Online registration and licensing of food businesses starts in Madurai

The Madurai Food Safety Department has started the process of online registration and licensing of food businesses, and will help food business operators (FBOs) in the southern city to register or obtain their licenses, as the case may be, before the deadline set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – February 4, 2014 – lapses.

S Balasubramanian, administrative officer, food safety division, Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration, Tamil Nadu said, “Earlier the process of registration and licensing was long – FBOs had to visit the offices of the food safety officers (FSOs), fill the application forms and submit it to them. But now the forms are available online.”

He added, “As per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) 2011, any food manufacturer whose annual turnover exceeds Rs 12 lakh has to obtain a license from the respective state or Central authority as specified in the regulations. Other FBOs have to register. It is estimated that 66,091 licenses and 2,66,080 registrations have to be issued under the Act. The process of licensing and registration is in progress. And through the online process, we will complete it on time.”

J Suguna, designated licensing and registration officer, Madurai district, said, “Earlier the process of registration and licensing was done manually. The online process started on July 1, 2013. Now all the FBOs have to do is visit FSSAI's website and enter their particulars. If the annual turnover is below Rs 12 lakh, the FBOs have to apply for registration, and if it is over Rs 12 lakh, they have to obtain a license.”

She added, “ The FSSAI officials training the FSOs about online registration and licensing. It began with FSOs from Madurai and Theni districts, and within a month, all the districts in Tamil Nadu will be covered. The online applications  received by the FBOs will be forwarded to the FSOs, who will carry out inspections before issuing the food safety certificates. FBOs would be given an a acknowledgment receipt with a reference number.”

“All FBOs, including food vendors, roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants and hostels, and all business establishments selling food products would have to apply for a food safety certificate. The application status will be available online, and the process would be complete within 30 days,” Suguna said.

“So far, 1,800 licenses and 6,400 registration certificates have been issued manually in Madurai district. Another 10,000 FBOs in the district are yet to apply. Registrations and licenses have to be renewed every year by the FBOs,” she added.

The Olive Bistro opens in Hyderabad; Granary breads and broths on menu

The Olive Bistro, the Olive Group's latest offering, opened in Hyderabad's Durgam Cheruvu recently. The menu comprises an array of creations by Mayank Tiwari, chef de cuisine, and his team. It includes homemade crusty granary breads, wholesome sandwiches and burgers, delicate broths, wood-fired pizzas and luscious desserts.

The bistro, which is nestled amidst the city's seven hills and overlooks the secret lake, has a terrace bar, which has a range of wines, martinis, frozen and regular margaritas, the Mediterranean aperitif Sangria and house-infused vodkas.

FAO-run Codex Alimentarius adopts new standards on fruit, veg and fish

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nations' (UN) food standards body, has agreed on new standards to protect the health of consumers worldwide. These include standards on fruit, vegetables, fish and fishery products and animal feed.

Codex also adopted codes on the prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A, a carcinogenic contaminant, in cocoa; guidance on how to avoid microbiological contamination of berries, and on the use of claims for food that is labelled non-addition of sodium salts, including no added salt on food packages, to assist consumers in choosing a healthy diet.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), set international food safety and quality standards to promote safer and more nutritious food for consumers worldwide. In many cases, Codex standards served as a basis for national legislation and provide the food safety benchmarks for international food trade.

At its annual meeting last week, Codex celebrated its 50th anniversary. The session was attended by 620 delegates from 128 member countries and one member organisation, one observer country and 41 international governmental and non-governmental organisations, including UN agencies.

Safe limits on contamination

One of the important work areas for Codex was setting safe limits and giving guidance along the food chain on prevention or reduction of contamination. Food can become contaminated by heavy metals, fungal toxins or bacteria and viruses.

The Commission adopted two important codes – prevention and reduction of ochratoxin A (a carcinogenic contaminant) in cocoa and of hydrocyanic acid in cassava, both important products for developing countries.

Fresh berries can be a healthy part of the diet but are also prone to microbiological contamination and have been associated with several foodborne illness outbreaks caused by viruses (Hepatitis A, Norovirus), bacteria (E.coli) and protozoa. The new Codex text gives advice to producers and consumers on how to prevent this contamination.

