Health ministry says gutka a food product

Feb 22, 2012 | 

Age Correspondent

 |New Delhi

Clarifying that gutka is a food product, the health ministry will soon issue instructions to the states against allowing use of tobacco-laced gutka or pan masala.

“It has now been established beyond doubt that gutka is a food product and falls under the Prevention of Food Adultration Law. The Supreme Court ruled in a recent order that gutka be treated as a food item. That being the case, its adulteration is violative of laws. Tobacco, which is an injurious substance, cannot be used in gutka,” Keshav Desiraju, additional secretary, health, said.

He said although the Supreme Court has made things clear, the health ministry will, for the sake of clarification, issue relevant instructions to state governments soon.

The ministry has also asked the the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to make relevant amendments in the prevention of food adultration law. While, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had earlier viewed that gutka with tobacco should be banned, the health ministry had suggested that it should instead be regulated.

To get final opinion, the ministry had even approached the law ministry on the issue. 

.......read more

India to set standards for beer, wine and spirits

The Indian food standards and safety body is looking to set standards for 

alcoholic beverages in the country in order to ensure better product 

quality and safety for the consumer.

India to set standards for alcoholic beverages to ensure quality and safety

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which took over the responsibility of setting food standards in the country last August, has now set up an expert group that is drawing up benchmarks for alcoholic beverages.

A FSSAI official told FoodNavigator-Asia.com that the group is made up of scientists, industry experts, and beverage manufacture representatives.

“The group was initiated at the end of last month. They have begun working on a draft of standards that should be ready by the end of March. But I am not sure of that deadline,” he said.

“As I understand, they would cover all alcoholic beverages allowed to be sold in the country under the current licensing regulations. They will obviously not cover local beverages made and sold in select regions off the market,” he added.

The experts are trying to meet the 1 July deadline for implementation of the final standards, added the spokesperson. This is also the target for the completion of the final standards for health drinks, on which another committee has been tasked with.

.......read more

Online payment system for Indian food importers promises a speedier process

By Ankush Chibber, 21-Feb-2012

Indian food importers have got some respite from the bureaucratic muddle that is importing food products in the country thanks to a new payment system set up by the country’s apex food safety body.

On February 15, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched the long awaited and much needed online payment system for food importers for the processing of their payments towards clearances.

In stealth mode since late December, from when only some importers were piloting the system, the new system is aimed at reducing the time and effort towards getting food consignments tested and cleared for sale in the country.

A spokesperson for the FSSAI told FoodNavigator-Asia that the relevant agencies, for example the Central Board of Excise and Customs, has been informed in this regard by the authority of the new system.

“The online payment system would provide an effective and quick way for food importers to make payments for lab analysis,” he said, adding that the former methods of cash and cheque payments were fraught with delays and corruption. 

To use the payment system however, importers would have to go through some documentation. “They would need to fill a form and provide documents in support of the food sample testing, which when cleared by the FSSAI would allow the importer to use the payment system.”

..........read more

Calls for a ban on gutkha in India increase

By Ankush Chibber, 16-Feb-2012

Calls for a ban on gutkha in India have intensified after a recent spree of inspections by a food safety watchdog found traces of toxins in samples.

Calls to ban gutkha in India increase amid contamination finds

The inspections were carried out by the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which found traces of harmful magnesium carbonate and tobacco in tested samples.

Gutkha is a product composed of areca nut, catchu, paraffin, lime, and sweet flavorings, and it is sold as a mild stimulant in India in small sachets that cost between 2 (4 US cents) and 10 rupees per packet.

According to the FDA, it collected a total of 122 samples of gutkha from across the state during April to December 2011, a haul which included some of the leading gutkha brands.

Though the FDA did not publish the names of the brands immediately, it said that it will in its final food safety report.

An FDA spokesman told FoodNavigator-Asia that non-compliant companies would not see their licenses renewed.

.....read more

Indian food safety body penalized by information regulator

By Ankush Chibber, 14-Feb-2012

India’s food safety and standards agency has been penalized by the chief information commission for failing to admit that the country does not have safety standards for trans fats in ghee and edible oil.

The FSSAI has been penalized for not setting safe trans fat levels in ghee and edible oil

The sanction came after right to information activist, KS Swami, enquired whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed any safe percentage of trans fats in ghee and edible oil.

It was reported that the FSSAI did not give an accurate response in this regard.

Swami then took his case to Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India, which in a decision last week said that the FSSAI was deliberately avoiding admission of no safety standard for trans fats.

“If the authority has taken no steps about specifying the safe level of trans fats percentages in ghee and edible oils they should at least admit this,” CIC Shailesh Gandhi said in his order

..........read more

Healthy is big for PepsiCo in India

By Ankush Chibber , 13-Feb-2012

PepsiCo’s push into the healthy foods market in India is truly on its way with the company launching ‘healthier’ variants of some of its most popular food products.

PepsiCo taps into the Indian healthy foods market with Lay's and other products

In late January this year, the company launched a baked version of Lay’s potato chips that Vidur Vyas, marketing director at the India Foods division at PepsiCo India, said is “specifically targeted at young women” who are conscious of what they are consuming.

Launched in 1995, the Lay’s potato chips brand today the dominant player in its category in India.

Noting that the potential for snacking in India is huge, Vyas told FoodNavigator-Asia that Lay’s baked chips are targeted at consumers who love the taste of Lay’s but want something healthier, “which this version provides with 50% less fat.”

