Jan 5, 2019
Over 490 of 1,123 samples of packaged drinking water non-conforming to food safety norms, LS told
As many as 496 of the total 1,123 samples of packaged drinking water analysed during 2017-18 were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards of the food safety norms, the Lok Sabha was informed Friday.
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said 246 cases were registered during the period in which conviction was ordered in 97 cases, while penalties were imposed in 135 cases.
In 2016-17, 697 samples were analysed, of which 224 were found to be violating the provisions under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 and cases was launched in 131 cases, Choubey said.
Of these, conviction was ordered in 33 cases and penalties were imposed in 40 cases, he said.
Instances of sale of packaged drinking water not meeting the prescribed standards have come to the notice of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
As the responsibility of enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 primarily lies with states and Union Territories.
The commissioners of Food Safety of states and UTs have been advised by the FSSAI from time-to-time to undertake strict enforcement activities against unauthorised manufacture and sale of packaged drinking water without FSSAI/BIS mark in states and UT governments.
Further to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food, regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products, including packaged drinking water, are being carried out by officials of the Food Safety Departments of the respective states and Union Territories.
In cases where food samples are found non-conforming, recourse is taken to penal provisions specified under the FSS Act, 2006 which may extend to imprisonment for life.
Inspect organic shops: rights panel
Petitioner cites Minister’s statement
The State Human Rights Commission has ordered the government to conduct inspections in shops selling organic vegetables in the State for pesticide residues.
Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar had informed the Assembly that pesticide residues were detected in organic vegetable samples, the commission said on Friday.
Report in a month
Commission chairman Antony Dominic has asked the Food Safety Commissioner, Agriculture Secretary, and the State Police Chief to take the necessary measures and submit reports in a month.
The commission’s order was based on a petition filed by activist Ragam Rahim. There is increased dependence on shops selling organically cultivated vegetables and fruits with pesticide-ridden vegetables being blamed for causing lethal diseases like cancer, the petitioner said.
Thrice the price
Trusting consumers are willing to pay thrice the normal price for organic vegetables thinking them to be free of pesticides. If such vegetables indeed contain toxins, it is a violation of the right to live. Such shops should be closed down especially in a scenario where the Minister himself had informed the Assembly about the pesticide residues, Mr. Rahim said in his petition.
Replying to a question in the Assembly on December 11, Mr. Sunil Kumar had cited a report of the Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory at Vellayani which said that 11.11% of samples collected from privately-run organic vegetable shops contained pesticide residues.
A food safety net
William James had once said, “A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain.” This phrase best describes the food safety scenario in India. Post independence, rapid growth and the consequent scramble for scarce resources revived the Malthusian catastrophe, which represents poor agricultural production in times of tipping population growth. India today produces about 280 million tonnes (MT) of foodgrains, 175MT of milk while our horticultural output stands at around 320MT. India remains the second largest producer of rice in the world but is heavily dependent on oil imports. We are slowly shifting from a quantitative approach to qualitative considerations about what we eat. And this is where a farm-to-table approach becomes significant to understand the food safety circle. For example, what is the nutritive value of milk? One could just Google the answer and be satisfied with emerging tables. But going deeper, one would understand that the quality of milk depends on a number of factors like the breed of cow, quality of cattle feed, kind of urea that was used in the feed, whether antibiotics were given in their feed or whether oxytocin was used for milk let-down. These should actually turn the table.
The mere nutritive value of calorie, protein, fat or carbohydrates cannot satisfy questions related to health. Antibiotic and hormonal residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals and the like can mar the nutritive value — it is like highly nutritious food with traces of pesticides. Studies by the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy showed that India is fast becoming a hotbed for antibiotic resistance and emergence of superbugs due to the use of fourth generation antibiotics in animal and poultry feeding. A majority of antibiotics used by the pharmaceutical companies is actually used by growth promoters in animal feed. Any pathogen exposed to antibiotics in the environment will develop resistance. When they fall sick, the same antibiotics administered will not work. Today about four lakh people in India die due to tuberculosis, mainly drug resistance.
Of the 232 pesticides our country uses, nearly 52 have not been studied for their maximum residue limit. Food safety concerns are not simplistic like adulterating milk with water, cheaper dalda for ghee, papaya seeds for pepper, as was the case earlier. Hi-tech adulteration like the use of melamine to boost protein went undetected even in the US for a long time. New tools and techniques had to be evolved to detect the adulterant. In the same way, there are genetically modified organisms creeping into our food system through imports and illegal seeds. We would rarely be able to detect them given the current situation. In food processing, safety is given a go-by due to excessive handling, removal of nutrients, usage of food additives that can actually erode nutrient value. At present, the list of food additives is unending. Refined sugar and salt being added in excess in all processed food are the source of addiction to certain flavours and choices. Refined nutrients are today killing more people than toxic residues.
Ecological sensitivity, sustainability and food safety will be the trends as millennials look for better health and wellness. Consumers are now looking for sustainable solutions. Ethics is always contextual. For instance, being vegetarian or vegan can be ethical for some and extremely ethical for animal activists. But this isn’t universal. What is sauce for the goose should also be sauce for the gander. Ethical food has to be acceptable to all and the universal has to basically focus on reducing the ecological footprint. This calls for humane handling of animals in farming and even at slaughter houses.
The loss of biodiversity is the biggest bane for agriculture. Above all, access to food and equity in nutrition security is the fundamental ethical aspect of society. As for food companies, ethics about profit can simply be as a producer of foods that do not make people unhealthy, sick and obese. In this context, organic food has seen a great deal of growth in the past decade. More and more people are opting for organic foods because of its true form and content. People are asking for minimally processed diverse varieties rather than the routine run-of-the- mill foods that come even under the organic label. Conscious consumers are today raising questions, thanks to public opinion, created through debate and discussions in the media and consumer forums. Ecological sensitivity, increased disease burden and abundant health information are driving people to make better choices. Apart from enjoying food, they are making sure that they do not compromise on health. Good food can indeed prevent most of the ills that society confronts today and can pave the way for a healthy and happy life.