Fair practice in food trade and protecting consumers' health

The Commission adopted a number of commodity standards that will protect consumers from fraud and ensure fair practices in the food trade – fresh and processed fruit and vegetables (for example, avocados, chanterelles, pomegranates, table olives, date paste, and tempe) and fish and fishery products (smoked fish and abalone).

The standards help buyers and sellers establish contracts based on Codex specifications and make sure that the consumers get from the products what they expect.
The Commission also adopted the nutrient reference values on sodium and saturated fatty acids, which are nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), to be included in the Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling. This is part of Codex's ongoing efforts to promote healthy dietary practices and address the increasing public health problem of diet-related NCDs.

The Commission also adopted the revised and updated guidelines on formulated supplementary foods for older infants and young children to ensure the health and nutrition of the vulnerable population group. Furthermore, the Commission adopted hundreds of safe maximum limits for pesticide residues and veterinary drugs and provisions for food additives.

Guidance on control for food and animal feed

As animal feed can cause contamination in eggs, meat and milk products, the Commission adopted guidance to countries on how to control animal feed and assess the risk of contamination. The Commission also adopted guidelines for National Food Control Systems to assist countries in implementing food control.

Into the future

Because of the volume of trade and need to harmonize national standards, the Commission agreed to create a new Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs, which will be hosted and chaired by India.

The Commission approved its Strategic Plan 2014-2019, which will guide the work on protecting consumers' health and ensure fair practices in the food trade over the next six years.

Food Security Ordinance gets mixed reactions from Congress, opposition

The Food Security Ordinance, which was promulgated by the president of India recently, got mixed reactions from the main ruling party (the Congress), the main opposition party [the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)] and industry bodies such as the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Congress' view

The Congress termed the ordinance a historic initiative. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh lauded the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for approving the food security ordinance, which, upon becoming an Act, would entitle 67 per cent of India's population to subsidised foodgrains under the targeted public distribution system (TDPS). He added that it was reflective of the government's commitment towards the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden.

The intended beneficiaries comprise about 75 per cent of the people living in the rural areas and about 50 per cent of the people living in the urban areas. Singh said, “The objective of providing food and nutritional security to India's masses is laudable, because that would ensure food for all.”

Contempt of Parliament

The Bharatiya Janata Party called the Food Security Ordinance a contempt of Parliament. Smriti Irani, a Member of Parliament representing the party, said, “The Congress went ahead and passed the Ordinance without discussing it with the opposition parties. Moreover, they also held a press conference to inform the media about their achievements even before the president promulgated the Food Security Ordinance. This is a political gimmick by the government ahead of election.”

Industryspeak

Assocham president Rajkumar N Dhoot said, “The government's ordinance, that will legally entitle the poor to highly-subsidised food, will also insulate a large number of people from inflation, and would ultimately help the country's rank go up in the human development index. The government must be complimented for taking a courageous decision, even though the decision would put a strain on the government's finances. However, with better implementation of the schemes, the pilferages can be avoided.”

“The poor people of the country are already suffering, because of the high food inflation, which on an average has stubbornly stuck to about 10 per cent. Unfortunately, the issue was sought to be addressed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through tight money policy, which does not influence much the food inflation. The only answer to tackle the food supply and better nutrition for the people is through better supply. Moreover, there is no problem of foodgrains as the grain is rotting in the godowns,” he informed.

Reacting on the Food Security Ordinance, A Didar Singh, secretary general, FICCI, said, “After being deferred incessantly, the ordinance to implement the Food Security Bill comes at a time when we are trying hard to get back on the path of fiscal consolidation. While there is no denying the fact that right to food and attaining proper nutrition should be the basic provisions for every citizen of the country, the recent announcement seems a little premature, and the country is not yet fully prepared to roll out such a programme.”

He added, “The actual execution of the scheme would be marred by challenges, besides of course questioning the fiscal sustainability of the Bill. The Bill is expected to cost the exchequer about Rs 1,25,000 crore annually. The budgeted amount for the food subsidy this fiscal year is Rs 90,000 crore and an additional Rs 10,000 crore have been budgeted for the Bill this year. However, going ahead, the fiscal cost is expected to rise substantially.”

