Date:05/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110553150300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Call for action against food adulteration in Mysore Public eye

Shankar Bennur

Activists say that the MCC has not taken enough steps to contain the menace

THE HINDU— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Unsafe: The ‘adulterated’ tea powder that was seized by MCC officials in Mysore. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: Have you thought about how safe your food is? If you have not, you better do so now, as the menace of food adulteration is becoming rampant in Mysore.

Recent reports of adulteration of food items have shocked consumer activists, who are now running from pillar to post requesting the authorities to wake up and enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act.

Although complaints of food adulteration are not new, the seriousness of the problem came to light when a group of consumer activists from the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) unearthed a racket where used tea powder collected from hotels was being dried, mixed with some fresh tea powder and sold.The activists led by A. Ramalingam collected tea powder samples from shops in 13 localities in Mysore and found that they had been adulterated with artificial colours.

Mayor Ayub Khan was shocked when Prof. Ramalingam demonstrated how the tea powder was adulterated and asked Mysore City Corporation Health Officer Nagaraj to take action.

The MCC officials raided shops in the city and seized nearly 500 kg of “adulterated” tea powder.

Dr. Nagaraj, who spoke to The Hindu after a recent raid, said, “This is the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot to be done to contain the menace. The ongoing raids will definitely sensitise people on the issue and serve as a warning to wrong-doers.”Had the MCC taken stringent measures when it was first alerted about the adulteration, the situation would not have reached this stage.

The MGP, which has been raising awareness on food adulteration, has lodged several complaints with the MCC about food adulteration along with evidence. “In spite of this, the corporation did not show seriousness in tackling the problem,” Prof. Ramalingam said.

“We cannot file a case against those indulging in food adulteration immediately after a raid. We are supposed to follow certain procedures under the Act. More importantly, the food samples seized from the shops have to be tested in a certified laboratory to check for adulteration. Unless all this is done correctly, a case cannot be built against the accused persons,” an MCC official said.

According to consumer activists, there is little knowledge or awareness about certain limitations imposed under the PFA Act, according to which the use of artificial colours is limited while inorganic colouring matter is prohibited.

Organic colours can be used only for food items such as sweets, biscuits, ice-creams, soft drinks, jams, etc., while there are restrictions on food preservatives. As much as 6 per cent of toor dal samples tested had lead chromate, an inorganic dye known to cause anaemia, abortion, paralysis and brain damage, according to MGP. It is not just tea powder that is being adulterated. The results of the recent survey on adulteration of food, the 16th in the series conducted by the MGP, have revealed that many food items are adulterated and the adulteration level is extremely high this year.

About 400 samples of commonly used ingredients were collected from 38 shops across the city. The samples were sent for analysis to an ISO-9001-2000 certified laboratory. The analysis indicated that of 35 toor dal samples, 43 per cent was adulterated while 26 per cent had colour added.Though it is the second largest corporation in the State, the MCC is ill-equipped to analyse food samples. The post of food analyst in the corporation has been vacant for two-and-a-half decades.

Doctors from the Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology, Mysore, have supported the MGP in its fight against the alleged adulteration of tea. They expressed concern over the use of carcinogenic colours such as metanil yellow, red oxide, Sudan red and azo dyes (used in wall paints and other items) to colour used tea powder and resell them at half the price of pure tea powder.