Feb 23, 2016

KUMUDAM ARTICLE








KUNGUMAM ARTICLE


KUMUDAM SINEKITHI ARTICLE



மாநி லங் க ளு டன் இணைந்து விழிப் பு ணர்வு உணவு பாது காப்பு செயல் ப டுத்த தர நிர் ணய ஆைண யம் தீவி ரம்

புது டெல்லி, பிப்.23:
மத் திய, மாநில அர சு கள், கல் லூ ரி கள் போன் ற வற் று டன் இணைந்து உணவு பாது காப்பு விழிப் பு ணர்வை ஏற் ப டுத்த இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் திட் ட மிட் டுள் ளது.
உணவு பொருட் க ளில் சுவை மற் றும் நிறத் துக் காக செயற் கை யாக பயன் ப டுத் தப் ப டும் ரசா யன பொருட் கள் உடல் நலத் துக்கு கேடு விளை விக் கின் றன. இது போல், துரித உண வு கள், பாக் கெட் உண வு க ளில் அள வுக்கு அதி க மாக சேர்க் கப் ப டும் பொருட் க ளும் உடல் நல பாதிப் புக்கு வழி வகுக் கின் றன. எனவே, உணவு பாது காப்பு தர விதி களை இந் திய உணவு பாது காப்பு மற் றும் தர நிர் ணய ஆணை யம் (எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ) வகுத்து வரு கி றது.
இந் நி லை யில், உணவு பொருட் கள் குறித்து விழிப் பு ணர்வை ஏற் ப டுத்த மத் திய, மாநில அர சு க ளு டன் இணைந்து செயல் ப ட வும் இந்த அமைப்பு திட் ட மிட் டுள் ளது. இது கு றித்து எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ மூத்த அதி காரி ஒரு வர் கூறி ய தா வது:
உணவு பாது காப்பு பற் றிய விழிப் பு ணர்வு நம் நாட் டில் மிக வும் குறை வாக உள் ளது. எனவே, நுகர் வோ ருக்கு இது பற்றி கற் றுத் தர வேண் டிய அவ சி யம் ஏற் பட் டுள் ளது. இதற் காக பல் வேறு அமைப் பு க ளு டன் இணைந்து செயல் பட உள் ளோம்.
அதா வது, மத் திய, மாநில அர சு கள், பல் க லைக் க ழ கங் கள், கல் லூ ரி கள், தன் னார்வ தொண்டு நிறு வ னங் கள் ஆகி ய வற் று டன் சேர்ந்து செயல் ப டுத் தி னால் விழிப் பு ணர்வை அதி க ரிக்க முடி யும். அதோடு உணவு பாது காப்பு தொடர் பான சட் டங் களை செயல் ப டுத் த வும், ஆய்வு உள் ளிட்ட பணி க ளுக் காக ஆட் கள் பற் றாக் குறை, திறன் குறை பா டு களை போக்க முன் வ ரு மாறு மாநில உணவு கட் டுப் பாட்டு அமைப் பு களை கேட் டுக் கொண் டுள் ளோம்.
இந்த புதிய திட் டத் தின் படி மாநில அமைப் பு கள் எப் எஸ் எஸ் ஏஐ சார் பாக பிர சா ரங் க ளில் ஈடு ப டும். அதோடு, அந் தந்த மாநி லங் க ளும் உணவு பாது காப்பு தொடர் பான தங் கள் கருத் து ருக் களை அனுப் ப லாம். இது நாடு முழு மைக் கும் பயன் ப டுத் த வும் உத வி க ர மாக இருக் கும்.
இவ் வாறு அவர் தெரி வித் தார்.

