Legal regime of quality control in goods

It has long been said that market itself is the ideal regulator of all evils that may come up among traders. Free and fair competition among manufacturers in the market will adequately ensure a fair dealing to the consumers. However, these are pious hopes. that markets anywhere in the world could not accomplish so far. Consumers are being sought to be lured by advertisements issued by manufacturers and sellers that are found often false and misleading. Untrue statements and claims about quality and performance of the products virtually deceive them. The plight of the consumers remains as an unheard cry in the wildemess. In this sorry state of affairs, it is quite natural that the consumers look to the governments for a helping hand. It is seen that the governmental endeavours to ensure quality in goods are diversified. Different tools are formulated and put to use, depending upon the requirements necessitated by the facts and circumstances. This thesis is an enquiry into these measures

Computer vision techniques in seafood quality control

The application of computer vision based quality control has been slowly but steadily gaining importance mainly due to its speed in achieving results and also greatly due to its non- destnictive nature of testing. Besides, in food applications it also does not contribute to contamination. However, computer vision applications in quality control needs the application of an appropriate software for image analysis. Eventhough computer vision based quality control has several advantages, its application has limitations as to the type of work to be done, particularly so in the food industries. Selective applications, however, can be highly advantageous and very accurate.Computer vision based image analysis could be used in morphometric measurements of fish with the same accuracy as the existing conventional method. The method is non-destructive and non-contaminating thus providing anadvantage in seafood processing.The images could be stored in archives and retrieved at anytime to carry out morphometric studies for biologists.Computer vision and subsequent image analysis could be used in measurements of various food products to assess uniformity of size. One product namely cutlet and product ingredients namely coating materials such as bread crumbs and rava were selected for the study. Computer vision based image analysis was used in the measurements of length, width and area of cutlets. Also the width of coating materials like bread crumbs was measured.Computer imaging and subsequent image analysis can be very effectively used in quality evaluations of product ingredients in food processing. Measurement of width of coating materials could establish uniformity of particles or the lack of it. The application of image analysis in bacteriological work was also done

Studies on the production management in the seafood processing industry in Kerala

Kerala was the pioneer in modern seafood processing and exporting. But now the industry is Iacingalot of problems due to low productivity and deterioration in the quality of the products. only about 17% of the installed freezing capacity in sea food processing industry was reported to be utilised during 1979-80. The price of the export commodities its decided by the buyers based on international supply and demand pattern and based on the strength and weakness of dollar/yen. The only way to increase the profitability of the processors is to reduce the cost of production to the possible extent. The individual processors find it difficult to continue in this field due to low productivity and quality problems. The main objectives of the research are to find out how the production is being managed in the seafood processing(freezing) 17industry in Kerala and the reasons for low productivity and poor quality of the products. The study includes a detailed analysis of Location of the factories. Layout Purchase, production and storage patterns. Production planning and scheduling. Work Measurement of the processing of important products. Quality Control and Inspection. Management Information System

The Transition of World Cashew Industry and the Challenges to India

Cashew is an important commodity traded across the continents and the world cashew industry is the livelihood of more than three million people worldwide, the majority of whom are womenfolk from the socially and economically backward community of the developing nations. Cashew tree was originally planted to prevent soil erosion and it was during the beginning of the 19th century that cashew kernels attained the status of a food item. Further, the cashew kernels attained the status of an international commodity with India exporting its first consignment of cashew kernels to U.S.A. in 1920. India was the first country to hit the world market with cashew as a commodity and it was she who pioneered cashew processing as an industry. For decades together India was enjoying a monopoly in the world cashew industry in the fields of raw nut production (cultivation), processing and the market share in the international trade. The liberalisation of international trade has brought in a big transition in the world of cashew. India started to benefit from the trade policy, that improved her supply positions of raw nuts from other producing countries, accelerated her growth in processing of raw nuts and exports of cashew kernels. On the other side, her domestic consumption started growing up that by the beginning of the new century, she emerged out as the world’s largest consumer of cashew kernels as well.

