Adulteration in Food Essay

degradation in diet is norm tot altogetheryy consecrate in its almost crude form prohibited substances atomic number 18 either added or partly or wholly substituted. Normally the contamination/ degradation in viands is d unitary either for financial gain or due to c argonlessness and lack in priggish hygienic condition of processing, storing, transportation and marketing. This ultimately results that the consumer is either cheated or often become victim of diseases. such types of adulteration are quite common in developing countries or backward countries. It is equally outstanding for the consumer to know the common adulterants and their effect on health. The increasing number of forage for thought producers and the outstanding amount of issue solid regimenstuffs enables the producers to mis premise and cheat consumers.To diametricaliate those who take advantage of legal rules from the ones who make feed adulteration is genuinely difficult. Theconsciousness of con sumers would be crucial. Ignorance and unfair market behavior may endanger consumer health and misleading th on a lower floor mug lead to poisoning. So we need childly screening tests for their detection. In the past few decades, adulteration of fare has become one of the serious problems. Consumption of adulterated intellectual nourishment causes serious diseases like cancer, diarrhoea, asthma, ulcers, etc. legal age of fats, oils and butter are paraffin wax, castor oil and hydrocarbons. Red chilli pulverize is mixed with brick powder and pepper is mixed with dried papaya seeds. These adulterants can be easily identified by simple chemical tests. Several agencies concur been set up by the Government of India to remove adulterants from food stuffs. AGMARK acronym for unsophisticated marketing.this organization certifies food products for their quality. Its objective is to promote the Grading and Standardization of clownish and allied commodities. health care systems at Cent ral, State, district or municipal levels have to implement various types of health programmes. except of these, the one which is most complicated, disappointing and frustrating is related to the prevention of food adulteration. For different types of health programmes, the motorcoach has periods of satisfaction followed by periods of worry and concern but, for those answerable for implementing prevention of food adulteration programme in a conscientious manner, it is nonhing but continued agony. Any health care personnel responsible for administering this programme either at the administrative or at the operational level leave behind have the same opinion. What is food adulteration? feed adulteration is the act of intentionally debasing the quality of food offered for sale either by the admixture or substitution of inferior substances or by the remotion of some valuable ingredient. fodder is declared adulterated if * a substance is added which depreciates or injuriously affec ts it * cheaper or inferior substances are substituted wholly or in part * both valuable or unavoidable constituent has been wholly or in part abstracted * it is an imitation* it is colored or some other than treated, to improve its appearance or if it contains any added substance injurious to health It is undoubtedly a brotherly evil which can be regarded as the outcome of an interaction between a number of social, economic, expert and human behavioral factors. It is a manifestation of a sick society and can be regarded as a disgust similar to other crimes like theft, burglary or murder. Like any other crime, food adulteration is evaluate to continue in our society as long as the existing factors which hold crime will continue. The question of eradication of food adulteration is an im assertable task.Ugly Face of fare deteriorationADULTERATION IN MILK food for thought adulteration is common in almost all developing countries. But its ugly face is not the same everywhere. In a developing republic which is at the lowest rung of the development ladder, food adulteration consists of relatively simple measures, the ruff examples of which are the addition of water to milk, mixing inferior quality of food to more expensive varieties and the use of non-permitted and deadly colours in the preparation of homemade processed foods for sale. On the other hand, in countries which have a developed food industry sector, food adulteration has a broad spectrum starting from simple procedures to most complicated technological procedures needing high level skillful competence.It is obvious that in such food adulteration, technical expertise of very high order is utilized by the adulterator in performing such type of crime. India unfortunately comes in the latter category. Starting from the simple procedure of adding water to milk or selling diluted buffalo milk as cows milk or using skimmed milk powder for making high quality milk, the adulteration process goes to the other constitutional of utilizing non-permitted food additives in making processed package foods or making perfect imitations of well cognize brands of food which can sometimes escape the most careful scrutiny of the food inspectorate.Why Food Adulteration?Let us be clear that food adulteration in India downstairs the uprightness includes both willful adulteration of food and sub well-worn foods which