Of the 1,186 food samples collected over the last three months by the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, from 47 places along the Char Dham Yatra routes of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, 1,003 samples (or a whopping 84.5 per cent) were found to be adulterated.
Eighty-four per cent of the adulteration in foodstuff took place on the Badrinath-Kedarnath route, while 84.5 per cent adulteration in foodstuff took place on the Gangotri-Yamnotri Route. Eighty-one per cent of the iodised salt samples contained no iodine.
The prasad (offerings to gods in the temples) is also of a poor quality. Ilaichi dana was found to contain chemicals. The coconut was found to be stale and of a poor quality, as were chhuara, cashew and kishmish in Kedarnath. The pure ghee offered to Kedarnath Ji was also found to be adulterated.
Chilli sauce, tomato sauce and vinegar used for chow mein and other Chinese meals were found to be 100 per cent adulterated.
Sindoor, or roli, was found to contain 100 per cent toxic chemicals. It can cause local irritation and skin toxicity. The nature of sindoor, or kumkum, can change with exposure to the environment over time, and this can result in blisters, itching, rashes, pigmentation and, at times, serious dermatological disorders.
The samples were collected with the help of trained volunteers. The campaign was supported by Lok Sanchar Vikas Samiti. This was stated in a report by Brij Mohan Sharma, secretary, SPECS.
“Uttarakhand is known for its simple pure unadulterated food, but what we are getting from outside is adulterated processed food,” he said.
Sharma added, “Products from branded companies which reach the mountains is of a poor quality as compared to those available in Dehradun. Calcium is absent in milk and milk products. Mustard oil is adulterated.”
Adulteration percentages in previous years on Char Dham routes
-
Year
|
Kedarnath-Badrinath
|
Gangotri-Yamnotri
|
2018
|
84%
|
84.5%
|
2017
|
85%
|
83%
|
2016
|
85%
|
78%
|
2015
|
85%
|
80%
|
2014
|
84%
|
78%
|
2013
|
87%
|
79%
|
2012
|
84%
|
78%
|
2011
|
88%
|
76%
|
2010
|
78%
|
87%
|
2009
|
75%
|
91%
|
2008
|
75%
|
89%
|
2007
|
72%
|
84%
|
2006
|
71%
|
81%
|
2005
|
71%
|
81%
|
Adulteration percentages from Dehradun to Badrinath and Kedarnath (2018)
One
hundred per cent
|
Between
90 and 99%
|
Between
80 and 89%
|
Between
70 and 79%
|
Between
60 and 69%
|
Kaudiyala
100%
|
Kedarnath
94%
Gopeshwar
91%
Badrinath
90%
|
Srikot
88%
Rishikesh
87%
Joshimath
88%
Papal
Koti
88%
Agustmuni
86%
Rudrprayag
85%
Mana
85%
Dehradun
85%
Karanprayag
82%
Guptakashi
82%
Tilwada
81%
Doiwala
81%
Srinagar
80%
|
Ukhimath
78%
Devprayag
77%
Chamoli
76%
Govindghat
75%
Chopta
75%
Gaucher
73%
Nandprayag
72%
|
Bayasi
66%
Bhaniawala
60%
|
Percentage of adulteration in each food item from Dehradun to Badrinath and Kedarnath
Mustard
oil
100%
Coriander
92%
Turmeric
89%
Red
chilli 88%
Refined
oil
87%
Clove
76%
Milk
75%
Sweets
76%
Paneer
76%
Pure
ghee 76%
Black
pepper 62%
Tea
92%
|
Percentage of adulteration from Narender Nagar to Gangotri
Gangori
100%
Bhatwari
100%
Gangnani
100%
Harshil
94%
Narender
Nagar
93%
Gangotri
90%
Agrakhal
87%
Tehri
86%
Uttarkashi
85%
Dunda
80%
Chamba
75%
Dharashu
73%
|
Rajpur to Yamnotri
Badkot
88%
Bernigad
88%
Naugaon
86%
Mussorie
83%
Hanuman
Chatti
83%
Yamnotri
81%
Nainbagh
80%
Rajpur
80%
Kempty
76%
|
Percentage of adulteration in food items from Narender Nagar to Gangotri and Yamnotri
Mustard
oil
100%
Turmeric
94%
Red
chilly
powder
94%
Coriander
93%
Clove
87%
Black
pepper
82%
Refined
oil
76%
Milk
75%
Paneer
75%
Pure
ghee
73%
Sweets
68%
|
Massive
adulteration in food at Kanwad Mela at Haridwar
SPECS
collected 100 samples of food
items.
