Dec 14, 2016

Make reading labels a habit!


Amongst the other important habits we have been sharing on #readinglabels , always spot #FSSAI Logo and #license No. on the packet before you purchase a #food item


Perform a quick check on declaration regarding #Veg or Non vegetarian ingredients. #Label must have the proper identification mark i.e., brown circle in a square for “Non-Veg” and green circle for “Veg”


Never miss reading about list of #ingredients used in the #food item as it helps in checking information around any #allergic substances


It is advised to check info related to date of manufacturing/ packaging and best before. #Label must display these components as the date inform us about the shelf-life of the food product


Indore: FDA soon to launch drive to sensitise people, shopkeepers

I
Indore: Following the advisory released by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) recently to advise people not to use newspapers for wrapping edibles, officials of the Food and Drug Administration department will soon launch a campaign to spread awareness among people about the dangers of having edibles in paper.
The department will soon launch a campaign to make people aware and will also warn shopkeepers who use newspaper for packing edibles.
In the advisory, the FSSAI stated that wrapping food products in newspapers, even if it were manufactured hygienically, is harmful for health as the newspaper ink contains various bioactive materials. Inks also contain harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives and preservatives.
Along with harmful effect of newspapers, the FSSAI also directed all the food safety officers to discourage the practice of using newspaper for packing food products.
Senior Food Safety Officer Manish Swami said, “We use to check the usage of papers at all the shops during inspection and direct them not to use newspapers for wrapping food items. We will soon launch an awareness campaign to say ‘no’ to newspapers for wrapping food products.”
“Older people, teenagers, children and people with compromised vital organs and immune systems are at a greater risk of acquiring cancer-related health complications, if they are exposed to food packed in such material,” the advisory suggested.
Meanwhile, senior physician Dr Mahendra Jha said, “Consumption of food products wrapped in newspapers is dangerous for health and it may lead to cancer as well.
Newspaper ink is potentially carcinogenic and its usage in wrapping food products is like taking slow poison.”
Highest consumption of poha in Indore, 90% supplied on newspapers
Swami said, “Indoreans consume poha daily and most of the shopkeepers use newspapers to serve poha. The FSSAI has not banned usage yet but we have directed the shopkeepers to use good quality paper for the purpose.”
He said that many shopkeepers use quality paper and increase in awareness will help them to use quality paper for serving edible.
Public Reaction
“It is a good move by FSSAI to spread awareness about the bad practices which are harmful for health. We should also start informing people about the hazards of using newspaper for wrapping food products.”- Mukesh Chopadkar, Professional
“We are taking slow poison through taking food products in newspapers. It is harmful for our health and the practice must be stopped.”- Yashvardhan Ojha, Businessman
“It is good move by FSSAI but they must also inform people about other options for the same purpose so that small vendors would not be hit after banning usage of newspapers.”- Deepak Kunjeer, Professional
“People should take initiative by themselves for not using newspapers. It is not only at eateries but we also wrap food products in newspapers at our houses.”- Diksha Shukla, Interior Designer
“Usage of newspaper should be banned immediately as people understand the language of ban only. Action on shops will spread awareness than requesting people not to use it.”- Rahul Saini, Professional