FSDA collects 30kg supplement from 2 stores

Meerut: Nearly twenty days after a Special Task Force (STF) along with officials from the Food Safety & Drugs Administration (FSDA) raided a factory and sealed two shops allegedly selling adulterated items being passed off as dietary protein supplements in containers with labels of renowned companies, the FSDA team collected six samples, including 30 kg food supplement, from two shops.
The two shops are owned by Jahid and Shadaab. The raid was conducted in presence of the city magistrate.
The samples have been sent to a Lucknow-based laboratory and the results are likely to be out in a month's time.
Giving information, JP Singh, chief food safety officer, said, "On February 2, we had sealed Apollo Medical Store and Hindustan Sports Nutrition Store located in Khairnagar area during a raid that was carried out against fake food supplements. Today, we collected three samples from each of the sealed shops."
While the three samples taken from Apollo Medical Store include 17 kg of Kwik Size XXX, 13 kg of Serious Mass Weigh Gain Supplement and Carbo 8000 food supplement, the three samples from Hindustan Sports Nutrition Store are of Glucogen Ace, Nitro Mass powder and all in one Mega Amino Mass.

NABL accreditation to give more teeth to Lucknow's food testing lab

LUCKNOW: After proving its mettle in detecting heavy metals (such as Lead), trace metals, insecticides and pesticides in food items through Trace Metal Analysers, the Aliganj-based food laboratory has got NABL accreditation. The NABL accreditation would not only enhance the authenticity of the food test reports of these labs, but would also help the officials, as the test reports would be considered valid in any court of law.
Confirming the development, officer in-charge of the food testing laboratory SK Pant told TOI, "We got accreditation on January 29, and we are the first (FSDA/FDA) laboratory in entire north India to get the coveted NABL accreditation." He further stated that the reports of the NABL accredited laboratories are globally accepted and also in any court of law.
NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. "It is a body, which is under the Union ministry of Science and Technology, and the accreditation is subjected to surprise inspection by concerned officials in a span of every 10-11 months," Pant said and added that if the standard is not maintained or adhered to, then the accreditation can be suspended or even withdrawn.
The Lucknow laboratory has got accreditation in two categories - milk and dairy products and cereals. The other categories in which NABL accreditation has been sought are: sweets, oil, spices and miscellaneous. Officials also admitted that earlier labs of the state were not NABL-accredited, hence the reports were challenged by the manufacturers of various food items. The in-charge officer of the food laboratory also acknowledged the help he got from principal secretary Hemant Rao and FSDA commissioner BK Singh for expediting the entire process in getting the coveted accreditation. Officials also maintain that as per the provisions of the Food Safety Act, all the food testing laboratories should be NABL-accredited.

Market checking intensified

1 lakh fine realized from offenders

On the directions of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, a market checking squad on Monday conducted checking at various markets in Srinagar.
The joint checking squad, comprising officials of SMC, CA&PD and Legal Metrology, was headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate Srinagar Syed Haneef Balkhi. The squad inspected various markets of Srinagar including Hari Singh High Street, Karanagar, Soura, SMHS, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Nowhatta, Nowshera and other adjoining areas.
During the inspection, the squad inspected different Food establishments where 10 quintals of fruit and milk, large quantity of expired juice, 30 quintals of rotten vegetables were destroyed besides food-colours and dirty utensils were also destroyed on spot and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh was realised from the defaulters.
“The Market Checking Squads also sealed one Restaurant namely (Naya Darbar Hotel) at Karanagar which was found in unhygienic condition and was adding harmful colors in food items,” official communiqué said.
During the drive, the vendors, hoteliers and bakery shop owners were directed to display rate lists issued by the competent authority and in case any ingredient is essential to be added in food items, certificate from competent authority, Department as per the standards laid down in food safety Act for adding the same shall be displayed.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner constituted four teams in four zones of the district which were led by respective Tehsildars and instruction have been passed for mobilization of additional teams for market checking to ensure quality of essential commodities and price control.

Mid-day meal-25 students taken ill in Zilla Parishad high school

As many as 25 students, including a few girls, fell sick after consuming mid-day meal at the ZP High School at Kona Banswada in Banswada town on Monday.
They were immediately admitted to the Government Area Hospital where after undergoing treatment for two hours they were discharged, according to information reaching here. The vomited within two hours of consuming the meal at the school. Teaching and non-teaching staff rushed them to the hospital where Superintendent Dr. Srinivasa Prasad, who is a leading paediatrician, personally supervised the treatment. Mandal Education Officer Nageswar Rao, TRS leaders Anji Reddy, Izaj and Gangadhar enquired the condition of the sick students in the hospital.
The authorities said that an enquiry would be ordered into the incident.