“One of the biggest issues that comes to fore is the access, and it is quite surprising that the government is willing to fall on the old public distribution system to allocate foodgrains under the Bill. The PDS has not been streamlined over the years and remains plagued with inefficiencies,” Singh said.

“In fact a survey conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in 2007, on the effectiveness of the Centre's public distribution system revealed that 40 per cent of the beneficiaries were kept away from the scheme by denying them ration cards, and 99 per cent of those who availed the benefits reported they had not received foodgrains regularly,” he informed.

Singh explained, “As 75 per cent of the rural population would be eligible for foodgrains under the National Food Security Bill (NFSB), most farmers would conveniently sell all grains at the minimum selling price (MSP), which is most competitive, and again come to the government for their consumption. This might result in the government procurement increasing substantially and start of chain reaction, for instance, more procurement, more storage, more losses, etc., and lead to a situation where the government ends of buying all the food grains that are produced in the country.”

“It is important that we resolve the supply demand mismatch, and keeping in mind a long-term perspective, we should focus on improving agricultural production and productivity. Also, if the government is serious about implementing the scheme, then execution through direct cash transfers and food stamps for below poverty line (BPL) would certainly make more sense, as is being advocated by government itself,” he said.

Indrani Kar, deputy director general, CII, said, “The scheme will be targeted at the neediest populations and would be rolled out with maximum efficiency. Concerns are there since the delivery model of such an ambitious scheme is based on models like the PDS.”

“We are certain that in process of rolling out this very comprehensive scheme, the government would balance outgo on foodgrains with overall macroeconomic conditions, such as fiscal deficit and inflation. Under the present economic situation, the government can hardly afford to allow the fiscal deficit roadmap to be compromised in any way,” she said.

Kar added, “In addition, it is imperative to ensure that agricultural productivity is boosted in order to ensure adequate production of foodgrains. With extra disposable income in the hands of the poor, there would be a welcome shift in dietary preferance to high value items such as vegetables, fruit, dairy products and meat.”

“By ensuring implementation of the Model APMC Act at the state level, encouraging contract farming, and setting up missions for agri technology, sustainability and irrigation, yields can be boosted to global benchmarks,” he added.

EAS to organise 2nd nutrition & health claims workshop in Buenos Aires

International regulatory and policy experts at EAS Strategic Advice will hold a second workshop on nutrition and health claims in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 21, 2013, following the demand to help functional food companies successfully navigate these regulations when launching products in Latin America.

The workshop, titled “Nutrition and Health Claims – How to build a successful regulatory strategy for marketing food supplements and functional foods across Latin America”, will highlight key regulatory trends in the region and important elements companies must take on account for the development of marketing strategies for access to top emerging markets in the region.

EAS experts David Pineda Ereño and Clara Giudice will explain how global regulatory trends for claims impact the business in the region; identify harmonisation in the region and highlight regulatory opportunities for greater product success, and explain the rules on claims at national levels for the top five Latin American food supplement and functional food markets.

The workshop is limited to a small group to ensure maximum benefit for participants. Ereno, regional director, EAS, said, “The aim of this workshop is to help companies identify regulatory opportunities and avoid common pitfalls when launching products that bear health claims in key markets in the region.”

“Currently the harmonisation is limited to certain fields, and many of the key markets are currently revising or developing regulations in this area. Our workshop aims to help companies plan for the business impact of these regulations and clearly understand the rules to ensure a successful product launch in their desired markets,” he added.

Superfruit-flavoured soft drinks to be showcased at IFT Food Expo 2013

Innova Market Insights will report on the latest soft drink trends and emerging flavours at the Taste the Trend Pavilion at the IFT Food Expo, slated to take place in Chicago between July 14 and 16, 2013. The daily live presentations at the pavilion will include one on the topic, 'Health Drives Flavour Hits'. Healthy flavours, such as superfruit, herbs and spices and honey, will be the next hits in the global beverage market.

