Use of Opium to season food preparations-Latest food scare in China

It is not easy to forget the greatest food fraud in China which occurred a few years ago killing and maiming hundreds of unsuspecting children after consuming baby foods made from milk adulterated with the toxic Melamine, a polymer material used in varnishes. Unfortunately the fraudsters are still alive and kicking in that country with the government, though considered a totalitarian regime, not able to do much to weed them out from the society. Latest scandal to emerge involves use of the intoxicant Opium to season some of the food preparations served in reputed restaurants. Opium in limited quantities are used to treat certain disease conditions but for a normal person to consume it regularly is unthinkable as this opioid is a habit forming one.making customers addicts.  Here is a take on this unfortunate episode reported recently from China.

"Thirty-five restaurants in China selling popular dishes and snacks were found to have used opium poppies as a seasoning, China's top food safety regulator said. Owners of 25 of the restaurants have been transferred to public security departments for criminal investigation, the China Food and Drug Administration said last Thursday. The other 10 are under investigation by the administration. The restaurants include some that are locally well known, including Huda Restaurant in Beijing, which specialises in spicy crayfish. Adding opium poppies to dishes violates China's Food Safety Law, which forbids the selling of food made with non-food materials or chemicals, except for food additives. Violations could result in fines or criminal penalties. The regulator called on local food and drug authorities to punish those involved and to cooperate with public security departments to find the sources of the poppies. It also required food and drug authorities to intensify supervision and inspection of restaurants that sell food like fried chicken and noodles. Professor of food safety and nutrition Luo Yunbo, at the China Agricultural University, said opium causes addiction and serious harm to health if overused, and it is banned from use in food in China. "There are so many restaurants in China and it is very difficult to effectively inspect every one of them to ensure they follow the law," he said."

What is galling is that irrational statements are being made regarding the impossibility of preventing such malpractices in the catering sector. Is it not the responsibility of the State to give protection to its citizens whatever may the cost or difficulties? What are the food safety personnel doing there if they cannot discharge their surveillance responsibility and why the government is soft on these criminals, instead of putting them in jails for long terms besides confiscating their properties? Though only 35 restaurants in Beijing so far have been found to be delinquents, this practice might be widespread through out the country because of the long term gains these eateries will have by making their regular customers more and more addicted to their food preparations! It is regrettable for any one to obfuscate by saying such practices can be weeded out only through education which presupposes that those indulging in such practices are innocent and illiterates! No doubt food safety surveillance is a heavy responsibility on all governments but showing helplessness is nothing but abdication of their duty of protecting the citizens through convincing and trust inspiring action.  

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD HAZARDS-FILTHY KITCHENS AND UNSAFE SERVICE

Does the "Name and shame" strategy that is in force in some country really desist the eateries from indulging in food preparation practices and service that are considered unacceptable by known safety standards? Obviously not if the experience in Australia is to be considered. According to safety authorities there almost 10% of the eateries fail the hygienic tests carried out by them raising serious concerns about the well being of the consumers. Here is take on this issue which may be of relevance to many countries like India where consumer protection situation continues to deteriorate over the years. 

"The first full release of data from the Food Authority's Name and Shame register reveals that more than 3500 of the 36,000 eateries inspected across the state failed hygiene tests.The first full release of data from the Food Authority's Name and Shame register reveals that more than 3500 of the 36,000 eateries inspected across the state failed hygiene tests. One in 10 restaurants and cafes across NSW have been fined for food safety breaches, from preparing meals in filthy kitchens to failing to control bug infestations. More than 1000 of the 8042 penalty notices issued in the past five years related to cockroach infestations, rodent activity and droppings in commercial kitchens. Unsanitary food preparation areas, dirty equipment and lack of easily accessible hand-washing facilities made up nearly half the offences. The data, obtained under freedom of information laws, also revealed that since 2008: City of Sydney Council was home to state's most hazardous kitchens with 820 fines". 

If a relatively rich country like Australia with almost 100% literacy can face such a situation what chance others with large population of illiterate citizens like India has to put in place a workable system to discipline the catering industry? The FSSAI in India is a toothless organization with a paper tiger like status and it is very apparent that neither the  quality standards nor the safety parameters set by this bureaucratic organization evoke ant fear or respect among the industry players. It is time that the safety monitoring infrastructure and testing facilities are strengthened immediately and the degree of punitive punishment is raised to instill a deterrent effect on the violators.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE WAY TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY-COLOMBO'S LEAD!

