Expired fruit juice products seized

Imphal, September 04 2013: Sharing details about recent seizure of fruit juice products found to have sold beyond its expiry period, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Brojendro Khaba cautioned that sale of expired fruit juice items by some selfish traders amount to 'slow poisoning' the people of Manipur.

Speaking to newspersons at his office chamber in the Medical Directorate building today, Brojendro said executive member of Consumer Club namely Huidrom Shantikumar came across some people attending to one Laishram Tomba Meitei s/o L Gokul of Samurou after the individual complained of throat soreness and irritation moments after sipping Frooti brand fruit juice, which he had purchased from one MK Store Pan Dukan near Pologround at around 1.30 pm on August 31 .

Feeling intense irritation after taking a few sip, Tomba inspected the 500 ml bottle and realised that it has expired consumable date, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who also informed that Consumer Club executive member Shantikumar accompanied by other members inspected remaining stock of the trader's godown leading to detection of more expired fruit juice packets such as Frooti, Maaza, Sprite, Limca Lime, Jumpy etc.

In addition to the fruit juice brands the Consumer Club members also detected several cartons of cooking oils which were either expired or did not bear proper labelling at the said godown, he said.

Along with impounding the unhealthy food items the said godown has been sealed.

Identifying the trader as Muna Saha (35) s/o Babul Saha from Buxar in Bihar, Brojendro said Muna named Jaganarayan (MG avenue), Manipur Traders (Thangal Bazar), SK Jain (Majorkhul), Ajit Kumar Jain (Allu Gali) and Shiva Bihari (MG avenue) as some of the agents/dealers from whom he procured the fruit juice/food items.

Among the impounded products some had no manufacture or expiry date details and the others found to be put on sale inspite of being expired, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who strongly advised the general public to inspect details about date of manufacture and expiry while purchasing items.

Manufacturers of the seized items are said to be based in Satgoan (Assam), Burnihat (Meghalaya) and Vadodara (Gujarat) .

Further conveying that Muna Saha could not produce trade licence or registration documents as is mandatory for traders under the Food Safety and Standard Act, Brojendro said such a violation entails six month imprisonment as well as Rs 5 lakh penalty.

The exact term of penalty would however be decided by the Government based on the report of the Food Safety Commission, he maintained.

Additional director (Public Health) Dr S Mema Devi and Consumer club members were also present during the media briefing.

FDA seizes 263 kg of mawa at Vasco railway station

PANAJI/VASCO: Mawa/kalakand weighing 263 kg and worth 40,000 brought for delivery to a sweet mart in the state was confiscated by food safety inspectors of the food and drugs administration (FDA) at the Vasco railway station on Wednesday morning.

Salim Veljee, FDA director, said that the consignment containing seven parcels of mawa did not have any label. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a consignment should have a label and it should reveal the name of the manufacturer as well as the nutritional value of the product.

Such consignments containing perishable food products should be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that the product does not get spoilt, and there is no pilferage in the transition.

The FDA has started the drive in view of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, as a lot sweets are imported by traders from neighbouring states.

The consignment had arrived on the Miraj-Vasco rail for delivery to a dairy in Vasco. A few days ago the FDA had received a tip-off that a particular consignment was coming from Miraj. Since then FDA inspectors had been keeping a watch, he said. "The railways authorities co-operated but they too had no details.

The consignment had no name not even a reference contact number. Also, nobody came to claim the parcels," he added.

The raid was conducted by food safety officers Rajiv Korde, Flavia DeSouza and Shardha Kuttikar. The FDA will continue it's checks for a few more days.

Nine packaged water units face closure in Salem

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notice to nine packaged drinking water units in the district asking them to stop production within seven days or face closure.

This comes in the wake of the direction from the National Green Tribunal that ordered the closure of units functioning without obtaining product approval and ISI certification.

Drinking water

These units were producing packaged drinking water and operating under the guise of flavoured water or herbal water in Salem, Kadayampatti, Ayothiapattanam, Attur and Tharamangalam. T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Food Safety and Health Administration Department told The Hindu that notices were issued to the units under Section 26, 27, 33, 36 (3) (a) (b) (l) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

She added that the firms have to get their products approved by the FSSAI and also obtain no-objection certificate (NOC) to operate their units.

Expenses

Officials said that the expenses for ISI certification could be around Rs. 2 lakh per year and hence these units get licence from associations.

Why I Stopped Buying Juice Boxes?

