages.
As per the agreement between Maharashtra FDA and Coca-Cola, nearly 1,200 street-food vendors in Pune were recently given training on the aspect of safe and nutritious food, enabling them to improve the quality of their offering. This initiative was a part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Coca-Cola to train 50,000 street food vendors across India over the next three years under the 'Clean Street Food' project.
As part of this initiative, Coca-Cola India is closely working with the FDA in upgrading the eating out experience for the local populace. While Coca-Cola India is responsible for the program execution through its network of trainers, the FDA will ensure the relevance of the training content and shall oversee the overall delivery.
Also, machinery for fortification of food, including milk, maida, salt, vitamins, etc. will be set up in the state, Bapat said, adding, “Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micro-nutrients to food. Although generally it is a purely commercial choice to provide extra nutrients in a food, basically it is a public health policy which aims to reduce the number of people with dietary deficiencies.”
Meanwhile, the FDA has begun a drive to register and issue licenses to vendors. They include fruit, vegetable, coconut water vendor, egg, chicken, meat and fish sellers, pani-puri seller, soda, wine and beer shops, canteens in school, colleges and other public places, hotels, and restaurants, to name a few. So far, over 1 lakh local market shopkeepers and vendors have a food safety registration or license.
Food sellers who have a turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh need to compulsorily have a food license. If the turnover is less than Rs 12 lakh, they need to register with the FDA. As per the Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, if the food vendor does not register, he can be punished for six months in jail, with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. Manufacturers and distributors too are supposed to sell food products only to those who have a registration or license. If they sell food products to vendors who are not registered, they can be fined up to Rs 2 lakh.
FDA Joint Commissioner (Food), Shailesh Adhav, said, “Notices have been served to vendors and shopkeepers. They will be given some time. If they fail to have a license even after that, we will take strict action against the erring vendors.”
Jun 11, 2018
10 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes seized in Dindigul
Madurai: Food safety officials from Dindigul district seized 10 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes and destroyed them. The mangoes worth Rs 5 lakh were found during the raids conducted at various godowns around Palani.
The surprise raid was conducted late on Saturday night at Ayakudi village and its surroundings, based on a complaint. Officials said that at least eight godowns were found to ripen mangoes using carbide stones and spraying chemicals.
The raid was conducted by a team lead by the designated officer for food safety, Dindigul district, Natarajan. The official also warned other traders in the locality with severe action, if they continue this illegal practice. The officials said that mangoes are produced in a large-scale in and around Palani and the variety of mangoes grown here are sent to various cities.
Officials said that common symptoms of artificially ripened mangoes were stomach upset, ulcer and vomiting. Those who are allergic to chemicals may get skin problems like rashes and itching. They also warned that in rare cases, it can also cause cancer. They advised public to be careful while choosing mangoes. One can identify an artificially ripened mango once it is sliced. When the outer surface is ripened well compared to the inner part, it is an indication of artificial ripening, they said.
No, khaini not on ban wagon in Bihar
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Sunday clarified that they have not written any letter to the Center to facilitate introducing a ban on khaini, consumption of which causes a number of serious ailments.
Pandey said they are against the consumption of gutkha and khaini, found to be the major causes of mouth cancer, but have not asked the Centre for its prohibition.
The Health Minister further appealed to the people of the state to stop the consumption of gutkha and khaini.
According to a recent media report, the state government wrote to the Union Health Ministry, urging it to notify khaini as a food product. Upon notification, the state government can ban the product on health grounds.
According to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, any food product which has the presence of tobacco and nicotine in it, has to be banned.
Two years earlier, the Bihar government had banned the sale and consumption of liquor in the state.
Jun 10, 2018
Mangoes, bananas seized
The Food Safety Department officials seized 2.75 tonnes of mangoes and bananas, which were ripened artificially, from different shops in Salem city on Saturday.
Tip-off
On a tip-off, a team of officials led by S. Mariappan, Designated Officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, conducted surprise check in the fruit godowns before the break of dawn in the city.
