VIJAYAWADA: Think twice before purchasing ghee, chilli powder and edible oils in the market, as the city and its suburbs have become a hub for adulteration of various commodities. Though food safety and task force officials are conducting surprise checks at the manufacturing godowns, the adulteration is continuing unabated.
Doctors are warning against consuming such products as it damages one’s health. According to food safety department officials, adulteration of food can occur at various levels such as production, entrepreneurship or sale. Consumer vigilance is the need of the hour. There have been reports of chilly powder being adulterated with brick; salt with powdered glass.
Speaking to Express, assistant food safety controller N Purnachandra Rao requests the public to be careful about adulteration of food and essential commodities in the market. A majority of the consumers get cheated due to the use of non-food graded fruits and vegetables. Consumption of these items can lead to food poisoning.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act 1955, the chemicals used in food items need to be labelled. But many traders and shopkeepers fail to do so. However, the move to make the labelling mandatory is a step in the right direction. Items like fruits and vegetables get spoilt if not coated with wax as it takes days for the produce to be brought in from other States to reach the markets here. Judicious use of food grade wax and adequate labelling are essential.
“Consuming food prepared with adulterated oil may lead to intestine-related problems. Cholesterol levels are also likely to go up if the oil is used on a regular basis. Food adulteration is one of the causes of cancer,” said K Ramachandra Rao, a physician.