A meeting of the District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Safe Food & Healthy Diets under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Anshul Garg was held here today.

The meeting was attended by DPO ICDS, CMO (Vice Chairperson), Assistant Commissioner Food Safety/Designated Officer (Member Secretary), representatives of SSP, GM DIC, CEO & AD Food, other members, social activists, legal experts and persons from food agencies. Speaking on the mandate of the committee, the AC Food Safety (designated Officer) said that the committee has to ensure smooth implementation of FSSA 2006 & compliance with rules and regulations there under.

It also has to focus on promotion of fortified foods in ICDS and MDM & development of nutritional & food safety literacy amongst the citizens by convergence with Poshan Abhiyan & SBM programmes, he said.

AC added the committee also oversees the registration of food business units, surveillance of food items, monitoring of inspections, sampling, enforcement, prosecution and adjudication related to food safety.

It also monitors; the quality & safety of Milk & Milk products, grievances of food sellers as well as consumers, training of the unit holders, food borne diseases etc, the officer informed. The meeting was informed that more than 4000 food business units have been registered in the district so far. Every month, 32 food samples are collected & sent to labs both in and outside the UT to establish their safety & quality, the statement read.

It said besides, the routine inspection of milk and milk products is done and the below standard samples are destroyed on prima facie condition and quality by the Food Safety Officers. The grievances are disposed off within the stipulated time as provided in the act, the statement said.

The chairman directed the designated officer to register all food units in Anantnag town by the end of March 2021.

He said inspection cum awareness drive among the bakers with main focus on hygiene, quality and quantity of ingredients and shelf life of the end product should be held.

Initially, the drive should be more of a hand holding and awareness type than an enforcement type, he added.

Chairman also directed to co-opt officials from Legal Metrology, Food and Municipalities in these drives.

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DC Anantnag convenes meeting of DLAC on safe food & healthy diets - Greater Kashmir

You sit down with a bowl of Cheerios and you think youre starting your day with a healthy breakfast, right? Well, it may not be that simple.

Cheerios and many other cereals and grain-based products contain small amounts of an herbicide called glyphosate. Its one of the main ingredients in the widely used weed killer Roundup, and its been the subject of considerable debate among health experts about whether it is carcinogenic.

So does that mean Cheerios cause cancer? Theres no definitive proof. Some regulatory agencies contend that the levels of glyphosate in the popular cereal are too low to be a health risk.

However, other organizations, including the Environmental Working Group (EWG), maintain that glyphosate levels in Cheerios continue to be above safe levels.

You wont find glyphosate listed among the ingredients on Cheerios or any food product. Scientists know its there by testing foods for traces of herbicides and pesticides. They measure the level of glyphosate and other toxins in parts per billion (ppb).

The EWG found that levels of glyphosate in Cheerios were 729 ppb and in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch the levels reached 833 ppb. The EWG considers 160 ppb to be the highest level safe for childrens food.

Even with glyphosate levels that are much higher than the EWGs maximum recommended amount, its not entirely clear whether Cheerios actually poses a cancer risk. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on the other hand, has determined that glyphosate is unlikely to be human carcinogen. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited the EPAs finding in a statement about glyphosate and noted that in the food products tested by the FDA, glyphosate levels were all within EPA standards.

As a result, two of the main regulatory bodies concerned with consumer product safety have determined that foods that contain trace amounts of glyphosate residue are unlikely to cause cancer when eaten in normal amounts.

A study of many products sold in Canada between 2015 and 2017, including fruits, vegetables, grain products, and other finished foods found that 99.4 percent of them had glyphosate levels within Canadian regulatory limits and were safe to eat.

However, experts warn that theres a need for research on the health effects of glyphosate thats completely free from industry support.

For example, in a 2018 article in Environmental Health, researchers note concerned that the pesticide manufacturing industry may have interfered with research findings and tainted results from past reviews, including the 2017 European Union evaluation that authorized the use of glyphosate through 2022.

