Scan milk in 45 seconds

New Delhi, Feb. 20: Government scientists have released to industry a portable instrument that they say can detect within 45 seconds some of the commonest contaminants used to adulterate milk in the country.

Developed at the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute in Pilani, Rajasthan, the instrument automatically scans milk samples for detergent, urea, soap, soda and salt without the need to employ technicians.

Milk samples are now routinely tested through a range of commercial instruments that typically cost Rs 4.5 lakh and require technicians with chemistry skills to assess milk quality. The CEERI scanner costs Rs 1 lakh and can detect the contaminants at a cost of less than Re 1 per sample.

The Niti Aayog had set Indian scientists a challenge: to develop a way of detecting adulteration in milk within three minutes at a cost of less than Rs 4 per sample.

"Our instrument fits those requirements," said Poonam Chand Panchariya, the senior principal scientist at the CEERI who led the research.

The new instrument will allow samples to be screened during procurement at milk collection points, said Girish Sahni, director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the agency that supports CEERI and 38 other laboratories.

A snapshot survey by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2011-12 had found that 1,225 (65 per cent) of 1,890 samples of milk from across the country were contaminated.

A third of the samples had detergents with other substances. "Urea, detergents, soda, and salt are commonly added to increase the solid non-fat content of milk," Panchariya said.

The researchers worked with a Jaipur-based company to commercialise the instrument. About 40 scanners are being used at milk collection centres in Gujarat, Goa, Punjab and Rajasthan, and scientists are hoping that more dairies will take up the instrument.

"Given the scale at which we need to test milk in India, this is the best solution we have," science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan told a news conference today.

India is the world's largest milk producer and generated about 146 million tonnes during 2014-15.

Harsh Vardhan also announced that the Central Food Technology Research Institute, Mysore, had developed a portable instrument to detect a key micro-nutrient called beta carotene in milk.

Expected to cost Rs 5,000, the instrument will allow farmers to alter the fodder they provide to cattle to increase the beta carotene content of milk.

"Increasing the amount of green fodder can raise beta carotene in the milk," said Arun Kumar, a CFTRI scientist.

Beta carotene, however, tends to get degraded by the heat during the pasteurisation process. "We're independently trying to develop a cold pasteurisation process," said Ananth Ramakrishnan, another CFTRI scientist.

Beware! The Bananas You Eat Might be Chemically-ripened!

HYDERABAD: There is no way one can ignore pushcarts by the roadside selling bright yellow bananas. Three-bananas-for-ten-rupees available at any hour of the day come as quite a respite to commuters for a quick bite or sometimes even as a replacement for lunch or dinner. Over the last year, when the two Telugu states were waging a war with the mango mafia (after the mango season was well over) who use carbide to ripen the fruit artificially, there was the banana mafia operating without catching anyone’s attention.

Sleuths of the South Zone Task Force raided a few godowns in the Old City of Hyderabad recently and nabbed four persons in Reinbazar, Mirchowk, Bahadurpura and Falaknuma police limits.

They were found ripening bananas artificially at their godowns and selling the fruit to vendors. The chemical used, police said, was ‘Respon’ and ‘EP-50’.

“These are not banned chemicals but only plant growth regulators. We found several godowns where these chemicals are used to ripen wet bananas artificially in a matter of two or three days. It will give bright yellow colour to the unripe green bananas,” said a police officer on the condition of anonymity.

Normally, it would take over a week’s time for the fruit to ripen, whereas the unscrupulous agents are able to sell the fruit in less than two or three days.

A fruit trader at the Gaddiannaram wholesale fruit market, requesting not to be named, told Express: “Bananas do not come to our market. About 150 trucks carrying approximately 1,400 tonnes of banana a day come to Hyderabad. But the fruit is sold to stockists just on the city outskirts.”

So how does one confirm a banana as chemically ripened?

“If the banana is bright yellow, it is confirmed that it was artificially ripened. One should look for bananas with brown flecks or dots,” said the official.

On the other hand, the trader lamented: “The practice has been going on right under the nose of the authorities.”

Bananas are brought to Hyderabad from parts of Maharastra like Nanded, Jalgaon, Basmath, Patwari and Hingoli, and also from Nuzvid in Andhra Pradesh.

“The mango season will set in in some weeks. The vendors selling banana now will naturally shift to selling artificially ripened bananas,” said the trader.

Police found out that the four accused had been indulging in the sale of artificially ripened bananas for the last one year and that the adulteration racket was rampant all across the city.

Four Arrested

Four adulterators were arrested in raids conducted on godowns in Reinbazar, Mirchowk, Bahadurpura and Falaknuma police limits in the old city.

How to Know

If a banana is bright yellow, it is confirmed that it has artificially been ripened. One should look for bananas with brown flecks or dots.

Fruit Markets Raided to Check Carbide Usage

HYDERABAD: The usage of carcinogenic calcium carbide to give the perfect ripened look to the fruits, has come down in the past few months, claimed food safety officials. The reason: 72 cases booked against fruit vendors who used the chemical, wax and other substances to ripen fruits.

To further crackdown on the vendors who were resorting to such practices, food safety officials conducted raids for three days starting Thursday, and picked up 50 samples of strawberry, papaya, apple, orange, pomegranate, and other fruits based on suspicion. The raids were conducted in fruit markets and in retail shops in the city.

The samples were sent to Telangana State Food Laboratory to know if any chemicals, or pesticides were used. Test reports are expected to come in 14 days. The officials said they conducted similar checks in August last year.

“We did not find any calcium carbide in the raids conducted in the past three days. We picked up 50 samples based on suspicion from Gaddiannaram, Mozamjahi, and other fruit markets in the city. Retail shops selling fruits in Narayanaguda, Monda market and other places were also raided on Saturday,” said G Vinod Dayal, deputy food controller, Telangana food safety department, adding that the raids were conducted on orders from Commissioner of Food Safety, Rajeshwar Tiwari.

“We will receive reports after 14 days. If we find any chemicals, we will take action according to Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA),” said a food safety officer who was part of checking team.

A word of caution on food

The Food Safety Department has urged devotees not to buy jaggery, rock candy, oil and ghee sold in open places. Such items should be procured from licensed shops.

In a release, the department advised people not to buy candyfloss, ice sticks, cotton candy, and flavoured drinks, as it could be made of artificial and banned items.

People should check whether packed food items had prescribed label containing details of manufacturers and date.

Unhygienic ice

It was also advised not to take sarbath and juice items, as unhygienic ice used to preserve fish could be used for its preparation.

Food should not be taken in plates made of plastic and thermocol. Registration had been made mandatory for offering free food to devotees and opening temporary outlets.

Toll-free number

Complaints related to food safety during festivals could be filed by dialling the toll-free number 1800 425 1125, 8943346195, 8943346526.