Assessment of Energy Conservation in Indian Cement Industry and Forecasting of Co2 Emissions

Cement industry ranks 2nd in energy consumption among the industries in India. It is one of the major emitter of CO2, due to combustion of fossil fuel and calcination process. As the huge amount of CO2 emissions cause severe environment problems, the efficient and effective utilization of energy is a major concern in Indian cement industry. The main objective of the research work is to assess the energy cosumption and energy conservation of the Indian cement industry and to predict future trends in cement production and reduction of CO2 emissions. In order to achieve this objective, a detailed energy and exergy analysis of a typical cement plant in Kerala was carried out. The data on fuel usage, electricity consumption, amount of clinker and cement production were also collected from a few selected cement industries in India for the period 2001 - 2010 and the CO2 emissions were estimated. A complete decomposition method was used for the analysis of change in CO2 emissions during the period 2001 - 2010 by categorising the cement industries according to the specific thermal energy consumption. A basic forecasting model for the cement production trend was developed by using the system dynamic approach and the model was validated with the data collected from the selected cement industries. The cement production and CO2 emissions from the industries were also predicted with the base year as 2010. The sensitivity analysis of the forecasting model was conducted and found satisfactory. The model was then modified for the total cement production in India to predict the cement production and CO2 emissions for the next 21 years under three different scenarios. The parmeters that influence CO2 emissions like population and GDP growth rate, demand of cement and its production, clinker consumption and energy utilization are incorporated in these scenarios. The existing growth rate of the population and cement production in the year 2010 were used in the baseline scenario. In the scenario-1 (S1) the growth rate of population was assumed to be gradually decreasing and finally reach zero by the year 2030, while in scenario-2 (S2) a faster decline in the growth rate was assumed such that zero growth rate is achieved in the year 2020. The mitigation strategiesfor the reduction of CO2 emissions from the cement production were identified and analyzed in the energy management scenarioThe energy and exergy analysis of the raw mill of the cement plant revealed that the exergy utilization was worse than energy utilization. The energy analysis of the kiln system showed that around 38% of heat energy is wasted through exhaust gases of the preheater and cooler of the kiln sysetm. This could be recovered by the waste heat recovery system. A secondary insulation shell was also recommended for the kiln in the plant in order to prevent heat loss and enhance the efficiency of the plant. The decomposition analysis of the change in CO2 emissions during 2001- 2010 showed that the activity effect was the main factor for CO2 emissions for the cement industries since it is directly dependent on economic growth of the country. The forecasting model showed that 15.22% and 29.44% of CO2 emissions reduction can be achieved by the year 2030 in scenario- (S1) and scenario-2 (S2) respectively. In analysing the energy management scenario, it was assumed that 25% of electrical energy supply to the cement plants is replaced by renewable energy. The analysis revealed that the recovery of waste heat and the use of renewable energy could lead to decline in CO2 emissions 7.1% for baseline scenario, 10.9 % in scenario-1 (S1) and 11.16% in scenario-2 (S2) in 2030. The combined scenario considering population stabilization by the year 2020, 25% of contribution from renewable energy sources of the cement industry and 38% thermal energy from the waste heat streams shows that CO2 emissions from Indian cement industry could be reduced by nearly 37% in the year 2030. This would reduce a substantial level of greenhouse gas load to the environment. The cement industry will remain one of the critical sectors for India to meet its CO2 emissions reduction target. India’s cement production will continue to grow in the near future due to its GDP growth. The control of population, improvement in plant efficiency and use of renewable energy are the important options for the mitigation of CO2 emissions from Indian cement industries

Antibody Based Diagnostic for Detection Of Vibrios and their Biological Control using Antagonistic Bacteria in Macrobrachium Rosenbergii Larval Rearing Systems