(The writer is founder and MD of a leading food manufacturing company)
Tangled noodles
Just when the dust had settled after the Indian branch of Swiss food giant Nestle suffered a brand hit with Maggi noodles being declared unsafe four years ago, it has run into fresh trouble. Taking cognisance of matters related to public health, the Supreme Court ordered the revival of a Rs 650-crore worth class-action suit filed by the Government that had pulled up the noodle manufacturer for indulging in unfair trade practices, false labelling of products and misleading advertisements. Not only that, Justice Chandrachud has questioned the presence of lead, even within traceable limits, and sought good reason why it should be fed to children. Though the sample test report from the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru — that had indicated lead in permissible limits — will form the genesis of the case, additional solicitor-general Vikramjit Banerjee said the matter should be sent to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which can decide on the merits independently.
The court’s circling of the presence of lead has again raised the issue of food safety standards in the country. Post-Maggi controversy, food companies, regulators, the Government and the consumers alike became more concerned about deconstructing food than being indifferent about it. The court’s observation points to the fact that ingredients, even if they are within legally permissible limits, are never marked out clearly on the food label. The problem with managing lead concentration is that the heavy metal is largely present in the environment, in soil or plants, and cannot entirely be eliminated by washing or processing. It is also possible for lead to enter the food supply chain through manufacturing processes, leaching into the water that passes through metal pipes or vessels. According to the USFDA, although lead levels in the food supply decreased dramatically between the 1970s-1990s, low traces of lead continue to be detected in some foods simply because they remain in the environment. And for that it ensures a strict regulatory framework of monitoring and testing at frequent intervals, something that is far cry in India yet. Lead does impact our children’s health and development, vulnerable as they are in their early years, causing neurological problems, learning disabilities and lower IQ levels. Food safety, therefore, should not just be limited to packaged products but the raw ones as well. High levels of cadmium and arsenic are routinely found in vegetables and fruits we procure from the market. The milk we consume is heavily adulterated with detergents. Compromising on standards is often a mistake that consumers make and this is the real concern that must be addressed by the guardians of public health. Even with the case of Maggi, our laboratories itself stood divided — while Government laboratories found excess levels of lead and MSG, other labs found otherwise. This raises questions about the sampling procedure itself, which is not foolproof. This would require strict enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, else meeting public health indices will remain elusive.
Banned! Your food will not come in these materials; deadline imposed
"The new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level," Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said in a statement.
The new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level," Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said in a statement,
Food businesses need to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1, regulator FSSAI said Thursday.
The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
Taking cognizance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and dyes, the norms also prohibit the use of newspaper and such other materials for packing or wrapping of food articles and includes respective Indian standard for printing inks for use on food packages.
"The new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level," Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said in a statement.
He also said that there would be "difficulties" in implementation of these regulations by the unorganised sector and therefore sufficient time has been given before the regulations come into force.
"The food businesses shall have to comply with these regulations by 1st July, 2019," he said.
Agarwal also mentioned that stakeholder's consultation and mass awareness building amongst consumers and food businesses would precede implementation of the new packaging regulations.
Besides general and specific requirement with respect to packaging materials, the FSSAI said new regulations also prescribe overall migration and specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials.
The regulations specify the suggestive list of packaging materials for different food product categories.
Jan 4, 2019
FSSAI asks food biz to comply with new packaging norms by July 1
The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
New Delhi: Food businesses need to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1, regulator FSSAI said on Thursday.
The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
Taking cognizance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and dyes, the norms also prohibit the use of newspaper and such other materials for packing or wrapping of food articles and includes respective Indian standard for printing inks for use on food packages.
“The new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level,” Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said in a statement.
He also said that there would be “difficulties” in implementation of these regulations by the unorganised sector and therefore sufficient time has been given before the regulations come into force.
“The food businesses shall have to comply with these regulations by 1st July, 2019,” he said.
Agarwal also mentioned that stakeholder’s consultation and mass awareness building amongst consumers and food businesses would precede implementation of the new packaging regulations.
Besides general and specific requirement with respect to packaging materials, the FSSAI said new regulations also prescribe overall migration and specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials.
The regulations specify the suggestive list of packaging materials for different food product categories.
As per these regulations, packaging materials used for packing or storing the food products should conform to the Indian standards provided in the schedules.
The new norms will replace all provisions with respect to packaging requirements prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
Recognising the importance of packaging in the food sector and its impact on food safety, packaging regulations have been separated from labelling regulations.
The primary objective of packaging is to protect the food contents from micro-biological, chemical, physical and atmospheric contamination and preserve the food and thereby protect consumer’s health.
Good packaging also ensures that there is no change in sensory properties or composition of food when packed. Packaging is essential and critical for promoting food safety, extended shelf-life and thereby enhancing food security.
FSSAI issues food packing rules
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited the use of packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry-bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing food articles.
The authority has set a deadline of July 1, 2019, for food businesses to comply with the new regulations that now replace all provisions with respect to packaging requirements prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
According to Pawan Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, the new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level.
Pointing to the difficulties in implementation of these regulations, particularly the loose packaging materials in the unorganised sector, he said that sufficient lead time has been given before the regulations come into force. He added that stakeholders’ consultation and mass awareness building among consumers and food businesses would precede implementation of the new packaging regulations.
In addition to general and specific requirement with respect to packaging materials, the regulations prescribe overall migration and specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials. The regulations specify the suggestive list of packaging materials for different food product categories.
As per these regulations, the packaging materials used for packing or storing the food products shall conform to the Indian Standards provided in the schedules.
The new regulations are based on two studies conducted by the authority through the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai and the National Test House (NTH), Kolkata.
The studies showed that the packaging material used by the organised sector is largely safe but there are concerns about the use of packaging material by the unorganised/informal sector. Further, there are serious concerns about the safety of loose packaging material.
