Worms, fungus found in food products
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 05 2013 : While worms have been found inside a tin of Amulspray infant milk, fungi were found inside a pac-ket of cream product, the brand name of which is Winkies Swiss Roll with Vermicelli Sprinkled Rich Coca Cream Filling .

Amulspray infant milk is manufactured by Sabar Kan-tha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, Boria, Himapnagar while the product is marketed by the Gujarat Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited.

The particular tin of Amul-spray in which worms were found was packaged on April 13 this year as per its label.

Expiry date given by the label is March, 2014.The tin weighs 500 gm and its batch number is 00SBT094 .

On the other hand, the cream product of the brand name Winkies Swiss Roll with Vermicelli Cream Filling inside which fungus was seen is manufactured Kanduwa Food Park, Howrah, West Bengal and the firm is registered with Cream Bake Pri- vate Limited, 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

Batch number of the particular packet of cream is SRC/0909/NB/29 and its ma-nufacturing date is 9-9-2013.'Best before 7-01-2014' was written on its label.

Talking with The Sangai Express, Deputy Food Safe-ty Commissioner of Directo- rate of Medical and Health Services T Brojendro Khaba said that the Amulspray tin having worms was bought last Friday by one Ningthou-jam (O) Subadani of Tera Tongbram Leikai from a local pharmacy which was opened recently.

The pharmacist bought the milk product from a shop named Lali located at Paona Keithel.

On opening the tin of milk this morning, a multitude of worms and eggs were found in a state of motion.

The cream product was bought by one Dhanabir of Tera Sapam Leirak from a shop located at Naoremthong last Friday afternoon.

The cream product was also open-ed only this morning but it was found covered with a layer of fungi.

Growth of worms and fungus inside food products in- dicate that the particular food products are not hygienic or fit for human consumption.

This also implies gross error in the packaging process.

Necessary actions would be initiated so that trade licences issued to agents of the two particular food products are cancelled.

Moreover, all possible steps would be initiated against the two companies, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner.

According to general rules, punitive actions should be initiated after the adulterated food products are tested in laboratories but the State Government has no provision for financial support for testing adulterated or sub-standard food products in laboratories.

As such, people need to be very cautious while buying packaged food products, more particularly before eating such products, cautioned T Brojendro.

Speaking to newspersons, Ningthoujam (o) Subadani (60) w/o N Ibochou Meitei of Tera Tongbram Leikai, said she bought the said Amulspray from Tongbra and Son's Pharmacy located at her locality at around 6.30 pm of October 3.Her daughter Rita (23) opened it at 6 am the next morning to make tea and found the insects and the fungus like particles.

In the other case, Dhanabir Mongjam of Tera Sapam Leirak said he bought the Swiss roll at 5 pm of October 4 from a shop located near Naoremthong Epathoukok Leirak.

The fungus was found when its packet was opened at 6 am of October 5 .

Also in April this year, his son Ranabir (4) suffered from diarrhoea after eating a similar Swiss roll kept in his school tiffin box.

Doctor told that it was a food poisoning case, Dhanabir recounted.

Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Brojendro Khaba also wondered what the State and district level Medical Directorate officers and staff are doing when such issues are encountered, including deaths due to consumption of sub-standard food items.

People should be aware and check before consumption of food items, and inform the Directorate if such case is encountered.

Legal action can be taken under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, Rules and Regulation 2011, he asserted.

Khaba observed that the two food items in question have not reached their expiry time.

The Swiss roll with Batch no SRC/0909/MD/29 has 09/09/2013 as Manufacture date and 07/01/2014 as Expiry date.

The Amulspray with Batch no 00SBT094 has April 2013 as Manufacture date and March 2014 as Expiry date.

The finding of insect, fungus and other particles in such food item which have not reached its expiry date indicates the lack of awareness.

Those concerned have been informed to stop selling the two products, he added.

Comment