India indicating persistent food inflation due to MSP hike: Rangarajan

India has been indicating persistent food inflation. The high foodgrain prices are largely attributable to the consistent sharp increase in the minimum support prices (MSP). In the case of other food articles, C Rangarajan, chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, stated that the demand has outstripped the supply while growth in output stands reasonable.

“Intervention in the foodgrain markets by using stocks available with public distribution system has an important role to play in moderating the foodgrain prices. However, the structural factor of the impact of minimum support price remains,” said Rangarajan, speaking on the topic ‘Current Economic Situation – The Way Forward’ at a session organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC).

“Food comprise several categories such as grains, vegetables, fruit, milk and eggs, meat and fish. What we have seen in the last three years is food inflation that had remained high because of the spurt in the prices of one category of food articles or the other. The retail inflation still stands much higher at 9.2 per cent. However, inflation was largely due to certain severe supply constraints, particularly of agricultural products,” he said.

“Inflation is triggered primarily by supply side shocks. However, this does not mean that monetary policy and fiscal policy have no role to play. Food price inflation, if it persists long enough, gets generalised. This has happened, as evidenced by inflation in manufacturing prices rising from 5.3 per cent in March 2010 to 8.2 per cent in November 2011. Thus, monetary policy and fiscal policy could contain the overall demand pressures,” Rangarajan stated.

“There are now definite signs of easing on the price front. The non-food manufacturing inflation has come down to below three per cent as of April 2013. This gives room for the monetary authorities to ease monetary policy. High growth does not warrant a higher level of inflation. In fact for sustained high growth, we need price stability as a pre-condition. We must keep inflationary expectations to the five per cent comfort zone,” he said.

Rangarajan said, “The two sectors which pose a major challenge are the farm economy and the power sector. The farm sector is constrained by the relatively low yield in major cereal crops and pulses as compared to other Asian economies, especially China. India is known for agricultural research. The results in terms of productivity gains must be taken to revitalise the traditional crops which vital to food security and farm income.”

“Shifts in demand has now come about with rising income and taste. Therefore, agricultural production must also respond to them. The last three years have clearly indicated decline in agricultural production causing distortions in the economy. It is, therefore, imperative that we aim at GDP originating from agriculture and allied activities growing at four per cent per annum,” he stated.

Rangarajan said, “In many ways, the coming decade will be crucial for India. If India grows at eight to nine per cent per annum, it is estimated that the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) will increase from the current $1,600 to $ 8,000-10,000 by 2025. It will transit from being a low-income to a middle-income country. There is a need to overcome the low growth phase as quickly as possible.”

“A number of schemes aimed at growth include the employment guarantee scheme, universalisation of education, expansion of rural health, and food security. These programmes have made a substantial demand on public expenditure which is only because of the strong growth that facilitated increasing resources by the government,” he said.
 

 Price of cow milk to go up by Rs 2; buffalo milk price to rise by Rs 3

With effect from May 25, 2013, the price of cow's milk will rise by Rs 2 per litre (to Rs 31 per litre, excluding delivery charges), and that of buffalo's milk by Rs 3 per litre (to Rs 40 per litre) across Maharashtra. The hike will not only affect the prices of milk, but also those of ghee, ice cream, yoghurt and shreekhand.

For the last few days, officials from dairy co-operative societies across Maharashtra have been lobbying with the state government. They also met state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to discuss a hike in the rates of milk due to higher operational costs, and the outcome was positive. The hike will become applicable to all state government-owned and cooperative diaries.

Industry's reactions

According to Devendra Shah, chairman, Parag Milk Foods Pvt. Ltd, the hikes, which earned the state government's nod, will be beneficial to farmers, who are incurring losses owing to the high costs of dairy products.

He said, “The hike in the prices of milk will have a positive impact on the industry. The state is currently reeling under drought-like conditions, and that is the reason fodder and water are not available.”

“As far as farmers are concerned, their situation is very grim. They are unable to fetch the appropriate price in the market, and are incurring heavy losses. The price hike will motivate the farmers to produce more milk,” Shah said.

N S Patil, assistant general manager (procurement), Gokul Dairy, said, “I am happy with the state government's decision to hike the milk price, because it will help the farmers earn. The production costs have increased and 60 per cent of the money is utilised in feeding.”

“It would burn a hole in the common man's pocket, but will benefit the farmers. The state government has also increased the rate of procurement. As a result, the farmers will now get Rs 18.50 per litre for cow's milk and Rs 27.50 for buffalo's milk,” he informed.

