Selling ‘Ice Creams’ Can Land You In Jail

Many shopkeepers do not know the difference. First we should make them aware of the same

Trivandrum: The last time you ate ice cream was perhaps not ice cream but frozen dessert. Both are similar but they are totally different though they are often sold under the same name. By law the manufacturer is protected but the shopkeepers could be held responsible – and can invite up to six months in jail. Yes, we time and again get frozen desserts when we ask for ice creams. According to internet sources, frozen dessert has taken over as much as 40% of the ice cream segment in India. We cannot notice the variance easily. Both frozen dessert and ice creams have similar packages. Only when we look carefully do we get to know that frozen dessert is printed on the package –in small print, mostly. The key differences are the ingredients. While ice creams are made of milk and dairy fat, frozen dessert uses vegetable oil. A food safety officer opined that this takeover by frozen desserts is happening probably because it is cheaper to manufacture. According to A K Mini, designated officer at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, says, “This amounts to ‘misbranding’ and comes under unsafe category in our rule book. It is a prosecution offence and can be punished with 6 months or more in jail. Since the companies do specify ‘frozen dessert’ or ‘ice cream’ on the cover, it is the shopkeepers who will be held responsible for this decoy!” Having said this, Mini opined, “Many shopkeepers do not know the difference. First we should make them aware of the same. Then only action should be taken.” Unfortunately ignorance does not come as an excuse under anyone’s law book.

This may not be ice-cream! This reporter checked his luck at an East Fort shop. They gave frozen dessert instead of ice cream. When told them about this anomaly they pleaded ignorance. They said, "We did not know about this. We buy ice creams from this company because it gives us more profit." Another shop at Gandhi Park did the same. When questioned they said, "We knew about this but it is happening everywhere. It is the company's fault. They give this (frozen dessert) as ice-cream." Since both are equally harmful and both taste almost the same, one may ask what difference it really makes. The simple answer is, why not inform the customers? We are expecting milk and we get vegetable oil. Is that fair?