Aug 29, 2016

FOOD CONCERN (FC) LINK https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/cmsweb/HOME.aspx







FDA seizes 750 kgs of mava, two vehicles detained

The Goa state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Sunday intercepted and seized a van and a bus carrying 750 kilos of unlabeled mava/kalakand in Panaji and Margao.
PANAJI 
FDA officials had initially detained a Maruti Eco van at Panaji that was carrying around 55 kilos of unlabeled kalakand packed in two boxes of 40 kilos and 15 kilos each. 
Upon interrogation, Rama Chaudhary, resident of Karaswada, Thivim who was driving the car disclosed there was a larger consignment that was arriving by an interstate Pune to Goa non air conditioned bus. 
The bus was then intercepted at the Margao interstate bus terminus where the additional consignment was found. 
The packages were found stored in the non-air-conditioned bus below the passenger seats and not in the conventional luggage compartment. The entire consignment was pulled out of the bus in the presence of Chaudhry who disclosed that the consignment was brought from one Gujarat-based supplier, M/s Vahanvati Sweet Mart at Mehesana, Gujarat. There were no documents with the consignment. 
In a statement issued by the FDA, Director Salim Veljee said, “A total of 25 plastic bags, each containing 30 kgs of mava/kalakanand (totaling 750 kgs worth around Rs 1.50 lakh), which was brought under a misdeclaration/wrongly label declaration labeled as ‘Vahanvati Special Barfi’ was found. The bags did not contain any particulars of the date of packing, etc and all the 25 bags were unloaded from the bus and confiscated.” 
Improper storage of milk-based food articles or its raw materials during transportation are unfit for consumption on account of its high risk of spoilage and microbial contamination, he said. 
“The Maruti vehicle as well as the person accompanying the said vehicle have been detained for further interrogation and investigation in the manner to identifying the names of the person for whom the said mava / kalakand raw material were brought from Gujarat are on,” said Veljee, adding 
that those involved will be booked under the Food Safety and standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulation. 
The FDA enforcement team consisted of Food Safety Officers Rajaram Patil, Shailesh Shenvi and Shivdas Naik. 

- See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=21613#sthash.UDk1T6p1.dpuf

FSSAI proposes new standards for frozen veggies, jams

According to the draft, standards have been framed for canned tomatoes, tomato juice, frozen beans, cauliflower, peas and spinach
Food regulator FSSAI has proposed new standards for frozen vegetables and processed fruit products, including commonly used canned tomatoes, frozen peas and jams.
In a draft regulation, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has invited suggestions from all stakeholders.
"The framing of standards for new products is a continuous process. In this, we have drafted quality norms for commonly used frozen vegetables and fruit products," FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal told PTI.
According to the draft, standards have been framed for canned tomatoes, tomato juice, frozen beans, cauliflower, peas and spinach. Similarly, the regulator has come out with benchmarks for jams, fruit jellies and marmalades.
The standards relate to limits for metallic contaminants in these products.
In the draft, FSSAI has specified that these products will have to follow the packaging and labelling norms of the regulator. Food additives used in these products should be permitted by the regulator.
Recently, FSSAI came out with a host of initiatives to promote safe food at homes, schools, offices, eateries and religious places, besides a national survey for assessing milk quality.
The idea of launching the 10 new initiatives is to create "a culture of food safety" in the country.
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, FSSAI had said the new initiatives would focus on safe and nutritious food at home, school, workplace, religious places, on trains and railway stations, at restaurants and other places.
FSSAI will provide a green book to every household and create a dedicated website for safe/nutritious food at home.
Similarly, for schools, it will prepare a negative list of high fat, sugar and salt foods (commonly referred to as junk food), seeking to ensure food safety and nutrition. It plans to make licence from FSSAI compulsory for food businesses involved in mid-day meal scheme.