MEERUT: Five months after the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) took samples of spices and condiments used in preparing mid-day meals from a primary school in Khanpur, results from the food testing laboratory in Lucknow are shocking. While 'Sudan', a colouring dye whose use is prohibited by law, was found in chilli powder, lead chromate was found in turmeric powder. A known carcinogen, lead chromate is used in printing inks and paints. It primarily affects the lungs but can also hit the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and immune system.
FSDA has now referred the matter to the Basic Shiksha Adhikari for further action. "A surprise inspection of the mid-day meal at a primary school in Khanpur village, Meerut, was done by our department on February 21 this year. The laboratory report has arrived and it shows these two substances in the food," JP Singh, chief food safety officer, Meerut district, told TOI on Wednesday.
To know the impact of the chemicals found in the spices and condiments, which could affect thousands of unsuspecting children who take mid-day meals provided by the government, TOI spoke to city-based doctors who said they were "alarmed". Dr Harish Mohan Rastogi said, "The intake of lead chromate on a regular basis leads to chronic poisoning and if consumed for a long duration can cause cancer. It can also cause damage to the kidney and liver. These children were consuming this food for an unknown duration. The people involved in adulteration of the food with such substances should be given stringent punishment."
Though Singh said he had sent the report to basic shiksha adhikari Mohd Iqbal, the latter maintained he hadn't received the document. "I have not received any such report from the FSDA yet. Once the reports reach me, I will be able to take a decision in the matter. It is sad that such substances have been found in the mid-day meal," Iqbal said.
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