Jul 18, 2013

‘Check quality of mid-day meals’

Commissioner of Food Safety Biju Prabhakar has directed all district food safety officers to check the quality of mid-day meals given to children at anganwadis and schools. The directive followed the incident in Bihar where many children died after eating meals provided at schools. On Wednesday, food safety officials visited 50 schools and 56 anganwadis in rural areas. To report complaints regarding the quality of food at schools and anganwadis, call toll-free number 1800-425-1125.

Notice issued to umbrella body of SHGs

PUNE: Alarmed by the mid-day meal deaths of school students in Bihar, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued notice Savitri Bachat Gat Mahasangh, the umbrella organisation of 170 self help groups (SHGs) that supplies mid-day meals to students of civic schools.
The notice has been issued to the Mahasangh to ensure that all these 170 SHGs have the mandatory nod from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to operate the kitchens to prepare the mid-day meals. "We have sent a notice to Mahasangh to get all SHGs registered with FDA immediately. Those who don't comply with the rules will be shut down by the civic body," said Shivaji Daundkar, the Education Officer of PMC.
Daundkar admitted that the kitchens run by majority of SHGs supplying food to PMC school students do have FDA's approval. Under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, all establishments dealing with food and having a turnover up to Rs 12 lakh have to be registered with FDA and those having a turnover of over Rs 12 lakh have to procure a licence from FDA.
Civic officials added that the flying squads of the civic body monitor the kitchens of these SHGs at regular intervals. The mid-day meal scheme in around 275 PMC schools has 72,000 beneficiaries. In last three years, there have been two major food poisoning incidents in the district, one involving a PMC school and another a municipal school at Alandi.

Tobacco items worth Rs 1.72 cr burnt

Imphal, July 17 2013: Huge quantity of banned tobacco products worth Rs 1.72 crores seized from 10 individuals in May by the Assam Rifles were consigned to the flames at a Chandel district area on July 15 .
According to Food Safety Officer (FSO), Chandel Elvison Thouman the impounded tobacco products comprising of Zarda and Golden Khaini were consigned to flames at a river bank near Japhou bazar in Chandel district on July 15 .
The banned items were reportedly seized by troops of 20 Assam Rifles led by Assistant Commandant Nihal Singh on May 28 at Larong village area and handed over to a team of Food Safety Office, Chandel the next day.
The tobacco items were impounded while being transported to Moreh from Churachandpur in two Tata Sumos (MN01/W4861 & MN01/W4461) and two Shaktiman trucks (MN04/A7899 & MN04/A4006) by 10 individuals, detailed the FSO.
In all 6769 packets of Zarda, each pack containing 10 pieces and 1458 packets of Golden Khaini each made of 30 pieces were seized from the individuals.



Tobacco items before burning
Those detained in connection with case have been identified as Lalam (40) w/o Khakai of Moreh W/N 7, Hitin Haokip (36) w/o Soson of Moreh W/N 7, Rengneilen Aimol (24) s/o (L) Sumtinson of Khudengthabi, Wangton (27) s/o (L) Obson of Lamkang Khunou, Kismahom (47) s/o (L) aber of Kakching Makha Leikai, Thanggin (25) s/o (L) Jamkhohem of Shokam village in Sugnu, Amang Haokip (24) s/o (L) A Jang of Bongyang village, SS Bengam (28) s/o SS Betoi of Kongpi village near Pallel, J Wangring (28) s/o Khaithoi of Khunkha village near Pallel and Holmang Baite (40) s/o (L) Chungkholun of Makhao Mollum village in Churachandpur district.
Informing that the 10 persons have been detained for violation of a Government prohibitory order under Section 58 of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, Elvison said due legal process is underway for further punitive action against the individuals.
It is said that representatives of village authorities, NGOs and district police were present at the time of destroying the seized tobacco products.
Elvison also informed that the consignment brought from Churachandpur district were being taken to Myanmar after skipping Pallel police outpost but were seized by the AR troops at Larong village near Moreh.

