Mangoes, bananas seized

The Food Safety Department officials seized 2.75 tonnes of mangoes and bananas, which were ripened artificially, from different shops in Salem city on Saturday.

Tip-off

On a tip-off, a team of officials led by S. Mariappan, Designated Officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, conducted surprise check in the fruit godowns before the break of dawn in the city.

The officials spotted that artificial methods like using prohibited acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas, for ripening the fruits was detected in all the cases.

The officials seized one tonne of mangoes and 1.75 tonnes of plantains from the godowns belonging to three traders.

Cases were registered against all the three persons.

85 per cent loose edible oil sold across country adulterated, finds study

As much as 85 per cent of the edible oil sold in loose across the country is adulterated, revealed a study conducted recently. Nutritionists warn that this would lead to the formation of toxins in the body called free radicals, which in turn are responsible for most of the lifestyle and chronic diseases.

Many among the public continue to buy edible oil in loose, despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning its sale, purchase and distribution of edible oils in that form.

“Not only do adulterated oils cause allergies and increase cholesterol levels, they are also known to be responsible for diseases such as cancer, paralysis, liver damage and cardiac arrest. The FSSAI, under the Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations, 2011, had banned selling, buying and distribution of edible oil in the loose form,” said Dr Niti Desai, a dietician and nutritionist.

According to the study conducted by the organisation Consumer Voice, adulteration was found in eight major varieties. The agency highlighted that in the samples tested, coconut oil was the most adulterated with 85 per cent adulteration.

For the study, 1,015 loose edible oil samples were collected from 15 states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. The oils were tested for quality and safety parameters, according to the standards established by FSSAI.

Experts warned that with the menace of adulteration spreading fast posing threats to the health and well-being of the citizens, it was important for the authorities to take stricter action to stop the sale of loose edible oil. A city-based nutritionist added that it was important that the public remained vigilant about the quality of food and food materials they consumed.

Officials keep an eye on mangoes

Testing time: Food Safety Officer I. Dhanaraju, along with his colleagues, inspects mangoes at a shop near Goubert Market at J.N. Street in Puducherry; seized mangoes loaded in a vehicle. 

500 kg of artificially ripened fruit seized from a godown at Bharathi Street in a recent raid

With juicy mangoes flooding the market, Food Safety department officials reckon that the time is ripe for carrying out checks on the quality of the popular fruit.

Recently, a team of officials headed by the Food Safety officer I. Dhanraju seized 500 kg of artificially ripened mangoes from a godown inside a shop at Bharathi Street.

Mr. Dhanraju said that they had conducted raids in 17 shops at Nehru Street and three shops at Bharathi Street as a part of the seasonal routine work. During the raid, the officials found that mangoes were ripened using calcium carbide, a chemical substance. On searching a godown, four packets of sachets, each weighing 25 gm were concealed in seven trays of mangoes.

The traders purchase mangoes from Marakkanam, Vennangupattu, Kottikadu and other dealers from Tamil Nadu in bulk and use chemicals to boost up the sales during the peak season. “The mangoes will be destroyed and the shopkeeper will charged under rule 44AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act where artificial ripening agents are not permitted,” said the officer.

Such tactics had been around at least for over a decade, but over the last four years there was a decline in the usage of calcium carbide thanks to frequent department raids. The periodic raids had been a major deterrent to traders resorting to unfair practices which were also a health hazard to consumers, an official said.

Besides, these days awareness among consumers about the harmful effects of consuming artificially ripened fruits has also improved, officials said.

Nitish targets ‘khaini’, mulls ban on chewable tobacco

Consumption of khaini, a processed tobacco product has been found to be one of the major causes of oral cancer in Bihar,

Two years after the ban on liquor, the Bihar government has planned to ban the sale and consumption of khaini (a processed tobacco product) in the State.

The government has written to the Union Health Ministry to notify khaini as a food product.

Consumption of khaini has been found to be one of the major causes of oral cancer in Bihar.

Speaking to media persons, Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said khaini was pure tobacco and if the Central government approved the recommendation by the State government, “it will be regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”

Widespread addiction

The NGO Socio-Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS), too, is said to have written to the Union Health Ministry to include khaini as a food product under the FSSAI.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-II, 2016-17, altogether 25.9% of Bihar’s population use tobacco in different forms and 20.4% of them are addicted to khaini.

On May 21, the Bihar government banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala (with tobacco and nicotine) for a year.

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