Pune: Do not collect food from eateries violating norms: FDA warns online good companies

Pune FDA has recently taken action against restaurants and food delivery apps. The FDA officials have sent notices to around 150 restaurants running without proper license.

'In the action taken by the department, around 150 were found running without proper FDA license, as per Food Safety and Standards Act,' said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner FDA, Pune.

Deshmukh said, 'The eateries in Pune were illegally serving food to various online application-based delivery firms. We have issued notices against them and asked them to compile.'

'At the same time, we have also warned online food supplying apps like Zomato, Uber Eats, Swiggy and Foodpanda not to collect food from restaurants which are violating FDA norms,' added Deshmukh.

According to FDA officers, for the last two months, they have noticed violations in the quality and hygiene by online food delivery apps.

Akash Patil, a resident of Pune said, 'FDA should make it compulsory for the online food aggregators to maintain the health record of each food delivery boy, to avoid the spread of infectious diseases. FDA should come with more stringent action and people should be made aware.'

How reliable are food expiry labels?

The truth about expired food and the piles of waste it generates.

Packed food in the US have several types of labels, such as “expiration, use by, best by, sell by, best if used by” which creates lot confusion as to when the food item will actually expire. 

London: Have we been wasting perfectly good food all along? A year-long experiment conducted by a US grocer showed that expiry dates are probably wrong.

Normally, one would never eat yoghurt that expired six months ago. But Scott Nash, founder of the Mom’s Organic Market chain of grocery stores in US whipped up a smoothie with it. He saw that it did not have any mould or smell and decided to use it. “I drank and waited,” he wrote on his blog. And nothing happened. 

When he realised that going past the expiry date hadn’t spoilt the food, he decided to experiment with more food items. Nash never liked wasting food and thought that by documenting his experience, he could reduce food wastage on a larger scale.

For his next food experiment, he made a batch of pasta. For that, he used cream that was four months past its expiration date, an artichoke and lemon pesto that expired seven months ago, chicken broth more than three months past best-before, meats that were over two weeks old and some tortilla chips that were nearly a year old. Despite using all ‘expired’ ingredients, nothing happened.

This raised a lot of relevant questions: Were the expiry dates wrong or have we been fooled into throwing out good quality food this whole time? Should we all be eating ‘expired’ food then, questions The Guardian.

Packed food in the US have several types of labels, such as “expiration, use by, best by, sell by, best if used by”. It creates lot confusion as to when the food item will actually expire. In the UK, it carries only one label “use by” or “best before”.

Nash also discovered that non-food items like soap, toothpaste and such too have no real expiration date. A specialist from the US Department of Agriculture’s food safety and inspection service said that if packaged goods are kept in good condition, then its contents are safe to eat well past its expiration date, maybe even forever. The can/jar should not be swollen, rusting, dented or leaking. But the FSIS’s website states that there are limits to how long canning will preserve food.

A joint report brought out by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School in 2013 states that a shocking 40% of American food goes to waste each year and it is largely due to the ambiguous labelling on food containers. In the UK, when the label says ‘best-before’, it means that food may not taste or look as good, but it is still safe to eat. But it must not be consumed beyond the ‘use-by’ date.

But a research conducted in the UK said that people threw out nearly 720m eggs last year due to the labelling confusion. The UK has also seen an upward of 7m tonnes a year wastage of food, which could be avoided with a better understanding of the dates.

Andrew Parry of Wrap, a waste reduction charity, said that the date is decided upon a lot of factors such as where and how it is made; how hygienic the space in which it is made is; how consumers will treat it. A degree difference in the fridge temperate can also reduce the shelf-life of the item.

Parry, along with the British Nutrition Foundation and the FSA are categorically telling consumers to not go past the use-by date. Several food-poisoning causing pathogens like salmonella and E-coli can develop in the food items. Even if these pathogens grow to dangerous levels, the food usually looks and smells fine.

Water units sans licence flourish in Vijayawada

Almost all households in the city and the adjoining areas, prefer to buy canned water for drinking purpose instead of boiling or filtering tap water. 

VIJAYAWADA: The business of drinking water in Vijayawada has of late (with the temperature touching 40 degree Celsius mark), attained huge proportions with many unauthorised water plants flourishing in the city. But, surprisingly, the plants pose no threat to business of authorised plants. Almost all households in the city and the adjoining areas, prefer to buy canned water for drinking purpose instead of boiling or filtering tap water. 

According to sources in Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), about 350 unauthorised water plants are running in and around Vijayawada. 

“Though many plants in the city are functioning without proper licence, the food department cannot take action against them as they do not sell water under the nomenclature of packaged drinking water. They sell drinking water under various other names which do not fall under the category of packaged water. Hence these plants don’t come under our purview directly,” assistant food safety controller N Purnachandra Rao, said.

He also said that the department can take action only if anyone files a case against the water plants. At present, he said that there are only 10 authorised licensees in Vijayawada. The latest licence was given to H2O in Auto Nagar in March. 

Meanwhile, the owner of an authorised plant said, “Even though many unauthorised plants are functioning in the city, they do not pose any major threat to our business as the demand for drinking water is very high. Despite stiff competition, we are not suffering any loss.”

