Iron dust in tea and brick powder in chilli!

KOCHI: Frequent warnings and raids seem to have little impact on rampant food adulteration in the district. Over the last six months, food safety officials registered 45 cases against producers and shopkeepers for selling adulterated packed food following complaints and random raids. 

The adulteration was mainly reported in tea powder, coconut oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, peas dal, chips and many spices sold in the district. 

For colouring grocery, many producers were found to be using non-permissible colours such as coal tar dyes. The most startling find was the presence of powdered iron even in branded tea powder packets. Officials have registered four cases in this regard. 

During inspections, they sub-standard oil mixed with coconut oil, non-permissible starch in coriander and turmeric powder, coal tar dyes in peas dal, yellow colour in chips and sudan dye used for colouring chilli powder. 

"We found 4 to 5% adulteration in food items during our inspections. Iron powder is mixed while tea leaves are processed following the crush, tear, curl (CTC) method. The presence of coal tar dyes in food can even result in cancer. Spices such as cardamom are dipped in synthetic dyes to give it green colour. As we don't have the required manpower, it is difficult to control the practice of contaminating food items. There are only five people currently in the department, leaving nine posts vacant," said food safety officer K Ajith Kumar. 

He said the public can inform food safety officials if they detect any adulteration in food items by calling the toll-free helpline number 1800 - 4251125 at the commissionerate office in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, stipulates stricter punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment and hefty penalties for adulteration. 

According to gastroenterologist Dr Rajeeve Jayadevan, exposure to iron powder in tea for a long period of can result in heart failure. "Excessive iron getting deposited in parts of the body will also lead to bronze diabetes," he said. 

"Adulteration in food items will affect the endocrine system. Authorities should test samples of food products before they are packed. The certification label of the agency that tested the sample should be on the packet for public information," said city resident Vijay Dileepraj.