Milma’s affidavit throws open a debate

Of contents and standard of milk sold in the State

Milma’s affidavit in the Kerala High Court that its milk sachets contain reconstituted skimmed milk powder seems to have raised many an eyebrow.
Jino G. Maliyakal, State secretary, Kerala Aggressive Dairy Farmers Association, wants the government to come out with a definition of milk in this context.
‘‘This is a serious issue affecting future generations. Whether the milk supplied by dairy farmers to Milma (Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) and other agencies comes under the definition of milk is another question. The government has to take into consideration all types of milk, including milk sachets of Milma and other agencies as well as the milk supplied by farmers. Also, whether there is mix of cow, buffalo, and goat milk in the milk that consumers get is a natural question,’’ he says.
Another question, according to him, is that the State’s milk production is 22 lakh litres a day (marketed by Milma and other agencies). But the maximum demand is 60 lakh litres a day (during festival seasons such as Onam). So what kind of milk is brought in to meet the demand gap, he asks.
SNF, fat contents
According to Mr. Maliyakal, Milma’s affidavit says that the milk from crossbred cows in the State contains a lower SNF (solid non-fat) content and that if skimmed milk powder is not added, toned and double-toned milk within the standards prescribed in the Food Safety Standard Regulations could not be produced in Kerala.
‘‘It is true that the milk of cows in Kerala will not have a regular percentage of SNF and fat. The SNF and fat contents of milk supplied by farmers to Milma are tested in its laboratories. Milma will not naturally reveal the real fat and SNF contents as it will have to pay more price for more fat content. Then how is such content being really analysed in the State,’’ he asks. Dairy farmers, on the other hand, are finding the going very tough. The Planning Commission itself has listed dairy farming as an allied sector of agriculture. So the dairy farmer gets loan only at 12 per cent, compared to 4 per cent for agriculture, Mr. Maliyakal said.
Mechanisation
He points out that the solution of mechanisation being touted for labour shortage cannot be viable for small dairy farmers.
A huge investment will not be possible for such farmers.
G. Krishnakumar, who has around 15 cows, says he had installed large machines which could milk four cows at a time, but the electricity charges are too high.
Mr. Maliyakal points out the cluster approach as a solution to the dairy farmer’s woes. In this approach, cow or other animal rearing is considered as milk production unit, cow urine and cow dung and its various uses come under another unit, production of grass another unit, and selling of milk and milk products yet another unit. All these units will be independent but function as a single cluster, he says.

DINAMALAR NEWS


TNFS DEPT. - VILLUPURAM DIST.


