Stringent Law on Food Adulteration, Says Govt

The Indian Government is taking strict measures to review the food safety Act. This will help scrutinize the instances of food adulteration and contamination. Proposals are on the cards to make the punishment stipulated for milk adulteration. The focus area of operation would be creating the required infrastructure and manpower to set up testing labs in public-private partnership. The concern was announced by the Union Health Minister, J P Nadda at the Lok Sabha.

Health Minister:

"We propose to comprehensively review the Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules and Regulations to address the concerns of courts in matters relating to food adulteration and the numerous representation received from food business operators. It is also proposed to revisit the punishment stipulated for milk adulteration and make it more stringent," Nadda said.

Task Force:

Two days ago a task force has been set up to review the existing situation and submit their suggestions within 45 days. As a next step, the suggestions will be put up on a public domain to receive comments, said the Health Minister in the Lok Sabha. He also said that one main reason for non-communicable diseases (NCD) is food adulteration and contamination.

"Slow Poison":

Two of the threatening food adulterations are mentioned here.

• The absence of regulated use of pesticides and antibiotics especially in poultry products
• Cows subject to hormone injections - oxytocin - for more milk yield

Food Adulteration and Pesticides:

The minister revealed that 10,325 civil and criminal cases have been filed on examining 72,200 food samples of which 13,571 examined in 2013-14 were adulterated. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is now taking serious measures to harmonise the maximum residue limit of pesticides in all food products.

Source-Medindia