The officials spotted that artificial methods like using prohibited acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas, for ripening the fruits was detected in all the cases.
The officials seized one tonne of mangoes and 1.75 tonnes of plantains from the godowns belonging to three traders.
Cases were registered against all the three persons.
85 per cent loose edible oil sold across country adulterated, finds study
As much as 85 per cent of the edible oil sold in loose across the country is adulterated, revealed a study conducted recently. Nutritionists warn that this would lead to the formation of toxins in the body called free radicals, which in turn are responsible for most of the lifestyle and chronic diseases.
Many among the public continue to buy edible oil in loose, despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning its sale, purchase and distribution of edible oils in that form.
“Not only do adulterated oils cause allergies and increase cholesterol levels, they are also known to be responsible for diseases such as cancer, paralysis, liver damage and cardiac arrest. The FSSAI, under the Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations, 2011, had banned selling, buying and distribution of edible oil in the loose form,” said Dr Niti Desai, a dietician and nutritionist.
According to the study conducted by the organisation Consumer Voice, adulteration was found in eight major varieties. The agency highlighted that in the samples tested, coconut oil was the most adulterated with 85 per cent adulteration.
For the study, 1,015 loose edible oil samples were collected from 15 states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. The oils were tested for quality and safety parameters, according to the standards established by FSSAI.
Experts warned that with the menace of adulteration spreading fast posing threats to the health and well-being of the citizens, it was important for the authorities to take stricter action to stop the sale of loose edible oil. A city-based nutritionist added that it was important that the public remained vigilant about the quality of food and food materials they consumed.
Officials keep an eye on mangoes
Testing time: Food Safety Officer I. Dhanaraju, along with his colleagues, inspects mangoes at a shop near Goubert Market at J.N. Street in Puducherry; seized mangoes loaded in a vehicle.
500 kg of artificially ripened fruit seized from a godown at Bharathi Street in a recent raid
With juicy mangoes flooding the market, Food Safety department officials reckon that the time is ripe for carrying out checks on the quality of the popular fruit.
Recently, a team of officials headed by the Food Safety officer I. Dhanraju seized 500 kg of artificially ripened mangoes from a godown inside a shop at Bharathi Street.
Mr. Dhanraju said that they had conducted raids in 17 shops at Nehru Street and three shops at Bharathi Street as a part of the seasonal routine work. During the raid, the officials found that mangoes were ripened using calcium carbide, a chemical substance. On searching a godown, four packets of sachets, each weighing 25 gm were concealed in seven trays of mangoes.
The traders purchase mangoes from Marakkanam, Vennangupattu, Kottikadu and other dealers from Tamil Nadu in bulk and use chemicals to boost up the sales during the peak season. “The mangoes will be destroyed and the shopkeeper will charged under rule 44AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act where artificial ripening agents are not permitted,” said the officer.
Such tactics had been around at least for over a decade, but over the last four years there was a decline in the usage of calcium carbide thanks to frequent department raids. The periodic raids had been a major deterrent to traders resorting to unfair practices which were also a health hazard to consumers, an official said.
Besides, these days awareness among consumers about the harmful effects of consuming artificially ripened fruits has also improved, officials said.
Nitish targets ‘khaini’, mulls ban on chewable tobacco
Consumption of khaini, a processed tobacco product has been found to be one of the major causes of oral cancer in Bihar,
Two years after the ban on liquor, the Bihar government has planned to ban the sale and consumption of khaini (a processed tobacco product) in the State.
The government has written to the Union Health Ministry to notify khaini as a food product.
Consumption of khaini has been found to be one of the major causes of oral cancer in Bihar.
Speaking to media persons, Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said khaini was pure tobacco and if the Central government approved the recommendation by the State government, “it will be regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”
Widespread addiction
The NGO Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS), too, is said to have written to the Union Health Ministry to include khaini as a food product under the FSSAI.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-II, 2016-17, altogether 25.9% of Bihar’s population use tobacco in different forms and 20.4% of them are addicted to khaini.