I'm sure the main stream media of your country will never tell u this horrifying truth abt the juice boxes...please read n then make sure that everyone should know this...n Do you knw wht American Academy of Pediatrics issue the guidance in USA regarding kids and fruit juice???

Why I Stopped Buying Juice Boxes
-------------------------------------
A patient came to my ER after noticing green slime coming up the straw from her Juicy Juice box. Her mom cut open the box – and brought her straight to the doctor. Here’s what we found in the unexpired juice box:

Her juice box was full of mold—green slime that lined the edges of the box. Apparently moldy juice boxes and juice pouches (such as those made by Capri Sun) are nothing new. If even a tiny bit of air gets into the container molds can grow. Air can get into a juice box through a hole that’s so small you can’t see it, and it doesn't cause leaking. Such a tiny puncture also permits the sugars in the juice to ferment, turning the product into a form of alcohol.

Why I Stopped Buying Juice Boxes?

Because juice is so full of sugar and calories that some have called it a gateway drug. Sugar ingestion can actually cause release of natural opiates (really). Opiate release stimulates the desire for other sweets and junk food. High salt and high fat foods can also trigger release of pleasure-inducing opiates. This is why so many people binge on ice cream, potato chips, and other favorite junk foods like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

The more sugar-laden juice your kids drink, the more opiates flood their system, and the more they will beg for another juice box. After drinking all those calories and stimulating their sweet tooth, chances are your kids won’t be interested in dinner. Some high sugar, high fat, high salt food might sound good, though. Sound familiar?

Too much fruit juice can also cause tooth decay, diarrhea, and flatulence. There are plenty of other healthy foods that contain the vitamins your kids need, and without the high sugar and calories. Kids just don’t need juice.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this guidance regarding kids and fruit juice.

>>Juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 6 months of age, unless directed by your physician. Occasionally small amounts of fruit juice may be recommended as a treatment for constipation.

>>In children ages 6 months -6 years, fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit over whole fruit. Whole fruits also provide fiber and other nutrients.

>>If you do let your kids drink fruit juice, do not allow your child to carry a sippy cup, bottle or box of juice throughout the day. Intake of fruit juice should be limited to 4 to 6 oz/d for children 1 to 6 years old. For children 7 to 18 years old, juice intake should be limited to 8 to 12 oz or 2 servings per day.

>>Never serve your kids unpasteurized juice.

>> Fruit drinks often provide little to no nutritional benefit.

OK, I admit it, I’ve bought juice boxes for birthday parties and soccer games. They are convenient, they keep kids happy, and they’re probably healthier than soda. But you just can’t tell from looking at a juice box if it is moldy—you won’t know until you start drinking, and sometimes you won’t know until you get to the bottom…

courtesy :
Dr. Kathleen M. Berchelmann, M.D., is a pediatrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, director of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Social Media Team

Rava, oil past expiry date caused food poisoning: officials

The departmental outlet was raided by health officials and over 56 kg of expired food items were seized

The sale of rava and cooking oil after their expiry period led to food poisoning that affected 107 security personnel at Velankanni on Sunday, health officials said.

A premier department store had indulged in such an unfair trade practice, according to the offficials. The rava and cooking oil were used in the preparation of ‘kichdi’ that led to food poisoning.

A team of health officials constituted by two joint directors, four deputy directors, and State-level officers had arrived here on Sunday to take stock of the situation. Based on the food chart deduced from the inputs given by patients, it was ‘kichdi’ that was suspected to have triggered the food poisoning.

Based on the inputs, the team inspected the pack of rava and cooking oil, both of which were way past their expiry date.

Following this, Krishna Stores, the departmental outlet in question, was raided by the health officials and over 56 kg of expired food items, with their expiry dates way past one and half years and short expiries were seized.

Speaking to The Hindu on condition of anonymity, a State-level officer laid to rest assumptions that super-chlorination was the cause of illness. “Super-hlorination would only cause stomach ache and discomfort, but not diarrhoea. The symptoms pointed to other causes, when we started investigating,” the official said.

“In addition, the cooking oil that was supplied on August 28 has a post-dated manufacturing date of September 1,” the official said. According to him, it was necessary for the public to be vigilant of the purchases made.

The men from Nagapattinam police force, Tamil Nadu Battalion Force, Railway Protection Force were among those who had taken ill and were admitted to three different hospitals on Sunday.

Tobacco products seized

Based on a tip off, the police on Monday seized around 40,000 packets containing banned tobacco products from a shop on Pioneer Mill Road.

