Strengthening Farm Practices for effective Food Safety, Quality &

Regulatory Ecosystem

Government Perspective

DK 106/12/16

Death of more than 100 children in Malkanagiri Dist of Odisha since Sept,2015

(Acute hepato myo encephalopathy (HME) syndrome)

Death were suspected to be due to JE Govt.of Odisha setup a six-member panel led

by virologist Dr Jacob John from Vellore’s Christian Medical College

Interim report indicated anthraquinone, a toxin found in the ‘bada chakunda” is responsible

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CASSIA ACCIDENTALIS(Bana Chakunda)

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Repeated episodes of endosulfanpoisoning in Jabalpur(MP)

• Repeated episodes of convulsions,

• Consumption of contamination of wheat grains or flour with endosulfan

• Use of pesticide containers by illiterate farm workers.

(Dewan et.al,2004,J.Toxicol.clin. Toxicol. 2004;42(4):363-9)

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Pesticide on your plateIndian Express ,Jan,2015

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Vegetables grown in the vicinity of the brick kiln industries and national highways contain high levels of heavy metals

[K. Sharma, P.P. Dhyani, S.S. Samant, Toxic chemicals in fruits and vegetables: An overview, Everyman’s Science 65 (2010) 215-218.]

.

DK 706/12/16

While sampling, Dahiya et al. have found the cadmium (0.001-2.73 ug/g), nickel (0.041-8.29 ug/g) and lead (0.049-8.04 ug/g) in chocolates and candies; maximum being in cocoa-based chocolates.( S. Dahiya, R. Karpe, A.G. Hegde, R.M. Sharma, Lead, cadmium and nickel in

chocolates and candies from suburban areas of Mumbai, India. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 18(2005) 517-522)

DK 806/12/16

In eastern India, West Bengal state is endemic to poisoning of lead and arsenic through contaminated ground water[S.Majumdar, Food hazards and food security, Everyman’s Science 64(2010)

348-355.]

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• Use of veterinary drugs in food-producing animals - potential to generate residues in animal derived products (meat, milk, eggs and honey)

• Can poses a health hazard to the consumer.

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Factors for residues in animal products

• Drug’s properties and their pharmacokinetic characteristics,

• Physicochemical or biological processes of animals and their products.

• Most likely reason -improper drug usage and failure to keep the withdrawal period.

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Major public health significances of drug residue

• Development of antibiotic drug resistance,

• Hypersensitivity reaction,

• Carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and disruption of intestinal normal flora.

• The residual amount ingested in small amounts may not necessarily toxic.

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Illness due to contaminated food is perhaps

the most widespread public health problem

in the contemporary world and

an important cause of

reduced economic productivity.

FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Safety

Geneva 1983

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What are contaminants?

ContaminantsAny substance not intentionally added to food, which is present in

such food as a result of the production, manufacture, processing,

treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food or

as a result of environmental contamination

Codex definition

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What are Government’s interest in food safety

Government has a responsibility to defend public interests – such as public health

Government must safeguard the country’s economic interest by assuring importing countries that their food safety requirements are met

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How does government meet its

food safety responsibilities?

Establishment of FSSAct, 2006 and regulations

Communication with economic operators at all stages of the food chain and consumers on food safety issues

Training and other technical support to industry Has an important role to play in assisting economic operators to

understand and meet their food safety obligations

Technical support to economic operators must be tailored to their needs – this is particularly important for small enterprises

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How does government meet its

food safety responsibilities?

Laying down science based standards for articles of food including contaminants , additive etc

Regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Implementation of controls to ensure compliance

Monitoring programmes allow verification that food safety measures are effective.

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Monitoring data – basis for decision-making

Deciding what contaminants might be of public health concern

Providing data for risk assessment of contaminants thought to present a substantial public health risk

Allowing assessment of risk management options for handling specific problem

Allows continual evaluation of adequacy of existing food safety measures / suitability of food handling practices

Can facilitate pro-active food safety programming

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Contaminant monitoring –initial planning

• First step should be a clear statement of programme objectives

– May serve to give a general picture of exposure to contaminants and toxins

– Can be used to investigate some specific problem

– May allow evaluation of effectiveness of a particular food safety measure

– Can allow assessment of impact of new industry practices

.

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JOINT COLLABORATION

• Government

• Industry

• Trade Bodies

• Research Institutions-Private/

• Other interested agencies/groups

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Programme design

Pesticide Residue Monitoring

Veterinary drugs

Heavy metals

Toxins

Should take into consideration compounds that are likely to be of public health significance

Should take into consideration factors known to affect level of contaminant (climatic conditions, geology, processing/ handling methods)-Mapping

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Scientific programme design

Should select appropriate matrices (target tissues) for sampling and testing

Should include the statistical basis for the sampling plan and analysis of results

Should take into consideration available resources (technical and financial) to support the programme

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Contaminant monitoring –programme operation

Describe sampling procedures including sample selection, collection, identification and security

Describe analytical methods, document that they are validated and consistent with stated objectives of monitoring programme

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Monitoring data –building stakeholder confidence

Demonstrates commitment to food safety

Making data available to stakeholders can build trust

Trust can lead to improved cooperation – nationally and internationally

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Challenges & Opportunities

Prevention of food and feed contamination at source, by reducing environmental pollution.

Awareness on importance of GAP

Good Practice in the Use of Veterinary Drugs (GPVD)

Code of Practice(COP) for the prevention and reduction of contaminants need be prepared

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"A lot of steps have been taken to curb this situation. No pesticide can be registered without risk assessment and knowing about its toxicity. We are working on making labels and leaflets more farmer friendly. Training programs are being organized to make them more aware about the waiting period and the right time to use pesticides. We are also promoting the use of bio-pesticides. In most cases, pesticides may be used just before harvest and this can lead to residues above maximum residue level. Therefore, they need to know how much to use and when to use.”• (Utpal Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture,)

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• "Food safety is the forefront of policy making. Every penny spent on making food safe is equivalent to a reduction in every penny spent on health care. We need to strengthen our laboratory infrastructure at state level to maintain standards and detect discrepancies earlier,"

• ( Mr YS Malik, CEO, FSSAI)

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"We need to regulate our Public Distribution System. Grains, pulses and cereals should be packaged and sold and for fresh fruits, vegetables and street food standards need to be set for sale and preparation. Statistics reveal that about 42% children in 102 districts suffer from malnutrition. Access to a nutritionally balanced diet for pregnant mothers and children should be the focus,”

(M Keshav Desiraju, Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, GOI)

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“Completing a decade is ,for us, definitely an occasion to celebrate. But more than that , it is also an opportunity to look back, review, and course correct. When we commemorate the completion of a decade of the FSS Act, it is the right moment to also plan the future course of FSSAI “

(Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI)

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Conclusions Contaminant monitoring and mapping is an important

component of food control programmes

Data from monitoring programmes strengthen risk assessment and risk management decisions for international and national levels

Monitoring programmes must be carefully designed and implemented according to stated objectives

Training on importance of GAP, GPVD; preparation/adoption of Code of Practice(COP) on General Principles of Food Hygiene

Adequate food analysis capability and capacity is essential to support contaminant monitoring programmes

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“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”

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Thank you for your

kind attention

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