“We have been here for practically created the organized snacks market in India. And we have developed a deep understanding of the Indian consumer. Fast evolving lifestyles mean that consumers across income strata are adding branded healthy products to meet their needs,” he said.

..... read more

Indian spices face challenge of food safety norms

TNN Feb 10, 2012, 05.07AM IST

The largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world, India has several challenges about traceability and safety standards, A Jayathilak, chairman of the Spices Board of India, said on Thursday. 

Food safety problems could be managed through modern processing technology, but contaminants, pesticide residues and toxins remained important issues, he added.

Jayathilak was speaking at the inauguration of the XI World Spices Congress here. The theme of the meet was 'Sustainability and food safety global initiatives'.

Jayathilak said, "India contributes about 48 per cent of the world's requirement of spices. The growing global demand for spices throws up several challenges, mainly related to food sustainability, traceability and safety standards. These are not just issues, but threats that can affect the very existence of the spice industry in the country."

"The board is making all efforts, like promoting organic and responsible farming, regular training on implementation of good agriculture practices, improved application of post-harvest practices, and establishment of bio-agent production units," he added.  ....... read more

Food regulator showcause to majors over tall claims in ads

SATURDAY, 04 FEBRUARY 2012 23:41

ARCHANA JYOTI | NEW DELHI

Tall claims in advertisements by major food product manufacturers and pharma majors have finally caught the eye of the country’s food regulator. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued show cause notices to their promoters to justify their claims failing which they will be liable for action against them

Those in the FSSAI’s firing line are advertisements for brands such as Complan, Pediasure, Bournvita Little Champs, Maggie Noodles, Top Ramen, Nutrichoice biscuits, Horlicks Juniors and Heart Care among others. Their promoters have been given a fortnight’s deadline to respond to the allegations regarding various violation of code of advertisement for food items, supplements and propriety foods.

Sources in the Health Ministry told The Pioneer that the Authority’s move, though much delayed, was taken after it noted that the firms had been blatantly violating various codes on advertising of foods that prohibit them from depicting personal changes in intelligence, physical ability or exceptional recognition unless scientifically substantiated. 

.........read more

Overseas funds to boost local Indian food processing industry

By Ankush Chibber, 21-Jul-2011

The food processing industry in India will be forced to adopt new technologies and improve their productivity if the foreign direct investment into multi-brand retail is allowed.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), such investments into multi-brand retail would push the local food processing industry to be globally competitive.

Factors like an increasing urbanisation, changing lifestyles, more working women and increasing nutritional needs is boosting the domestic food retail market, making it attractive for foreign investment.

The body also said that the local food processing industry is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate of nine per cent from US$120 bn in 2011 to US$200 bn by 2015 on the back of this rising demand.

However, for that to be accomplished, more would need to be done in terms of improving the processes in the food processing industry, which is able to process only seven per cent of the total agriculture produce processed in India.

“There exists a huge gap in agriculture output, post-harvest produce and processing,” said D S Rawat, the ASSOCHAM secretary general.

..... read more

China to inspect Indian oil units after oil meal ban

By Ankush Chibber, 31-Jan-2012

China is readying to send a team to inspect Indian vegetable oil units days after it ordered a ban on the import of rapeseed meal, soybean meal, and oil meal from its South Asian neighbor, industry sources said.

China to inspect vegetable oil units in India

Rapeseed meal, soybean meal, and oil meal – by-products of vegetable oil production – have been imported from India to China for many years for use as cattle feed to the country’s burgeoning dairy and meat sector.

Last week China removed India from the list of countries that it would import the products from, after it found traces of malachite green contamination in Indian consignments.

Jute bags the scoundrels

According to a statement from the Indian Solvent Extractor’s Association (SEA), Chinese authorities claimed to have discovered 0.5-1 parts per billion of malachite green in consignments from India.

....read more

PM pushes India toward sugar deregulation move

By Ankush Chibber, 30-Jan-2012

India has taken a step closer to deregulating its sugar industry with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh constituting a special panel to discuss and examine issues around removing government controls from the sector.

India closer to deregulating its sugar industry

According to a statement issued by Singh’s office, the PM has constituted an expert Committee towards the deregulation aim under the chairmanship of Dr C Rangarajan, chairman of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

Other members of the committee include officials from the finance ministry, the department of food and public distribution, and the department of agriculture, the commission of agriculture costs and prices, and the EAC.

The statement added “that the committee has been empowered to involve such experts, academics as required as special invitees. The committee will look into all the issues relating to deregulation of the sugar sector.”

.....read more

Young urban Indians go wild for supplements

By Ankush Chibber, 30-Jan-2012

Easy availability and a growing interest in fitness trends see about 78% of adolescents in urban India consume at least one type of dietary supplement, a survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) said.

High consumption levels of dietary supplements among young, urban Indians

The survey was conducted by the apex body with a social goal to shed light on Indian children becoming overly obsessed by substances that promise to boost energy, appearance, performance, immunity and overall health.

However, it also inadvertently shed light on consumption patterns of adolescents in Indian cities, revealing a majority of them consume at least one type of dietary supplement such as pills, energy drinks, and high protein supplements.

The survey put a figure on this consumption pattern revealing that on an average, respondents spend between 2,000 (US$40) to 4,000 (US$80) rupees per month on dietary supplements.

.............read more