“It is in the interest of all food business operators (FBOs) to follow high standards of packaging so that the quality of the food and the safety of their consumers is never compromised. On the premise that the government expects reasonable and cost-friendly corrections to be made, this will benefit consumers and also favourably raise the bar for the entire industry,” said Ravi Wazir, a food and restaurant industry consultant.
Taking cognisance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and dyes, these regulations also prohibit the use of newspaper and such other materials for packing or wrapping of food articles and includes respective Indian standard for printing inks for use on food packages.
FSSAI said in a statement that the primary objective of packaging is to protect the food contents from microbiological, chemical, physical and atmospheric contamination and preserve the food and thereby protect consumer’s health. Good packaging also ensures that there is no change in sensory properties or composition of food when packed. Packaging is essential and critical for promoting food safety, extended shelf-life and thereby enhancing food security, it said.
With new food quality standards already in place, FSSAI will be focusing on enforcing the regulations without impacting businesses. During 2018, FSSAI accelerated the process of setting standards and notified 27 new regulations for food standards.
CRISP AND CLEAR
- The rules also prescribe specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials
- They also include respective Indian standard for printing inks for use on food packages
Stop using recycled plastics, newspapers to wrap food items: FSSAI to food biz
The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
Food businesses need to comply with new packaging regulations that bar use of recycled plastics and newspapers to wrap food articles by July 1, regulator FSSAI said Thursday.
The new regulations prohibit packaging material made of recycled plastics including carry bags for packaging, storing, carrying or dispensing articles of food.
Taking cognizance of the carcinogenic effect of inks and dyes, the norms also prohibit the use of newspaper and such other materials for packing or wrapping of food articles and includes respective Indian standard for printing inks for use on food packages.
"The new packaging regulations would raise the bar of food safety in India to the next level," Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said in a statement.
He also said that there would be "difficulties" in implementation of these regulations by the unorganised sector and therefore sufficient time has been given before the regulations come into force.
"The food businesses shall have to comply with these regulations by 1st July, 2019," he said.
Agarwal also mentioned that stakeholder's consultation and mass awareness building amongst consumers and food businesses would precede implementation of the new packaging regulations.
Besides general and specific requirement with respect to packaging materials, the FSSAI said new regulations also prescribe overall migration and specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials.
The regulations specify the suggestive list of packaging materials for different food product categories. As per these regulations, packaging materials used for packing or storing the food products should conform to the Indian standards provided in the schedules.
The new norms will replace all provisions with respect to packaging requirements prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Recognising the importance of packaging in the food sector and its impact on food safety, packaging regulations have been separated from labelling regulations.
The primary objective of packaging is to protect the food contents from micro-biological, chemical, physical and atmospheric contamination and preserve the food and thereby protect consumer's health.
Good packaging also ensures that there is no change in sensory properties or composition of food when packed. Packaging is essential and critical for promoting food safety, extended shelf-life and thereby enhancing food security.
FDA directs three chikki manufacturers to stop work
Pimpri Chinchwad: The state food and drug administration (FDA) has directed three chikki manufacturers in Lonavla, Loni Kalbhor and Kondhwa Budruk to cease work immediately for flouting food safety rules.
“A team headed by food safety inspector inspected the manufacturing units last week and found several discrepancies in the manufacturing process. That is why they have been told to shut down,” Sampat Deshmukh, assistant commissioner, FDA, Pune, said.
The Union government had approved Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Rules 2011 to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food. According to the rules, a manufacturer needs to have a well-equipped laboratory to ensure safety of food, otherwise it must get the product tested from FSSAI-approved NABL laboratory.
“The three chikki manufacturers did not follow this rule. Further, they did not have the laboratory report on potable water used by them. Also, they did not have technically-qualified persons to monitor the manufacturing process,” said Deshmukh.
The manufacturers will have to take measures to remove these lacunae and submit a compliance report to the FDA following which they will be allowed to resume manufacturing.
Earlier, FDA had issued stop work notice to Lonavla’s Maganlal Chikki in December last year for not following FSSAI norms.
FDA seizes adulterated sonpapdi
Nagpur: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) team seized 4,873kg adulterated sonpapdi worth Rs3,16,745 from Ganga Sweets, Pachpaoli, recently.
Acting on a tip off that owner Raju Shivaji Bhunje was using green colour-coated groundnut pieces instead of pista in manufacture of sonpapdi, FDA team led by Milind Deshpande, assistant commissioner (Food), and comprising of food safety officers Anant Chaudhary, Abhay Deshpande and Praful Tople conducted a raid.
The green-coloured groundnut pieces and artificial edible green colour recovered from the shop were sent to a laboratory for testing. The misleading label of ‘Pista sonpapdi’ was found on the product, the team said adding that further action will be taken under suitable sections on receipt of analytical report.
The raid was conducted under the guidance of joint commissioner (Food) Shashikant Kekre who has urged people to lodge a complaint regarding food adulteration on 0712- 2562204.
Tests find formalin in fish from other states
PATNA: Presence of carcinogenic chemicals, such as formalin, lead and cadmium in fishes imported from other states has made consumption of fish risky. These chemicals are used for preserving the fishes.
Laboratory test reports of three fish samples mentioned heavy amount of formalin along with lead and cadmium. State health department is now waiting for seven more reports, after which a decision will be taken to prevent ailments due to consumption of such fishes.
“Altogether 10 samples were collected in October and sent to a laboratory in Kolkata. We have got the reports of three samples, which have very high content of formalin, lead and cadmium. We will get seven other reports in a couple of days,” principal health secretary Sanjay Kumar told TOI on Thursday.
Formalin is a preservative applied on the fishes to prevent it from decay and it is highly carcinogenic. According to experts, formalin is also used to preserve bodies in mortuaries. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), heavy metals like lead and cadmium are also carcinogenic and have toxic effects on human being. They damage kidney, skeletal, respiratory system and nervous system.
It is not for the first time in Bihar that deadly formalin has been detected in fishes. State animal and fisheries resource department had in September last collected 85 samples from small fish vendors across the state and conducted formalin test on them at its Mithapur research centre. Samples of 25 fishes showed high content of formalin.
