Friday June 12, 2009, 10:09 pm
NEW DELHI: Before you bite into that burfi, or whip up a glass of milkshake, it would be advisable to take a look at some of the statistics
compiled by the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) department of the Delhi government.

The department, in its report, points out that 40 out of 229 samples of milk sold in the city is adulterated by chalk, urea, soap and other whiteners.

If you thought your pulses (dal) were pure, you are mistaken. Every third sample of dal picked up by the department (53 out of a total of 134) has been found to be adulterated.

These samples were lifted during a recent drive launched by the department to coincide with the festive season of Holi.

"Of the 190 samples of sweets picked up by us, around 21 were adulterated. Common adulterants in sweets are mainly synthetic colours including adulterated saffron or kesar," said an official in the PFA.

Pulses are adulterated at the polishing stage. "Dal even after it is threshed retains a husk or fibre, which is then polished at the mills with harmful chemicals and synthetic colours," said the official.

Milk adulteration was mostly detected in the loose milk supplied by the dairies in the outskirts of the city.

When the city was facing a milk shortage in September, 2003, consumers who had recently switched to packet milk from loose milk for fear of adulteration were blamed for the sudden increase in demand.

Another point put forward by the report was the concept of 'misbranding.' Several products were picked up which appeared to have the same packaging as some premium brands, with slight changes.

"For example, Bisleri has been spelt as Besleri but with the same blue lettering and packaging, but instead of mineral water, you would probably get ordinary tap water or contaminated water," added the official.

Around 30 samples of misbranding have been picked up with the maximum being nine samples of mustard oil.

Delhi health minister Yoganand Shastri, who had called for the report said that the department would be stepping up picking of samples after the shocking results of this report. "With summer on its way, adulteration will only increase," he said.

Sunday June 14, 2009, 8:15 am
Thanks for this information Naresh.