Traders, bakers differ on food safety

As members of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi are bracing up for a strike on October 3 against the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, their counterparts in the bakery industry will close down outlets for a one-day clean-up programme. While the samithi is demanding withdrawal of stringent punishment envisaged in the law, the latter will be focussing on ways to ensure better hygiene.

Strategic move

The bakers, while maintaining the camaraderie among the trade groups, want to explore the opportunity for a worthwhile cause. It is a strategic move aimed at keeping the traders united, simultaneously giving a clear message on the purpose of a strike.The Bakers Association Kerala (Bake) has been spearheading several initiatives to improve hygiene in the kitchen. Several classes have been organised by the association across the State for the members to get familiarised with the clauses of the new Act.The organisation had brought out a Malayalam version of the Act. It is of the view that the Act is progressive and compliance with the provisions will be beneficial to the bakers’ community.“The path to progress is clearly visible in the food supply scenario. Only those who adopt modern methodologies in production and packaging will be able to survive,” says P.M. Sankaran, president of Bake.

The food products available at large supermarkets and malls are mostly procured from local manufacturers, he points out. Quality and packaging matter a lot in the procurement process. Those who fail to meet the required standards will be wiped out of the scene, he says.

Many of the neighbourhood shops in Malabar have vanished in recent years as they remained in the old mould and could not cater to the demands of the transformed customer. Bakeries are being modernised and latest technologies being incorporated to increase competency levels. Many among the food product manufacturers have benefited from the ongoing process, he avers.

One of the prominent associations in the hotel industry will also support the implementation of the Act, according to him. M.Krishnan Nair, vice-president of the KVVES, says the new Act is being implemented in a haphazard way. The penalty under the new regime is exorbitant and the mechanism for reconciliation is hostile. One of the demands of the samithi is to remove the top official of the food safety and standards authority in the State. Significantly, the date for implementing the Act has been postponed several times in view of the demand from various organisations for more time. It has now been slated for implementation from February 5 next year.

However, market sources point out that implementation of a new law in Kerala is generally marked by stiff opposition. Much of the powers hitherto exercised by local bodies in respect of inspection of food, are being assigned to the new authority.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com