Oct 13, 2017
Ahead of Diwali, 100 kilos of sub-standard sweets destroyed
GURGAON: Ahead of the festive season, the district food safety department has become more vigilant towards adulteration of sweets. The department has started conducting raids in Gurgaon to ensure there is no compromise on food safety. On Wednesday, officials destroyed around 100 kilos of sweets as they were found to be unfit for human consumption. Also, sweet samples have been collected for quality check.
In a raid at a Rasgulla manufacturing unit on Pataudi Road officials collected a sample each of Rasgulla, Barfi and Milk Cake . "Samples have been sent to Chandigarh for quality testing in the state laboratory. The report is expected to come in a fortnight and legal action will be taken against those comprising on food safety," said K K Sharma, food safety officer, Gurgaon.
Gurgaon: Diwali sweets under scanner as food safety men collect samples
The locations were sweet samples were taken are Pataudi, Basai and Shivaji Nagar.
KK Sharma, Gurgaon’s food safety officer, checks samples at a sweet shop on Thursday
The Gurgaon food safety department took samples of sweets from three locations in the city on Thursday to check for adulteration and contamination. Reports regarding these samples will be available in the next 15 days.
This move came as the food samples are often found to be adulterated and containing harmful chemicals during the festive season. “As there is an increase in demand, shopkeepers tends to use sub-standard ingredients to prepare sweets. They get spoilt if kept for long hours,” KK Sharma, food safety officer of Gurgaon, said.
The three locations in the city from where the samples were taken are Pataudi, Basai and Shivaji Nagar.
“One quintal of Rasgullas was destroyed at a sweet shop in Pataudi because we found mosquitoes in them,” Sharma said.
Earlier, during Durga Puja, the team also collected samples which were sent to a laboratory in Karnal for testing.
“We will be collecting samples of sweets from various areas in the city and strict action will be taken if any of the samples are found to be adulterated,” Sharma said.
Samples of Kaju Katli, Coconut Barfi, Plain Khoya, Petha sweets, Kalakand and milk cake were collected by the team.
If the samples collected by the team are found to be substandard then the person responsible will face a fine ranging between ₹3 lakh and ₹5 lakh, Sharma said.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a case can be registered against people responsible for selling adulterated sweets.
The team went about collecting food samples after receiving complaints of adulterated sweets from some areas of the city.
“We have received complaints regarding bad quality of sweets from a few areas,” Sharma said.
Last year, the food safety department had inspected and collected samples from 48 sweet shops.
FSSAI asks states to strictly comply with SC ban on sale of gutka containing tobacco
FSSAI says some states were violating the SC order banning the sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011, issued by the FSSAI, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all states to strictly comply with the Supreme Court order banning the sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, saying some states were violating the order.
“It has come to the notice of FSSAI that the prohibited substances i.e. gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and/or nicotine as ingredients are available for sale in some states and union territories despite those states having issued notifications banning the same,” said Rajesh Singh, director (regulatory compliance division), FSSAI, in a letter to the commissioners of food safety and officers-in-charge of food safety of all states and union territories. Mint has seen a copy of the letter.
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2011, issued by the FSSAI, under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.
The ministry of health & family welfare in December 2016 had issued a complete ban on the production, promotion and sale of food products containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients across India. These included gutka, pan masala, zarda and tobacco-based flavoured mouth fresheners.
The move followed a Supreme Court order of 23 September 2016, banning chewing tobacco products. While Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh have issued orders in compliance of the apex court’s order, several states are yet to follow suit, officials at FSSAI said.
The apex Court had also directed the statutory authorities and secretaries (health department) of all states and UTs to file their affidavits on the issue of total compliance of the ban. The manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine or any other products with these ingredients is prohibited.
Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease in India and globally. As per the Global Audit Tobacco Survey—India (GATS) 2010, over 200 million Indians consume smokeless tobacco (through chewing for instance), making the burden of mortality and morbidity from these products very high in India.
Available evidence suggests that India has the highest incidence of oral cancer in the world.
FSSAI enforces Supreme Court’s ban on gutka, pan masala
The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2.3.4, prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products and bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as ingredient such as gutka and pan masala.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a directive on October 9 banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutka and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine). The directive was issued to Commissioners/Offices In-charge of Food Safety of all states and union territories in the country. The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2.3.4, prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products and bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as ingredient such as gutka and pan masala.
The FSSAI’s ban on gutka and pan masala, which is supported by a Supreme Court order, is a welcome move as earlier, only state governments/UTs were issuing orders for banning manufacturing and sale of gutka and pan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Head and Neck surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital said.
He pointed out that the result of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2016-17 had found that 29.6 per cent of men, 12.8 per cent of women and 21.4 per cent of all adults currently use smokeless tobacco. However, due to initiative taken by the government like ban on certain forms of smokeless tobacco products, such as gutka, pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine), the number of tobacco users has dropped by at least 81 lakh.
Indian Food Safety Authority for stricter implementation of ban on smokeless tobacco
LUCKNOW: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has urged the states to effectively implement the ban on manufacture, sale and distribution of smokeless tobacco namely gutka and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine).
The authority wrote to food safety commissioners / food safety authorities across all states on October 9. It read that Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2.3.4, prohibits the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products and bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as ingredient such as gutka and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine). Therefore it called for an effective implementation from the states.
Anti-tobacco activist Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi said that there implementation was the strength of the law. "Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease globally as well as in India. The consequent burden of mortality and morbidity due to consumption of smokeless tobacco is very high in India. Tobacco causes almost 12 lakhs death in a year in India. Available evidence suggests that India shares the maximum burden of oral cancer in the World. The situation will not change the available set of laws is implemented."