The water plants have to undergo a thorough process to get licence. Initially, they have to take permission from the local authorities. Beginning with taking permission for electricity connection, they have to get labour licence and certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Only after undergoing these stages, can they get the licence from the FSSAI. 

Is the water sold by unauthorised plants safe for consumption?

When asked, Mrudula, a teacher in Guru Nanak Colony, said, “We have been buying water cans since my childhood. Why complain against them if no one in my family has ever become ill by drinking the canned water?” 

Several environment reports and environmentalists suggest that the water supplied in these cans is injurious to health in the long run. “Consumption of water from these cans does not show its effect immediately but ruins one’s health gradually. People are unaware of this fact and thus the business of unauthorised plants never runs into the loss. Though plastic is a renewable resource, it can be reused or recycled only up to a certain limit,” Bengaluru-based environmentalist Nandi Durga Ballu Gowda said.

Artificially ripened fruits destroyed

AHMEDABAD: With the summer setting-in, the consumption of milkshakes and smoothies is bound to go up. As a precautionary measure, the flying squad of the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), on Monday, conducted random checks on commercial establishments selling fruits.

AMC flying squad officials destroyed 130kg stock of artificially ripened fruits that were unfit for human consumption.

That apart, civic authorities also seized a stock of some 400 sachets of ethylene which is used for artificially ripening various fruits, especially mangoes. According to the guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, ethylene cannot be used for artificially ripening fruits.

Civic authorities raided some 15 commercial establishments in Shahibaug, Sarkhej, Bodakdev, Nikol, Behrampura, Saraspur, Gota and Naranpura areas of Ahmedabad, among others. Samples of suspicious food items were collected from 10 establishments, said a senior AMC health official.

Direction regarding requirement of FSSAI Licenses at State/City Offices of E-Commerce FBO's

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Govt told to verify properties of teachers, staff of schools in State

TESTING CHARGES FOR PROTEIN AND CALORIES UNDER ICDS AND MDM SCHEME

FAQ'S ON DIRECT RECRUITMENT

Fat mimicking products set to replace transfat

Vital Strategies, a New York-based global health organisation, has given training for the food safety officers here for collecting trans fat samples.

Official sources said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed to help the state introduce fat mimicking products to cater to the food business industry in the state.

Thiruvananthapuram: In an effort to curb trans fat consumption in the state, the Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety (KCFS) along with the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) is gearing up to introduce fat mimicking products in the state to replace Vanaspati/Margarine - which is widely used by eateries and bakeries for preparation of proprietary food items especially sweets and deep fried food.

Official sources said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed to help the state introduce fat mimicking products to cater to the food business industry in the state.

"Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are the main culprit and source of trans fat. We have organised brainstorming sessions for food business operators in the state, and we did a live demonstration on how to minimise the trans fat levels in the food products. They are ready to avoid vanaspati/margarine if we can provide alternatives which would give the same quality and texture for the food products," said the official.

Interestingly, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and health authorities have already started collecting samples of food products sold in the state to find the level of trans fat.

The FSSAI has given strict direction to every state to bring down the Trans fatty acids content in edible oils and vanaspati to 2 per cent from the current 5 per cent in the state.

"Finding out the level of trans fats is very necessary. FSSAI officials have come down to the state to collect samples. The state food safety authorities had collected samples of around 150 food products in the state for checking the trans fat levels. Many of the products exceeded the trans fat levels given on the product label," said the official.

Vital Strategies, a New York-based global health organisation, has given training for the food safety officers here for collecting trans fat samples. "Several samples were collected from food chains including Chicking, KFC, and packet foods including cookies. But we don't have an accredited lab facility for taking legal action against violators," said the official.

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Rs 7.5L worth gutka products seized from truck

Trichy: An election flying squad seized banned gutka products worth Rs 7.5 lakh from a mini container truck near old Palpannai here on Friday.

The team led by Tahsildar Renuga intercepted a vehicle during a vehicle check as a part of the model code of conduct for the general elections. The team searched inside the container and found Gutkha items packed in 50 bags. All of them were banned stuffs in Tamil Nadu. The driver of the truck was identified as Kalidass, 33, from Tiruppur. The team handed over the truck loaded with Gutkha and the driver to Gandhi market police. The preliminary investigation brought to light the Gutkha was transported from Bengaluru. The total weight of the consignment was 30 kg.

The driver feigned ignorance on the place of delivery of the consignment. He told police that he was asked to follow a motorcyclist to reach the place to deliver them. As the biker sped away as he noticed the vehicle being searched.

The food safety department officials took up the enquiry to get a clue about the network behind illegal trade as the department has the major role in combating against the invasion of banned Gutkha into the state. Designated officer (DO) of food safety department, Trichy R Chithra visited the police station. “The police told me that they will take care of the case and the investigation,” Chithra told ToI in the evening.

The police sources said that the driver maintained that he had no idea about the sender of the consignment. He told them that he took the vehicle from Hosur only before which it was driven by someone else from Bengaluru to Hosur. As the police could not ferret out anything about the network, they registered a case against him and arrested him.

