The Food Safety 'Standards' or the lack of it

The Food Safety 'Standards' or the lack of it

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 23rd June 2015

The commercial news media for now seem to be changing behaviour and it seems to be convincing readers/viewers about its 'change of heart'. It picked up the Food Safety issue starting with an MNC. Normally this was unthinkable unless a few people have ceased to exist. Soon a bogey of 'learned' intellectuals came up to overpower the debate to tame the rhetoric to measurable proportions and guiding it to its death. This was done on back of the reputation of the brand which was worth more than the reputation of the agencies and bureaucrats involved, as reported.

Again, it picked up the lacunae in a game administration i.e. Cricket. Here, the bogey seems to be heating up by the day as the list of 'involved' leadership grows in stature. This is even as any logical person can conclude that the concerned event possibly couldn't be worth the kind of money and that was the case from the very beginning. Its not that the author is unsupportive of those news room warriors, however it is about the proportion of 'public interest' as well, which seems to be getting lost by the action of commercial news media.

In the case of Food business, the agenda could have been used to 'test' the gutka/ pan-masala brands, or the safety standards of other popular Food brands whether domestic or foreign. This might have thrown a 'spanner' in government's healthy work to curb tobacco and likes. However, the news room warriors went alongside the 'Chalta Hai' politicos and bureaucrats with independent intellectuals backing them. This even as some channels will run news articles on adulterated milk products, Veggies, fruits etc. with gusto almost appealing people to change their vendors and as if the big shops have installed 'fool proof measures' to ensure food quality.

We also have a general lack of compliance in domestic Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) business while the MNC QSR might have a bit better standards and nothing to do with government measures here. Needless to say that the enterprises and Venture capitalists do not want to adhere to standards here as it would escalate costs and bring down profits; an area no one wants to be touched as of yet.

Unfortunately, this action or in-action by politicos or bureaucrats is seen to be a highly business friendly measure even if it is unsustainable in the long run. What we need instead is a technology adoption-cum-compliance regime, where such business needs to routinely invest in technology to ensure compliance with safety measures, so that public interest or health is taken care of. While this would force such business to invest in technologies to ensure compliance with safety standards (just as in case of automobiles), and give rise to an equipment industry. This may not suit commercial news media though which benefits hugely due to focus of such companies on brand building to push higher consumption amongst masses.

Presently, such incompliant businesses are supposed to be delivering affordable 'solutions' to the poor masses. This may change as Food Technology equipped business entities find ways to deliver much more healthy options for such masses and also improve health standards at some stage. Perhaps its time the political leadership starts weighing alternatives…

While the interest to cleanse the 'game' might be novel and eye catching, however it serves interests of a few, and may be limited interest of many (though nothing wrong with it). The Food safety might ensure that deeper interest of a large number of people may be progressively served although the politicos (and bureaucrats including mass media) almost always start from the 'wrong side' in order to service their constituencies in such cases.

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

Food safety standards are crucial for ensuring that the food we consume is safe and of high quality. These standards are typically set by regulatory bodies at national and international levels and cover a wide range of aspects, from the cultivation and production of food to its processing, packaging, and distribution. However, the lack of comprehensive and uniformly enforced food safety standards can pose significant risks to public health. In many developing countries, the absence or insufficient enforcement of these standards can lead to widespread issues such as contamination, adulteration, and the use of harmful chemicals in food production. This not only affects the health of local populations but also impacts the global food supply chain, as products from these regions can find their way into international markets. The disparities in food safety standards between different countries can create regulatory gaps, making it difficult to trace and manage foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. Moreover, the lack of standards can undermine consumer trust, affecting the economic stability of food producers and the entire industry. Addressing this issue requires a collaborative effort from governments, international organizations, and the private sector to establish and enforce robust food safety regulations, invest in food safety education and training, and implement effective monitoring and surveillance systems to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the global food supply.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

The Food Safety 'Standards' or the lack of it

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 23rd June 2015

The commercial news media for now seem to be changing behaviour and it seems to be convincing readers/viewers about its 'change of heart'. It picked up the Food Safety issue starting with an MNC. Normally this was unthinkable unless a few people have ceased to exist. Soon a bogey of 'learned' intellectuals came up to overpower the debate to tame the rhetoric to measurable proportions and guiding it to its death. This was done on back of the reputation of the brand which was worth more than the reputation of the agencies and bureaucrats involved, as reported.

Again, it picked up the lacunae in a game administration i.e. Cricket. Here, the bogey seems to be heating up by the day as the list of 'involved' leadership grows in stature. This is even as any logical person can conclude that the concerned event possibly couldn't be worth the kind of money and that was the case from the very beginning. Its not that the author is unsupportive of those news room warriors, however it is about the proportion of 'public interest' as well, which seems to be getting lost by the action of commercial news media.

In the case of Food business, the agenda could have been used to 'test' the gutka/ pan-masala brands, or the safety standards of other popular Food brands whether domestic or foreign. This might have thrown a 'spanner' in government's healthy work to curb tobacco and likes. However, the news room warriors went alongside the 'Chalta Hai' politicos and bureaucrats with independent intellectuals backing them. This even as some channels will run news articles on adulterated milk products, Veggies, fruits etc. with gusto almost appealing people to change their vendors and as if the big shops have installed 'fool proof measures' to ensure food quality.

We also have a general lack of compliance in domestic Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) business while the MNC QSR might have a bit better standards and nothing to do with government measures here. Needless to say that the enterprises and Venture capitalists do not want to adhere to standards here as it would escalate costs and bring down profits; an area no one wants to be touched as of yet.

Unfortunately, this action or in-action by politicos or bureaucrats is seen to be a highly business friendly measure even if it is unsustainable in the long run. What we need instead is a technology adoption-cum-compliance regime, where such business needs to routinely invest in technology to ensure compliance with safety measures, so that public interest or health is taken care of. While this would force such business to invest in technologies to ensure compliance with safety standards (just as in case of automobiles), and give rise to an equipment industry. This may not suit commercial news media though which benefits hugely due to focus of such companies on brand building to push higher consumption amongst masses.

Presently, such incompliant businesses are supposed to be delivering affordable 'solutions' to the poor masses. This may change as Food Technology equipped business entities find ways to deliver much more healthy options for such masses and also improve health standards at some stage. Perhaps its time the political leadership starts weighing alternatives…

While the interest to cleanse the 'game' might be novel and eye catching, however it serves interests of a few, and may be limited interest of many (though nothing wrong with it). The Food safety might ensure that deeper interest of a large number of people may be progressively served although the politicos (and bureaucrats including mass media) almost always start from the 'wrong side' in order to service their constituencies in such cases.

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