While there are marked variations in flavour trends from region to region, Innova Market Insights' report indicates an increase in the interest in superfruit the world over, with pomegranate – which accounts for over 40 per cent of the tracked superfruit-flavoured beverage launches between June 2008 and May 2013 – at the top, followed by acai (12.5 per cent) and lychee (12 per cent). Emerging superfruit include guanabana or soursop, cactus or prickly pear and marula.

“Cactus or prickly pear is one of the emerging superfruit flavours in the North American beverage market,” Lu Ann Williams, head, research, Innova Market Insights, said. She added, “Over the past year, US launches included Cactus Juice and Cactus Tea from Nopal; Prickly Pear Cactus Tea from Hunter and Hilsberg, and Martinelli's Prickly Passion Lemonade juice drink, featuring prickly pear puree.”

Williams added that vegetable flavours are have begun to feature strongly – often in combination with fruit flavours – in juices, in smoothies and in teas, adding health-giving phytochemicals, as well as a new flavour element. The number of beverage launches featuring celery increased sixfold in 2012, while those featuring cucumber and beet doubled. Kale also began to feature in the beverage market in 2012.

The increasing interest in hot and spicy flavours in the American food market as a whole has also spread to beverages. This has led to the emergence of hot and spicy beverages that contain such ingredients as black pepper and different variants of chili, including Habanero, Jalapeno and Chipotle.

Pabrai's Fresh & Naturelle launches liquid jaggery ice-cream Nalen Gur

Pabrai’s Fresh and Naturelle of Kolkata has introduced a new flavour of ice-cream called Nalen Gur ice-cream. Its starting price is Rs 89 plus taxes. It has been created to woo the customers by introducing flavours, which are unheard of in the ice-cream industry. Nalen Gur is jaggery in liquid form and is made from the sap of the date palm or khajur tree; which is native to West Bengal. The sap is allowed to drip into earthen pots hung from the trunk and is collected before sunrise. It is boiled in large flat pans over low heat to a thick liquid, which is similar to honey in colour and consistency. Pabrai's Nalen Gur ice cream is made with this jaggery, and the finished ice-cream has a special crumble, which gives it a taste and texture that is unlike any other ice-cream.

HP CM launches books on apple cultivation and history of RHRS Mashobra

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh released two books, titled 'Seb Bagwaani Aur Vividhikaran' and 'Historical Profile of Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Mashobra and temperate fruit production' [written by Vijay Singh Thakur, associate director (research and extension), and his team of scientists from RHRS, Mashobra, Shimla of Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan].

Lauding Thakur and his team for their hard work and efforts to publish the books, Singh said they would be useful to the state's farming community, research scholars and horticulturists. The chief minister added that the authors had penned vital information about fruit culture and management of orchards of temperate fruit (including apples, cherries and pears) in simple language, and answered over 500 questions frequently asked by farmers.

Singh stated that horticulture has always been a vital sector and a key economic activity, and it has been the priority for successive Congress governments in the northern state. He added that there is an urgent need to rejuventate orchards that are old and on the decline with the latest varieties having higher production capabilities. The chief minister also stressed upon the scientific community to come up with research and development (R&D) efforts.

49 hotels across Kerala shut down after checks and improvement notices

Acting on the orders of Kerala's food safety commissioner Biju Prabhakar, district food safety officers conducted checks on various eateries in the southern state and closed down 49 establishments after issuing them improvement notices.

The checks and raids were conducted under the supervision of K Ajith Kumar, designated food safety officer, Ernakulam. Hotel Lavanya in Kaloor district was closed down by the officials. Forty-eight other hotels were also closed, and 21 hotels and bakeries were fined on various grounds.

K Anil Kumar, joint commissioner, Kerala, informed FnB News, “The hotels will remain shut till we get the reports after inspection. All the 49 hotels were closed. The raids will continue for a few more days.”

“The grounds on which the hotels were fined include the reuse of oil; the unhygienic storage of prepared food; the lack of proper moisture control in the store area; the use of old and unclean utensils; cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of the kitchens,” he added.

Anil Kumar said, “The food safety commissioner is concerned about the health of the people of Kerala. He initiated this raid and asked us to take strict action against the hoteliers found violating the food safety rules.”

