The food and drug administrations of a few states launched drives to curb adulteration, a rampant practice during the festive season. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra conducted raids, and seized about 6,000kg of spurious mawa a few days prior to Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja.
When quizzed about the raid and seizure of adulterated mawa, Amit Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s minister of state for food and drug administration, said, “In view of the festive season, FDA Maharashtra started conducted the raids in August 2014, and has so far seized mawa worth Rs 13.49 lakh from across the state.”
“By mid-September, the state FDA had collected about 66 samples and sent them for testing. We are awaiting the reports. After the crackdown on adulterated mawa, we directed the state FDA to continue conducting raids until Christmas,” he added, urging people to take precautions while buying sweets or mawa during the festive season.
Deshmukh said, “We appeal to the people to buy only the amount of sweets or mawa that is required during the festive season, and keep the same refrigerated. If people find anything amiss in the sweets they buy or consume, they should approach FDA Maharashtra at the earliest.”
Gujarat
H G Koshia, commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration, Gujarat, said, “The use of adulterated mawa to make sweets is on the rise during the festive season. However, in Gujarat, we are conducting a special drive to check adulteration. We have deployed over 300 food safety officers (FSO) for the purpose.”
“However, of all the samples tested in Gujarat, only four per cent were found to be adulterated. Hence, the quality of food prepared in the state is better than most other states in the country,” he added.
Assam
L R Nampui, joint commissioner, commissionerate of food safety, Assam, said, “Before the festive season, we planned to launch a drive against food adulteration. It is a fact that the mawa and milk used to make sweets during the festive season are adulterated, because at this time, the demand for certain items increases, but its supply is limited.”
“Our officials would be collecting samples of ghee, oil, mawa, sweets and paneer, and sending these to the laboratory for testing. During Diwali, the demand for milk increases, and our officials would be keeping tabs on its supply, because the chances of adulteration are brighter. Sub-standard and adulterated food items could cause stomach ailments,” he added.
“The Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, defined unsafe food as an article whose nature, substance or quality is so affected as to render it injurious to health,” Nampui said.
He added, “The laws are stricter now, and those involved in adulteration would be punished. Anyone found manufacturing, selling or storing such unsafe foods would be liable to pay a penalty ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, and sentenced to imprisonment for a term ranging between six months and life.”
When quizzed about the raid and seizure of adulterated mawa, Amit Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s minister of state for food and drug administration, said, “In view of the festive season, FDA Maharashtra started conducted the raids in August 2014, and has so far seized mawa worth Rs 13.49 lakh from across the state.”
“By mid-September, the state FDA had collected about 66 samples and sent them for testing. We are awaiting the reports. After the crackdown on adulterated mawa, we directed the state FDA to continue conducting raids until Christmas,” he added, urging people to take precautions while buying sweets or mawa during the festive season.
Deshmukh said, “We appeal to the people to buy only the amount of sweets or mawa that is required during the festive season, and keep the same refrigerated. If people find anything amiss in the sweets they buy or consume, they should approach FDA Maharashtra at the earliest.”
Gujarat
H G Koshia, commissioner, Food and Drugs Control Administration, Gujarat, said, “The use of adulterated mawa to make sweets is on the rise during the festive season. However, in Gujarat, we are conducting a special drive to check adulteration. We have deployed over 300 food safety officers (FSO) for the purpose.”
“However, of all the samples tested in Gujarat, only four per cent were found to be adulterated. Hence, the quality of food prepared in the state is better than most other states in the country,” he added.
Assam
L R Nampui, joint commissioner, commissionerate of food safety, Assam, said, “Before the festive season, we planned to launch a drive against food adulteration. It is a fact that the mawa and milk used to make sweets during the festive season are adulterated, because at this time, the demand for certain items increases, but its supply is limited.”
“Our officials would be collecting samples of ghee, oil, mawa, sweets and paneer, and sending these to the laboratory for testing. During Diwali, the demand for milk increases, and our officials would be keeping tabs on its supply, because the chances of adulteration are brighter. Sub-standard and adulterated food items could cause stomach ailments,” he added.
“The Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, defined unsafe food as an article whose nature, substance or quality is so affected as to render it injurious to health,” Nampui said.
He added, “The laws are stricter now, and those involved in adulteration would be punished. Anyone found manufacturing, selling or storing such unsafe foods would be liable to pay a penalty ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, and sentenced to imprisonment for a term ranging between six months and life.”
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