Nov 15, 2018
Nov 14, 2018
Food safety team disposes of 25-kg peeled onions
Jalandhar, November 13
The food safety team carried out an inspection drive at various business food operators and collected 11 samples of food products including cheese, curd, pulses, oil, biscuits besides others, here today.
The team, headed by District Health Officer (DHO), Balwinder Singh and Food Safety Officer (FSO), Rashu Mahajan, inspected establishments at Ram Nagar, Gandhi Camp and near BMC Chowk.
The DHO said the inspection was the part of sampling drive started under ‘Tandarust Punjab’ mission.
He said during the inspection at a restaurant, the team found 25-kg peeled onions stored in an unhygienic manner which was disposed off.
Dr Singh informed that all samples had been sent to the State Food Lab and action would be taken accordingly.
Now, packaged foods industry will have to be true to its words
FSSAI to notify claims and advertisement regulations soon
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 13
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will soon notify its final regulations on claims and advertisements for the packaged foods industry. This is aimed at making companies more accountable for their health and nutritional claims to protect consumer interest.
The regulator, on Tuesday, also released the interim findings of its milk survey. Less than 10 per cent of the 6,432 samples tested were found to have contaminants such as residues of pesticides (1.2 per cent), antibiotics, aflatoxin and ammonium sulphate.
Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, said: “We will soon notify the regulations on claims and advertisements, which have got the final approvals from the Health Ministry.”
Through these regulations, FSSAI aims to put restrictions on the use of certain words on food labels — such as natural, fresh, original, traditional, premium, finest, best, authentic, genuine, and real — unless the products meet specific conditions.
With the implementation of these regulations, packaged food companies will need to ensure that any claims regarding nutritional or health attributes about their products are scientifically substantiated.
In addition, they will need to ensure that product advertisements do not suggest that their products were a complete meal replacement, or undermine the importance of healthy lifestyles.
The regulations will define norms for nutrient-content claims and those regarding non-addition of salt and sugar, besides specifying standardised statements for health claims for food companies.
Milk survey
Meanwhile, the food safety regulator released interim finding of the National Milk Quality Survey 2018, which stated that only 12 of the 6,432 samples collected were found to have adulterants such as detergents urea and hydrogen peroxide that affect the safety of milk.
Milk samples were also tested for 18 pesticides, 93 antibiotics and veterinary drugs, aflatoxin M1 and ammonium sulphate. “Less than 10 per cent (638 out of 6,432 samples) had contaminants that make milk unsafe for consumption. In all these cases, milk is getting contaminated due to poor quality of feed, poor farm practices, and irresponsible use of antibiotics… But it is restricted to a few pockets and in some States, and these can be addressed through targeted awareness-building initiatives,” FSSAI stated.
Agarwal, however, added that currently there are no regulations for ammonium sulphate in milk, and that FSSAI will consider if tolerance limits needed to be set.
The survey findings also raise concerns regarding quality parameters of milk. “About 19.6 per cent (1,261) samples did not meet the set limits for SNF. In another 3.4 per cent (218 samples) of the total samples, sugar and maltodextrin was found to be added,” it stated.
Agarwal said that quality issues were higher in raw milk compared to processed milk, and may depend on the breed of cattle, dilution through water, or rearing practices. “But we were surprised to find non-compliance of quality parameters in processed milk also. We will take this up with the processed milk companies and look at setting up a robust monitoring mechanism,” he added.
FSSAI bans animal-origin silver leaf in confectionary
There are apprehensions of silver leaf not being of desired purity and containing dangerous metallic impurities.
The glittery delicate silver leaves used on sweets and confectionery will be under scanner as food regulatory body, Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has asked states, including J&K to ensure the leaf used is not of animal origin.
The order is an extension of its earlier order issued in 2016 which had banned use of materials of animal origin in the manufacturing of chandi ka warq (silver leaf). “It (silver leaf) should not be manufactured using any material of animal origin at any stage and be in accordance with provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, and Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011” the order had stated, directing states to submit action-taken-report of surveillance to FSSAI at earliest.
There are apprehensions of silver leaf not being of desired purity and containing dangerous metallic impurities. FSSAI has directed states to use its manual to detect the purity of this popular garnish used in confectionery industry.
The regulation has also specified the specifications of silver leaf. “It should be in the form of a sheet of uniform thickness, free from creases and folds. The weight of the silver leaf should be up to 2.8g/sq m, and silver content should be of minimum 999/1,000 fineness.”
Natural food has to be natural: FSSAI
NEW DELHI: Food companies cannot use words such as ‘natural’, ‘fresh’, ‘original’, ‘traditional’, ‘pure’, ‘authentic’, ‘genuine’ and ‘real’ on the labels unless the product is not processed in any manner except washed, peeled, chilled and trimmed or put through other processing which could alter its basic characteristics, as per new regulations of Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that will be notified in the coming days.
Companies using terms which could mean ‘natural’, ‘fresh’, ‘original’, ‘traditional’, ‘pure’, ‘authentic’, ‘genuine’ and ‘real’ as their brand name or trade mark will have to give a clear disclaimer stating “this is only a brand name or trade mark and does not represent its true nature”, the regulation stipulates. “We are fully supportive of FSSAI’s efforts to improve nutritional standards in India. Along with the rest of the F&B industry, we are engaging with them to have robust regulations in place,” a spokesperson for HUL said.
The regulation also lays down criteria for certain claims which food companies can make in their advertising and promotions such as nutrition claims, non-addition claims (including non-addition of sugarsNSE -2.18 % and sodium salts), health claims, claims related to dietary guidelines or healthy diets and conditional claims. Packaged food companies cannot advertise products as complete meal replacement or undermine the importance of healthy lifestyle.
