Canteens raided, samples collected

A team of the health department conducted raids in canteens of schools and colleges and collected five samples of eatables. The team found that hygiene was not being maintained in most of the canteens. The raids were conducted on the directions of Civil Surgeon Dr Subhash Batta.

District health officer Dr Abnash Kumar said: “We collected five samples of eatables from canteens and shops."

The team of food safety officers Manoj Khosla and Harpreet Kaur collected three samples from three canteens — a sample of juice from the canteen of Ramgarhia College, samosa from Ramgarhia School and samosa from Devki Devi Jain School. A sample of burfi was collected from a sweets shop at Azad Nagar and a sample of burger from an eating joint at Westend Mall.

“We found that most of the canteens were serving eatables in unhygienic conditions. We have instructed employees of these canteens to follow dress code, keep their nails trimmed, get their medical tests done and not to use artificial colours in eatables. The canteen owners were also asked to apply for food licence,” said Khosla.

17 quintals of stale food seized

CUTTACK: The health squad of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has seized over 17 quintals of stale food since the Bali Yatra started on November 17.

A separate squad, comprising two food safety inspectors and six food inspectors has been constituted, to conduct periodic checks on the quality of cooked and preserved food items being sold by various kiosks that have come up at the fair.

"It is really sad to say that selling of stale food has increased over the past few days at Bali Yatra. Just for a little profit, traders are playing with the health condition of customers," said Pramod Pradhan, a visitor.

"Our squad has destroyed nearly 2.5 quintals of stale food during raids in the morning," said P K Pradhan, CMC health officer.

Extensive use of chemicals bane in food produce: Pristine Organics' MD

K C Raghu, managing director, Pristine Organics, said that Indian farms lands were the victims of the medicalisation of agriculture, and the extensive use of chemicals and fertilisers are proving to be a bane in food produce.

“From the use of early flowering agents like cytokinin and nitrobenzene, to fumigants like methyl bromide and aluminium phosphide, to artificial ripeners like calcium carbide, ethylene, acetylene and ethephon, to hormones for cattle like oxytocin, rBGH, trenbolone acetate, to veterinary antibiotics like amoxicillin, erythromycin, virginiamycin, vancomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, choletetracycline and ceftiofur, they are all harmful,” he said.

“Further, there are also the residue limits of banned pesticides in foods which have a serious detrimental health impact. For instance, cabbage, okra, capsicum and grapes have been detected of having the residual content of cypermethrin; brinjal with heptachlor; cardamom with quinalphos; wheat, pears and cauliflower with aldrin; rice with chlorfenvinfos and dichlorvas; bananas with chlorodane, and oranges and apples with dichlorvas,” Raghu added..

“There is a great deal of disconnect of knowledge in matters of agriculture, food processing, nutrition and healthcare system,” he stated at the recently-concluded Bangalore Chambers of Industry and Commerce (BCIC)-organised event on functional foods and nutraceuticals.

“India is a treasure trove of biodiversity, be it cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables or herbs. The knowledge of ayurveda exists to bolster many of the benefits. We may have to position foods as such with all their bounty to explore the market. Partial information on foods may not carry us for a long as we have to be true to ourselves. As for nutrition, refined, segregated, separated and purified contents are less efficacious and sometimes harmful,” Raghu pointed out.

“The only answer is to view and research the functionality of organically-grown traditional foods. The reality is that these traditional organic foods need to be positioned as functional foods and nutraceuticals,” he pointed out.
Another important factor to derive the benefits of nature is to maintain as much bio-diversity as possible. This is because bio-diversity is the bedrock of good nutrition.

Even the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) recommended a move from food to nutrition, and not vice-versa. In this context, Raghu also highlighted that even the quality of milk from cows depended on the grass fed because of the residue of pesticides in the earth, which was also a serious cause for concern in the case of grazing cattle.

FDI in food processing sector in India upto July 2013 worth $1,970.09m

The food processing industries in India have attracted foreign direct investments (FDI) worth $1,970.09 million between April 2000 and July 2013, according to the latest data published by the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), which suggests the potential of this sector. In Tamil Nadu, there has been an increase in  participation of entrepreneurs, bankers and financial institutions in the food processing sector.

K Rosaiah, the state governor, emphasised on the need to take advantage of huge investments in this sector at an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industries of India (ASSOCHAM)-organised conference titled ‘Linking growth drivers of food processing industries: Market, Retail, Quality With Food Safety and Skills,’ held in Coimbatore on Thursday.

He was accompanied at its inauguration by K Ramasamy, vice-chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, and Ravindra Sannareddy, chairman, ASSOCHAM Southern Region Council.

“Tamil Nadu has a food processing policy, which aims at value addition from agriculture, fisheries, dairy, meat and poultry and other edible biomass produce by induction of modern technology into food processing, encouraging research and development, minimisation of wastage across the food processing chain by the development of infrastructure for storage, transportation and processing of these raw materials to fill in the gaps of supply chain from farm and harbour to consumer, and the promotion of investment in all these fields,” he said.