do not conform to the prescribed food standards but are not done intentionally. Taking an overall view of all types of food adulteration, ternary major underlying causes could be identified * Inadequate availability of food to meet the demands of the consumer prompting the unprincipled food traders to use any means to stretch the supply to earn more money. *ADULTERATION IN GHEEThe more important primer coat is the elemental imposition of the food traders and an urge to make quick and flabby money. In fact, this urge to make money in an unscrupulous manner is possibly the basic reason for the majority of crimes committed in the modern day society, be it theft, burglary, bank looting or murder. This dishonesty to earn easy and quick money is not only restricted to the food traders who commit crime of food adulteration but can also apply with equal force to the law of nature iceman who might make an alliance with the food trader with most disastrous results.* There are noteworthy numbers of cases of food adulteration committed by small traders due to their ignorance about the standards they are expected to maintain. It is true that all food standards after they are developed are circulated by government observance for the knowledge of all traders but it is equally true that there is an abysmal gap between the traders and the law enforcers, especially when they are small and medium traders e.g. the street corner food sellers.How Prevalent is Food Adulteration?This is a question which is cosmos posed for the last few decades with no clear cut answe r. The logical argument issued from the government authorities on the basis of samples checked and the number prosecuted indicates that about 14 to 15 per centime of samples lifted are found to be adulterated. This is the most undependable and un practical estimate of the prevalence of this crime. such(prenominal) data from the government reports can be regarded as the most distorted statistics since these are based on the samples lifted which is obviously a terribly biased sample based on the whims, likings, opportunities and the convenience of the food inspectorate.Anyone having a little knowledge of statistics would immediately come to the conclusion thatthis is the most undependable estimate of prevalence of food adulteration in the demesne. On the other extreme are the views of the consumer that almost all foods in the country are adulterated by the unscrupulous food traders. It is obvious that the real answer lies midway the two extremes.Need for a Realistic StudyIt is fe lt that there is an urgent need for an straightforward scientific study to determine the prevalence of food adulteration in the country. Such study should not be undertaken by an interested party, the consumers or the law enforcers, but should be undertaken by a search institution in a properly designed and controlled manner. The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research are ideally suited to undertake such a study in various parts of India in order to find out the extent of food adulteration, the types of foods which are commonly adulterated, the types of adulteration adopted, the common adulterants used, the health hazards of such type of adulteration and lastly, to explore as far as possible the motives for such adulteration.In other words, such a study will generate for the low time data on the basis of which one can develop an anatomy of food adulteration and possibly, get an idea of the profiles of the food adulterators and the reasons for such adulteration. The results of such a study will be an heart opener for the consumers, law enforcers and also for those who are brooding for decades as to the reasons of food adulteration and how to prevent this menace.Food StandardsPrevention of food adulteration goes very closely with the establishment of food standards. The Central Committee of Food Standards, a statutory body in the Directorate-General of Health Services, Government of India, is responsible for laying down existent standards. However, one should realize that the standards should be such which are enforceable and which are realistic. For instance, laying down a standard like carbide should not be used for ripening of fruits is only a wishful sentiment because the rules do not prescribe how the standard can be enforced. A standard which is not enforceable is not a standard at all. Secondly, a standard must be realistic. The present standard that not a grain of khesari Dal should bepresent in a ny other sample of cereals or grams is not realistic since in is not practicable in the present agricultural practices.Even if 3 per cent of Khesari Dal is present as foreign body, which is tolerable under the Rules, it is sealedly not injurious for health. It does not mean pleading for the particular admixture of Khesari Dal with cereals. But it is being pointed out that the standard should consider the agriculture and other practices in the country and make those which are realistic. Similarly, the PFA Act and Rules should be reviewed in-depth. At the present moment, the rules are designed to catch the savage after the crime has been committed. More attention should be given to know how to prevent this crime. In other countries, such programme is known as food safety or food control, which is more realistic than the prevention of food