Eating out is a necessity modern families face because of the ever decreasing spare time available for carrying out elaborate cooking at home every day due to the pressure of the job that provides them with the economic muscle to live comfortably. Progressive reduction in the kitchen size in modern homes, especially apartments reflects this reality as new home makers realize the relatively lesser role for kitchens where the house wife is unlikely to spend as much time as those from earlier generations. Hotel industry and the food processing industry are the two "friends" for millions of middle class families world over and it is the primary responsibility of the governments to ensure that products and services provided by them are safe and reasonable from nutritional angle. It is this civic responsibility that necessitates establishment of adequate infrastructure in all countries to monitor and enforce hygiene and sanitation in all eateries, big or small where people gather for relaxed eating, enjoyment and relief from the monotonous chores of cooking at home. a few days a month. Though mandatory regulations exist in statute books, enforcement suffers because of many deficiencies in the system. Recently Colombo city in Sri Lanka was in the news for its unique initiative in improving the standards of eateries in there. The efforts, if sustained are praiseworthy and deserve to be emulated by other civic bodies, especially in the developing world.

"An independent team of doctors, food inspectors, medical lab technologists and PHI's are currently on an investigative mission on star class hotels in the Colombo city to ensure the food they serve is safe and free from health risks. The team of three doctors, four food inspectors and three medical lab technologists that commenced their unannounced 'visits' to hotels around the city early this month, have already hauled five star class hotels to court , Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, Chief Medical Officer, Colombo Municipal Council ( CMC) who appointed the team told The Nation, in an exclusive interview. "The charges varied from unhygienic food, unsanitary kitchens, outdated food in their stores to poor hygiene on the part of their food handlers", he said. "We have filed action against them under the Food Act of No 26, 1980. They will be fined Rs. 5,000 each and be given a suspended prison sentence as well." He said that raids of this nature were also being conducted in restaurants around the city. "This month alone we have filed cases against more than 30 restaurants for serving food in unsanitary conditions. Some of these food outlets are unlicensed. If they continue to operate without a license, we will have to go to courts again and get a closure order," he said. The team has been authorised to visit these hotels and restaurants at a chosen time and day. "They are expected to check the state of the kitchens, the stores, take samples of the food, check on the food handlers and if found wanting, initiate legal action on their own. They don't have to report to me, as they are an independent group. I have instructed them to do this regularly every month, preferably once a week, instead of just once or twice a year as the CMC used to do in the past," he said. Meanwhile the CMC is also coming down hard on errant wayside food stalls and lunch packet vendors selling food unfit for human consumption. Over 90- percent of lunch packets sold in boutiques and makeshift stalls on the roads have been found to be spoilt by 2 pm due to their being cooked very early in the morning and left exposed to the sun for over eight hours, a survey by the CMC revealed. Dr. Kariyawasam said that 140 lunch packet vendors were now registered with the CMC. "But they have to come to our premises daily to show us samples of their packets, as we are unable to go to them, since we are very short of staff - with just 33 Food Inspectors and four PHIs to test their food. Mobile food vendors must also get prior permission from the CMC to sell their food and park their vehicles only at suitable places approved by us and the Police. All vendors selling contaminated food packets will also be fined and have to face jail sentences", he warned"

During the last Common Wealth Games ( CWG) at Delhi the so called Food Authority in India announced a grandiose plan to monitor the sanitation and hygiene quality of eateries which became "history" like the CWG itself with nothing happening concretely. A private quality service player also announced its plans to introduce a mobile laboratory to "help" hoteliers to maintain food quality and safety by going to the location and analyzing the foods served by them. This also fizzled out leaving the catering industry to self regulation which all know can never happen! The conditions of eateries in many towns and cities are pathetic when it comes to catering whether in star hotels, smaller restaurants or street vending with practically no regular steps taken to discipline this sector. The infrastructure and technical personnel required are grossly inadequate with some places having these facilities only on paper! When is India going to wake up from this "deep slumber" and ensure that its citizens are provided with some modicum of safety from the unregulated and unrepentant catering industry? If this is not governance deficit of a serious nature what else it could be?

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

EATERIES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS-IMPACT ON HEALTH

One of the reasons for over eating has been believed to be location of fast food joints very near to the residential areas and policy makers in some countries even bar setting up new restaurants and eateries in proximity to densely populated places in some of the urban areas. Probably it is common sense that easy availability of food could be a temptation for consumers to eat foods there rather than going through the elaborate process of cooking at home. But common sense need not be dependable always as being proved by new studies that contradict the above presumption.

"Virtually every study in the last two years has blamed neighborhoods for obesity rather than the people who eat too much - but living near a variety of restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and even fast food outlets actually lowers your risk for obesity, according to a new study from the University of Utah. Surprisingly, people who live more than a half mile away from any food outlets are the ones who tend to be fatter. The study suggests that placing restrictions on fast food outlets may not be effective, but that initiatives to increase healthy neighborhood food options may reduce individuals' obesity risks, especially if focused on low-income neighborhoods".

Probably there may be some substance in the above finding as people living farther from restaurants may tend to over eat or resort to carrying foods from these eateries for eating at home, being reluctant to frequent the place too often. It is easier said than done when suggestions are made to change the menu at the restaurants in favor of more healthier foods to prevent people developing obesity like disorders. Voluntary efforts to shift the quality of menu in these restaurants in favor of healthier foods may be too slow in coming unless economic initiatives are offered for such a conscious switch.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com