“The state government is working sincerely to realise the mission to promote industries, specifically identified as thrust areas in food processing and agro-based industries, and is providing support to enhance the level of food processing to increase value addition and thus, increase India’s share in global food trade,” Rosaiah said.

“It is also playing an important catalytic role in this effort by entering into partnerships with bankers, financial institutions, technical and management institutions. Small and medium enterprise (SME) clusters could be identified for all-round upgradation by infusing new technology, new packaging methods and by providing adequate marketing support,” he added.

“For over a decade, the food processing sector over a decade has generated opportunities for skilled manpower in state. Universities and academic institution are realising these facts by modifying these changes in their curricula to accommodate changed market expectations to increase the employability of a skilled workforce,” Ramasamy said.

“The food processing industry in India is on the path to growth and profitability. It is expected to attract phenomenal capital, human, technological and financial investment. The total food production in India is estimated to double over the next ten years. Hence, there is an opportunity for large investments in food and food processing technologies,” said Sannareddy, who is also founder and managing director, Sri City Pvt Ltd.

Scottish food & beverage delegation to visit India between Nov 24 & 28

Scottish Development International will lead Scotland’s first ever food and drink delegation to India between November 24 and 28, 2013 to explore opportunities to increase trade between the two nations and grow exports of the country’s finest produce, according to Crawford Gillies, chairman, Scottish Enterprise.

The Scottish food and drink industry is worth over £13 billion a year, and currently accounts for 20 per cent of all exports. Spearheaded by James Withers, chief executive, Scotland Food and Drink (an industry leadership body).

The delegation, comprising senior executives from Scotland’s trade bodies and artisan food manufacturers, would be introducing their products to retail and hospitality influencers in both Mumbai and New Delhi.

The trade delegation’s visit follows news that Scottish bottled water brand Highland Spring, one of the UK’s leading brands of bottled water, plans to enter the Indian market in a joint venture with Delhi-based Jembex Enterprises. Over eight million litre of Highland Spring water is exported globally every year, and sparkling spring water will be the first product to be launched by the company  in India.

One of Scotland’s best-known products, Scotch Whisky, generates £4.3 billion in exports annually, according to the Scottish Whisky Association.

Scotland also produces some of the world’s best smoked salmon, seafood, red meat, dairy and bakery products. Scottish food and drink exports to India increased by 87 per cent to £62.7 million during the five-year period to 2012.

Rooma Bussi, acting country manager, Scotland Development International, said:  “India is a market of opportunity for Scotland’s premium food and drink producers.”

“Changing tastes and growing incomes are increasing the demand for gourmet products, while the rapid expansion of modern food retail in both urban and rural areas over the last five years has created new outlets to reach discerning consumers,” she added.

“Following the visit of Indian retailers and buyers to Scotland in September 2013, we are delighted to welcome senior representatives of the Scottish food and drink industry to India to explore potential partnerships with their Indian counterparts,” Bussi added.

Withers said, “The learning journey to India is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate why Scotland has garnered a reputation as the land of food and drink by introducing the country’s finest produce to some of India’s biggest retailers and hospitality brands.”

“Our aim is to grow the food and drink industry in Scotland to £16.5 billion by 2017 and increasing sales in key international markets such as India, which as a nation is so passionate about food, is pivotal to achieving this goal,” he added.

Delhi’s Royal China launches 5-course Christmas lunch and dinner menus

Royal China, the authentic Chinese fine dining restaurant in New Delhi, has launched a five-course unlimited dim sum menu for lunch and a dinner menu, which will be served on December 24 and 25, 2013.

The former will be accompanied by soft drinks and house wine (red and white), served between 12:30pm and 3:45pm on both days.

Unlimited sparking wine, red and white house wine and soft drinks would accompany the latter, which would be served between 7:30pm and 11:45pm on both days.

The first course (starters) would comprise chicken with dry red chilli; the chef’s special (salt and pepper prawns), and fried soft corn curd.

The second course (dim sum), would comprise two vegetarian variants (vegetable dumpling with coriander and vegetable puff) and two non-vegetarian ones (prawns and chicken suimai and pork puff).

The third course would comprise two duck variants - vegetarian mock duck and crispy aromatic duck.

The main course, which is the fourth course, comprises chicken chilli oil, sliced fish black bean, sauteed greens, French beans hot garlic and vegetarian rice or noodles. The fifth course (dessert) would comprise honey noodles with ice cream.

Banned tobacco products seized

Cracking downThe chewable tobacco products, worth Rs. 1.12 crore, were seized from a warehouse

Over 31 tonnes of chewable tobacco products stored clandestinely in a warehouse were seized on Thursday.

Food Safety and Drug Administration identified the storage of illegal tobacco products worth Rs.1.12 crores near a facility of Central Warehousing Corporation on Suryanarayana Street near Kalmandapam in Royapuram.

Since the ban on chewable tobacco came into effect in May, the food safety department has cracked down on business units that sell the products.

To circumvent this, wholesalers have been storing products in residential properties over the past few months. Now, wholesalers are trying innovative means to store the products, a Food Safety official said.

“The screening of retail and wholesale shops and warehouses will continue. We are now educating food business operators in Chennai district,” the official said.