Tea Board goes for food safety push to uplift quality

Kolkata: The Tea Board of India has issued a circular, directing all tea manufacturing units in the country “to strictly comply with the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) norms and get their end product tested in any NABL-accredited lab” to ensure that the quality of brew sold in India and exported abroad is never compromised. 

The Tea Board circular adds: “The test reports should also be submitted to the Board’s zonal office for our information...however, all manufacturing units (both estate factories and bought-leaf factories) are hereby informed that Tea Board Quality Control Laboratory has received NABL accreditation…” 

A top Tea Board official reasoned that the circular is needed owing to the continuous revision of the FSSAI Act, 2006, and its amendments in 2018. “As more chemicals and new parameters have been included under the FSSAI Act, our duty was to inform and educate the existing as well as new players in the tea production business,” added the Board official. The FSSAI test for the tea sector includes pesticide residue and heavy metal analysis. 

Though small tea growers, who are always criticized for low quality control of their produce, do not come under the purview of FSSAI as primary producers.

The small tea growers’ (STG) body, Cista, welcomed the latest Tea Board circular for compulsory testing of tea for twice a year. Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, president, Cista, said: “STGs should also strictly follow FSSAI and Plant Protection Code (PPC). We have to ensure our customers that we are producing clean, pure and environment-friendly tea. We have already requested Tea Board to reach out to everybody for training-cum-awareness campaign at the grassroot level.”

The Indian Tea Association (ITA), the premier tea producers’ body, claimed that all its member-producers have always complied with FSSAI testing norms. “However, the Tea Board’s initiative is commendable as it would make the buyers more confident about Indian tea.”

The Tea Board is also organizing a ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ Meet’ for drawing a future roadmap for the morning beverage on April 24. The meet will discuss the steps “needed to be taken to bring quality produce to the market and discouraging the rampant production, sales, export and marketing of low quality tea.

FAQ ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES REGULATIONS 2018

No food product can be labelled ‘Fresh’ or ‘Natural’ without permission: FSSAI

FSSAI's new regulation on food packaging

According to a media report, two researchers from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune studied 1,200 Indian food advertisements and observed that nearly 60 per cent of such advertisements are misleading, because of the flowery language and false claim they make. They neither follow the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules nor the codes of the Advertising Standards Council of India. To keep a strict check on the food advertisement world, FSSAI has laid down a new regulation. Read to know more about it.

From July 1, food brands will have to procure permission from FSSAI to use such words such as pure, natural, fresh, and authentic while describing products. They will also have to carry a disclaimer about the use of words under the latest FSSAI mandate.

How the categories will be defined?

According to FSSAI, companies can refer to a particular food as ‘fresh’ only if they are unprocessed except for being washed, peeled, chilled, or trimmed. The company needs to make sure that the product is safe and above-mentioned processes doesn’t alter out its basic characteristics. Also, the word “natural” will be permitted only for food derived from a plant, animal, micro-organism or mineral. The end product must not have any external ingredient added to it.

What’s more?

The latest regulation also states that companies and brands using words that mean fresh, natural, pure, etc. – will have to give a clear disclaimer stating “this is only a brand name or trademark and does not represent its true nature.”

What’s the punishment for violation?

Words like ‘organic’, ‘genuine’, and ‘real’ on food products generally attract customer and in case they are not authentic, it creates a false impression for customers and FSSAI as a regulatory body. Keeping this in mind, the new regulation states that in case the brand fails to do so, then the manufacturers will have to pay a fine of Rs. 10 lakh for the violation.

Need for such amendments

According to an official statement released by FSSAI, these regulations have been refined with a perspective of establishing fairness in claims and advertisements of food products and make food businesses accountable for it.

Verdict

Now, next time when you are out for shopping, remember to check the claims mentioned on the food packet and in case of any doubt, social media is always at your rescue to raise the voice.

Safe or Not: Why You Need to Know FSSAI’s Guidelines on Irradiated Foods & Radura Logo

Does the idea of irradiated food make you uncomfortable? Here’s what #FSSAI wants you to know.

Our shopping habits have undergone a considerable change over the years.

Not too long ago, we would purchase vegetables and fruits off the hand cart that did the rounds in the society, but today, ordering them online has become a hassle-free option.

But whether we acquire them from a trusted vegetable vendor every morning or the weekly farmers’ market, we will always be curious about where these essentials come from, what chemicals have been sprayed on them, whether they are organic as they claim to be and what safety measures one must take before consuming them.

Addressing one such concern, the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a statement saying that food products that have been treated with ionising radiation must be marked.

Here are eight things you must know about the ionising radiation process and the marker that you must look out for a while buying irradiated products.

1. According to the latest statement issued by the FSSAI, all food products that have undergone irradiation must carry the ‘Radura’ mark along with the tag ‘treated with radiation’ or ‘treated by irradiation.’

Radura is an international symbol, usually green in colour and resembling a plant in a circle.

2. The process of irradiation includes exposing food products such as fruits and vegetables to ionising radiation like gamma rays, X-rays or electron beams to achieve certain technological objectives.

The FSSAI says that these objectives “include [an] extension of shelf-life, destruction of storage and quarantine insect pests, and killing of parasites, pathogens, and spoilage microorganisms.”