Safety of food under scanner

With the rise in popularity of packaged food, safety is on the uptick. IIP's two-day conference looks at how packaging can prove to be an enabler, says Priya Raju
A two-day national conference on food packaging and its safety related aspects was held on 20-21 January 2016, at The Leela, Mumbai. The event hosted by Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) saw 150 packaging professionals under one roof devising plans to meet the increasing demand of the food packaging sector.
A rough estimate suggests that the proposed 42 mega food parks by the government will yield a potential investment of about Rs 14,000 crore and should benefit 12.5 lakh farmers plus generate 3-4 lakh new jobs, too.
Plus, food sector is probably the single largest user of packaging; with 45-60% of the total packaging is consumed by the food sector world over. It is becoming increasingly important to develop an integrated system of packaging which is cost effective, has all the functional properties and makes it effective for distribution.
To address these, the two day national conference revolved around new developments in the packaging materials, techniques and systems, and regulations that open up new possibilities and opportunities for marketing products and reduce cost.
Topics ranging from the use of packaging materials such as paper, tin plate, glass, aluminium foil o the safe coatings used in packaging of food were discussed on day one. Akhilesh Tripathi, general manager at Hindustan National Glass (HNG), informs, “With the new NNPB technology glass packaging has become lighter and cost effective. The new glass bottle by HNG is 45% lighter.”
While, AB Kulkarni, managing director, Kaira Can Company, says, “Usage of PLC systems, microprocessors have revolutionised the can making process. Welding lines are now available for speeds from 100 to as fast as 800 cans per minute.”
With the growth in food packaging and awareness of the consumers, there is an increasing focus on regulatory aspects. Dr P Kartikeyan, assistant director regulations, Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) enlisted the requirements in packaging and labelling under the FSSAI Act.
The day two was focussed on addressing concerns about food safety, evaluation of packaging materials for safety and packaging systems and machinery used.
Jaychandran Nair, business manager – flexible packaging adhesives at Henkel, says, “All the components used to manufacture a packaging material have to fulfil the relevant regulation. This can be FDA, EU framework, etc. The entire value chain, right from the resin manufacturers to the end user, should understand the impact of raw materials in food safety.” Various requirements for efficient labelling for food packaging were highlighted by Rohit Mehta, corporate director at SMI Coated Products.
N C Shah, director at the IIP says, “The trend today is more towards fast-selling. Now, keeping the optimum shelf life as the base reference, we have to select a package which is cost-efficient and has optimum functional properties.” He adds, “Another important aspect of packaging today is consumer safety. It has become a big issue in the food industry. The product being packed should not react to the package.”
Expert Speak
E-MAP technology which is used to enhance the shelf life of fresh produce was the point of discussion during Shankaran’s presentation. Shankaran said, “E-MAP technology helps to preserve fresh produce and extends the shelf life of the produce by ensuring that the oxygen availability is reduced but maintaining a minimum level.” Shankaran introduces Flexfresh a patented biodegradable polymeric film invented by Uflex at the seminar. Uflex is currently exporting Flexfresh to the European, American and African markets. He informed that, Uflex has had a successful trial with Dominos, and has seen a shelf life extension from two to ten days.

N Siva Shankaran, vice president – business development, Uflex
During his presentation, Sarkar discussed the need to understand the various requirements in printing various packages. Technical requirements such as low odour, limited migration of unwanted substance to the packed material, and trouble free processing like UV coat ability of the inks used must be studied in depth. Sarkar said, “Safety in the packaging of food products needs special attention as more and more stringent regulatory requirements are now in place.” He stresses that the inks and coatings used to print food packaging must be manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.

