KOLKATA:
Enforcement Branch officers on Tuesday rounded up a vegetable
wholesaler from Howrah for using inorganic colours in his vegetables.
Cops also seized 2 quintal pointed gourd from the market.
Enforcement Branch DG Vijoy Kumar said similar raids will be continued across the state to stop adulteration in food and vegetables. The initiative was taken following the order of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had expressed concern over the matter on Monday.
Colours, mostly chemicals harmful for human body, are used to mix with the vegetables for fresh looks. The traders even use most harmful chemicals like copper sulphate, rodamine-B, melaphite green and tatragin to make the vegetables look attractive to buyers. When people consume them, a portion of the chemicals gets into the human system. It can cause several health hazards like fatal infections in lever, kidney and can even cause cancer.
To prevent such adulteration in food items, the central government brought Food Safety and Standards Act in 2006 and set up designated offices in all states. But the practice of mixing colours continued due to lack of action, said Kumar. Police also have scope to prosecute such offenders under sections 272 and 273 IPC.
On Monday, the CM had entrusted the Special Task Force to keep a watch on market price and hoarding of food items. During the meeting at Writers' Buildings, she had expressed concern over food adulteration and asked the task force to take adequate action. Following the CM's instruction, the officers raided Howrah vegetable market on Tuesday and arrested one Tapas Das, who supplies vegetables to the market from Barasat. A case has been registered at Golabari police station.
Enforcement Branch DG Vijoy Kumar said similar raids will be continued across the state to stop adulteration in food and vegetables. The initiative was taken following the order of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had expressed concern over the matter on Monday.
Colours, mostly chemicals harmful for human body, are used to mix with the vegetables for fresh looks. The traders even use most harmful chemicals like copper sulphate, rodamine-B, melaphite green and tatragin to make the vegetables look attractive to buyers. When people consume them, a portion of the chemicals gets into the human system. It can cause several health hazards like fatal infections in lever, kidney and can even cause cancer.
To prevent such adulteration in food items, the central government brought Food Safety and Standards Act in 2006 and set up designated offices in all states. But the practice of mixing colours continued due to lack of action, said Kumar. Police also have scope to prosecute such offenders under sections 272 and 273 IPC.
On Monday, the CM had entrusted the Special Task Force to keep a watch on market price and hoarding of food items. During the meeting at Writers' Buildings, she had expressed concern over food adulteration and asked the task force to take adequate action. Following the CM's instruction, the officers raided Howrah vegetable market on Tuesday and arrested one Tapas Das, who supplies vegetables to the market from Barasat. A case has been registered at Golabari police station.
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