THE PROBLEM OF FOOD ADULTERATION IN NATIONAL CAPITAL

By Chaudhary Sandeep Datta

Even if the food adulteration problem is steadily becoming talk of the town in the national capital, the Government of Delhi finds it not as big as something to be described as ‘plaguing the city’ or ‘rampant’.

The officials related to food adulteration department are tight-lipped, as they have been directed not to speak (read expose) about anything that may facilitate things for the government to keep it a low-key issue.

“The problem of (adulteration) is actually coming from other States, although most of the samples, especially of milk products, we have got it checked in the laboratories of the reputed Shri Ram Institute………we have also carried out unprecedented surprise checks to the check the menace,” said Kiran Walia, Delhi’s Minister for Health.

“The Central law (under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006) is coming and because that’s going to be applicable on entire country, we don’t think there is need for us to bring any separate law. However, I believe we will be the first state to implement it. We have started the process,” said Walia informed.

Meanwhile, high officials of the department say the food adulteration problem in Delhi is not so rampant actually.

“We haven’t found as such rampant cases of adulteration. Well, there were some cases of polished or coloured pulses. But we haven’t found mixing of synthetic in milk. However, we did come across some case of adulterated milk due to mixing of water or a few cases of fat extraction from butter and milk,” said an official.

“Food Standard and Safety Act 2006 has been approved by the Parliament and President of India. Rule and regulations under it are still being made. Once it is done, it will be applied. Currently, the present PFA Act has provision of six month imprisonment and Rs.1,000 as fine which can be exceeded to any undefined limit and it may depend upon the discretion of the judiciary while looking into the particular case,” the official said.

“Any consumer can get any food article tested by the Department by paying a fee of Rs.1,000 and in case of commercial party (i.e. company) it can be done by paying Rs.5,000 as fee,” he added.

“Recently some of the cases of adulterated Khoya were brought to the department’s notice by a private news channel, but nothing adulterated in them was found in them,” said the senior official requesting anonymity as he is not supposed to speak officially.

Reality Check..

Just like it is said all that glitters is not gold, something similar can be said about fruits, pulses or milk or milk products available at various retail shops in Delhi. The ground reality seems somewhat different from official version of reality ahead of 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“Fruit colouring can be noticed in various markets. The fruits’ harvest often remains in its natural form or unadulterated in villages. By the time it is shifted from wholesellers to retailers and then in the hands of actual consumer, many a times it is found having artificial shine. At some places, the fruits are washed in detergent powder (like in Chandni Chowk) or cheap refined oil is applied on them to keep the glowing and look fresh,” said a Food Inspector, requesting anonymity for not being officially authorized to speak to media.

“As the household ladies tend to get drawn to buy pulses that have a bit of shine, the shopkeepers or wholesellers or stockiest ensure they supply what draws customers,” he added.

“There is no such particular area for adulteration of food products, as it depends upon the location of any thing’s manufacturing point or at time the big whole seller. Usually, the adulteration is done in those items that have big margin of profit. The adulteration is most often done at manufacturing and wholesellers’ point,” the Food Inspector further revealed.

“Not much can be done to address the problem of adulteration, as it remains an old competition between the police and thieves. The more we try, the more they turn creative or cunning in applying methods for adulteration. The problem, as it affects even our families too, can be curbed with an intensified awareness drive for general household,” said another Food Inspector.

Houswives speak….

“Haven’t you seen news channels? Are they talking about food adulteration occurring at another planet? Be it synthetic curd, milk products, polished pulses, immaturely ripened fruits that taste bitter despite their good appearance are available in almost all markets and hawkers are making good money, befooling us everyday. Haven’t you come across duplicate cold drinks at local shops?,” said ………, a housewife in Malka Ganj, North Delhi.

“So many people’s health or perhaps lives have been saved due to timely expose` of adulterated sweets ahead of Diwali, the biggest festival of Hindus known for sweets and fireworks. None of our relatives gifted milk-based sweets on Diwail this time. Instead, dry fruits and chocolates were exchanged as gifts. The shopkeepers suffered big losses, still you are saying there is nothing rampantly wrong?,” said Latta Sharma, a housewife in Chhattarpur, South Delhi.

Meanwhile, the public information issued by the Director (Prevent of Food Adulteration)/ Commissioner of Food Safety states to the purchasers of articles of foods in Delhi……Both the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and the upcoming Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 assign certain functions to the law enforcing set up i.e. particularly the Food Inspectors and the Local (health) Authorities, etc. both the Acts have empowered a purchaser also to take a sample of an article of food.

