BHOPAL: Be watchful before you quench your thirst by drinking packaged drinking water or consuming sweets. These two are from a list of many food products that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found adulterated in state capital.
Approximately, every sixth food sample was found of substandard quality in Bhopal in last two years. Experts have a word of caution. Regular consumption of such food can prove hazardous.
Unsafe food is a cause of more than 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancers, experts said highlighting importance of food safety on the eve of World Health Day, on Tuesday. Incidentally, the theme for World Health Day 2015 is 'food safety'.
According to latest FDA report, about 15% of food samples drawn between 2013 and 2015 (February) in Bhopal were either unsafe or did not comply to standards set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). It included milk and milk products, fast food, packaged mineral water, dal, mustard oil, papad among others. Officials took about 500 food samples to check if they were fit for consumption.
"'We strongly recommend that food with colorants, fast foods and cola beverages should be avoided. It is particularly harmful for children," said paediatrician Dr Rakesh Sukheja.
A study carried out by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on street food and packaged food and released on Monday, cited while microbiological contamination of street food is a concern, its most common replacement is processed and packaged food which is laden with chemical additives.
"Long-term risks of many of these are not known. Besides chemical additives, ultra-processed junk foods are known to be high on salt, sugar and fats, including trans-fats. Considering their established linkages with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease, it would be more than appropriate to consider these foods as unsafe too," going by the study findings.
% should not be worked out on the samples drawn .
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