3. Based on the requirements (as per dosage), the applications of food irradiation can be classified as low dose, medium dose, and high dose.

4. As compared to chemicals and fumigants, irradiation is much more effective and does not leave any harmful residue in food. It is equally suitable for both bulk as well as pre-packaged food and is a physical, non-additive process that causes minimal change in it.

5. Several misconceptions about the process have made consumers wary of irradiated food products.

However, the FSSAI assures that this is a safe process that “have inbuilt safety features that prevent human exposure to radiation.”

6. Currently, food irradiation is permitted in over 60 countries including the USA and China. Apart from fruits and vegetables, spices, dry vegetable seasonings, meat, meat products, herbs, and herbal products are the major commodity groups where this technology is used.

7. Several international entities, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), have clarified the misconceptions that may occur with consumers or even policymakers.

“At high energy levels, ionising radiation can make certain constituents of the food radioactive. Below a certain threshold of energy, however, these reactions do not occur. On the basis of experimental studies and theoretical estimates, in 1980, the Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the Wholesomeness of Irradiated Foods recommended restricting the radiation sources used in food processing to those with energy levels well below those that induce radioactivity in treated food,” observes the WHO.

8. To clarify the difference between irradiation and radioactive food further, FSSAI says, “Radiation processed foods are those that have been exposed to radiation to bring about the desired technological benefits. Radioactive foods, on the other hand, are those that become contaminated with radionuclides, for example during nuclear accidents. Contamination with radionuclides never occurs during radiation processing.”

The FSSAI guarantees that this process causes no harm to the consumer. To ensure that people are well informed about what processes the food they purchase has undergone, they have made it mandatory to have the Radura mark and tag on the products.

So the next time you are out buying groceries, make sure you look out for the sticker.

Raising the bar of street food in Thiruvananthapuram

When street shops in the city are mushrooming by day, the initiative aims at providing good quality food in clean environments.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Under the 'Clean Street Food Hub,' an initiative of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, street food shops at different parts of the state including Shangumugham will be raised to five star standards. When street shops in the city are mushrooming by day, the initiative aims at providing good quality food in clean environments.

According to the commissioner of Food Safety, Rathan U Kelkar, street food culture is deeply rooted in the minds of Indians, especially Malayalees. 

By focusing on local cuisines, the initiative also ensures social and economic upliftment of the street vendor community by helping them improve food quality thereby attracting more customers. "It is a 360-degree approach to Food Safety and Healthy Nutrition. We are trying to build a street food hub at the Shangumugham beachside where customers can have quality food while enjoying nature. Initially, an audit team verifies the street shop and lists down the requirements to gain quality certification. Once rectified, street vendors will be coached on cleanliness. Sessions comprise personal hygiene to food nutrition and health benefits," said Rathan. 

The Food Safety Department officials stressed on the need to develop a healthy eating habit in order to avoid lifestyle diseases. "Unhealthy cooking using refined oil and the use of unhygienic ice and water can result in severe health conditions. Hence strict instructions must be followed by street vendors. Lack of washbasins was one of the major problems faced. This will be sorted by making it mandatory to install washbasins in each shop," he added.

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Food additive in crackers, frozen meat worsens flu

New York:

A common food additive found in many products, including frozen meat, crackers and fried foods, could weaken the human immune system against flu, which accounts for 290,000-650,000 deaths globally every year, say researchers. Besides increasing the severity of flu symptoms, the study found exposure to the compound — tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) — could reduce effectiveness of flu vaccine through its effects on T cells, a vital component of the immune system.

During the study, mice fed tBHQ-spiked diet were slower to activate both helper T cells and killer T cells, causing slower clearance of the virus.

“Our studies showed mice on a tBHQ diet had a weakened immune response to influenza (flu) infection,” said Robert Freeborn, postdoctoral candidate at the Michigan State University. “In our mouse model, tBHQ suppressed function of helper and killer T cells. It led to more severe symptoms during a subsequent influenza infection,” Freeborn said.

When the mice were re-infected with a different but related strain of influenza, those on the tBHQ diet had a longer illness and lost more weight. This suggests that tBHQ impaired the ‘memory response’ that typically primes the immune system to fight a second infection, Freeborn said. tBHQ is an additive used to prevent spoilage, with a maximum allowed concentration of 200 parts per million in food products. Since tBHQ is not always listed on ingredient labels, the best way to limit tBHQ exposure is to be conscious about food choices. A low-fat diet and less consumption of processed snacks will help reduce tBHQ consumption, he suggested. 

IGNOU plans new online courses on tourism and food safety

NEW DELHI: In its effort to make learning convenient and flexible for the students, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is planning to start new online courses such as MA in Hindi, certificate course in food safety and certificate course in tourism studies from July 2019. The open university has submitted a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is awaiting their confirmation.

“Under the umbrella of Online Courses or Programmes Regulations, 2018 by UGC, we have submitted the proposal for four online courses which includes a two-year masters in Hindi programme and two certificate courses that will be conducted for six months. We will soon disclose the name of the fourth course after getting approval from the UGC,” says Nageshwar Rao, vice chancellor, IGNOU.

