??Is dining out and ordering food even safe anymore? | ??Heatwave in Hajj kills 550 people

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Market Watch

• Indian benchmark indices ended on a flat note The Nifty 50 dipped 41.90 points to settle at 23,516, while the Sensex was up 36.46 points to 77,337.60.
• Sectorally, the banking sector rose by 2% and the IT sector by 0.4%. All other indices ended in the red, with auto, capital goods, metal, oil & gas, power, and realty sectors declining by 1-3%.

Is dining out and ordering food even safe anymore?

In the last couple of days, opening a delivery box be it food or an Amazon product delivery is like a mystery box. From a Mumbai man finding a human finger (Yes, it’s real; they had it tested) in his cone ice cream to a family finding a dead mouse in Hershey’s Syrup bottle, and a live Cobra in an Amazon package—surprises are guaranteed.

Who is manufacturing my food? Today, the Mumbai police made a breakthrough in the human finger in the ice cream case and found that it likely belonged to a factory worker who was injured at the plant. The crucial aspect is that the Yummo Ice-creams had contracted it to third-party manufacturers.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence of this third-party facility where the finger incident occurred has been suspended. However, many operate without following government-mandated procedures.
• According to people in the know, it is fairly easy to obtain an FSSAI licence. Manufacturers ensure a clean kitchen during routine checks (which rarely take place) while operating in a substandard environment at other times.

Latest discoveries: A dead mouse was found in Hershey’s syrup to which the company responded and sought the batch details from the customer who took to social media to complain.

• This comes after a centipede was found in Amul Ice-cream and a dead frog in wafers. Most of these claims are also unverified and could be publicity stunts in the wake of the media’s focus on food safety.
• In Air India, a passenger found a rusted blade in his meal. On the same day, another business-class passenger complained about ‘undercooked food’ on Air India.

However, with Amul, all their manufacturing units are based out of Anand in Gujarat and there are no third-party contracts given to any other facilities. Hershey’s is also likely to have higher standard facilities, so it is surprising how such unhygienic products passed the check.

The crisis in restaurants: If you are active on Twitter, the updates from the official account of the Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana are enough to ensure that you never step foot into a restaurant again.

• Restaurant owners claim that the inspections have ruined their reputations and spread panic among the public.
• The department inspected 78 locations, uncovering unhygienic conditions in popular eateries like Shah Ghouse, Pista House, Shadab, and Bangalore-based Rameshwaram Cafe.
• Earlier, there were similar reports about the unhygienic conditions in cloud kitchens as well.

Bottomline, this is in the wake of reports of unhealthy levels of pesticides in MDH and Everest have cast doubts on the efficiency of FSSAI in India. Some states have taken it into their own hands to ban cotton candy and food colouring agents used in Gobi Manchurian. It remains to be seen if the Centre will enforce stricter standards.

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Heatwave in Hajj kills 550 people

At least 550 pilgrims died during the hajj in Mecca as temperatures soared above 50 degrees Celsius.

• Most of the deceased were Egyptians, with 323 dying mainly from heat-related illnesses.
• Saudi authorities treated over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress.

Why is this happening? Climate change is exacerbating the heat, with a study showing a rise of 0.4°C each decade in the area.

• Unregistered pilgrims, unable to access air-conditioned facilities, significantly increased the death toll.
• Saudi Health Minister stated health plans were successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks.

Heatwave in Delhi: Back home, 5 people died in Delhi and over 10 in Noida due to heatstroke and related conditions. Hospitals in Delhi-NCR report a surge in heatstroke patients, with elderly and immune-compromised individuals advised to stay indoors.

Of note: Earlier in the week Delhi's heat index (feels like temperature) crossed 50°C, and today the temperature is forecasted to rise above 43°C. Delhi also experienced 40°C+ temperatures for 32 days straight.

The details: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi, UP, Haryana, and Punjab due to an intense heatwave, with Delhi’s heat index hitting 50°C.

• Temperatures soared above 46°C across states like Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Jharkhand, leading to 22 deaths in Bihar from severe heat and high humidity.
• Hill towns such as Nainital and Pauri in Uttarakhand are also experiencing heatwaves, with temperatures reaching 43°C in some areas.

ICYMI

• In a shocking moment set to strain India-Canada relations, the Canadian Parliament mourned the death of Khalistani Terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
• India’s golden boy does again, Neeraj Chopra clinches gold at Paavo Nurmi Games 2024.
• Nvidia beats Apple to become the world's most valuable company. Bad news, Jim Cramer tweeted about it.
• Billionaire Hinduja family faces human trafficking charges over confiscating staff passports and forcing 18-hour work days.
• Once considered a world centre for educational excellence and later ruined by invaders, Nalanda University is rebuilt.
• 2000s called! Justin Timberlake was arrested for driving under the influence and being arrested by cops who were too young to recognise him.