Milk vendor fined

A branded milk packet was found to have 0.4 per cent less milk solids content than what was stipulated. Officials slapped Rs. 1 lakh penalty on a grocery shop owner M. Hidayathullah, from whose shop they collected the sample, instead of the manufacturer.

Food Safety Officer of West Arani block Koteeswaran conducted a surprise check at his shop on March 21, 2012 and collected a sample of the Shruthi Milk packet, a homogenised, pasteurised and double toned milk that he was selling in the shop.

After a gap of 20 months, Hidayathulla got an intimation sent by District Supply and Consumer Protection Office, Tiruvannamalai. DRO S. Valarmathi told The Hindu that the milk samples collected from his shop by Food Safety Officer were found to be substandard in a laboratory . When asked if any action was taken against the manufacturer, she said, “If he had bills to prove his purchase from the manufacturer we would have taken action against the manufacturer, but the vendor had no bills. So, we had to take action against the shop-keeper.”

Mr. Hidayathullah’s advocate S. Prakash said , “The manufacturer’s address is printed on the packet and the seller is in no way responsible for the alleged quality compromise. Hence, it is not just to penalise only the seller.”

Cheese and snack sample of a super market fail food test

LUCKNOW: The food samples collected from Lucknow's Khoya mandi and two major stores have failed the authority's test. Around 33% of food samples collected from the market during Diwali time have been reported to be violating Food Safety and Security Authority of India's norms. The team had taken around 34 samples, out of which 12 could not pass the laboratory test.

The official in charge of FSSAI JP Singh said that according to the report collected from food analysis laboratory of Varanasi, the cheese and snacks' samples collected from a prominent super market in Aashiyana colony have been found to be of inferior quality. Officials said that labeling norms were violated in the packed snacks of the store. Another big store for food purchase in the locality also came under FSSAI scanner during Diwali.

Packets of raw material of sweets being sold in the store also violated packaging norms. The khoya samples picked from Pandit Khoya Mandi, Thakurganj Khoya Mandi and Kursi Road Khoya Mandi have also been reported to be substandard during Diwali time. Similarly sweet samples collected from a Rahimnagar shop and cheese collected from a dairy shop in Khurram nagar near Picnic Spot Road were of inferior quality.

The ghee samples picked from Biharipur Saadatganj and sample of mustard cooking oil from various shops have been found to be ignoring the standards. The curd collected from a famous dairy shop in Chowk was of substandard quality. FSSAI officials said they would soon file case against shopkeepers selling inferior quality food material to consumers in the ADM court.

If their guilt is proved in the court, the shopkeepers in question would be charged a penalty of Rs 1-5 lakh, said FSSAI officials.

HO seeks registration of FCI, CAPD outlets

Srinagar, Feb 15: Finally the health authorities are planning to shut government-run ration depots which do not confirm to health and hygiene standards and have often been accused of being breeding ground for rodents like rats.
 Official sources said City’s Health Officer Dr Shafqat Khan on Saturday shot missives to Regional Director Food Corporation of India (FCI)  and the Director  Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) seeking details of its godowns and depots in the City.
 In a communication vide No SMC/PS/HO 1329-32 dated February 15, 2014 addressed to Regional Director FCI and Director CAPD the Health Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation  sought registration of “all food storage and distribution outlets of FCI and CAPDD in Srinagar City.”
 The registration aims at “monitoring the quality of food stuffs like rice, sugar and atta, which are distributed for public consumption.”
 “Regular inspections shall be made by the Food Safety Officers of the SMC to the outlets to ensure hygiene and sanitation. Those outlets which are found in insanitary conditions shall not be allowed to operate and also regular food sampling will be conducted of all the food items distributed for public consumption at these Shali stores,” the Health Officer said.
 When contacted Dr Khan while confirming the development said: “This step has been taken in interest of public health and rules and regulations under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.”
 People often complain of poor stocking of food stuff at the ration depots and that presence of rodents are synonymous with such facilities.”