Sugar de-control safeguarding sector's, growers', consumers' interests

In a landmark decision, the government has abolished the levy sugar mechanism and regulated release mechanism to de-control the Indian sugar industry and at the same time ensured that the poor segments of the society continue to get sugar at the existing subsidised prices by taking upon itself the entire financial burden of distributing sugar through ration shops. A notification in this regard was issued recently.

With this landmark decision, the government has ensured that the interests of all segments of the sugar economy – be it the industry, the farmers, the consumers or the poor section of society – are safeguarded.

The measure will give the industry the freedom to sell their produce without any restriction and improve their liquidity position. Improved liquidity will ensure that millions of sugarcane farmers in India will no longer have to wait for their due price from sugar millers. For the consumers, it means sugar availability will increase in the market by as much as 10 per cent per year.

The government has decided to reimburse the state governments for purchasing and selling sugar through the public distribution system (PDS) below the market rate, for which it will bear upon itself an additional burden of around Rs 3,100 crore.

The issue of de-controlling of sugar industry was engaging the attention of the government for a very long time. There were representations from sugarcane farmers’ associations as well as sugar mills, the major stakeholders of the sugar industry, that a price-sharing formula for sugarcane was long overdue.

The government also thought about bringing a level playing field where the interests of the consumers on the one hand and the development of sugar industry on the other hand can be ensured.

The demand for decontrol of sugar has stemmed from the cyclic nature of sugar production in the country, which puts the sugar industry at a disadvantage in that they are not able to find it a viable business option finally affecting sugarcane farmers.

Starting from a normal year when there are no major cane price arrears, the farmers tend to plant larger area under sugarcane. This leads to increase in sugarcane production with the consequent increase in sugar production which in turn leads to excess stocks resulting in depressed sugar prices and building up of cane price arrears.

As a result of lower returns, the farmers tend to take lesser care of the cane and area under sugarcane gets reduced in the subsequent years. The years of reduced production of sugarcane also witness higher diversion of cane for gur-making, a significant part of which also finds its way into the liquor industry in the unorganised sector as a substitute for molasses which itself would be in short supply. The lower production of sugarcane and higher diversion combine to produce still lower availability of cane for crushing in sugar mills which results in disproportionately low sugar production.

As a result, the sugar prices rise, the mills get higher returns, the arrears position is taken care of, the farmers get a good price and are encouraged to plant more, and the area under sugarcane starts rising again. In two to three years' time, this would lead to another year of peak production and the cycle would start all over again.

The Central government was confident of taking the burden arising out of de-control of sugar, as the country could achieve sugar production of 263.50 lakh metric tonne during the 2011-12 (October-September) sugar season, which was 20 lakh tonne more than the sugar production of 243.50 lakh tonne during the 2010-11 sugar season.

While the seasonal variation in sugar production had also started to smoothen in the last three or four years, the market price of sugar had remained within reasonable levels all throughout 2012-13 sugar season.

The Rangarajan Committee appointed by the government to look into the whole gamut of sugar de-control had observed that levy amounts to a cross-subsidy between the open market and PDS sugar, and it is not in the interest of the general consumers or the development of the sugar sector and recommended that levy sugar be dispensed with.

So the two crucial issues emanating from the Rangarajan Committee’s report came up before the government for a decision. These are (a) whether sugar is to be continued as an item under the PDS; and (b) if sugar is to be continued as an item under the PDS, does the current levy obligation on sugar mills need to be continued with or the PDS supplies are to be met through open market procurement?

The options that were available before the government were quite complex in that it had not only to take the state governments along, but also to look into other critical issues such as increase in procurement cost, problems relating to market distortions, including delayed payments for cane price, the subsidy burden, etc.

It was felt that removal of sugar in the PDS could not be acceptable. The major decision to take was that if sugar was to be continued as an item under the PDS, who would bear the extra burden for keeping the delivery at Rs 13.50 per kg? The extra burden, in terms of increase in subsidy owing to the de-control of sugar, would be around Rs 3,100 crore, excluding the distribution costs involved.