The right under Section 12 of the P.F.A. Act 1954 can be exercised by following the same procedure as is prescribed for the food inspectors.

Meanwhile, as a part of initiatives at the headquarters of the department….Free of cost, spot demonstration tests, for all the people of 20 articles/types have been started to be carried out at the headquarters, located at Delhi’s Lawrence Road.

The list of articles includes milk, milkproducts; paneer, khoya, milk made sweets, ice cream curd, Besan, curd, Ghee, mustard oil, Chilli powder, Haldi powder, Garma Masala/ Dhania powder, flour, etc., Pulses, Rai, Powdered Hing, Tea Leaves, Sela rice, Jaggery, Honey, Pieces/ powder of Supari, Saunf.

These can be tested for factors like quantity or presence of starch (like in Milik or milk products), Kesari Dal (for Besan), colour, Til oil (for Ghee), unpermitted colour, Argemone oil (for mustard oil), Clay (inorganic matter) (for spices), Metani yellow colour (for Sela rice), Caustic soda (for jaggery) sugar/water (like in Honey).


With effect from Nov.11, 2008, the Delhi High Court has made the designated court for the cases under the P.F.A. Act 1954 as an exclusive one, this is believed to lessen the time taken in the judicial proceedings to a large extent. As the punishment provided under this Act extends from the minimum of six months imprisonment to maximum of the life imprisonment.

It further informs the public that direction has been issued to all the hotels and restaurants in Delhi for display of the brown or green dots on the receptacles or containers of the non vegetarian or vegetarian foods.

Directions have repeatedly been given to the Sub-Divisional Local (Health) Authority i.e. the present Sub-Divisional Magistrate for taking action against artificial ripening of fruits and artificial colouring of vegetables, effectively.

The department, in any case, wants to be ready to implement the upcoming implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

Moreover, as per the Directorate office, purchaser can have food analysed…..By following the procedure as prescribed for a food inspector under the supervision of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (LHA), a purchaser can also take sample of article of food and get the same analysed on payment of a fee of Rs. 1000 per sample at the food laboratory of the Department there is a provision to refund the fee in case the sample is reported by the public analyst as adulterated.

The department states that no person shall sell powered spices and condiments except under packed condition.

In Delhi, sale, offer for sale, the exposure for sale of all mustard oil in loose form i.e. in unpacked packages for human consumption is prohibited.


At present, some of the penalties prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (P.F.A) Act, 1954

SectionOffencePenalty prescribed

16 (1)Importing into India or manufacturing for sale or storing selling or distributing adulterated food.Six months to three years and fine not less than Rs.1,000.
16 (1)Misbranding of food articlesThree months to two years and fine not less that Rs.5,000
16 (1A)Importing into India or manufacturing for sale or storing selling or distributing adulterated food which is injurious. One year to six years and find not less than Rs.2,000.
16 (1A)Importing into India or manufacturing for sale or storing or distributing adulterated food which is likely to cause death or grievous hurt.Three years to life imprisonment and fine not less that Rs.5,000.



The Parliament of India has enacted the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006 which will be replacing the existing food laws and is to be implemented in due course of time.

The implementing authority of the same will generally remain the same under the PFA Act except for the specific new activities which will be performed by different office bearers.


You Must Know…

Under the Prevention of Food Adulteration 1955, Act…..

Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 43, no person shall either by himself or by any servant or agent, sell:

a) cream whch has not been prepared exclusively from milk or which contains less than 25 per cent of milk fat

b) milk containing any added matter no exclusively derived from milk fat

c) Ghee containing any added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat
d) skimmed milk (fat abstracted) as milk
e) a mixture of two or more edible oils as an edible oil
f) vanaspati to which ghee or any other substance has been added
g) turmeric containing any foreign substance
h) mixture of coffee and any other substance except chicory
i) Curd, not prepared from boiled, pasteurized or sterlised milk

Other prohibitions include…. Labels not to use words, implying or suggesting recommendation by medical profession

A label should not contain any statement, claim, design, device, fancy name, or abbreviation which is false or misleading about food contained or quantity or nutritive value in the package.

No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description the fruits which may have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene gas, commonly know as carbide gas.
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Regards
Chaudhary Sandeep Datta