Midday meal providers must show licence to cook

PUNE: The unfolding midday meal tragedy in Bihar has stirred the civic body into action. Self-help groups that provide midday meals to schools in Pune municipal limits have been asked to show their Food and Drug Administration licence to cook the meals.
There are 160 self-help groups (SHGs) that provide food to around 92,000 students in over 600 schools in the city's municipal limits. On Wednesday, the civic body served show cause notices on the two major groups that act as coordinators of all the self-help groups of the midday meal scheme. "The PMC has served show cause notices on these coordinating self-help groups and given them eight days to give the status of the licences of these (160) SHGs. The exact number of the self-help groups, which don't have licences will be available after we get the replies from coordinating groups. The administration will take against the SHGs that do not have FDA licences," said Shivaji Daundkar, educational officer of PMC.
Daundkar said the administration carries out regular checks and routinely meets SHGs and that it was during one such meeting last week when the issue of FDA licences came up. He said the notices were issued on Wednesday after due process. "The SHGs have been asked to keep an extra vigil after the food poisoning problem in schools in Bihar. The notice will serve as a precautionary measure for schools in the backdrop of this incident," he said.
But Jayashree Dhoble, one of the coordinators of the groups served the show cause notice, said that SHGs not having licences is a technical issue. "Most of these groups had taken licences. Some of them don't have one currently because they have not renewed it. The process of renewal of the permit is on," she said.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, SHGs are required to register themselves and seek licences from the FDA, which carries out hygiene checks, material used for cooking and quality before giving its consent.
If FDA statistics are anything to go by, the number of licensed SHGs would possibly be minimal. In Pune district (including the civic limits), there are only 18 SHGs that are licenced to cook midday meals. Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA. As per FDA rules, SHGs with a turnover less than Rs 12 lakh need to register with the body while those with a turnover above Rs 12 lakh per annum need to secure licences.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, said, "Every SHG employed in cooking midday meals for schools have to secure licences from the FDA or register themselves, whatever is applicable. However, we do not have the data on how many such SHGs are involved in cooking midday meals in the entire district."
Kekare said it was the responsibility of schools to ensure the SHG has the required licence to cook food, before employing them. Kekare said that surprise checks are carried out on SHGs that are licenced or registered with them, samples collected and tested for their quality.
It is not just the FDA that does not have a count of SHGs but also the zilla parishad. Sunil Kurhade, education officer, Pune Zilla Parishad, said there are no statistics on the number of SHGs employed in cooking the meal in the district, but maintained that the taluka level education officer randomly visits schools and collect samples of cooked food. "It is totally up to the school to either employ village women or SHGs to cook the meal. There is no restriction. They have to enter into an agreement with the SHGs or the women for cooking," he said, adding that as per government orders, the cooked food is first tasted by a teacher or the school principal before it is distributed. A food sample is set aside for 24 hours every day, to check if anything goes wrong, he said.
Experts and activists have often questioned the quality of food served to students. Last year, 78 students of municipal primary school number 5, located at Janata Vasahat in Parvati, had suffered from food poisoning after they ate stale food served under the midday meal scheme. Their condition stabilized after undergoing treatment at three private hospitals.
"The authorities concerned should take the issue of SHGs' registration (with the FDA) on priority. Chances of food adulteration and food poisoning are more during monsoon. So more precautions are needed while preparing the food for schools," said Vijay Kumbhar, founder of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti, a citizens' group.
Food File
There are 8,000 schools in Pune district and midday meals are provided to an estimated 8 lakh students
In the Pune civic limits, midday meal is provided to 92,000 students in 600-odd schools
Schools employ an SHG to cook the meal and in places where there are no SHGs, the school employs women from the village to cook the food
While there are 160 SHGs cooking midday meals for schools in the municipal limits, there is no count of SHGs cooking for schools that come under the zilla parishad
According to FDA stats, just about 18 SHGs in Pune district (including those in the civic limits and in the zilla parishad) are licenced
Another 103 SHGs and 35 anganwadis are registered with the FDA

Whole milk could be better for kids than skim milk

Giving kids whole milk may be a better option over skim milk, a new research has revealed.
According to Dr. David S Ludwig, an endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital, and Dr. Walter C Willet, Fredrick John Stare professor of epidemiology and nutrition chair at the Harvard School of Public Health in Cambridge wanted to find which milk is more nutritious.
Their study showed that 2 cups of milk is enough for children, a website reported.
The authors point out that there are only a few clinical trials that have looked at the benefits of reduced-fat milk compared to whole milk.
Most people just assume the lower-fat milk has fewer calories, which theoretically decreases total caloric intake and lessens weight gain.
However, researchers said that just because someone lowers fat intake doesn't necessarily mean that it will help with losing the pounds.
Researchers said that a person may feel less full after drinking low-fat milk than if they'd had whole milk, making them more likely to consume additional calories.
The research was published on July 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.

New anti-tobacco campaign launched

NEW DELHI: A new nation-wide National Tobacco Control campaign called “Tears you apart” has been launched by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco consumed by tens of millions of Indian every day.
The campaign public service announcement was filmed in B. Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati and at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. The PSA features real victims who are suffering from horrific cancers and disfigurements as a result of their chewing addition. It also includes comments from relatives of victims, who describe how tobacco-related illnesses have destroyed careers, family life, and added to financial burdens. The PSA graphically warns the public that tobacco can literally tear lives and families apart, and urges smokeless tobacco users to quit and habit.
The campaign PSA is being released in 16 languages in a national campaign for Pan-India coverage. The campaign will make use of all national and regional Doordarshan channels and All India Radio. The campaign is expected to run for a period of five to six weeks.
The campaign has been developed with technical support from world Lung Foundation.
The campaign will support the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for Implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Authority (FSSAI) regulation 2.3.4 which prohibit use of tobacco or nicotine in any food product.