Of these, 87
samples were found to
be adulterated.
Out of 15 samples
of milk,
eight samples
were positive on urea
test.
The
following were the percentages of adulteration
in the collected samples:
Milk
83%
Sweets
73%
Turmeric
87%
Red
chilli
powder
88%
Coriander
powder
91%
Mustard
oil 100%
Refined
oil 72%
|
“We claim tourism to be the economic backbone of our fledgling, state and yet, as the results of the testing clearly prove, there are serious doubts and lacunae in our tourism aspirations and approach,” Sharma said.
“In the state’s tourism policy and practice, one of its more important pillars - food or boarding - stands largely ignored. Never mind the beautiful mountain landscape and the spiritual experience, at the physical level, what we are offering to the pilgrims and tourists is sheer third-class food and boarding, with a big question mark on its quality,” he added.
The following are the possible diseases due to adulterants: Joint ache; diarrhoea; stomach disorders; liver problem; ulcer; vomiting; cancer; dropsy; gastrointestinal problems; swelling; glaucoma; respiratory diseases; dysentery; paralysis, neuro-toxic problems, allergy and hair loss.
What is adulteration?
Under the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulterants Act, 1954, any article of food is adulterated if:
- Any inferior or cheaper substance has been substituted wholly or in part;
- Any constituent of the article has been wholly or in part abstracted;
- The article has been prepared, packed or kept under insanitary conditions;
- The article consists in part filthy, rotten, decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable or is infested with insects;
- The article is obtained from diseased animal;
- The article contains any poisonous ingredient;
- The article has an prescribed coloring substance or the coloring substance is in excess of the prescribed limits;
- The article contains any prohibited or excessive preservatives, or
- The quality or purity of the article falls below the prescribed standards
Table 1: Adulterants found in food products available in markets on Char Dham routes
Food
item
|
Adulterated
material/deficiency
|
Turmeric
|
Metanil
yellow,
lead
chromate
and starch
|
Red
chilli
|
Rhodamin–B,
Sudan and Garu
|
Coriander
|
Mud/soil
and some suspected material
|
Black
pepper
|
Natural
oil already extracted
|
Clove
|
Natural
oil already extracted
|
Garam
masala
|
Mud/soil
and dung
|
Milk
|
Castor
oil,
sodium
carbonate
and dry
milk
|
Paneer
|
ry
Dry
milk
and vegetable
oil
|
Sweets
|
Metanil
yellow
in laddoo,
melachite
green,
dry
milk
and Dalda
|
Desi
ghee
|
Dalda
ghee
|
Mustard
oil
|
Mobile
oil,
castor
oil
and metanil
yellow
|
Refined
oil
|
Mobile
oil
and Metanil yellow
|
Tea
|
Dyed
tea
leaves and chromium
dye
|
Coffee
|
Tamarind
seeds
|
Prasad
sugar
|
Rani
and Tinopal
(products
