Caution! Sale of counterfeit food supplements on unchecked

 

Administration in deep slumber

JAMMU, Sept 7: Unauthentic and uncertified food supplements are being sold without any check or regulation to the city youth openly at exorbitant prices and the administration is in deep slumber despite a stringent Food Safety Act in place.

Attractive cartons of all sizes are put on display outside chemist shops, general stores and shops selling sports and fitness equipment, which are on sale for weight gain, muscle gain and also for weight loss and are being sold at astronomical prices to youth who aspire to have good physique. It is pity that they are not been prescribed by any physician or a qualified dietician, but most of the time, young boys and girls decide to take them on the advice of peers or unqualified gym instructors, most of whom have no professional qualification and have handsome commissions on the sales.

"In the contemporary world, everyone wants to look good and hence there is an urge amongst the youth to either gain muscle and look muscular or shed weight and look sleek; since exercising needs lot of effort and discipline, most people fall prey to short cuts as food supplements, which are on sale without any control or regulation" said Veena Trisal, a worried parent, whose son is taking such one such supplement he bought at an astronomical price from local market. "There was no price tag as the product was supposed to be imported" she added.

Besides the arbitrary rates at which these products are being sold, the major concern is the quality of the product and its effect on the user. "No one knows about the ingredients and the genuineness of the product being sold. You never know whether the product has steroids in it, which can have telling effect on the health of the user" said a renowned dietician, who did not want to be named. "These products need to be sold under a valid license and a regulatory mechanism as envisaged under the Food safety act which is overseen by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)" he added.

Despite a stringent act in place, it is pity that these food supplements are being sold in the open by all and sundry eyeing huge profits by individuals and firms which have no licenses as mandatory under the Act. The district administration, on whom lies the onus of regulating and checking the authenticity of these products has turned blind eye to the growing use of these uncertified products by the youth and their sale in violation of the provisions of the Food safety Act.