In case an advertiser wants to make claims for which regulations have not been specified in, they will have to seek approval from the authority. The new regulation prohibits food businesses from advertising or making claims undermining the products of other manufacturers as to promote their own products or influence consumer behaviour. There are strict penalty provisions for those misleading consumers.
Milk just safe, quality still an issue
17% Found Unsafe, FSSAI Plans Action
New Delhi:
The quality of milk sold in the country has come under the regulatory scanner with nearly half or 48.9% of samples tested by the food safety regulator found to be non-compliant with its standards. Though only 10% of samples were found unsafe, quality issues persist with 39% failing on compliance parameters raising concerns about quality of milk consumed in the country.
The regulator is particularly concerned about processed milk, with 46.8% processed milk samples found non-compliant with standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Of this, a significant 17.3% share of processed milk is unsafe. On the contrary, only 4.9% of raw milk samples were found having safety issues. The rest 45.4% of raw milk was found to be non-compliant with regulatory standards but safe for public health, according to the findings of the National Milk Safety and Quality Survey, 2018.
“We are surprised and particularly concerned that processed milk which is mostly from the organized sector is non-compliant and have a higher percentage of safety issues as compared to raw milk samples. We have the details of these processed milk samples including their brands and locations. We are doing a detailed investigation and will soon take action to resolve this,” FSSAI chief executive Pawan Agarwal said.
Agarwal maintained milk in India is “largely safe” though there are quality issues, which are being looked at by the regulator. The unsafe contaminants are coming mainly from “poor farm practices,” he said.
Estimates show that currently consumption of raw milk is much more because most of the population resides in rural area though processed milk is catching up fast with rapidly spreading network of organized players.
Findings of the survey show main contaminants causing safety concerns are related to presence of antibiotics, soil fertilizers like ammonium sulphate and toxins like Aflatoxin M1- found on agricultural crops such as maize, cottonseed and tree nuts – above tolerance level. More samples of processed milk were found containing all these unsafe contaminants, as compared with raw milk samples.
FSSAI hired a third party food testing lab, Vimta Labs, for conducting the survey based on a total 6,432 samples collected and tested from across the country over a period of six months between May to October, 2018. The samples included 41% processed milk and 59% raw milk. Of the processed milk, 60% were toned milk, 20% full cream milk, 15% standard milk and 5% double toned milk. Raw milk samples included one-third each of cow, buffalo and mixed milk.
The survey covered only liquid milk and not milk products.
FSSAI is now doing a detailed investigation, mainly on processed milk. “We are working out an action plan against the safety and quality concerns raised in the survey, mainly in processed milk. This will include periodic sampling, monitoring, facility audits by third party and checking of supply chain,” Agarwal said.
Nov 13, 2018
Well oiled ‘cracked egg racket’ comes to surface
During routine inspection, food officials stumble on a supply network of damaged eggs, which poses a major health issue
Madurai is renowned for its non-vegetarian food, and egg is a staple item in a majority of the restaurants and roadside eateries in the city. It is common to see order takers in these places nudging their customers to go for omelette, scrambled egg or a bull’s eye, presumably due to the high profit margin in egg-based items.
However, a series of raids by Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (FSDA) has revealed that eating egg-based food, either cooked or baked, is not safe. Ahead of Deepavali, what began as a raid to identify adulteration in preparation of sweets and savouries has led FSDA officials to stumble on an well-oiled supply network of cracked and damaged eggs, which poses a major health issue.
M. Somasundaram, Designated Officer, Food Safety, says the racket surfaced while they were inspecting a large manufacturing unit of bakery items and snacks at Melakkal last Friday. “A foul smell came from nowhere and we traced it to an area where a large number of trays of eggs were stored. A closer look revealed that all were cracked and damaged,” he says.
This startling discovery led to focused raids and the trail led to three egg wholesalers, eight large manufacturing units of bakery items and number of small eateries that dealt with damaged eggs. While some have been closed, others were served notices.
According to the officials, damaged eggs collected from poultry farms and eggs that develop cracks during transportation are collected separately and sold to ‘dealers’ who specialise in selling them in bulk. In most cases, this racket originates in Namakkal itself. Trucks exclusively transporting damaged eggs from Namakkal, a place famous for its poultry farms, reach godowns of wholesalers from where they are taken by agents for supply down the chain.
While bulk supplies go to select bakery units, there is also demand for such eggs in smaller eateries. “We found five outlets around Arappalayam bus stand using these eggs,” an official said.
In huge bakery units, these eggs are mainly used in cakes and macaroons, and for coating on puffs, called ‘egg wash’ to give the golden sheen. “Many small bakeries in the city do not make products in-house. They get a regular supply of various products from these nondescript big units, where usage of cracked eggs is rampant,” the official says.
In eateries
In eateries, they are used in a variety of egg-based dishes, including egg parotta and scrambled eggs (muttai poriyal), the officials say. While the exact price at which these cracked eggs are sold is hard to come by, officials say it should be one-third or one-fourth of the regular price.
Dr. Somasundaram says cracked eggs are prone to a variety of infections from bacteria and other micro organisms such as pseudomonas and salmonella. “Eggs, once the shell cracks, must be eaten within couple of hours. At home, you can pour the egg in a vessel and use it after a few more hours if refrigerated. However, in this supply chain of cracked eggs, they are often used after a day or two,” he says.
While food poisoning is the common ailment, eating such eggs could also lead to other gastric illnesses and infectious diseases. A majority of the food poisoning cases go unreported. Hence it is difficult to correlate. However, the health risks are indeed huge,” he says.