In 2020, Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios were recalled, but not because of glyphosate. General Mills, the company that makes Cheerios and other popular breakfast cereals, issued a recall of the cereals produced at its Lodi, California, site because wheat flour was found in the products that were labeled as gluten-free.

For people with wheat sensitivities or celiac disease, having faith that products labeled gluten-free are indeed free of gluten is critical to avoiding digestive symptoms and other health complications.

Despite the extensive media coverage and concern from public health advocates, products containing glyphosate have not been subject to a recall at least not because of the herbicide itself.

In 2000, the EPA announced a voluntary consumer product safety recall for two product container problems. The products were Monsantos Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed and Grass Killer and Scotts Ortho Ready-to-Use Home Defense Indoor & Outdoor Insect Killer5.

They were sold in Pull N Spray containers with a T-handle pump and application wand that didnt always work properly and exposed the users directly to the herbicide and pesticide within the containers.

Glyphosate is an herbicide first approved for use in 1974. It has since become one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States. Its used in industrial products farmers apply to crops, as well as products, such as Roundup for homeowners to use to get rid of weeds in lawns and gardens.

Because farmers spray the herbicide on oat crops, some of it may remain on the grains as they are processed into Cheerios and other products. The EWG noted that in addition to Cheerios, higher levels of glyphosate were found on General Mills products such as Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars.

Researchers at Oregon State University note that while research on glyphosates cancer risks has led to mixed findings, when the chemical is ingested it is digested and expelled from the body in urine and stool quickly. And it does not appear that there are long-term health impacts to the immune or nervous systems either.

Glyphosate is the main chemical of concern with Cheerios. If you want to cut down the risk of ingesting glyphosate or other dangerous herbicides, such as paraquat, look for products labeled organic and made with ingredients that werent exposed to certain herbicides and pesticides including glyphosate.

General Mills hasnt banned its farmers from using glyphosate, but in 2019 announced that it is encouraging them to find safer, alternative methods of protecting their crops.

Kellogg Company, however, announced in early 2020 that it planned to phase out the use of glyphosate in its products by the end of 2025. Kellogg is the maker of cereals such as Mini-Wheats and Special K.

Every year, the EWG releases its list of the Dirty Dozen foods that are among the highest in pesticides and herbicides. The foods that typically make the list are nonorganic strawberries, apples, and other thin-skinned produce.

If youre concerned about your exposure to glyphosate and other herbicides and pesticides, check out the EWGs Clean 15 list of fruits and vegetables that tend to have the lowest levels of chemical toxins.

You have plenty of options other than Cheerios and breakfast cereals with which to start your day. Healthy breakfasts can include the following:

The breakfast cereal Cheerios has been found to contain trace amounts of a widely used herbicide called glyphosate, which is the main ingredient in the weed killer Roundup.

The EWG contends that glyphosate may raise the risk of cancer, while other organizations say there isnt evidence yet that the chemical is carcinogenic, especially in the levels found in packaged food.

The agencies that oversee food safety in the United States have not recommended against the consumption of Cheerios or demanded the cereal be recalled or banned from store shelves. However, some organizations that test food for safety have raised concerns that the glyphosate levels in Cheerios may be higher than acceptable limits.

The choice of whether to eat Cheerios and other breakfast cereals is up to you but remember you do have many other healthy options for the first meal of the day.

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Cheerios and Cancer: Is There a Link? - Healthline

From the Deputy Provost, Chief Wellness Officer and VP for University Life: A Message to Graduate and Professional Students

February 2, 2021

We are writing, now that the Quiet Period has ended, to thank you for a safe and successful start of the semester and to reaffirm our shared commitments for the coming weeks and months.

TheStudent Campus Compactremains in effect, as does public health guidance fromPenn Caresand thePhiladelphia Department of Public Health, whichrequiresmasking, distancing, and handwashing. Students on and off campus must participate inscreening testingand enroll inPennOpen Pass, our daily symptom management tool.

