Highest number of samples was collected from Model Town followed by Kotwali

The Delhi Government has in the past five years tested 14,761 samples for food adulteration of which 886 samples have been found to be in violation of standards. Of the total samples, 1,668 samples were taken last year and 3,148 in 2011.

Assam is all set to table a bill to ban manufacturing, sale and storage of all kinds of smokeless tobacco products in the state.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the bill would be tabled in the assembly in the ongoing budget session. He said the bill was awaiting clearance from the cabinet, after which it will be tabled in the assembly. "Assam will be first state to bring such a historic legislation," said Sarma.

JAMMU: In exercise of the powers vested upon him under clause (a) of sub-Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner of Food Safety, Jammu and Kashmir ordered ban on manufacture, storage, sale transportation, display or distribution of Gutkha in the State.

As per the notification number HD/Drug/58/2012 issued today the Commissioner of Food has prohibited distribution of Gutkha by whatever name and Pan Masala or Zarda containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by any name.

Are the mineral water cans you are buying for drinking purpose really safe? Is the packaged water meeting the standard guidelines of Food Safety Act?

The answers are coming in negative as at least 25 Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in Madurai district are yet to obtain the mandatory licence from Government food safety wing. These drinking water plants are, however, continuing to supply water cans to homes. Officials are going to step up raids against violators and they have appealed to the public to remember that the water need not be safe just because it is supplied in a can.

Kochi: The wait of the public for quality food and hygiene in restaurants and eateries will continue with the deadline for registering them under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 extended by a year.

Following a request from the state government, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has extended the last date of registration to February 4, 2014. The deadline set for the same had expired on February 4. The authority had given a six-month transitory period for the act to come into force from the earlier Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, which expired in August 2012.

Even as the February 4 deadline for food business units to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is fast approaching, the district administration organised a rally in the city on Wednesday to sensitise traders to the need to register under the Act immediately.

All food business operators with a turnover of Rs.12 lakh should obtain licence from the designated officer and those with turnover of below Rs.12 lakh should register themselves with the respective food safety officer as per the provisions of the Act.

Of the six lakh food traders in the City, only 50,000 have procured food safety licences.

PMC’s Kondhwa Facility Upgraded

Pune:If you eat a pav bhaji at your local favourite joint and don’t find it palatable, take a sample of it to the food testing facility in Kondhwa to know if it’s consumable. Started by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) at Salunke Vihar in Kondhwa a year back, the lab so far had limited use. “It was designed primarily for testing meat at the Kondhwa slaughterhouse. Since it is well equipped, the lab can be used by common people. Anybody can go there with the food sample and ask for a test to be conducted. The lab will provide the details,” said PMC heal officer S T Pardeshi.

Only 5,500 units have complied with the requirement so far

Even as the February 4 deadline for food business units to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is fast approaching, just about 5,500 units have complied with the requirement in the district so far. According to estimates, about 14,000 units are engaged in the food sector in the district. Of these, about 4,000 would require licence and the rest would have to be registered.

Water to be collected and distributed only from licensed sources: Food Safety Commissioner

Commissioner of Food Safety Biju Prabhakar has issued a directive that henceforth, drinking water should be supplied in the State only in tanker lorries that have a Food Business Operator (FBO) licence under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011. He has also directed that all drinking water supply sources, other than the Kerala Water Authority, should possess an FBO licence, and water should be collected and distributed in the State only from such licensed sources. These sources should have certificates proving the safety and quality of water.