Welcoming the crackdown, G. Gomathinayagam, secretary, Federation of Consumer Rights Organisation of Tamil Nadu, says officials must expand the search to other districts. “This could be a State-wide phenomenon. A concerted effort is needed throughout Tamil Nadu to control this menace. The suppliers and manufacturing units must be given stringent punishment so that it acts as a deterrent for others,” he says.
An awareness must be created among public to take utmost caution while having food outside homes and they must also exercise their rights as consumers. “A district-level committee with representatives from different walks of life must be constituted by FSDA. It has not been done in many districts,” he says.
“Not possible”
S. Anburajan, president, Tamil Nadu Bakers’ Federation, however, denies the allegations of rampant usage of cracked eggs in bakery units. “Once an egg develops cracks, it gets rotten soon. Rotten eggs cannot be used in cakes or puffs,” he says.
However, periodic training and awareness programmes are organised for members of their federation to sensitise them on risks involved in using cracked eggs and other substandard ingredients, he says. “We also educate them on rules and regulations that govern the industry,” he says.
Food Safety Commission orders mandatory FSSAI registrations
IMPHAL | Nov 12
In view of upcoming Sangai Festival to be held from November 21-30, State Food Safety Commission has ordered all the food business operators to acquire Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registrations from the respective designated officer.
The step was taken up to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food to the public during the festival under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulation 2011.
The commission also assured of taking up necessary steps relating to good hygienic practices and good manufacturing practices.
Nov 12, 2018
Is genetically modified food really safe?
Indians are unwittingly eating more and more genetically modified (GM) products every day
GM technology — involving the introduction of foreign genetic material (transgenics) or editing of genes — used to alter the genome of plants and create what are called genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
A few months ago, researchers of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) chanced upon something quite alarming while testing samples of breakfast cereals, infant food, edible oils and other food products at their state-of-the-art laboratory in Nimli, Rajasthan. Their sensitive qPCR instrument reported the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in almost one-third of these samples — 80 per cent of these GM-positive samples were imported. Yet there was almost nothing on the labels to indicate the presence of GM ingredients, some were even labelled GM-free! Their report made headlines but was quickly forgotten, despite the serious health implications for every consumer. Incidentally, the legal and regulatory framework in this country does not allow GM crops to be commercially cultivated or imported without labelling and approvals.
GM technology — involving the introduction of foreign genetic material (transgenics) or editing of genes — used to alter the genome of plants and create what are called genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is fraught with risks. This is because among other things, no independent, long-term study on the effect on human health have been done which proves beyond doubt that GM food is safe for human consumption. While researching my recent novel on eco-disaster, The Butterfly Effect, and as an environment campaigner earlier, I have closely studied the material put out by those who support GMOs as well as the reasons for countering such optimism.
It is well-known that powerful multinational corporations control the global business of GM crops. As expected, the pro-GMO camp has come up with a variety of justifications to push this technology into the market. The Geneticliteracyproject.org website, citing an analysis of 1,783 studies on the safety and environmental impacts of GM food, goes on to state, “the researchers couldn’t find a single credible example demonstrating that GM foods pose any harm to humans or animals.”
The Hyderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture points out in its fact book that the tests conducted for approval of GM crops are usually performed on rats, whose lifespan is not comparable to humans. In fact, there are numerous studies pointing to adverse impacts of GMOs. One such compilation is available on the Coalition for a GM-Free India website.
The threats from GM food in particular and GMOs in general, as outlined by researchers and activists alike, are manifold. There are well-argued health, environmental and economic reasons to be wary of these so-called Frankenfoods. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine lists infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation and changes in organs among possible risks from GM food.
There exists a multilateral framework to regulate the transboundary movement and use of GMOs, outlined in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Cartagena Protocol repeatedly invokes the “precautionary approach” in its goal to protect biological diversity and human health, which essentially holds that the lack of scientific certainty shouldn’t prevent control measures on products and technologies which pose a threat.
India has established a regulatory and legal framework involving bodies like the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and laws relating to environment, food safety, legal metrology and foreign trade to control the production, cultivation, release and import of GMOs. Till date, not a single GM produce that is to be used as food has been approved for commercial cultivation.
So the findings of the CSE study point to lax and impractical regulations and poor implementation. This newspaper recently reported a civil society group’s assertion how an agriculture ministry panel’s approval for the import of papaya, maize and apple seeds or plants can lead to the illegal entry of GMOs and end up as GM food on our plates.
“I’m in favour of GM food,” says Moulinath Acharya, assistant professor at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, “because of characteristics like increased shelf life, pest resistance, ability to thrive in adverse environment and enhanced food value.” We know that GM technology is used to introduce or enhance desirable traits in target plants. In my novel, an Indian geneticist, who is in the process of developing a highly nutritive SuperRice, brags in his diary, “If what we are doing here succeeds then we will have eliminated hunger from this world.” In the real world too, Golden Rice, a GM variety, was developed to combat Vitamin A deficiency but counter arguments like loss of biodiversity and simpler dietary alternatives punch holes in this logic.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan, has compared the optimism around GMOs to the optimism about financial markets before the global financial crisis. In a New York Timesarticle co-authored with Mark Spitznagel, he points out fallacies in the arguments of the pro-GMO camp, which often states that there is no evidence of harm caused by GMOs. Through analogies, the authors show that the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. Again, the pro-GMO camp points to scientific consensus about the safety of GMOs but Taleb has argued that the invocation of a consensus is not a valid scientific argument.