The following is the list of the hotels closed in the southern state after issuing improvement notices:

Thiruvananthapuram District: Devi Hotel, General Hospital Junction; Lakshmi Hotel, General Hospital Junction; Meera Hotel, General Hospital Junction; Hotel Ananthapuri, Kesavadasapuram; Hotel Radhakrishna, Medical College; Hotel Maloo, Kazhakoottam; Chicken Corner, Kazhakoottam; Coffee Bar, Medical College; Medical College Hospital Canteen 1, 2, and 3; Hotel Ansari, Neyyattinkara; KSRTC Canteen, Neyyattinkara; Hotel Subhash, Neyyattinkara; Hotel Aryas, Nedumangad; Hotel Bismi, Vizhinjam; Thurpthi Hotel, Vizhinjam; Surya Fast Food, Mukkola; Hotel Bismi, Balaramapuram, and Immanuel Hotel, Mukkola

Pathanamthitta: Hotel Arya Bhavan, Near KSRTC; Evergreen continental, College Road; Hotel Ambika, Cherukol Road; City Bakery; Kavungal Hotel, Adoor, Kadavumgal, and Aditya Hotel, Panapilly

Emakulam: Hotel Nalanda, Near South Railway Station; Hotel Saphire, Opposite Airport; Hotel Rolex, Opposite KSRTC; Hotel Paradise, Edappally; Taza Taste, Palarivattom (Shawarma), and Hotel Malabar, Anakamaly

Thrissur: Hotel Priya, Ayyanthole; Hotel Royal Palace, Aswini Hospital Junction; Hotel Welcome, Choondal; Hotel Kanishka, Guruvayoor; PV's Plaza, Thrissur; Panicker's Hospital Canteen, Kodungallur, Thrissur; Anupama Hotel, Mala, and Flower Hotel, Mala

Kozhikode: Brothers, Puthiyangadi; Hotel Highway, Chemanchery; Hotel 'D' Chandra, Kozhikode, and Super Hotel, Kunnamangalam

Palakkad: KSRTC Canteen, Palakkad, and Malabar Spicy, Palakkad

Kollam: Hotel Plaza, Near KSRTC Bus Stand, Kollam; Hotel New Arya Bhavan, Near KSRTC Bus Stand, Kollam, and Hotel Chix, Kollam. 

N Food Security Bill: Top official optimistic of smooth implementation

 An ordinance pushed by the Union Cabinet to implement the National Food Security Bill will pave the way for providing food grains to poorer sections of the country at highly subsidised rates. The ordinance will become law following the approval of the President, which is said to have come on Friday.

According to a source, who is associated with the drafting and implementation of the Bill, the Bill will guarantee two-thirds of the Indian population food grains at subsidised rates and there will be no corruption since grievances redressal forums will be set up in every district to ensure its smooth implementation.

Speaking to FnB News, the source informed, “The ordinance has been passed to implement the Food Security Bill but it will have to be cleared by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Bill will entitle three-fourths of rural population and half the urban population in the country rice, wheat and coarse grains - 5 kg at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1 per kg respectively.”

He added, “This Bill would burn the pocket of the government by Rs 1,25,000 crore and require more than 61 million tonne of food grains. There is ample availability of food grains and it is on the state governments to act now. Million tonne of food grains are rotten in godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) so this Bill will reduce the wastage.”

“The state governments will now have to identify the beneficiaries on a warfooting through open transparent criteria. If the beneficiaries don't get the benefits after the implementation of the Bill they can go to the court,” he stated, on a concluding note.

Tobacco ban triggers high demand, hoarding fears – The New Indian Express

Health experts fear that the ban would lead to addiction to alternative substances | Express Photo

While  the ban on gutka and pan masala is being implemented in full force,  other issues such as blackmarketing  and alternative addictive substances have become a cause for concern for enforcement agencies and the Health Department.

Among the biggest fears is the possible hoarding of the illegal pan masala and its sale in the black market at high prices.

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authorities seized around 250 kilograms of illegal pan masala from a house in a residential area in Ayanavaram. According to officials, the estimated value of the stock is around Rs 1 lakh. The price would have been much higher, had it found its way to the black market.