On May 21, the Bihar government banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine) for a year.
Jun 8, 2018
Food safety regulator looking at stricter penalty for offenders
The FSSAI is looking to amend the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The penalty and punishments that will be given to offenders will be significantly stricter than they are at present.
India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India, is looking to amend the standards for food items to tightening the noose around offending food business operators, including manufacturers, sellers and distributors, sources said.
The FSSAI is looking to amend the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in order to revise the penalty structure, meaning the penalty and punishments that will be given to offenders will be significantly stricter than they are at present.
For instance, under the current structure, the penalty for selling misbranded or sub-standard food stands at between Rs 3-5 lakh.
Penalty in this bracket is likely to be hiked significantly. There are some changes that the authority is working on with regards to punishment as well. Businesses caught selling unsafe food resulting in both death-like situation and death could receive life imprisonment and an increase in fine.
At present, the punishment for unsafe food resulting in death is life imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine and the punishment for unsafe food resulting in grievous injury or death-like situation is imprisonment of 6 years and Rs 5 lakh fine.
This revision in penalty structure comes at a time when food adulteration rates in India are still significantly high.
Data sourced from FSSAI annual reports shows that, food adulteration rate in India has almost doubled over the last 5 years. Food adulteration rate in India stood at 23% in 2016-17 compared to 13% in 2011-12.The final contours of the penalty & punishment structure are still being finalised at this point. These changes proposed by the FSSAI could take about 4-6 months to come into effect.
State wants ‘khaini’ covered under food safety Act
PATNA: The Bihar health department plans to write to the Union health ministry, requesting it to include ‘khaini’ as a food product under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
‘Khaini’ is said to be a pure form of tobacco. Tobacco per se is not banned. Pure tobacco is not covered by the food safety wing.
Confirming the state health department’s move, department’s principal secretary Sanjay Kumar said on Thursday there was also a need to create awareness through different mediums about the harmful effects of tobacco.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS), an organisation collaborating in the state government’s effort to control tobacco use, on Thursday wrote to the state health department to include ‘khaini’ as a food product under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“Khaini is the most prevalent form of smokeless tobacco used in Bihar. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2 of 2016-17, 25.9% of the state’s population use tobacco in different forms and 20.4% of them are addicted to ‘khaini’,” SEEDS executive director Deepak Mishra told this reporter.
The Centre had formed a Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force earlier this year. The first meeting of the task force chaired by Union health ministry secretary Preeti Sudan was held in Delhi on Thursday.
“Three civil societies, including SEEDS, have been roped in to support the task force. I presented a similar motion against ‘khaini’ at the meeting. The secretary asked FSSAI officials to look into the possibility of accepting ‘khaini’ as a food product,” Mishra said.
The state health department’s food safety wing on May 21 this year banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of guthka and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine) for the next one year.
Earlier, the State Health Society Bihar, in order to curb consumption of tobacco by minors at hookah bars and sheesha lounges, had issued a letter to all the DMs and civil surgeons to shut down all the illegal lounges in the state. It had also asked the authorities concerned in the districts to remove hoardings and banners advertising tobacco products.
Food safety goes for a toss as adulterated oil trading thrives
The recent raids conducted by the food safety department at food processing units have brought to light the trend of adulterated, inferior quality food items, edible oil and artificially ripened fruits being supplied to the city markets on a large-scale. The latest being the seizure of 15,000 litres of adulterer edible oil from a large-scale manufacturing unit in Madurai city on Wednesday night. The officials have closed down the unit, which was functioning at Hunuman Nagar in Chinthamani and samples collected are send to Chennai for testing.
This is the second such seizure in Madurai. Earlier, more than 4,000 litres of adulterated oil was seized at Alwarpuram near Goripalayam. According to officials, the seizures could be just the tip of the iceberg. They believe that the quantity seized on Wednesday could be just a day’s production and the product could have been in use for long, as the unit has been functioning for many years. Officials said that thousands of litres of adulterated oil could still be in retail stores.
