Fighting fake food

The news report of plastic egg has brought to fore the practice of food adulteration once again. Reports about plastic egg and plastic rice have been doing the round in social media. Sceptics have brushed aside the story as fake. Government food safety officials on are still maintaining a safe distance from arriving at a conclusion silent. It is understandable. One cannot jump into conclusion comment bypassing the laboratory reports of the food samples that have been sent. While we wait for the test results, the report of a Singjamei family finding plastic like egg indicates that some eggs in the food market may not be eggs that comes from, say, hens or ducks, but from some other unthinkable source. Foods such as egg and fish which are mass consumed in the state come from Andhra Pradesh mostly. This is because the consumer demand cannot be met by the producers in the state. Fish from Andhra are assumed to be treated with harmful chemicals to make them look fresh. Also in this regard, food safety officials have collected samples. The results are still awaited though the samples were collected in May. This is despite the rule that test result should be given within 14 days by the laboratory under the Food Safety Act. Not only fish or egg, rather most of the food items that we consume are mostly procured from outside the state. Food items also come from Myanmar and China through the Moreh market. The fake eggs are assumed to be from China.

Food adulteration is not a new practice. It may be recalled that in 2014 a joint team of the Food Safety and Narcotics & Affairs of Borders unearthed adulterated edible mustard oil worth around Rupees 30 lakhs. And recently some vendors in Imphal were also charged of using chemicals to ripen the fruits to be sold. In all probability edible substances other than oil, egg and fish are adulterated and sold in the market. These adulterated products would have reached our kitchens to be consumed by everyone in the family: including our young children. Vegetables that are sold in the market are not safe food either. It is no secret that vegetable growers use chemicals and fertilisers to increase their yield. This unethical practice might not come under the definition of food adulteration. But the practice certainly has damaging effects on our health. The moot point however is to find ways to thwart the multipronged attack on our food.

Given the scenario the state government and its departments concerned must act fast. It is worth mentioning that foodborne diseases have become a global public health challenge according to the World Health Organisation. It also maintains that protecting global health from foodborne hazards is a compelling duty and a primary interest of both States and non-State actors. There are tell-tale signs of our state failing in this front. Already, there are a staggering 79 cases of food testing pending in the state. The authorities need to address the issue of lack of infrastructural requirements without much delay. Food testing laboratory in the state should be equipped with latest technology. Food safety officials must conduct surprise checks at the warehouses where food for mass consumption are stored. Under the initiative of the new government there has been active intervention on the part of the food safety officials. Seizure of tobacco and other harmful product which are harmful to health is being carried out across the state. This kind of intervention needs to be done with consistency. Their inactiveness in the future could give a wrong message to the public that the agencies are working hand in glove with the cartel of adulterators. Needless to say that businessmen operating in such trade are very powerful lobbyist. Besides having shrewd business skills, they are also well versed in influencing the people who are in the corridors of power. Yet this should not dampen the spirit of Food Safety team. Those found involved in food adulteration should be given exemplary punishment by the law.