“We are taking all possible measures to ensure that there is no hoarding. Four teams have been formed in the city, for the North, South, East and Western parts, to check the illegal storage of pan masala and gutka. In this first phase, we are seizing and destroying the illegal products and serving notices on the shops and the persons concerned. In the coming days, the offenders will face stiff penalties,” says a senior official with the Food Safety and Standards Department.

Health experts say that as per previous experience in other areas, a ban on addictive substances often leads to high demand.

“Immediately after a ban on an addictive substance, there is usually a surge in the demand. This is especially true in the case of chewable tobacco, since the addiction is almost twice as that of cigarettes. The demand can take the form of an increase in black marketing. But, if we are able to direct these consumers to tobacco cessation units, it would be a great step forward in bringing down the addiction rates,” says Prasanna Kannan, WHO Consultant, State Tobacco Control Unit.

Kannan adds that though there is a short-term increase in demand, in the long run the demand is bound to reduce in the lack of availability and the high prices of black market products.

Another concern here is that people who have been used to the chewable tobacco addiction might take to other alternatives.

“Due to sudden unavailability of pan masala and gutka, consumers may take to alternative tobacco products like cigarettes. As such it is important that those who have weaned away from the chewable tobacco are given help so that they do not fall into the trap of another tobacco product,” Kannan adds.

The State Tobacco Control Unit has strengthened its training and awareness programmes.

Pan vendors hope that their tobacco customers will revert to non-tobacco products like sweet pan.

“After the ban, our daily sales has gone down by 50 percent. The customers who take to tobacco-based pan or gutka are not satisfied with anything else and roam around from one shop to the other in search of it. Hopefully these people will take to alternatives like sweet paan, otherwise it will be difficult to run the business,” says a vendor in Vepery.

SC wants action to check Milk Adulteration

A Government survey that found nearly 70 per cent of milk packets and samples in urban country side to be adulterated led the Supreme Court on Tuesday to question the Centre and States on what disciplinary action was initiated against officers who failed to curb this menace.

Finding that Uttar Pradesh was the most notorious in adulteration of both packed and loose milk, the bench of Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghosh said: “If 88 per cent of milk is adulterated then the concerned officers need to be prosecuted.”

The court was hearing a PIL seeking regulatory standards to curb sale and manufacture of adulterated milk.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rakesh  Khanna informed the court that the situation did merit attention as the survey conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) showed shocking levels of adulterated milk on sale across the country.

Revealing these details in an affidavit filed before the court, FSSA’s top-ranking officer stated that the sale of adulterated milk was high in urban areas and the common adulterants found were glucose, milk powder and water. Shockingly, some samples even showed traces of detergents, which is unsafe for consumption.

In all, the survey collected 1,791 samples from 33 States, of which 1226, i.e 68.4 per cent were found to be “non-conforming.” Of this, 381 samples were of rural areas while 845 pertained to the urban population. The study also found 282 among the urban samples to be packed milk with the remaining being loose milk sold in cities.

Agreeing with the grievance expressed in the PIL filed by one Swami Achyutanand Tirth, the bench said: “There is no doubt that adulteration of milk is happening all over the country. It is a very sensitive issue.” But the PIL focused on the health hazard posed by such adulterants.

Even the FSSA study found that water was the most common adulterant. “Addition of water not only reduced the nutritional value of milk but posed a health risk, if contaminated water was mixed,” the affidavit said.

The Court also recalled seeing on television how external agents are added to make milk thick, fatty and foamy. Turning the heat on the Government agencies to improve vigilance and enforce law using punitive measures, the bench observed: “If it (such practices) is still going on we want to know what action has been taken against the officers. We expect at least some disciplinary action to be taken.”

At present only six States are party to the PIL proceedings which included Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Assam. The court included even the State of Maharashtra and directed all States and the Centre to respond before July 31, the next date of hearing.

GUTKA CONSUMERS NOW TURN TO ‘DESI PAAN’ TO GET THEIR DAILY FIX

DEMAND AND SUPPLY:Paan shop owners believethat the prices of betel leaves, nuts and other ingredients are likely to go up in the lightof gutka ban.— FILE PHOTO: AFP

Even as those ubiquitous festoons of gutka sachets hanging at roadside shops have begun disappearing after they were banned by the State government last week, many consumers of smokeless tobacco in the city appear to have switched to what their grandparents used to chew.