Probably for the first time in Madurai the officials have seized the flavours used to ‘convert’ palmolein into groundnut and gingili oils. The seizure includes 10 litres of essence imported from Malaysia.
A team of food safety officials led by designated officer for food safety, Madurai district, Dr M Somasundaram conducted a search in the unit, which has been silently functioning in a 5,000 square feet space amid various other factories. "Everybody knows adulteration takes place in oil and sold at cheaper price. This is the first time that we could find essences used for adulteration. They were hidden inside a godown in a house belongs to the manufacturer," said Somasundaram.
The adulterated oil is packed in various quantities from 50 ml to 5 litres. While one litre of palmolein costs around Rs 70, the repacked oil after adding the essence is sold for more than Rs 100. It was found in two brands – Amutham and Maan. Officials said that the manufacturer has tried to play it safe by mentioning on the sachet of Amutham brand that the oil is for external use only. But the letters are very small to notice and it is not in Tamil. But in the Maan brand there is no such ‘warning’.
Talking about the health hazards of the oil, Dr Somasundaram said that while a litre of good quality groundnut oil is sold at Rs 200 and gingili oil at Rs 300, they have priced them around just Rs 100. People tend to be misguided and purchase them. When the price is just the half, they tend to use more oil in cooking, which will result in heart problems, stroke, obesity and diabetes. High consumption of a quantity of adulterated oil can also cause infertility, if used for a longer period of time.
Somasundaram said that they have warned retailers to be wary of these brands and have urged them to take it off the shelf. "Stringent action would be taken against the retailers also if they found to be selling adulterated oil. It is their duty to ensure quality," he warned.
Exercise prudence in choosing oil’
While a range of edible oil used for cooking is available in the market at various prices, experts urge the public to exercise prudence in choosing better products in terms quality. Since oil being one of the important ingredients in our food preparation, the quality of the oil cannot be compromised at any cost.
Agappai Muthukumar from the city, who has been into sensitising the health benefits of millets, says that good quality of oil cannot be purchased at a price lower than that of the raw materials required to produce the oil and people should be wary of adulterated oil. It takes at least 2kg of groundnut to get one litre of oil. At present 1kg of groundnut costs between Rs 80 and Rs 85. A simple maths can tell that good quality of groundnut oil cannot be sold anything less than Rs 200. But many brands are sold in the market between Rs 100 to Rs 160 a litre.
Food safety officials also warned the public to be wary of the cheap oils available in the market. At the same time, one cannot believe that those packed nicely and priced premium are of good quality. "There are many oil brands being sold in the name of cold pressed oil and priced over Rs 300 a litre. But in reality, their quality is similar to the ones sold in the market at half the price," a food safety official said.
Agappai Muthukumar added that many families on a tight budget cannot afford expensive oil all of a sudden. They can bring down the price to an extent if a group of families come together to produce the oil required for their families. All required ingredients are available in the market, which can be processed and taken to a cold press unit to get quality oil, he said.
Are you gorging on meat that’s illegal?
The holy month of Ramzanalso means feasting at the food hubs in the evenings, where kebabs and the choicest of meats are on display. The iftar hotspots also end up serving some exotic fare like emu, teetar and camel meats. The availability of these meats does get the foodies excited, but did you know there are only six kinds of meat that are legally permissable in the country. Previously, Dr Manilal Valliyate of PETA India, had told us, “The killing of animals other than these six broad groups are prohibited in India as per The Food Safety and Standards Act and Regulations.” According to the FSS Act and Regulations, only six kinds of meat are permissable in the country. These include ovines (sheep), caprines (goat), suillines (pigs), bovines (buffaloes), poultry (mainly chicken) and fish.
Mice-squirrel hair and stool: Do you know that all this is in your food?
Cinnamon, red chili, oregano, oregano, sesame, fennel, ginger, and other spices are often found in insects or animal stools.