The fresh test was carried out after the department received an instruction from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi. The instruction was issued following detection of high level of formalin in fish samples in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Goa and West Bengal in July-August last year.
Even the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had released a guidance note on July 16 last year, alerting people about the deadly effects of formalin, which is used to preserve fish. The alerts were issued after scientists confirmed formalin in fishes in Chennai market.
A fisheries department official in Bihar said most fishes with formalin coating were brought from Andhra Pradesh and their main market in Bihar was Patna. He added that fishes like ‘rehu’, ‘katla’, ‘naini’ and common carp, which are in demand and brought from other states, had formalin in them. He, however, said there was no harm in eating local fish.
Jan 3, 2019
Food aggregators can’t just get away with substandard deliveries in India anymore
Multi-million dollar funding rounds aside, food-delivery startups are facing regulatory heat in India—but no one’s really complaining.
On Dec. 29, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a new set of guidelines for them. They mandate:
- Acquiring a licence from the central licencing authority
- Making provisions for arbitrary quality checks by the regulator during any time in the delivery process
- Only selling products with a remaining shelf life of either 30% or 45 days before expiry at the time of delivery
- Signing deal stating sellers’ compliance with food-safety rules, liability rests with food-business operators
- Food establishments have to now mention their FSSAI licence registration and hygiene grading
- Provide the actual image of the dish on their platforms so that consumers can recognise the product
- Before purchase, consumers to be provided information in the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act
- Trained personnel to ensure last-mile delivery, product safety must not compromised at the time of delivery
So far, startups such as Swiggy and Zomato operate only as a conduit between the consumer and restaurants, picking up orders and delivering them. The government is now clearly putting the onus on the conduits.
The FSSAI has already been auditing food-delivery apps to ensure compliance on the safety and hygiene fronts.
“Aggregators must begin to use some of their resources in training and capacity building of restaurants for improving food safety and hygiene rather than focusing only on deep discounts and aggressive marketing..,” Pawan Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI, had said in a statement on Aug. 02.
Under the radar
Following a series of complaints against the aggregators for listing sub-standard restaurants and for delivering low-quality food, the FSSAI in July asked 10 such companies, including Swiggy, Zomato, Uber Eats, Foodpanda, and Lime Tray, to delist unlicenced restaurants by July 31.
Despite the directive, licences and registrations of up to 40% of the restaurants listed by the platforms were not verified, according to an FSSAI audit revealed on Aug. 02. By October, though, they had de-listed over 5,000 restaurants.
In December, a video of a Zomato delivery personnel eating food from delivery boxes went viral on social media and caught the company unaware. Zomato identified the executive and suspended him, calling it an “unusual and rare case.” Nevertheless, it triggered a tirade on food-safety concerns.
Therefore, analysts, in general, believe the FSSAI’s move to tighten the industry standards is in the right direction though it can add to the aggregators’ overheads.
“The guidelines are to improve efficiency and quality of service in food delivery. The companies should ensure compliance with the amended regulations,” said Varsha S, associate partner at law firm Dhir & Dhir Associates.
The companies themselves are taking the development positively it seems.
Coping with the change
While Swiggy did not share its specific plans for compliance with the FSSAI norms, it expressed broad agreement with the authority’s initiative.
“In full compliance of Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules, all unregistered restaurants were disabled from Swiggy. We are working with FSSAI to bring the necessary confidence and control in last-mile delivery and safety of food,” Swiggy said in an e-mail response to Quartz’s queries.
Zomato said it recently introduced initiatives like training sessions for restaurant partners to educate them on the subject and to obtain certification.
“We have also tied up with third parties to set up a helpline for restaurants to meet compliance. The DIY kit is also circulated to our restaurant partners to further ease the process. We have also tied up with third parties to help us validate the FSSAI licences of all our restaurant partners,” Zomato said in an e-mail response.
The company also has a supply platform, HyperPure, which helps it source fresh ingredients for the restaurants. The company launched hygiene-rating services for restaurants in late 2017 and has already conducted audits at over 6,000 restaurants in India.
“While we are already compliant with the mandatory directives in the FSS Act, we will work with FSSAI on any measures required to drive the development in the ecosystem,” Zomato said.
Grofers, a grocery delivery startup, said it works closely with its merchant partners to ensure compliance of food safety and hygiene standards.
“But there is some ambiguity. It is not clear what mandatory food information must the aggregators provide to their consumers, or what kind of standards will determine the quality training of personnel,” said Varsha S.
Understanding standards on printing ink for food packaging necessary
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI is now revamping its standard on packaging and labelling, and is laying emphasis on packaging safety by bringing a specific regulation focussed on food safety aspects of the packaging material.
The standard prescribes that any material used for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping, transportation and sale or service of food shall be of food grade quality (“Food grade” refers to materials made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use and shall not endanger human health and bring change in the composition of food or organoleptic characteristics).
FSSAI has always promoted the principle of self-discipline in the industry, which eventually helps the brand owners to apply best practices available globally and produce safe products for the consumer.
Packaging regulation prescribed by FSSAI is a more stringent version of the current regulation and now encompasses more elements such as paper, metal, and packaging inks. FSSAI now prescribes that printing inks for use on food packages shall conform to IS 15495. The standard is being developed by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and will be mandatory post-FSSAI notification of the regulation.
Packaging supply chain needs to understand the standard in order to ensure the adherence to the prescribed standard.
Packaging Inks conformance to IS 15495
The Indian Standard IS 15495:2004 ‘Printing Ink for food packaging – Code of Practice’ prescribes guidelines for printing inks for use in food packages. The standard differentiates between four categories of printing inks and gives guidance on the formulation of the respective inks:
Printing inks on external (secondary/tertiary) food packaging: They can be formulated freely, but must not contain substances from the exclusion list and must not contain toxic substances. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and colouring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks on immediate food wrappings: Those must be applied to the outside of the food wrapper, comply with the exclusion list and must not contain toxic substances. Inks are to be printed in such a manner as to avoid set-off. The final intended articles need to be manufactured in a manner that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and colouring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks for direct food contact: They must be formulated only with food additives under the appropriate regulation of the Government of India. The final intended articles need to be manufactured in a manner that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food. In the case, that a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and colouring agents need to be avoided.