At present, the open market price of sugar hovers around Rs 32 per kg, while in respect of retail price through PDS, it is Rs 13.50 per kg, which has not been revised since 2002. The government is able to provide sugar at Rs.13.50 per kg by absorbing the subsidy involved in each kilogram at Rs 6 per kg after buying it from sugar mills at the levy price fixed by the government, i.e. Rs 19.05 per kg.
At present, the total expenditure being incurred by the government in terms of subsidy for supply of 27 lakh tonnes of sugar under PDS comes to Rs 2,556 crore. With the de-control of sugar, the additional burden would mean absorbing the increase in subsidy component to the tune of Rs 13 per kg, currently being borne by the individual sugar mills, i.e. the difference between the ex-mill price of Rs 32 and the levy price fixed on them for the current year, which is Rs 19.50. The total additional subsidy burden works out to Rs 3,100 crore, excluding distribution cost.

The Central government had decided to take the responsibility of the additional burden in terms of subsidy increase upon itself.

The decision of the government to partially de-control sugar has not affected the sugar price in the open market also, as there is enough sugar in the country with this year’s production expected to be around 24.5 million tonne as against a requirement of 22.2 million tonne.

Now the states will also be free to purchase sugar through a transparent system at the current ex-factory price of Rs 32 per kg, which has been capped for two years.

The government ensured that this important decision on the partial de-control of sugar takes care of the interests of the sugarcane farmers, while also ensuring that the interests of the common man and the development of the sugar sector.

Lunch! shortlisted for Best Trade Show honour for fourth year in a row

Lunch! – Europe’s premier trade event for the food-to-go market – has once again been shortlisted for a pair of AEO Excellence Awards by the United Kingdom’s Association of Event Organisers (AEO). The 2013 edition of the award ceremony, which recognises achievements by organisers, venues, suppliers and contractors throughout the exhibitions industry, will take place at Old Billingsgate, London, on June 21, 2013.

The recently announced nominations see lunch! up for its fourth consecutive Best Trade Show Exhibition (under 2,000sq m) award, an accolade that the event first won at the AEO’s Excellence Awards in 2010 (this was followed by a second triumph in 2011).  The lunch! team will also be defending its Best Marketing Campaign of the Year Award, which it won last year.

Diversified Business Communications UK, the organiser of lunch!, received a total of four nominations in the exhibition industry’s most prestigious award ceremony; with its office show and new launch Natural Products Scandinavia also recognised.

The news came soon after visitor registration opened for lunch!’s sixth edition, which will feature over 270 exhibitors (up by 15 per cent from 236) when it returns to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on September 26 and 27, 2013.

Renowned for attracting top buyers from across the food-to-go retailing and contract catering industry, lunch! has enjoyed growing industry prominence and support since it launched in 2008 with around 100 exhibitors.

Attendance at lunch! has surged by over 100 per cent in the last five years, i.e. from 2,197 to 4,403. In 2012, the exhibition was sold out four months early in the process, relocated to a bigger venue and witnessed an increase in its exhibitors by 42 per cent. Interest from international buyers was up by 32 per cent in 2012, on top of a 76 per cent increase the previous year). They were drawn to London on the promise of seeing several new launches from the food-to-go sector’s most cutting-edge food, drink, packaging, equipment and technology suppliers.

Speaking on behalf of the lunch! team, Chris Brazier, group event manager, said, “From day one we wanted lunch! to be different, to really stand out from the event crowd, and to be a real buying experience that visitors – from the biggest multiples to the local cafes and coffee shops – all actually enjoyed coming to.”

“Five shows and three industry awards later, the word that still appears more often than any other in testimonials about lunch! is 'innovation'.  That’s what great about the show – it’s the ethos that drives it forward – and we’re absolutely delighted that the AEO has recognised this once more,” he added.

Brazier said, “It’s an exceptionally rare honour – and an enormous achievement for everyone here at Diversified UK – to be nominated for best trade show and best marketing campaign for two years running – and it wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of all our exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and partners.”

This continuing support has already heralded the prospective announcement of a sold-out show months away from the opening day, with booked stand space for 2013 now already outstripping the total sales for last year’s show.

The expansion into a whole new area at the three-floor venue (which is now home to the Innovation Zone, the Innovation Challenge Showcase, the Working lunch! Theatre, British Smoothie Championships, Press Office, and a new VIP lounge) has done little to slow demand, with just a handful of stands left on the upper level (plus one stand on the ground level).

Confirmed exhibitors to date include such brands as Equip Line; Impress Sandwiches; Delice de France; Cafe Deli Wholesale; Odysea; Tayto; Bagel Nash; ABDA; Tudor Tea & Coffee; The Food Doctor; Magrini; Wrigley UK; Simple Simon Foods; Delifrance UK; Freshfayre Chilled Foodservice; First Pack; Crown Foods; and Warbutons. 

