PUNE: Be it excessive use of edible colours or pistachio substituted with coloured groundnut flakes, adulteration in sweets is always rampant in the market ahead of the festive season.
Officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have intensified their surveillance to curb such malpractices in and around Pune ahead of Diwali.
"The lure of quick money is the main motive to indulge in adulteration. Such malpractices become rampant during the festive season. We have started holding meetings with owners of sweet shops and have warned them against getting involved in any kind of adulteration. We have also put up flyers about basic precautions shop owners need to take in preparation, handling and sale of sweets," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
The administration has also started drawing samples of ingredients that are used in sweets, such as maida, rava, besan, ghee and khoya, said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
"Besides, there are a lot of homemade chocolates on sale in the market this time. We are also taking samples from these chocolates. We will fine those responsible for substandard food items and file criminal cases against people selling unsafe food items," he said.
The administration has also intensified vigilance at the city's entry points.
"Lot of substandard and adulterated khoya is transported into the city from neighbouring states, mainly Gujarat, during Diwali. Hence, we have started conducting surprise inspections at railway stations, state transport bus stands and private luxury bus stops in and around Pune," Sangat said.
Officials are also keeping an eye on the use edible colour in sweets. "
Those using more than 100ppm edible colour in food will attract punishment. Last Diwali, a sample of 'bundi ladoo' was found to contain edible colour exceeding the permissible limit prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A 'sev' sample from a shop in Pune was found containing excessive edible colour," Sangat added.
The administration is also watching out for 'varakh' (silver foil) used to decorate sweets. "Varakh is not always silver foil, but can also be aluminum, consuming which can create serious health problems," said food safety official Yogesh Dhane.
Officials said adulteration can cause serious health problems.
Use of harmful starch, milk mixed with urea, caustic soda, artificial sweetening chemicals, non-approved food colour (such as heavy-metal incorporated malachite green) and unhygienic conditions in the kitchen can cause acute gastritis, serious diarrhoea, dysentery, dehydration and kidney inflammation.
BOX: What the law says
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, makes adulteration punishable by a fine and imprisonment. In Maharashtra, food safety officials collect samples of various food items from time to time. These are analysed in government laboratories. If the samples are found to be adulterated, legal action is taken against the vendors
Dial to complain
Consumers who suspect that a food article is adulterated can inform the FDA assistant commissioner for their area. For assistance, call the FDA office on 020-24470276 and toll free number 1800222365
"The lure of quick money is the main motive to indulge in adulteration. Such malpractices become rampant during the festive season. We have started holding meetings with owners of sweet shops and have warned them against getting involved in any kind of adulteration. We have also put up flyers about basic precautions shop owners need to take in preparation, handling and sale of sweets," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
The administration has also started drawing samples of ingredients that are used in sweets, such as maida, rava, besan, ghee and khoya, said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
"Besides, there are a lot of homemade chocolates on sale in the market this time. We are also taking samples from these chocolates. We will fine those responsible for substandard food items and file criminal cases against people selling unsafe food items," he said.
The administration has also intensified vigilance at the city's entry points.
"Lot of substandard and adulterated khoya is transported into the city from neighbouring states, mainly Gujarat, during Diwali. Hence, we have started conducting surprise inspections at railway stations, state transport bus stands and private luxury bus stops in and around Pune," Sangat said.
Officials are also keeping an eye on the use edible colour in sweets. "
Those using more than 100ppm edible colour in food will attract punishment. Last Diwali, a sample of 'bundi ladoo' was found to contain edible colour exceeding the permissible limit prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A 'sev' sample from a shop in Pune was found containing excessive edible colour," Sangat added.
The administration is also watching out for 'varakh' (silver foil) used to decorate sweets. "Varakh is not always silver foil, but can also be aluminum, consuming which can create serious health problems," said food safety official Yogesh Dhane.
Officials said adulteration can cause serious health problems.
Use of harmful starch, milk mixed with urea, caustic soda, artificial sweetening chemicals, non-approved food colour (such as heavy-metal incorporated malachite green) and unhygienic conditions in the kitchen can cause acute gastritis, serious diarrhoea, dysentery, dehydration and kidney inflammation.
BOX: What the law says
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, makes adulteration punishable by a fine and imprisonment. In Maharashtra, food safety officials collect samples of various food items from time to time. These are analysed in government laboratories. If the samples are found to be adulterated, legal action is taken against the vendors
Dial to complain
Consumers who suspect that a food article is adulterated can inform the FDA assistant commissioner for their area. For assistance, call the FDA office on 020-24470276 and toll free number 1800222365
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