Meat stalls in Erode to be modernised

Orientation programme planned for stall owners on December 26; there are about 600 retail stalls in district

HYGIENE FACTOR:Retail outlets of meat with makeshift apparatus like this in Erode district can avail themselves of the scheme of Agriculture Department, for modernisation.

Retail sellers of meat, chicken and fish in the city limits have been invited for an orientation on the Government’s subsidy-linked modernisation scheme at the Corporation on December 26.

The retail sellers would be exposed to the guidelines for implementation of Scheme of Modernisation of Meat Shops during the 12th five-year plan (2013 to 2017), under the National Mission on Food Processing.

The Corporation authorities have evinced interest in the scheme.

Sanitary and Food Inspectors have also been invited for the orientation programme, R.M. Subramanian, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Agri Business) said.

The scheme that opens up scope for scaling up hygiene in the traditional meat shops through improvement of infrastructure and equipment would also enable the applicants to comply with food safety rules and regulations.

Competitions

Alongside addressing public health concerns, the scheme would also foster competitions through development of new retail chains, Mr. Subramanian said.

A tentative estimate indicates presence of over 600 retail meat outlets across the district.

Owners of meat shops in local bodies in rural parts would be covered subsequently for orientation. Meat shop owners in Sathyamangalam and Thalavadi areas have already started making enquiries, he said.

Bbanks have also evinced interest to extend financial assistance under the scheme, he added.

Subsidy would be made available on investments starting from Rs. 2 to 3 lakhs.

For eligibility, applicants would be required to possess the licence of local body for the shop, proof of ownership of shop premises, proof of electric connection and water supply from local body, and list of plant and machinery and civil work proposed for modernisation of meat shop certified by Chartered Engineer.

Contact

For more details, contact Mr. Subramanian over phone: 9842679500.

SMC files case against Kanwal Group

Srinagar, December 18: Tightening nose against the Kanwal Agro Food Industries for using the substandard spices, Srinagar Municipality Committee (SMC), Health Department Wednesday has prepared a prosecution case against the Company under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Health Department of SMC has also sent a checking squad in the summer capital to restrain shopkeepers from selling the product.
Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Shafqat Khan said that they have prepared the case against the company and have send the copies to the Magistrate and Additional Deputy Director of Srinagar.
Khan said that they have also conduct the market survey all day long to check whether any products were still in consumption.
“We raided many shops across the Srinagar city to remove the product bearing no. KA/SP/E with packaging date June 04, 2013 that were declared unsafe and hazards for consumption. However, no such product were found in the market,” Khan said.
Khan said that they gathered more samples of the product and sent them to the laboratory to conduct more tests.
“We are collecting some more samples and will send them to the Central Testing Laboratory Kolkatta for more tests,” Khan said.
Health officer said that are many other companies in loop which use ‘deadly’ chemicals in the product.
“There are many other big companies that are also using some harmful chemicals and we have ample amount of evidence against them which will be made public in due course of time,” Khan said.
About company’s refusal over the report, Khan said that they have themselves lifted back the product from the market which clearly states their involvement.
Notably, the Health Officer Srinagar Municipal Corporation Dr Shafqat Khan Monday had reported that a sample of Saunf powder manufactured by M/S Kanwal Agro Food Industries Anantnag sold to the public in Valley contained ‘coloring agents’ that can prove deadly for the consumers.
The report had stated that the spice contains coloring agents like Carmoisine and Tartrazine which can cause serious health hazards on consumption.
However, the company Tuesday termed the claims made by the health officer ‘as hollow’ and said that it would initiate legal action against Dr Shafqat Khan for maligning the image and credibility of the company.

Pesticides affect unborn babies' brain

Pesticides may harm 'brain development of unborn babies' (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Pesticides are not only responsible for a decline in bee populations but they can also affect human health and harm the brain development of unborn babies, according to European safety experts.

Researchers at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found that pesticide imidacloprid was associated with brain shrinkage, and reduced activity in nerve signals in newborn rats, while the other, acetamiprid led to reduced weight and reaction times, the Independent reported.

According to an EFSA statement, the chemicals may adversely affect the development of neurons and brain structures associated with functions such as learning and memory.

Banned substances worth `56k seized

Airport PS officials on Monday seized banned gutkha, paan masala and tobacco, worth Rs 56,200, from a 32-year-old man, who had allegedly stored them for sale in Lohegaon.

Food Safety Officer Sachin Adhav (34) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lodged a complaint in this regard. Police have identified the suspect as Raju Umaram Prajapati of Dhanori.

He has been charged under relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by PSI S S Chavan nabbed Prajapati for storing the banned substances in Kutwal Colony, Lohegaon on Monday afternoon. The seized substances included 140 packets of ‘Goa Gutkha, 211 packets of ‘Vimal Paan Masala’ and 305 packets of tobacco.

Few days back, PSI Ansar Shaikh of Pimpri police station seized export quality RMD gutkha worth Rs four lakh from 46-year-old Ashok Arjandas Ramnani in Pimpri Camp.

Unhygienic meat seized from 37 shops in crackdown TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: Inspections conducted by corporation officials on Sunday found that several butchers in the city were selling unhygienic meat.
    A team of corporation officials inspected 37 meat shops in areas like Villivakkam, Ayanavaram, Thirumangalam and Anna Nagar and seized 270kg of unhygienic meat. The confiscated meat was later destroyed at the Velangadu burial ground.
    A senior health department official said action would be taken against butchers selling unhygienic meat. “Meat being sold for consumption should be sourced from one of the three corporation slaughterhouses in Perambur, Saidapet or Villivakkam, where the animal is examined and approved for consumption,” the officer said.
    “After slaughtering, the animals are stamped with a seal. Meat from roadside shops without the corporation seal is unfit for consumption and may cause health problems,” the official said.