RAIPUR: While Chhattisgarh has the dubious distinction of ranking at the top from among states with high rate of food adulteration
with 40% samples found contaminated in 2010 by the Food Safety
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the state's capital surpasses the
figure with 50% of the samples failing the test this year.
In a nutshell, the figures literally suggest that 50% of food being consumed in Raipur is adulterated as the samples picked by the Food and Drug Administration Department during the year came from across the supply chain including retailers, suppliers, manufactures and processors. According to the available data of the 204 samples the department collected, nearly 102 were found adulterated between Sept 2011 and Sept 2012.
The adulterated samples included spices, khoya (used widely by sweetmeat shops), spices and edible oil. Officials said that the Food Safety Standard (FSS) Act was implemented in the state last year.
Interestingly, the state-wide figures for food adulteration is considerably less than the state capital and stand at 35%. Only 180 samples of the 510 collected in the same period were contaminated. This is more or less close to FSSAI's 2010 findings in which 40% of samples, highest in the country, in the state were adulterated.
The FSSAI had collected over 1.17 lakh samples of food articles throughout the country and 13% of them were found to be adulterated. A comparative analysis shows high adulteration of 40% in Chhattisgarh, 34% in Uttarakhand, 29% in Uttar Pradesh, 23% in Rajasthan and 20% in West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.
Besides, nearly 17% of the food samples tested in Bihar and Chandigarh, 16% in Nagaland, 15% in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, 14% in Haryana, 12% in Tamil Nadu and 10% in Maharashtra were found adulterated. However, adulteration rates in Delhi were low at 4% while in Karnataka it was just 5%.
According to officials, in Raipur the department has secured seven convictions so far and the violators have been fined between Rs 25,000 to Rs 80,000. Similarly, 25 convictions have been achieved state-wide and a fine to the tune of Rs 7.80 lakh was collected.
Health officials admit that during the ensuing festive season the number of adulteration cases go up with an increased demand for sweets. "Unscrupulous traders resort to adulteration to make a fast buck without bothering for the health of the consumers," said Food Safety Officer (FSO), Dr A Dewangan, adding that to meet the local demand, contaminated supplies come from all over the country including UP and MP.
Despite the fact that adulteration impacts the health of all consumers, the state government isn't seem to be doing enough to put stringent checks in place. The shortage of FSOs in the state makes this quite evident.
There are only 15 FSO covering 27 districts of the state and Raipur which has a population of 12 lakh, has only three. Sources reveal that 35 posts have been advertised and until they are filled, the resources with the department are limited.
In a nutshell, the figures literally suggest that 50% of food being consumed in Raipur is adulterated as the samples picked by the Food and Drug Administration Department during the year came from across the supply chain including retailers, suppliers, manufactures and processors. According to the available data of the 204 samples the department collected, nearly 102 were found adulterated between Sept 2011 and Sept 2012.
The adulterated samples included spices, khoya (used widely by sweetmeat shops), spices and edible oil. Officials said that the Food Safety Standard (FSS) Act was implemented in the state last year.
Interestingly, the state-wide figures for food adulteration is considerably less than the state capital and stand at 35%. Only 180 samples of the 510 collected in the same period were contaminated. This is more or less close to FSSAI's 2010 findings in which 40% of samples, highest in the country, in the state were adulterated.
The FSSAI had collected over 1.17 lakh samples of food articles throughout the country and 13% of them were found to be adulterated. A comparative analysis shows high adulteration of 40% in Chhattisgarh, 34% in Uttarakhand, 29% in Uttar Pradesh, 23% in Rajasthan and 20% in West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.
Besides, nearly 17% of the food samples tested in Bihar and Chandigarh, 16% in Nagaland, 15% in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, 14% in Haryana, 12% in Tamil Nadu and 10% in Maharashtra were found adulterated. However, adulteration rates in Delhi were low at 4% while in Karnataka it was just 5%.
According to officials, in Raipur the department has secured seven convictions so far and the violators have been fined between Rs 25,000 to Rs 80,000. Similarly, 25 convictions have been achieved state-wide and a fine to the tune of Rs 7.80 lakh was collected.
Health officials admit that during the ensuing festive season the number of adulteration cases go up with an increased demand for sweets. "Unscrupulous traders resort to adulteration to make a fast buck without bothering for the health of the consumers," said Food Safety Officer (FSO), Dr A Dewangan, adding that to meet the local demand, contaminated supplies come from all over the country including UP and MP.
Despite the fact that adulteration impacts the health of all consumers, the state government isn't seem to be doing enough to put stringent checks in place. The shortage of FSOs in the state makes this quite evident.
There are only 15 FSO covering 27 districts of the state and Raipur which has a population of 12 lakh, has only three. Sources reveal that 35 posts have been advertised and until they are filled, the resources with the department are limited.
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