Printing inks for disposables (e.g., paper plates, drinking straws or table napkins):Those inks must not contain substances from the exclusion list or those, which are otherwise known to be toxic. Moreover, they shall be formulated to avoid bleeding onto the food.
Requirements across Supply Chain Stakeholders
Ink Manufacturer
Ink manufacturers are responsible to formulate packaging inks by using only raw materials other than those known to be toxic, carcinogenic, sensitising or mutagenic, primarily governed by the exclusion list as per Annex A.
Ink manufacturers are expected to take all necessary precautions to meet the guidelines of the standard.
Ink manufacturers shall inform the converter and print buyers on the suitability of ink type towards the packages of food and the norms followed in formulations as per the requirement.
Printer / Converter
Printer / Converter
The printer and converter is finally responsible for manufacturing and storage of the food packages in such a manner by which all preventable transfer of material from the ink or coating to the food content is avoided, even if such transfer is unobjectionable on the grounds of health, odour and flavour.
The printer needs to ensure that the storage environment should be free from potential volatile contaminants, which could adversely affect the organoleptic characteristics of the food.
For immediate food wrappings and direct contact applications the final intended articles need to be manufactured in such a way, that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger the human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food.
For immediate food wrappings and direct contact applications the printer needs to establish appropriate controls to avoid set-off in the printing process.
The converter needs to perform adequate analysis for the specific application in context of validating the bleeding capacity of dyes and pigments used in the inks.
Print Buyer/Brand Owner
Print Buyer/Brand Owner
Print buyers need to design the packaging with the restriction of printing in mind.
For immediate food wrappings and direct contact applications the final intended articles need to be manufactured in such a way, that under normal or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in quantities, which may endanger the human health, cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food.
Relationship between the press speed and the curing/drying power needs to be fully understood to ensure that an adequate curing/drying takes place.
For immediate wrappers, the print buyer needs to recommend substrates with sufficiently low permeability to prevent migration.
It is very important to understand that packaging safety can only be implemented when packaging supply chain partners share information among each other and follow an integrated approach. Integrated packaging supply chain is the key to success of packaging safety implementation.
India’s food regulator has kicked off the new year with a set of new food standards
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a set of new food standards on pulses, organic food, and honey.
In a first, it has decided to include standard certification and labeling in organic food sector in India.
It is notified 27 standards in 2018 including those on alcoholic beverages that will be enforced in the coming year.
With the beginning of new year, India’s top food regulator, The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), introduced a new set of food standards on 1 January on items such as pulses, organic food, and honey,reported Press Trust of India.
FSSAI has begun enforcing microbiological standards for fruit and vegetables and their products as well as further specified the tolerance limit of antibiotics and pharmacology active substances. Additionally, Food fortification regulations will become effective from 1 July 2019 said the report.
FSSAI has also included standards for certification and labelling in the organic food sector of the country. Simultaneously, it is also looking forward to crackdown the uncontrolled adulteration in honey along with addressing issues related to its quality and purity, reported The Business Line citing a statement by FSSAI.
Some of the regulations including those on alcoholic beverages will come into effect from 1 April whereas regulations on advertising and claims, packaging and labeling requirements of blended edible vegetable oils will be effective from 1 July 2019.
FSSAI has been making efforts to protect consumers by speeding up the process of framing new food standards. The food regulator aims to ensure that consumers are eating ‘safe’ food. FSSAI wants to focus on compliance, monitoring, inspection, and enforcement of the drafted regulations said the report.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has drafted nearly 27 new regulation in 2018.
The new standards framed by FSSAI introduced on Monday includes all pulses, whole and decorticated pearl millet grains, de-germedmaize flour and maize grit, couscous, tempe, textured soy protein, sago flour, bee wax, and royal jelly.
According Food businesses in India are generally provided with a transition period of 6 months time and the date for implementing any new standard is either 1 January or 1 July, said FSSAI.
The FSSAI has been working aggressively to check on food security and quality to avoid health risk to consumers in India.In 2018, it modified the provision for milk and milk products. It also banned the food industry for using recycled plastic or newspaper and magazine pages to pack food items,according to media reports.
FSSAI Will Crack Down On Calcium Carbide User
Positive India:As per information available with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), some reports have appeared in the media regarding use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits. As per regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits is prohibited. FSSAI has sent letters to all State/UT Governments/State Food Safety Commissioners emphasizing the need to keep a strict vigil for checking use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits and apprising them of the methodology for detection of Acetylene in godowns and storage chambers. They have also been apprised of the approved concentration of ethylene for ripening of fruits. State /UT Govt authorities/State Food Safety Commissioners have also been impressed upon to conduct periodic inspections and monitoring, inter alia, of fruits and vegetables markets. A document has also been uploaded on the FSSAI’s Official website i.e. fssai.gov.in to make the public aware about ill effects of consuming fruits ripened artificially by calcium carbide. FSSAI and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs regularly issue advertisements in print media to acquaint consumers about the harmful effects of use of carbide gas for ripening of fruits.
FSSAI IS responsible for making regulations and setting standards, import of food, notifying labs and coordination to ensure cooperation between FSSAI and States. The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 falls within the remit of the State/UT Governments and it is discharged through the Commissioner of Food Safety, Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers. The drawing of samples, getting them tested and launching prosecution, etc. is the mandate of the State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring and inspection is undertaken by State/UT Governments to check compliance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations therunder. However, separate information in respect of inspection of food packaging industries carried out by State/UT authorities is not maintained centrally by FSSAI.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Jan 2, 2019
Case booked against two for threatening official
The Thirunavalur police have booked a case against Vaidyanathan, accused in the Aavin adulteration scam, and his brother for threatening a Food Safety Inspector over phone. An audio clip of the duo threatening the official later went viral on WhatsApp.