“The course structure for all the online courses will be based on the curriculum of similar existing regular courses for which the online examinations will be conducted across 56 regional centres of IGNOU,” he adds.

In 2018, UGC released eligibility criteria of higher educational institutions in India that allowed open universities to conduct online programmes only in those disciplines which were already offering the similar courses in open and distance learning mode and at least one batch has been passed out from the same.

“In our center of online education, we have identified around 85 online courses that include 46 undergraduate and postgraduate certificate programmes, 22 diploma or post graduate diploma courses, two undergraduate, six postgraduate and four awareness/refresher/appreciation programmes,” says Rao while talking to Education Times on IGNOU’s 32nd convocation day.

“For the online courses, the university will adopt four quadrant learning approach that will include digital study material through e-gyankosh, e-learning videos, doubt session with teachers through IGNOU’s web-based TV channel- Gyandarshan and online evaluation,” he adds.

With an aim to establish IGNOU as an online platform of learning, the varsity is planning to conduct regular examinations in online mode. “We are in conversation with the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct our online entrance as well as the regular examinations. Although it is difficult to conduct long stretched regular examinations, initially they might just conduct IGNOU’s entrance examinations from next academic year,” says Rao.

PIL claims FSSAI and not MCDs should issue license to meat shops: HC seeks Delhi govt's reply

The Delhi High Court Monday sought a response of the AAP government on a plea alleging that the municipal bodies were still granting licenses for setting up slaughter houses in the city when the power to do so is vested in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Apart from the Delhi government, a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani also issued notice to the municipal bodies in the city and the FSSAI seeking their stand on the plea.

The petition by Gauri Maulekhi, an animal rights activist, has contended that after the FSSAI rules came into effect in August 2011, the food safety authority was the sole competent body to regulate and grant registration or license to slaughter houses and meat shops.

However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in September 2011 issued a revised meat shop policy under which it continued to grant registration and licenses to the meat shops and slaughter houses, senior advocate Raj Panjwani, appearing for Maulekhi, told the court.

In the petition, filed through advocate Priyanka Bangari, the animal rights activist has contended that the FSSAI Regulations "specifically regulates and lays down the specific hygienic and sanitary practices to be followed by the food business operators engaged in manufacture, processing, storing and selling of meat and meat products, to obtain the said license to operate".

"Therefore, slaughter houses, meat shops, processing units such as cold storage of meat, etc. are bound by law to obtain license under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 from the FSSAI," the petition has said.

It has also said despite the Director (Regulatory Compliance) FSSAI 

writing to the Delhi government in June last year to direct the municipal corporation to withdraw the September 2011 licensing policy, nothing has been done till date.

Erring traders charged Rs 83,000 fine at Ganderbal

Srinagar

The court of Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum- Adjudicating Officer, Ganderbal Showkat Ahmad imposed a fine of Rs 83,000 on a number of traders for violating the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, Rules and Regulations -2011.

The Food Business Operators were directed to correct the deficiencies found during the course of adjudication in the food products which were processed/packed/manufactured and pumped into the market for consumption of general masses by them.

Civic drive to ensure food safety standards

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon take up emphatic awareness campaign throughout the city to ensure that the food vendors and the consumers do not compromise with the food safety standards.

"We will be putting up banners and posters with messages regarding food safety and security at strategic locations in the city. We will also distribute leaflets with do's and don't's among common people, food vendors and also street food vendors. The regular inspection by our food inspectors which is going on in full swing on a regular basis will continue," said a senior KMC official of the Food Safety wing. This wing comes under the aegis of the Health department of the civic body.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have certain guidelines for those associated with food business so that the food that they serve to customers conform to standards.

"We will be examining whether the vendors have valid FSSAI licence, whether they are using artificial colours and other requisites in maintaining food hygiene. The use of ice in drinks will also be under strong supervision. We have been conducting raids for the last two years to stop the use of industrial ice in drinks," the official added.

The KMC's food drive has received a major boost with the recruitment of 80 contractual staffs. A team of six officials has been formed for all the 16 boroughs under the civic body for taking up food drive. Each team will be led by a food inspector . The necessary training has already been provided to these new recruitees.

The mobile food testing laboratory introduced by KMC in October last year is used in drive during weekends. It checks food quality right at the spot after picking up random samples from eateries.

Modification in the existing FLRS for Fortification endorsement

Direction for Organic Foods

Food safety norms take centre stage at Ahmedgarh

Officials distribute aprons, masks and head covers to food operators in Ahmedgarh on Monday. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 1

Local food operators vowed to take preventive measures and adopt standard procedure of manufacturing and handling food items.

The call was made by Ravinder Garg, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, during a workshop held at Jain Sathanak.

Food operators also asked their family members to ensure that food safety norms were followed at their homes as well.

Prevention of contamination of raw material, packing and storage of finished products, personal hygiene and compliance of various sections of food safety laws, were cited by the officials of the Food and Drug Administration Department.

Councillor Deepak Sharma, BJP functionary Parmod Gupta and Tony Aggarwal led the food operators.

Garg claimed that about 120 entrepreneurs updated their knowledge related to various aspects of preparation of food items and its handling.

