Adulteration of Foods

Adulteration of Foods

Adulteration consists of a large number of practices for example, mixing, substitution, misbranding or giving false labels and addition of toxicants.  

Disadvantages of adulteration:- 

1. Consumer pay more money for foodstuffs of lower quality

2. Injurious for health because of toxicants.

Examples of adulteration :-

Wheat and rice - Mud, grits,  soapstone bits

Dal/pulse -             Coaltar dyes, khesari dal

Haldi powder-      Lead chromate powder

Dhania powder-   Starch , cow dung or horse dung powder

Black peppers -     Dried seeds of papaya

Chilli powder-       Saw dust, brick powder

Tea dust or leaves- Blackgram husk, tamarind seed powder , saw dust,  used tea dust

Coffee powder -     Date husk, tamarind husk, chicory 

Asafoetida/hing-    Dand, grits resins,gums

Mustard seed-        Seeds of prickly poppy, anemone

Edible oils-              Mineral oils, argemone oils

Butter-                      Starch, animal fats

Ice creams -             Cellulose, starch,  non permitted colour 

Fresh green peas-  Green dye

Milk-                         Extraction of fat, addition of starch and water

Ghee-                        Vanaspati

There is an act for the adulteration:- 

Prevention of Food Adulteration Act ( PFA ), 1954

Last Amendment bill was passed in 2018.
THE PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTERATION ( AMENDMENT ) BILL, 2018

1. For simple proven adulteration - 

Minimum imprisonment of 6 months but which may extended to 2 years and with minimum fine of  Rs 1,00,000/-.

2. For deaths and Grievous hurt - 

Punishment with imprisonment for term which shall not be less than 1 year but which may extend to life imprisonment and minimum fine of 2,00,000/-.

healthifylife foods

Please eat healthy food and be safe and healthy. Its every individual's responsibility to check the food product before you buy and always buy unadulterated food for your children and family. 

Reference 

- Your Nutrition and Health by Ramdasmurthy, V. and M. Mohanram, 1984