The demand for “desi paan”, a simple combination of betel nut smeared with white lime, areca and, crucially, a smidgeon of tobacco, has spiked, many paan shop owners say.

Doctors caution that consumption of tobacco in any form is harmful. Smokeless tobacco consumption is more injurious to health than smoking as chewing of tobacco directly affects the oral cavity and enters into the system.

Hansraj Singh, a paan shop owner on Infantry Road, said that he would not risk stocking gutka now. He added that he would stop selling all smokeless tobacco products in the wake of the ban. However, he said that many addicts had migrated to “desi paan” and other traditional paan because gutka is either not available or is being sold in black.

While many shop owners claim that they have exhausted their stock, some shops were indeed still found selling gutka, but with only a few brands with no fresh stocks coming in.

More time

M. Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), said that it would take a couple of days for the department to enforce the gutka ban effectively.

“We have issued guidelines on enforcement and today, our officials have started raids. They have seized stocks from different parts of the State. It is just a beginning and we will soon crack down on the sale of gutka in all forms,” he said.

In some areas, the police have warned paan shop owners not to stock or sell gutka, shop owners told The Hindu .

Not that this has cured addicts of their cravings. “It is difficult now to procure gutka since most shops have run out of the stock. I need a particular brand, which is not available in the market, so I have shifted to another,” said Ram Gogio, who works on M.G. Road.

“Many people whom I know have shifted to ‘desi paan’,” he added.

This was confirmed by Kamal Singh who said that he had stopped buying gutka as it has become very expensive after the ban. “I have shifted to ‘desi paan’, which is cheaper.”

The ban has come as a relief for gutka consumers like Shabeer Ahmed, a pet shop owner in Shivajinagar, who has decided to quit altogether. “The government’s decision to ban gutka encouraged me to stop consuming it. I am sure many may have quit like me,” he said.

Price hike likely?

Meanwhile, paan shop owners believe that the prices of betel leaves, nuts and other ingredients are likely to go up in the light of gutka ban, following which many have started consuming “desi paan” and other regular paan. “Many paan shop owners are likely to increase the price of paan to offset their loss after the gutka ban. We are seeing an increase in the number of consumers of ‘desi paan’,” said Subash, a paan shop owner in Shivajinagar

HRAWI NOT HAPPY WITH CHANGES IN PROPERTY TAX STRUCTURE FOR STARRED HOTELS

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI) has termed the recent changes in the property tax system and the basis on which the capital value of starred hotels is calculated, a blow to the organised sector of the hotel industry. This was stated by the association in a letter it sent to Sitaram Kunte, municipal commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM); recently.

Starred hotels have to pay much higher taxes – amounting to 2.2 times for one- to four-star hotels and 2.5 times for five-star properties. HRAWI said, “This obviously means that all budget hotels, namely four-star hotels and below, would prefer to remain unstarred. This would be a big setback for the tourism industry and would retard the growth of tourist arrivals in Mumbai in the long-run.”

The association stated that starred hotels in the budget category earned less than 50 per cent of revenue per room in comparison to five-star hotels or properties with more stars, and therefore the burden would be unbearable. It added, “The taxation structure is so high that five-star hotels pay five times more tax than the amount paid by residential properties.”

The letter, signed by D S Advani, president, HRAWI, and vice-president, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), further stated, “Any hotel built after 2013 has to pay 50 per cent more tax than a property built in or before 2010. This makes newly-constructed hotels unviable to operate due to the phenomenal tax fees that have to be paid.” 

Flavoured milk consumption will be double than white milk, says Tetra Pak

New research from Tetra Pak, the leading food processing and packaging company, forecasts that flavoured milk consumption will grow at more than double the rate of white milk globally between 2012 and 2015.

Consumers are increasingly turning to tasty, nutritious and conveniently packaged flavoured milk as an alternative to other beverages, creating opportunities for dairies to improve profitability, states the report.

