Cockroaches make merry in Japanese foods

Cockroach fears prompt Japan frozen food recall

A woman shops at a supermarket in Tokyo

TOKYO:

Hundreds of thousands of frozen pasta meals were being recalled in Japan on Wednesday (Dec 10) after a cockroach was found inside a packet.

Nissin Frozen Foods, a unit of instant noodles pioneer Nissin Foods Holdings, is probing “a claim by a customer who spotted something foreign inside a product, and discovered that part of an insect believed to be a cockroach had slipped” into a bag of frozen pasta, it said in a statement.

The company was calling for the return of about 750,000 meals sold by supermarkets across Japan, a Nissin spokesman said, adding the recall did not affect food sold abroad.

“We are using frozen vegetables in making the products, and the insect is believed to have been attached to a vegetable, which in turn was presumably sent to our production line,” he said.

The company is investigating how the bug slipped in, he said, declining to disclose where the company got the frozen vegetables.

The products were made in its plant in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan, the company said.

Japan has a good record on food safety and consumers are used to high standards. However, occasional food scares sometimes prove very costly for manufacturers, who can find themselves shunned by shoppers for years.

– AFP/xq

Another cockroach found in processed food in Japan

Photo illustration showing a fake cockroach on a hand.

Days after a cockroach in frozen pasta sparked a mass recall in Japan, a noodle maker has shuttered its operations after claims that a cooked bug was found inside a meal.

Maruka Foods Corp said it was recalling two types of instant fried noodles, after “a claim from a customer that a foreign object, an insect, had been spotted inside one of the products”.

The company also said in a statement issued on Thursday (Dec 11) that it had suspended its entire production line for the time being.

The recall affects 46,000 packets of the popular Peyoung instant fried brand, which came into being in the 1970s and has a strong fanbase.

^{Peyoung instant fried noodle. Photo: AFP}

Maruka announced the recall after the customer posted a photo on Twitter showing the bug, later confirmed to be a 2cm black cockroach, entangled in noodles, local media said.

Mainichi Shimbun daily and other reports said the bug is believed to have slipped into the noodles before they were fried during the manufacturing process.

The brand of noodles affected is only sold in Japan, the company said.

The move came a day after Nissin Frozen Foods, a unit of instant noodles pioneer Nissin Foods Holdings, recalled hundreds of thousands of frozen pasta meals after a cockroach was found inside a packet.

Japan has a good record on food safety and consumers are used to high standards.

But occasional food scares sometimes prove very costly for manufacturers, who can find themselves shunned by shoppers for years.

Source: AFP

Mosquito coils, incense sticks contain carcinogens

Inhaling smoke emitted by mosquito coils and incense sticks is not only harmful to the lungs, but can also cause cancer, said Sundeep Salvi, director of Chest Research Foundation, Pune, here on Friday.

Dr. Salvi, who spoke on ‘Indoor pollution and asthma’ at the 48th National Conference of Indian College of Allergy, Asthma and Applied Immunology at JSS Hospital, claimed that research by the foundation had shown that mosquito coils and incense sticks contain carcinogens, while studies in Taiwan and China had established their link with lung cancer.

“Burning one mosquito coil in a closed room amounts to smoking roughly 100 cigarettes,” Dr. Salvi said. 

While the emission from the burning of incense sticks, used commonly during religious occasions in India, is toxic as it contains lead, iron and manganese, he said the pesticide ‘pyrethrin’ in mosquito coils is harmful for the lungs.

The no-smoke coils, marketed by the companies, may have less particulate matter, but they emit a high level of carbon monoxide, which is unsafe for the lungs, he added.

Though studies are yet to be conducted on mosquito repellent mats and liquidators, he said the gaseous pollution they cause are ‘a strong irritant for the lungs’.

Dr. Salvi said the foundation had recently conducted research in 22 villages near Pune, which showed that 65 per cent of the households keep both the doors and windows closed while using mosquito coils, which accentuates the effect of inhaling toxic fumes.

P.A. Mahesh, professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, JSS Medical College, who is also the organising secretary of the conference, said studies showing that carcinogenic content in mosquito coils and incense sticks were conducted recently. “Mosquitoes are found only in temperate zones like India and China. So, no research had been conducted in Europe or the U.S., which are cold zones,” he added.