The safety testing of GMOs uses the concept of “substantial equivalence”. If the GM product is not significantly different in its constituents (such as toxins, nutrients, allergens) from the naturally occurring product, then it passes this test. Critics like Taleb, however, say that nature creates its products through a process where errors remain locally confined while the damage caused by GMOs would be global.
It has been also argued that certain GM technologies will help guarantee global food security. However, studies done by Karlheinz Erb, a social ecologist at the University of Vienna, among others, have indicated that this is not true; changing consumption habits — such as reducing over consumption in the West and reducing consumption of meat — can tackle the global food crisis.
On the other side of such efforts is the desolate darkness of dystopias and end-of-the-world scenarios of fiction. The geneticist of my novel goes on to write in his diary, “Life on earth will never be the same again.” In the final scenes of the book, the citizens of a devastated Asian nation discover what those words could really mean.
The writer has been a climate change campaigner at the UN. His novel on eco-disaster, The Butterfly Effect, has released recently.
Nov 8, 2018
Fortified oil, milk from January in Kerala
The Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2017 framed by FSSAI will come into effect in the state on January 1.
A top official of Milma said that the new range would be launched next month.
Thiruvananthapuram: To combat micronutrient deficiencies especially vitamin A and D among all age groups, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is planning to introduce the fortification process in the state.
The Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2017 framed by FSSAI will come into effect in the state on January 1.
As part of its effort to implement the Act, the FSSAI in association with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), an independent non-profit foundation based in Geneva, conducted a workshop on fortification to brainstorm hundreds of food safety officials including assistant commissioners and lab analysts under the Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety (KCFS) recently.
To begin with, the Commissionerate is gearing up to facilitate good quality fortified milk and cooking oil in the state from January.
Joint commissioner of Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety K. Anil Kumar said the Act would be a boon for other states.
“Fortification is very much necessary for states with micronutrient deficiencies. In Kerala, Attapadi tribal settlement is the only pocket where nutrient deficiency is being reported," he told DC.
"We are well equipped to enforce the Act in the state. However, a thorough study would be needed by urban health centres on the necessity of fortification in Kerala.” He said that from January the Commissionerate would screen fortified products being sold in the state.
"We will collect samples and to make sure the claims labelled in the product are true," he added.As per the Act micronutrients for fortification purpose should be extracted strictly from vegetables. The Commissionerate is planning to tie up with Tata Trusts to procure extracted micronutrients. Meanwhile, Milma - Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd - is all set to launch fortified milk in the state.
A top official of Milma said that the new range would be launched next month.
"The design and logo of the new packet are being finalised. Fortified milk will be sold in the same price range like our other packet milk products," he told DC.
Watch what you eat: 20% food samples fail FDA tests
BHOPAL: For dozens of samples seized to identify food adulteration ahead of Diwali, only four may result in legal prosecution.
Following an inspection by the food and drugs administration (FDA) here on Tuesday, only four 'legal' samples were seized.
As per norms established under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, legal action against food adulterators can only be initiated once FDA sleuths takes 'legal' samples.
FDA is responsible for regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products. However, taking a legal sample requires a nod from state government to appoint designated officer in each district.
FDA designated officer for Bhopal Savita Pawar along with her team seized 1.25 quintal of mawa from samples in Mangalwara. Two legal samples of sweets were also taken from Bairagarh area. "Whether these samples are random or not, they would be tested too," said Pawar.
As per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an autonomous body established under the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), outlets selling food items are to be checked every six months at least. This rule, however, is seldom followed as FDA is short-staffed.
Legal samples that fail in a laboratory can lead to penalisation in court. On an average, an estimated 20% of food samples tested are found 'non-conforming' to the prescribed standards. FDA has yet to create a risk profile of businesses. Over the years, food sample collection by FDA and its legality has been challenged. Other issues hampering effectiveness of FDA is sampling. FDA inspector can take a legal sample of product only with permission from designated officer. Any sample even if they fail, cannot be used as court evidence.
Nov 7, 2018
Adulteration crackdown: FSDA seizes 57 suspect food samples
Muzaffarnagar: Continuing its crackdown on food adulteration, FSDA conducted multiple raids to check for suspect food samples.
The food safety team has collected samples from 57 places within past one week after conducting raids at nearly 35 sweet shops and several mawa-making units. As many as 900 kg adulterated mawa has been destroyed by the food department in the past seven days.
Speaking to TOI, Vinit Kumar an officer from the food department said, “We will continue to raid suspect premises to ensure food safety.”
On Tuesday, food department team also searched several shops in Chrthawal and Budhana, said sources from the food department. According to sources, many shops keepers were selling sweets made with harmful contents in the area.
Last week, the food department officers had conducted a raid in a cold storage where large quantity of mawa was stored. Officers destroyed the Mawa and sealed the cold storage as it was running without permission of the authorities, said sources.
Last year, in the run-up to Diwali, surprise raid at a Budhana-based flour mill had led to seizure of a large quantity of adulterated gram flour.
No relief, fish importers must adhere to FDA norms, says Vishwajit Rane
PANAJI: The health minister Vishwajit Rane reiterated on Monday that there won’t be any relaxation for traders bringing in fish from other states as they had sufficient time at their disposal to adhere to FDA norms.
“I will not fall prey to any kind of threats or pressure tactics. The Congress’ stand on fish issue stands completely exposed,” Rane said referring to the threat of Congress’ Sindhudurg MLA Nitesh Rane that Goa-registered vehicles will not be allowed to pass through his constituency if the government does not stop formalin checks.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Vishwajit Rane said that in no circumstances he will backtrack from his stand on formalin checks, and that his cabinet colleague Vijai Sardesai is also on the same page.