Rs 1 lakh fine imposed on Shimla sweetmeat seller

SHIMLA: A sweetmeat seller was fined Rs 1 lakh, the highest ever penalty in the state, by a designated officer for selling sweets that failed to comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, an official said on Friday.Shimla municipal corporation health official Omesh Bharti fined the shopkeeper Thursday, after the samples of the sweets seized from his shop were found to be adulterated.Government sources said the state government had recently delegated powers to all health officers under the food safety act to impose fines on vendors if food samples failed to meet standards set by law.

Cadbury ordered to pay Rs.30,000 compensation – YAHOO NEWS: -

Agartala, May 22 (IANS) : -

A consumer court in Tripura has ordered Cadbury India Ltd to pay a compensation of Rs.30,000 to a complainant who found an iron pin inside a chocolate bar made by the company, an official said here Wednesday.

“A man purchased a Cadbury chocolate on Dec 16, 2011, for his three-year-old daughter and found an iron pin inside the bar when the girl tried to eat it. Subsequently, he filed a complaint before a consumer forum,” a food department official told reporters here.

“After conducting a hearing, the west Tripura district consumer disputes redressal forum last week ordered Cadbury India Ltd to pay a compensation of Rs.30,000 to the complainant within a month.”

The forum, which in its judgment said the chocolate was hazardous, also asked the chocolate company to pay Rs.1,000 to the complainant towards the cost of litigation.

Rotten non-vegetarian food seized in city

SALEM, May 23, 2013

Health officials conduct surprise inspection in restaurants

Decaying food:Health officials seize rotten chicken items in a restaurant near Five Roads in Salem on Wednesday. –PHOTO: P. GOUTHAM

Health officials on Wednesday conducted surprise inspections in four restaurants on Junction Main Road in the city and seized 65 kg of rotten non-vegetarian items that were ready to be served to customers.

Based on complaints from the public that the quality of non-vegetarian food served is poor and not prepared in a hygienic environment, a team led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department inspected two restaurants near Five Road Junction on Junction Main Road on Wednesday afternoon.

They found rotten chickens mixed with masala and kept in refrigerators, ready for preparation to be served for customers, upon receiving orders.

Officials also found grilled chicken and tandoori items left to dry in an open place in an unhygienic environment in a restaurant and seized 50 kg chicken.

Officials also inspected three more restaurants and found prawns and fish items in rotten stage.

As many as 15 kg were seized and the restaurant owners were warned of further action if hygienic food items were not served to customers.

Notices were issued to them following the inspections and they were asked to respond within 15 days about the corrective measures that they have taken.

Health officials said that the rotten chicken and non-vegetarian items were served with cooked masalas and hence customers could not feel the stale nature of the food.

“The non-vegetarian items were stored in refrigerators for many days and served. Most of them were rotten,” they added.

STATE FDA FINES BYCULLA RESTAURANT FOR USING BANNED COLOURS IN CHICKEN

The state food and drug administration recently slapped a fine amounting to Rs 50,000 on Renault Restaurant and Bar in Byculla, Mumbai for using colouring agents which were not permitted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in the preparation of chicken lollipop. Rakesh Shetty, the proprietor of the eatery, claimed that they were unaware that the use of food colour was not permitted, adding that they have now switched to natural colours such as Kashmiri mirch.

FDA Maharashtra officials said a sample of the dish was collected and sent to the lab for testing, which proved the presence of colouring agents. They claimed that this was the first time an eatery had to pay such a hefty fine because it used colours not permitted under the Act. The use of colouring agents in cooked food has been banned in restaurants under the Act by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra.

Prior to the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FDA officials would press charges against eateries in the court and wait for the judicial outcome, but now they directly slap fines on them as per the provisions of the Act. However, Suresh Deshmukh, the state food regulator's assistant commissioner (food), said they can be used within stipulated limits in certain items such as cakes, sweets, ice-cream, flavoured milk, etc.

Kamlesh Barot, former president, the Federation of Hotels' and Restaurants' Association of India (FHRAI), said, “Edible food colours, if used in the wrong quantities for cooking food, are known to be carcinogenic. Many eateries, especially in the unorganised sector, tend to add colouring agents to enhance the appearance of a food item. For instance, colour is added to palak (spinach) to make it greener.”

