May 13, 2017

A glass of health hazard

Adulterated milk
If someone offers you urea, detergent, starch, caustic soda, white paint and polluted water for consumption, will you have it? Of course not! But if you are told that that glass of milk that you drink and force your kids to drink every day, thinking it to be a wholesome diet, has all these elements, then do believe it. Over 68 per cent of the milk in India has been found to be adulterated in a research by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (fssai). That means two out of three Indians drink adulterated milk every day!

India is the world’s largest milk producer. Milk has a great significance in our culture. After breastfeeding, cow’s milk is given to toddlers for their brain development and overall growth. For ages, mothers and grandmothers have laid importance on the consumption of haldi, badam and kesar milk for everyone, which is now gaining popularity in the West. Milk is offered to the husband on the first night considering it to be a source of strength. At the time of sickness, milk comes to our rescue. Many items like curd, panner, ghee, makhan, ice-creams, shakes, kulfi, cheese, khoya and sweets are prepared from milk on a daily basis in our homes and outside. Our very own milk chai is the energy drink of most Indians.
Milk and milk products are a must in the diet of a vegetarian. Calcium, high quality proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins like riboflavin, A and D, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium in milk make it nature’s nearly perfect food and an important part of a healthy diet for people of all ages. Milk is the most trusted health drink in our country. Its health benefits include increased bone strength, smoother skin, stronger immune system, prevention of illnesses such as hypertension, dental decay, dehydration, respiratory problems, obesity, osteoporosis and even some forms of cancer and some chronic ailments.
Despite all these benefits, the greed of a few adulterers has turned this health drink into slow poison. Water is a common adulterant added to milk to increase its volume, but the problem is that the consumers immediately make out the presence of it. The taste of the milk changes, it does not boil over while heating but keeps boiling inside the vessel, the tea is insipid and formation of cream is reduced. To avoid getting caught, the adulterator adds certain substances to the ‘watered’ milk to improve its thickness, taste, density and viscosity. The common adulterants are formalin, urea, starch, neutralisers, detergents, sodium chloride, skimmed milk powder, sucrose, glucose/dextrose, and hydrogen peroxide. Some of these are referred to as solid-not-fats (SNF) and are used to cover the quantity of natural fats missing in the ‘watered’ milk. Adulteration may also be incidental due to lack of knowledge and hygiene. Milk adulteration is high during festivals due to its high demand.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has reported that milk adulterants have hazardous health effects. The detergent added to emulsify and dissolve the oil in water giving a frothy solution can cause food poisoning and other gastrointestinal complications. Its high alkaline level can also damage body tissues and destroy proteins. Other synthetic components can cause impairments, heart problems, cancer or even death. Urea added to provide whiteness, increase consistency and level the contents of (SNF) in milk can lead to vomiting, nausea, kidney problems and gastritis. Caustic soda can be dangerous for people suffering from hypertension and heart ailments. It harms the mucosa of the food pipe especially in kids.
Carbonates and bicarbonates added to prevent spoilage of milk can cause disruption in hormone signalling that regulate development and reproduction. Formalin can cause more severe damage to the body like liver damage. Starch added to improve the thickness is fatal for diabetic patients and can cause indigestion. The health impact of drinking milk adulterated with these chemicals is worse for children.
Testing milk at home
For a lay person, trying to differentiate between contaminated and pure milk is difficult and only specific chemical tests can reveal the truth. But as per the guidelines given by FSSAI and FDA (Food safety and Drug Administration), some simple household tests can be conducted at home for detection of adulterants in milk.
Water : The presence of water can be detected by putting a drop of milk on a polished slanting surface. The drop of pure milk flows leaving a white trail behind, whereas milk adulterated with water will flow immediately without leaving a mark.
Starch: Add a few drops of tincture of iodine or iodine solution. Formation of blue colour indicates the presence of starch. Iodine solution is easily available in medical stores.
Urea: Take a teaspoon of milk in a test tube. Add half a teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder. Mix the contents thoroughly by shaking the test tube. After five minutes, dip a red litmus paper in it. Remove the paper after half a minute. A change in colour from red to blue indicates the presence of urea in the milk.
Vanaspati : Take 3 ml of milk in a test tube. Add 10 drops of hydrochloric acid. Mix one teaspoonful of sugar. After 5 minutes, examine the mixture. The red colouration indicates the presence of vanaspati in milk.
Formalin: Take 10 ml of milk in a test tube and add 5 ml of con sulphuric acid from the sides of the wall without shaking. If a violet or blue ring appears at the intersection of the two layers then it shows presence of formalin.
Detergent: Shake 5-10 ml of milk with an equal amount of water, lather indicates the presence of detergent.
Synthetic milk: This has a bitter after taste, gives a soapy feeling on rubbing between the fingers and turns yellowish on heating. The milk can be easily tested by urease strips (available in medical stores) because synthetic milk is devoid of protein. Positive urease strips also determine that the milk contains glucose.
Prevention is better than cure
  • Select milk that has been packaged in material that minimises light absorption. Sunlight destroys vitamins, especially riboflavin, and affects the flavour of milk.
  • Look for the longitudinal central seals on the milk packets and the date of packing. If the date is not the current one then chances are the packet is a recycled one.
  • Milk should be continuously stirred while boiling and cooled quickly to lessen the loss of vitamins, minerals and protein.
  • Refrigerate the milk after boiling, at least below 8 degrees Celsius, for later use, to minimise bacterial contamination.
  • Drink milk only after boiling it, never raw.
  • To check if your packet is not tampered with, press it in the middle. If it forms a regular arc on the top then it is fine but if it forms a straight line, look carefully at the corners to detect fresh sealing, which may indicate adulteration or less volume.
  • Fresh milk should be kept cooled, sealed (so that it does not absorb other flavours and odours), and in dark places.
  • Consumers should opt for packaged pasteurised milk and not loose milk.

