Jun 12, 2018
‘85 per cent adulteration in loose edible oil’
Research by Consumer Voice, one of the leading consumer organisations in India, has confirmed adulteration up to 85 per cent in loose edible oil sold across 15 states in India.
KOCHI: Research by Consumer Voice, one of the leading consumer organisations in India, has confirmed adulteration up to 85 per cent in loose edible oil sold across 15 states in India. The study further revealed that the adulteration was found in eight major varieties namely mustard, sesame, coconut, sunflower, palmolein, soybean, groundnut and cottonseed oil.
The study highlighted that in the samples tested coconut oil was the most adulterated with 85 per cent adulteration. Results of tests done on cottonseed oil, sesame oil, mustard oil were no better with 74.07 per cent, 74 per cent and 71.77 per cent adulteration found respectively, a press release said quoting the study.
The laboratory tests were conducted by Consumer Voice, a voluntary consumer organization which works in the interest of consumer education and advocating consumer rights, at National Accreditation Board of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. With the sample size of 1,015, the loose edible oils for the research was taken from 15 prime Indian states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to name a few. The oils were tested on the grounds of both quality and safety parameters, standards established by FSSAI.
Not only do adulterated oils cause allergies and increase cholesterol, but they are also known to be a cause of deadly diseases such as cancer, paralysis, liver damage and cardiac arrest. Even the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales Regulations 2011), has banned the selling, buying and distribution of edible oil in the loose form, yet in the country it is being bought and sold.
Commenting on the research Ashim Sanyal, chief operating officer of the Consumer Voice, said, “The tests were conducted as an initiative to educate the consumers and make them conscious of the adulteration present in the loose oil currently available in the market. As for the government, it is our sincere appeal to take immediate contingency measures to stop the sales of loose edible oil, and punish the offenders.”
FSDA to keep check on ‘adulteration’ of food items
As temperatures in Meerut continue to rise and shelf life of food decreases in this summer season, the Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) will be conducting drives to check adulteration of food. It should be noted that shelf life of food decreases during summers, locals tend to fall prey to poor quality of food and then fall ill.
“We are set to conduct an anti-adulteration drive in the district wherein we will take suspected food samples and send them for checking in our Lucknow laboratory. As the city’s temperatures are on a rise, chances of spoiled food being sold increase,” said Archana Dheeran, designated officer of FSDA, Meerut unit.
Customers can file complaints related to food adulteration with the department, also on condition of anonymity, said FSDA authorities.
Also, if any city resident is apprehensive about a certain food item, he or she can send it for testing to the food department personally and if the sample is found adulterated, a complaint can be filed immediately. The sample may be submitted by depositing Rs 1,000 and if found adulterated, a complaint can be filed with FSDA officials, who will take further action on it.
“A team of officials has been made, which will conduct anti-adulteration drive in the district,” said Dheeran.
'Clean' street food hubs to come up in state
As part of food security measures, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to permit 'Clean' street food hubs, under food security regulations, at strategic public spots in towns and cities including Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.
“The hubs will be set at Juhu and Goregaon in Mumbai, at Sarasbaug in Pune and at Phutala Talao in Nagpur,” Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, FDA, Girish Bapat said on the occasion of 'World Food Security Day'. Besides this, two food testing labs will be procured at a cost of Rs 10 crore each.
He said that road-side eateries will also be brought under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and awareness will be created among vendors to ensure that they take all precautions, including selection of hygienic ingredients to prepare the food articles. Most of the states have already began spreading the message of 'health food'. Similarly, Maharashtra too will now spread this message across the state, including its villages.
As per the agreement between Maharashtra FDA and Coca-Cola, nearly 1,200 street-food vendors in Pune were recently given training on the aspect of safe and nutritious food, enabling them to improve the quality of their offering. This initiative was a part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Coca-Cola to train 50,000 street food vendors across India over the next three years under the 'Clean Street Food' project.
As part of this initiative, Coca-Cola India is closely working with the FDA in upgrading the eating out experience for the local populace. While Coca-Cola India is responsible for the program execution through its network of trainers, the FDA will ensure the relevance of the training content and shall oversee the overall delivery.
Also, machinery for fortification of food, including milk, maida, salt, vitamins, etc. will be set up in the state, Bapat said, adding, “Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micro-nutrients to food. Although generally it is a purely commercial choice to provide extra nutrients in a food, basically it is a public health policy which aims to reduce the number of people with dietary deficiencies.”
Meanwhile, the FDA has begun a drive to register and issue licenses to vendors. They include fruit, vegetable, coconut water vendor, egg, chicken, meat and fish sellers, pani-puri seller, soda, wine and beer shops, canteens in school, colleges and other public places, hotels, and restaurants, to name a few. So far, over 1 lakh local market shopkeepers and vendors have a food safety registration or license.
Food sellers who have a turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh need to compulsorily have a food license. If the turnover is less than Rs 12 lakh, they need to register with the FDA. As per the Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, if the food vendor does not register, he can be punished for six months in jail, with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. Manufacturers and distributors too are supposed to sell food products only to those who have a registration or license. If they sell food products to vendors who are not registered, they can be fined up to Rs 2 lakh.
FDA Joint Commissioner (Food), Shailesh Adhav, said, “Notices have been served to vendors and shopkeepers. They will be given some time. If they fail to have a license even after that, we will take strict action against the erring vendors.”
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