According to the Police, the shop owners Balu, 63, was in possession of the products the State Government had banned in May this year. While banning the products (pan masala, ghutka and others), the Government had said that those who had stocked the products should surrender or destroy the same within stipulated period.

As Rupee falls, food imports drop by 37%; Many importers down shutters

The devaluation of the Indian rupee – to nearly Rs 69 per dollar – has not only caused the import of processed foods to drop by 37 per cent, but also forced a number of importers to either turn exporter or shut shop. Consumers too have been bearing the brunt as they have to shell out more money now.

The situation is explained by a senior official from the State Trading Corporation (STC) Ltd, which is engaged in export and import of processed foods among other things, on the condition of anonymity. He says, “Due to the devaluation of the rupee, it has become very difficult for both small and big importers to import processed foods.”

He adds, “The import of processed food items has come to a standstill. Though their prices in the international market have fallen, Indian traders are unable to import owing to the lack of parity.”

The official further states, “Another reason for the hike in the prices of almost all essential food products is that the demand is more, but the supply is not up to the mark. In order to book profits, importers will obviously pass on the burden to the consumers.”

Amit Lohani, chief executive officer, Max Foods, Delhi, and convenor, Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), talks of decelerating imports and accelerating price rise. He states, “The import of packaged foods has declined by 37 per cent owing to the devaluation of the rupee.”

He points out, “Another factor contributing to our woes is the new set of safety regulations imposed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which are very stringent and have contributed to the deceleration in the rate of imports by approximately 5-7 per cent.”

He further states, “In the last month-and-a-half, the maximum retail price (MRP) of most of the imported products has skyrocketed twice. A month ago, it increased by 60 per cent, and just two or three days ago, it shot up again by approximately 50-60 per cent.”

He adds, “Currently, the hike in the MRP of a number of imported processed foods (including dairy products, chocolates, pasta, cooking oil and juice) is the range of 30-33 per cent. For instance, olive oil imported from Spain and Italy used to cost 60 euros earlier, and now costs 80 euros.”

Lohani informs, “Of the 300 registered importers of foreign food products, nine have already downed their shutters, and if the situation continues to worsen in the coming months, at least 20 more importers will shut shop.”

Mohit Khattar, director, Godrej Nature's Basket, hints at an impending price rise. He comments, “The weakening of the rupee over the last quarter has put immense pressure on the cost of imported processed foods. When we run out of lower-priced stocks and the fresh stocks come in, we can see the increase in their prices.”

He observes, “As retailers, we don't have a choice but to pass the burden on the shoulders of our consumers. Fortunately, even after the weakening of the rupee, our business for the quarter ended June 2013 and the months following it has remained rock-steady.”

Anil Chandhok, director and owner, Chenab Impex Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, agrees with Khattar. He says, “The MRPs of all essential products will increase by 20 to 30 per cent. The situation has made both importers and consumers price-conscious.”
He opines, “The increase in the MRPs of processed food items will obviously burn a hole in the pocket of the common man, who would have to shell out more money for them,” and talks of a tighter situation, “The situation appears to be favourable for those importers who have already stocked the goods, but as far as new orders and shipments are concerned, things may become difficult for the importers.”

Chandhok adds, “Now it is the responsibility of the government to tackle the problem. It must take business-friendly steps in the interest of both importers and the common man. But I do not think the situation will improve before the forthcoming elections. It will improve only if a stable government comes to power in the next poll.”

Rosilint Joseph, director, Duke Thomson's International, Kolkata, says, “The devaluation of the rupee in comparison with the dollar is making the import of processed foods very difficult for us. The impact will particularly be on the companies which deal in bakery products, edible oils and juices, and there will be a 20 per cent hike in the prices of all processed foods.”

She informs, “The government should take some concrete steps to stop the rupee from weakening further. Unless some concrete steps are taken by the government, both the common man and industries will bear the brunt.”

While most importers are still analysing the situation and finding out ways and means to cope with it, Ruchit Kothari from Ahmedabad has simply opted out of the business. He details, “The weakening of the rupee has made importers skeptical about the future of the import business, and therefore some have become exporters.”

And sums it up, “I started a business of importing processed food recently, but due to the weakening of the rupee on a regular basis, I incurred losses and eventually switched to banking. There is a meagre increase of ten per cent in earnings now, but the expenditure of the common man is rising by 30-40 per cent.”