Rane also stated that such threats does not bore well in a democratic setup and he will not like to comment further on Sindhudurg MLA’s statement.
“Traders will have to comply with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) guidelines. Fish needs to be transported only through insulated vehicles,” Rane said, adding, that he even declined the request of Sawantwadi Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar seeking two months’ time for compliance.
“I put forth my viewpoint before the MLA stating that food safety is my priority and the timeframe cannot be relaxed,’’ he said.
Reacting to traders’ demand to have laboratories in every market in Goa, Rane asked them to adhere to FDA guidelines first, which nobody has done so far.
The health minister said that the inquiry against FDA officer, Iva Fernandes, who has been in the eye of storm since the formalin-in-fish controversy broke out in July, has begun.
Fernandes had alleged that she was harassed by the department after she made results of the fish samples taken from Margao wholesale market public.
The FDA officer has also filed a petition before the Goa Human Rights Commission against harassment.
Nov 5, 2018
25% food samples found adulterated
NEW DELHI: Data released by India’s food quality regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) earlier this week, shows that nearly 25% samples of edible goods it tested this year were found to be adulterated or in violation of prescribed standards.
The samples included milk and dairy products, spices, cereals as well as branded food products. A total of 85,729 samples were sent, so far. FSSAI carried out the testing folowing a spike in complaints from consumers over quality and adulteration, said an agency official.
According to the data, 20,390 samples of the 85,729 sent to the agency were found to be non-confirming to prescribed standards. While agency officials maintain that Food Safety Officers is each state regularly test samples to check for compliance and also take recourse in cases of violations according to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, experts claim that poor enforcement on the ground and a lack of awareness plague the process.
Consumer activist Bijon Mishra said the lengthy legal procedure involved in penalising violators provides an opportunity to the accused to keep doing business. “Law enforcement is very poor. It takes years to finalise a case and by that time, sellers keep on making profits. Moreover, people are also not aware. Hardly anybody complains about adulteration,” he added.
Umesh Sharma, an advocate, said enforcement of rules is very poor on the ground. “The issue is directly related to public health and the government should take serious initiatives to implement food safety rules,” he said. Data from the agency shows an abysmal conviction rate.
In 2017, the Law Commission had issued a set of recommendations regarding the issue. The panel had recommended that IPC Sections 272 (dealing with adulteration of food and drinks) and 273 (dealing with the sale of noxious food and drinks) be amended to make adulteration a serious crime. It was also recommended that depending on the gravity of the offence, punishment can include life imprisonment and the minimum sentence should be six months’ jail term.
The panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge B S Chauhan, also wanted amendments to Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code so that courts can order compensation for victims.
Diwali adulteration crackdown: FSDA seizes 41 suspect food samples
Meerut: With Diwali around the corner, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) has started working on ensuring that city residents do not fall prey to adulterated sweets and other food items consumed during the festive season.
The officials of the food safety body have seized as many as 41 suspected samples of food items in the five-day long drive.
“We have taken as many as 41 samples of food items from various sweet shops over the last five days. We also destroyed 125kg rasbhari, 60kg of sweet cake and 1 quintal coloured sweets to safeguard people from consuming adulterated food items,” said Archana Dheeran, designated officer, FSDA, Meerut unit.
FSDA teams are conducting regular raids at sweet shops and have also been conducting awareness programmes at schools, colleges and NGOs in Meerut.
“Our main focus has been towards sweets, mawa, khoya and food colour being used in sweets. We have destroyed the food items which looked adulterated, and took samples of those which were suspected,” said Dheeran.
“The samples have been sent to the Lucknow laboratory and the report will come in a month’s time based on which we will take action as per the law,” Dheeran added.
FSDA seizes 1,200 litre of adulterated milk in Handia
ALLAHABAD: A team of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) officials, on Saturday, raided a dairy involved in manufacturing of adulterated milk and other items in Handia.
The team seized 1,200 litre of milk adulterated with potash, detergent, skimmed milk powder and other chemicals.
As per reports, the accused Babadin had been running the illegal business under the name of Baba Natural Dairy since past one year. He had to supply milk to several sweetmeat shops for the festival of Diwali.
Chief food safety officer KK Tripathi, said, "We caught Babadin using powdered milk, chemicals and washing powder to make adulterated milk and cheese. He used to mix synthetic fat in the skimmed milk powder and sell the product at high rates to his customers and individuals. He had increased the produce after an increase in demand for ahead of Diwali."
Tripathi said that milk adulterated with potash and detergent could lead to chronic diseases.
The team collected samples of milk and by-products from the dairy and sent them to the laboratory through a messenger instead of following the official procedure.
Tripathi said the aim is to obtain lab report without any delay to expedite the proceedings in a court of law.
Staff crunch impacting Ambala food department work
AMBALA: The food and drug administration department here lacks staff to cover the entire district. Till date, the department has collected nearly 60 samples of which nine have failed quality tests at the food laboratory in Karnal. The process of testing the food quality takes 14 days. Meanwhile, it has been observed that the shopkeepers here have started to stock sweets before Diwali.
"I have two districts to cover - Panchkula and Ambala. Lack of staff is affecting inspection work and we are unable to cover all the areas of the district. Till date, we have collected nearly 120 samples from Ambala and Panchkula. In Ambala, we have destroyed nearly 3.5 quintals of synthetic and unhygienic sweets.
"As per the law, the collected samples are sent to the food laboratory in Karnal and we receive results only after 14 days. There is a possibility that by the time result of lab tests are out, shopkeepers will have sold poor quality sweets. So far, nine shopkeepers have been issued notices for failing laboratory tests," said food safety officer Subhash Chander.
