Artificial fruit ripening centre opened

New artificial fruit ripening centre in Anantapur on Saturday.- PHOTO: R.V.S. PRASAD

An artificial ripening centre, first of its kind in the district, which adheres to international standards of artificial ripening of mango and other fruits, was inaugurated at the Anantapur market yard on Saturday by the District Revenue Officer (DRO) Sudarshan Reddy.

The artificial ripening centre, constructed at a cost of over Rs. 60 lakh, is said to be a boon both for the mango farmers of the district as well as the consumers as mangoes can be ripened at around a rupee per fruit.

Farmers can easily afford this whereas the consumers get to consume fresh ripened fruits as against the usually available chemically contaminated ones.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sudarshan Reddy said that mangoes ripened at the centre using ethylene gas would prove to be beneficial for all, while enhancing the reputation of the district as a key player in the horticulture market in the State and the country.

He reminded all that Anantapur district was the major producer of many fruits like that of sweet lime and musk melon besides sapota and others that are bought directly by traders from across the countryat the market yard in Anantapur.

“Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in its order dated May 2010, permits the use of only ethylene gas for ripening of fruits,” said V.K. Pradeep Reddy, president of the Horticulturists’ Welfare Mutually Aided Co-operative Society (MACS) Limited.

The Government of India banned the use of calcium carbide as per the rules set out in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

The use of calcium carbide attaches to the fruits, thus ripened by it, carcinogenic chemicals like arsenic hydride and phosphorous hydride, Mr. Pradeep said.

Notwithstanding all this, the biggest advantage from the centre stands to be derived by the farmers whose fruits can now be ripened cheaply while delivering an additional benefit of being able to sell the produce directly at the market yard, where the ripening centre has been set up.

Health officials inspect ice manufacturing units

Consuming sugarcane juice and fruit juice from roadside vendors may be dangerous as the industrial ice cubes mixed with these juices are said to be prepared in an unhygienic way.

This may cause diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.

Led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Salem, the health team inspected six ice manufacturing units in the district on Friday and found contaminated water, unhygienic ice slabs and ammonium gas being used to prepare the bars.

The bars are broken and used for mixing with fruit juices, sugarcane and lassi that may cause viral fever and gastro-intestinal diseases.

Though the manufacturer said that the ice bars were used for refrigerating fish and other products, health officials found road side vendors buying in large numbers to mix with juices.

As mercury hovers around 40 degree Celsius in the district, consumers prefer to add more ice cubes to the juices for a chill.

But roadside shops and shops functioning without valid license use these ice cubs, said the health official. These cubes are the source of danger, the official said.

Ms. Anuradha told The Hindu that the manufacturers were warned against the use of such ice.

Samples have been taken to be sent to laboratory in Chennai.

After obtaining the results, notices would be served on such ice manufacturers under The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, she said.

Health risks in roadside chill pill

RANCHI: As the heat gets unbearable, Ranchiites put health concerns to rest and flock to roadside refreshment stalls to quench their thirst.

With mercury levels rising, several fruit juice and local ice-cream stalls have sprung up at several points in the city. From college students, office-goers to daily wage earners, people of all ages can be seen queuing up near roadside vendors, especially during the afternoon. Manisha Kumari, a college student, said, "When college is over and I am on my way back home, I always stop by the refreshment stalls either to drink fruit juice or have an ice cream. It reenergizes me and prevents heat stroke too."

These roadside vendors provide a variety of choices to their customers. Wood apple juice and sattu drink are popular. Arvind Goyel, a salesman ,said, "I live alone here and usually do not get time to prepare breakfast before I leave for work. In such a situation, drinking sattu is the best alternative."

However, popularity of these stalls does not rule out the fact that these fruit drinks are unhygienic. Flies can be seen swarming around these stalls as most of them are situated near drains for convenience of vendors to dispose waste. The vendors do not wash their utensils or machines properly which only aggravate possibilities water-bourne diseases.

On being questioned about the hygiene of the lemon juice he sells, Chhotu Kumar, a vendor, said, "There is a tap nearby from which all the local people drink water. I get water from the same place. It is hygienic."

Despite the claims of these vendors, there have been reports of people falling ill after drinking these roadside drinks. Mahesh Prasad, who is suffering from food poisoning said, "As fruits are good for health, I used to drink fruit juice from a roadside vendor near my office. But I fell ill recently and my doctor said I had developed infection from regularly drinking roadside fruit juices."

The food safety department is conducting raids and collecting samples from these roadside stalls. Additional chief medical officer, Dr N N Sengupta, who is heading the raids said, "We are collecting samples from various stalls and sending them for tests. Once the results are out, those selling unhygienic fruit drinks will be asked to shut down. We are conducting raids even when we are getting complaints from public."

Som Distilleries launches whisky brand – Milestone 100 – in Indian market

Som Distilleries & Breweries Ltd (SDBL), a leading breweries company, unveiled a premium segment Whisky - Milestone 100 - in the Indian market.

According to a press note issued by the company, with over 25 years of presence in the industry, Som has always taken aggressive steps towards an unprecedented expansion.

Deepak Arora, CEO, Som Group of Companies, shares, “Our company has completed 25 years of successful operations. Now we have entered into the premium segment by introducing Milestone 100 premium whisky. As the name depicts, Milestone 100 is especially made for achievers, who have aspirations to achieve new milestones in their life, that live life with the mantra of - “Thodda Aur” and 100 denotes the 100% purest form of grain alcohol.”

PepsiCo India introduces Pepsi Atom - second cola from company’s stable

In tune with the summer season, PepsiCo India has introduced Pepsi Atom.