According to the police, the Food Safety Inspector Kathiravan reportedly served a notice on a milk chilling plant of Mr. Vaidyanathan at Parikal near Ulundurpet during a visit a few days ago for functioning without a licence.
Audio clip
Police said Mr. Vaidyanathan and his brother Mahesh, an AIADMK functionary, called up the Food Safety Inspector on his mobile and questioned him for serving notice on the chilling plant.
The duo also passed derogatory comments on the officer and the audio clip went viral. Mr. Kathiravan lodged a complaint with the Thirunavalur police who booked a case against the duo under Sections 294 and 506 Part I of IPC. Further investigations are on.
A paper sensor that can detect freshness of milk
Dr Pranjal Chandra and Kuldeep Mahato
Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, have developed a simple paper kit that can test freshness of milk and tell how well it has been pasteurized. Aided with a smart phone app, the kit can help ensure that milk is consumed before it turns too sour.
Milk being widely consumed food, its safety is of prime concern to consumers. More so because it is highly perishable and prone to action of enzymes and micro organisms inherently present in it. Although pasteurization, freezing and preservation using additives are widely used to prevent spoilage, perishability of milk is still a concern.
There is no easy way to know if milk is fresh or stale or how effective is pasteurization. Tests used in dairies and dairy industries are time consuming and need sophisticated equipment like spectrophotometers. The new detection kit developed at IIT could make testing easy and fast.
A milk enzyme, Alkaline Phosphatase or ALP, is considered an indicator of milk quality because its presence even after pasteurization indicates presence of microbes that may not have been rendered inactive with pasteurization.
Researchers used ordinary filter paper to prepare the detector. The filter paper was cut into small discs using office punch and impregnated with chemical probes that preferentially react with ALP. The ‘probes’ used are antibodies that specifically bind to ALP. When ALP comes into contact with the probe, it turns white paper disc into a coloured one.
“We soaked paper discs in 4-carboxybenzene diazonium solution and and then chemically treated to expose-COOH groups on the diazonium,” explained says Dr Pranjal Chandra, who led the research effort. “The -COOH groups then attach to NH2 groups on anti-ALP probe molecules. Thus the anti-ALP probes are fixed on paper. When a drop of milk is poured on the tiny paper disc, the ALP in milk reacts with probes, resulting in change of colour.
The colour change on paper discs is then photographed by a smartphone camera and images processed to obtain corresponding colour values. These values are then compared with standard data stored in the phone. Thus not only the presence of ALP could be detected but the amount of it in milk could also be measured.
“We have used samples collected from villages and also milk spiked with specific amount of ALP to test the kit,” said Dr. Chandra. In most cases, almost 94% of the ALP could be detected. The team also confirmed that colour is due only to ALP and not due to interference of vitamins, other proteins and minerals in the milk. The sensor works in both qualitative and quantitative modes. “No separate reader is required for qualitative analysis as it works like just like pregnancy test strips. While colour change shows ALP’s presence, the exact amount of ALP is determined using smartphone,” said Dr. Chandra.
The team has prepared a kit by attaching probe discs onto a 2 cm square transparent cellulose acetate film. The probe is then covered with another cellulose acetate film. Colour reaction takes place when milk is injected through a tiny hole in the cover and a smart phone can be used to get the results. It takes just about 15 minutes to detect raw milk from pasteurised one.
The kit could come handy in milk bars, large kitchens and at milk collection centres where freshness of milk is a concern. It can find other applications too. Since ALP is also tested in various body fluids, the kit can also be utilized in clinics. Fabrication in the laboratory at present costs around Rs. 80 to Rs 125 per kit and could come down when mass manufactured, researchers said.
Kuldeep Mahato, a research fellow, worked with Dr Chandra in the development work. The research results will soon to be published in journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
FDA acts against 415 city eateries
Asks food delivery platforms to not list food joints that do not follow norms
Punekars might miss some of their favourite dishes at the restaurant of their choice but it will be for a good reason. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked 415 eateries listed on various food delivery platforms to stop doing business. Notices have been issued to these eateries as they were found doing business sans licences. While the state FDA has already told e-commerce food service platforms like Swiggy, Uber Eats, Zomato and Food Panda that only those eateries that follow the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules 2011, can be listed on their food service platforms.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered Swiggy, Uber Eats and Zomato to delist unregistered eateries. The state FDA during a surprise inspection in October found that the eateries providing food to these delivery platforms were preparing the dishes in unhygienic conditions and functioning with gross violations of the food safety and hygiene norms. Later it was found that most of them were also functioning without licences making them party to gross violation of food safety rules. The state FDA then issued orders to the food delivery platforms like Swiggy, Uber Eats, Zomato, Food Panda that if they want to do business it has to be with eateries that follow the rules.
The FDA has issued notices to the eateries like, Down Town Pizza, Best Belgium Waffle, The J, Anonymous Café Bar, Mad House Grill, Subway, Chinese-Panti, Apachi Fluid lounge, Classic Rock Café, Barista, Keg and Barrel, among others. “We have issued notices to these eateries to stop doing business through online food platforms. As per the rules they have to mandatorily have licences but they were found to be functioning sans licences,” said assistant commissioner, FDA, Shivaji Shinde.
“Some of them have applied for the licences and some have started approaching us for it. If the food business operators have the licences we can have a control on them and as they have to follow the food safety rule the food prepared is expected to be safe and hygienic. We are also going to conduct an inspection of these eateries,” said Shinde.
State FDA commissioner, Pallavi Darade said, “We had issued notices to the online food delivery platforms earlier in October and taken them in adjudication for doing the business with eateries that don’t follow the food safety norms. During a surprise inspection in greater Mumbai it was found that almost 112 eateries without licences were providing the food through the delivery platform. As per the rules of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 it is the responsibility of the food delivery platform to see that the food sold is safe and hygiene but it was found to be not followed. During the inspection of these eateries, they were found functioning in unhygienic conditions and even the food being supplied by these eateries listed on the food delivery platforms was sub-standard.”