Whenever I eat chocolate I only think about his calorie. Never thought of the presence of hair or stool in the rodent (rodents, rods, squirrels, etc.). But it seems that maybe I should think. In the United States, the American Food and Drug Authority (FDA), which decides the scale for food items, has released a booklet called 'Defensive Levels Handbook'. There is an acceptable scale in it.
According to this, 'the limits of natural and inevitable deficiencies in food items were fixed, which are not dangerous for humans.' The motivation behind the exemption from
'this natural and indispensable' fault is probably to provide protection from the lawsuits.
The FDA handbook gives approval for getting a hair of a rodent in a chocolate bar (about 100 grams). In this 100 grams 60 pieces of insects are also approved. Legally insects-regardless of any part of their body, larvae or anything on the body of the animal can be anything, they are allowed in 71 foods. You can find these peanut butter, red chilli, oregano, cinnamon, cassia and many other food items. Oregono can contain 300 pieces of insects, while 1250 pieces of insects are allowed in the ground Oregono. Tomato juice can be up to 10 grams of fly ages or a worm per 100 grams. 15 grams of dry mushrooms can have 20 insects or 75 pots. A box of cherries can contain 5 percent insects.
interesting thing is that the FDA has allowed the presence of the head of the insects in only one thing. . This is fig There are 13 heads in 100g of fig paste. But why only the head? God knows (probably the reason FDA is not even aware). However, what FDA well knows is how to make Rodant's ideal hair mix of food.
In a 100 gram peanut butter, 30 pieces of worm body and one hair of the rodent are allowed, making an ideal combination. 50 grams of cinnamon is allowed to add 400 pieces of insects and 10 hair of the rodent. 25 grams of capsicum is allowed in 75 pieces of body and 11 rodent hair.
Cinnamon, red chilli, oregano, oregano, sesame, fennel, ginger, and other spices are often found in insects or animal stools. FDA grants its 20 mg of cocoa beans in 1 kg. Nine Ladies are allowed in every kilogram of wheat. Even a lion is allowed in a sub-sample of a Ken's popcorn. However the size of the sub-sample in FDA's booklet has not been defined.
Know-how unknowingly you eat fungus
Fungi is also an acceptable flavor in most fruits, vegetables, butter and jam. Freshwater is acceptable for red pepper by about 20 percent. Freshwater is allowed to be 5% in Sharp leaf pack and 3% in frozen peach cane.
74% with the permission of fungus, Blackcurrent Jam is at the top of this list. Low-level fungus is also approved in tomato catchip, tomato juice and canned tomato.
If this is not enough, then the FDA handbook has approved the presence of 'Foreign Matter' in certain selected foods. is. It included stones, trays, jute fibers and cigarettes too! This is the 'natural or inevitable flaws in food, which do not threaten human health'.
If you are shocked by the low demand of American packaged food of poor quality, then pay attention to your own country. The Indian incarnation of the FDA is FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). It also adheres to similar standards, but they are so misleading that no one bothers to read them. Rather than publishing them together in the handbook, it hides them under the guise of separate food for different foods.
When it comes to permissible food spoilers, FSSAI uses a terminology called 'external element'. It has been defined by defining it, 'Any element contained in any food item that comes from raw materials, packaging material or the processing system used in preparing it, but it does not make food harmful.'
FSSAI does not define a toxic element
FSSAI does not clearly define toxic elements in a handbook or document. Although it clearly shows in its various rules.
For example, the condition of FSSAI is just that the peanut can not be just 'practically' pebbles, dust, soil etc. in the roasted peanut. Apart from this, 5 percent of the total packet can be broken. In the case of most dry fruits and seeds, 2 percent can be 'swollen and broken', which also includes spoilage by insects. In the case of
Dukhi Aphani, FSSAI says that there should not be live insects in it, but 'logical' amounts can be a pile of insects, parts of vegetation and other objectionable things. Up to 3 percent the betel nut may be bad with fungi and insects.