AG questions Horticorp’s claim of safe vegetables

Pesticide level of vegetables may be higer than permissible limit
‘Safe-to-eat vegetables’ sold by the Kerala State Horticultural Development Corporation (Horticorp) may not be as safe as the company’s promotional flyer claims.
The Accountants General, Kerala, has told the government that the pesticide level of vegetables sold through Horticorp outlets labelled thus may be much above the legally permissible limit.
In September this year, the AG’s auditors had partnered with food safety inspectors to randomly gauge the pesticide residue in common place vegetables such as cucumber and green chilli sold through Horticorp outlets. The results sent by the AG to the Agriculture Department recently showed a shockingly high content of toxic chemicals (acephate, profenophos and thiamethoxam) that are incrementally detrimental to public health when consumed over a sustained period.
The auditors found that the vegetables were procured from middlemen and not from farmers as the company claimed. They termed the sale of farm produce of questionable quality through the statutory corporation’s outlets as “an attempt to deceive the public”. The AG also found that the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) adopted in principle by the government to prevent the indiscriminate use of chemicals and fertilizers were “yet to be implemented”.
Importantly, the AG found lapses in the settlement of vegetable purchase bills. “The purchases were made from one person and payment made to another,” the auditors told the government. Competent authorities rarely authorised payment vouchers. Stock registers and purchases details were not properly maintained. The possibility of accounting procurement based on bogus bills could not be ruled out.
In at least one case, Horticorp had recorded the names of the supplier and the amount paid to them. But its managers did not mention the quantity procured or the name of vegetables bought.
Horticorp draws huge subsidies from the government annually to ostensibly stabilise vegetable prices during festival seasons. Some such dubious transactions are already under Vigilance scrutiny.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Raju Narayanaswamy told The Hindu that the government was aware that vegetables cultivated using pesticides were often mislabelled and sold as organic produce at high rates. The government will ban pesticide companies from demonstrating their products in farms, he said.
He said Horticrop would soon retail only farm produce sourced from government-backed 14 agro parks to come up in Kerala soon. For instance, the proposed one in Thrissur would farm organic honey, Kozhikode and Ernakulam pesticide-free coconuts and paddy. Farms in Idukki and Palakkad would focus on organic cultivation of vegetables.
The company’s stalls would display GAP-approved vegetables and those sourced from the open market separately.

Tirupati laddu also needs safety licence, says food safety authority


The RTI applicant had alleged that the laddus are made in an unhygienic manner. 
RTI application by Bengalurean turns spotlight on the famed ‘prasadam’
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) now has to obtain a food safety licence like any other Food Business Operator (FBO) for the famed Tirupati laddu.
In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Food Safety, Andhra Pradesh, the director of Food Safety Management System (FSMS), Suneeti Toteja, stated that the ‘laddu’ is food as per definition of food under the Food Safety Standards Act of India, 2006. Also, TTD is an FBO and has to adhere to provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“The applicability of the Act is not affected whether the food is purchased or distributed free of cost. TTD therefore has to obtain a licence and fulfil all responsibilities of an FBO as stipulated in Section 23 of the FSS Act,” the letter said.
This was pursuant to a RTI application filed by Bengaluru-based T. Narasimhamurthy on adherence of food safety norms by the TTD while making laddus and whether it possess an FSSAI licence.
Mr. Narasimhamurthy filed a complaint with FSSAI in July alleging that laddus were being made in an unhygienic manner. “The deficiencies are noticed at every stage, including manufacture, storage, distribution and sale. Materials such as bolts, nuts, key chains and gutka covers have been found in the laddus,” he alleged.
According to Mr. Narasimhamurthy, the FSSAI Act states that only those with clean clothes and devoid of infections shall be involved in the manufacture and packing of food items. “Regular reports on the health condition of the cooks should be submitted to the health officer and a fitness certificate should be obtained,” he said, adding that a bill should be provided upon purchase of the product and the packing should carry details about the ingredients and date of manufacture and expiry.
Subsequent to the application, the Joint Food Controller and other officers, including the food inspector, contacted the Joint Executive Officer of TTD to inspect the ‘potu’ (kitchen) where the laddus are prepared. However, permission was denied on the grounds that the ‘potu’ is an ‘auspicious place’ where outsiders are not allowed.
Besides, according to a letter sent by the Director of Public Health Labs and Food Administration, Andhra Pradesh, to the RTI activist, the TTD officer claimed that the laddus cannot be considered as food as they are a holy offering and pilgrims cannot be termed as consumers. “After discussion with the Executive Officer of TTD, a reply will be submitted regarding inspection of the premises and obtaining FSSAI licence,” the letter said. Necessary action will be taken after the Commissioner of Food Safety issues orders.