FSSAI to focus on enforcement of food standards in 2019
NEW DELHI: With new food quality standards in place, regulator FSSAI will focus on enforcing the regulations without impacting businesses, CEO Pawan Agarwal said on Tuesday.
During 2018, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) accelerated the process of setting standards and notified 27 new regulations for food standards, he added.
Some of the key regulations include the ones on alcoholic beverages, food fortification, advertising and claims, packaging, residues of pesticides, tolerance limits of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances.
“We are setting standards to ensure safe food to consumers and at the same time see to that they do no impact the businesses. Now that the standards (on food products) are more or less in place, our focus is going to be on compliance, monitoring, inspection and enforcement,” Agarwal said.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on health and family welfare in a report submitted in 2018 had rapped FSSAI over weak enforcement of food safety laws and also recommended restructuring of the autonomous body that functions under the health ministry.
Asserting that the big focus will be on enforcement, Agarwal said while some of the standards are made effective from January 1, the implementation time for other products has been extended by three or six months depending on the cases.
The new standards effective from January 1 are for all varieties of pulses, whole and decorticated pearl millet grains, de-germed maize flour and maize grit, textured soy protein, sago flour, bee wax and royal jelly.
Microbiological standards for fruits and vegetables and their products, all provisions of organic food regulations and standard for honey, except few parameters where test methods are being validated — are made effective from Tuesday.
According to FSSAI, three-month extension has been given to businesses to comply with the tolerance limit of antibiotics and pharmacology active substances.
Similarly, standards for alcoholic beverages will come into force from April 1, 2019 to coincide with financial year requirements of excise laws.
Food fortification norms will come into force from June 1, compliance of labelling requirement for frozen dessert would be applicable from July 1, FSSAI said.
The regulations on advertising and claims, packaging and labelling requirements of blended edible vegetable oils will come into force from July 1, this year.
In 2018, new standards for fruits and vegetables including canned tomato, jam, jelly and marmalade came into effect from July. The revised standards for milk and milk products also came into effect from the same month.
New FSSAI regulations on organic food, honey, pulses come into force
New standards for all pulses, pearl millet grains, de-germed maize flour, sago have also come into effect.
In a first, standards for certification and labelling in the organic food space to come into effect
New food regulations for categories such as pulses, organic food and honey among others have come into force from January 1, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) working to accelerate the process of setting new standards.
In a statement, FSSAI said that all provisions of organic food regulations will come into force from Tuesday. The new regulations will for the first time introduce standards for certification and labelling in the organic food space. At the same time, it aims to address issues concerning quality, purity and curb rampant adulteration in honey, with the the new standards that also become effective from Tuesday.
Food regulations for all pulses, pearl millet grains, de-germed maize flour, sago besides microbiological standards for fruits and vegetables have also come in force with the beginning of the new year. “During the year, FSSAI has accelerated the process of standards setting. As many as 27 new regulations for food standards were notified in 2018,” the official statement added.
The new regulations have been notified for various categories such as alcoholic beverages, food fortification besides new regulations for advertising and claims among others. “Food businesses are usually provided a period of at least 6-months as transition period before new standards come into force and date of effect of standards is either January 1 or July1 ,” it added.
While standards for alcoholic beverages will come into force from April 1, food fortification regulations will be effective July 1. “The regulations on Advertising and Claims, packaging and Labelling requirements of Blended Edible Vegetable Oils will come into force on July 1, 2019,” the statement added.
Dec 30, 2018
FSSAI bans plastic, newspaper packaging of food items
Of the 380 samples picked up from the unorganised sector, 51 samples were found to be non-conforming, taking overall rate to 13.4%, according to a survey report that FSSAI commissioned.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has framed new food packaging regulations that are in the process of being notified. The regulations will come into effect from July 1.
The country’s top food regulator has prohibited the use of recycled plastic or newspaper and magazine pages for packaging of food items, in a bid to crackdown on use of packaging material that poses a health risk.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has framed new food packaging regulations that are in the process of being notified. The regulations will come into effect from July 1.
“The packaging of food regulations have been sent for publishing and will raise the bar for food safety in India. Packaging is an integral part of the process and we have framed regulations to address the it,” said Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI.
Acknowledging the importance of packaging in the food sector and its impact on food safety, the packaging regulations have been separated from the labelling ones . The new regulations replace the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Besides general and specific requirement for packaging material, the regulations also prescribe overall and specific migration limits of contaminants for plastic packaging materials. There is a suggestive list of packing materials for different food product categories.
The main concern for the food regulator is the unorganised sector that found to be making use of hazardous packaging material in the surveys that were commissioned by the regulator.
Of the 380 samples picked up from the unorganised sector, 51 samples were found to be non-conforming, taking overall rate to 13.4%, according to a survey report that FSSAI commissioned. The food items in these instances were found contaminated even with heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, etc. “The surveys that we commissioned have shown that the packaging material used by the organized sector is largely safe but it’s the unorganised sector that is a cause for concern for us, especially loose packaging material,” he said.
Packing Food In Plastic And Newspaper Banned By The FSSAI
The food regulator of India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put a ban on food packaging made out of plastic, magazine paper and newspaper reports Hindustan Times. The decision was taken in lieu of removing packaging that posed a health risk. A new set of food packaging regulations has been framed by the regulator and these will be implied by 1st of July next year.
FSSAI BANS PLASTIC & NEWSPAPER PACKAGING
Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI told the media, “The packaging of food regulations have been sent for publishing and will raise the bar for food safety in India. Packaging is an integral part of the process and we have framed regulations to address the it.” The report further says that these new regulations have replaced the old Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
Along with the changes, the regulator have also suggested packaging alternatives to newspapers and plastic. “The surveys that we commissioned have shown that the packaging material used by the organized sector is largely safe but it’s the unorganised sector that is a cause for concern for us, especially loose packaging material,” added Agarwal.