Flour can be ashes up to 2% in packets. Nutritious dough, which is rich in nutrients or nutrients, can be as much as 2.75% ash. All types of grains, which include wheat, maize, jowar, millet, rice and most of the pulses of pulses, rajma, moong, lentils, urad etc, they have 1 percent foreign elements. It includes 0.1 percent impurity from animals. These essential things, which are eaten every day in every home in our country, contain pieces of some metals, sand, dust, pebbles, sand, sand and animals, and hair.
Do you know what you are eating?
In sugar, refined sugar and turmeric, 0.1% of external ingredients can be added, but in jaggery cases it can be up to 2%. If you are impressed with this exact assessment, on the other hand, in the case of the city, it is necessary to see only the eyes that there is no fungus, dust, garbage, flies and insects.
Likewise, India's favorite beverage- tea-only wants FSSI to stay alive insects, dead insects, insect fragments, moisture or 'remains of the roadway visible from the naked eye'. FSSI allows external elements of 1-2% in many types of salt and spices such as cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and red chilli, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, fenugreek etc. It includes dust, dirt, stones, and parts of land, sheds.
An officer told me that when India needed pulses a few years ago, it was imported from Burma. There were too many stones in the pulse. FSSI then talked to his Ministry instead of raising this issue and changed the rules to allow more stones. In this way food quality is determined by corporations and regulatory bodies, which are set up to protect them. Then who will protect the consumers?
Jun 7, 2018
Soon, check an eatery’s FDA rating before booking table
MUMBAI: On the occasion of World Food Safety Day on Thursday, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will flag off a pilot rating system for restaurants for the first time in the country. Restaurants will be rated on a scale of zero to five stars on the basis of hygiene and responsibility to customer safety.
The rating system, based on the ‘Scores on the Doors’ scheme followed in some western countries, will first be carried out in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. “The food hygiene rating given will reflect our inspection findings. The purpose of this scheme is to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places where they eat out. The aim is to reduce the incidence of food-borne illnesses and associated costs to the economy,” said FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade.
To get the hygiene stars, restaurants will first have to complete an online self-assessment. “Our inspectors will then go and inspect the restaurants on the parameters such as cleanliness, design and facilities, availability of water and soap, etc,” said Darade. Based on the FDA’s assessment, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will give the hygiene rating to the restaurant. “The food hygiene rating will be based on what we find when we inspect the premises. We use a scoring system to rate how well a food business is run. The best is five stars and the worst is no stars,” Darade added.
The second rating, the “responsible place to eat” tag, can be earned if the place not only ensures that its staff is clean and undergoes periodic health checks, but even ensures that surplus food is not thrown out but donated. “We have some 20 parameters on which restaurants will be marked,” said a senior FDA official.
The eateries will also be graded on the advice they give out to customers: Be it awareness about balanced diet or the pitfalls of adding extra sugar and salt to food.
Establishments should ensure that all beverages are made in potable water and cooking methods are hygienic.
“We will also check if restaurants are transparent in allowing customers to visit their kitchens,” said Darade. Kitchens that are open and allow consumers to check on safety angles such as food handlers and cooks wearing protective gear, will be noted.” Having an effective consumer redressal mechanism with WhatsApp numbers or emails will be a plus point too, said officials.
The FDA has already carried out a small drive of grading 30 restaurants—15 in Mumbai, 10 in Pune and five in Nagpur— and their officials will be given the star ratings at a public function to be held in Bandra on Thursday.
Hygiene rating for restaurants soon
Restaurants will need to display scores at the entrance; optional requirement for now
Mumbai: In a first, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will rate restaurants on the basis of hygiene and parameters like water management, kitchen upkeep, food waste management, complaint handling etc. The restaurants will be required to display the scores on the doors so customers can easily see the information.
“This plan has been adopted in many countries and has been successful. Initially, it will not be a mandatory but voluntary for food joint owners. The success of this initiative will be achieved when visitors ensure they eat at restaurants with good ratings and are mindful of their eating habits,” said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), who announced the initiative on Wednesday.