According to a press release by the company, it is the second mainstream cola from PepsiCo India portfolio, after the company’s flagship brand Pepsi.

Created for the Indian market, in collaboration with PepsiCo’s global innovation team, it is a result of extensive flavour development and consumer testing in the country.

It will be available in a black and blue packaging including a 250 ml My Can at an introductory price of Rs 15 and a 500 ml PET bottle at Rs 25. 200 ml returnable glass bottles (RGB) are also available in select markets at Rs 10.

Gautham Mukkavilli, CEO, beverages, PepsiCo India, said, “It is of great significance that a second mainstream cola from the PepsiCo portfolio has been developed for the Indian consumer. India-centric innovation or ‘indovation’ is a key growth driver for our business. It is our biggest launch in the recent years and we are committed to invest behind the brand and make it a key player in the carbonated beverage segment.”

Traditional sweets, snacks products fall under proprietary food, LS told

The sweets and snacks products (traditional sweets) for which the standards have not been prescribed fall under the category of “proprietary food.”

These products should comply with the regulatory provisions like FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011, and Table 2 of Appendix A and Appendix B of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Codex has prescribed some standards for sweets and snacks under Table 2 of General Standards for Food Additive (GSFA).

Sweets and snack products are required to comply with the above-mentioned Regulations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of revision / harmonisation of standards for food products with those of Codex and other international best practices and to develop new standards in respect of those food products where there is a need to develop standards taking into account the Codex and other international best practices.

Export promotion of Indian traditional sweets and snack products is looked after by the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the ministry of commerce, the products have to comply with the standards of the importing countries.

This information was given by minister of state for health & family welfare Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Industry awaiting July 22 hearing on junk food ban in & around schools

The food industry is eagerly awaiting July 22, 2013, the date fixed by the Delhi High Court for hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking ban on the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools in the country, because the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would be presenting the guidelines for and definition of junk food.

And now, since the High Court has directed the country's apex food regulator to release a paper on the definition of junk food, it is said to be working with a private agency on defining junk food, which it would present before the court at the aforesaid hearing.

Speaking at a recent function, K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI, voiced his concern about junk food. He said, “We are going to take the issue of food safety to schools. We would consult the education ministry to include the subject of food safety in the curriculum. Children are most affected and ill-informed about the choices regarding food habits. And a food-related disease like obesity is a huge problem.”

The industry raised its concerns too. “I feel the right way is to educate and guide people about what they should eat and in what quantity,” said D V Malhan, executive secretary, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA). He added that awareness was the key and the role of FSSAI would be vital in correcting the situation by means of regulations and making informed choices.

“Industry experts stressed on the need to maintain a balance, because that could affect the employment of people involved in manufacturing. The problem is people's eating habits. There are many items, which are prepared with a lot of oil and in-house. For example, parathas are heavy, but parents give the kids these items,” they said.

The High Court also directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to consult the All India Food Processors' Association while framing the guidelines, but AIFPA officials said that they are yet to be approached by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Uday Foundation's Rahul Verma, who filed the PIL, emphasised that anything that is high on sodium and low on nutrition should not be sold in and around schools.

He raised four suggestions, namely guidelines be framed on what should be sold in schools; a comprehensive canteen policy be implemented in schools; the sale of junk food be banned in the peripheries of schools, and children be prohibited from endorsing junk food in advertisements.

Verma said the court’s ruling would have an impact on three of the four recommendations, the only exception being the one concerning advertisements. He added, “Kids need nutritional food when the first recess happens around 11am in schools, because the last nutritional food they had would have been the previous night and most of the school-goers do not have much time for a proper breakfast in the morning.”

Eating at roadside food stalls could be a risky affair

INDORE: Student Ayush Jain, along with friends, tried a glass of fruit juice to beat the scorching summer heat at a shop at Janzeerwala crossing recently. One glass each of mango juice had them stay in bed for the next three days because of food poisoning. Since then, they eat only at proper restaurants with proper hygiene and environment.

You might get tempted to visit that roadside chat centre everytime you cross a particular street but chances are high that with palate tickling food, you are also served germs free of cost. A number of chat centres, juice shops and other roadside eateries in city are running without any valid licence or permission. Also they are hardly supervised by the officials concerned thus increasing the chances of sale of substandard food and risk to our health.

Raj Thakur owns a tea stall in Vijay Nagar where he also sells snacks and juice. When asked if he had to get a licence or permission for the stall, he said, "I have been running the shop for the past two years and no one ever enquired about the licence or permission. We pay Indore municipal corporation (IMC) a monthly amount of 3,000 with a receipt in return. That is all the documentation we go through. We make sales worth Rs 3,000 everyday."

Owner of another juice centre without licence at Rasoma Crossing , Rakesh Kumar said, "I am from Banaras and for past few years I have been coming to Indore in summers to set up a shop. None ever came to inspect the quality of food or check the availability of licence. We never faced any complication except that we have to pay a nominal fee to municipal corporation staff."

Although registration fee is nominal (Rs100) for registering such small food joints, ignorance about the procedure has led to such a scenario.

Food and drug safety officer, Indore, Manish Swamy said "These small food vendors are put in the category of petty vendors by the government; however the food quality standard guidelines are the same for them. Although we only have 4,000 registered petty vendors in the city, the total number of such food joints might exceed 15,000. Though running such a setup without licence is a punishable offence."

Designated officer, food and drug administration, Dr Ashok Dagaria said "Our department runs continuous checks regularly in different zones across the city. With summers approaching, we will be running thorough inspections around the city to have the situation under control."