Adulterated food: Centre's lab negates reports by state agency

RAIPUR: What perhaps puts a question mark on the quality of tests conducted by Chhattisgarh Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Department at the state's food testing laboratory, government of India's recognized Central Food Laboratory at Pune has been negating most of its findings on samples sent from here for a second opinion.

If insiders are to be believed, almost 90% of samples sent to Pune come back with positive reports, in contrast to the red flags raised on them at the local lab.

Majority of the food samples picked by the department to check adulteration and certified as unsafe or substandard at the state's food lab have been returned as normal by the Pune based lab, letting those booked for adulteration off the hook. As per provisions of Food Adulteration Act, four samples have to be collected from any shop or outlet and while one is to be sent to the state lab, two are reserved and one can be sent by the vendor to the accredited lab in Pune.

According to officials, almost 500 samples are collected across state by the food inspectors every year.

While majority vendors whose samples are picked up prefer to settle the matter here by paying monetary fines after their products are found lacking in quality, about 10% of them challenge the findings by sending samples for tests at the Pune lab.

When contacted, food analyst SS Tomar at the state lab attributed the difference in results to the methodology of testing. "The benchmarks and patterns used at Pune lab are different and hence variations are possible," he said.

Elaborating, Tomar said in a case relating to seizure of gutka, while the local food lab had certified the product as unsafe, since it is banned in Chhattisgarh, the Pune based lab had given it a 'normal' tag since the ban is not enforced there. He, however, admitted that this was a matter of concern and the state government was contemplating to raise the issue with Centre.

As per Food Adulteration Act, penalties for selling substandard products is severe and could even result in life imprisonment if it is found unsafe. The maximum fine for selling products of substandard quality is Rs 5 lakh and for misbranding it is to the tune of Rs 3 lakh.

According to officials, in June, 55 vendors were booked for selling substandard and misbranded products.