While it is an FSSAI initiative, the FDA will implement it. In Maharashtra, pilots will be carried out in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, and 30 restaurants will be given the score certificates in the first round.
In another initiative, the FDA will declare clean street food hubs. In the initial stages of the plan, the FDA will work with other associations in four zones: Juhu Chowpatty and Girgaum Chowpatty in Mumbai, Saras Baug in Pune and Phutara Talaav in Nagpur.
“We have already conducted activities for training and capacity-building of the street food vendors but problems like absence of clean water supply are much bigger . Hence, based on an approved framework, we will conduct a gap analysis and solve the problems,” said Dr. Pallavi Darade, FDA Commissioner. The FSSAI chief also emphasised the importance of food fortification.
On food fortification, Mr. Agarwal said, “Food fortification costs little. Hence, many companies and organisations are ready to adopt it including the Central Government, that ensures use of fortified food products in schemes such as the mid-day meal. Consumers too can now know if a product is fortified with the help of the ‘+F’ logo on the packaging.”
World Food Safety Day: FSSAI to rate quick service food joints on six parameters
In a pilot project in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will launch a hygiene plus rating system for quick service restaurants, food chains and joints to assess them on parameters like how they dispose off excess food, hygiene practices amongst staffers, safe water handling and how they promote consumer education about healthy eating.
Until now, 30 restaurants — 15 in Mumbai, 10 in Pune and five in Nagpur — have been rated on a scale of five based on six parameters by food inspectors.
“The concept will be expanded across India and we make such certification mandatory in future,” said Pawan Agrawal, CEO of FSSAI. Hygiene rating will also influence customer decision in choosing a place to eat, he said.
“We will also judge a restaurant on how transparent they keep their kitchen for customer visits, whether they have open kitchen or easy access,” Agrawal added.The six parameters will asses whether staff is medically examined for infectious diseases every six months, what the restaurant does with surplus food, whether it is providing hygiene and sanitation to customers, if the restaurant advices on nutritional status of food items, complaint management, waste water management and transparency in food preparation in kitchens. A major focus on concept of open kitchens will be laid to ensure food preparation is hygienic.
“The idea is to make consumers aware. Restaurants will start complying if a customer is affected by the hygiene standards of a food joint,” said Pallavi Darade, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner. FDA has selected four food hubs in Maharashtra — in Juhu Chowpatty, Giragaum Chowpatty, Saras baug in Pune and Futala lake in Nagpur — to train street hawkers on hygiene practices, sanitation and healthy cooking habits.
“The framework has been prepared by central government. We will have to coordinate with other agencies and licensing authorities to ensure cleanliness is maintained. Declaring these hubs as clean street food hubs can take months,” Darade said.
Jun 6, 2018
Health at risk with only 3 food inspectors in Hyderabad
In the absence of food inspectors, the health and hygiene at eateries is a million dollar question.
Even though the state government has assured that the 26 vacancies in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will be filled, no recruitment has been done till date.
Hyderabad: For a city with more than 20,000 food joints, 5,000 roadside pushcart vendors and 1.2 billion population, the civic body has only three food inspectors as against a required strength of 30.
They are in charge of ensuring that all registered restaurants and eateries abide by the acceptable standards of health and hygiene.
Even though the state government has assured that the 26 vacancies in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation will be filled, no recruitment has been done till date.
In the absence of food inspectors, the health and hygiene at eateries is a million dollar question. Surprisingly, in its eagerness to achieve property tax targets, the GHMC has compromised on public health and deputed all the three food inspectors to collect tax. Officials admit that it is impossible to ensure hygiene and safety in all city hotels with the current staff. Due to the deficiency of staff, only about 50 food samples are tested thrice a week.
When contacted, the GHMC health wing officials denied the allegations and said that they had no role in collecting property tax till today. Instead, they said, they had recently attended a training programme organised by the Commissioner of Food Safety.
Commenting on the duties of food inspectors, a health wing official said, “We are expected to monitor all these facilities and ensure proper food and water, that there is no contamination or poisoning, that the kitchens and serving areas are clean and hygienic, and that no stale food is being dished out.”