Vector- borne disease

Referring to the challenge posed by vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria, Dr. Mahesh said fixing mosquito screens to windows and doors is one of the solutions. “A mosquito net around the bed is the best solution,” he added.

Contending that studies had shown that mosquito repellents contain volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, Dr. Mahesh said a resolution against the use of mosquito repellents in the interest of the public would be communicated to the Union government.

TH

விரைவில் உடல் எடை குறைக்க 2 வழிகள்

அமெரிக்காவின் GM மோட்டார்ஸ் நிறுவனம் கண்டறிந்த  முறை “பழங்களை மட்டுமே உண்டு எடை குறைக்கும் வழி.  இம்முறையை அமெரிக்காவின் “Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration” அங்கீகரித்துள்ளது. ஒரு வாரத்தில் ஐந்து கிலோ எடை குறைப்புக்கு உத்தரவாதம் என்கிறார்கள் இம்முறையில் !

1.இந்த முறையில் ஐந்து நாளும் என்னென்ன சாப்பிடலாம் என்று அவர்கள் சொல்லும் லிஸ்டை பாருங்கள் :

முதல் நாள்: எந்த பழங்களும் ( வாழை பழம் தவிர்த்து ) சாப்பிடலாம்- தர்பூசணி சற்று அதிகமாக 

இரண்டாம் நாள்: அவித்த, உப்பு சேர்த்த உருளை கிழங்கு சாப்பிடலாம். தவிர சமைத்த/ சமைக்காத காய்கறிகள் (சாலடுகள்) எவ்வளவு முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு சாப்பிடலாம்.

மூன்றாம் நாள் : பழங்கள் + காய்கறிகள் எவ்வளவு முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு சாப்பிடலாம் ( தவிர்க்க வேண்டியவை: வாழை பழம் மற்றும் உருளை கிழங்கு)

நான்காம் நாள்: வாழை பழங்கள் + டம்ளர் பால் இரவு -வெஜிடபிள் சூப் குடிக்கலாம்

ஐந்தாம் நாள் :

காலை: காய்கறிகள். ஒரு கப் சாதம். ஒரு பெரிய தக்காளி.

இரவு: நான் வெஜ் : பீப் (மாட்டு கறி)ஒரு பெரிய தக்காளி.

நாள் முழுதும் நிறைய தண்ணீர் குடிப்பது அவசியம்

ஆறாம் நாள்:

காலை: காய்கறிகள். ஒரு கப் சாதம். நிறைய காய்கறிகள்

இரவு: நான் வெஜ் : ஒரு கப் சாதம். பீப் (மாட்டு கறி)

ஏழாம் நாள்:

நிறைய பழச்சாறு சமைத்த காய்கறிகள் எவ்வளவு முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு

உடலின் எந்த நோய் இல்லாமலும் வேறு பிரச்சனை இல்லாமலும் இருப்பவர்களும் மட்டும் தான் இந்த ஏழு நாள் சோதனை எடுக்கணுமாம் ! ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் மூன்று லிட்டர் தண்ணீர் குடிப்பது அவசியம் !

எட்டாம் நாளில் ரிசல்ட் தெரிவது உறுதியாம் !

இந்த முறையில் எடை குறைய மிக எளிய காரணம் சொல்கிறார்கள்: ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் உணவு மூலம் நமக்கு தேவைப்படுவது ரெண்டாயிரம் கலோரிகள். இந்த முறை மூலம் தினம் 1200 கலோரிகள் மட்டுமே கிடைப்பதால், ஒரு வாரத்தில் ஐந்து கிலோ எடை குறைகிறது என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதனை தொடர்ந்து கடை பிடித்தால் அனீமியா வந்து விடும் என்றும் கூறப்படுகிறது. ஒரு முறை எடை குறைக்கவும், அதன் பின் உடற்பயிற்சி போன்றவற்றில் தக்க வைக்கவும் மட்டுமே இது பயன் படும்.

