FNB News - Pulses are adulterated to make them appear fresh

You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here

F&B SPECIALS

Pulses are adulterated to make them appear fresh

Thursday, 01 November, 2012, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Maharashtra

K B Sankhe, joint commissioner (food), Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said, “Before the festive season, we selected about 109 samples of mithai and mawa from all over the state and sent these to the laboratory for tests. We are awaiting the results of the same. Adulterated mawa is sourced from Gujarat and used to make sweets for the festive season.”

“Before the festive season commenced, we seized mawa and mithai worth more than Rs 3 lakh, and will prosecute the culprits or impose a fine of upto Rs 1 lakh if they are found indulging in adulteration. Adulteration not only reduces the quality of food, but it also weakens the person who consumes them, thereby resulting in an increase in the cost of healthcare,” he said.

Sankhe said the regular intake of adulterated food could lead to a number of heath problems, which include both curable and incurable diseases and disorders. “The use of toxic colouring agents as adulterants in fruit, vegetables and sweets is very dangerous when it comes to the health of a person. It can lead to serious health issues such as cancer, cardiac problems, insomnia, paralysis and other neurological problems, and could even lead to death,” he said.

The official explained, “As far as the adulteration of honey is concerned, it appeared to be safer than using toxic chemicals as adulterants. Moreover, this will merely have an adverse economic impact and is unlikely to result in any health issues. Even milk can be adulterated with artificial chemicals, and this may not have any tangible impact on the milk itself.”

Gujarat

H G Koshia, food safety commissioner, Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), said, “Recently we raided three big factories in Gujarat which indulged in the act of adulteration. These factories used artificial colours and Rajasthan marble dust powder to adulterate cumin (jeera) seeds and thereby increase their quantity and reduce their quality, with the sole objective of increasing their profit margin.”

He added, “We seized about 20,000 kg of cumin seeds – estimated to be worth more than Rs 7 lakh – and have sent the samples for analysis. We have also registered a case against the company involved in the act of adulteration. Acting on our complaint, the offenders have been arrested by the local police. Water in milk is the most common example of adulteration. Argemone oil is a harmful substance of a low grade which is mixed with mustard oil.”

“Other common adulterants include other kinds of leaves and sawdust, which are mixed with tea leaves. Toxic chemicals may be used to colour sweets. Methanol is an adulterant in alcohol. Ghee may be mixed with vanaspati, and honey is mixed with other kinds of sugars. Pulses are adulterated with artificial colours in order to make them appear fresh. Likewise, fruit and vegetables may be adulterated with toxic colours to increase the profit margin,” said Koshia.

A food official from Gujarat FDCA, speaking to F&B News on the condition of anonymity, said, “Turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander and other essential ingredients of food cooked in our homes may actually be fake. Red chilli powder is in fact sold at a price far lower than actual chillies. Despite being a processed food, how is this possible? The answer is red chilli powder often contains only 30 per cent of good chilli.”

“The remaining 70 per cent of chillies are those that are either rotten or have been rejected by shops. These are first dried and then red food colour is added to them before they are powdered and sold. This is what ensures the reddish colour the moment it is added to our food. Cumin seeds are sold at Rs 70-80 per kg and their twigs are sold at Rs 5 per kg. Since the twigs smell and look the same, the powder is likely to fool most customers,” he added.

The official added, “After the powder is packaged, the profit margin is huge. Turmeric powder may not actually be turmeric. The powders of maize grain and damaged rice are mixed with yellow edible colour and artificial flavour and the result is fake turmeric, which is sold cheap. Ghee has the maximum scope for adulteration. Pure ghee might not even contain a drop of pure ghee.”

Kerala

V S Sivakumar, health minister, Government of Kerala, said, “It is clear that be it salt, meat, fish, vegetables or fruit, adulteration has been common. It is not only the retailers who are involved in malpractices, but also the wholesalers and others who bring the commodities from outside the state. But there are limitations for the food safety commissioner and other officials to trace it.”

“It is against the backdrop that a mechanism to engage the civil society also for better results is being probed. Whistle-blowers should be rewarded by the state government for providing information about adulteration to FSOs. Adulteration is a big issue in India and it is affecting the health of the people. The Act needs to be implemented so that those who are involved in food adulteration should fear before indulging in the malpractice,” he said.