Prasanta Sarkar, general manager (technical), Hubergroup India
Chandak highlighted packaging machinery using the MAP (Modified Atmospheric Pressure) technology. In MAP packaging, atmospheric air is removed from the package and replaced with suitable gas or a gas mixture to extend the shelf life of the food packed.
Chandak said, "The USP of MAP packaging is the transparent films which allows clear view. MAP packaging can impart extended markets for sensitive food products and perishables." He explained the applications of these types of machinery which can be used to for the packaging of ready-to-consume snacks, convenience meal, fresh fruits and cut vegetables among others.

Vinay Chandak, CEO, Ace Industries
Ampady, presented a case study on how packaging has resulted in the socio-economic growth of the fisher folks in Kerala.
Fisheries is one of the important sectors in Kerala with 222 marine villages. KSCADC and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) together established Fish Maid, a cold chain distribution model and Drish a brand for drying and packaging of dry fish; which traditionally were dried in unhygienic conditions. A Drish product uses a no touch, hygienic MAP packaging technique which has resulted in the extension of shelf life. "With this initiative, my dream is to find a place for regular products, without any taboo attached to it."

Dr K Ampady, managing director, Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC)

Street food vendors to become more organised

The target is to skill as many vendors as possible while this festival is on and ensures their certification so that they have recognition by industry and government, and also are acknowledged by FSSAI

In the quest to formalize the unorganised sector and certify those who are not formally skilled, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Counciland Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has organized camps at the ongoing National Street Food Festival in Central Delhi, to induct and certify those who have been food vendors for long but do not have any recognition of their prior learning.
The festival has street food vendors representing different states and their respective popular food.
Under the guidance of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and PMKVY – Ministry’s flagship scheme, NSDC has enabled for a provision for assessing these vendors, on-spot on their skill level with adherence to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). Once assessed, their certification as per the process under PMKVY, will be sent to them.
“We are glad to find a partnership with NSDC under the leadership of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in this endeavor. There are 34.5 lakh food businesses registered with FSSAI and mostly small ones who need handholding, training and assessment. Endeavors like these will help organize this segment of society and create a natural pull for many others in the league,” Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI.
Speaking at the event, Jayant Krishna, CEO, NSDC said, “The initiative will help street food vendors to evolve self-regulatory code and a set of guidelines for safe and hygienic food to win the confidence of common man. Indian street food is popular all over the world for its range of flavors. There is strong need to create awareness about hygiene and best practices among food vendors through their training and recognition. RPL under PMKVY will ascertain that these vendors get certified in their skill and earn respect for their work.”
The target is to skill as many vendors as possible while this festival is on and ensures their certification so that they have recognition by industry and government, and also are acknowledged by FSSAI.
In this way their knowledge & skills will be formally recognized. These vendors are being provided orientation to National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and then being assessed on their existing skill levels over the next three days of the festival.
The Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council with industry experts have developed the Qualification Packs for these vendors basis which the assessment is happening.
Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), special focus is given to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by recognizing prior competencies of the assessed candidates and then a certificate is provided on successful completion of assessments. PMKVY RPL has been rolled out in 22states and 1union territory in India covering 127districts in23 sectors catering to 95 job roles.
Till date PMKVY- the overall scheme including RPL has enrolled more than 12 lakh candidates through 1,043 training partners who provide training through 9,582 training centers across India.
The process of RPL at the National Street Food Festival begins with a 2 hour workshop whereby Tourism &Hospitality Sector Skill Council together with FSSAI oriented street food vendors on the following parameters:
1. How to maintain health and hygiene standards in the vending area 
2. How to maintain safety while vending 
3. How to maintain customer-centric service orientation 
4. Information on the type of entrepreneurial activities required to run the food vending business (i.e. How to cross sell products) and; 
5. How to follow gender and age sensitive service practices
These street vendors have been assessed by Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Councilaffiliated assessment agency, Aspiring Minds, on the basis of the above mentioned parameters. The assessment is done using technology. The benefit of doing so is that the assessment results are generated instantly and the assessors are able to provide feedback to the vendors on the spot.
Vendors who pass their assessment will be given a Government certification as per the PMKVY process. They will also be registered under FSSAI for which they will receive a card indicating the same.