FSSAI notifies caffeine level for energy drinks

FSSAI caps caffeine content of non-alcoholic beverages at 300mg per litre
FSSAI has also prescribed how much vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 beverages companies can add.
New Delhi: India is set to limit caffeine content in energy drinks, a product category that countries like the US do not regulate.
Starting 1 July, companies selling beverages that have caffeine will have to abide by norms defined by the food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), according to a government notification published on Tuesday.
Non-alcoholic beverages with more than 145mg of caffeine per litre will be labelled as ‘caffeinated beverage’ and caffeine content in these beverages should not cross 300mg per litre irrespective of the source of the caffeine, the notification said. Earlier, the regulator had suggested an upper limit of 320mg.
Energy drinks such as Red Bull, Tzinga, Cloud 9 and Monster fall in this category. These products will have to make certain disclosures, including the quantum of caffeine content, on the labels.
Carbonated beverages, including colas, will not fall in the category unless the caffeine content crosses 145mg per litre. Carbonated beverages do not disclose the quantum of caffeine on the labels but state that the beverage contains caffeine.
Besides disclosure of quantum of caffeine in the beverage, companies will have to mention on the labels that one should “consume not more than 500ml per day”. This is to limit how much of a caffeinated beverage a consumer can have in a day.
A 250ml cup of coffee contains 80-150mg of caffeine; a similar quantity of tea has 60mg. Colas usually have 8mg of caffeine per 100ml, according to a 7 November 2013 report by The Guardian. The report added that Red Bull has 30mg of caffeine in 100ml.
FSSAI has also prescribed how much vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 beverages companies can add.
“In respect of ingredients, flavours, sweeteners, food additives, contaminants and microbiological requirement the product shall conform to the standards for carbonated water,” the FSSAI added.
On the labels, companies will have to write “high caffeine”, with details of the quantum, and FSSAI has made it mandatory that they prominently display a cautionary note that says: “Not recommended for children, pregnant and lactating women, persons sensitive to caffeine.”
In 2015, FSSAI banned a few variants of Monster energy drink sold by US-based Monster Beverage Corp., and ordered the recall of Restless Energy Drink sold by Pune-based Pushpam Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. FSSAI also banned a few variants of Cloud 9 sold by Goldwin Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, and Tzinga, a product by Hector Beverages Pvt. Ltd, for compliance issues. However, almost all products are available in the retail market.
Both Coca-Cola and its rival PepsiCo Inc. launched caffeinated beverages in India, but failed to attract consumers.
Coca-Cola first launched Shok in 2001, which failed to attract consumers; it subsequently launched Burn in December 2009. PepsiCo launched SoBe in 2008.
According to Coca-Cola website, Burn contains 0.03% of caffeine in a can of 300ml.
“We currently do not have any caffeinated beverage or energy drink in our portfolio,” said a spokesperson for PepsiCo India Pvt. Ltd, the local arm of the beverage maker.
Red Bull India marketing director Avinash Pant did not respond to a query.
Neeraj Kakkar, founder of Hector Beverages, which sells Tzinga energy drink, did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.
According to a study by FSSAI, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates caffeine content in soft drinks but does not regulate caffeine content in energy drinks as it is considered safe under the US Code of Federal Regulations. The FSSAI study also stated the European Union does not set an upper limit for caffeine but requires only labelling of caffeine content greater than 150mg a kg with “high caffeine content”.
In the same notification, FSSAI has asked companies selling packaged drinking water to use “a blue tint in plastic containers of five litres and above made of poly carbonate and poly terephthalate”. The idea is to prevent the degeneration of the plastic under the effect of sunlight. Mint couldn’t immediately ascertain whether this would raise costs for bottled water companies, and if so, by how much.

GHMC slaps notice against Shah Ghouse hotel

HYDERABAD: The veterinary wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has slapped a notice against Shah Ghouse Hotel and Restaurant located opposite Biodiversity Park, Gachibowli, for not procuring meat for preparing non-vegetarian items from the GHMC recognised slaughter houses.
Meat has to be procured from the GHMC recognised slaughter houses only where the animals are slaughtered after thorough examination and hygienic meat is being provided under the supervision of the veterinary wing of the GHMC.
Meanwhile, GHMC directed the owner not to procure the unstamped (unsealed) meat from the illegally slaughtered animals, which may lead to to health hazards and it is against the provision of GHMC Act, 1955 and the provisions of Food safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules 2011.

