People in the State are gradually getting more and more conscious about health related affairs including the food that we are eating. We find more of men and women walking, jogging or doing physical exercise in open air. This is a good sign of changing mindset among the tradition ridden society of India. In the same way people are very conscious of what they are drinking and eating.
But unfortunately authorities are not sensitive to ensuring that no adulterated food item is allowed to be put on sale for the consumption of the people in general. A year ago the Drug and Food Control Organization in the State found that turmeric powder produced by a firm by the name of Mahak Spices was not safe for consumption as it was adulterated. Authorities should have taken quick decision on the issue because it pertained to normal health of the people who consumed it. Anyway the Central Food Laboratory of Kolkata reported that the sample supplied to it by the State Government did not meet the required standards. What is amusing is that the Designated Officer Drug and Food Control Organization District Budgam took 5 months to write a letter to the Commissioner Food Safety and Standards to seek permission for the prosecution of the owner of the Mehak Spices and two shopkeepers who were selling the turmeric. The Commissioner Food Safety and Standards took another two months to pass on the buck. This is the state of inefficiency in the department. One is not sure how many more food items sold in the markets are unsafe for human consumption. It is nearly a year that the case of Mahak Spice Co. Ltd. is hanging fire and how much more time will be required to take proper action against the company is not known. But in the meanwhile spice products from the firm continue to fill the markets and the health of people continues to remain in peril.
There is no doubt that this reveals a case of fraud and corruption, something like nexus between the manufacturers and the food control authorities. It is unbelievable that the functionaries of Food Control Department should come down to a level and become accomplices in an act that endangers human life. This is what should be taken very serious note of.
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