The official added that shopkeepers may use synthetic products to prepare sweets as production of milk in the district is not at par with the demand.
The FDA has been active since the start of the festive season, however staff crunch is a major obstruction in their work. It is because of this, the probability of consuming sweets made of synthetic product gets high.
FSSAI serves notice on nine shops
Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India inspecting a shop in Coimbatore on Saturday
As the festival of light is just around the corner, the Food Safety Department on Saturday inspected small and large manufacturing units to check the quality of sweets and savouries sold.
Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized sweets that were made with artificial colourants beyond the permissible limit and lifted samples for laboratory examination.
B. Vijayalalithambigai, designated Officer of FSSAI in Coimbatore, said that 68.5 kg of sweets that were found with excessive use of artificial colourants were seized during the inspections. The foods safety officers also seized 35 litre of reused oil and 13 kg of packaged sweets and savouries that did not have label as mandated by the FSSAI Act.
“Notices have been served to nine shops during the inspections for various violations. We have lifted four samples that will be sent to a Government laboratory for examination,” said Ms. Vijayalalithambigai.
Nov 3, 2018
என் உலகம் சுவாரஸ்யமானது! - அமுதா ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்
இளமைப் பருவமும் ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் ஆர்வமும்...
நான் பிறந்து, வளர்ந்தது மதுரை. பெற்றோர் மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள். எனக்கு ஓர் அண்ணன் மற்றும் ஒரு தங்கை. என் தாத்தா சுதந்திரப் போராட்டத் தியாகி. அவர் மறைவுக்குப்பிறகு பாட்டிக்குக் கிடைத்த ஓய்வூதியத்தைப் பெற கலெக்டர் ஆபீஸுக்கு நானும் பாட்டியுடன் போவேன். அங்கே மக்கள் அனைவரும் ஒருவருக்கு வணக்கம் சொல்றதைப் பார்த்து, ‘இவர் யார்?’னு பாட்டிகிட்ட கேட்டேன். ‘இவர்தான் கலெக்டர். ராஜா மாதிரி, மக்களுக்கு நல்லது பண்ணுறது இவர் வேலை’னு அந்த 13 வயசுல எனக்குப் புரியும்படி பாட்டி சொன்னார். ‘நாமும் கலெக்டராகி, மக்களுக்கு நல்லது பண்ணணும்’னு அப்போதான் எனக்குள்ள முதல் ஸ்பார்க் ஏற்பட்டுச்சு. பள்ளிக் காலங்களில், ‘பெண்கள் கபடி விளையாடினா என்ன?’னு, கபடி ப்ளேயர் ஆனேன். தொடர்ந்து மூணு வருஷங்கள் அதில் தங்கப்பதக்கம் வாங்கினேன். ஒருமுறை மலையேறும் பயிற்சிக்காக இமயமலைக்குப் போனப்போ, ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் தேர்வில் வெற்றி பெற்றவங்களும் அங்க மலையேறும் பயிற்சிக்காக வந்திருந் தாங்க. அப்போ அவங்ககிட்ட பேசக் கிடைச்ச வாய்ப்புதான் ரெண்டாவது ஸ்பார்க்.
ஐ.பி.எஸ் டு ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்
பள்ளிப்படிப்பில் நான் ஆவரேஜ் மாணவிதான். மதுரை, வேளாண் கல்லூரியில் பி.எஸ்ஸி, அக்ரியில் சேர்ந்தேன். எல்லாப் பாடங்களிலும் தங்கப்பதக்கத்துடன் படிப்பை முடிச்சேன். சிவில் சர்வீஸ் தேர்வு எழுதினேன். முதல் முயற்சியிலேயே வெற்றியுடன், ஐ.பி.எஸ் போஸ்ட்டிங் கிடைச்சது. ‘அடுத்த முயற்சியில் உன்னால நிச்சயம் ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் ஆக முடியும்; அப்போதான் பல துறைகளில் பலதரப்பட்ட மக்களுக்குச் சேவை செய்ய முடியும்’னு அப்பா ஊக்கப்படுத்தினார். இரண்டாவது முயற்சியில், 1994-ம் ஆண்டு தமிழக அளவில் முதலிடம் பெற்று ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் தேர்வில் தேர்வானேன். இதற்கிடையில் என்னைப் பார்த்து என் அண்ணனுக்கும் சிவில் சர்வீஸ் ஆர்வம்வந்து, எனக்கு முன்பாகவே எக்ஸாம் எழுதி 1992-ல் செலெக்ட்டானார். இப்போ, ஐ.எஃப்.எஸ் அதிகாரியாக இருக்கார்.
25 ஆண்டுகளில்...
கடலூர் சப்-கலெக்டராக என் ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் பயணத்தைத் தொடங்கினேன். தொடர்ந்து கூடுதல் கலெக்டர், மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர், யுனிசெஃப் அதிகாரி, பல துறைகளில் தலைவர், இப்போது உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத்துறை ஆணையர்னு இதுவரை 15 பணிமாறுதல்களைச் சந்திச்சிருக்கேன். இவற்றில், மகளிர் மேம்பாட்டுக் கழக இயக்குநராகப் பணியாற்றியது நிறைவான அனுபவம். தருமபுரி மாவட்ட ஆட்சியராக இருந்தபோது பெண் குழந்தைகளுக்கான கல்வி, குழந்தைத் திருமணம் தடுப்பு, மகளிர் சுயஉதவிக் குழு வளர்ச்சி உட்படப் பெண்கள் நலன் மற்றும் பொருளாதார முன்னேற்றத்துக்காகச் செய்த விஷயங்கள் கண்கூடாகப் பலன் தந்தன.