He said the administration has launched a coordinated movement to impart training under the Mission Tandrust Punjab as per the guidelines of the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

A team of officials from the RIR Certification Private Limited led by Gaurav Kumar highlighted various aspects of food safety and compliance of laws.

Food Safety Officer Divya Goswami supervised the workshop.

The organisers provided kits comprising caps, aprons and masks to those directly engaged in preparation, processing and service of food items.

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Now, ‘Food safety display boards’ mandatory for outlets

Jaipur: Upbeat after the recent drive unearthing food units involved in adulteration of food items, health department has made it mandatory to display ‘food safety display boards’ (FSDB) at food outlets. The boards will be installed at manufacturing units, storage units and also at retail counters, dairies and other eateries, ensuring sale of hygienic food. 

Besides, the health department has made it mandatory for online food suppliers to procure food license from the health department. “We are taking strict measures to ensure sale of hygienic food in the state. We have issued orders to all the online food suppliers to procure food license. We have made it mandatory,” said Dr Sunil Singh, nodal officer, food safety, health department. 

Dr Singh said that it has also been directed to all the eateries and those involved in sale of and producing food products, to display their food license number by putting up food safety display board (FSDB). The FSDB is now mandatory for those dealing in sale of food, such as restaurants and hotels. 

There will be a toll-free number printed on FSDB, which will be helpful for customers. “If a customer finds that the food is unhygienic, he/she may register his/her complaint through the toll-free number. On the basis of complaint, action will be taken, if the owner of the restaurant is found guilty,” Dr Singh said.

The FSDB is a kind of assurance that a fruit and vegetable retailer gives to his customer that he follows 10 golden rules, such as keeping his cart or premises clean and pest-free, clean clothes, use potable water for washing fruits and vegetables, wash hands before and after handling food and after using toilets, coughing, sneezing, keep sliced foods and vegetables covered, wash chopping board and knives clean, do not handle food when unwell, use water-proof bandage to cover cuts or burn wounds, keep dustbins covered, use clean and separate dusters to clean surfaces and wipe utensils. 

Separate orders and separate FSDB format, have also been issued for liquor retail/wholesale shops, manufacturers, street-food vendors, all goods retail stores, milk retail/wholesale milk dairies, storage, transport, restaurant/hotels and meat retail/wholesale traders.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, there is a mandatory requirement of displaying FSSAI license/registration number at food premises. Usually, the FSSAI license number is not visible to the consumers. Thus, to change the overall consumer perceptibility and to strengthen food safety, FSSAI has introduced FSDB (FSDBs) for various food businesses. Henceforth, in addition to the existing mandatory requirement of displaying FSSAI license/registration number, it will also be mandatory for FBOs to display these FSDBs on FBO premises.

McDowell's water banned in J&K after e-Coli found

Jammu and Kashmir's Food Commissioner has banned the sale and supply of McDowell's packaged drinking water in the state after the detection of E. coli bacteria in it.

An official statement by the Commissioner described McDowell's No.1 Platinum Packaged Drinking Water as "unsafe".

"The public in general and the stakeholders in particular are informed through the medium of this notice to discontinue use or stop sale of above food products," said the notice dated March 29.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, will not go for any action against McDowell's packaged water at the national level as the issue was found in only a particular batch, its CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal said.

"It doesn't require action at the national level. They found E.coli in one particular lot or batch and they have issued an alert. It's about a particular batch, not about an overall brand," Agarwal told IANS.

"The batch may have been processed in a unit in J&K... that they have not been able to confirm to me. If the particular unit where the batch was processed is located in that particular state, it would be advisable for them to visit that and see the hygiene practices in that unit."

The FSSAI chief also said that the state Food Commissioner has also given liberty to the company to get their products tested at a FSSAI notified lab and "it is for the company to that".

Warning message on liquor bottles from April 1

All liquor bottles will need to carry cautionary messages such as "Drinking is injurious to health" and "Don't Drink and Drive" on their labels from April 1, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Monday.

The food regulator has issued directives making mandatory for alcoholic beverage bottles of up to 200 ml to carry the labelled warning message with capital letters no less than 1.5 mm high while the bottles larger than 200 ml should have letters at least 3 mm tall.

It also said warning messages should be printed in English and one or more local languages as prescribed by the state governments.

A time period of six months is allowed for use of old unused labels and printed cans.

Also, alcoholic beverages manufactured before April 1, 2019 can be sold in the market till March 31 next year or finalisation of the parameter for yeast in beer, whichever is later.

FSSAI To Clamp Down On Fake Ripening Of Fruits And Vegetables

The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will commence effective supervision and implementation activities to remove any possibility of artificial ripening of fruits with harmful and banned substances like calcium carbide or acetylene gas.

The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers. Taking under consideration the rampant use of banned calcium carbide and non-availability of an alternative ripening agent, the FSSAI has instead permitted the use of ethylene for ripening of fruits since 2016.

All states and Union territories have been directed by the FSSAI to initiate a strict drive against artificial ripening of fruits with harmful and banned substances like calcium carbide or acetylene gas.

The regulator stated in the order that the commissioners of food safety of all states/Union Territories are directed to initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of ripening the fruits with the aid of harmful substances. They are also advised to do a similar exercise for vegetables where the level of pesticides will be checked.

