VIJAYAWADA: Make sure you give your child scrumptious food in his tiffin so that he does not go out to buy the titbits that are sold at shops nearby their school premises. As much as they might titillate the taste buds, consumption of such savouries can put your child’s risk at health as they will be more prone to stomach related disorders. During the break-time in the morning and evening, students are seen going out to nearby shops and purchasing inferior quality and nameless food items with the pocket money given by their parents. 80 per cent of the food products available in these shops, such as local made soft drinks, lollipops, snacks, chocolates, chewing gums, candies and others go unchecked and are unbranded. Products which do not have a license from the food safety department can be harmful to the children who consume these items without being aware of the repercussions.
In the recent raids conducted by the Commissioner’s Task Force (CTF) at Krishnalanka which brought into light a case of adulteration, the dairy parlour owner A Surendra Babu was found misbranding and manufacturing Rasna packets and jellies. Both the corporation and Food Safety officials were in for a rude shock observing the menace created by small scale food markets. Not only Surendra, there are many unauthorized manufactures in the city who are introducing their products without giving any thought to the ill-effects. They mainly target school children mostly as they would hardly question the quality or the standard.
During the raids, food Safety officials found Surendra using metal cleaning chemical as a color ingredient in the preparation of Rasna and jellies. He had not taken permission for manufacturing food products and beverages and has been marketing the items across the district. With no monitoring system to regulate the marketing of these food items, many unauthorised manufacturing units have mushroomed in the outskirts of the city. Food safety officials have failed to take action against the offenders.
“These products are cheaper and tastier. Repeated consumption of such items will take a toll on the health. The manufacturers mix color ingredient with sugar, the solution is then packed into small plastic sachets. Illegal manufacturers do not follow the manufacturing procedure and market them with the help of promoters,” said food inspector Venkateswara Rao. City based physician Dr Sandhya Rani told TNIE that these food items affect the child’s immunity system, making the child prone to stomach related ailments.
“They fall ill repeatedly without any specific reason. The digestive system is disturbed and it can possibly lead to stomach cancer,” she said.
FLOUTING NORMS
Shopkeepers making more profits with the sale of unbranded food items
No standard procedure followed in the process of manufacturing.
Manufacturers mostly use sub standard and inferior quality raw materials.
Cheaper the price, higher the patronage for these products, say food safety officials
Officials promise to take stern action agaisnt illegal manufacturers
Marketers to be cautioned against sale of unidentified and nameless products