Slaughterhouse case: Issue fresh licence, HC tells Yogi govt

Interim order by Allahabad high court comes as relief for meat sellers whose licences weren’t renewed by the Uttar Pradesh government after March
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath imposed a ban on all illegal slaughterhouses after assuming office on March 19.
The Allahabad high court directed the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday to start issuing licences and no-objection certificates to meat sellers, potentially ending a stalemate over closing slaughterhouses that saw meat disappearing from local markets and popular eating joints.
The interim order of the HC’s Lucknow bench came as a major relief for meat sellers, whose licences weren’t renewed by the government after March.
The bench of justices AP Shahi and Sanjay Harkauli also directed the government to file a reply on July 17 – the next date of hearing – about the steps taken in compliance of the order.
“The state government cannot shy away from its responsibility of regulating slaughter houses,” said justice Shahi, while reading out the operative part of the order.
The order implies that traders can apply for fresh licences or for a renewal. Even those whose slaughterhouses were shut down can now apply.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath imposed a ban on all illegal slaughterhouses after assuming office on March 19, fulfilling a promise in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the UP assembly elections.
Though the action was mainly aimed at curbing illegal slaughter of cow, meat sellers alleged that authorities harassed even legal abattoirs. A section of meat sellers had even gone on a strike while Lucknow’s popular eating joint Tunday -- known for its kebabs -- had shut shop for a day due to non-availability of meat.
Many also alleged that most slaughterhouses in the state were illegal because of lax procedures and lack of oversight.
The court also directed district magistrates and divisional commissioners to take appropriate action to regulate meat shops and slaughterhouses.
Along with a PIL, the court had clubbed all writ petitions seeking renewal of licences of meat shops filed by individuals.
While advocate general Raghvendra Singh represented the state government, advocate BK Singh pleaded for the petitioners.
Earlier, the advocate general pointed out that after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, came into force, all other laws related to food and safety had become redundant.
The court, however, observed on Friday all provisions in local acts (nagar panchayats) had not been incorporated in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
During the hearing of the case, the advocate general also pointed out that the UP government’s directive was against illegal slaughterhouses and not against establishments operating legally.
“The court’s order is not against the state government. It is also a clear direction to the state government to regulate meat trade,” lawyer BK Singh told HT.
“Illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops will no longer be able to operate as they used to do earlier.”