Flavoured milk, the second most widely consumed Liquid Dairy Product (LDP) after white milk, is forecast to increase by a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.1% between 2012 and 2015, rising from 17.0 billion litre to 19.2 billion litre.

Developing countries will drive demand amidst a growing number of new flavours and products focussed on health. White milk is forecast to grow by 1.7% (CAGR) during the same period - from 208.5 billion litre in 2012 to 219.5 billion litre in 2015. Total LDP demand is set to grow by 2.4% from 280.3 billion litre to 301.3 billion litre during this period, according to the research.

“With white milk increasingly commoditised, flavoured milk offers dairies the opportunity to provide value not only to consumers but to their bottom line,” said Dennis Jönsson, president and CEO, Tetra Pak Group. “With the right flavours, portion sizing and formulation, flavoured milk can meet a huge range of health, nutritional and lifestyle needs.”

Flavoured milk consumption is set to rise 5.1% (CAGR) between 2012 and 2015 in the South Asian countries of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Kandarp Singh, MD, Tetra Pak South Asia Markets, said, “The increase in flavoured milk consumption will be spurred by economic growth, urbanisation and rising prosperity. On-the-go lifestyles in India’s thriving cities have triggered increased consumption of ready-to-drink ambient milk, including flavoured milk. Children and teenagers consume the majority of packed flavoured milk in India, at home or in school, with parents opting to buy flavoured milk because they value its nutritional benefits and its taste appeal to young consumers. While consumption of white milk is prevalent in almost 100% of the households across India, consumption of flavoured milk still has plenty of room to grow.”

Tetra Pak has identified four drivers fuelling the rise in flavoured milk consumption:  First, the desire for nutritious and healthy food, which is prompting consumers, particularly in developing countries, to turn to nutrient-rich milk products. Second, urbanisation, rising prosperity and the pace of modern life, which has increased “on-the-go” consumption of ready-to-drink (RTD) flavoured milk in convenient portion packs. Third, consumers’ eagerness to try new food and drinks, with flavoured milk well-poised to meet that need. And fourth, consumers seeking “indulgent” eating and drinking experiences as a way of escaping the daily grind during times of economic uncertainty. “People don’t mind spending a bit more for small indulgences when times are tough and they are making bigger sacrifices,” said Libby Costin, global portfolio marketing director.

Though flavoured milk consumption is still low compared to other beverages, such as carbonated soft drinks, positive consumer perceptions about the health benefits of milk are creating opportunities to significantly increase flavoured milk consumption, according to Tetra Pak.

The growth rate for flavoured milk consumption is expected to be more than triple that of carbonated soft drinks in 2012-2015. During that period carbonated soft drinks are forecast to grow by 1.3% (CAGR) compared with an estimated of 4.1% (CAGR) for flavoured milk. Traditionally consumed by kids who enjoy its taste, Tetra Pak sees scope for growth beyond kids to teens and adults, and beyond taste to reach the “sweet spot” where taste and health meet. “For consumers unwilling to compromise on taste, health or convenience, flavoured milk is proving an increasingly popular alternative to other beverages,” said Jönsson.

While demand for flavoured milk is forecast to rise globally, demand in developing countries, particularly across Asia and Latin America, is set to outpace that of developed countries in North America and Europe, highlighting emerging economies as the growth engines of the dairy industry.

In fact, seven of the world’s top 10 flavoured milk markets are developing countries, according to the research. China is the world’s largest, followed by the United States and India. Increased demand for flavoured milk from 2009 to 2012 was mainly driven by four emerging countries: Brazil, China, India and Indonesia.

The trend is set to continue from 2012 to 2015. While developing countries accounted for 66% of flavoured milk consumption in 2012, this is forecast to rise to 69% by 2015. China, South Asia and Southeast Asia drink more than half the world’s flavoured milk. In fact, just six Asian countries – China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand – consume 47% of the world’s flavoured milk, according to the research.

Cartons have become the established packaging format for flavoured milk. They accounted for 62% of RTD flavoured milk packaging in 2012, up from 57% in 2009, and are expected to rise to above 64% in 2015, with portion packs expected to reach 81% of RTD flavoured milk consumption.