The sale of adulterated food items continues to pose a serious public health risk especially as the action started by the authorities just some days ahead of Deepawali has had limited effect on the sale of adulterated food items.
This was brought to the fore once again when testing of edible substances from five cities including Dehradun by the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) revealed adulteration in 89 per cent of the samples.
According to SPECS secretary Brij Mohan Sharma, the society collected samples of various food items from Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mussoorie and Roorkee between October 31 and November 8 in the run up to the Deepawali festivities. Out of total 1062 samples tested, 952 (89 per cent) were found to contain various adultrants.
Of the turmeric samples tested, 92 per cent were adulterated in Dehradun, 90 per cent in Haridwar, Roorkee, Rishikesh and 88 per cent in Mussoorie. Apart from alarming level of adulteration in spices, the adulteration in milk was found to be 95 per cent in Dehradun, 92 per cent in Haridwar, 89 per cent in Mussoorie and 82 per cent each in Rooorkee and Rishikesh.
Of the milk cake samples, 78 per cent were found to be adulterated in Dehradun, 88 per cent each in Mussoorie and Haridwar and 68 per cent each in Roorkee and Rishikesh. Of the paneer samples, 86 per cent were found adulterated in Haridwar, 85 per cent in Mussoorie, 80 per cent each in Rishikesh and Roorkee and 76 per cent in Dehradun.
Of the Kaju Burfi samples, 72 per cent were found to be adulterated in Dehradun, 76 per cent each in Roorkee and Rishikesh, and 70 per cent in Haridwar while 93 per cent of laddu/Jalebi samples from Mussoorie were found to be adulterated.
Sharma said that common adulterants are low grade harmful substances like the use Argemone oil mixed in mustard oil, toxic chemicals are used to colour sweets and make fruits and vegetables appear fresh.
Such rampant use of toxic coloring agents for sweets, fruits and vegetables can lead to serious health problems including cancer, cardiac problems, insomnia, neurological problems and even death in some cases, added Sharma.
It is pertinent to mention here that though sample testing drives had been launched on a couple of occasions in the past to check sale of adulterated items, pressure from the business fraternity and other factors have prevented any effected action on this front.
Observers point out that the authorities start conducting raids and seizing adulterated dairy products during transport some days before festivals like Deepawali.