Although strictly prohibited under the food law, calcium carbide and acetylene gas, are used for easy ripening of fruits like mango, papaya, banana and melons. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in state is on the lookout for cases of artificially ripened mangoes.

A senior FDA officer said that they have received notifications and they’ve been acting on such things since the past. This year, they are tightening all the ways in which these fruit vendors are selling their goods in the market.

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FSA DECLARES 2 BRANDS OF PACKAGED DRINKING WATER UNSAFE

JAMMU, Mar 30: The Food Safety Authorities of J&K has declared the two packaged drinking water brands being sold in the market under the brand names “AQUA NICE” and “Mc Dowell’s No. 1 Platinum” as unsafe for human consumption and urged all the stakeholders to stop sale and supply of such articles immediately and recalling the additional stock from the market.

In a communication, the Commissioner, Food Safety J&K, Dr. Abdul Kabir informed, “The samples of these articles were lifted and found unsafe and misbranded by Public Health Laboratory, Jammu.” He has further called upon the stakeholders who are in possession of any stock of said food product (s) to inform the local empowered authorities (Designated officer Food Safety) about the stock position of above products and recalling the same from the market.

Gutkha worth Rs 51.83 lakh seized in Maha, 3 arrested

Gutkha worth Rs 51.83 lakh was seized from two different places in Palghar district of Maharashtra and three people were arrested in this connection, police said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted a tempo at Acchad checkpost on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway late Friday night while it was coming from Gujarat and found gutkha worth around Rs 41.83 lakh being carried in the vehicle, a police spokesperson said.

The tempo driver and its cleaner were arrested following the seizure and the vehicle was impounded, he said.

Besides, the police also raided a godown in Vasai area the same day and seized gutkha worth Rs 10 lakh from there, the spokesperson said.

The godown owner was subsequently arrested, he said.

All the three accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Food Safety and Standards Act, he added.

The sale and consumption of gutkha and pan masala was banned in Maharashtra in 2012.

The state government last year announced that sale of gutkha would be made a non-bailable offence.

FSSAI gives relief to craft beer on yeast content

Bengaluru: The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it will allow craft breweries to continue making beer with higher yeast content. This will come as a huge relief to micro breweries across the country.

The regulator had said that regular beer or lager should be free of yeast while draught beer should have yeast content of at most 40 CFU (colony-forming units). The notification had not put craft beer into a separate category, which had put the breweries in a tizzy as many craft beers have yeast content as high as 3 million CFU.

“The Food Safety & Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 will be implemented from April 1, 2019, except the parameter for yeast in various categories of beer,” the regulator said in a notification on Friday.

The Craft Brewers Association of India (CBAI) had made a representation earlier this month that it was difficult to operate under the limits ordered by the regulator and wanted a clarification whether yeast was being classified as a contaminant or a raw material, one that is a basic ingredient in beer.

As part of the notification, the FSSAI also clarified that it will provide drinks makers another six months for use of old unused labels and printed cans. Following a directive last year, all liquor bottles were supposed to carry cautionary messages of “Drinking is injurious to health” and “Don’t Drink and Drive” on their labels from April 1. “Alcoholic beverages manufactured prior to April 1, 2019 can be sold in the market up to March 31, 2020,” FSSAI said.

FSSAI to clamp down on fake ripening

The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in state is on the lookout for cases of artificially ripened mangoes.

Mumbai: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of artificial ripening of fruits with harmful and banned substances like calcium carbide or acetylene gas.

The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers. Keeping in mind the rampant use of banned calcium carbide and non-availability of an alternative ripening agent, the FSSAI has instead permitted the use of ethylene for ripening of fruits since 2016.

All states and Union territories have been directed by the FSSAI to initiate a strict drive against artificial ripening of fruits with harmful and banned substances like calcium carbide or acetylene gas.

The regulator stated in the order, “The commissioners of food safety of all states/UTs are hereby directed to initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of ripening the fruits with the aid of harmful & banned substances viz. calcium carbide or acetylene gas. They are also advised to do a similar exercise for vegetables to check the level of pesticides.”

Although strictly prohibited under the food law, calcium carbide and acetylene gas, popularly known as “masala” are widely used for easy ripening of fruits like mango, papaya, banana and melons. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in state is on the lookout for cases of artificially ripened mangoes.

A senior FDA officer said, “We have received notifications and we’ve been acting on such things since the past. This year, we are tightening all the ways in which these fruit vendors are selling ther goods in the market.”

Kolkata: KMC recruits 80 food inspectors

KOLKATA: In a bid to strengthen its drive against food adulteration, KMC has stationed food inspectors across the city. According to a source, the civic body last month recruited 80 food inspectors to increase its vigil on sale of spurious food and drinks. The KMC health department has deputed food safety officers to guide the newly-recruited inspectors who have been deployed in each borough.

“We have split the force into 16 teams which will work in city’s 16 boroughs. Each borough will have five food inspectors who will look after markets shops, hotels, restaurants and eateries under their jurisdiction,” said a KMC health department official. Even a month ago, the KMC health department had only 12 food inspectors who would look after adulteration issues length and breadth of the city.