He added that owners and chefs who do not have technical education are more likely to indulge in these practices, as they are not aware that they are illegal. FHRAI is conducting workshops to create awareness among the owners of restaurants about the Act. FDA officials have also been conducting meetings with restaurateurs' associations for the same in a bid to discourage the use of colouring agents. 

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: PEOPLE MANAGEMENT SKILL THE KEY: GOA MARRIOTT'S GM

 For Ranju Alex, who has recently been appointed general manager of the Goa Marriott Resort and Spa, being in the hospitality industry is a childhood dream come true. The passion of her father, an engineer by occupation, for food, coupled with her mother's cooking skills, inspired the convent-educated girl to pursue a degree in hospitality management at the Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata.

“I was selected by the prestigious Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development for their management training programme, where I was a gold medallist. However, the journey has been far from smooth for me. I initially faced a lot of resistance from my family members, for whom academics was the sole purpose in life. While medicine, engineering and the civil services were the preferred career paths, my decision to join a hotel surprised them,” she said.

Nevertheless, Alex – who donned the chef's hat at the beginning of her career and admitted that she was initially attracted to it because of the glamour associated with it – stuck to her   decision and worked hard. Being an extrovert helped her get a foothold in the industry. Looking back, she said, “I feel I succeeded in this field simply because I loved doing what I did. Despite completing almost two decades in the industry, I still have a spring in my step when I come to work every day.”

To be a manager, she said one must possess the skill to manage people. “Be it a guest or an associate, one has to be respectful, compassionate and empathetic. Being analytical or having sharp financial acumen definitely helps, but soft skills are more in demand,” said Alex, who has her own mantra at work - “Take care of your associates, who will take care of your guests, and your guests will come back.“

Being the general manager and a woman, it becomes too hectic at times to cope up with the demands of work and a family. “However if you set your priorities right, this challenge does not exist. “At times, a parent-teacher meeting is more important than the boardroom and vice-versa,” she said, adding that balancing the family and work is challenging, because you are the biggest stakeholder in both the worlds.

“Women themselves possess an inherent sense of hospitality in them, and this was about turning my passion into a job. I was aware that I had a flair for people and was simultaneously attracted to the glamour quotient of working in hotels. Also family support play a vital role,” Alex said, adding that her success means a lot to her family.

She also credits her  husband with playing a major role in her success. “He has made it a priority for the entire family. We did go through the pains of school admissions, house-hunting, etc., but we did it together and kept our spirits up throughout,” she said. Her children have entered their teens, so it is relatively easier now than before. She said she feels vindicated when she sees the pride in their faces with her success.

Alex loves meeting wonderful people and making lasting relationships. Her other interests include fitness-driven activities, hence she loves spending time in the gym or pool. “Reading inspiring books from the Middle-East, where women have overcome the suppression is another passion. I also love travelling and staying in good hotels, so that I can grab any learning that can come my way,” she added. 

POTATOES A SOURCE OF POTASSIUM; SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AMERICANS' DIETS

Although colourful vegetables are being promoted as the key to a healthy diet, Connie Weaver, professor of nutrition science at Purdue University has said that white vegetables, especially potatoes, should also be included in one's diet.

"Potatoes are a great source for potassium, and only three per cent of American adults consume the recommended daily intake for this mineral that is essential to healthy blood pressure," she said.

"Potatoes are often discounted from being healthy because of how they are cooked, topped or the amount consumed, but when prepared in a healthy way, they are nutritious. People need to remember that white vegetables have a place at the table too," Weaver said.

In addition to potatoes, other white vegetables often neglected are cauliflower, turnips, onions, parsnips, mushrooms, corn and kohlrabi.

These vegetables, and related topics such as ambiguity regarding classification of white vegetables and limitations of colour as measure of nutritional content, are published this month in the Advances in Nutrition journal supplement, "White Vegetables: A Forgotten Source of Nutrients."

The journal is published by the American Society for Nutrition and highlights research reviews in the field.

Weaver is editor of the journal supplement on white vegetables, and served as chair for the June 2012 white vegetables roundtable. The roundtable was funded by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education.

"It is recommended that the variety of fruit and vegetables consumed daily should include dark green and orange vegetables, but no such recommendation exists for white vegetables, even though they are rich in fibre, potassium and magnesium," she said.

"Overall, Americans are not eating enough vegetables, and promoting white vegetables, some of which are common and affordable, may be a pathway to increasing vegetable consumption in general," Weaver added.