For the health and safety of our campus and West Philadelphia communities, you must continue to maintain your household and/or study pods. You may not visit friends in other residences, host parties, or attend large gatherings. All reports of such violations will be investigated by theCampus Compact Review Panel, with the potential for individual and group sanctions. The core concept of the post-Quiet Period phase is more places, not more faces.

All personal, social, student government, and club activity taking place virtually must remain virtual. Seeing friends outdoors in small, masked, physically distanced groups and eating takeaway meals may continue, and we are pleased to be opening more opportunities to get food across campus in a careful and safe way.

We are beginning a process for student groups to request opportunities to host in-person events and meetings, indoors or outdoors. Only vetted, approved events will be allowed to take place in designated meeting rooms. The bar for approval will be set intentionally high, given the many steps necessary to ensure participants health and safety. To submit a request for an in-person activity (indoors or outdoors), please visit the Graduate Student Center website.

Athletics & Recreation

Graduate Study Space

Penn Libraries

Penn Dining

Perelman Quadrangle will support essential functions:

As a reminder, PhD and research masters degree students will havethree days offfrom classes and assignments in the coming weeks:

Professional students should check with your programs regarding plans for these days. If the days are available to you, we urge you to use them to rest and rechargerelax, unplug, and take part in the virtual events of thesethree Engagement Days.

Your decisions impact the lives and health of your classmates and our West Philadelphia neighbors. You are implored not to travel, and Penn will not provide COVID-19 testing documentation for travel this semester.

Thank you for your continued dedication to adhering to the public health guidance of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and the University. We are enormously grateful for your resilience and your commitment to keeping our community safe.

Beth A. Winkelstein, Deputy ProvostBenoit Dub, Associate Provost andChief Wellness OfficerMamta Motwani Accapadi, Vice Provost for University Life

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From the Deputy Provost, Chief Wellness Officer and VP for University Life: A Message to Graduate and Professional Students - UPENN Almanac

TORONTO On set they called her "COVID Cathy," or "CC" for short.

TORONTO On set they called her "COVID Cathy," or "CC" for short.

As the COVID-19 supervisor on the new Toronto-shot CBC series "Pretty Hard Cases," Catherine Lang had to not only help develop pandemic protocols for the production, but also keep a close eye on the cast and crew to ensure they were following them.

It can be a tricky position, having to police everyone while trying to prevent positive cases, but Lang says she was determined to keep the mood upbeat.

"What I found the hardest about COVID supervising was that it's hard to spend 100 per cent of your day worrying about people's health. And unfortunately, I'm a bit of a worrier," Lang says.

"Eating, breathing, sleeping 24-7 I couldn't get it out of my mind. Because at the beginning all I could think was, 'What if I do something or don't do something and somebody gets sick?' And that was quite a large stress for me."

Lang's position, which is also sometimes called a COVID compliance officer, is a now common one on Canadian film and TV sets. And it's one she predicts will be around for another year or so.

The supervisor typically works alongside the producers and a team of medical, health and safety professionals to create COVID protocols using government guidelines and ensure they're adhered to. Both industry and medical professionals can qualify for the position.

"They were accepted, but definitely were the sort of hall monitors of the production shoot that can frustrate people when they're trying to do their jobs," Alex Jordan, a producer on Global's "Private Eyes," says of their COVID supervising team.

"We had to be very cognizant of the mental health of everyone. To some people's opinion, you're not doing enough. And in some cases, people are like, 'This is too much. You're overkill.'"

"Kim's Convenience" star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee says their COVID protocol officer was Cher Merlo, who has a background in film and TV production. She "worked tirelessly" on things like modifying the actors' masks and shields to ensure they would be effective but wouldn't disrupt their hair and makeup between takes.

"She had the hardest job on set, because her job was to be the bad guy and to remind them of the protocols and of doing things like sanitizing your hands and wearing your mask and staying two metres apart," Lee says.

"Pretty Hard Cases" stars Adrienne C. Moore and Meredith MacNeill say they went to great lengths to help Lang not feel "like a bad guy."