சென்னையில் பெருவெள்ளம் வந்த போது, வெள்ளப் பாதிப்புகளைச் சரிசெய்யும் சிறப்பு அதிகாரியாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டு என் பொறுப்பை நிறைவுடன் செய்தேன். மத்திய அரசின் உதவித்தொகையுடன் லண்டன்ல நான் படிச்ச முதுகலை பொருளாதாரம் மற்றும் அரசியல் படிப்பு மற்றும் அங்கே கிடைச்ச அனுபவங்களை என் பணியில் பெரிதும் பயன்படுத்துறேன்.
என் சர்வீஸ்ல ரெண்டாவது வருஷம். அப்போ செங்கல்பட்டு சப்-கலெக்டரா இருந்தேன். பாலாற்றில் மணல் கொள்ளையில் ஈடுபட்ட மணல் மாஃபியா கும்பலைத் தடுக்க முயற்சி செய்த என்னை மிரட்டினாங்க; லஞ்சம் கொடுக்கிறதா சொன்னாங்க. எதுக்கும் நான் அசைந்து கொடுக்கலை. ஒருநாள் ஆற்றில் மணலைத் திருடிச்சென்ற லாரிகளைச் சிறைப்பிடிச்சேன். அப்போ ஒரு லாரி ஓட்டுநர் என் கார் மீது லாரியை மோதியதில் என் முதுகில் அடிபட்டது. இப்படி நிறைய விஷயங்களைப் பார்த்துட்டேன். உயரதிகாரிகளின் பாரபட்சம், ஆண் பெண் பாகுபாடு, நேர்மையாக இருப்பதால் வரும் பணி மாறுதல் மற்றும் அச்சுறுத்தல்கள்னு நிறைய சவால்களை எதிர்கொண்டிருக் கேன். இன்னும் நிறைய சவால்களை எதிர்கொண்டு பணியாற்ற ஆர்வமா யிருக்கேன்.
இரு முதல்வர்கள்...
என் பணிக்காலத்தில், ஜெயலலிதா மற்றும் கருணாநிதி இருவரின் தலைமையிலான அரசுகளில் பணியாற்றியிருக்கேன். நான் ஈரோடு கூடுதல் ஆட்சியராக இருந்தபோது, அங்கே நடந்த ஒரு நிகழ்ச்சியில் கருணாநிதி ஐயா கலந்துகிட்டப்போ, இறுதியாக நன்றியுரையை நான் தமிழில் கவிதையாகப் பேசினேன். ‘தமிழில் எல்லாம் ஆர்வம் இருக்கா? கவிதையெல்லாம் எழுதுவீங்களா... நல்லது, தொடருங்க’னு மேடையிலேயே வாழ்த்தினார். நான் தருமபுரி கலெக்டராக இருந்தபோது நடுநிலையா இருந்ததால, என்னை மாற்ற அந்த மாவட்டத்தில் அரசியல் கட்சியினர் பலர் நினைத்தனர். அப்போது முதல்வராக இருந்த கருணாநிதி ஐயாவிடம் அந்தச் செய்தி செல்ல, ‘இந்த கலெக்டரை மாத்த முடியாது. அவங்க மூலமா பின்தங்கிய உங்க மாவட்டத்தை வளர்ச்சியடையச் செய்துக்கோங்க’னு சொல்லியிருக்கார். ஜெயலலிதா மேடம், அதிகாரிகள் சொல்லும் யோசனை சிறப்பானதாக இருந்தால், உடனே அதைச் செயல்படுத்த உத்தரவிடுவார். என்மீது தனி அன்பு கொண்டிருந்தார். ஒரு விஷயத்தை உடனே செய்து முடிக்கத் தேவையான எல்லா ஒத்துழைப்பையும் கொடுப்பார்.
நாங்க ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் தம்பதி!
என் கணவர் ஷம்பு கலோலிகர், கர்நாடக மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர். 1991-ம் ஆண்டு ஐ.ஏ.எஸ் தேர்வில் செலெக்டானவர். தற்போது தமிழகச் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வனத்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர் மற்றும் தமிழக மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத் தலைவராகயிருக்கார். மீடியாவிலிருந்து விலகியிருக்கவே விரும்புவார். இருந்தாலும், என்னைப் பத்தி வெளியாகும் செய்திகளை ஆர்வத்துடன் என்னிடம் காட்டி, அது பற்றிப் பேசுவார்.
போட்டோகிராபி, சைக்கிளிங், இளையராஜா...
வைல்ட் லைஃப் போட்டோகிராபி, என் பிரதான ஸ்ட்ரெஸ் பஸ்டர். எட்டு வருஷங்களா வருடத்தில் சில நாள்களை ஒதுக்கி, பல்வேறு வனவிலங்கு சரணாலயங்களுக்குப் போய் போட்டோ எடுத்துட் டிருக்கேன். வாரம்தோறும் விடுமுறை தினங்கள்ல, 30 கிலோமீட்டர் தூரத்துக்கு சைக்கிளிங் போறேன். இளையராஜாவின் தீவிர ரசிகை. தினமும் அவர் பாடல்களைக் கேட்கவே, தனியாக நேரம் ஒதுக்குவேன். இப்படி, என் பர்சனல் உலகம் சுவாரஸ்யமா இருக்கும்!’’
Raid on food units intensified
MADURAI
With just four days to go for Deepavali and the sale of sweets, savouries and bakery products witnessing a spike, the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drugs Control department has intensified raids on food manufacturing units.
At least two food manufacturing units and three godowns supplying broken and spoilt eggs to hotels and bakeries had been closed down by officials since Thursday.