Milk Adulteration: The white poison
Given its high demand, some miscreants indulge in adulteration and start trading on its quality for their selfish and cunning interests
Nature’s one of the richest sources of energy and nutrients- milk, is preferred by one and all alike from the beginning of time.
Dairy products always have had a special place in our dietary system. It is a major source of food for infants, children and even adults consume it in one form or another.
The moment a child is born his first meal is always milk. It is widely produced, consumed and always high in demand source of food worldwide.
Given its high demand, some miscreants indulge in adulteration and start trading on its quality for their selfish and cunning interests.
They have become so selfish that without thinking about the repercussions, they resort to unethical and criminal practices of adulteration which compromises on the quality and puts health of consumers which happen to be mostly children at risk.
Adulteration is the process of intentionally degrading the quality and concentration of milk by adding water to increase the selling quantity, using bovine growth hormones (BGH) which is a genetically engineered growth hormone identical to natural bovine pituitary product to increase milk production by 15 percent to 25 percent or by adding some cheaper or inferior chemicals and preservatives (which are mostly carcinogenic) to enhance its shelf life, either ways the quality of milk gets deteriorated.
This adulterated and substandard milk is then supplied throughout the state especially to urban areas via shabby delivery channels and stored in unhygienic conditions which further downgrade its quality.
Adulteration not only makes milk deficient in nutrients but mostly results in its contamination causing serious health risks.
Food poisoning, diarrhoea, brucellosis, abdominal pain, fever, listeriosis, inflammatory bowel syndrome are some of the diseases caused due to consumption of contaminated dairy products.
As per several researches the preservatives and chemicals used in feeds of these animals and in packed dairy products like cheese and toned milk are also known to be highly carcinogenic if consumed for a longer period.
Many dieticians don’t recommend consumption of milk to their patients as they fear that there may be biologically active metabolites of anti-microbe and contaminants in milk products that could result in serious health issues.
Substandard milk has now became a normal thing in our society and people have willingly or unwilling started to live with it and concerned authorities don’t feel the need or compulsion to take action against the culprits or implement some quality assurance in farms to reduce contaminants in milk and dairy products.
Yes, we do see some random anti-adulteration drives by authorities and some penalties once in a blue moon but given the seriousness of the crime I think it’s just not enough.
No proper system or checks are in place to control the quality of dairy products making it easier for these criminal elements to run their business.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of India while acting on the PIL based on the report titled “Executive Summary on National Survey on Milk Adulteration, 2011” released by Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which concluded that on a national level, 68.4 percent of milk being sold is adulterated, issued directions to prevent sale of adulterated and synthetic milk.
Sadly, in our state we don’t have much clinical records available and no proper testing mechanism is in place, so I am afraid the figures may be much higher than the national average.
As per some media reports which claim it to me more than 83 percent in the State of Jammu Kashmir.
Considering the seriousness of the matter and ongoing holy month of Ramadan, our state must implement some effective strategies to overcome this menace.
Authorities need to take appropriate steps like directing dairy farm owners, operators and retailers working in the state that if such adulterants are found in the milk, stringent action will be taken against them.
The actions should not just be limited to penalties and fines but should include other stringent punishments like imprisonment and cancellation of licenses as well.
State Food Safety Authorities should also ensure that there is adequate lab testing infrastructure and ensure that all labs are well-equipped.
To prevent adulteration of milk, the concerned department must set up a website specifying the functioning and responsibilities of food safety authorities.
Government must also evolve a robust complaint mechanism for checking corruption and other unethical practices of the food authorities and their officers.
District-wise special teams need to be allotted to regularly check the standard of food products available in market and awareness needs to be created among masses by way of media to identify and report adulteration incidents.
Toll free numbers for registering complaints also need to be made available. School children should be educated by conducting workshops and teaching them easy methods for detection of common adulterants in milk products.
These small steps will surely be very helpful in eradicating this social evil from our society and letting us live a healthy life.
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