Indepth: Food Safety

CSE supports environment minister on Bt-brinjal

Date: 14/02/2010

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has come out in support of the verdict on Bt-brinjal announced by Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State (independent charge) for Environment and Forests.

Report: Review of Mahyco’s GM brinjal food safety studies
Report: Bio-safety critique & guidelines recommended by Dr Bhargava

Latest News from Down To Earth

How Bt brinjal was cleared
A coalition of organizations opposed to genetically modified food in India has written to the minister of state for environment and forests seeking withdrawal of clearance given to Bt brinjal. The Coalition for GM-free India alleged the expert committee that cleared the genetically modified brinjal for commercial cultivation in the country was neither impartial nor thorough.
Green signal for Bt brinjal
Bt brinjal is a step away from becoming India’s first genetically modified food crop. Whether it will enter our kitchens, now depends on the Union environment ministry. On October 14, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac, the clearing house for all genetically modified crops in India) gave it environmental clearance.

Government Policies and Action Plans

Food safety and standards regulations, 2009
01 Dec 2009 Posted by :
The Draft Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2009 have been prepared in consultation with various stake holders and after through deliberations in a series of meetings in the Food Safety Standards Authority of India. These Rules include qualification of the enforcement
Base working paper on strategy and action plan for ensuring safety of milk and milk products
01 Jan 2009 Posted by :
This base working paper on the strategy and action plan for ensuring safety of milk and milk products covers three goals: Assessment of food legislation at national level – preparation of a country profile; Preparation and implementation of national food safety programme; and Evaluation of food safety activities.

Health Effects

GM food can cause cancer
French scientist Gilles-Eric Séralini unmasked the dangers of genetically modified brinjal, almost approved for commercial production in India. He shared with Savvy Soumya Misra his findings on Bt brinjal and Roundup Ready soybean. On the data submitted on Bt brinjal by Mahyco for approval from the Indian government.
Source: Down to Earth
Tags: Animal Feed, Bt Brinjal, Cancer, Food Safety, GM Crops, Health Effects, Mahyco, Research, Scientists, Soyabean, Toxicity Studies, United States Of America (US), Vegetables, Health, India, Pesticides And Toxins
Caffeine hits energy drinks
Energy drinks sold in restaurants and grocery stores have caught the eye of food regulators in Maharashtra. In the first week of April, they seized large quantities of beverages sold under brands like Red Bull, Cloud 9, Fighter and SoBe Adrenaline Rush from godowns in Pune and Mumbai.
Source: Down to Earth
Tags: Food Process Industry, Food Safety, Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Food Safety Authority (FDA), Food Standards, Health Effects, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Pune (D), Soft Drinks, Soft Drinks Industry, Health, India, Pesticides And Toxins

Regulations

Food safety and standards rules, 2009
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 91 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), the Central Government hereby makes the rules. These rules may be called the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2009. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette.
Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Tags: Food Safety, Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI), Food Standards, India, Pesticides And Toxins
Draft regulations for amendment of Milk and Milk Product Order
These regulations may be called the Good Safety and Standard Authority of India (Milk and Milk Products) Amendment Regulations, 2009. They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.
Source: Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI)
Tags: Food Safety, Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI), Milk, Milk Products, India, Pesticides And Toxins

Reports and Documents

Report of the expert committee (EC-II) on Bt brinjal event EE-1
Report of the Expert Committee (EC-II) to review findings of large scale trials and the related biosafety studies on Bt brinjal submitted to GEAC on Oct 8, 2009. Concludes that that development and safety assessment of Bt brinjal is fully compliant with the conditions stipulated by GEAC.
Source: Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
Tags: Biosafety, Food Safety, Genetic Engineering, GM Crops, Insecticide, Mahyco, NGO, Pesticides, Seeds, Toxicity Studies, Vegetables, Environment, India, Pesticides And Toxins

Global Scenario

Bridging the GAPs: strategies to improve produce safety, preserve farm diversity and strengthen local food systems
This report begins with an overview of existing on-farm food safety policies and programs. It then analyzes the ramifications of existing and proposed protocols, and offers recommendations for improving produce safety while preserving the diversity of farm sizes and production methods present in the U.S. food system.
Source: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Tags: Agriculture, Agricultural Systems, Food Contamination, Food Safety, Food Standards, Organic Farming, United States Of America (US), Food Policy, Pesticides And Toxins, Industry

Books

The pesticide detox: towards a more sustainable agriculture
Since the 1960s, the world's population has more than doubled and agricultural production per person has increased by a third. Yet this growth in production has masked enormous hidden costs arising from widespread pesticide use - massive ecological damage and high incidences of farmer poisoning and chronic health effects.
Pesticide residues in food and drinking water: human exposure and risks
This book describes the issues surrounding pesticide residues in food and drinking water and, in particular, the issues associated with human exposure and consumer risk assessment.