The State government banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of carcinogenic chewable forms of tobacco based on a proposal submitted by the State Tobacco Control Cell.

Tobacco products worth 1cr seized

Biggest Single Seizure Since Ban Enforced 7 Months Ago TIMES NEWS NETWORK  Chennai: Smuggling of banned chewable tobacco products into the city is on the rise. Food safety and drug administration officials on Thursday seized 32.5 tonnes of banned tobacco products worth 1 crore from a firm in Royapuram.     Fifty-nine tonnes of tobacco products like gutkha worth 1.92 crore have been seized since May, when the ban came into effect.     “This is the biggest seizure since the ban came into force,” said district food safety officer S Lakshmi Narayan. The office of the firm that brought the consignment was sealed and police asked to act against the firm. “We will destroy the items at Kodungaiyur dump yard on Friday,” he added.     In July, transport and parcel firms had been warned against bringing such consignments from other states after 629.7kg of gutkha and pan masala worth 2lakhwere seized from a firm on Wall Tax Road. Most consignments are brought by rail or road along with other products.     Activists say the ban has become ‘a joke’. “Many find smuggling these products safe because even if they are caught they can get away with a small fine,” said Azhagar Senthil, social activist.     Some vendors say tobacco firms have come out with new ‘mixes’. “We get pan masala andchewing tobaccoseparately from thesamefirm.I gettwo packets for 7 and sell them for 10,” said one in Broadway.     Regular customers say the ban has not made any difference. “Earlier, I used to buy pan masala in a sachet. Now I buy the same product in two different sachets for an extra sum,” said a customer in Sowcarpet.     Some say the ban has also led to black marketing. A wholesale vendor of pan masala says a 3 sachet is being sold for 10- 15 in the black market.     Health experts say migrant workers are the major users of pan masala in the city and that the use of such products is among the causes for the increasing incidence of mouth cancer. CAUGHT RED-HANDED JUNE 28 | More than a tonne of gutkha, pan masala seized from a house in Ayanavaram JULY 7 | Gutkha, pan masala worth 2 lakh smuggled in from Andhra Pradesh seized on Wall Tax Road AUG 7 | 30 bags of pan masala worth 2.79 lakh seized from a godown in Seven Wells SEPT 15 | 135kg of gutka, pan masala seized from Sowcarpet NOV 19 | Tobacco products worth 8 lakh seized from three godowns in Sowcarpet NOV 21 | Tobacco products worth 1 crore seized from Royapuram

'Food For Thought' - Fruits, Veggies High On 'Chemicals'

Probably it’s time to take a closer look at what’s on your platter. Cypermethrin, heptachlor, quinalphos, aldrin, chlorodane, dichlorvas, cypermethrin — these banned pesticides could well be a part of your regular diet. Okras, leafy green cabbages and other vegetables, bananas or oranges and apples that you so relish may be overloaded with some of these harmful pesticides.
   
A study by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Union agriculture ministry threw up some unpalatable facts. Common food items contain banned pesticides in quantities a thousand times more than the permissible limits. The findings are based on random samples collected from across the country.
From the vegetable basket, brinjal tops the chart with the level of banned pesticide at 860% above legal limits, followed by cauliflower and cabbage. Wheat and rice too had these dangerous chemicals. While the level of aldrin in wheat is 21,890 times more than the permissible level, that of chlorfenvinfos in rice was measured at 1,324% above the allowed limit.

Word of caution: According to health experts, if consumed for a prolonged period, these pesticides can prove fatal. “Pesticides are neurotoxins and can affect vital organs like the kidney and liver as well as the endocrine system. Some can cause food poisoning or allergic reactions. They’re even more dangerous for pregnant women, passing through the placenta and causing genetic alterations,” warns Hema Aravind, chief dietician, MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital.

An apple a day needn’t always keep the doctor away. According to the survey, both apples and oranges were found to have banned pesticide level of 140% above permissible limits. “The fruit are waxed with chemicals and pesticides to give them a longer life. Vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower, which are supposed to be very important for women’s health, are dipped in two to three levels of pesticides to keep them fresh. Farming techniques like crop rotation have become a thing of the past,” said Hema Sarat, nutrition and wellness adviser.
   
The solution lies in cleaning them thoroughly and buying from small vendors rather than supermarkets. “Small vendors grow vegetables and fruit on a small scale and not well-versed with the use of chemicals. Smaller the vegetable is in size, more organic it is,” said Farhana Afroz, chief nutritionist, HCG Hospital.
   
“Kitchen gardening is the best solution to keep pesticides at bay. Vegetables can be grown easily in pots, even if you live in an apartment,” she added.
 
Though the survey findings ring alarm bells, it’s practically impossible to do away with fruit and vegetables. Therefore, the next best option would be to exercise as much caution as possible. Simple things like washing them adequately before cooking could remove a lot of the chemical coating, if not all. Kitchen gardening is another option to explore.

Also, customers must be wary of getting carried away by glossy packaging. Those spotless apples and oranges may not be as healthy as they appear. For all you know, the rough and rugged ones on the roadside could be a better bet. Regulating authorities should have checks in place to track such gross violation of permissible limits and take necessary action.