To note, the recently released Global Adult Tobacco Survey revealed that: 29.6% of men, 12.8% of women and 21.4% of all adults currently use smokeless tobacco. However due to initiative taken by the Government like ban on certain forms of smokeless tobacco products, such as gutka, pan masala(with tobacco & nicotine), the number of tobacco users has reduced by about 81 lakh.
Implement ban on gutkha, pan masala: Food safety authority
Nagpur: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a directive to the commissioners of food safety/officers in-charge of food safety of all states and Union Territories for effective implementation of the ban on manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine as ingredient).
The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulations, 2.3.4, prohibits the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products and bans sale of all food products where tobacco is present as ingredient such as gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and nicotine.
The Supreme Court had on 23rd October 2016, in Central Areca-Nut Marketing Corporation and Others vs Union of India case of 2010, had directed the statutory authorities of all states and UTs for total compliance of the ban imposed by FSSAI regulations on the manufacturing and sale of gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and or nicotine.
Anti-tobacco activist working at Tata Memorial Hospital Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi told TOI that the FSSAI's recent order of October 9, laying emphasis on compliance with the ban on gutkha and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine), imposed by FSSAI regulation and supported by the Supreme Court order is welcome move from the FSSAI, as it was seen in the past that only state governments and UTs were issuing necessary orders for banning manufacturing and sale of gutkha and pan masala with tobacco and or nicotine.
Dr Chaturvedi said the result of Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2016-17 (involving those 15 years and above) reveals that 29.6% of men, 12.8% of women and 21.4% of all adults currently use smokeless tobacco. The ban on certain forms of smokeless tobacco products the number of tobacco users has reduced by about 81 lakh.
Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease globally as well as in India. The consequent burden of mortality and morbidity due to consumption of smokeless tobacco is very high in India. Tobacco causes almost 12 lakh deaths a year in India. Available evidence suggests that India shares the maximum burden of oral cancer in the World.
FSSAI urges TN govt to effectively implement ban on gutkha
Concerned about the sale of gutkha and pan masala despite a ban in Tamil Nadu and some other states and union territories, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the commissioners of food safety to effectively implement the ban.
In a circular dated October 9, 2017, its Director Rajesh Singh said that it has come to FSSAI’s notice that the prohibited substances such as gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients were available for sale in some states and UTs despite them having issued notifications banning the same.
Inviting the attention of the Supreme Court’s 2016 interim order directing the statutory authorities and secretaries of all states and UTs to file their affidavits on the issue of total compliance of the ban imposed on manufacturing and sale of these products, he urged the officials to take necessary measures to ensure compliance.
On the situation in TN, S Cyril Alexander, convenor of the Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control, said, “The presence of gutkha and pan masala in the state is common. Ever so, advertisements of pan masala products are seen and even higher officials in the government are alleged to have a role in the gutkha sale scam. With such high level of intrusion and prevalence, it is imperative that the state government adheres to the FSSAI circular.”
He said stronger enforcement is required for effective implementation of the prohibition of tobacco substances, which would protect children from their harmful effects.
Mumbai: FDA shuts unhygienic, unlicensed eateries at Bhayandar mall
Bhayandar: Officials from the Thane unit of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Wednesday slapped closure notices on an eatery and a juice parlour – both operating from the third floor of Maxus Mall in Bhayandar owing to the absence of the mandated food license and unhygienic conditions respectively.
The action followed after an inspection by food safety inspector Manek Jadhav under the supervision of assistant commissioner (food) Krishna Dabhade at the eatery Aahar Foods and the juice parlour Juices and Chills. While the eatery was found to be operating without a valid food license, the kitchen of the juice parlour was found to be in an extremely pathetic state with live cockroaches detected at the time of inspection.
The closure orders were issued under Section 36(3)(b) to both the food business operators for contravening the Provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The drive against selling adulterated and unhygienic food in the city will be a routine affair from now on, FDA officials said.
FDA seizes unsafe ‘mawa’ worth Rs 2 lakh
MAPUSA: In view of upcoming Diwali festival, Food and Drugs Administration on Wednesday conducted a raid at Colvale and seized unsafe ‘mawa’ weighing 1,300 kg, worth Rs 2 lakh. The FDA officials will initiate action under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and rules against the defaulter.
On Wednesday, a FDA official team led by senior food safety officer Rajiv Korde along with Madhav Kavlekar, Atul Dessai, Shruti Pilarnekar, Arjun Naik and Sudhakar Parsekar conducted a surprise raid on a house at Ghotnecho Wal at Colvale where around 42 bags of unsafe ‘mawa’ weighing 30 kgs each were seized.
Sources informed that it was brought as ‘barfi’ and used as ‘mawa’ for preparing sweets.
During the raid, FDA officials found ‘mawa’ added with vegetable oil, preservatives and colouring substance which is not permitted.
FDA officials informed that ‘mawa’ bags did not bear date of manufacture and were not stored in refrigerated condition in the house.
Officials informed that the price of ‘mawa’ made of pure milk is around Rs 350 per kg, however, spurious ‘mawa’ is sold and used for preparing sweets at the cost of Rs 120 only.
When contacted senior food safety officer Rajiv Korde, he informed that “acting on reliable information the raid was conducted and we seized around 1,300 kgs ‘mawa’ worth Rs 2 lakh.”
He further informed that “similar raids will be undertaken in the state in view of upcoming Diwali festival.”
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