According to a civic official, recruitment of food inspectors will enable the KMC health department to visit wholesale markets and eateries across the city. “We have the stale chicken sale fiasco still fresh in mind. Besides, we know spices, edible oil and even packaged drinking water bottles are not safe in some areas of the city. Now we will at least be vigilant given the increase in the number of food inspectors,” a KMC official said. An orientation programme was arranged for the newly recruited food inspectors at the KMC headquarters.

Pitching for a zero food waste IPL at Chepauk

Chennai: The food safety department of Tamil Nadu and an NGO have joined hands to reduce food wastage during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the M A Chidambaram stadium in the city. They plan to feed around 1,000 people after every match with the food that is not consumed or remains unsold.

Food safety officials met IPL organizers, members of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and vendors who would set up stalls during the match, last week.

“We have worked out the various hunger spots at about 40 locations in the city. We have tied up with No Food Waste who would employ volunteers to collect, pack and distribute the excess food. Permission has been given to place two vans at two gates that would have vessels and packing material,” said food safety officer Ramakrishnan.

Seven matches are scheduled at the stadium where 26 stalls would sell ice cream, cold drinks, rice items, pizzas, snacks, pop corn and other items. There are also arrangements made for the police and administrative staff. Excess food after the match will be handed over to the volunteers.

Officials said the food would be packed and preserved at a certain temperature. “We will only distribute food that is fit for consumption,” said an official.

“After Sunday’s match, we will distribute food to people near Marina Beach, Egmore, Broadway, Central and the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. We have already done a hunger-mapping in the city and have been distributing food at slums in Tambaram, Chromepet, Nanganallur, Kottivakkam, Egmore, Aminjikarai and Thiruvanmiyur. Each vehicle can carry about 500 plates of food. Apart from these locations, 25 slums have been mapped,” said R Arun Kumar, Chennai coordinator of No Food Waste.

Padmanabhan Gopalan, the NGO’s founder, said the organization would want to tie up with all IPL teams to ensure that the tournament becomes a zero food waste event.

Food safety officials said they would set up boards with messages on wastage of food at 53 locations in the stadium that can accommodate 33,000-plus spectators. “We have issued an advisory to the board and all teams to avoid wastage of food. According to the organisers, 10% to 15% food is always dumped. This can be distributed to the needy,” said an official.

The food safety department said it would ensure excess food from all government events are also packed and re-distributed.

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Liquor bottles will carry cautionary messages on their labels from April 1: FSSAI

New Delhi, Mar 27 (KNN) Following a directive from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued in 2018, all liquor bottles will carry cautionary messages of "Drinking is injurious to health" and "Don't Drink and Drive" on their labels from April 1.

The decision to carry the warnings comes amid an attempt to make people aware of the harmful effects of drinking on their health.

All manufacturers of alcoholic beverages will have to follow the FSSAI directive and ensure the bottles come etched with the warning prominently.

As per the food regulator's specifications, alcoholic beverage bottles of up to 200 ml should carry the labeled warning message with capital letters no less than 1.5 mm high while the bottles larger than 200 ml will have letters 3mm tall.

The food regulator had in 2018 notified a separate regulation for alcoholic drinks.

Apart from the cautionary message, the liquor bottles containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume will also carry a label declaration about the alcohol content, no nutritional data, no health claim, allergen warning, and restriction on words such as "non-intoxicating" or words implying similar meaning.

The new regulation called the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards) Regulation, 2018 will apply on all distilled alcoholic beverages (brandy, country liquor, gin, rum, vodka and whisky, liqueur or alcoholic cordial), wines and beer.

Ensure fruits are not artificially ripened with chemicals, food regulator tells states

NEW DELHI: Just before onset of summer that brings along with it the sweetness of mangoes and watermelons, the food regulator has decided to tighten the noose around those artificially ripening fruits by using banned substances like calcium carbide and ‘masala’ —which pose a serious threat to public health.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered inspections, monitoring and sampling to ensure harmful chemicals are not used for ripening of fruits. It has also asked for stricter surveillance to check use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.

“Commissioners of Food Safety of all states/UTs are hereby directed to initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of ripening the fruits with the aid of harmful & banned substances viz. calcium carbide or acetylene gas. They are also advised to do a similar exercise for vegetables to check the level of pesticides,” FSSAI said in a recent order.

Though strictly prohibited under the food law, calcium carbide and acetylene gas (popularly known as ‘masala’ ) are widely used for easy ripening of fruits like mango, papaya, banana and melons.

Traces of arsenic and phosphorus present in such chemical substances cause vomiting, diarrhoea, burning sensation of the chest, abdomen and various other adverse reactions which can even lead to serious health issues, mainly among children and elderly people, doctors say.

“Despite prohibition on sale of artificially ripened fruits by using calcium carbide, the prevalence of such ripened fruits in the market is a serious cause for concern and needs to be tackled effectively,” FSSAI noted in the order.

It has also asked commissioners to conduct awareness programmes at the mandi level targeted at vendors and food business operators.

Doctors say use of such chemicals in fruits and vegetables also leads to skin allergies and rashes.