FDAs
and FDCAs (Food & Drug Administration and Food & Drugs Control
Administration) that are busy ensuring complete compliance with the Food
Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, have come up with a two-pronged
strategy to crack down on adulteration, a rampant malpractice that
increases during the festive season.
In this regard, the
authorities concerned have not only vested in food safety officers
(FSOs) of all states to raid errant food business operators' (FBOs)
establishments, but also put in place a whistle-blower system across the
country to be vigilant and inform FSOs of any cases of adulteration.
Meanwhile,
the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has
announced that information providers will be duly rewarded. In fact,
raids have already been conducted on FBOs' premises in various parts of
the country, and adulterated food, estimated to be worth several crores
of rupees, has been seized by the authorities. The food safety
commissioners of a few states confirmed.
Maharashtra
K
B Sankhe, joint commissioner (food), Maharashtra Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), said, “Before the festive season, we selected
about 109 samples of mithai and mawa from all over the state and sent
these to the laboratory for tests. We are awaiting the results of the
same. Adulterated mawa is sourced from Gujarat and used to make sweets
for the festive season.”
“Before the festive season commenced, we
seized mawa and mithai worth more than Rs 3 lakh, and will prosecute
the culprits or impose a fine of upto Rs 1 lakh if they are found
indulging in adulteration. Adulteration not only reduces the quality of
food, but it also weakens the person who consumes them, thereby
resulting in an increase in the cost of healthcare,” he said.
Sankhe
said the regular intake of adulterated food could lead to a number of
heath problems, which include both curable and incurable diseases and
disorders. “The use of toxic colouring agents as adulterants in fruit,
vegetables and sweets is very dangerous when it comes to the health of a
person. It can lead to serious health issues such as cancer, cardiac
problems, insomnia, paralysis and other neurological problems, and could
even lead to death,” he said.
The official explained, “As far as
the adulteration of honey is concerned, it appeared to be safer than
using toxic chemicals as adulterants. Moreover, this will merely have an
adverse economic impact and is unlikely to result in any health issues.
Even milk can be adulterated with artificial chemicals, and this may
not have any tangible impact on the milk itself.”
Gujarat
H
G Koshia, food safety commissioner, Gujarat Food and Drug Control
Administration (FDCA), said, “Recently we raided three big factories in
Gujarat which indulged in the act of adulteration. These factories used
artificial colours and Rajasthan marble dust powder to adulterate cumin
(jeera) seeds and thereby increase their quantity and reduce their
quality, with the sole objective of increasing their profit margin.”
He
added, “We seized about 20,000 kg of cumin seeds – estimated to be
worth more than Rs 7 lakh – and have sent the samples for analysis. We
have also registered a case against the company involved in the act of
adulteration. Acting on our complaint, the offenders have been arrested
by the local police. Water in milk is the most common example of
adulteration. Argemone oil is a harmful substance of a low grade which
is mixed with mustard oil.”
“Other common adulterants include
other kinds of leaves and sawdust, which are mixed with tea leaves.
Toxic chemicals may be used to colour sweets. Methanol is an adulterant
in alcohol. Ghee may be mixed with vanaspati, and honey is mixed with
other kinds of sugars. Pulses are adulterated with artificial colours in
order to make them appear fresh. Likewise, fruit and vegetables may be
adulterated with toxic colours to increase the profit margin,” said
Koshia.
A food official from Gujarat FDCA, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Turmeric, red chilli powder,
coriander and other essential ingredients of food cooked in our homes
may actually be fake. Red chilli powder is in fact sold at a price far
lower than actual chillies. Despite being a processed food, how is this
possible? The answer is red chilli powder often contains only 30 per
cent of good chilli.”
“The remaining 70 per cent of chillies are
those that are either rotten or have been rejected by shops. These are
first dried and then red food colour is added to them before they are
powdered and sold. This is what ensures the reddish colour the moment it
is added to our food. Cumin seeds are sold at Rs 70-80 per kg and their
twigs are sold at Rs 5 per kg. Since the twigs smell and look the same,
the powder is likely to fool most customers,” he added.
The
official added, “After the powder is packaged, the profit margin is
huge. Turmeric powder may not actually be turmeric. The powders of maize
grain and damaged rice are mixed with yellow edible colour and
artificial flavour and the result is fake turmeric, which is sold cheap.
Ghee has the maximum scope for adulteration. Pure ghee might not even
contain a drop of pure ghee.”
Kerala
V S Sivakumar,
health minister, Government of Kerala, said, “It is clear that be it
salt, meat, fish, vegetables or fruit, adulteration has been common. It
is not only the retailers who are involved in malpractices, but also the
wholesalers and others who bring the commodities from outside the
state. But there are limitations for the food safety commissioner and
other officials to trace it.”
“It is against the backdrop that a
mechanism to engage the civil society also for better results is being
probed. Whistle-blowers should be rewarded by the state government for
providing information about adulteration to FSOs. Adulteration is a big
issue in India and it is affecting the health of the people. The Act
needs to be implemented so that those who are involved in food
adulteration should fear before indulging in the malpractice,” he said.