"I remember when Cathy gave her first speech at the start, Adrienne and I looked at each other and then gave her the biggest cheer. We were like 'Cathy!'" says MacNeill.

"We used to call her COVID Cathy. We were like 'CC, yes, in the house!'

The staff knew Lang was "only trying to help," notes MacNeill.

"So we approached it, and the whole crew approached it, with a 'thank you.'"

Lang had worked as an assistant producer and production manager before becoming a COVID supervisor on "Pretty Hard Cases."

Lang says she read everything she could about the virus and "spent many hours on the phone" with producer Wanda Chaffey and executive producer Amy Cameron. The three developed protocols for every department with a consulting physician.

"As I would walk through the set, I would see people adjust their masks and pull their shields down. It was very cute," Lang says laughing.

Of course, Lang also wore personal protective equipment, since she had to be in more spaces on set than most.

She says she "never felt unsafe" but found the thought of somebody getting sick in the workplace "horrifying" and had to learn to stop worrying about things that were out of her control.

"Eventually I had to say to myself, 'I can't stop this. I can control what happens in the workplace to an extent, but I can't control what happens outside of the workplace.'"

The cast and crew were very compliant, Lang says, noting "everybody really wanted to be safe." Chassey and Cameron were with her every step of the way.

In the end, they had no incident of anyone contracting COVID-19 at work, she says. While there were two positive cases, they were contracted outside production, caught through testing and had no community spread.

Toronto nurse Meghan McKenna became a COVID supervisor on the CBC series "Coroner" through her employer, the third-party medical consulting firm Oncidium, which provided guidance and support to the show, including a full-time nursing staff.

She hadn't worked in film and TV before and was "on a steep learning curve" in that regard as they collaborated with producers, she says.

They held mandatory health sessions for everyone on set.

One of McKenna's key goals was for the cast and crew to understand the uncertain nature of a pandemic, so if provincial case numbers rose and protocols changed, they would be onboard instead of feeling they were being fed misinformation.

She also taught everyone how viruses or bacteria spread through communities, so when pandemic fatigue set in, they understood how to protect themselves and why every single protocol matters.

The pressure on the job comes with not wanting to see the production fail, says McKenna. But her experiences working in hospital have taught her she "can't control what people are doing 100 per cent."

She also likes the idea that should someone have a medical issue on set, she's able to guide them through it and manage it.

McKenna's nursing background and experience in emergency rooms also helped her feel "fine with being the police" on set.

"That is such a big part of health teaching, is telling people things they don't want to hear," she says. "I really like the challenge of getting through to someone over time."

While producers say "Coroner" had "a few issues" with COVID-19 cases, they weren't on set, were easily contact-traced and had no community spread.

And no one had to be reminded of the protocols later in production, McKenna says.

"Everyone's helping remind each other," she says.

"The crew is all keeping each other safe," adds "Coroner" executive producer Suzanne Colvin-Goulding. "Everybody has adopted the mentality that we are in this together."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2021.

Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press

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COVID supervisors on the challenges of trying to keep Canadian film and TV sets safe - Pique Newsmagazine

Antidepressants can be effective for treating a number of conditions, but the choice to start and stop one is very individual. And while antidepressants can help you feel better, they can also have mental and physical side effects.

If youre thinking of getting off your antidepressant, there could be benefits to you. To ensure these benefits outweigh the drawbacks, its important to talk with a healthcare provider before stopping your antidepressant use.

Most medications have some side effects. Antidepressants are no different, particularly when taken in the long term.

According to a 2020 review article, those who take a common type of antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can experience physical side effects, such as:

These side effects were reported with long-term use of antidepressants and could worsen with age.

Some other antidepressant types include:

Antidepressants can cause sexual side effects that range from lessened sexual desire to difficulty achieving orgasm.