for washing clothes)
|
Honey
|
Sugar
|
Roli
|
Dye
metallic
|
Chhuara
|
Old
and waste
|
Groundnut
|
Old
|
Tomato
|
Rhodamin–B
|
Green
chilli
|
Malachite
green
|
Vinegar
|
Acetic
acid
|
Year: 2018
Table 1: Dehradun to Badrinath and Kedarnath
Place
|
Percentage
of adulteration
|
Total
samples
|
Adulterated
samples
|
Dehradun
|
85
|
105
|
90
|
Doiwala
|
81
|
32
|
26
|
Bhaniawala
|
60
|
10
|
6
|
Rishikesh
|
87
|
65
|
57
|
Bayasi
|
66
|
6
|
4
|
Kaudiyala
|
100
|
7
|
7
|
Devprayag
|
77
|
22
|
17
|
Srinagar
|
80
|
41
|
33
|
Srikot
|
88
|
18
|
16
|
Rudrprayag
|
85
|
28
|
24
|
Tilwada
|
81
|
16
|
13
|
Gaucher
|
73
|
19
|
14
|
Karanprayag
|
82
|
34
|
28
|
Nandprayag
|
72
|
11
|
8
|
Chamoli
|
76
|
17
|
13
|
Papalkoti
|
88
|
17
|
15
|
Joshimath
|
88
|
26
|
23
|
Govindghat
|
75
|
8
|
6
|
Badrinath
|
90
|
22
|
20
|
Mana
|
85
|
7
|
6
|
Agustmuni
|
86
|
15
|
13
|
Guptakashi
|
82
|
17
|
14
|
Ukhimath
|
78
|
14
|
11
|
Chopta
|
75
|
8
|
6
|
Gopeshwar
|
91
|
34
|
31
|
Kedarnath
|
94
|
17
|
16
|
Total
|
83.92
|
616
|
517
|
Table 2: Percentage of adulteration in each food item (Dehradun to Badrinath and Kedarnath)
Food
item
|
Samples
|
Adulterated
samples
|
Percentage
of adulteration
|
Turmeric
|
78
|
70
|
89
|
Red
chilli powder
|
76
|
67
|
88
|
Coriander
|
75
|
69
|
92
|
Clove
|
52
|
40
|
76
|
Black
pepper
|
50
|
31
|
62
|
Milk
|
49
|
39
|
75
|
Paneer
|
38
|
29
|
76
|
Sweets
|
38
|
29
|
76
|
Pure
ghee
|
46
|
35
|
76
|
Mustard
oil
|
74
|
74
|
100
|
Refined
oil
|
40
|
35
|
87
|
Total
|
616
|
517
|
83.92
|
Table 3: Percentage of adulteration from Narender Nagar to Gangotri
Place
|
Total
samples
|
Adulterated
samples
|
Percentage
of adulteration
|
Narender
Nagar
|
32
|
30
|
93
|
Agrakhal
|
19
|
15
|
78
|
Chamba
|
32
|
24
|
75
|
Tehri
|
52
|
45
|
86
|
Dharashu
|
15
|
11
|
73
|
Dunda
|
10
|
8
|
80
|
Uttarkashi
|
48
|
41
|
85
|
Gangori
|
10
|
10
|
100
|
Bhatwari
|
7
|
7
|
100
|
Gangnani
|
6
|
6
|
100
|
Harshil
|
17
|
16
|
94
|
Gangotri
|
22
|
20
|
90
|
Total
|
270
|
233
|
86
|
Table 4: Percentage of adulteration in each food from Narender Nagar to Gangotri
Food
item
|
Total
samples
|
Adulterated
samples
|
Percentage
of adulteration
|
Turmeric
|
35
|
33
|
94
|
Red
chilli powder
|
35
|
33
|
94
|
Coriander
|
32
|
30
|
93
|
Clove
|
24
|
21
|
87
|
Black
pepper
|
23
|
19
|
82
|
Milk
|
28
|
21
|
75
|
Paneer
|
8
|
6
|
75
|
Sweets
|
16
|
11
|
68
|
Pure
ghee
|
19
|
14
|
73
|
Mustard
oil
|
25
|
25
|
100
|
Refined
oil
|
25
|
19
|
76
|
Total
|
270
|
232
|
85
|
Table 5: Rajpur to Yamnotri
Sampling
sites
|
Total
samples
|
Adulterated
samples
|
Percentage
of adulteration
|
Rajpur
|
36
|
29
|
80
|
Mussoorie
|
42
|
35
|
83
|
Kempty
|
17
|
13
|
76
|
Nainbagh
|
15
|
12
|
80
|
Bernigad
|
9
|
8
|
88
|
Naugaon
|
22
|
19
|
86
|
Badkot
|
25
|
22
|
88
|
Hanuman
Chatti
|
12
|
10
|
83
|
Yamnotri
|
22
|
18
|
81
|
Total
|
200
|
166
|
83
|