People out in the blazing summer sun often find comfort in indigenous drinks and fruit juices sold on street side handcarts, considering them a healthier and economical option as compared to the bottled soft drinks.
A glass of sattu or aam panna is preferred for being the tried and tested remedies for generations against the health hazards associated with summer and cost less too. But merely following home-grown recipes might not guarantee healthy refreshment as the ingredients or water used to run the risk of being contaminated with microbiological or chemical contaminants.
In a city facing widespread water scarcity, vendors tend to opt for dubious sources of water for making drinks. Riddled with pathogens and effluents, the water alone is enough to make matters worse for someone’s health. Moreover, the fruits not used in a day are dipped in the same water to keep them from drying up in high temperatures.
“Any microbiological or chemical contamination in drinks, either bottled or freshly-made, might contain water-borne pathogens or harmful compounds. If artificial colour, preservative or flavouring is added to the drink, it must edible grade. The water should be pure and without contaminants. Failing to comply on any of these parameters will make the product sub-standard and harmful to human health,” stated Jitendra Kumar Singh, Chief Food Analyst at State Food and Drug laboratory.
Chemical contaminants might enter the body in trace amounts and get accumulated, triggering health complications later. The microbial pathogens can go on to instigate stomach and intestine related problems ranging from diarrhoea to infections
Advisories are issued on regular intervals by authorities, instructing vendors to make sure that the products they serve to their customers are safe for their health. Failure to comply is met with punishments, stated officials.
“Instructions have been issued to vendors and juice sellers to maintain the stipulated food safety standards. They are ordered to keep their workstations clean, refrain from adulteration, use fresh ingredients and such. Such advisories had been issued in the past and will be issued once again soon,” said Director (Food) Ramesh Kumar Dubey.
Vendors dealing in food and beverages have also been asked to get their names registered so that a closer eye can be kept on their compliance with the standards laid down. “Some samples have been sent to the State Food and Drug laboratory for testing. FIR will be lodged against those who are found to be marketing sub-standard products,” added Dubey.