M. Somasundaram, Designated Officer, Food Safety, said that the revelation during the recent raids was the network of suppliers and manufacturing units that sell and use broken or spoilt eggs.
“Yesterday, we raided a bakery products and snacks manufacturing unit on Melakkal main road in Kochadai. We found hundreds of trays of foul-smelling broken eggs,” he said. Based on the enquiry conducted at the unit, the officials had managed to raid at least three godowns and a number of hotels and food manufacturing units that use broken eggs.
“These manufacturing units are huge and often supply sweets, snacks and bakery products to a large number of shops across Madurai and even neighbouring districts,” he said. Another unit closed down on Thursday was found to be using prohibited colouring agents in cakes, sweets and savories.
Officials have asked the public to generally avoid any food item sold with rich colouring agents.
“A variety of azo dyes like Tartrazine yellow is used, which could lead to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and renal failure,” Dr. Somasundaram said.
Another senior official from the department said that though the government allowed the use of certain permitted colouring agents not exceeding the limit of 100 parts per million, most of the manufacturing units exceeded this limit and there was no efficient and readily available mechanism to check this.
In the last five to six weeks, officials in Madurai have also closed down two oil manufacturing units, two ghee units and a flour unit for adulteration.
3.25 tonnes adulterated sweets and snacks seized
Madurai: Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have seized around 3.25 tonnes of sweets and snacks from four major sweet-making units in the city during a surprise check conducted on Thursday evening and night. The items were seized to check the quality of sweets prepared for Diwali, as there is heavy demand during the season.
Officials said that they seized three tonnes of sweets at around one tonne each from as many units and around 250kg from another unit. They were found using excess colour beyond the permissible limits and non-permitted colours as they are harmful for consumers. Stale sweets used as stuffing in baked items such as coconut buns and items that were kept for sale beyond the expiry date were also seized.
Stating that sale of sweets for Diwali would continue for the next two to three days, the officials added that they would continue such surprise raids till then. They also appealed to the public to report use of excessive colour and sale of expired eatables at bakeries to the FSSAI authorities on 9444042322. Confidentiality would be maintained on identity of the complainants, they said.
More than 5,000 broken eggs for use seized in Madurai
Madurai: Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized more than 5,000 broken and rotten eggs from a leading wholesale trader, two big bakeries and two small eateries in the city during surprise searches conducted on Thursday and Friday.
Officials led by the FSSAI designated officer for Madurai, M Somasundaram, were shocked as they accidentally stumbled on a huge volume of rotten eggs while checking the quality of sweets prepared for Deepavali. “Initially, we found not less than 80 trays (2,400 eggs at 30 in a tray) in a large bakery unit at Kochadai,” he told TOI. The officials then checked another large bakery unit where around 460 eggs were found. Inquiries revealed that they got eggs with broken shells for as cheap as a rupee apiece while a good egg was priced at Rs 4.50 to Rs 5. “According to international standards, eggs with good shell have a shelf life of three weeks,” Somasundaram said.
The official said that when the temperature was normal without fluctuations, eggs with a good shell could stay unaffected for up to five weeks. “But eggs with a broken shell have a mere two-hour life. After two hours they become rotten, even resulting in black spots forming on the shell (pseudomonas) in the worst case,” he said. These eggs were being used for baking cakes and other confectionaries in bakeries, kothu parottas, scrambled eggs, bullseye, omelette and kalakki among many other delicacies priced at Rs 15 apiece. Consuming it could cause immediate renal infection among children, gastroenteritis problems, typhoid and related complications, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting and dysentery.
FSSAI officials said that eggs here were brought from Namakkal where they could have been broken at the farm during collection or loading during transport or while handling it here. But these cheap broken eggs had good demand among bakeries and hotels that are least bothered about the health of their consumers.
Based on information gathered from the bakeries where the eggs were first found, the officials raided a leading egg trader’s warehouse at Puttuthoppu. Stating that they reached there only by the fag end of Thursday, officials said that there were more than 2,000 eggs there at that time.
Officials said that the trader, who was a leader in egg trade in Madurai, had a separate cold storage facility for broken eggs. The trader, Murugan, supplied to 15 bakeries and hotels in Madurai. These bakeries and hotels stored these broken eggs for many days and used them based on requirement.
“We sealed the godown. On Friday we seized more than 300 eggs from two small hotels at the Arapalayam bus stand. We have warned the bakeries and hotels using broken eggs and will be regularly checking them and initiating stringent action if they continued doing it. Inquiries are on to nab the entire network,” said the designated officer.
Watch out for spurious desi ghee at shops
MOHALI: Warning against the purchase of desi ghee packs labelled 'Lite Ghee' or 'Pooja Ghee', the food safety teams have said that the product may be spurious as it is being made using fatty acid ester imported from East Asian countries which is mixed with hydrogenated vegetable oils to improve the RM value of the product.
Punjab food safety commissioner KS Pannu said desi-ghee adulterators can't go scot-free as the state government has now equipped the food safety labs in Kharar and Mohali with high-tech machinery.
Food safety department teams will start raiding malls, shops and manufacturing units in Mohali to seize the artificially-flavored desi ghee, he said.
Pannu said that the recent large-scale seizures of fatty acid ester in Punjab along with the artificial flavor of desi ghee had made the officials suspicious of its misuse in manufacturing adulterated desi ghee, but the old lab equipments could not ensure the same. "The old machines could test desi ghee only on the basis of its RM value which improves with fatty acid ester. However, with the new improved machines, the department we will be able to detect adulteration in desi ghee and penalise the offenders."
Nov 2, 2018
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