Sesame paste sparks Salmonellosis worry

Hyderabad: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has warned Tahini (sesame paste) users and sellers against use and sale of the consumable after it caused an outbreak of Salmonellosis in the United States.
Codex India (FSSAI) director Vinod Kotwal has sent an alert against the possible outbreak of Salmonellosis. In a communication to the State Food Safety commissioner, she mentioned that several cases of Salmonellosis had been reported in the US and New Zealand.
“Sesame paste is also used in Indian cuisine and is being imported. That’s why we are cautioning the public,” Kotwal said.
Tahini imported from Turkey and distributed by Krinos Foods is found to be the source of the outbreak of Salmonellosis. A total of 16 persons infected with the strains of Salmonella Montevideo or Salmonella Mbandaka have been reported from as many as nine states in the US and and one of them has died.
“Imported tahini had arrived in India in December 2012. Most of these samples are now past their expiry date,” said Kotwal. As a result, several expired packets had reached Indian homes as well as hotel, officials said. 

Don't venture on 'sesame street', FDA tells consumers

 The FDA is probing if eateries and citizens are using a paste from the herb, which has led to an epidemic in some nations
Tahini sesame paste from Turkey used in dishes like hummus, shawarma, sandwich spreads, soups, and some Chinese recipes have led to a Salmonellosis (a food borne bacterial infection) outbreak in the US and New Zealand. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory to not use this paste and has sent inputs to various health departments, FDA and other departments.



Just checking: The FDA is on an overdrive to ensure no one consumes sesame paste by a Turkish company that has led to a Salmonellosis epidemic in the US and New Zealand.
Sesame is widely used in India and in most Middle Eastern dishes. “FSSAI has found the source of outbreak of Salmonellosis is Tahini Sesame Paste distributed by KRINOS foods, LLC of Long Island City, New York. The concerned authority has also asked not to use recalled Krinos sesame paste,” said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner, FDA (Food).
The advisory was issued last month to all concerned authorities, and the FDA has carried out inspections of Krinos brand Tahini Sesame Paste imported from Turkey. “We checked for imported sesame paste in all stores. We are advising people not to use it if it is imported from that brand,” Sangat added.
The FSSAI has recalled Tahini paste with expiry date from January 1, 2014 to June 8, 2014 and from October 16, 2014 to March 15, 2015.
Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that are a major cause of food borne illness throughout the world. The bacteria are generally transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated milk.
The symptoms of Salmonella infection usually appear 12–72 hours after infection, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. The illness usually lasts 4–7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in the very young and the elderly, and in cases when the bacteria enters the bloodstream, antibiotics may be needed.
Ban on dairy from China persists
The FSSAI has banned imported milk and milk products from China after a meeting of concerned departments and ministries of India. The ban was earlier imposed after melamine, an industrial chemical, was found in the products. According to the FDA, strict action will be taken if any one is found selling dairy products from China like candies and confectionary. The ban will be implemented for one year from June 23, 2013.

Supreme Court asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it.
"It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue.
The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk.
It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk.
On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Centre, in its submission, had referred to a survey conducted by FSSAI, which had found that over 68 per cent of the "non-conforming" milk was found in urban areas, 66 per cent of which was loose milk.
According to the FSSAI's 2011 survey, the most common way of adulteration was found to be the addition of water, and the main reason for deviation from the standards was addition of glucose and skimmed milk powder. It had also found that some samples contained detergent.
The Centre's affidavit had also stated that over 83 per cent of the non-conforming milk in rural areas was found to be loose milk.
The affidavit was filed in response to the notice issued by the apex court on May 9, 2012.

SC asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it. "It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue. The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk. It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk. On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

SC asks state govts to curb sale of adulterated milk

The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the sale of adulterated milk in the country, saying it is a serious issue and action needs to be taken by the state governments to curb it.
"It is a very serious issue. There is no doubt that it is happening all over the country. What action is being taken by the government?" a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose asked.
The bench directed the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration, after the Centre submitted that it is for the state governments to take action on the issue.
The court said that it would later on expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country on the issue.
The bench posted the matter for hearing on July 31 and made it clear that no further time will be given to the states to file their submissions.
The court also observed that the adulteration is because of gaps in demand and supply of milk.
It was hearing a PIL filed by a group of citizens, led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who have alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint, which, according to studies, are "very hazardous" to human life and can cause diseases like cancer.
Apart from a check on the sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products, the PIL has also sought framing of a "comprehensive" policy on the production, supply and sale of healthy, hygienic and natural milk.
On October 21, last year, the Centre had informed the apex court that over 68 per cent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

TNFS DEPT. - SALEM DIST. NEWS