adulteration.How to Prevent Food Adulteration?Can this menace be eradicated? Like any other crime, food adulteration would continue. However, eve ryone will wish that this menace, like any other crime, be controlled significantly. In India, there are two extreme views which are in circulation. According to one view, we have to coexist with this crime for years to come but with suitable measures it could be brought down to a low level. The feel of co-existence with this crime has possibly emerged from a sense of frustration as over the decades we have witnessed the continuation of food adulteration without signs of abatement in spite of numerous measures taken by the government. The second view is that, with desolate deterrent punishment and a strict enforcement of the legal measures, food adulteration could be eradicated almost to a stage of non-existence.It is difficult to say which the real answer is. At the moment, one could identify three different views coming from three different angles from the enforcers of the control measures, the consumers and the traders the three partners in the prevention of food adulteration . The enforcers which mean the government, municipal bodies and all others responsible directly or indirectly with the control of food adulteration will venture that the control of this menace needs a number of measures only legal enforcement will not be enough.The basic requirements are providing adequate food supply at a reasonable price, setting up of realistic food standards which are enforceable and which can be attained by majority of thetraders (not only the big food industries but the common agricultural producers, traders and the medium and petty food processor), the minimum basic honesty on the part of the traders and the law enforcers, a band of committed inspectorate staff and of course, a cutting deterrent punishment for those who commit this crime.It has been mentioned for decades that if deterrent punishment is prescribed for food adulteration, this crime will disappear. A famous statement in the past was Hang them on the nearest lamp post and adulteration will disa ppear But this alone will not work. There is now a provision under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act and Rules those in extreme cases, look imprisonment could be awarded to those who commit food adulteration which is extremely injurious for health. Though this provision exists, so far not one person has been given this sentence.Lessons LearntWhat lessons have we learnt in the implementation of a programme for food adulteration? India has the have sex of running this programme for almost 30 years. Even now, we are not clear at all about the main facets of food adulteration. For example, it is extremely important to get some information about the prosecutions being made in the States and the municipal bodies during the last five years in order to answer certain questions like A. the percentage of prosecution launched against the big traders versus small and medium traders B. per centum of prosecutions launched for dangerous adulterations versus innocuous adulteration.C. Percentage of prosecutions launched for complex types of adulteration versus simple adulteration. D. Percentage of prosecutions launched against institutional adulteration versus unintentional adulteration. This would throw enormous light on the motives of adulteration, the extent of adulteration, the gravity of adulteration, the mode of adulteration and the effectiveness of sampling adopted by the inspectorate. The lifting of sample is an area which needs considerable improvement and every one responsible for the enforcement of food adulteration would agree on this point. At the present moment, this is entirely on the discretion of the food inspectors which certainly could be much more rationalized and made more realistic.Result vulgar adulterants present in ghee and oil are paraffin wax, hydrocarbons, dyes and argemone oil. Sugar is usually contaminated withwashing soda and other insoluble substances. Common adulterants present in chilli powder, turmeric powder and pepper are r ed colored lead salts, yellow lead salts and dried papaya seeds respectively.Selection of wholesome and non-adulterated food is essential for daily life to make sure that such foods do not cause any health hazard. It is not possible to ensure wholesome food only on opthalmic examination when the toxic contaminants are present in ppm level. However, visual examination of the food before purchase makes sure to ensure absence of insects, visual fungus, foreign matters, etc. Therefore, due care taken by the consumer at the time of purchase of food after thoroughly examining can be of great help.Secondly, label declaration on packed food is very important for knowing the ingredients and nutritional value. It also helps in checking the freshness of the food and the period of best before use. The consumer should avoid taking food from an unhygienic place and food being prepared under unhygienic conditions. Such types of food may cause various diseases. Consumption of cut fruits being exc hange in unhygienic conditions should be avoided. It is always better to buy certified food from reputed shop.BIBLIOGRAPHY* ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2009* www.wikipedia.com* www.answers.com* www.icbse.com* www.google.com