No advice given regarding warning labels on fast food, says MoS Anupriya Patel

New Delhi, (IBNS): Centre's Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Anupriya Patel, in a written reply to the Lok Sbhha on Friday said that no advice has been given regarding warning labels on fast foods .
The minister said that ‘Fast Food’ has not been defined under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulations there-under.
However, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued draft guidelines titled “Guidelines for making available wholesome, nutritious, safe and hygienic food to school children in India in October 2015, wherein the availability of most common HFSS (High in Fat, Salt and Sugar) Foods in schools and an area within 50 meters thereof has been restricted/limited.
The World Health Organization has recently developed guidelines on ‘Sugar intake for Adults and Children’ and the adverse impact of high sugar in foods, said the release.
The need to avoid food high in fat, salt and sugar; aerated beverages; promotion of healthy lifestyle and various other aspects of food safety are disseminated to all concerned through workshops, media campaigns, documentary films, educational booklets, stalls at fairs/melas/events, mass awareness campaigns,etc, the minister said in her reply

Did Tirupati temple violate FSSAI guideline as temple ladoos turn sour

Based on an RTI query filed by Bengaluru-based advocate T Narasimhamurthy, details have been sought on whether the laddu is being made under hygienic conditions.
The famous Tirupathi laddoo has left a sour taste in the mouth of the officials of the Thirupathi Thirumala Devasthana. Based on an RTI query filed by Bengaluru-based advocate
T Narasimhamurthy, details have been sought on whether the laddu is being made under hygienic conditions.
It is alleged by the RTI applicant that there have been deficiencies in manufacture, sale, distribution and storage of these laddoos. Narasimhamurthy claims that nuts, bolts and even ghutka covers have been found in these laddoos.
TTD is now faced with the dilemma whether to give in to the food safety and standards authority of India or adhere to their rituals of not allowing any outsider in the area where the 'prasadam' is made.
According to the FSSAI Act, any place serving or distributing food should follow the guidelines:
  • Clean clothes to all those involved in manufacture and packing.
  • Regular health reports of the cook
  • Packaging should carry details of ingredients, date of manufacturing and expiry
Also mention the classification of food, whether vegetarian,non-vegetarian or egg basedThe RTI activist Narasimhamurthy has received a letter from the Director of Public Health and Food Administartion of Andhra Pradesh that the office of the TTD, has claimed that the laddoos cannot be defines as food as it is 'prasadam' for the pilgrims.

Tirupati temple may have to get FSSAI license to serve, make laddus

Soon, your Tirupati laddu may come with a food safety mark. A report published in The Hindu said that the Triumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which runs the renowned temple will have to obtain a license from the Food Safety Association of India (FSSAI).
Suneeti Toteja, director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a central body which regulates manufacturing, processing, distribution and sale of food in India, has written to the food commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, stating that the temple authority must adhere to the safety standards prescribed the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006.
Since laddu is a "food" under the act, the temple administration has to buy a license to distribute it, the letter continued. TTD is officially a Food Business Operator (FBO), as per the Act and is bound to follow the safety standards, the letter added.
Toteja letter had come in response to a Right To Information (RTI) application filed with the FSSAI complaining about the alleged unhygienic conditions under which the laddus are made by the TTD, the board which runs the renowned temple, The Hindu report said. Bengaluru-based T Narasimhamurthy had submitted the application.
According to food safety act, only those wearing clean clothes and not suffering from any kind of infections shall be allowed to manufacture and pack food, a Bangalore Mirror report stated. Narasimhamurthy has said that the laddus must have a expiry date, while a bill must be provided when it is purchased.
The Tirupati laddu has a 300-year history behind it, and is believed to have been invented in the 18th century. The laddu, offered to devotees as prasadam, is known for its unique taste, the tabloid added.
However, according to latest reports, the TTD has refused entry to food inspectors on the grounds that the temple kitchen is an auspicious place. The board also refused to consider the laddu as a food, since it believed devotees cannot be considered customers.
Narasimhamurthy is waiting for a reply from the food inspectors regarding the hygiene conditions in the kitchen.

Cheese, butter is good for heart


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