Allahabad HC to deliver judgement on slaughterhouses, meat shops today

The bench of justice AP Shahi and justice Sanjay Harkauli completed the hearing of litigations related to the operation of slaughterhouses on Thursday and reserved the judgment for Friday.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath imposed a ban on all illegal slaughterhouses in the state after assuming office on March 19.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court will deliver its judgment on the grant or renewal of licences to slaughterhouses and meat shops in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
The bench of justice AP Shahi and justice Sanjay Harkauli completed the hearing of litigations related to the operation of slaughterhouses on Thursday and reserved the judgment for Friday.
THE FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006
It is an act to consolidate laws relating to food and establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Along with the public interest litigations, the court also clubbed all writ petitions seeking renewal of licences of meat shops filed by individual shop owners.
Advocate general Singh, who appeared on behalf of the state government, pointed out that after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, came into force all other laws related to food and safety have become redundant.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath imposed a ban on all illegal slaughterhouses in the state after assuming office on March 19. Action against such slaughterhouses was promised in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for UP assembly elections.
The advocate general also pointed out that the UP government’s directive was against illegal slaughterhouses and not against those establishments which are operating legally.
Focus on cow smuggling and consumption of cattle meat has risen since the BJP won power in 2014, but the issue returned to spotlight after chief minister Adityanath clamped down on illegal slaughterhouses and cattle smuggling last month.

FDA issues closure notice to unpackaged drinking water units

NAGPUR : The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nagpur division, has sent closure notices to about seven units of the region, selling unpackaged drinking water without mandatory licenses. Last week, FDA had raided these units on the directives of FDA commissioner Harshdeep Kamble.
FDA assistant food commissioner of Nagpur division Milind Deshpande, who is also holding additional charge of rural, said that these units are now prohibited from selling drinking water. "Action has been taken under section 36 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," Deshpande added.
The seven units include three from Nagpur and two in Bhandara and Gadchiroli each. The food safety officers of Bhandara and Gadchiroli divisions were called to Nagpur and handed over the notices. "If the units continue to sell water despite notices, matter will go for adjudication," Deshpande said.
FDA will continue raiding more such units in the coming weeks. On September 6, 2016, TOI was the first to expose the shocking conditions in which the 'potable water' was being stored and transported. The units were running without licenses from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which are mandatory for selling packaged drinking water.
The ministry of health and family welfare, through a notification issued on November 15, 2016, has made it mandatory to sell packaged drinking water in sealed containers. Following this, Kamble issued directions for inspecting all such units in the entire state.
On the other hand, members of RO chilled water manufacturers welfare association recently staged a protest under the leadership of youth Congress leader Bunty Shelke. Stating that many women and handicapped people are running these units for livelihood, they demanded allotment of licenses by FDA.

Officials seize chemical ripened mangoes

Puducherry, May 12 (UNI) Puducherry Food Safety Officials today conducted a raid and seized a ton of chemical ripened mangoes. 
In view of mango season in April and May, some traders ripen mangoes using carbide powder and stones. On a complaint that chemically ripened mangoes are being sold at the Grand bazaar area, Food Safety officials conducted a raid and seized the mangoes since such mangoes would lead to diseases like cancer. 
A team of officials led by I.Dhanraj and Balakrishnan raided more than 20 mango stalls and seized the chemical ripened fruit. 

Mangoes seized

Officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department seized nearly Rs. 1 lakh worth of artificially ripened mangoes, rotten fruits, and soft drinks which jumped the expiry date from various shops and storage yards near Palladam here on Friday.
Sources said that the mangoes were artificially ripened by spraying chemicals over it.