The main objective of the work undertaken here was to develop an appropriate microbial technology to protect the larvae of M.rosenbergii in hatchery from vibriosis. This technology precisely is consisted of a rapid detection system of vibrios and effective antagonistic probiotics for the management of vibrios. The present work was undertaken with the realizations that to stabilize the production process of commercial hatcheries an appropriate, comprehensive and fool proof technology is required primarily for the rapid detection of Vibrio and subsequently for its management. Nine species of Vibrio have been found to be associated with larvae of M. rosenbergii in hatchery. Haemolytic assay of the Vibrio and Aeromonas on prawn blood agar showed that all isolates of V. alginolyticus and Aeromonas sp., from moribund, necrotized larve were haemolytic and the isolates of V.cholerae, V.splendidus II, V.proteolyticus and V.fluvialis from the larvae obtained from apparently healthy larval rearing systems were non-haemolytic. Hydrolytic enzymes such as lipase, chitinase and gelatinase were widespread amongst the Vibrio and Aeromonas isolates. Dominance of V.alginolyticus among the isolates from necrotic larvae and the failure in isolating them from rearing water strongly suggest that they infect larvae and multiply in the larval body and cause mortality in the hatchery. The observation suggested that the isolate V. alginolyticus was a pathogen to the larvae of M.rosenbergii. To sum up, through this work, nine species of Vibrio and genus Aeromonas associated with M.rosenbergii larval rearing systems could be isolated and segregated based on the haemolytic activity and the antibodies (PA bs) for use in diagnosis or epidemiological studies could be produced, based on a virulent culture of V.alginolyticus. This could possibly replace the conventional biochemical tests for identification. As prophylaxis to vibriosis, four isolates of Micrococcus spp. and an isolate of Pseudomonas sp. could be obtained which could possibly be used as antagonistic probiotics in the larval rearing system of M.rosenbergii.

Effect of Dietary Proteins on Growth, Food Conversion and Digestive Enzyme Activity of Juvenile Macrobrachium Rosenbergii

School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Effects of Thermal Modifications on the Rheological Characteristics and Protein Quality of Three Species of Fish of Varying Collagen Content

School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Studies On The Dynamics And Water Quality Of The Muvattupuzha River In Relation To Effluent Discharge

The present study aims at the investigation of the 1ysico—chemical features of a tropical tidal river viz. we Muvattupuzha river. This river is expected to receive Jderate to heavy pollution loads in years to come, from we lone industrial unit, already set up on its bank. ilike other rivers, the geographical disposition of this Lver attains unique importance as regards its dynamics for 3) availability of natural runoff water from catchment :eas, which becomes very heavy during the monsoon season 3) regular steady availability of tail race water from a /dro—electric power station throughout the yearThe study also aims at arriving at the balancing forces of inherent self~purification of the river verses pollution loads from the factory effluents. The investigation period falls ahead of actual pollution occurrence and so the ambient conditions for a period of nearly one-and-a—half years were investigated, the analyses of which providflz to formulate the inter-relations of parameters varying with seasons. Tracer experiments were carried out which revealed the dispersion and dilution characteristics of the river in the vicinity of effluent outfall. The studv covers the trial—cum-capacity production periods of the factory during which effluents of various strength and quantity were discharged into the river; a few computed values arQ’cjmpgrQdl ... with the observed values. The base data along with the profiles of Oxygen sag equation have been utilized fb develop a mathematical model of the river with regard to its water quality

Novel Electrochemical and Fluorescence Sensors for Food Additives and Neurotransmitters

There is an enormous demand for chemical sensors in many areas and disciplines including chemistry, biology, clinical analysis, environmental science. Chemical sensing refers to the continuous monitoring of the presence of chemical species and is a rapidly developing field of science and technology. They are analytical devices which transform chemical information generating from a reaction of the analyte into an measurable signal. Due to their high selectivity, sensitivity, fast response and low cost, electrochemical and fluorescent sensors have attracted great interest among the researchers in various fields. Development of four electrochemical sensors and three fluorescent sensors for food additives and neurotransmitters are presented in the thesis. Based on the excellent properties of multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), poly (L-cysteine) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) four voltammetric sensors were developed for various food additives like propyl gallate, allura red and sunset yellow. Nanosized fluorescent probes including gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and CdS quantum dots (QDs) were used for the fluorescent sensing of butylated hydroxyanisole, dopamine and norepinephrine. A total of seven sensors including four electrochemical sensors and three fluorescence sensors have been developed for food additives and neurotransmitters.