Apr 11, 2012

E Coli bacteria found in idli samples


PUNE: Idli samples sent for testing to the State Public Health Laboratory were found contaminated with E Coli bacterium, certain strains of which can cause food poisoning and may even be life-threatening.

On Saturday, 132 students of a civic-run school had been admitted to different hospitals with complaints of vomiting and nausea after they ate idlis, served under the mid-day meal scheme.

Based on the laboratory results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now decided to file a criminal case against the mid-day meal service provider, Sai Vyavasaik Gat, a self-help group.

A person infected with E Coli bacteria can experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue and diarrhea. A healthy adult will usually make a full recovery from the infection within 3 or 4 days. However, young children, elderly individuals and patients with a weakened immune system can develop potentially fatal HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome), a type of kidney failure, said infectious disease expert Bharat Purandare.

"The lab report has made it clear that the idlis served under the mid-day meal scheme were contaminated and unfit for human consumption. We are now going to seek the consent of the FDA commissioner to file a criminal case against Sai Vyavasaik Gat," said Chandrashekhar Salunke, joint commissioner (food), FDA.

"E Coli bacteria isolated in the sample can cause food poisoning, hence it is unfit for human consumption," states the SPHL's lab report.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already issued notices to the mid-day meal provider, the grocery shop owner and the operator of a flour mill - all located in Parvati - for violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on Monday.

Chouhan urges Centre to reconsider Food Safety & Standards Act

Bhopal, Apr 11 : Coming out in support of the agitating food item traders, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged the Centre to reconsider the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, saying its provisions are against the small-time businessmen.
The Chief Minister, who held a meeting with a delegation of traders here last evening, said that the implementation of the Act will adversely affect the livelihoods of small-time businessmen and common people, official sources said today.
He said that the Act will benefit global food companies at the cost of common people and small businessmen and therefore, provisions and rules of the Act should be reconsidered within a specific time-frame and its implementation should be stalled till then.
Chouhan said that although the Union Government’s intention is to make healthy and safe food available to people, it should also ensure that small-time businessmen do not lose their livelihood.
“It will become difficult for small-time traders to run their business on roadside handcarts like those selling kachori, sweets, grocery items, confectionery and milk, among others,” he said.
Recently, Chouhan had also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in which, he had said that small-time traders will be forced to close their businesses after the implementation of the Act.
Following a call of strike given by the Confederation of All India Traders, shop owners selling food items, restaurants and grocery shops had started their three-day strike from April 9.
The traders also met the Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Sushma Swaraj last night at her Bhopal residence and urged her to intervene on the issue.

FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM & CERTIFICATE



Nagpur bench of Bombay HC asks VTA, NRHA to withdraw PIL against FSSAI

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, asked the Nagpur-based Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) and Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA) to withdraw the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by them against the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The two bodies had filed a PIL seeking the court's assistance in withdrawing certain "unconstitutional" clauses in the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA 2006), and the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.

The PIL had alleged that the Authority did not consult the affecting parties before enacting the Act. Also, the implementation of the Act in the present form, could prove to be a breeding ground for corruption and Inspector Raj, it said.

However, the court asked for certain circumstantial evidence to substantiate such
allegations.

"It will be difficult for us to get such documents but we are going to file again as the High Court has withdrawn the PIL by giving the liberty to file again. If the court is still not satisfied, we may think of challenging the Order in the Supreme Court," said Tejinder
Singh Renu, secretary, VTA and NHRA.

Strike in Ratlam
Meanwhile, a trade body from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, has announced a three-day strike against "far-fetched" clauses of the FSSA. This seems to be among the series of agitations that the country has witnessed in recent times against the Aug 5, 2011, implementation of the law.

While the Authority has been promising to review the law, campaigns are intensifying in states like Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.