The daily recommendation is four-and-a-half cups of fruit and vegetables in a 2,000-calorie diet, but Americans consume less than half of that (i.e. about 1.8 cups).

In 2004, the adequate intake for potassium was set at 4,700mg a day, but the average adult intake is about half that amount. Potassium is one of four nutrients identified by the dietary guidelines for Americans as lacking in daily diets.

"Western diets have led to a decrease in potassium with fewer fruit and vegetables, and at the same time, there has been an increase in sodium consumption because people eat more processed foods," Weaver, an expert in mineral bioavailability, calcium metabolism and bone health, said.

While potatoes are one of the highest sources of dietary potassium, when processed, they are often higher in salt. While potassium improves blood flow, too much salt increases blood pressure, making the vascular system work harder.

"The relationship between potassium and sodium is interesting because how the two work together may influence risk of cardiovascular disease," Weaver said.

"The human body needs both, but today's problem is sodium consumption is up and potassium is down. Because potassium-to-sodium intake ratios are more strongly related to cardiovascular disease risk than either nutrient alone, more research is needed to understand this relationship," she added.

“Potassium also shows signs of supporting bone health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, as well as protecting against age-related bone loss and reducing kidney stones, but more research also is needed in these areas,” Weaver said. 

The Hindu Reports on the Food Safety Express in Tamil Nadu

The Hindu Reports on the Food Safety Express in Tamil Nadu

"Food Safety Express, a vehicle loaded with audio-visual equipment and awareness materials on prevention of food adulteration, began its journey in the district on Thursday to propagate the importance of food safety among consumers and food business operators.

The express was flagged off by Collector Anshul Mishra at Sairam Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Goripalayam here in the presence of senior district officials and representatives of consumer protection associations.

It will travel across the district from March 21 to April 8 covering urban and rural areas to create awareness of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

A team of food safety experts and consumer activists will visit schools, colleges, markets, hospitals and important public places explaining the features of the Act. Trained personnel will also demonstrate detection of adulteration in food items by using a special kit called ‘annam,’ which was developed by CONCERT, a sister organisation of the Consumers Association of India. Consumers and Food Business Operators will get information through bilingual portal www.foodsafe.caiindia.org.

Kalyani Rajaraman, project manager for the mass awareness campaign, J. Suguna, Designated Officer for Food Safety, Madurai district, Ashok Kannan, secretary, Public Welfare and Consumer Protection Association, and Rajendran, District Consumer Officer, were among those who spoke at the flagging-off function.

Apart from Madurai, the express, which started its journey in Chennai on January 17, is reaching out to consumers in Chennai, Vellore, Coimbatore and Tiruchi."

Chinese premier Li tells meet to focus on ensuring food is safe to eat

Food was safe to eat was one of the most urgent and demanding jobs. This was stated by Chinese premier Li Keqiang, at the recently-held State Council meeting.

According to Xinhua, Li stressed that monitoring and inspection should be tightened and crackdowns be severe in line with the law to relieve residents of their worries about food safety. He said that both the central and local governments must pay sufficient attention to the problem, and, tight as finances might be, money must be spent on guaranteeing food safety.

The most recent incidents of fake mutton and poisoned ginger have again raised concerns about food safety. To make more money, some people have illegally passed off pork or duck meat or even rat meat as mutton. Some villagers have used banned chemicals on ginger in order to kill pests. However, the ginger grown in such conditions is harmful to humans.

Fratelli Wines’ Chenin Blanc 2012 bags bronze medal at UK Wine Challenge

Fratelli Wines, a leading wine brand, has become the country’s first winery to be awarded the Bronze Medal for its Chenin Blanc 2012 at the recently held International Wine Challenge 2013 in the United Kingdom.

Fratelli’s Chenin Blanc continued its success story at the IWC awards achieving another milestone, for three years in a row, after winning a commendation medal at the IWC 2010 and IWC 2011, making it the most awarded Indian Chenin Blanc, according to a press release issued by the company.

Speaking on the achievement, Kapil Sekhri, co-promoter & director, Fratelli Wines, said, “Our hardwork has been validated with the bronze medal awarded to us for our Chenin Blanc 2012 this year. We are extremely proud to be acknowledged and commended at international platforms such as the International Wine Challenge. We continue to work tirelessly to create quality wines that match International standards. Our wines stand for excellence in India and we are going from strength to strength to make world quality wines.”