2. அதே பத்திரிக்கையில் இந்த முறை இல்லாமல் தினசரி உணவு பழக்கம் மூலமே உடல் எடையை குறைக்க முடியும் என்று ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவ கல்லூரியில் பணிபுரியும் டாக்டர் ஷைனி சந்திரா என்பவர் கூறியுள்ள உணவு முறை:

காலை: எழுந்த உடன் அத்திப்பழம். 5 பாதாம் , 2 டேட்ஸ் ; ஊற வைத்த வெந்தயம் தண்ணீரில் சாப்பிட வேண்டும். பத்து நிமிடம் கழித்து ஒரு டம்ளர் பால் குடிக்கலாம்

காலை உணவு: Idli ராகி/ ஓட்ஸ் இவற்றில் ஏதேனும் ஒன்று அளவோடு சாப்பிட வேண்டும்.

காலை 11 மணிக்கு ; ஒரு டம்ளர் மோர்

மதியம்: 150 கிராம் காய்கறி, ஒரு கப் அரிசி சாதம், சாலட் இவை சாப்பிடலாம். அசைவம் எனில் வாரம் இரு முறை அளவோடு சாப்பிடலாம்

நான்கு மணிக்கு: கிரீன் டி. உப்பு கடலை அல்லது பொட்டு கடலை

எட்டு மணிக்குள்: சப்பாத்தி மற்றும் ஒரு கப் காய்கறி சாப்பிட வேண்டும்

இரண்டு மணி நேரம் கழித்து தான் உறங்க போக வேண்டும்.

இம்முறையில் ஒரு சில மாதத்தில் உடல் எடை குறைக்கலாம் .

*******

“வெறும் பழங்களை மட்டுமே சாப்பிட்டு விட்டு எப்படி நாளை ஓட்ட முடியும் பசிக்காதா? “என கேட்கிறீர்களா?  ஆம் எனில் நீங்கள் என் இனம் ! ஆனால் மிக அவசரமாக உடல் எடை குறைக்க விரும்பும் சிலர் இதில் முதலில் சொன்ன வழியை பின்பற்றி வெற்றியும் அடைந்துள்ளனர் என்பது உண்மையே !

http://veeduthirumbal.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_14.html

Food Safety Legal updates – India this week (13.12.14)

Kutwal Foods  sues Bisleri over ‘stolen’ trademark

Name of new energy drink is very similar to a city-based packaged water brand

In August this year, Bisleri International forayed into the energy drink segment with Urzza. However, one Pune-based company —Kutwal Foods Pvt. Ltd — isn’t too pleased with the name given to the drink, so much so that Bisleri has now been sued for alleged trademark infringement. Reason: Kutwal Foods Pvt Ltd offers dairy products, packaged drinking water and soft drinks under the trade name of Urja.

As per the company’s claim, they are using the brand name since 2000 and got it registered in 2004, under the category 32 of the trademark registry.

According to the managing director of Kutwal Foods Pvt Ltd Ram Kutwal, Bisleri International introduced the energy drink Urzza — a carbonated soft drink (CSD) — in August last week.

“In the first week of September, we got calls from our distributors inquiring whether we have tied up with Bisleri. When we did our own investigation, we came to know that Bisleri had used our brand name by just modifying the spelling,” he said in a press conference in Deccan on Wednesday.

According to him, big giants are trying to swallow small firms by indulging in such acts.

When asked if they have contacted Bisleri yet, he said that he consulted with his legal team and decided that since the mineral water giant has already begun big scale promotions of Urzza, it would be futile to have discussion with them. “We have filed a civil law suit in the Shivajinagar court on November 13,” he said.

He also pointed out that the use of the said mark by Bisleri deceives the general public about the source of the goods. The impugned mark is deceptively and phonetically similar to their registered trademark Urja hence misguiding the consumer.

“When you write Urzza in English it structurally, visually and phonetically sounds similar to our brand URJA and is likely to cause confusion in the course of trade between members of the aerated industry and public in general,” he said.

“The Urzza product, which is being marketed by Bisleri, creates confusion in mind of our consumers and industry members like whether there is joint venture between our company and Bisleri or whether any takeover has been made between us, we feel that all these facts hamper our brand’s goodwill and reputation in the market which we have painfully built over the years,” Kutwal clarified.

Despite repeated attempts, the Bisleri officials were not reachable and did not reply to the emails sent by Mirror.

http://www.punemirror.in/

Food manufacturers fined Rs 40 lakh as their products fail quality test

Haridwar ADM court on Wednesday

slapped Rs 40 lakh fine on some renowned food companies including Amul and Pizza Hut for selling substandard food products, an ETV report has said.