An estimated 25 to 80 percent of people who take antidepressants will experience some change in their sexual function within the first 2 to 6 weeks after starting an antidepressant. Its also important to note that up to 70 percent of people with depression are at risk for developing sexual dysfunction as well. So youll want to take that into consideration when weighing whether to stop taking your medication.

Symptoms will usually go away by week 12 of antidepressant use for about 30 percent of those who experience sexual side effects. However, they dont go away for everyone.

In most instances, stopping antidepressants will return a persons sexual function back to pre-antidepressant levels.

Many people who take antidepressants report gaining weight.

However, those who take the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) may also experience weight loss.

Theres less information on what happens regarding your weight and stopping antidepressants.

Because some medical professionals theorize that antidepressants increase hunger and food cravings by adjusting neurotransmitters, its possible that stopping antidepressants could make you feel less hungry.

If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants.

On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.

Other potential side effects that may lessen if you stop taking antidepressants include:

Again, this will depend on what medicines youre currently taking.

Long-term antidepressant use can also have drawbacks on a persons mental health.

Some medications can affect your ability to feel emotions (for example, make you feel numb). It may also affect a persons autonomy by making them feel dependent on medical help.

Someone may also be at greater risk for experiencing withdrawal or discontinuation symptoms the longer they take the medication. This can vary based on the medication(s) being taken.

If you suddenly stop taking antidepressants, you may experience discontinuation symptoms, which is similar to withdrawal symptoms, but refers to stopping the use of medication rather than addictive agents.

You may notice a rapid onset with some medications, such as paroxetine (Paxil), while other medications may take a few days for symptoms to arise. This can be true too if you skip doses, or refrain from taking full doses.

Many doctors use the mnemonic aid FINISH to describe common antidepressant withdrawal symptoms. These include:

Most healthcare providers will recommend gradually tapering antidepressant doses over the course of several weeks. However, some medications may require longer periods of tapering, such as paroxetine and venlafaxine.

Medications with a longer half-life such as fluoxetine may not require an extended tapering schedule.

The symptoms from weaning off antidepressants are, for the most part, mild and will go away over time.

In a sample of more than 250 people who stopped taking antidepressants, 20 percent reported stopping to be very easy, while a little more than 50 percent said it was fairly easy.

You shouldnt stop taking antidepressants without first talking with your doctor. Your doctor knows important factors like:

Thats why its important to consult with your doctor, so you can work on a tapering plan together or determine if going off antidepressants is the right move at this time.

Because there are risks for rebound effects where your depression symptoms worsen when you stop taking the medicine its also important for your doctor to discuss these with you. You can create a plan of action for what to do if this happens.

If you and your doctor determine that now isnt the best time to go off antidepressants, there are some steps you can take to minimize your medications side effects.

This includes seeking wellness whenever possible, like:

You may wish to consult your doctor or a dietitian for individual tips on maintaining your health while taking antidepressants.

If you need a first or second opinion on whether staying on antidepressants is right for you, consider the following resources:

When you first start discussing reducing your antidepressant dose with your doctor, youll also want to ask them what you can expect. Knowing possible side effects of getting off your antidepressant can help you be prepared.

Ask them about the types of symptoms that may occur that would require calling a doctor or seeking medical help.

For some symptoms, such as thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you should seek crisis interventions or emergency help right away.

Theres some evidence that suggests that suddenly stopping antidepressants can result in depression symptoms sometimes ones that are even worse than before.

If at any time youre not sure if a symptom is normal or safe, you should contact a healthcare provider. They can advise you if you should start taking your medicine again and in what dosage, or discuss an alternative plan.

Taking antidepressants can cause side effects that may affect the way a person feels mentally and physically.

If you use antidepressants in combination with other treatments such as talk therapy and wellness tools you may want to talk about if or when you can stop taking the antidepressants.

Because theres a risk for symptoms when stopping an antidepressant, a doctor can recommend how to taper safely. Ideally, this can help you enjoy the benefits of quitting antidepressants without the drawbacks.

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Benefits of Getting Off Antidepressants: What to Know - Healthline