Packaged drinking water samples not up to FSSAI standards
Government officials attribute this to a lack of clean drinking water.
NEW DELHI: An alarming 44 per cent of the bottled water samples across the country have failed the government’s quality tests, according to data released by food regulators of several states on Saturday.
In a bid to keep an eye on quality, food safety departments lifted 1,123 samples across the country in 2017-18. Of these, 496 samples failed to meet the quality standards prescribed by the country’s apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Government officials attribute this to a lack of clean drinking water. Also, several small bottling plants or water packaging units have mushroomed in most cities. Tushar Trivedi, the founder of ‘bottledwater.org’ said, “Low investment, high demand and high returns have led to unregulated growth ... One can start even in a flat with a small investment of `2-3 lakh.
They don’t have any license and they don’t follow any norms.” One small unlicensed unit could cater to the demand of 2-3 colonies , he added.
Desi ghee samples fail purity test
Bathinda, December 29
A total of 15 sample of desi ghee collected from a factory in Ludhiana and from its employees here by the Health Department have failed the purity test.
The factory owner is accused of selling desi ghee in the region by pasting labels of Nestle and Verka brands.
District Health Department officials had informed Ludhiana officials about collecting samples from factory emplyees here. Thereafter, Ludhiana health officials had conducted a raid on the factory and collected samples of desi ghee on December 10. The health team had also recovered three tin of desi ghee.
Sources in the Health Department said the factory was manufacturing “adulterated” desi ghee and selling it in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Mansa and other districts by pasting labels of premium desi ghee-making brands. After collecting the samples, the Health Department had sent them for purity test to the state laboratory in Chandigarh.
Dr Ashok Monga, district health officer, said, “The suspects had pasted fake stickers of Verka and Nestle on desi ghee packages (tins). They were also selling them in the region. The samples of desi ghee have failed the purity test and we will submit the report of the same to the police soon. As many as 15 samples have failed the purity test.”
Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjivan Singh said, “Suspects Suman Kumar and Lakhya Garg were in Bathinda to supply adulterated desi ghee. After getting a tip-off, we conducted a raid and arrested them. A case under Sections 272, 273, 420, 465, 467, 472 and 473 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 59 and 63 of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, at the Cantonment police station.”
Dr Monga said that in November, samples of turmeric powder, milk, tomato ketchup, cheese, desi ghee and curd had also failed the purity test. He added that in December, samples of Verka desi ghee, sunflower oil, rasgulla, curd and tamarind ketchup also failed to match the required standards.
Indian Railways ensuring hygienic, quality food in trains
New Delhi, Dec 29 (UNI) In its endeavour to provide hygienic and quality food to the passengers, Indian Railways has taken several measures like upgrading quality of food preparation, setting up of new kitchens and revamping existing ones.
Only potable drinking water is used for cooking of food in Indian Railways, official sources here said.
To ensure centralised monitoring of the kitchen activities, CCTVs have been installed in base kitchens, kitchen units. Sharing of live streaming of the base kitchens through website of IRCTC has been made operational.
To ensure compliance of Food Safety Norms, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) certification from Designated Food Safety Officers of each catering unit is mandatory. Food Safety Supervisors have been deployed at Kitchen Units to monitor food safety and hygienic practices.
Food samples collected by Food Safety Officers/Supervisors are sent to the nominated accredited Laboratories under Food Safety & Standard Act for analysis and testing.
Penalties are imposed in cases of detection of unsatisfactory food samples and prosecutions are carried out as per provisions of Food Safety & Standard Rule -2011, they added.
Examination of quality of food, hygiene and cleanliness in Pantry Cars and Kitchen Units is done through Third Party Audit. Customer satisfaction survey is also conducted through Third Party Agencies.
Regular and surprise inspections are conducted by railway officials including Food Safety Officers. Detailed instructions/guidelines have been issued to the Zonal Railways for conducting inspections.
Monitoring and supervision of catering service is done through operation of centralised Catering Service Monitoring Cell (CSMC) toll free number 1800-111-321, Operation of All India Helpline No. 138, Twitter handle, CPGRAMS, E-Mail and SMS based complaints redressal, the sources said.
With the objective to provide quality and hygienic food to passengers, a new Catering Policy 2017 has been notified wherein unbundling of catering services on trains by IRCTC has been envisaged. In compliance thereof IRCTC has already taken over management of 377 mobile units (pairs of trains with pantry Cars) and 262 static units/Kitchen Units.
IRCTC has already upgraded 30 Base Kitchens/ Kitchen Units. IRCTC is closely monitoring the quality of food preparation through various modalities like CCTV, Food safety supervisors, IRCTC supervisor, food sampling in NABL accredited labs, Third Party Audit.
Food safety officials take bakeries to task
Coimbatore: Bakeries mushrooming on city’s bylanes are keeping food safety officials on their toes.
Ahead of the plastic ban and the looming deadline for getting licence and registration under the FSSAI act, the officials are racing against time to bring all bakeries under the law’s ambit.
Tracking them and educating the owners on food safety and safe disposal practices continue to be a challenge, designated officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) A Vijayalalithambigai said.
While the district has thousands of bakeries, from multi-chain outlets to standalone shops, hardly a few thousand have been licences or registered with the food safety department. “Large bakery chains like Aroma, K R and KRS Bakeries have got proper licences and follow all the rules and norms of the FSSAI Act,” Vijayalalithambigai said. “However, it is the corner shops and those in interior areas that we are trying to get to follow the norms.”
Many small-scale bakeries end up outsourcing products. “We have stuck to important rules on the use of margarine in specific products, on colours in products like icing, having separate sinks for washing vessels and raw materials and keeping storage and production areas free of insects and rodents. Food produced on different dates should be displayed separately. First in-first out policy should be followed. Food should not be served in plastic trays or in newspapers. They should serve good quality drinking water,” the official said.
“Many small bakeries still display products in the open. This makes them susceptible to flies. Many products are not refrigerated properly. Labelling products according to our norms is also something we have to teach them,” she added.
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