The report says that food samples of products manufactured by Amul, Pizza Hut, Ruchi refined vegetable oil and Mohan Milk were sent to a Rudrapur-based Food and Drug Testing Laboratory.

The test reports found the products substandard following which the court imposed a total of Rs 40 fine on nine such companies.

http://www.news18.com/

HC Tells TDB to Ensure Adherence to Food Safety Norms

KOCHI:

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to ensure that the standards prescribed by the Food Safety Commissioner are strictly followed in the preparation of ‘appam’ and ‘aravana’ at the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala. The Division Bench also held that if any batch of the ‘prasadam’ is not prepared in conformity with the standards it should not be distributed to devotees.

The Bench, comprising Justice P N Raveendran and Justice P B Suresh Kumar, passed the order based on a report by the Special Commissioner on the preparation of appam and aravana.

In 2012, the court had directed the TDB to follow the suggestions of the Commissioner on the production, packaging and handling of aravana and appam at the Sabarimala temple.

The court also observed that the laboratory on the temple premises should be functional during the monthly poojas and in the ‘mandalam makaravilakku’ season. There should be a complete regulatory mechanism in place with regard to the procurement of materials, as well as the production and packaging of aravana and appam.

The Bench held that the District Collector and the Sabarimala Special Commissioner should ensure the compliance of the order.

Plea of accused dismissed

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by four accused seeking to quash the case registered in connection with the sale of substandard shawarma in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Crime Branch had registered cases under the provisions of the Food Safety Act and under section 304 of Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The prosecution case against Abdul Khadar and others was that after having shawarma prepared and sold from their shop, on July 7, 2012, ten customers were admitted to various hospitals for treatment of food poisoning. Besides, a youth who had eaten shawarma from the shop died in Bangalore.

The court said that the petitioners were not entitled to get the case quashed

 CASE HISTORY  

Thiruvananthapuram: 21.07.2012 

 It took the death by food poisoning of a 21-year-old to shake Kerala’s health authorities out of their slumber on the lack of basic hygiene in many eateries across the state. In the past few days, some 50 establishments of varying sizes have been shut across the state for not following minimum standards.

All the 20,000 eateries across the state were shut Saturday to protest the health department’s raids.

On July 10, 21-year-old Sachin Mathew, a hotel management graduate, bought three ‘shawarmas’ from a restaurant located close to the Congress party headquarters here before boarding a bus for Bangalore.

En route to Bangalore that night, he rang up his mother and said he was unwell. From the next day on there was no contact with the parents and on July 14 they got a call from a lodge in Bangalore where he was staying that their son had died.

Also on July 10, the son of thespian Thilakan and his family also had ‘shawarmas’ from the same restaurant and they too fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital.

A day later the health authorities sealed the restaurant.

The health authorities in Kochi have banned the sale of shawarmas for a week.

Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association president Sudheesh Kumar told IANS that sales in hotels have dropped following the incident. The Association had called Saturday’s stir.

“To the best of my knowledge this is the first incident where a life has been lost due to food poisoning. We have begun a massive awareness drive among our members on the do’s and don’ts. At this point of time we do not wish to blame anyone,” said Kumar, who runs a plush seaside resort overlooking the Kovalam beach.

The Food Safety Department (FSD) of the state government has also opened a helpline and responses have started pouring in from the general public pointing to improper hygiene being maintained at eateries.

The authorities have asked the public to ensure that they keep the copy of the bill from the establishment where they ate as this would be crucial in case compensation was sought.

“The raids began from Tuesday and by now we have checked 511 eateries and have served improvement notices to 133. These notices are in fact warning signals to the hotel owners that they have to improve their hygiene and, if not, they will be closed down permanently,” said a FSD official.

Thiruvananthapuram Mayor K. Chandrika pointed out that following the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act last August, the civic body had lost to the state government the powers to rein in erring eateries.

“With this new law, the onus is on the state government and they have to do what has to be done. There is no point in blaming the corporation,” Chandrika, who belongs to the CPI-M, said.

Kerala assembly Speaker G. Karthikeyan, meanwhile, has asked the state government to find out if the responsible officials are doing their job.

IANS