Chennai: Diwali is just days away and unlicensed shops selling adulterated sweets have sprung up all over the city, but the food safety department is yet to crack down on such traders despite the Centre's directive to states in this regard.
Unscrupulous traders, in search for huge profits, use substandard products, leaving consumers vulnerable to ailments like vomiting, food poisoning, stomach aches and infections. Activists say the chances of food adulteration are high when the demand for sweets goes up.“Harmful colours and chemicals are widely used to make sweets look more attractive but the food safety department has showed a complete lack of concern,“ said T Sadagopan, a consumer activist.
Sources say the food safety department has not raided any shop to check the quality of sweets. “We are creating awareness among traders about adulteration,” a department official said.
Low conviction rate, shortage of food inspectors, lack of awareness and increased consumption of sweets encourage unscrupulous traders. “Even if we collect a sample from a sweet shop the test report will come after a month by when all adulterated sweets would have been consumed. Even if the tests are positive traders can continue business as the cases drag in courts,“ the official said.
Many residents say they are switching over to dry fruits and chocolates despite the soaring prices. “Diwali is nothing without sweets but I have stopped buying them after my boy became unwell after consuming sweets last year,“ said K Malathy , a resident of Adyar.
According to the Food Safety and Security Act, unsafe food means an article whose nature, substance or quality is so affected as to render it injurious to health. The person who himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells such goods will be liable to penalty of `1 lakh to `10 lakh and imprisonment ranging from 6 months to life imprisonment.
Unscrupulous traders, in search for huge profits, use substandard products, leaving consumers vulnerable to ailments like vomiting, food poisoning, stomach aches and infections. Activists say the chances of food adulteration are high when the demand for sweets goes up.“Harmful colours and chemicals are widely used to make sweets look more attractive but the food safety department has showed a complete lack of concern,“ said T Sadagopan, a consumer activist.
Sources say the food safety department has not raided any shop to check the quality of sweets. “We are creating awareness among traders about adulteration,” a department official said.
Low conviction rate, shortage of food inspectors, lack of awareness and increased consumption of sweets encourage unscrupulous traders. “Even if we collect a sample from a sweet shop the test report will come after a month by when all adulterated sweets would have been consumed. Even if the tests are positive traders can continue business as the cases drag in courts,“ the official said.
Many residents say they are switching over to dry fruits and chocolates despite the soaring prices. “Diwali is nothing without sweets but I have stopped buying them after my boy became unwell after consuming sweets last year,“ said K Malathy , a resident of Adyar.
According to the Food Safety and Security Act, unsafe food means an article whose nature, substance or quality is so affected as to render it injurious to health. The person who himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells such goods will be liable to penalty of `1 lakh to `10 lakh and imprisonment ranging from 6 months to life imprisonment.
Govt.should recognise the role of various stake holders in the interest of consumers.
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